Leningrad–Novgorod Offensive

Overview

The Leningrad–Novgorod strategic offensive was a strategic offensive during World War II. It was launched by the Red Army on 14 January 1944 with an attack on the German Army Group North by the Soviet Volkhov and Leningrad fronts, along with part of the 2nd Baltic Front, with a goal of fully lifting the siege of Leningrad. Approximately two weeks later, the Red Army regained control of the Moscow–Leningrad railway, and on 26 January 1944 Joseph Stalin declared that the siege of Leningrad was lifted, and that German forces were expelled from the Leningrad Oblast. The lifting of the 900-day-long blockade was celebrated in Leningrad on that day with a 324-gun salute. The strategic offensive ended a month later on 1 March, when Stavka ordered the troops of the Leningrad Front to a follow-on operation across the Narva River, while the 2nd Baltic was to defend the territory it gained in pursuit of the German XVI Army Corps.

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

Significance

The Leningrad–Novgorod offensive ended the 900-day blockade of Leningrad, one of the longest and most costly sieges of World War II. Launched on 14 January 1944 by the Volkhov and Leningrad fronts together with part of the 2nd Baltic Front against German Army Group North, the operation achieved its primary objective within roughly two weeks: the Red Army regained the Moscow–Leningrad railway and, on 26 January 1944, Stalin declared the siege lifted and German forces expelled from Leningrad Oblast. The city marked the moment with a 324-gun salute. The offensive continued until 1 March 1944, when Stavka redirected the Leningrad Front toward a follow-on crossing of the Narva River and tasked the 2nd Baltic Front with holding the territory it had seized from the German XVI Army Corps. By removing Army Group North's stranglehold on the city and pushing German forces back, the operation secured the northwestern axis of the Eastern Front and freed Soviet resources and logistics that the siege had long constrained.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (6)