One of the most important stages of the military operation carried out in Belarus in 1944 was the liberation of Minsk from Nazi invaders. Its goal was not only the encirclement, but also the complete destruction of the largest Wehrmacht grouping located in the area. In addition, the Red Army was faced with the task of clearing the capital of Belarus from the enemy as quickly as possible. This significant event took place on July 3, 1944. In modern Belarus, this is not only the date of the liberation of Minsk, the capital of the state, but also a national holiday - Independence Day.
The situation before the start of the operation
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, which are part of the German group "Center", were almost surrounded by Soviet formations. The Nazi command deployed fresh forces to help their troops, including the 4th, 5th and 12th tank divisions.
Gradually, the ring around the Germans was shrinking, and the long-awaited liberation of Minsk was no longermountains. By 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. Kh. Bagramyan fought with the troops of the 1st B altic in the Polotsk region. At the same time, G. F. Zakharov with the troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front bypassed the enemy from the east, and K. K. Rokossovsky with his army - from the south, having managed to reach the Osipovichi - Svisloch - Kopatkevichi line and higher along the Pripyat River. Separate advanced formations were already a hundred kilometers from the republican capital.
Bet Plans
The Soviet command understood that it would take a lot of effort to make the liberation of Minsk in 1944 a reality. Therefore, on June 28, the Headquarters set a goal for the Red Army - to surround and eliminate a large fascist group. To do this, it was planned by the forces of the 1st and 3rd Belorussian Fronts to inflict crushing blows on German troops located near the city. At the same time, a further offensive to the west of the formations of the 2nd Belorussian was also envisaged. As a result, the troops of all fronts participating in this operation had to first surround and then destroy the entire Minsk grouping of the enemy.
At the same time, units of the Red Army had to move steadily west without stopping, thereby pinning down enemy troops and preventing them from joining the Minsk group. Such actions of the Soviet side created good conditions for the subsequent offensive on Kaunas, Warsaw andSiauliai directions.
Actions of the 3rd Belarusian
On June 28, the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command issued an order regarding this front, which was supposed to immediately cross the Berezina River, and then launch a swift offensive in two directions - on the Belarusian capital and Molodechno. The main blow aimed at liberating Minsk from the Nazi invaders was to be delivered by the troops of the 31st, 5th and 11th armies, as well as the 2nd tank corps.
The next day, the forward detachments of the Red Army managed to capture several bridgeheads on the Berezina River and, having knocked down enemy barriers, move inland to a distance of 5, and in some areas even 10 km. However, faced with stubborn German resistance, the Soviet troops were drawn into heavy fighting. It is for this reason that by the evening of June 29, the Red Army only managed to force the river.
At the same time, the troops of the 5th Army under the command of Krylov crossed the Berezina without stopping and fortified on the shore, occupying several bridgeheads. It should be noted that the advance of the Red Army units, whose main goal was the liberation of Minsk, was greatly facilitated by numerous partisan detachments. They not only indicated the most favorable and shortest route through forests and swampy terrain, but also helped cover the flanks of military columns and guard the crossings.
Deadlyconfrontation
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 Krupka-Kholopenichi region were forced to engage in battle for the whole day. Here, the Red Army was held back by the 5th Panzer, as well as the remnants of the 95th and 14th divisions. The purpose of the fascist command was to prevent the Soviet troops from breaking through to Borisov, which was the German stronghold on the Berezina River and covered the way to the Belarusian capital.
In turn, the 5th Soviet tank army was advancing along the highway to Minsk. After that, she went to the Berezina from the north side of Borisov. It should be noted that the well-coordinated actions of the tankers under the command of Rotmistrov, as well as the effective offensive of the 2nd Tatsinsky Corps, allowed the troops of the 31st Army to advance 40 km in one day and approach the Beaver River just south of the village of Krupki.
Forcing the Berezina River
Given the rather confident advance of Soviet troops to the Belarusian capital, it could be assumed with a high degree of certainty that the liberation of Minsk in 1944 was practically predetermined. On June 30, the main forces of the Red Army reached the Berezina and crossed over it. The 5th Army expanded its bridgehead and entered deep into the German defense at a distance of up to 15 km, and the 3rd Mechanized Corps, having practically destroyed the enemy rear and occupied Pleschenitsy, thereby blocked the Borisov road -Vileyka. As a result of such actions, Soviet troops created a serious threat to one of the flanks and rear of the enemy Borisov group.
With every effort, the 11th Guards Army nevertheless quickly broke the enemy resistance, went 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 southeastern side of the city. At the same time, Rotmistrov's tankers went on the attack east of Borisov.
The feat of Soviet tankers
The operation, the ultimate goal of which was the liberation of Minsk from the Nazis, required almost mass heroism on the part of Soviet soldiers. So, on June 30, a tank platoon of Pavel Rak, consisting of four vehicles, received an order to break into Borisov and hold out at all costs until the main forces of the 3rd mechanized corps entered the city. Of all the crews, only the commander's T-34 completed the task. The second and third tanks of Yunaev and Kuznetsov were knocked out earlier, another car caught fire on the bridge over the Berezina River, after which the Germans blew up this crossing. All Red Army soldiers died.
For more than 12 hours, the crew of P. Rak, which included gunner-radio operator A. Danilov and driver A. Petryaev, held out 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 liberation of the city of Borisov. The heroes stood to the last, when the Germans sent several assault guns to eliminate them andtanks. The crew of P. Cancer died a heroic death. Later, all of them were awarded the highest military title 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.
Moving forward
The German command managed to organize several fairly strong counterattacks on the outskirts of Borisov, but they had practically no effect even despite the introduction of the German Air Force into the battle. Enemy planes, flying in groups of 18, tried to prevent Soviet troops from crossing the Berezina. But Soviet attack aircraft and bombers repelled powerful enemy attacks and themselves attacked a cluster of fascist equipment near Borisov.
As a result of the fighting on July 1, the Red Army crossed the Berezina and captured the city. The Borisov grouping of the Wehrmacht was defeated. This fact brought the liberation of Minsk from the fascist invaders one step closer. However, the Soviet troops will need two more days to complete this task.
Return of the Belarusian capital
On the night of July 3, Front Commander Chernyakhovsky instructed the liberation of Minsk to the 31st Army, the 2nd Mechanized Corps and partly a tank army under the command of Rotmistrov. In the early morning, a battle began on the eastern and northern outskirts of the city, and by 7.30 a.m., Soviet troops had successfully reached its center. Two hours later the capitalBelarus was cleared of Nazi mercenaries.
1944 - the year of the liberation of Minsk - was truly victorious for the Red Army. For three endless years, the inhabitants of this dilapidated and desecrated city have been waiting for the day when the Soviet troops will finally enter and rescue them from the fascist yoke. And they still waited and stood with honor in this unequal battle!
