East Prussian Offensive

Overview

The East Prussian offensive was a strategic offensive by the Soviet Red Army against the German Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front of World War II. It lasted from 13 January to 25 April 1945, though some German units did not surrender until the country did on 9 May. The Battle of Königsberg was a major part of the offensive, which ended in victory for the Red Army.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The East Prussian Offensive was a major Soviet strategic operation on the Eastern Front, running from January 13 to April 25, 1945, with isolated German resistance continuing until the general surrender on May 9. Conducted by a Soviet force of over 1.6 million against roughly 580,000 German defenders, the offensive ended in Red Army victory and included the Battle of Königsberg as one of its central engagements. Soviet casualties exceeded 126,000 while German losses reached approximately 220,000. The operation eliminated a significant German force on the northeastern flank of the Eastern Front and removed East Prussia as a viable base for German military operations in the closing months of the war.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (11)