Belarus Ivan Bagramyan

general deployments of soviet , german forces during operation bagration in june 1944.

on 2 april 1944 stalin granted bagramyan s request relieve troops of front of offensive duties. however, german forces took advantage mounted new offensive against soviet partisan fighters in belarus. bagramyan s senior staff diverted air support , other crucial supplies aid partisans, allowing of them escape german encirclement. advance of soviet forces in baltic , ukraine, german army group center had largely been isolated stavka prepared eliminate pocket (consisting of third panzer, second, fourth, , ninth armies). stavka s plan, codenamed operation bagration kept secret of involved front commanders. bagramyan himself informed in may 1944 of role in offensive.

bagration called first, second , third belorussian , first baltic fronts engulf army group center. bagramyan tasked attacking forces in pocket, cross daugava river and, along third belorussian, clear surrounding areas of vitebsk of german forces. although felt plans bagration sound, worried possibility of german incursion army group north against forces north. appealed superiors once more, zhukov , alexander vasilevsky, have first baltic front move westward eliminate third panzer army, splitting army group north in two. zhukov , vasilevsky accepted argument, introducing stalin in meeting on 23 may formally approved in directive on 31 may.

although bagramyan found acceptable sustain heavy casualties (as did commanders of red army), disturbed immense loss of life forces sustaining. he, however, attempted reduce levels maintaining element of surprise in operations. in preparations bagration, planned 43rd army move through more geographically difficult swamps , marshlands army group north s right flank. maneuver take north surprise since expected soviet offensive move through more suitable terrain. proved correct, in june 1944, 43rd achieved success in attack. commander of 43rd army, general afanasy beloborodov, wrote during offensive apprehended german general stated german forces had been blindsided attacking forces.

as bagramyan pushed towards vitebsk, forces aided same belorussian guerrilla fighters had escaped german encirclement in april. provided vital intelligence, including information on location of bridges , troop movements, , launched attacks against german logistic lines. on 22 june 1944, bagration began bagramyan proceeded in moving westwards planned. however, widening gap on front s northern flank grew advanced while second baltic front, tasked defend area, took no action. stalin agreed send tank corps reinforce bagramyan s forces ordered him capture polotsk, sever army group north s communication lines , open route towards central baltic. 3 july, troops had accomplished tasks set forth in directive, destroyed third panzer army , captured polotsk. achievements, on 7 july decorated title of hero of soviet union.