Polotsk offensive
The Polotsk offensive (Russian: Полоцкая наступательная операция) was part of the second phase of the Belorussian strategic offensive of the Red Army in summer 1944, commonly known as Operation Bagration.
| Polotsk offensive | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Operation Bagration | |||||||
Soviet soldiers at Polotsk | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Germany | Soviet Union | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Georg-Hans Reinhardt (Third Panzer Army) Rolf Wuthmann (IX Corps) |
Hovhannes Bagramyan (1st Baltic Front) | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| ? | ? | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 37,000 dead, 7,000 POW (Soviet est) | ? | ||||||
The Soviet First Baltic Front successfully pursued the retreating remnants of the German Third Panzer Army back towards Polotsk, which was reached by 1 July. German forces attempted to organise a defense using rear-area support units and several divisions hurriedly transferred from Army Group North.
Units of the 1st Baltic Front's 4th Shock Army and 6th Guards Army fought their way into the city over the next few days, and successfully cleared it of German forces by 4 July.
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