WW2/Battles of WW2/Date-by-Date/Eastern Front • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
The massive Soviet summer offensive that annihilated Germany's Army Group Centre and drove the front thousands of kilometres west in a matter of weeks. (23 June – 19 August 1944)
Chronological Storyline (30 Milestones)
Jun 23, 1944 CE
Soviet offensive opens on Army Group Centre
Four Soviet fronts launched a massive artillery and infantry assault against German Army Group Centre in Belarus, beginning Operation Bagration. The offensive aimed to destroy German forces and liberate Minsk. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Bagration
Germany's Worst Defeat: Operation Bagration | Animated HistoryMap of deployments during Operation Bagration, June–August 1944 By United States Army - United States Military Academy, by way of https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/map-of-operation-bagration-june-august-1944, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=193193
Jun 24, 1944 CE
3rd Belarusian Front attacks Orsha axis
The Soviet 3rd Belarusian Front, commanded by Colonel General Ivan Chernyakhovsky, attacked the German 4th Army's positions around Orsha. Initial assaults were repulsed before Soviet armor exploited a gap further north. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Bagration
Map of deployments during Operation Bagration, June–August 1944 By United States Army - United States Military Academy, by way of https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/map-of-operation-bagration-june-august-1944, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=193193
Jun 24, 1944 CE
1st Baltic Front breaks German lines north
The Soviet 1st Baltic Front breached the defenses of the German Third Panzer Army near Vitebsk, threatening to encircle German forces in the city. General Erhard Raus's panzer army was unable to contain the breakthrough. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Bagration
Map of deployments during Operation Bagration, June–August 1944 By United States Army - United States Military Academy, by way of https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/map-of-operation-bagration-june-august-1944, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=193193
Jun 25, 1944 CE
Vitebsk pocket closes around German LIII Corps
Soviet forces of the 1st Baltic and 3rd Belarusian Fronts encircled the German LIII Corps inside Vitebsk. General Friedrich Gollwitzer's corps was trapped and attempts to break out were ordered too late. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitebsk%E2%80%93Orsha_Offensive
Operation Bagration: Battle of Witebsk, Development 22nd - 26th June 1944, 2200 By Kl833x9 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2800033
Jun 26, 1944 CE
Bobruysk encirclement traps German IX Corps
The Soviet 1st Belarusian Front under Marshal Konstantin Rokossovsky encircled German IX Corps at Bobruysk after a deep armored thrust. Over 70,000 German troops from the 9th Army were trapped in the pocket. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobruysk_Offensive
Development of the bobruisk operation during soviet offensive operation bagration from june 24, 1944, 0400 AM to june 27, 1944, 0900 PM By Kl833x9 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9056321
Jun 27, 1944 CE
Vitebsk pocket annihilated
The German LIII Corps at Vitebsk was destroyed, with its commander General Gollwitzer captured. The loss of Vitebsk shattered the northern flank of Army Group Centre and opened the road toward Minsk. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitebsk%E2%80%93Orsha_Offensive
Operation Bagration: Battle of Witebsk, Development 22nd - 26th June 1944, 2200 By Kl833x9 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2800033
Jun 27, 1944 CE
Orsha liberated by Soviet 31st Army
Soviet forces liberated the key rail junction of Orsha after heavy fighting against the German 4th Army. The capture of Orsha severed a critical German supply line and accelerated the collapse of the front. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitebsk%E2%80%93Orsha_Offensive
Operation Bagration: Battle of Witebsk, Development 22nd - 26th June 1944, 2200 By Kl833x9 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2800033
Jun 28, 1944 CE
5th Panzer Division counterattacks at Bobruysk
The German 5th Panzer Division launched a counterattack to relieve the trapped IX Corps at Bobruysk. The attempt failed against overwhelming Soviet armor and infantry, sealing the fate of the pocket. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobruysk_Offensive
Development of the bobruisk operation during soviet offensive operation bagration from june 24, 1944, 0400 AM to june 27, 1944, 0900 PM By Kl833x9 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9056321
Jun 28, 1944 CE
Model takes command of Army Group Centre
Field Marshal Walter Model replaced Field Marshal Ernst Busch as commander of Army Group Centre. Model's mission was to halt the Soviet advance, but German forces were already in full retreat toward Minsk. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_Group_Centre
Jun 29, 1944 CE
Bobruysk pocket destroyed
The trapped German forces at Bobruysk were annihilated, with approximately 20,000 killed and 20,000 captured. The destruction of the 9th Army's corps opened the southern route to Minsk. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobruysk_Offensive
Development of the bobruisk operation during soviet offensive operation bagration from june 24, 1944, 0400 AM to june 27, 1944, 0900 PM By Kl833x9 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9056321
Jul 3, 1944 CE
German 4th Army encircled east of Minsk
Over 100,000 troops of the German 4th Army were encircled in the forests east of Minsk after Soviet pincers closed behind them. The pocket would be systematically reduced over the following two weeks. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minsk_Offensive
Operation Bagration: Pocket of Minsk, Development June 29 1944, 1000 PM - July 03 1944, 1000 PM By Kl833x9 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10318396
Jul 3, 1944 CE
Minsk liberated by Soviet forces
Soviet tanks of the 3rd Belarusian Front liberated the Belarusian capital of Minsk, cutting off the German 4th Army. The fall of Minsk marked the operational climax of Operation Bagration's first phase. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minsk_Offensive
Operation Bagration: Pocket of Minsk, Development June 29 1944, 1000 PM - July 03 1944, 1000 PM By Kl833x9 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10318396
Jul 4, 1944 CE
Red Army pursues toward Vilnius
The Soviet 3rd Belarusian Front launched a pursuit toward Vilnius, exploiting the total collapse of the German northern front. German forces attempted to form a new defensive line but lacked sufficient reserves. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilnius_Offensive
1944 m. liepa (greičiausiai 13 d.), Vilnius, Didžioji gatvė, Raudonosios armijos kariai, tolumoje Vokiečių gatvė, dešinėje rotušė, kairėje viešbutis "Italija" (1901 m.). Pirmame plane trofėjinis vokiškas automobilis VW Typ 82 Kübelwagen, kairėje vokiškas zenitinis pabūklas Flak 8,8. By Фото ИТАР-ТАСС - https://pastvu.com/p/795979, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=88874454
Jul 8, 1944 CE
Polish Home Army attacks Vilnius
The Polish Home Army launched an uprising inside Vilnius in coordination with the approaching Soviet forces. The operation, known as Operation Ostra Brama, aimed to liberate the city before the Soviets arrived. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Ostra_Brama
Akcja "Burza" - Operacja Ostra Brama (położenie oddziałów 7 lipca 1944) By Lonio17 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6240794
Jul 9, 1944 CE
Soviet forces enter Vilnius
Soviet units of the 3rd Belarusian Front entered the outskirts of Vilnius and engaged German garrison forces in street fighting. The city was a key strategic objective on the road to East Prussia. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilnius_Offensive
1944 m. liepa (greičiausiai 13 d.), Vilnius, Didžioji gatvė, Raudonosios armijos kariai, tolumoje Vokiečių gatvė, dešinėje rotušė, kairėje viešbutis "Italija" (1901 m.). Pirmame plane trofėjinis vokiškas automobilis VW Typ 82 Kübelwagen, kairėje vokiškas zenitinis pabūklas Flak 8,8. By Фото ИТАР-ТАСС - https://pastvu.com/p/795979, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=88874454
Jul 11, 1944 CE
Minsk pocket liquidated
The Soviet 2nd Belarusian Front completed the destruction of the German forces trapped east of Minsk. Approximately 35,000 German soldiers were killed and over 12,000 captured in the pocket. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minsk_Offensive
Operation Bagration: Pocket of Minsk, Development June 29 1944, 1000 PM - July 03 1944, 1000 PM By Kl833x9 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10318396
Jul 13, 1944 CE
Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive begins
Marshal Ivan Konev's 1st Ukrainian Front launched the Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive, extending Bagration's scope into western Ukraine. The offensive aimed to liberate Lvov and advance toward the Vistula River. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lvov%E2%80%93Sandomierz_Offensive
Liberazione di Leopoli By Unknown author - https://wwii.space/27-07-44-%d0%be%d1%81%d0%b2%d0%be%d0%b1%d0%be%d0%b6%d0%b4%d0%b5%d0%bd-%d0%bb%d1%8c%d0%b2%d0%be%d0%b2/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=136203692
Jul 13, 1944 CE
Vilnius liberated
Soviet forces liberated Vilnius after days of heavy urban combat against the German garrison. The capture of Vilnius secured the northern flank of the Soviet advance and pushed German forces back toward East Prussia. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilnius_Offensive
1944 m. liepa (greičiausiai 13 d.), Vilnius, Didžioji gatvė, Raudonosios armijos kariai, tolumoje Vokiečių gatvė, dešinėje rotušė, kairėje viešbutis "Italija" (1901 m.). Pirmame plane trofėjinis vokiškas automobilis VW Typ 82 Kübelwagen, kairėje vokiškas zenitinis pabūklas Flak 8,8. By Фото ИТАР-ТАСС - https://pastvu.com/p/795979, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=88874454
Jul 18, 1944 CE
Soviet bridgehead at Magnuszew established
Soviet forces of the 1st Belarusian Front established a bridgehead over the Vistula River at Magnuszew, south of Warsaw. The bridgehead would become a critical staging area for future operations. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lvov%E2%80%93Sandomierz_Offensive
Liberazione di Leopoli By Unknown author - https://wwii.space/27-07-44-%d0%be%d1%81%d0%b2%d0%be%d0%b1%d0%be%d0%b6%d0%b4%d0%b5%d0%bd-%d0%bb%d1%8c%d0%b2%d0%be%d0%b2/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=136203692
Jul 20, 1944 CE
Plot to assassinate Hitler fails
A bomb plot led by Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg failed to kill Adolf Hitler at his East Prussian headquarters. The plot's failure meant no political disruption to Germany's war effort on the Eastern Front. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20_July_plot
For documentary purposes the German Federal Archive often retained the original image captions, which may be erroneous, biased, obsolete or politically extreme. Attentat vom 20. Juli 1944 Besichtigung der zerstörten Baracke im Führerhauptquartier "Wolfsschanze" bei Rastenburg, Ostpreußen (v.l.n.r.: X (SS), Martin Bormann, X (SS), Hermann Göring (Luftwaffe), Bruno Loerzer (Generaloberst der Luftwaffe); X (Luftwaffe)) By Unknown author - This image was provided to Wikimedia Commons by the German Federal Archive (Deutsches Bundesarchiv) as part of a cooperation project. The German Federal Archive guarantees an authentic representation only using the originals (negative and/or positive), resp. the digitalization of the originals as provided by the Digital Image Archive., CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5482661
Jul 22, 1944 CE
Brest-Litovsk falls to Soviets
Soviet forces liberated the fortress city of Brest-Litovsk, a key German strongpoint on the Bug River. The capture opened the direct route to the Vistula and central Poland. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lublin%E2%80%93Brest_Offensive
Soviet advances on the Eastern Front (WWII), 1943-08-01 to 1944-12-31 By Drawn by GdrModified by Zocky, Mahahahaneapneap, Julieta39, Claude Zygiel - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Eastern_Front_1943-08_to_1944-12.png, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=310145
Jul 24, 1944 CE
Lublin captured by 1st Belarusian Front
The Soviet 1st Belarusian Front liberated Lublin, a major city in eastern Poland. The advance placed Soviet forces within striking distance of the Vistula and the outskirts of Warsaw. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lublin%E2%80%93Brest_Offensive
Soviet advances on the Eastern Front (WWII), 1943-08-01 to 1944-12-31 By Drawn by GdrModified by Zocky, Mahahahaneapneap, Julieta39, Claude Zygiel - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Eastern_Front_1943-08_to_1944-12.png, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=310145
Jul 27, 1944 CE
Lvov liberated by 1st Ukrainian Front
Soviet forces of the 1st Ukrainian Front liberated the city of Lvov after encircling German defenders. The fall of Lvov opened the Carpathian passes and threatened German positions in southern Poland. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lvov%E2%80%93Sandomierz_Offensive
Liberazione di Leopoli By Unknown author - https://wwii.space/27-07-44-%d0%be%d1%81%d0%b2%d0%be%d0%b1%d0%be%d0%b6%d0%b4%d0%b5%d0%bd-%d0%bb%d1%8c%d0%b2%d0%be%d0%b2/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=136203692
Jul 28, 1944 CE
Bialystok liberated
Soviet forces liberated Bialystok, completing the liberation of most of Belarus. The city's capture further compressed the German front and pushed Army Group Centre toward East Prussia. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belostok_Offensive
Jul 29, 1944 CE
Soviet bridgehead at Sandomierz established
Soviet troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front established a bridgehead across the Vistula at Sandomierz. The bridgehead threatened German positions in southern Poland and the approaches to the Silesian industrial region. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lvov%E2%80%93Sandomierz_Offensive
Liberazione di Leopoli By Unknown author - https://wwii.space/27-07-44-%d0%be%d1%81%d0%b2%d0%be%d0%b1%d0%be%d0%b6%d0%b4%d0%b5%d0%bd-%d0%bb%d1%8c%d0%b2%d0%be%d0%b2/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=136203692
Aug 1, 1944 CE
Warsaw Uprising begins
The Polish Home Army launched the Warsaw Uprising against German forces as Soviet troops approached the city's eastern bank. The uprising aimed to liberate Warsaw before Soviet forces arrived. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_Uprising
Warsaw Uprising begins By PattyB0YY - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=89049230
Aug 1, 1944 CE
Soviet forces reach Praga suburb
Soviet forces of the 1st Belarusian Front reached the eastern bank of the Vistula at the Praga suburb of Warsaw. The Red Army's advance halted at the river, unable to immediately support the Warsaw Uprising. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_Uprising
Soviet forces reach Praga suburb By PattyB0YY - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=89049230
Aug 10, 1944 CE
German counterattack at Sandomierz bridgehead
German forces launched counterattacks against the Soviet bridgehead at Sandomierz, attempting to eliminate it. The Soviets held the bridgehead despite heavy losses and continued to reinforce it. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lvov%E2%80%93Sandomierz_Offensive
Liberazione di Leopoli By Unknown author - https://wwii.space/27-07-44-%d0%be%d1%81%d0%b2%d0%be%d0%b1%d0%be%d0%b6%d0%b4%d0%b5%d0%bd-%d0%bb%d1%8c%d0%b2%d0%be%d0%b2/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=136203692
Aug 14, 1944 CE
Sandomierz bridgehead secured
Soviet forces repelled German counterattacks and fully secured the Sandomierz bridgehead on the Vistula's western bank. The bridgehead provided a critical launch point for future operations into Silesia and central Poland. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lvov%E2%80%93Sandomierz_Offensive
Liberazione di Leopoli By Unknown author - https://wwii.space/27-07-44-%d0%be%d1%81%d0%b2%d0%be%d0%b1%d0%be%d0%b6%d0%b4%d0%b5%d0%bd-%d0%bb%d1%8c%d0%b2%d0%be%d0%b2/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=136203692
Aug 19, 1944 CE
Operation Bagration concludes
Operation Bagration officially concluded, having destroyed Army Group Centre and inflicted approximately 400,000 German casualties. The Red Army had advanced up to 600 kilometers and reached the Vistula River. · Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Bagration
Map of deployments during Operation Bagration, June–August 1944 By United States Army - United States Military Academy, by way of https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/map-of-operation-bagration-june-august-1944, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=193193
