A new book from the author of bestsellers "Finments and progroms of the Red Army" and "Armor's armored troops". The first study of the history of the creation and combat use of the Soviet tank armies during the Great Patriotic War.

They passed a long and difficult path from the first failures and defeats in 1942 to triumph of 1945. They distinguished themselves in all major battles of the second half of the war - in the Kursk arc and in the battle for the Dnieper, in Belarusian, Yassino-Chishene, Volo-Oder, Berlin and other strategic offensive operations. Possessing crushing power and phenomenal mobility, the Guards Tank Army became the elite of the Red Army and the main shock force of Blitzkrigov in Russian, which broke the ridge before the invincible Wehrmachut.

In Eastern Pomerania, the 2nd field army of the Army Group "Vistula" was defended, which was commanded by Reichsführer SS G. Himmler. She numbered 230 thousand people, 2.9 thousand guns and mortars, 382 tanks and assault implements, 300 aircraft. Ground troops supported the 6th air fleet and the forces of the German fleet on the Baltic. The enemy in Eastern Pomerania created the so-called "line of Pomeranian fortifications" (Pomeranian shaft), built in 1933 along the former Polish-German border on the east and southeast. This line was held in front of the Stolp (Slupsk), Rummonsburg (Moltenko), Neusthettin (Szczecinek), Sneydemul (Saw). The left flank of the Pomeranian shaft was adjacent to the seaside fortifications in the Stolpmünde region and were provided by them, and the right to fortifications on the Varta and Oder rivers. The basis of orange fortifications was long-term defensive structures (dots, reinforced concrete caonies and half-pins), designed for garrisons by force from the platoon to the company. These structures were reinforced by the fortifications of field type. They and the approaches to long-term structures were covered with a developed network of anti-tank and anti-personnel barriers in the form of mineral fields, reinforced concrete support, wire fences, anti-tank pvs filled with water. Ts Stolp, Rummilsburg, Neusthettin, Shanyemul, Doych-Crown were nodal supporting points in the system of Pomeranian fortifications. Around them there was a large number of long-term fire facilities (points), field structures, anti-tank and anti-personnel obstacles. On the coast in the Danziga region (Gdansk) and Gdynia and Kosh Puttsiger-neruung in the area of \u200b\u200bHel, the opponent had seaside fortified areas, and in the village of Leba, Stolpmünde, Rugenvaldemund and Kolberg (Kolobrzheg) - equipped artillery positions of a semicaseted type for heavy coastal artillery. In addition, the defense system included strongly fortified Dankig and Gdynia defensive areas, built by the front on the southwest.

Initially, the defeat of the enemy in Eastern Pomerania was rented on the troops of the 2nd Belarusian Front. However, by going on February 10 in the offensive, had a slight promotion, since they had to overcome strongly fortified defense. At the same time, the troops of the 1st Belarusian front reflected violent counterdasters of the 11th enemy army. Stalin, realizing that the forces of one front is not enough for the defeat of the enemy's significant strengthening of the East-Pomeranian group, he connected the troops of the right wing of the 1st Belorussian front to operation (2nd Guards Cavalry Corps, 1st Army of Polish Troops, 3rd Impact , 61st, 47th Army, 1st and 2nd Guards Tank and 16th Air Army; only 770 thousand people, 16.8 thousand guns and mortars, 2050 tanks and sau, 965 aircraft). The enemy in the composition of the 2nd, 11th armies (from February 25 - the 3rd tank army) and parts of the 6th Air Fleet forces had 605 thousand people, 6.5 thousand guns and mortars, 1500 tanks and assault guns , 850 aircraft.

The idea of \u200b\u200bthe NGC bet was to blow the 2nd Belarusian front to Keslin (Koszlin) and the troops of the Right Wing of the 1st Belorussian Front on Kolberg to dismember the Army Group "Vistula", cut off its main forces from the rest of the troops and destroy in cooperation with the Baltic fleet. In the subsequent troops of the 2nd Belarusian front, it was necessary to step on Danzig and Gdynia, clean the eastern part of Pomerania from the enemy and seize the Baltic Sea coast.

Taking into account the plan of the BGK bets, the commander of the 1st Belarusian Front Marshal G.K. Zhukov February 16 presented I.V. Stalin report No. 00318 / OP plan on the shatta direction. The main blow was provided for apply to the 61st Army, the 2nd Guards Tank Army, the 7th Guards Cavalry and 9th Tank Corps with the support of two artillery divisions from the turn of the Reetz, Bralylantin, Pritz, Ban through Starkard in the North-West direction. They had to discard the enemy in the northern direction and, coming out on the front of Blankehagen (6 km south-west of Wangerine), Cannenberg (6 km north-west Frienwalde), the masses, Holennov (Golen), Shttin, to cut the ways to the departure of the orange group of the enemy to the West. The auxiliary blow was applied by the 1st Polish army and two rifle buildings of the 3rd shock army from Raveritz, Merkish Friedland, Callis, (suit.) The Reetz with the goal of interacting with the troops of the 2nd Belarusian front to discard the enemy in the northern direction and Lubov, Tempelburg, Falkenburg, Dramburg, Wangerine.

The 12th Guards Rifle Corps of the 3rd Shock Army and the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps were to hold the occupied positions. As the left flank is moving the 2nd Belarusian front, the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps was prescribed consistently right to go from defense to the offensive in the Western direction.

Tank armies were envisaged to introduce in the battle after a breakthrough of rifle divisions of the main defense defense of the enemy. The 1st Guards Tank Army had to develop success north and master Kolberg, and the 2nd Guards Tank Army - to step in the north-western direction and capture Kammin (Pomeranian stone) and Holes.

In the fighting composition of the 1st Guards Tank Army compared to January 1, 1945, some changes occurred (see Table No. 20). She received additionally self-propelled artillery and fighter-anti-tank artillery brigade, Guards mortar regiment, anti-aircraft artillery division and motorized pontoon-bridge regiment. The army consisted of about 550 tanks and sau.

Table number 20.

On the morning of February 24, the troops of the 2nd Belarusian front switched to the offensive. His 19th Army broke through the defense of the enemy and to the outcome of the day came to 10-12 km. On the morning of February 25, the 3rd Guards Tank Corps (274 Tank and SAU) General A.P. was introduced in the army stride. Panfilova, reinforced 313rd rifle divisions. Developing the offensive, an advanced detachment of the building (3rd Guards Tank Brigade) in the morning of February 26, Baldenberg collapsed (Biala-Boer). However, the 19th Army troops had a slight promotion, as they had to conduct heavy battles with enemy supporting points, which were bypassed the tank corps. The troops of the 70th army in the evening of February 25th advanced on his left flank only 6 km. Compounds of the 49th, 65th and 2nd shock armies led persistent defensive battles. February 28 Part of the 3rd Guards Cavalry Corps General N.S. Oslikovsky on February 28 mastered Neusthettin, having met the west of the city with an intelligence detachment of the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps of the 1st Belarusian Front. By this time, the troops of the 70th army advanced by 12 km in the north-west direction. On March 4, the 3rd Guards Tank Corps in conjunction with the 310th rifle division of the 134th Rifle Corps took Kesin (Koszalin). As a result, the 10th COP COURT and the "Tettau" Cabin Group were surrounded by West Neushttin.

The offensive of the troops of the right wing of the 1st Belorussian front began on March 1. The enemy had fierce resistance to the joints of the 3rd shock army. In the established atmosphere, Marshal Zhukov ordered General Katukov to introduce advanced detachments of the 1st Guards Tank Army - the 1st and 44th Guards Tank Brigades. They, withdrawing from infantry and bypassing the supporting points of the enemy, to 5 o'clock in the evening, broke through the entire tactical zone of the enemy defense and advanced to a depth of 15 km.

To develop success, General Katukov decided at noon on March 2 to introduce the main forces of the army in the battle. The powerful blow of tanks expanded the neck of the breakthrough. By 8 o'clock on March 4, the 45th Guards Tank Brigade of the 11th Guards Tank Corps broke through the Baltic Sea and tied the battle for Kolberg, and the 40th Guards Tank Brigade of Lieutenant Colonel MA Smirnova captured Trepps (Tshebyatow).

Marshal of armored troops M.E. The coils in this regard leads the following curious fact.

On the evening of March 4, the headquarters of the 1st Guards Tank Army arrived an officer of communication from the 11th Guards Tank Corps, a tired young lieutenant:

- Allow me to report, Comrade Commander! From Lieutenant Colonel Smirnova.

The lieutenant opened the cloak of the tent and extended the commander of a bottle with a muddy liquid.

- What is it? - I did not understand the coils.

The officer was pretty smiled:

- Water, comrade commander. Baltic. Lieutenant Colonel Smirnov threw himself personally and ordered to deliver to you. You can say this is his combat report.

Compounds of the 8th Guards Mechanized Corps of General I.F. Dreovov, leaving the resistance of the enemy troops, March 5 mastered Belgård (Bialogard) and Caeslin.

Successfully completed the 2nd Guards Tank Army of General S.I. Bogdanova. Her 9th Guards Tank Corps on March 5 came out on the coast of the Baltic Sea and mastered Kammin and Teszin. Parts of the 12th Guards Tank Corps in conjunction with the compounds of the 3rd shock army on March 7 were taken by Holes.

The troops of the 2nd Belarusian Front resumed the offensive from March 6. On the right wing, they took the city of Precisch Stargard (Starogard Gdanski), and Altenhagen, Rutetsov, Fritz, Altlyulhitz, Darkov, were published on the left wing. The 3rd Guards Cavalry Corps ranked Defense on the Baltic Sea coast at the Rugenwalde section, Grossmelen, (suit.) Kolberg.

Thus, the troops of the 2nd and 1st Belarusian fronts achieved major success - came out on the coast of the Baltic Sea, the East Pomeranian group was cut into two parts and surrounded several divisions. The troops of both fronts began preparation for combat actions in order to eliminate the 2nd and 3rd enemy tank armies. The troops of the 1st Guards Tank Army received a task together with the 1st Army of the Polish troops and part of the 19th and 3rd shock armies to destroy the enemy troops, surrounded by the west of Neusthettin, and the 2nd Guards Tank Army should have been jointly with 61- th and 47th armies defeat the Altdamm group.

As a result of simultaneous strikes on the converging directions of troops of the 1st Guards Tank Army from the North, the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps, the 1st Army of the Polish troops from the East and the Southeast and the 7th Rifle Corps of the 3rd strike army from the south and From the West to the outcome on March 7, the enemy's surrounded grouping as part of the five divisions of the 10th COP COP of the enemy was destroyed. At the same time, more than 8 thousand soldiers and officers were taken captured, including the commander of the 10th COP system with its headquarters.

With the defeat of Altdamm Group, the fighting of the right wing of the 1st Belarusian front in East Pomerania ended. Preparation for the Berlin offensive operation began.

At the same time, the pace of promotion of the 2nd Belarusian front decreased noticeably. For more active actions lacked mobile connections. Therefore, Marshal Rokossovsky turned to Stalin with a request to transfer to his order at least temporarily one of the two tank armies of the 1st Belorussian Front. On March 5, Stalin ordered no later than March 8 temporarily (until March 24) to transfer Marshal Rokossovsky 1st Guards Tank Army, including the Tank Brigade of the 1st Polish Army. At the same time, the troops of the 2nd Belarusian front were prescribed to defeat the adversary grouping in the Danzig region, Stolp, master the cities of Danzig, Gdynia and no later than March 20 to reach the Baltic Sea coast. The 1st Guards Tank Army and the Tank Brigade of the 1st Polish Army ordered to use for the development of a blow on the left front of the front.

In order to quickly develop the offensive of the troops of the left wing of the 2nd Belarusian front, where he was supposed to introduce the 1st Guards Tank Army in the battle of the 1st Guards Tank Army, Marshal Rokossovsky introduced the 3rd Guards Tank Corps into the battle. This, as well as the deep deprint of the troops of the right wing of the front in the arrangement of the enemy sharply changed the situation and on the central section of the front. The enemy, making sure that it would not be possible to keep defensive positions, began to hurry the main forces of the 2nd Army in the position of Danzigs-Gdynia fortified district. Troops of troops covered strong arielices.

On March 8, part of the 3rd Guards Tank and 132nd Rifle Corses of the 19th Army seized the city of Stolp (Slupsk). In order to accelerate the advance of troops, Marshal Rokossovsky ordered the 8th and 1st Guards tank corps on the enemy's shoulders to capture Danzig. The 3rd Guards Tank Corps was supposed to take Gdynia. The troops of the 1st Guards Tank Army had to overtake compounds of the 19th Army, seize crossings through the r. Leba and Canal Brenkenhof, defeat opposing enemy parts and no later than March 12 to reach the coast of Danzig Bay. The troops of the 2nd shock army were to step on Danzig from the south.

Reichsführer SS Himmler, demanding at all costs to defend Danzig, threatened by officers who manifested cowardice, hard karas. These measures have emerged. The opponent desperately resisted, passed into the counterattack, throwing tens of tanks into battle. However, tank compounds and relentlessly followed by the rifle parts of the 2nd Belarusian front with the move broke through the enemy defense at the turn of Tsukau, Karthaz, Vitzkov, Shurov, Schmolzin. Part of the 3rd Guards Tank Corps first forced p. Leba in the area of \u200b\u200bthe city of Laenburg (Lebork) and together with the 19th Army connections released this city on March 10.

The 1st Guards Tank Army with the Polish Tank Brigade moved to the onset on March 9, having 455 tanks and SAU. Advanced army troops under the command of Colonel V.I. Messagova and Lieutenant Colonel V.N. Musatova North-west of Laenburg captured bridges through r. Leba. Taking advantage of the favorable situation, head tank brigades crossed through the leb and began to move towards Dankig bay. The 8th Guards Mechanized Corps in the interaction with parts of the 19th Army on March 12 was taken by Neustadt (Wejherovo). On the same day, the 11th Guards Tank Corps came to the coast of the Dankig Bay.

Despite the rocossal measures taken by the Marshal, the enemy still managed to move away to the Gdynian-Danzig fortified area. Departing, he destroyed and mined the road, pulling the dam, flooded whole areas. The promotion of troops of the 2nd Belarusian front prevented the refugees who scored highway and country roads. Marshal Rokossovsky, seeking not to give an opponent for the organization of defense, decided not to produce complex regrouping, and with the army approach immediately start the storming of fortifications. At the same time, he took into account that the offensive band was significantly narrowed. If at the beginning of the East Pomeran operation, it was 240 km, then no longer exceeded 60. The bandwidth of each of the armies acting on the main direction was only 10-12 km.

The main blow to the forces of the 2nd shock and the 65th armies was applied towards the Coppot at the junction of Danzig and Gdynian defensive areas in order to embroider the defendant grouping of the enemy and destroy it in parts. The troops of the right wing of the front had to strike on Danzigi from the South and the West. On the left wing was planned forces of the 1st Guards Tank Army in collaboration with the 19th Army to master the city of Gdynia, part of the forces to take the area of \u200b\u200bOkshaft, Mehlinken, Kazimir, and a separate detachment to facilitate the rifle parts in mastering the oblique Putziger-Neerung. The commander of the 4th air army was prescribed by bombing assault strikes on combat orders of defending opponent to promote the advancing troops and fight against enemy ships.

On March 14, the troops of the 2nd Belarusian Front began the offensive against the Danzigs-Gdynian grouping of the enemy, which provided stubborn resistance. Despite this, the troops of the 70th army, breaking through the three lines of enemy fortifications, together with the 3rd Guards Tank Corps and part of the forces of the 49th Army on March 25 were taken by Coppot. After that, they rushed to Oliva - Danzig suburb.

At this time, the compounds of the 1st Guards Tank Army, tilting the opponent's barrels, reached the Bay of Putcyger-Vic. After that, they began to move along the coast of the bay to hit Gdynia from the north. Together with tankers, parts of the 19th Army were coming here. By March 23, the army of General Katukov had made their way to the last enemy defense line. Attempts to break in Gdynia did not have success. Tankists met a tight fire of anti-tank guns, fighters of tanks, mines, metal "hedgehogs".

With the yield of troops of the 2nd Belarusian front to the Dankig bay, the enemy grouping was dissected into three parts: one of them kept Danzig, the second - Gdynia, the third - Koshu Putziger-neruung.

The elimination of the Gdynian grouping Marshal Rokossovsky laid on the 70s, 19th, the 1st Guards Tank Army, who supported the 4th air army. Overcoming the defensive structures of the enemy, the troops of these armies approached Gdynia and tied out street battles. The decision of General Katukov was created assault detachments, each of which included a motorized rifle battalion, a tank company, a saau battery, a division of 76-mm guns, a battery of 152-mm haubs, on the M-13, M-31 suspension and armored personnel carriers, as well as a sperm. Storm detachments in fierce battles were released by the house for the house, the quarter in the quarter. March 28, the city was completely freed from the enemy. On March 30, the troops of the 2nd strike, 65, 49 and the 70th armies occupied Danzig. The remains of the German 2nd Army blocked in the Gdynia area were defeated by April 4 by the 19th Army forces. Danking group capitulated on May 9.

During the East Pomeranian offensive operation, the troops of the 2nd Belarusian front and the right wing of the 1st Belarusian front defeated 21 divisions and 8 enemy teams, liberated East Pomorie and reliably provided the right wing of the Soviet troops operating on the Berlin direction. The enemy lost only prisoners more than 100 thousand soldiers and officers. Soviet troops were captured by about 3,000 guns, about 2,000 mortars, up to 1000 tanks and self-propelled guns, more than 8,000 machine guns, several warships, 50 submarines (faulty). The losses of the troops of the 2nd Belarusian front and the right wing of the 1st Belorussian front who took part in the operation were: permanent - 55, 3 thousand, sanitary - 179 thousand people, 1027 tanks and sau, 1005 guns and mortars, 1073 combat plane.

Success in the operation was the result of rapid and continuous hostilities, the right choice of the direction of the main strike, timely entry into the battle of additional forces, both by the reserves of the TGK rate and by wide maneuver with troops, especially tank and mechanized compounds. Their rapid operations in the operational depth did not allow the enemy to organize defense at the previously prepared borders. In the course of the pursuit of the enemy, advanced detachments were widely used.

The 3rd and 45th Guards Tank Brigades, the Order of Suvorov, the 2nd degree, the 11th Guards Tank and the 8th Guards Mechanized Corps of the 1st Guards Tank Army were awarded for the exemplary fulfillment of Lenin's instructions. Many parts and compounds were assigned the honorary names of Pomeranian, Gdynian and Gdansk.

On March 8, 1945, the commander of the armored and mechanized troops of the 1st Belorussian Front Lieutenant-General Tank Forces G.N. Eagle signed a premium sheet of the following content:

"... 1st gv. The tank army led by the GW. Colonel-General T / Tov. Katukov, in 1945 he participated in two large combat operations of the troops of the 1st Belorussian front, showing the samples of bold and rapid blows on the enemy.

In the Warsaw operation of the 1st Belorussian Front 1st GW. The tank army after entering into a breakthrough from the Varkin bridgehead forced r. Pills in the district of New Malo and, developing a rapid offensive, took possession of the city of Lodz. In the future, forcing r. Varta, Army Tov. Katukuvo came to the city Poznan and, cutting off the path of waste of the Poznan grouping of the enemy, without lingering, rushed to the borders of Germany. Invading the limits of the Brandenburg province and overcoming the fierce resistance of the enemy, the 1st GW. Tank Army under the guidance of TOV. Katuchuku first reached the Oder River.

In the Pomeranian operation of the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front / 1-7 of March 1945 / Troops 1st GW. The tank army, going to a breakthrough by a rapid blow, dismissed the defenses of the 11th German army and resolutely rushed towards her departure. Overcoming the resistance of the enemy and developing a rapid offensive, on the 4th day of the operation, the army, led by Tov. Katukov, reached the Baltic Sea in the district of Kolberg, brilliantly fulfilling the task it was.

Conclusion: For the skillful and successful implementation of an offensive operation, as a result of which the enemy was disorganized and deprived of the opportunity to regrouping his forces, and under the enemy of a large damage in a living force and technique, GW. Colonel-General Tov. Katukov is worthy of awarding the Order of the "Suvorov of the first degree ..." .

The Military Council of the 1st Belorussian Front, having considered this petition, made his conclusion: "Destinating the title of the title twice Hero of the Soviet Union." In the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of April 6, 1945, it was said: "For the exemplary execution of combat missions of the command at the front of the fight against German invaders, giving the right to receive the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, award M.E. Katukuku's second medal "Golden Star".

Became. Operation of troops of the 2nd and 1st Belorus. Fr. With the assistance of the part of the Balt forces. Fleet, held on 10 Feb. - 4 Apr. As a result of the Vorol-Oder operation 1945 owls. The troops came to the R.Oner and captured the bridgeheads on his Zap. shore. Pr-to part of the Forces of the Army Group "Vistula" (2nd and 11th A, 16 pekh, 4 tank., 2 motorizes. Divisions, 5 brigades, 8 separate groups and 5 garrisons of fortresses, in reserve 4 pekh. And 2 motorizes. Divisia, Reichsführer SS Himmler) kept the Vost. Pomerania and prepared a blow to the right. Wing of troops of the 1st Belorus. Fr. Feb 8. The TGC rate, given the situation that created the situation, freed the 2nd Belarusian. Fr. (Marshal Sov. Union K. K. Rokossovsky) from further participation about the East Prussian operation 1945 and set the task to defeat the Vost. Pomeranian grouping of the pr-ka, seize the east. Pomerania and clear the Balt coast. m. From Danziga (Gdansk) to the Pomeranian Bay.

10 Feb. Troops center and lion. Wings of the 2nd Belorus. Fr. (65th, 49th, 70th A, 1st Guard. Tank. And the 8th mechanisir. Cases, 4th BA) with the assistance of the Balt. Fleet (ADM. V. F. Tributz) began an offensive with a springboard on r. Vistula, north augable, in the general direction to Shttatin. In difficult conditions, the dissolves and forest-lake terrain, overcoming the fierce resistance of the pr-ka, making a deeply echelonized defense, they are to the outcome of the 19 Feb.. advanced by 40-60 km, but were stopped at the turn of anger, Khunitsa, Ratzebur. 16-20 Feb. The pr-forces of 6 divisions inflicted Consturis from the district southeast of Shattytin, pushed the troops of the 47th A 1st Belorus. Fr. 8-12 km. However, the troops of the 1st Belorus. Fr. (Marshal Ov. The Union of K. Zhukov) reflected the Consturian pr-ka and caused it means. damage. Pr-K moved to defense on the front of the Vistula to Oder and began to strengthen the Vost.-Pomeranian group. For its defeat, the TGK rate decided to attract the troops of the 1st Belorus. Fr. The plan of owls. The command provided for the application of two blows: one - the forces of the 2nd Belorus. Fr. From the district of sempty in the direction of Köslin and the second - the forces of rights. Wings of the 1st Belorus. Fr. From the district of Arnswald to Kolberg in order to go to the Balt. m., Lust the Vost.-Pomeranian grouping of the pr-ka and destroy it in parts. Balt. The fleet was supposed to be actions of aviation, submarines and torpedo boats to break the sea. Reports of the pr-ka south. Parts Balt. m., as well as promote Sukhtit. Forces in mastering the coastal Balt. m. In front of the directions of strikes, it was possible to create the necessary superiority in the forces and means.

Feb 24. I went to the onset of the 2nd Belarusian. Fr. (2nd percussion A, 65th, 49th, 70th, 19th A, 4th VA), and on March 1 - the percussion group of the 1st Belorus. Fr. (1st and troops of Polish, 3rd shock, 61st and 47th A, 1st and 2nd Guardsa). Bringing the defense of the pr-ka, owls. Troops by March 5 went to the Balt. m. in the r-ns Köslin and Kolberga, calculating the PR-ka group (29 pekh., 3 tank. and 3 motorizes. Divisia, 3 separate brigades) into two parts. The 3rd FASH. That (from February 25, replaced the 11th a) was almost completely crushed. Balt. The fleet carved the blockade from the sea of \u200b\u200bthe pr-ka, surrounded in the district of Danzig, acted on the Mor. Communications to the south. Parts Balt. M. Aviation applied massir. Strokes for troops and military. Objects pr-ka. By March 10, the troops of the 1st Belorus. Fr. In Osn. Finished the liberation of the coast of Balt. m. from the district of Kolberg to the mouth of the r. Oder. March 18, the 1st and the troops of Polish (Gen.-Leit. S. G. Poplavsky) took possession of Kolberg. Troops of the 2nd Belorus. Fr. On March 28, they took Gdynia, and on March 30 - Danzig. Remains of the 2nd and pr-ka blocked in the district of Gdynia, 4 Apr. The 19th A. Ground-Eastern Danzig capped on May 9 was defeated by the 19th A. Plushed to the sea.

As a result, V.-P. about. Polish. Pomorie with major cities and important ports was returned to the people. Exit owls. Troops to the coast of Balt. m. reliably provided a flank ch. Stroll. Grouping owls. Army. Forces acting on the Berlin direction. Expanded the possibilities of basing Balt. Fleet, which increased the effectiveness of his fighting. Were crushed sv. 20 divisions and 8 pr-ka brigades (6 divisions and 3 brigades are completely destroyed). Only the 2nd Belorus. Fr. captured OK. 63.6 thousand soldiers and officers of the pr-ka, seized 680 tanks and assault guns, 3470 guns and mortars, 431 aircraft, 277 ships and vessels and many other military. Techniques and property. After the completion of V.-P. about. The troops of 10 armies were released to participate in the Berlin Operation 1945. A number of compounds and parts of the owls. and Polish. The troops received the honors. "Kolberg", "Pomeranian" and others.

East Pomeranian was held with the aim of defeating the East Pomeranian enemy grouping, mastering the Eastern Pomerania and the liberation of the coast of the Baltic Sea. In the operation, the troops of the 2nd Belarusian Front and the right wing of the 1st Belarusian Front took part. From March 1, 1945, the 1st Army of the Polish troops was connected to the operation. Ground forces contributed to the forces of the Baltic Fleet. Within the framework of this operation, Khunitsa-Keslin, Danzigskaya, Arnswalde-Kolbergian, Altdam front-line offensive operations were carried out.

Duration of operation - 54 days. The width of the front of the fighting is 460 kilometers. The depth of promotion of Soviet troops is 130-150 kilometers. The average daily rate of the offensive is 2-3 kilometers.

The composition of the troops of the opposing parties:
East Pomerania, the enemy kept part of the Forces of the Army Group "Vistula" (commanded by the RICSFYURER GMMMER Group), as part of which were the 2nd and 11th Army, which had 16 infantry, 4 tank, 2 Motorized divisions, 5 brigades, 8 separate groups and 5 garrisons of fortresses. The reserve contained 4 infantry and 2 motorized divisions. These troops were preparing a blow to the right wing of the 1st Belorussian Front.
VGK rate, given the situation that created the situation, freed the 2nd Belarusian Front (the commander of the Marshal of the Soviet Union Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky) from further participation in the East Prussian operation and set the task of defeating the Eastopomerant grouping of the enemy, to master East Pomerania and clean the Baltic Sea coast.

As part of the 2nd Belarusian Front, there were 65th, 49th, 70th Army, 1st Guards Tank and 8th Mechanized Case, 4th Air Army.

Procedure surgery:
On February 10, 1945, the troops of the center and the left wing of the 2nd Belarusian Front, with the assistance of the Baltic Fleet, began an offensive with a deccent on the Vistula River, north of the ruble, in the general direction to Shtattin. In difficult conditions, the dissolve and wooded terrain area, overcoming the fierce resistance of the enemy, nagging on deeply echelonized defense, they have advanced to the outcome of February 19, 1945 by 40-60 kilometers, but were stopped at the turn of anger, Khoignice, Ratzebur.

On February 16-20, 1945, the opponent of 6 divisions inflicted Consturdar from the South-Eastern Shttitin area, fastened the troops of the 47th Army of the 1st Belorussian Front (Commander Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov) by 8-12 kilometers. However, the front troops reflected the counterpart counterparts and caused him a significant damage. The enemy switched to defense on the front from the Vistula to Oder.
On February 24, 1945, the 2nd Belarusian Front moved to the offensive. As part of the front, by this time there were 2nd percussion, 49th, 70th, 19th Army and the 4th Air Army.

On March 1, 1945, the grouping of the 1st Belorussian Front began to step, having the 1st Army of the Polish troops, 3rd shock, 61st and 47 of the Army, the 1st and 2nd Guards Tank Army. By breaking the opponent's defense, the Soviet troops by March 5 came to the Baltic Sea in the areas of Köslin and Kolberg cities, dismembling the enemy grouping into two parts. The Baltic Fleet blocked the enemy from the sea, surrounded in the Danzig district.

By March 10, 1945, the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front ended the liberation of the coast of the Baltic Sea from the Kolberg district to the mouth of the Oder River.

March 18, 1945, the 1st Army of the Polish troops collapsed by Kolberg. The troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front March 28 were taken by Gdynia, and on March 30, 1945 - the city of Danzig.

The remains of the 2nd enemy army, blocked in the Gdynia district, April 4, 1945 were defeated by the 19th Army. The enemy grouping pressed to the sea in the East Danzig district capitulated on May 9, 1945.

Results of the operation:
Soviet troops, as part of which 1st Army of Polish troops operated on the coast of the Baltic Sea, mastered the cities of Kolberg, Gdynia and Danzig. The opponent is pressed against the sea. With the defeat of the German group of Army "Vistula" eliminated the threat of counterdad of the enemy to the flank and the rear for the main forces of the 1st Belarusian front, who were preparing for the occurrence of the city of Berlin.

The Polish people returned all Polish Pomorie with major cities and ports on the Baltic Sea.

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On February 5, 1945, in Directive No. 111035, the rate specified tasks for the 2nd Belarusian Front at the final stage of the operation. Rokossovsky's troops had to defeat the enemy defending the Danzigsko-Gdynian fortified area. Send the cities of Danzig, Gdynia and no later than 20 March 1945 in this direction towards the Baltic Sea coast. To perform the tasks set, the front troops were supposed to strengthen the 1st Guards Tank Army and a tank brigade from the 1st Army of the Polish troops

The 1st Belorussian Front was to continue the elimination of German troops west of the Kesin, and after the destruction of the Wehrmacht's troops in the area of \u200b\u200bBelgard and Kolberg cities, transfer the 1st Guards Tank Army into submission to Rokossovsky. The left wing of the 1st Belorussian front was to be moving to the west, to go to Oder and the Shatta bay.

In the period from March 5 to March 11, Zhukov's troops were fighting with scattered and surrounded by the compounds of the 3rd tank army of the enemy. On March 7, the front of the front, the advancing in the direction of the Schttinsky Bay, came to him in the city of Cammin. By evening, the same day, Kammin passed under the control of the Red Army. Thus, the entire coast of the Baltic right up to Kolberg was cleaned from German troops. The Colberg garrison was completely blocked from sushi, but continued to provide stubborn resistance.

On the approaches to the city of Kolberg and the city-fortress Kustere was conducted by bloody battles. March 12, after tense battles, Kustere was completely cleaned of the enemy. The city was an important reference point of the defense of the enemy on the Oder River, covering the approaches to Berlin. Moscow Saluteoval the brave Soviet soldiers of twenty artillery volley from 224 guns.

The remains of the German 3rd tank army tried to move away to the Altdamm fortified district. The defensive line around Altdamma was well and prepared in advance. In particular, the density of German troops in the area of \u200b\u200bthe city reached 5 kilometers per division and 50-75 guns and mortars per 1 kilometer of the front. It was not possible to break through such a secure line.

By March 14, 1945, two focus of resistance - Kolberg and Altdamm remained in the strip of action of the 1st Belorussian Front. To eliminate the Kolberg garrison, the front commander sent the 1st Polish army. Fierce fighting for the city began on March 14, 1945 and lasted about 4 days. On March 18, after the strenuous street fighting, the city garrison was completely defeated and one of the largest German ports on the Baltic moved under the control of the Red Army's troops.

To eliminate Altdamm Bridgehead, the front headquarters were decided to use the 47th and 61st army. The offensive on the city began on March 14 from the powerful artillery training and impact of our assault aviation. Immediately, battles were taken extremely fierce. The enemy resisted with rage and despair doomed, moving into repeated counterattacks and slowing down the promotion of our upcoming troops. By March 17, Soviet troops came to the last defensive line of Altdamma. Before the decisive storm, Zhukov decided to take an operational pause for some regrouping of troops and strengthening the group by the 2nd Guards Tank Army.

The offensive resumed on March 18. The next day, the last line of defense of the city was broken. The shock parts of the 47th Army and the 2nd Guards Tank Army came to Oder, dividing the Altdamm Group of Hitlerians.

On March 20, he broke the defense of the enemy, parts of the 61st army took the city, which meant the elimination of the opponent's bridgehead on the eastern shore of Oder. The enemy provided stubborn resistance, trying to save the remaining parts and take them to the West Coast of Oder. With the fall of Altdamma East Pomeranian operation for the 1st Belorussian Front was completed. Starting on March 21, Zhukov's troops began rearrangement to the Berlin direction for the last decisive jerk.

The rokossov task set before the troops was much more complicated than the next 1st Belarusian front. The density and preparedness of the German defense in the Danzig region and Gdynia was much stronger. The 2nd Army of the Wehrmacht, defended on this site, suffered smaller losses compared to the German 3rd tank, and the troops at the disposal of the front commander was less than that of Zhukov.

The overall plan of the offensive was drawn up in accordance with the directive rate and provided for the application of two blows: the left wing of the front in the director of the Stolp-Gdynia, and the right-handed on Danzig (Gdansk) along the West Bank of the Vistula.

Front troops switched to the offensive March 6, 1945. Already on the first day of the fighting, the opponent's defense was broken, the front advanced by 18 kilometers on his right flank and 12 on the left. For the week of stubborn battles of the Rokossovsky army were able to discard the broken parts of the East-Pomeranian enemy grouping to the external defensive belt in the Danzig area and Gdynia, advanced by 75-80 kilometers.

Danzigs-Gdynian fortified area was perfect for defense and was a difficult obstinate obstacle for the upcoming troops. Thanks to the ports, the 2nd German army could communicate over the sea both with the East Prussian group, and with troops in Kurland. 75% of the territories in the offensive band were covered with dense forests and swamps, and in the Gdynia area, hilly ridges almost completely deprived the possibilities of maneuver tank parts.

Rokossovsky in his memoirs described the nature of local fortifications:

«... Danzig - the strongest fortress. Durable, well-masked forts held all the terrain under the shelling of their guns. Ancient serf tree with a rings covered the city. And before this shaft is an external belt of modern capital fortifications. On all command altitudes - reinforced concrete and rock concrete dots. The system of long-term structures was complemented by the positions of the field type, and the territory adjacent to the city from the south and the southeast was set off. No less strong were strengthening and at the approaches to Gdynia, which was also a first-class fortress. The land defense was backed by fire from the sea: there were six cruisers in the Danzig bay, thirteen of the destroyer and dozens of smaller ships. It was necessary to take into account the fact that, overcoming all the fortifications, we will still storm and the cities themselves, where every house is turned into a firepoint ... "

Without withstanding the blows of our troops, carrying huge losses in the technique and alive strength, the Germans were forced to take their parts to the defense line Danzig Gdynia, having firing resistance and taking a number of counterattacks in the hope of stopping the promotion of Soviet forces.

As the commander of the 2nd German army, Colonel Lais:

"A direct threat to the dismemberment of the army was created for individual groups and its destruction before the fortress of Gotenhafen - Danzig and the enemy breakthrough to these ports in the Baltic Sea. In order to prevent this tremendous danger, there was only one tool - the rapid discharge of the three Western corps of the army on the pre-consuming fortification of Gdynia, Danzig, when using all reserves, maintain a deeply echelized western flank of the army and protect the Gdynia and Danzig ports. Now the main task was to establish the front of defense as soon as possible, to create a defensive strip and prepare himself for decisive fights on the pre-consistent strengthening of Gdynia - Danzig "

The 2nd German army, defended in Eastern Pomerania, received an order from Hitler at any cost to hold the coastal part to retain the bridgeheads and ports as a base for the actions of the German fleet.

March 14, 1945 began the assault on the fortified district. The main blow to the forces of the 70th and 49th armies with the support of the 3rd Guards Tank Corps was applied in the general direction on the Coppot. In front of the central grouping of Rokossovsky's troops, the task was set to aback German forces into two parts. At the same time, the left wing of the front (19th and 1st Guards Tank Army) Start Promotion along Danzig Bay to access Gdynia from the north. The right wing of the front (65th and 2nd percussion armies) broke out to Danzigi from the south.

In connection with the activation of the opponent's aviation, which complicated the combat work of Soviet attack aircraft and bombers, On March 15, it was decided to strike at Danzig airfield. Due to complex meteo conditions, only the 18th has managed to carry out the operation. In the afternoon, two massive impacts organized in two waves were applied during the exploration for the German airfield. The operation participated 102 aircraft. Flying and assault strikes were performed exactly according to plan. As a result, 15 opponent aircraft was burned brilliantly, and 12 were damaged and disabled. From our side there was no loss, only the Major Tushari aircraft was bent, but he was able to get to our airfield and landed on the fuselage.

German troops, not believing with losses, continued to have active resistance. The promotion of our armies from March 14 to March 21 did not exceed one or two kilometers per day. Soviet soldiers had to practically unzip every meter of the Earth. Some heights and settlements passed from hand to hand several times within one day. The enemy, relying on solid defense, continuously counted the advancing Soviet units. These days, our parts carried heavy losses - 800-900 people killed every day.

On March 22, he breaking the resistance of the German troops and beat up 20 counterparts supported by enemy artillery fire, the 70th Army reached the coast of Danzig Bay and the Gdynia-Danzig group.

On March 23, 1945, the troops of the 70th and 49th armies managed, finally, break through the German defense in the area of \u200b\u200bCoppot, to go to the city and to knock out from the enemy from there. The enemy led stubborn battles, trying to prevent our forces to increase the defense breakthrough Denzig Bay, and at the same time carried out the evacuation of the German population, values \u200b\u200band partly troops from the ports of Gdynia and Danzig.

Danzig's position was catastrophic. The city was filled with refugees, the population is hungeried. According to the allegations of the prisoners, numerous anonymous letters come to the demand from passing the city by Russians in the name of the garrison chief. The frequent bombing finally paralyzed the life of the city. It came to the point that from some houses during the bombardments were shot in German soldiers and officers. On March 25, battles began on the northern outskirts of Danzig and in the near approaches to Gdynia. On the same day, Gdynia passed under the control of the Soviet troops, and our armies came out to the shore of the Danzig Bay, dividing the 2nd German army in two forces. By completing the task of a defense breakthrough, the 1st Guards Tank Army was returned to the command of Zhukov.

The elimination of the Gdynia group was entrusted to the 19th Army and the 3rd Guards Tank Corps. On March 28, the most important naval base of Reich City-Port Gdynia was taken under the control of the Red Army. In the fights outside the city, 4 German divisions were completely defeated, however, part of the Wehrmacht forces could move away to the Oxheft bridgehead.

At the same time, the troops of the 2nd shock and the 65th armies, broke through the defense of Danzig for the entire depth, went to the city. The Soviet command sent to the city of parliamentants with a proposal to surrender. The command of the German garrison responded with silence. March 27 began the storming of the city. Gauleter Danzig Forster with his device left the city on March 26th on a submarine. Even earlier, on March 23, a fighter aviation group went to Germany, the main cause of the loss was the loss of the base and interruptions with flammable.

During the campaign, the enemy caused the hardest defeat. The German command lost a convenient bridgehead for an attack in the flank of our group on the Berlin direction. At the same time, Reich lost control over a significant part of the Baltic coast. Shortly after the completion of the operation, the power of the Red Baltic Fleet was relocated in the ports of Danzig and Gdynia, which significantly expanded its operational capabilities. Now it was possible to block the surrounded German groups from the sea and in the mouth of the Vistula. In addition, Germany lost significant industrial facilities, which even more closer to the Reich.

Germans lost almost 200,000 people killed. Parts of the 1st and 2nd Belarusian fronts were liberated by 54 cities and hundreds of settlements, thousands of prisoners of war and stolen in Germany. But this victory went to an expensive price - the losses of Soviet troops amounted to 225,000 people, those killed - 52,000.

The actions of the commander of both Belarusian fronts were highly appreciated by the leadership of the country. Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of March 30, 1945 marshals of the Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov and K.K. Crosovsky were awarded the Order of "Victory". Ahead was a decisive operation of the Great Patriotic War - Berlin.

Prehistory

Gdynia was also strongly strengthened. The defensive area of \u200b\u200bGdynia included two defense stripes. Within a radius of 12-15 km from the city, a practically continuous chain of the trenches, barriers and trenches with artillery positions, dotami and feeding, reinforced with minefields and several strips of wire bardings was prepared. The first strip of defense was held in front of Coppot, Quishin, Collettsau (eng.)russian , Red, Reva and had a length of depth from 3 to 5 km. The second strip of defense consisted of three lines of trenches and was prepared 5-7 km from Gdynia, at the turn of Kolibken, Weltcendorf and Yanovo, 1 km of the front accounted for 4-5 dollars and sucks. Gdynia was also prepared for street fighting, the city was blocked by barricades, tannicales are mined, all the streets and intersections are shot, numerous artillery positions, mortar and machine-gun points, the positions of Fauspectridges are prepared.

To the north of the Gdynia, at altitudes in the settlements of Oksheft, irradiation and Kazimir also prepared a defensive line, in which German troops were to consolidate in the event of a waste from Gdynia.

Between the Gdynia and Danzigian defensive areas, along the Tsukau, Exau, Koble, Collettsau, the height of 221 were built a defensive position of three trenches, a solid mine field was arranged before the position.

A strong defensive line, a depth of 3-5 km, was also built on the left bank of the Vistula River, from Bydgoszzzzz to the mouth of the Vistula River, with a large number of field-type facilities - sucks, with prepared anti-tank obstacles and a large number of wire barriers.

Such a complex defense was to overcome the troops of the 1st and 2nd Belarusian fronts. Preparation for the operation required the transfer of a large number of troops, accelerating the repair of railways and roads in the front strip in order to accelerate the enjoyment of ammunition and other equipment for troops, a lot of work has been done by road, rail, sapper and engineering parts.

Course of operation

On February 10, 1945, the troops of the 2nd Belarusian front from the turn of Greudenz, Cemepelburg moved to the offensive and advanced for the day of battle from 5 to 10 km. The troops of the 2nd shock army completed the defeat of the garrison blocked earlier by the city of Elbing (Elblag) and liberated the city. The troops of the 65th Army occupied the cities of Shvets and Shenau, parts of the 49th army met very strong resistance and were able to move only for 2-3 km. The Germans made numerous counterattacks with the use of tanks, in order to prevent the offensive. The conditions of the dissolve and swampy terrain also prevented the offensive. For five days, the troops of the 2nd Belarusian front advanced 15-40 km, overcoming the persistent resistance. On February 15, 1945, parts of the 70th Army, the 1st Guards Tank Corps and the 3rd Guards Cavalry Corps were occupied by the city of Khunitsa - the most powerful fortified point and a large transport unit, where 8 highway and 6 railways were condensed. Fights per city were fierce. The first on the streets of the city, tank workers were broken by the 1st Guards Tank Corps and captured the station, the rifle parts of the quarter in the quarter knocked out the Germans from their positions. February 16, 1945 Moscow Saluteoval Valiant Forces of the 2nd Belarusian Front 21 by a volley from 220 guns, who liberated G. Khoinitsa. Many parts and compounds were awarded high government awards, and some of them were assigned the honorary names of Hoignitsky.

Also, parts of the 70th Army on February 15 were taken by the city of Tuchiel (Tucol). On February 16, the operation included parts of the 2nd shock army, which completed the rearrangement and published on the initial positions. The resistance of the Germans was extremely fierce, the Soviet troops had to literally unzip the reference points and resistance nodes. In particular, the troops of the 76th Guards and 385 rifle divisions only after stubborn battles, often completed hand-to-hand fights, occupied settlements of Guttovitz, Iohannesberg, Kejki and Klodnyh.

The fierce battles walked in the black direction, where the troops of the 49th army were taught. Parts of the 385th and 191th Rifle Division on the night of February 17 managed to force the Schwarzvasser River in the area of \u200b\u200bthe village of Sauermühul and occupy G. Osh - a strong reference point on the road to Cherk. On the approaches to this city, turns around the height 122.1 and 129.3, the lake is obeffully, the right bank of the river. Wilgarten, a solid defense was created. The repeated attempts of the 199th Rifle Division overcome this defense did not know how to succeed. The night attack of height 122.1, undertaken by the assault groups, was successful, and as a result, the Germans began to go round from their positions. On February 21, 1945, part of the 49th Army took Cherk and cleared it from the enemy.

Strong battles walked in the onset of the 238th and 139th rifle divisions of the 49th Army, in the area of \u200b\u200bArt. Lonsk and settlement of the Rossynets.

At the turn of Mevé, Cherk, Khoinitsa, the offensive of the troops of the 2nd Belarusian front was temporarily suspended, due to the increasing resistance and the need to enhance the attacking groupings. In the area of \u200b\u200bthe offensive, parts of the 19th Army of Lieutenant General Kozlov G. K.

Being coming within a few days, by February 19, 1945, the front troops have advanced by 50-70 km deep into the German defense, but nevertheless could not fulfill the initial tasks.

The offensive in the strip of the 1st Belorussian Front, where part of the 47th, 61st, 1st and 2nd Guards Tank Army, the 1st Army of the Polish troops and the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps, also developed slowly. On February 10, part of the 1st Army of the Polish Army took the city of Merkish Fredlyand (Miroslavl), on February 11, part of the 47th Army took the city of Deach-Crown. On February 16, 1945, the Germans were defended by the forces of six tank divisions in the troops of the 1st Belarusian front from the Stargard region and forced the 47th Army to move by 8-12 km, taking the city of Pritz (Pryzets), Ban (Bang), but February 20 Everywhere passed to defense. In reinforcement of the group of Army "Vistula" from Kurlendia, the 93rd, 126, 225th and 290th infantry divisions were transferred. It was also planned to transfer part of the 6th Tank Army, but even more severe position on the southern wing of the front, in Hungary, forced a German command to transfer tank parts into this area of \u200b\u200bthe Front.

On February 24, 1945, the offensive of the Soviet Army resumed. It was assumed to strike in the direction of Keslin and to launch a German grouping in Pomerania into two parts, which were further expected to destroy: the eastern - forces of the 2nd Belarusian Front, the Western - the 1st Belarusian Front. The task of the 2nd Belarusian front was to defeat the 2nd German army in the Gdynia and Danziga area and clear the sea coast, the 1st Belorussian front - blows to Altdamm, Holes and the fireplace to destroy parts of the 11th German army and go off the coast of the Shatta Bay and Pomeranian bay.

The troops of the 2nd Belarusian Front on February 24 caused the main blow to the forces of the 19th and 70th armies from the South-west of Khunitsa in the direction of Keslin. The German defense was broken down on the front at a plot of 12 km long, and the army troops managed to advance for the day of battle for 10-12 km. The Germans made multiple counterattacks, with the support of tanks and aviation, but were forced to move away. February 25 The breakthrough front was expanded to 30 km. On February 26, the parts of the 19th Army were taken by the major points of the German defense - the city of Baldenberg (Biały-Bog) (together with the parts of the 3rd Guards Tank Corps), Polylnov (Polyanov), Shlokhau (CHLUHUV) and Steghers (Genther). To the end of February 27, the front troops have advanced to the depths of the German defense to 70 km, taking the city of Bublice and Hammerstein (Charne). On February 28, the 19th and 70th armies were purified by the Germans of Neusstettin (Szczecinek) and Prshlau (Pshelovo).

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