The liberation of Minsk in 1944 from the Nazi invaders

One of the most important stages of the military operation, conducted in Belarus in 1944, was the liberation of Minsk from the Nazi invaders. Its goal was not only the encirclement, but also the complete destruction of the largest Wehrmacht group stationed in the area. In addition, the Red Army faced the task of clearing the capital of Belarus as quickly as possible from the enemy . This significant event occurred on July 3, 1944. In modern Belarus it is not only the date of liberation of Minsk, the capital of the state, but also a national holiday - Independence Day.

Situation before surgery

In 1944, three successful military special operations were carried out - Mogilev, Vitebsk-Orsha and Bobruisk, as a result of which parts of the 4th and 9th Armies, part of the German grouping "Center", were almost surrounded by Soviet units. Hitler's command to relieve its troops transferred fresh forces, including the 4th, 5th and 12th Panzer Divisions.

Gradually the ring around the Germans shrank, and the long-awaited liberation of Minsk was not far off. Toward the end of the day on June 28, I. D. Chernyakhovsky, commander of the 3rd Belorussian Front, went to the Berezina River, thereby covering the enemy from the north. In turn, I. H. Bagramyan with the troops of the 1st Baltic led battles in the Polotsk area. At the same time, GF Zakharov with the troops of the 2nd Byelorussian Front bypassed the enemy from the eastern side, and KK Rokossovsky with his army - from the south, having managed to reach the Osipovichi-Svisloch-Kopatkevichi line and higher along the Pripyat River. Separate advanced units were already a hundred kilometers from the republican capital.

Plans for Betting

The Soviet command understood that it would take a lot of effort to ensure that the liberation of Minsk in 1944 became a reality. Therefore, on June 28, the Stavka set a goal before the Red Army - to encircle and liquidate a large fascist grouping. For this purpose it was planned to inflict crushing blows on the German troops near the city by the forces of the 1st and 3rd Byelorussian Fronts. At the same time, a further offensive to the west of the 2nd Byelorussian compound was envisaged. As a result, the troops of all fronts participating in this operation were to first surround and then exterminate the entire Minsk group of the enemy.

At the same time, the Red Army units had to steadily move to the west, without stopping, thus binding the enemy troops and preventing them from uniting with the Minsk group. Such actions of the Soviet side created good conditions for the subsequent offensive on the Kaunas, Warsaw and Šiauliai directions.

Actions of the 3rd Belorussian

On June 28, the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command announced the order concerning this front, which was to force the Berezina River immediately, and then launch a rapid offensive in two directions - to the Belarusian capital and Molodechno. The main blow aimed at the liberation of Minsk from the Nazi invaders was to be inflicted by the troops of the 31st, 5th and 11th Armies, as well as the 2nd Panzer Corps.

The next day, the advance detachments of the Red Army managed to seize several bridgeheads on the Berezina River and, knocking down enemy defenses, advance deeper to a distance of 5, and in some areas and 10 km. However, faced with the stubborn resistance of the Germans, the Soviet troops were drawn into heavy fighting. It was for this reason that by the evening of June 29 the Red Army men had only managed to cross the river.

Simultaneously, the troops of the Fifth Army under the command of Krylov, without stopping, crossed the Berezina and fortified themselves on the shore, taking several bridgeheads. It should be noted that numerous partisan detachments contributed to the advancement of the Red Army units, whose main goal was the liberation of Minsk. They not only indicated the most favorable and shortest road running through forests and swampy terrain, but also helped cover the flanks of military columns and guard crossings.

Deadly confrontation

The liberation of Minsk (1944) was accompanied by extremely fierce resistance from the German side. It prevented the rapid advance of the 11th Army under the command of Galitsky. That is why the Soviet troops in the Krupki area - Kholopenichi were forced to get involved in the battle for the whole day. Here the Red Army men were restrained by the 5th Panzer Army, as well as the remnants of the 95th and 14th Divisions. The purpose of the fascist command was to prevent the breakthrough of Soviet troops to Borisov, which was the stronghold of the Germans on the Berezina River and covered the way to the Belarusian capital.

In turn, the 5th Soviet Tank Army led offensive along the motorway to Minsk. After that, she went to the Berezina on the north side of Borisov. It should be noted that the coordinated actions of the tankmen under the command of Rotmistrov, as well as the effective offensive of the 2nd Tatsin Corps, allowed the troops of the 31st Army to advance 40 km within one day and approach the Bebr River just south of the village of Krupki.

Forcing the Berezina River

Given the fairly confident advance of Soviet troops to the Belarusian capital, it was possible with great certainty to assume that the liberation of Minsk in 1944 was almost predetermined. On June 30, the main forces of the Red Army reached the Berezina and crossed it. The 5th Army expanded its bridgehead and entered the depth of the German defense to a distance of up to 15 km, and the 3rd mechanized corps, practically destroying the enemy rear and occupying Pleschenitsy, blocked the way Borisov-Vileika. As a result of such actions, the Soviet troops created a serious threat to one of the flanks and the rear of the enemy Borisov group.

With all the efforts, the 11th Guards Army still quickly broke down the enemy resistance, went out to the Berezina and, finally, was able to force this river. At this time, the Soviet divisions bypassed the Germans from the left flank and moved to Borisov. As a result, a battle ensued from the south-eastern side of the city. At the same time the tankers of Rotmistrova went on an attack east of Borisov.

The feat of the Soviet tankmen

The operation, the ultimate goal of which was the liberation of Minsk from the fascists, demanded almost massive heroism from Soviet soldiers. So, on June 30, the tank platoon of Pavel Rak, consisting of four cars, was ordered to break into Borisov and at any cost to hold out until the main forces of the 3rd Mechanized Corps entered the city. Of all the crews, only the commander's T-34 performed the task. The second and third tanks of Yunayev and Kuznetsov were hit earlier, another car caught fire on the bridge over the Berezina River, after which the Germans blew up this crossing. All the Red Army men perished.

For more than 12 hours, the crew of P. Raka, which included the gunner-radio operator A. Danilov and driver A. Petryaev, were fighting with all their might. It is worth noting that the breakthrough of the Soviet armored car caused a real panic in the enemy garrison, and in many ways contributed to the speedy release of the city of Borisov. The heroes stood up to the last, when the Germans sent several assault guns and tanks to eliminate them. Crew P. Raka died a death of the brave. Later, they all received the highest military rank of Heroes of the Soviet Union. There were many such brave people in that great era. The best sons of the Fatherland gave their lives for the liberation of Minsk and other cities. It was truly mass heroism.

Further promotion

The German command managed to organize on the outskirts of Borisov several rather strong counterattacks, but they practically had no effect even in spite of the introduction of the German air force into the battle. Enemy aircraft, flying in groups of 18 cars, tried to prevent Soviet troops from crossing the Berezina. But Soviet attack planes and bombers reflected powerful enemy strikes and themselves attacked a cluster of fascist equipment near Borisov.

As a result of the fighting on July 1, the Red Army forces forced Berezina and captured the city. The Borisov group of the Wehrmacht was defeated. This fact brought Minsk's liberation from the fascist invaders even one step closer. However, it will take another two days for the Soviet troops to carry out this task.

Return of the Belarusian capital

On the night of July 3, the commander of the front, Chernyakhovsky, instructed the liberation of Minsk of the 31st Army, the 2nd Mechanized Corps and partially the tank army under the leadership of Rotmistrov. Early in the morning the battle started on the eastern and northern outskirts of the city, and by 7.30 the Soviet troops had successfully reached its center. Two hours later, the capital of Belarus was cleared of Hitler mercenaries.

1944 - the year of liberation of Minsk - has become truly victorious for the Red Army. Three endless years, the inhabitants of this dilapidated and outraged city waited for the day when the Soviet troops finally enter and rescue them from under the fascist yoke. And they still waited and with honor stood in this unequal battle!