Operation BAGRATION

BAGRATION, Operation (1944). The Belorussian operation by the Red Army between 23 June and 29 August 1944 was the largest of WW II, resulting in the destruction of German Army Group Centre and the reconquest of what is now Belarus. Named after the Napoleonic war hero, and timed to begin on the third anniversary of the German invasion on 22 June (in fact it was a day late), the sense of grand opera reflected its scale. Four Fronts (army groups) were involved: first Baltic (Bagramyan), Third Belorussian (Chernyakovsky), Second Belorussian (Zakharov), and first Belorussian (Rokossovsky), totalling 1.4 million men. The Germans were in deeply echeloned defensive positions 155-68 miles (250-70 km) deep, with 1.2 million. The Soviets attacked simultaneously in six places along a 683 mile (1, 100 km) front, pushing west 342-73 miles (550-600 km). Minsk was recaptured on 3 July, and by 29 August the Red Army was close to Warsaw (see Warsaw uprising) and well into East Prussia.

— Christopher Bellamy