Rogachev-Zhlobin Offensive

The Rogachev-Zhlobin Offensive was a Soviet-led military offensive that took place on February 21–26, 1944 within the Eastern Front of World War II. Soviet forces aimed to advance through Rogachev and defeat the German 9th Army of Army Group Centre, which culminated with the movements of other units in preparation of Operation Bagration.[7]

Rogachev-Zhlobin Offensive
Date21–26 February 1944
Location
Rogachev-Zhlobin
Result Soviet Victory
Belligerents
 Soviet Union  Germany
Commanders and leaders

Konstantin Rokossovsky

Viktor Zholudev		 Ernst Bush
Josef Harpe
Strength
232,000[1] Unknown
Casualties and losses
31,277 Casualties[2][3] 4,000-24,000 Killed, many captured, up to 62 big guns, 13 tanks and 8,000 mines captured[4][5][6]

Background

Germany captured Rogachev during the beginning stages of Operation Barbarossa. The area of Rogachev was part of Adolf Hitler's Rogachev-Vetibsk line during the later stages of the war and was named a stronghold.[4] The line did prove effective, holding the Soviet troops in a stalemate for a month.[8] For future operations like Operation Bagration, the 1st Belorussian Front needed to attack the 9th German Army, liberating Rogachev and removing the German bridgehead on the eastern flank of the Dnieper.

The Operation

The operation to take Rogachev and Zhlobin took place simultaneously with another separate operation to take Vitebsk, starting on February 21. During the initial stages of the offensive, Marshal Rokossovsky of the 1st Belorussian Front was able to drive a 16-mile wedge into the German lines, liberating Zhlobin and at least 30 other villages and towns.[8][9] In an attempt to seal the gap, the German commander threw fresh troops into the lines. About fourteen separate counterattacks were made, culminating in about 2,500 losses. Though the Germans fighting was considered fierce, the Soviet troops surged forward after the counterattacks and seized 13 tanks, 40 guns, and 8,000 mines along with large amounts of prisoners.[5] The offensive ended on February 26 with a breakthrough but no decisive victory.

References
  1. The Eastern Front 1943-1944. by Karl-Heinz Frieser Published 2017 Page 329.
  2. . Dupyinstitute. Published 06-09-2005.
  3. . Soviet Casualties and Combat Losses in the Twentieth Century by G. F. Krivosheev 1997 page 110.
  4. . Tulscaloosa News. Published February 25, 1944.
  5. Plattsburgh press-Republican. Published February 26, 1944.
  6. Nassau daily review-star. Published June 27, 1944 .
  7. Glantz, David (June 1997). "The Failures of Historiography: Forgotten Battles of the German-Soviet War (1941-1945)". Foreign Military Studies Office. pp. 14–15. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  8. . Brooklyn Eagle. Published February 25, 1944.
  9. . Nassau daily review-star. Published February 25, 1944.
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