Operation Bagration
Operation Bagration: The “Unknown” D-Day
At the Tehran Conference, the first World War II conference amongst the Big Three: the Soviet Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom the final plan to defeat Nazi Germany was agreed upon in unison. As promised at the Tehran Conference at the end of 1943, as the United States revealed the date for their Western offense, the Red Army began planning a powerful offensive to coincide with it. Operation Bagration, the main summer offensive of 1944 carried out by the Soviets on the Eastern front was to overshadow with the allied landing in Normandy set for the 6th of June 1944. (Axell p.97) Its goal was to “recover soviet territory, destroy German forces, liberate other European countries, and conduct strategic operations sequentially rather than simultaneously.” (Connor p. 5) This research paper intends to discuss the often-overlooked importance of Operation Bagration in the demise of the Wehrmacht during the Second World War. I will concentrate on how Soviet military strategy and deception was able to hinder German forces. Moreover I will analyze the extent to which this military setback and demoralization of the German Wehrmacht aided the success of D-day that same month. I hope to bring to light the far-reaching achievements and contributions of this often forgotten operation, and its significance to the ultimate demise of Hitler’s Nazi Germany.
Taking place during the often-termed third period of the Second World War, the period between January 1944 and May 1945, Operation Bagration took place during the height of Soviet military superiority. At the launch of Bagration in 1944 the Red Army was superior of German forces both in manpower and production. This allowed the Soviets for the first time since the start of the war to successfully take the initiative against the Germans. Germany had the upper hand between 1941 and 1943, as demonstrated by the Soviet’s defeat at the Battle for Moscow, and their
At the Tehran Conference, the first World War II conference amongst the Big Three: the Soviet Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom the final plan to defeat Nazi Germany was agreed upon in unison. As promised at the Tehran Conference at the end of 1943, as the United States revealed the date for their Western offense, the Red Army began planning a powerful offensive to coincide with it. Operation Bagration, the main summer offensive of 1944 carried out by the Soviets on the Eastern front was to overshadow with the allied landing in Normandy set for the 6th of June 1944. (Axell p.97) Its goal was to “recover soviet territory, destroy German forces, liberate other European countries, and conduct strategic operations sequentially rather than simultaneously.” (Connor p. 5) This research paper intends to discuss the often-overlooked importance of Operation Bagration in the demise of the Wehrmacht during the Second World War. I will concentrate on how Soviet military strategy and deception was able to hinder German forces. Moreover I will analyze the extent to which this military setback and demoralization of the German Wehrmacht aided the success of D-day that same month. I hope to bring to light the far-reaching achievements and contributions of this often forgotten operation, and its significance to the ultimate demise of Hitler’s Nazi Germany.
Taking place during the often-termed third period of the Second World War, the period between January 1944 and May 1945, Operation Bagration took place during the height of Soviet military superiority. At the launch of Bagration in 1944 the Red Army was superior of German forces both in manpower and production. This allowed the Soviets for the first time since the start of the war to successfully take the initiative against the Germans. Germany had the upper hand between 1941 and 1943, as demonstrated by the Soviet’s defeat at the Battle for Moscow, and their
Bibliography: Axell, Albert. 1997. Stalin 's war: through the eyes of his commanders. London: Arms and Armour Press. Connor, William M. 1987. Analysis of deep attack operations Operation Bagration, Belorussia, 22 June-29 August 1944. Fort Leavenworth, Kan: Combat Studies Institute. Glantz, David M., and Jonathan M. House. 1995. When Titans clashed: how the Red Army stopped Hitler. Modern war studies. Lawrence, Kan: University Press of Kansas. Mazower, Mark. 2008. Hitler 's empire: how the Nazis ruled Europe. New York: Penguin Press. Niepold, Gerd. 1987. Battle for White Russia: the destruction of Army Group Centre, June 1944. London: Brassey 's Defence. Parker, Robert Alexander Clarke. 1997. The Second World War: a short history. Oxford [Eng.]: Oxford University Press.