Eastern Pomerania, northern Poland
	Victory of the USSR
Opponents
	Germany
Commanders
K. Rokossovsky	G. Himmler
Strengths of the parties
26 divisions	920,500 people + 75,600 (1st Polish Army)
More than 90,000 killed, 100,000 prisoners, 500 tanks, about 3,500 guns and mortars, 430 aircraft, a large number of ships	225,692 (of which 52,740 are irrevocable) + 8,668 in the 1st Polish Army

(1945) - strategic military operation armed forces USSR against German troops during the Great Patriotic War. (map)

Background

As a result of the Vistula-Oder operation, Soviet troops reached the Oder and captured bridgeheads on its western bank. The troops of the 1st Belorussian Front crossed the Oder in the Küstrin area and were only 60 km from Berlin. The German command began

deployment in Eastern Pomerania of part of the forces of the Vistula Army Group under the command of Reichsführer SS G. Himmler with the task of striking the right wing of the 1st Belorussian Front, defeating its troops in the Küstrin area and disrupting the preparations for the Soviet offensive on Berlin.

Learning about concentration German forces in Eastern Pomerania, the Soviet Supreme High Command on February 8 ordered the 2nd Belorussian Front to defeat the East Pomeranian group, establish control over the Danzig-Gdynia region and clear the Baltic Sea coast from the mouth of the Vistula to the Oder from the enemy.

On the Soviet side, troops of the 1st and 2nd Belorussian Fronts were involved in the operation - 2nd Shock, 3rd Shock, 19th, 47th, 49th, 61st, 65th, 70th Army, 1st and 2nd Guards Tank Armies, 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps, 1st Army of the Polish Army, 4th, 6th and 18th Air Armies. In total, the armies of the fronts included 78 rifle divisions, 10 tank and mechanized corps, 4 brigades, 2 fortified areas, in the Polish Army - 5 infantry divisions, 1 cavalry brigade and 1 separate tank brigade - a total of 920,500 soldiers. The troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front consisted of 45 rifle divisions, 3 cavalry divisions, 3 tank and 1 mechanized corps, 1 separate tank brigade and 1 fortified area; the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front involved in the operation included 27 rifle divisions, 3 cavalry divisions, 2 mechanized and 4 tank corps, 2 separate tank brigades, 1 self-propelled artillery brigade and 1 fortified area. Initially, the task of defeating German troops in Eastern Pomerania was assigned to the troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front under the command of Marshal K.K. Rokossovsky, but later the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front were also involved in participation.

The German Army Group "Vistula", which occupied the defense in Eastern Pomerania, on February 10, 1945, consisted of the 2nd, 11th Armies (39th Panzer Corps and 3rd SS Panzer Corps, 10th Panzer Division, 11th I SS Grenadier Division "Nordland", 15th SS Grenadier Division), 3rd Panzer Army. In total, Army Group Vistula consisted of more than 30 divisions and brigades, including 8 tank divisions, garrisons of fortresses and 8 battle groups. About 300 aircraft for various purposes were based at the airfields of Eastern Pomerania. Active support for the ground units was provided by the German fleet, based in Gdynia, Danzig and Kolberg, carrying out transportation, transferring units, and also providing fire support to the troops with large and medium-caliber guns. The German group in Eastern Pomerania was personally led by SS Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler.

Troop positions at the start of the operation

In front of the troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front, units of the 2nd German Field Army stood in defense. Opposite the right wing of the front in the sector from Elbing to Shvets were the 20th, 23rd Army Corps and the Rappard Corps Group. They occupied defenses along the left banks of the Nogat and Vistula rivers, and also held the Graudenz fortress. On the Vistula River, in the Shvets-Linde sector, formations of the German 27th Army, 46th Tank and 18th Mountain Rifle Corps defended. There were up to 12 divisions in the first line, and 4-6 divisions in the second line of defense.

In front of the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front, formations of the 11th German Army operated: in the Linde-Kallis sector, the Tettau corps group, two landwehr divisions and troops of the 10th SS Corps; in the Kallis - Grabov sector there are formations of the 2nd Army, 3rd and 39th Tank Corps, 10th SS Corps and three reserve divisions.

The troops of the Soviet Army had to overcome the most powerful fortified defenses, saturated with all types of engineering structures. Eastern Pomerania is a hilly plain with areas of forest. The highest point is Mount Turmberg, 331 meters high. Many rivers, lakes and canals were used for defensive purposes, fortified and adapted for long-term defense.

The main line of defense of the Germans in Pomerania is the so-called “Pomeranian Wall”, built on the Polish-German border in 1933, and running from the Stolpmünde area to the Warta and Oder rivers along the line: Stolp, Rummelsburg, Neustettin, Schneidemuhl. The basis of the Pomeranian fortifications were reinforced concrete structures - pillboxes, caponiers and half-caponiers, covered field-type structures, numerous minefields, gouges, anti-tank ditches filled with water, and a network of wire barriers. The cities of Stolp, Rummelsburg, Deutsch-Krone, Schneidemuhl, Neustettin were key strongholds of the Pomeranian Wall, in fact, fortress cities. In the coastal area, near Danzig, Gdynia and in the Hel region, fortified areas were prepared, and artillery positions for heavy artillery were equipped in the areas of Leba, Rügenwaldemünde, Stolpmünde and Kolberg. The most powerful defense centers were the cities of Gdynia and Danzig, the most heavily fortified and prepared for long-term defense.

In the Danzig area, two defense lines were prepared with a large number trenches, trenches, machine gun points and bunkers. The first defensive line consisted of 5 lines of trenches with a depth of 3 to 5 km and ran along the lines of Bürgerwiesen, Ora, Praust, Unter Kalbude and Glettkau. The second line of defense had three components: the first - the defensive line - Bankau, height 160, Oliva, with a depth of 1 to 2.5 km, the second - the defensive line - Takendorf, Lauenthal, Brösen, it consisted of two lines of trenches. The third defensive line ran directly along the outskirts of Danzig. The second line of defense ran 5-7 km from the city.

In the southeast of Danzig there was a canal and the area as a whole was impassable for tanks, in addition, on the same side there were forts of the old fortress, adapted for defense. In Danzig itself, all stone buildings were prepared for firing, numerous machine gun points and artillery positions were equipped, and the windows of the houses were covered with sandbags and bricks. The blocks were connected by trenches, barricades were erected on the main streets, and all street intersections were shot at from several directions from pillboxes and bunkers.

Gdynia was also strongly fortified. The defensive area near Gdynia included two defense lines. Within a radius of 12-15 km from the city, an almost continuous chain of trenches, obstacles and trenches with artillery positions, pillboxes and bunkers, reinforced with minefields and several strips of barbed wire, was prepared. The first line of defense ran along the line of Tsoppot, Kvashin, Kolleckau, Reda, Reva and had a depth of 3 to 5 km. The second line of defense consisted of three lines of trenches and was prepared 5-7 km from Gdynia, at the line of Kolibken, Weltzendorf and Yanovo; there were 4-5 pillboxes and bunkers per 1 km of the front. Gdynia was also prepared for street battles, the city was blocked off with barricades, tank-hazardous areas were mined, all streets and intersections were shot through, numerous artillery positions, mortar and machine gun positions, and ammunition positions were prepared.

To the north of Gdynia, on the heights near the settlements of Oxheft, Oblusz and Kazimierz, a defensive line was also prepared, on which German troops were to gain a foothold in the event of a withdrawal from Gdynia.

Between the Gdynia and Danzig defensive regions, along the line of Zukau, Exau, Koble, Kolletzkau, height 221, a defensive position of three trenches was built, and a continuous minefield was laid in front of the position.

A strong defensive line, 3-5 km deep, was also built on the left bank of the Vistula River, from Bydgoszcz to the mouth of the Vistula River, with a large number of field-type structures - bunkers, with prepared anti-tank obstacles and a large number of wire barriers.

The troops of the 1st and 2nd Belorussian Fronts had to overcome such a complex defense. Preparation for the operation required the transfer of a large number of troops, speeding up repairs railways and roads in the front zone in order to speed up the delivery of ammunition and other equipment for troops, a lot of work was done by automobile, railway, sapper and engineering units.

Progress of the operation

On February 10, 1945, the troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front from the Graudenz, Zempelburg line went on the offensive and advanced from 5 to 10 km during the day of battle. The troops of the 2nd Shock Army completed the defeat of the garrison of the previously blocked city of Elbing (Elblag) and liberated the city. The troops of the 65th Army occupied the cities of Shvets and Schönau, units of the 49th Army encountered very strong resistance and were able to advance only 2-3 km. The Germans launched numerous counterattacks using tanks to prevent the advance. The advance was also greatly hampered by muddy conditions and swampy terrain. In five days, the troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front advanced 15-40 km, overcoming stubborn resistance. On February 15, 1945, units of the 70th Army, the 1st Guards Tank Corps and the 3rd Guards Cavalry Corps occupied the city of Chojnice - a powerful fortified point and a large transport hub, where 8 highways and 6 railways converged. The battles for the city were fierce. The tankers of the 1st Guards Tank Corps were the first to break into the streets of the city and captured the station; rifle units, block by block, knocked out the Germans from their positions. On February 16, 1945, Moscow saluted the valiant troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front with 21 salvos from 220 guns, which liberated the city of Chojnice. Many units and formations were awarded high government awards, and some of them were given the honorary title of “Khoinicki”.

Also, on February 15, units of the 70th Army occupied the city of Tukhel (Tukholya). On February 16, 1945, units of the 2nd Shock Army joined the operation, completing the regrouping and reaching their original positions. The German resistance was extremely fierce; Soviet troops had to literally gnaw out strongholds and nodes of resistance from the Germans. In particular, the troops of the 76th Guards and 385th Rifle Divisions occupied the settlements of Guttowitz, Johannesberg, Kweki and Klodnya only after stubborn fighting, often ending in hand-to-hand combat.

Fierce fighting took place in the Chersky direction, where the troops of the 49th Army were advancing. On the night of February 17, units of the 385th and 191st Infantry Divisions managed to cross the Schwarzwasser River near the village of Sauermühle using available means and occupy the city of Oshe, a strong stronghold on the way to the city of Chersk. On the approaches to this city, along the line - heights 122.1 and 129.3, Lake Tuchno, the right bank of the river. Wilgarten, a strong defense was created. Repeated attempts by the 199th Infantry Division to overcome this defense were unsuccessful. Taking into account the failures of past battles, the commander of the 492nd Infantry Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Lyamaev, decided to break through the enemy defenses in this area with a surprise attack by a small detachment at night. The rapid attack stunned the enemy, and he did not open fire for the first 15–20 minutes. This was enough for the detachment to break into the depths of the enemy’s defenses and attack their positions at a height. 122.1. The capture of an enemy stronghold by units of the 492nd Infantry Regiment disrupted the entire system of its defense at this line. The enemy, not knowing the current situation and the number of our forces that went on the offensive at night, fearing encirclement, began to withdraw his forces to the northwest to Chersk. Units of the 199th Infantry Division, having established that the enemy had begun to retreat, went into pursuit. Together with the 492nd Infantry Regiment, the neighboring 584th Infantry Regiment began to advance. They quickly moved forward and literally on the shoulders of the retreating enemy burst into the city of Chersk and by one in the morning cleared it of the enemy.

Heavy fighting took place in the offensive zone of the 238th and 139th rifle divisions of the 49th Army, in the area of ​​st. Lonsk and the village of Gonskinets.

At the line of Meve, Czersk, Chojnice, the offensive of the troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front was temporarily suspended due to increasing resistance and the need to strengthen the attacking groups. Units of the 19th Army under Lieutenant General G.K. Kozlov advanced to the offensive area.

Advancing for several days, by February 19, 1945, the front troops advanced 50-70 km deep into the German defense, but, nevertheless, were unable to complete the initially assigned tasks.

The offensive in the zone of the 1st Belorussian Front, where units of the 47th, 61st, 1st and 2nd Guards Tank Armies, the 1st Army of the Polish Army and the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps were advancing, also developed slowly. On February 10, units of the 1st Army of the Polish Army took the city of Merkisch-Friedlyand (Miroslavets), on February 11, units of the 47th Army occupied the city of Deutsch-Krone. On February 16, 1945, the Germans, with the forces of six tank divisions, launched a counterattack on the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front from the Stargard area and forced the 47th Army to retreat 8-12 km, occupying the cities of Piritz (Pyritz), Ban (Bang), but on February 20 everywhere went on the defensive. The 93rd, 126th, 225th and 290th infantry divisions were transferred from Courland to reinforce Army Group Vistula. It was also planned to transfer units of the 6th Panzer Army, but an even more difficult situation on the southern wing of the front, in Hungary, forced the German command to transfer tank units to this area of ​​the front.

On February 24, 1945, the Soviet offensive resumed. It was supposed to strike in the direction of the city of Kezlin and cut the German group in Pomerania into two parts, which were later supposed to be destroyed: the eastern one by the forces of the 2nd Belorussian Front, the western one by the 1st Belorussian Front. The task of the 2nd Belorussian Front was to defeat the 2nd German Army in the area of ​​Gdynia and Danzig and clear the sea coast, the 1st Belorussian Front - with attacks on Altdamm, Gollnow and Kamin, to destroy units of the 11th German Army and reach the coast of the Gulf of Stettin and Pomeranian Bay.

On February 24, troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front delivered the main blow with the forces of the 19th and 70th armies from the area southwest of Chojnice in the direction of Kezlin. The German defense was broken through the front along a 12 km long section, and the army troops managed to advance 10-12 km during the day of fighting. The Germans launched multiple counterattacks, supported by tanks and aircraft, but were forced to retreat. On February 25, the breakthrough front was expanded to 30 km. On February 26, units of the 19th Army captured large German defense points - the cities of Baldenberg (Bialy-Bur) (together with units of the 3rd Guards Tank Corps), Pollnow (Polanow), Schlochau (Czluchow) and Stegers (Rzeczenica). By the end of February 27, front troops had advanced into the depths of German defenses up to 70 km, occupying the cities of Bublitz and Hammerstein (Charne). On February 28, units of the 19th and 70th armies cleared the cities of Neustettin (Szczecinek) and Prechlau (Przechlewo) from the Germans.

On March 1, 1945, after powerful artillery preparation, the offensive of the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front began, the 3rd Shock Army of General N.P. Simonyak, the 61st Army of General P.A. Belov and the 1st Army went forward Polish. As a result of a strong blow from our rifle and tank formations, the German defense in the offensive zone of the 3rd Shock Army was broken through by the end of March 1 to a depth of 15-25 km. The 5th German Infantry Division, which was hit by Soviet troops, was defeated. Its remnants began to retreat along forest roads to Dramburg. The defeated units of the German 14th Panzer Division in scattered groups also began to retreat to Wangerin, abandoning convoys, military equipment and weapons.

The battles to break through the German defenses in the offensive zone of the 61st Army proceeded somewhat differently. Taking up defensive positions in pre-prepared positions, at the turn of the river. Inna, the Germans put up fierce resistance. The troops of the 61st Army first had to overcome the water barrier and only after that, turning around on the opposite bank of the river. Inna, they could attack enemy positions.

Later, the 1st and 2nd Guards Tank Armies entered the battle. During March 2-4, the most stubborn and bloody battles took place throughout the entire offensive zone. During the first two days of the offensive, our troops advanced 90 km with advanced units and 65 km with main forces. Front troops met especially fierce resistance in Bellegarde, Neustettin and Rummelsburg. On March 3, Berwalde (by the forces of the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps, Lieutenant General V.V. Kryukov), Wangerin (265th Infantry Division, Major General D.E. Krasilnikov), Labes, Tempelburg (Chaplinek), Freienwalde (Hozivel), Schiefelbein were occupied (Svidvin), March 4, part of the 3rd Shock Army, 1st Guards. tank army and the 1st Army of the Polish Army liberated the cities of Dramburg and Falkenburg (Zlocenets), on March 5 - tankmen of the 8th Guards Mechanized Corps of Major General I. F. Dremov took Bellegarde (Bialogard) from the 1st Guards Tank Army, 2 the 1st Guards Army - the cities of Greifenberg, Gulzow, Naugard and Plate (Rafts), and the 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps - the city of Polcin (Połczyn-Zdrój). As a result of a rapid offensive in the area southeast of Bellegarde, at the end of the day on March 4, it was surrounded 4 German divisions of the 10th SS Corps (on March 7 this group was destroyed). The Germans understood the complexity of the current situation and sought to delay the advance of the Red Army troops at any cost; in particular, the Jutland and Netherlands regiments, the non-commissioned officer school, the Charlemagne infantry brigade and the Esber battalion were transferred to the Kezlin area.

But, despite all this, on March 5, soldiers of the 19th Army took Kezlin by storm, in the battles for which units of the 32nd and 15th Infantry Divisions, the 1st SS Infantry Division, the Polizei Division and the Tank Division were defeated. SS division "Totenkopf", and the front troops managed to reach the sea coast, the German group in Pomerania was cut into two parts. The tankmen of the 45th Guards Tank Brigade, Colonel N.V. Morgunov, were the first to reach the sea. Tankers of the 1st Guards Tank Army managed to occupy the city of Kerlin on the same day. During March 5-13, 1945, troops of the 1st Belorussian Front fought with defeated units of the 11th German Army, completely defeating the 5th Light Infantry Division and causing serious damage to the 15th, 163rd Infantry, 402nd Reserve infantry divisions and the Berwalde infantry division blocked the garrison of Kolberg, which continued to resist. On March 5, units of the 61st Army, with the support of the 16th Air Army, took the city of Stargard (Stargard-Szczecinski). On March 6, tankers of the 2nd Guards Tank Army occupied a large fortified point - the city of Kamin, and on March 7, after three days of stubborn fighting, the city of Gollnov was taken by storm, in the battles for which units of the 52nd Guards Rifle Division distinguished themselves.

On the same day, March 7, troops of the 61st Army took the city of Massov (Mashevo), and the 3rd Shock Army took the city of Stepenitz (Stepnitsa). The main forces of the German 11th Army retreated to Altdamm, attempts to take which failed on the move. The Germans managed to occupy defensive lines and met the attackers with a shower of artillery, mortar and machine gun fire and counterattacks.

The troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front continued the offensive, knocking out the stubbornly defending enemy. Aviation actively assisted the advancing troops, bombing enemy battle formations, rear areas, roads and communications points, almost continuously carrying out bombing strikes, including at night. On March 3, the 19th Army liberated the city of Rummelsburg (Miastko), stubbornly defended by the Germans, the garrison of which was further reinforced by the 4th SS Panzer Group, the 203rd Infantry Division and the 549th Volkssturm Division; on March 4, tank crews of the 1st Guards Tank Army took Treptow (Trzebiatow) and Regenwalde (Resko). On March 6, troops of the 2nd Shock Army drove the Germans out of Grudziadz and Preussisch-Stargard (Starogard-Gdanski), and on March 7 they took the city of Mewe (Wrath). On March 8, units of the 49th Army - 191st Infantry Division, Major General Lyaskina G.O., part of the forces of the 385th Infantry Division, Major General Suprunova M.F., took the city of Berent, troops of the 70th Army - 38th Guards. SD of Colonel Abdullaev Yu.M., 165th SD of Colonel Kaladze N.I., 369th SD of Colonel Golubev I.A. - the city of Byutov (Bytuv), and units of the 19th Army and 4th Air Army - Stolp (Slupsk).

Parts of the left flank of the 2nd Belorussian Front moved forward 75-80 km during 4 days of fighting - March 10 - 13, and approached the fortifications of the Gdynia and Danzig fortified areas, where they were delayed by the stubborn resistance of the Germans, who had prepared for defense.

On March 10, units of the 49th Army took the city of Karthaus, and units of the 19th Army took the city of Lauenburg (Lembork). On March 11, units of the 2nd Shock Army occupied the city of Dirschau (Tczew), on March 12, 1945, formations of the 40th Guards Rifle Corps of the 19th Army and the 8th Guards Mechanized Corps of the 1st Guards Army captured the city of Neustadt (Wejherowo) . A large German garrison in this city was defeated, more than 1,000 soldiers and officers surrendered. In addition, units of the 1st Guards Tank Army also occupied the city of Putzig (Putsk) and reached the Baltic Sea coast in the area of ​​the Danzig Bay, occupying about 100 more settlements, including Kvashin, Gniewau, Gross-Schschlatau, Zellistrau, Shlavoshin, Polzin, Karven, Kolletzkau, Reschke, Werblin.

On March 14-18, there were bloody battles in Kolberg, on the outskirts of which units of the Soviet army reached on March 5, and where the Germans offered fierce and fierce resistance, with the despair of the doomed. On March 18, units of the 1st Army of the Polish Army and tankers of the 1st Guards Tank Army completely defeated the German garrison of Kolberg and liberated the city.

On March 16-20, troops of the 1st Belorussian Front fought to liquidate German units, withdrew to the Altdamm area. Units of the 4th SS Mechanized Division, 28th SS Infantry Division, 1st Marine Division and the 379th Infantry Regiment of the 169th Infantry Division defended here. The average density was 5-7 km of front per division. The defending enemy forces were reinforced by one brigade of assault guns (108 assault guns), five artillery divisions of the RGK artillery, one anti-tank division (in addition to 36 anti-tank 75-mm guns, this division had three companies of tank destroyers armed with Faust cartridges).

On March 20, 1945, after stubborn and bloody battles, Altdamm was taken by troops of the 61st Army. In total, as a result of the defeat of the Altdamm group, the Germans lost more than 40,000 soldiers killed, more than 12,000 prisoners, 126 tanks and self-propelled guns, more than 200 guns of various calibers, 154 mortars and many other weapons and military equipment were captured. During the capture of the city, units of the 12th and 75th Guards Rifle Divisions, the 23rd, 212th and 234th Rifle Divisions, tank crews of the 312th Guards, 1811th, 1818th, 1899th self-propelled artillery regiments distinguished themselves , artillerymen of the 63rd Howitzer Brigade and the 97th Heavy Howitzer Brigade, the 32nd and 41st Guards Mortar Divisions, pilots of the 3rd Bomber Air Corps and the 3rd Fighter Air Corps of the 16th Air Army. In Moscow, in honor of the troops who liberated Altdamm, a salute was given with 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns.

The troops of the 1st Belorussian Front, having defeated the German group east of the Oder, thus ensured the safety of their flank and could concentrate on preparing the Berlin operation.

The troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front had to defeat the strongest part of the East Pomeranian group - the 2nd Army, which occupied the Gdynia and Danzig defensive fortified areas. From March 14 to March 22, 1945, there were fierce battles to break through the German defense. Fierce fighting ensued along the entire offensive front, which continued day and night with short breaks. The troops of the 49th and 70th armies advanced on Zoppot, with the task of cutting the Danzig-Gdynia enemy group into two isolated groups, capturing the line of Oliva, Zoppot, Kolibken and reaching the Danzig Bay at this line. Overcoming stubborn German resistance, formations of the 49th and 70th armies slowly moved towards their intended target, literally gnawing away one position after another. The fighting was so stubborn that the advance of Soviet troops on some days was only hundreds of meters. Sometimes the destruction of a large defense stronghold took several days.

The Germans sometimes carried out up to twenty counterattacks with the support of tanks in order to hold the occupied lines. On March 25, troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front took the village of Zoppot and reached the coast of the Danzig Bay, cutting the German group into two parts - Gdynia and Danzig. Units of the 46th and 7th Tank Corps found themselves in Gdynia - the 32nd, 73rd, 215th, 227th, 252nd, 389th Infantry Divisions, 4th and 7th Tank Divisions, in Danzig - units of the 18th Mountain Jaeger, 20th, 23rd, 27th Army Corps - 7th, 23rd, 31st, 35th, 83rd, 251st and 337th -1st Infantry Division, 12th Airfield Division and 549th Volkssturm Division, Kampfgruppe Gumpel and two penal battalions. On the Putziger-Nerung Spit, the enemy's 55th Army Corps, consisting of the 61st Infantry Division, coastal defense units and the remnants of various units, occupied the defense.

On the approaches to Gdynia, the Germans created a powerful defense, full of long-term reinforced concrete, concrete-stone and wood-earth structures, stone buildings adapted for long-term defense, a large number of trenches and various kinds of barriers. In the defense system, when organizing strongholds, the Germans widely used the construction of stationary anti-aircraft batteries, the guns of which were used to fire at both air and ground targets.

The creation of a strong defense around Gdynia was facilitated by the presence of reinforced concrete buildings and structures and favorable terrain conditions. The coastal strip in the Gdynia region is especially convenient for organizing defense. Hilly ridges with elevations up to 160-170 m above sea level cover the city from the southwest. Numerous ravines, heights with steep slopes, and dense forest covering almost 75% of this area give the area a sharply rugged character. The only good road leading from the west to Gdynia for 12 km in front of the city passes through a continuous chain of settlements (Janowo, Zagorz, Zissau, Killau, Grabau), which mainly consisted of strong stone buildings and were easily adapted for defense.

To the north of Gdynia there is a small plateau that rises 60-80 m above the surrounding area. This plateau, or the so-called Oxhefst bridgehead, is surrounded on the east and partly on the south by the sea, and on the north, west and southwest by marshy lowlands. On this plateau, the enemy created strong fortifications, which, combined with the natural conditions of the area, covered the approaches to Gdynia from the north. Terrain conditions (rough terrain, swamps, forest and sea) strengthened the German defense and, on the contrary, made the advance of the Soviet troops extremely difficult. Given the relative lack of roads, it was impossible to use tanks and self-propelled artillery with full efficiency.

Soviet attacks were followed by German counterattacks. In some areas, units of the 19th Army repelled 15-20 German counterattacks per day. In Gdynia, the Germans made extensive use of coastal and naval artillery - 12 batteries of coastal artillery and the artillery of 10-12 warships fired almost continuously at the attackers.

On March 24, troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front broke into the suburbs and streets of Gdynia, and on March 26 they began an assault on the city. On the night of March 27, the Germans began to retreat to the Oxhöft bridgehead. During the day, the defeated German units, resisting in the city center, abandoning military equipment, ammunition and other military equipment and the wounded, partly tried to board ships in the port, and partly retreated fighting to a bridgehead in the Oxhöft area.

On March 28, 1945, after long, stubborn and bloody battles in the city, where the Germans fought for every house and trench, units of the 19th, 70th, and 1st Guards Tank Armies stormed the liberation of Gdynia, the largest port of Pomerania, and its suburbs Killau, Grabau and Zissau. In the battles in the Gdynia region, German troops lost more than 50,000 soldiers and officers killed, 229 tanks and self-propelled guns, 387 field guns, more than 70,000 rifles and machine guns, 1,003 machine guns, and more than 3,500 vehicles. Soviet troops took 18,985 prisoners, captured about 200 tanks and self-propelled guns, 600 guns of various calibers and purposes, 1,068 machine guns, 71 aircraft, 6,246 cars, 20 different ships, including the faulty cruisers "Schleswig", "Schleswig Holstein", " Gneisenau." Part of the Gdynia group - one tank, one motorized, one infantry division, one artillery brigade and six marine battalions - was blocked on the Oxheft bridgehead and continued resistance, fighting until April 4, 1945, when it was finally defeated. In the battles for Gdynia, units of the 38th Guards distinguished themselves. SD Colonel Abdullaev Yu.M., 369th SD Colonel I.A. Golubev, 1890th self-propelled artillery regiment Lieutenant Colonel Ignatov P.F., artillerymen of the 56th gun brigade Colonel F.G. Mezentsev, 75th light artillery brigade Colonel Olifer A.V., 77th Howitzer Brigade Colonel A.I. Kharlamov, 19th Anti-Tank Artillery Brigade Colonel G.G. Sukachev, 4th Guards Mortar Brigade Colonel I.A. Sukhushin (70th Army) , 313th Infantry Division Colonel Asafiev V.A., 310th Infantry Division Colonel N.V. Rogov, 27th Infantry Division Colonel E.V. Korshunov, 205th Infantry Division Major General Beloskursky M.A., 272nd Infantry Division Colonel Meshkova V.M., 1525th self-propelled artillery regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Danilov I.G., 10th Guards. SD Major General Khudalov Kh. A., 102nd Guards. SD Colonel Khramtsov S.I., 7th Separate Guards Heavy Tank Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Povarov A.A., 108th Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment Major Potapov A.M., 342nd Guards Heavy Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment Major S.B. Fishelson. , 1531st self-propelled artillery regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Balykov S.F., 156th heavy howitzer brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Kuznetsov D.M., 166th light artillery brigade, Colonel Mikhailenko M.A., 167th howitzer brigade, Colonel Tkachenko T.E. ., 9th heavy mortar brigade, Colonel D. T. Bryukhov, 41st mortar brigade, Colonel Zaretsky I. S., 58th howitzer brigade Colonel Skorobogatov D.I., 42nd mortar brigade Colonel Kirgetov I.A., 120th high-power howitzer brigade Colonel Turoverov M.I., 4th Guards mortar division Colonel Zhukov F. . N., 27th anti-tank artillery brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Voitsekhovsky V.M., 44th anti-tank artillery brigade, Colonel N. G. Syrovatkin, 204th army cannon artillery brigade, Colonel A.N. Belov, engineer-sapper brigade Colonel Kokorin N.V., 41st mine-engineering brigade Colonel N.V. Klementyev, 11th Guards Tank Corps Colonel A.Kh. Babajanyan, 4th assault air corps, aviation lieutenant general G.F. Baidukova .

Storm of Danzing

The culmination of the fighting in Eastern Pomerania was the assault on Danzig. Stubborn and fierce fighting took place here as well. Danzig was surrounded by a chain of newly built forts: Weiselmünde, Westerplatte, Neuharwasser and Heubude. All forts were well camouflaged and armed with powerful firepower. Danzig's land fortifications consisted of an old fortification belt surrounding the city from the south and east, and an outer fortification belt of modern construction with two heavily built fortified areas Bischofsberg and Hagelsberg. Both of these areas had a large number of reinforced concrete and stone-concrete fire structures, which were located at commanding heights. The territory adjacent to the city from the southeast and south could be flooded if necessary. The system of long-term structures was supplemented by defensive buildings of field fortification; in addition, buildings and entire blocks of the city were adapted for defense. All settlements located within a radius of 15 km from the city were also prepared for defense as strongholds and centers of resistance and had permanent garrisons. Thus, in the Danzig area, the Germans had a strong fortified area, equipped not only with field-type fortification buildings, but also with powerful long-term military structures. The Germans understood the strategic importance of the city and desperately resisted, defending themselves on prepared lines. On the evening of March 26, formations of the 2nd Shock Army and the 65th Army began fighting directly in the suburbs of Danzig. On the morning of March 27, the assault on Danzig began. Units of the 2nd Shock, 49th, 65th, 70th Armies, with the support of aviation from the 4th and 18th Air Armies, had to fight to knock out the Germans from every house, intersection, and street. For two days there were stubborn battles in the area of ​​a paper mill and a chemical plant in the northern part of the city - units of the 199th Infantry Division stormed these heavily fortified points with the support of 18 heavy guns placed on direct fire. But, despite all the determination of the German resistance, resilience, courage and heroism German soldiers and the Volkssturm militia, the soldiers of the Soviet army could no longer be stopped. During the fighting in Danzig, 10,000 soldiers and officers were captured, 140 tanks and assault guns, 358 field guns, and 45 disabled submarines were captured. The remnants of the German units of the 2nd Army were blocked on the Hel Spit and at the mouth of the Vistula River, capitulating only on May 9, 1945.

In the battles for Danzig, units of the 2nd Shock Army distinguished themselves - the 46th Infantry Division under Major General S.N. Borshchev, the 90th Infantry Division under Major General Lyashchenko N.G., the 372nd Infantry Division under Lieutenant Colonel P.V. Melnikov, 281 1st SD Colonel P.A. Kureni, 142nd SD Colonel Sonnikov G.L., 381st SD Major General Yakusheva A.V., 326th SD Major General Kolchanov G.S., 321st SD Colonel Chesnokov V.K.; 8th Guards Tank Corps under Lieutenant General A.F. Popov; 1st Anti-Tank Artillery Brigade Colonel E.N. Malyavsky, 2nd Corps Artillery Brigade Major General A.I. Malofeev, 4th Anti-Tank Artillery Brigade Colonel A.S. Rybkin, 81st Army Cannon artillery brigade of Colonel Gnidin V.S., 1st Guards Assault Engineer Brigade of Colonel Vizirov A.F.; 65th Army - 354th SD of Major General Dzhandzhgava V.N., 193rd SD of Major General Skorobogatkin K.F., 44th Guards SD of Major General Borisov V.A., 186th SD of Colonel Velichko S.S., 108th Infantry Division under Major General Teremov P.A., 413th Infantry Infantry under Colonel Afanasyev F.S., 69th Infantry Infantry under Major General Makarov F.A., 15th Infantry Infantry under Colonel Varyukhin A. . P., 37th Guards SD, Major General K.E. Grebennik, 8th Mechanized Corps, Major General A.N. Firsovich, 21st High Power Guards Howitzer Brigade, Colonel T.I. Bondarev, 38th heavy artillery brigade of Colonel A.A. Katunin, 79th light artillery brigade of Colonel Alferov P.N., 96th heavy howitzer brigade of Colonel A.F. Gorobets, 112th high-power howitzer brigade of Colonel G.P. Kuleshov, 28th mortar brigade Colonel F.N. Belyaev, 15th anti-tank artillery brigade Colonel S.I. Vasilenko, 147th army cannon artillery brigade Colonel M.S. Akimushkin, 19th mortar brigade Colonel M.M. Korolev ., 1st assault engineer brigade, Colonel Shitikov P. A., 14th engineer brigade, Colonel Vinkov M. M.

49th Army - 238th SD of Major General I.D. Krasnoshtanov, 139th SD of Major General Kirillov I.K., 330th SD of Major General Gusev V.A., 199th SD of Major General Kononenko M.P., 200th Infantry Division Colonel I.I. Melder, 380th Infantry Division Colonel A.D. Gorichev, 1st Guards Tank Corps Major General Panov M.F., 10th Guards Howitzer Brigade Colonel Vakhromeeva I.M., 16th Guards Cannon Artillery Brigade Colonel V.V. Sadkovsky, 20th Light Artillery Brigade Lieutenant Colonel F.M. Dolinsky, 48th Guards Heavy Howitzer Brigade Colonel L.A. Khvatov, 121st high-power howitzer brigade of Colonel Solovyov V.P., 5th mortar brigade of Colonel Bryukhanov V.F., 3rd assault engineer brigade of Colonel V.S. Zaitsev, 11th engineer brigade of Colonel Mirotvorsky G.M. .

70th Army - 136th Infantry Division Colonel V.I. Trudolyubov, 71st Infantry Division Colonel N.Z. Belyaev, 3rd Guards Tank Corps Lieutenant General A.P. Panfilov, 19th Anti-Tank Artillery Brigade Colonel G. G. Sukachev, 148th Army Cannon Artillery Brigade, Colonel S. A. Barmotin, 13th Guards Mortar Brigade, Colonel R. D. Kulichuk, 48th Engineer Brigade, Colonel P. N. Dobychin.

4th Air Army - 230th Assault Air Division, Major General Aviation Getman S.G., 233rd Assault Air Division, Colonel Smolovik V.I., 260th Assault Air Division, Colonel Kalugin G.A., 332nd Assault Air Division Colonel Tikhomirov M.I., 215th Fighter Air Division Colonel M. Yakushin, 229th Fighter Air Division Colonel M. Volkov, 309th Fighter Air Division Colonel V. N. Wuss, part of the forces of the 323rd Fighter Air Division Colonel Rybakova P.P., 329th Fighter Air Division of Colonel Osipov A.A., 327th Bomber Air Division of Colonel Pushkarev N.F., 325th Night Bomber Air Division of Colonel Pokoevoy G.P. 18th Air Army - 1st Guards Bomber Air Corps of Lieutenant General of Aviation Tupikov G.N., 2nd Guards Bomber Air Corps of Lieutenant General of Aviation Loginov E.F., 14th Guards Bomber Air Division of Colonel Kozhemyakin I.I., 45th Bomber Air Division of Major General aviation Lebedev V.I.

Results

During the East Pomeranian operation, 21 German divisions and 8 brigades were defeated, of which 6 divisions and 3 brigades were completely destroyed, eliminating the threat of a German attack from East Pomerania. German losses amounted to 90,000 soldiers and officers killed, 100,000 soldiers and officers captured, Soviet troops captured 850 tanks and assault guns, 430 aircraft, over 5,500 guns and mortars, and over 8,000 machine guns. The troops of the 1st and 2nd Belorussian Front liberated 54 cities and hundreds of other settlements, freed thousands of Soviet prisoners of war and citizens of other European countries who were taken to work in Germany; with the occupation of Danzig and Gdynia, the Germans lost the shipyards where submarines were built , dozens of industrial enterprises, the most important seaports for communication with the blocked group in Courland. Historical Polish lands, at one time occupied by Germany, were returned to Poland and the Polish people.

The victory in Eastern Pomerania came at a high price. The losses of the Soviet army during the East Pomeranian operation amounted to more than 225,000 soldiers and officers, including irretrievable losses - 52,740 people, 172,474 people were wounded. On the territory of the Pomeranian Voivodeship of Poland, the former Eastern Pomerania, thousands of soldiers and officers of the Soviet army who died in the war are buried in dozens of settlements. last battles Great Patriotic War. In the village of Boyano, Pomeranian Voivodeship - 6055 soldiers, in Gdansk - 3092 (1206 known and 1886 unknown soldiers), in Gdynia - 1316 soldiers, including 132 known and 1184 unknown, in Wejherowo - 728 people, in Kartuzy - 1011 soldiers, in Sopot, the center of music festivals, and during the war, a former site of fierce battles - 932 soldiers and officers, in Tczew - 469 soldiers, in Chojnice - 844 soldiers, in the village of Lenzhice - 4249 soldiers, in Zhukovo - 3999 soldiers, in Chersk - 1141 soldiers, and thousands more soldiers and officers in dozens of other settlements.

The breakthrough of the Pomeranian Wall fortifications became the largest battle of the Second World War with the participation of Polish troops, 85 thousand military personnel of the 1st Army of the Polish Army took part in it. The irretrievable losses of the 1st Army of the Polish Army amounted to 2,575 soldiers and officers. 1,027 tanks and 1,073 aircraft were lost.

The exit of Soviet troops to the coast of the Baltic Sea over a long distance ensured the security of the flank of the group of Soviet troops operating in the Berlin direction, the basing system of the Baltic Fleet expanded, providing a blockade from the sea of ​​the encircled German groups in Courland and at the mouth of the Vistula. The 10 Soviet armies that completed the East Pomeranian operation began to regroup in the Berlin direction. Ahead were battles for the capital of Germany - Berlin.

Report-inventory No. 30504 of lists of irretrievable losses of sergeants and privates in the 369th Infantry Karachevsky Red Banner Division.

The names of some soldiers of the 1223rd Infantry Regiment of the 369th Infantry Division who died on February 17, 1945 and were buried in the Catholic cemetery near the village of Lichnowy, Chajlice County (Chojnice):

Azizov Nikolay Pavlovich - senior Sergeant, squad leader;

Jaman Alexey Semenovich - Red Army soldier, shooter;

Kozlov Vladimir Dmitrievich - sergeant, squad commander;

Kolesnik Ivan Osipovich - sergeant, medical instructor;

Kosolapov Grigory Aleksandrovich - junior sergeant, mortar gunner

Lisogor Ivan Vasilievich - Red Army soldier, mortar man;

Ptitsyn Mikhail Semenovich – junior sergeant, mortar gunner;

Bubble Ivan Ivanovich - charge. mortarman;

Sobolev Ivan Fedorovich - senior Sergeant, commander of the Ministry of Accounting;

Strokov Nikolai Prokofievich - sergeant, squad commander;

Chinaev Kuzma Leontievich – charger. mortarman;

Coming. operation of the troops of the 2nd and 1st Belarus. fr. with the assistance of part of the Balt forces. fleet, held on February 10. - April 4 As a result of the Vistula-Oder operation of 1945 Soviets. troops reached the Oder River and captured bridgeheads on its west. shore. Direct part of the forces of Army Group "Vistula" (2nd and 11th A, 16 infantry, 4 tanks, 2 motorized divisions, 5 brigades, 8 separate groups and 5 fortress garrisons, in reserve 4 infantry and 2 motorized divisions, Reichsführer SS Himmler) held the East. Pomerania and prepared a blow to the rights. wing of the 1st Belorussian troops. fr. 8 Feb. The Supreme Command Headquarters, taking into account the current situation, released the 2nd Belorus. fr. (Marshal of the Soviet Union K.K. Rokossovsky) from further participation in the East Prussian operation of 1945 and set the task of defeating the east. Pomeranian grouping, to take possession of the East. Pomerania and clear the Baltic coast. m. from Danzig (Gdansk) to the Pomeranian Bay.

10 Feb troops of the center and the lion. wing of the 2nd Belorussian. fr. (65th, 49th, 70th A, 1st Guards Tank and 8th Mechanized Corps, 4th VA) with the assistance of Balt. fleet (Adm. V.F. Tributs) launched an offensive from a bridgehead on the river. Vistula, north of Bydgoszcz, in the general direction of Stettin. In the difficult conditions of muddy roads and wooded-lake terrain, overcoming the fierce resistance of the pr-ka, which relied on a deeply echeloned defense, they reached the end of February 19. advanced 40-60 km, but were stopped at the line Wrath, Chojnice, Ratzebur. 16-20 Feb. The project launched a counterattack with the forces of 6 divisions from the area southeast of Stettin, pushing back the troops of the 47th A of the 1st Belorussian. fr. at 8-12 km. However, the troops of the 1st Belorussian. fr. (Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov) repelled the counterattack of the pr-ka and inflicted it on him. damage. The pr-k went on the defensive along the entire front from the Vistula to the Oder and began to strengthen the East Pomeranian group. To defeat it, the Supreme High Command Headquarters decided to also attract troops of the 1st Belorussian Army. fr. The idea of ​​the owls. command provided for the delivery of two strikes: one by the forces of the 2nd Belorus. fr. from the Sempulyu district in the direction of Keslin and the second - by law forces. wing of the 1st Belorussian. fr. from the Arnswald region to Kolberg with the goal of reaching the Baltic. m., dissect the East Pomeranian grouping of the pr-ka and destroy it in parts. Balt. The fleet had to disrupt the sea by the actions of aviation, submarines and torpedo boats. messages pr-ka in the south. parts of Balt. m., as well as to promote Land. troops in capturing the Baltic coast. m. On the fronts in the attack directions, it was possible to create the necessary superiority in forces and means.

24 Feb The 2nd Belarusian went on the offensive. fr. (2nd Shock A, 65th, 49th, 70th, 19th A, 4th VA), and on March 1 - the strike group of the 1st Belorussian. fr. (1st A of the Polish Army, 3rd Shock, 61st and 47th A, 1st and 2nd Guards TA). Having broken through the defense of the avenue, the owls. By March 5, troops reached the Baltic. m. in the districts of Koslin and Kolberg, dividing the grouping of the pr-ka (29 infantry, 3 tank and 3 motorized divisions, 3 separate brigades) into two parts. 3rd German-Fasc. TA (replaced 11th A on February 25) was almost completely destroyed. Balt. The fleet carried out a blockade from the sea of ​​the avenue, surrounded in the Danzig region, and acted on the sea. communications in the south parts of Balt. m. Aviation inflicted massacres. attacks on troops and military. pr-ka objects. By March 10, the troops of the 1st Belorussian. fr. in the main completed the liberation of the Baltic coast. m. from the Kolberg district to the mouth of the river. Oder. On March 18, the 1st A Polish Army (Lieutenant General S.G. Poplavsky) captured Kolberg. Troops of the 2nd Belorussian. fr. On March 28, they occupied Gdynia, and on March 30, Danzig. Remains of 2nd A Avenue, blocked in the Gdynia region, April 4. were defeated by the forces of the 19th A. Pressed to the sea, the grouping of the pr-ka in the region east of Danzig capitulated on May 9.

As a result, V.-P. O. Polish Polish Pomerania with large cities and important ports was returned to the people. The exit of the owls. troops to the Baltic coast. m. reliably provided the flank of the main. strat-tag. Sov groups. Armed Forces operating in the Berlin direction. Balt's basing capabilities have expanded. fleet, which increased the effectiveness of its combat operations. St. were defeated. 20 divisions and 8 brigades of the pr-ka (6 divisions and 3 brigades were completely destroyed). Only the 2nd Belarusian. fr. captured approx. 63.6 thousand soldiers and officers of the pr-ka, captured 680 tanks and assault guns, 3470 guns and mortars, 431 aircraft, 277 ships and many other military units. equipment and property. After completion of V.-P. O. troops of 10 armies were released to participate in the Berlin operation of 1945. A number of Soviet formations and units. and Polish troops received honorary names. "Kolberg", "Pomeranian", etc.

The East Pomeranian war was carried out with the goal of defeating the enemy's East Pomeranian group, capturing East Pomerania and liberating the Baltic Sea coast. The operation involved troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front and the right wing of the 1st Belorussian Front. On March 1, 1945, the 1st Army of the Polish Army joined the operation. The ground forces were assisted by the forces of the Baltic Fleet. As part of this operation, Chojnice-Kezlin, Danzig, Arnswalde-Kolberg, and Altdam front-line offensive operations were carried out.

The duration of the operation is 54 days. The width of the combat front is 460 kilometers. The depth of advance of Soviet troops is 130-150 kilometers. The average daily rate of advance is 2-3 kilometers.

Composition of the opposing sides' troops:
The enemy held Eastern Pomerania with part of the forces of the Vistula Army Group (the group was commanded by Reichsführer SS Himmler), which included the 2nd and 11th armies, which had 16 infantry, 4 tank, 2 motorized divisions, 5 brigades, 8 separate groups and 5 garrisons of fortresses. The reserve contained 4 infantry and 2 motorized divisions. These troops were preparing a strike on the right wing of the 1st Belorussian Front.
The Supreme High Command headquarters, taking into account the current situation, freed the 2nd Belorussian Front (commander Marshal of the Soviet Union Konstantin Konstantinovich Rokossovsky) from further participation in the East Prussian operation and set the task of defeating the East Pomeranian enemy group, capturing Eastern Pomerania and clearing the Baltic Sea coast.

The 2nd Belorussian Front included the 65th, 49th, 70th armies, the 1st Guards Tank and 8th Mechanized Corps, and the 4th Air Army.

Progress of the operation:
On February 10, 1945, the troops of the center and left wing of the 2nd Belorussian Front, with the assistance of the Baltic Fleet, launched an offensive from a bridgehead on the Vistula River, north of Bydgoszcz, in the general direction of Stettin. In difficult conditions of muddy roads and forested lake areas, overcoming fierce resistance from the enemy, who relied on deeply layered defenses, they advanced 40-60 kilometers by the end of February 19, 1945, but were stopped at the line Wrath, Chojnice, Ratzebur.

On February 16-20, 1945, the enemy, with the forces of 6 divisions, launched a counterattack from the area southeast of Stettin, pushing back the troops of the 47th Army of the 1st Belorussian Front (commander Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov) by 8-12 kilometers. However, the front troops repelled the enemy's counterattack and inflicted significant damage on him. The enemy went on the defensive along the entire front from the Vistula to the Oder.
On February 24, 1945, the 2nd Belorussian Front went on the offensive. The front by this time included the 2nd Shock, 49th, 70th, 19th Armies and the 4th Air Army.

On March 1, 1945, the group of the 1st Belorussian Front began to advance, consisting of the 1st Army of the Polish Army, the 3rd Shock Army, the 61st and 47th Armies, the 1st and 2nd Guards Tank Armies. Having broken through the enemy’s defenses, by March 5, Soviet troops reached the Baltic Sea in the areas of the cities of Köslin and Kolberg, dividing the enemy group into two parts. The Baltic Fleet blocked the enemy from the sea, surrounded in the area of ​​​​the city of Danzig.

By March 10, 1945, the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front had basically completed the liberation of the Baltic Sea coast from the Kolberg area to the mouth of the Oder River.

On March 18, 1945, the 1st Polish Army captured Kolberg. Troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front occupied Gdynia on March 28, and the city of Danzig on March 30, 1945.

The remnants of the enemy's 2nd Army, blocked in the Gdynia region, were defeated on April 4, 1945 by the forces of the 19th Army. The enemy group, pressed to the sea in the area east of Danzig, capitulated on May 9, 1945.

Results of the operation:
Soviet troops, which included the 1st Army of the Polish Army, reached the coast of the Baltic Sea and captured the cities of Kolberg, Gdynia and Danzig. Pressed to the sea, the enemy capitulated. With the defeat of the German Army Group Vistula, the threat of an enemy counterattack on the flank and rear of the main forces of the 1st Belorussian Front, preparing for an attack on the city of Berlin, was eliminated.

The entire Polish coastline with major cities and ports on the Baltic Sea was returned to the Polish people.

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The Pomeranian Wall (Pommernstellung) is the northern part of the eastern border fortifications of the Third Reich, adjacent to the OWB defensive line in the south. The defensive line ran from north to south along the line Baltyk - Bialy Bor - Szczecinek - Walcz - Tuczno - Santok. Its length was 275 km.

Since the Polish military doctrine developed in 1920 assumed aggression against Germany in the Gdansk corridor and Upper Silesia, by 1930 the Reichswehr decided to expand the protected 70-kilometer section of the border to 300 km. Initially, it was planned to build field wood-earth fortifications to contain the enemy for two weeks, until the main forces approached the border after mobilization. The structure of the line had to be heterogeneous. In places where it was possible to use natural obstacles in the form of rivers, streams, lakes and swamps, a linear series of bunkers with strength class “C” (0.6 m of reinforced concrete and 60 mm of armor) were designed. It was assumed that in the areas where the fortifications intersect with the main roads, class “B1” bunkers (1 m of reinforced concrete and 100 mm armor) would be built. It was decided that operational corridors and places convenient for breaking through defenses would be fortified with class “B” bunkers (1.5 m of reinforced concrete and 200 mm armor, an armored turret 250 mm thick), which could withstand artillery fire from 210 mm guns.

In the spring of 1931, surveying teams appeared, updating maps and determining the course of future defensive lines on the border of Western Pomerania. A year later, construction of about 20 reinforced bunkers began at the intersections near Stranna, Prusinow and Strzalin. At the same time, light observation structures and combat bunkers were built on the isthmus between lakes Zdbiccio and Dobre.

Mass construction began in 1934 and by the end of 1937 about 800 objects had been built. Among them were 24 class B strength objects, which were located individually or connected by underground communication tunnels, forming fortified areas (URs). The remaining bunkers were of strength class B1 or C. In addition to combat bunkers, a significant number of unarmed reinforced concrete structures were built to shelter troops from air raids and artillery shelling. The largest fortified group "Werkgruppe" was built in the area of ​​Gure Visilec.

Reinforced concrete fortifications complemented the anti-tank barriers and minefields that protected the narrow spaces between the numerous lakes, swamps and forests. Mobile road barriers or concrete blocks with sockets for attaching steel rails were installed on all roads. In 1939, the fortified line was used to accumulate troops before the invasion of Poland.

The line's typical bunker belonged to strength class "B" and was equipped with an MG-08 heavy machine gun. To observe the battlefield there was a periscope on the roof. Some bunkers were modernized and had a 20P7 type six-hole armored turret on the roof, in which two MG-34 machine guns were installed. To protect the entrance to the structure, an armor plate with an embrasure was installed, allowing the use of small arms.

In 1942-1943, the line was partially disarmed and dismantled with the removal of structures for the construction of the Atlantic Wall. However, in 1944-1945, the Wehrmacht command was forced to begin restoring the defense capability of the structures. The defensive line was extended north to the Baltic Sea and modernized, receiving the designation line “D-1”. On the line: Kołobrzeg, Białogard, Połczyn Zdrój, Choszczno, Gorzów Wielkopolski, a second semi-fortified line was created, designated “D-2”. During this period, a significant number of bunkers of the R-58c “Tobruk” type were installed on the Pomeranian Wall, which were mass-produced by Todd Organization (OT) factories and assembled in positions from ready-made sections. The density of fortifications in the fortified areas reached 5-7 pillboxes per 1 km, which was ensured by the need to build them only on small stretches of land (400-1000 m) between a dense network of lakes, swamps and forests. Individual bunkers of the “B-werke” type were equipped with artillery pieces.

In addition, dozens of hydraulic structures on rivers and lakes were restored, making it possible to regulate the water level in them, thereby, if necessary, flooding large areas of the foreland. In tank-hazardous areas, ditches were dug, trenches were prepared for the infantry, and tens of kilometers of barbed wire were installed. In addition to the bunkers, various civilian structures with advantageous locations were adapted for defense. Thus, barricades were built on the streets and squares, the windows of houses were blocked with bricks, leaving loopholes for shooters, and “slots” were opened near the roads for soldiers armed with Faustpatrons.

To carry out construction work on the Pomeranian Wall, from August 1944, men aged 15 to 65 years and women aged 16 to 55 years living near the objects under construction, as well as prisoners of war and prisoners of labor camps, were forcibly recruited. Their number amounted to tens of thousands and, according to various sources, in certain periods reached 100 thousand.

The battles for the Pomeranian Wall (February 5 - 20, 1945) in the Szczecinek - Walcz area.

The assault on the Pomeranian Wall as part of the East Pomeranian operation was carried out by troops of the 1st and 2nd Belorussian Fronts. The 1st Army of the Polish Army also took part in the battles. The fighting lasted from January 31 to February 10, 1945. It should be noted that the command of the Red Army did not have reliable intelligence information about either the structure of the defense of the Pomeranian Wall or the number of troops occupying it. Therefore, the battles went straight away, crushing them “massively”, incurring fairly high losses. And only by bringing tank armies into battle was the resistance suppressed. Often, Gdansk, Gdynia and other areas of Pomerania are mistakenly included in the Pomeranian Wall. However, they are located significantly east of the rampart itself, although they were among the targets of the East Pomeranian operation. It is because of this that confusion arises among historians and researchers.

It must be emphasized that the main disadvantage of the Pomeranian Wall was not outdated structures and weapons, but the simple lack of a sufficient number of troops, not to mention those specially trained to fight in fortified conditions. Often not all line fortifications were filled, and key support nodes were staffed by small garrisons of reservists, or the remnants of units defeated at the front. As a result, many positions were surrendered without a fight, and some Soviet troops were simply bypassed without an assault. Almost at the time of the assault on the defensive line, there were only garrisons of fortifications, separate battalions and units being formed from reserves and remnants. Full parts regular army there were no positions. Thus, the rampart was defended by some units of the 15th SS Division, the 260th Security Battalion "Pfenning", units of the 31st Infantry Division, combined into the "Jochim" group, the "Rode" regimental group, the "Merkisch Friedland" divisional group, formed on base of the Grossborne Artillery School, two anti-tank destroyer battalions - "Friedrich" and "Emil" and the 201st artillery division. The length of time it took to overcome the Pomeranian Wall is explained by the preoccupation of Soviet troops with the defeat of Army Group Vistula in the northeastern part of Pomerania.

In connection with the above, a significant number of fortifications of the Pomeranian Wall have “survived” to this day, photographs of which are given below.

However, most of the fortifications were blown up after the war and now diligently serve the wildlife, most often colonies of bats.

Assessing the effectiveness of the fortifications of the Pomeranian Wall, it should be noted that from a military point of view, at the time of its assault, it did not have the necessary defensive power to deter the attack, even if we do not take into account the absence of troops at the time of its assault. Firstly, both the structures and weapons were outdated, and there was no artillery at all. Secondly, the entire line of defense at the time of its assault was no longer an obstacle to Berlin, since the OWB defensive line adjacent to it from the south had long been broken through and the defense of the Pomeranian Wall made no sense. Thirdly, the anti-tank defense of the rampart was very weak, which the enemy tank armies took advantage of. However, the Pomeranian Wall also played a positive role in 1939, where the invading army was concentrated behind it. If we were to hypothetically allow a pre-emptive strike from Poland against German troops, the fortifications would probably play a positive role.

70 years ago, on February 10, 1945, the East Pomeranian strategic operation began. This operation, in its scope and results, became one of critical operations victorious campaign of 1945. It ended with the complete defeat of the German group - the Vistula Army Group - and the liberation of Eastern Pomerania and the entire southern coast of the Baltic Sea - from Danzig (Gdansk) and Gdynia to the mouth of the Oder - from enemy troops. As a result of the defeat of the enemy's Pomeranian group, the threat of a flank attack on Soviet troops that were advancing in the central (Berlin) direction was eliminated, which became a prerequisite for the victorious conclusion of the Great Patriotic War. In addition, during the operation, Soviet troops completed the liberation of the Polish people, returning to them the original Slavic lands on the Baltic Sea coast, including Pomerania-Pomerania.

The situation before the battle

The East Pomeranian operation was carried out in the interval between the large offensive of Soviet troops in January 1945, which ended with the breakthrough of the powerful and deeply echeloned enemy defenses between the Vistula and Oder, the defeat of German troops in Western Poland, the withdrawal of the troops of the 1st Belorussian and 1st Ukrainian fronts on the Oder and Neisse rivers (), encirclement of the enemy group in East Prussia (), the Berlin operation of the 1st and 2nd Belorussian and 1st Ukrainian fronts. In fact, the East Pomeranian operation arose in the process of the Vistula-Oder and East Prussian operations and became a continuation of the grandiose winter offensive of the Red Army.

By the beginning of the operation, a unique and complex situation had developed on the right strategic flank of the Soviet-German front. Army Group Courland was surrounded in the western part of Latvia. During the first stage of the East Prussian operation, the East Prussian enemy group was divided into three groups, including the Königsberg garrison. The Germans continued to control Eastern Pomerania, where they concentrated a large group of troops to launch a counterattack on the flank and rear of the 1st Belorussian Front, which threatened Berlin.

The troops of the 1st Belorussian Front, having broken through the enemy's defenses on the Vistula, reached the Oder River with the forces of the center's armies and, having crossed this last powerful water line on the approaches to the German capital, occupied bridgeheads on its left bank in the area of ​​​​Küstrin and Frankfurt-on-Oder. The armies of the center of the 1st Belorussian Front continued the struggle to expand bridgeheads on the western bank of the Oder and to destroy the German garrisons in Küstrin and Frankfurt. The right wing of the front solved the problem of covering the flank and rear from the attack of the enemy Pomeranian group.

At the beginning of February 1945, a large 150-kilometer gap formed between the troops of the right wing of the 1st Belorussian Front and the troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front, the main forces of which fought heavy battles surrounded by the East Prussian enemy group. It was covered by insignificant forces of the troops of the right flank of the 1st Belorussian Front. Without defeating the German troops in Pomerania, advancing in the Berlin direction was extremely dangerous.

The command of the 1st Belorussian Front, in accordance with the current situation on the right flank, was forced to take urgent measures in order to protect the troops from a flank attack by the East Pomeranian Wehrmacht group. The defeat of enemy troops in Eastern Pomerania made it possible to withdraw the armies of the right wing to the line of the Oder River and continue the offensive in the Berlin direction. The general military-political situation required an immediate solution to the task of defeating German troops in Eastern Pomerania and eliminating the encircled group in the Königsberg area.

The task of eliminating the East Prussian group was entrusted to the troops of the 3rd Belorussian Front. He was strengthened by transferring to him four armies of the right wing of the 2nd Belorussian Front. The Headquarters of the Supreme High Command instructed the 2nd Belorussian Front to defeat the enemy's East Pomeranian group with the remaining forces and occupy all of Eastern Pomerania - from Danzig (Gdansk) to Stettin (Szczecin), reaching the Baltic coast. Rokossovsky's armies went on the offensive on February 10, 1945, with virtually no preparation.

Thus, initially the task of eliminating the East Pomeranian enemy group was to be solved by the 2nd Belorussian Front under the command of Konstantin Rokossovsky. However, Rokossovsky's troops were exhausted by fierce and prolonged battles (about a month) in East Prussia, and the transfer of four armies to the 3rd Belorussian Front. The offensive began with almost no preparation and took place in the difficult conditions of the onset of spring thaw, in a wooded and swampy area. As a result, the offensive of the troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front developed slowly and soon stalled. German troops not only held back the advance of the 2nd Belorussian Front, but also continued to make persistent attempts to break through to the rear of the 1st Belorussian Front, increasing the power of the Pomeranian group.

Therefore, the high command decided to involve troops of the 1st Belorussian Front under the command of Georgy Zhukov to eliminate the East Pomeranian group. Headquarters ordered the forces of the right wing of the 1st Belorussian Front to prepare a strike in the northern direction in the general direction of Kolberg. Zhukov's troops were supposed to, repelling persistent and fierce attacks by German troops trying to break through the defenses of the right wing of the 1st Belorussian Front east of the Oder, and go to the rear of the group of Soviet troops aimed at Berlin, at the same time prepare a strike with the goal of destroying in cooperation with the 2nd Belorussian front of the East Pomeranian enemy group. Zhukov's troops were supposed to go on the offensive on February 24.

Soviet artillerymen fire from a 122 mm A-19 howitzer on a street in Danzig. Photo source: http://waralbum.ru/

Operation plan

Before the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front joined the battle, the armies of the 2nd Belorussian Front were ordered on February 8 to go on the offensive with the center and left wing to the north and reach the line of the mouth of the river by February 20. Vistula, Dirschau, Bütow, Rummelsburg, Neustettin. At the second stage of the operation, the 1st Belorussian Front, having received a fresh 19th Army, was to advance to the west, in the general direction of Stettin and liberate Danzig and Gdynia with its right flank. As a result, Rokossovsky’s troops were to occupy all of Eastern Pomerania and the Baltic Sea coast.

At the first stage of the operation, the 65th Army was supposed to advance from the bridgehead on the Vistula in a northwestern direction, to Chersk and further to Byutov. The 49th Army received the task of developing an offensive in the direction of Baldenberg, the 70th Army, with one tank and one mechanized corps attached, was to capture the Schlochau, Preuss-Friedland line, and then move in the general direction of Tempelsburg. To strengthen the attack on the left flank, the 3rd Guards Cavalry Corps was given the task of occupying the Chojnice, Schlochau area, then attacking Rummelsburg and Baldenberg.

However, for a number of objective reasons, the 2nd Belorussian Front could not independently solve the strategic task of liberating Eastern Pomerania from Nazi troops. Therefore, Zhukov’s armies were involved in the operation. During this period, the 1st Belorussian Front had to solve several problems: 1) to repel the attacks of the East Pomeranian group, which was trying to break through to the rear of the Soviet group concentrated for an offensive in the Berlin direction; 2) to eliminate surrounded enemy groups in the areas of Poznan, Schneidemuhl, Deutsch-Krone and Arnswald; 3) to destroy strong enemy garrisons on the right bank of the Oder in the areas of the cities of Küstrin and Frankfurt an der Oder; 4) to retain and expand the bridgeheads captured on the western bank of the Oder. In addition, the front was preparing to continue the offensive on Berlin. As the troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front advanced in the northwestern direction, the formations of the 1st Belorussian Front holding the defense in the Pomeranian direction were released and, moving into its second echelon, advanced to the Berlin direction.

Now the 1st Belorussian Front was involved in the liquidation of the enemy Pomeranian group. This decision of the Headquarters was due to the fact that the troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front, due to increased resistance from the enemy forces, suspended the offensive. The German High Command continued to strengthen Army Group Vistula in an attempt to prevent a Soviet advance on Berlin. To do this, the Germans formed a powerful group in Eastern Pomerania, which hung over the flank of the 1st Belorussian Front and did not give it the opportunity to go on the offensive in the Berlin direction. With the success of the counter-offensive of the East Pomeranian group, the Germans hoped to eliminate the successes of the January offensive of the Soviet troops between the Vistula and Oder. In addition, by keeping East Pomerania behind them, the Germans retained the opportunity to withdraw their troops from East Prussia and evacuate the Courland group.

The Soviet Headquarters, in order to put an end to the enemy grouping in Eastern Pomerania as soon as possible and continue the attack on Berlin, decided to throw the forces of two fronts into battle. On February 17 and 22, the Headquarters gave instructions to the commanders of the 1st and 2nd Belorussian Fronts to conduct a further offensive. The general idea of ​​the operation was to cut through the enemy group with attacks from the adjacent flanks of the 2nd and 1st Belorussian fronts in the general direction of Neustettin, Közlin, Kolberg and, developing the offensive with the common right wing to the west, reach the Oder, and the left wing to the east to Gdansk, destroy German troops.

Rokossovsky decided to attack Kezlin with the left flank of the front, where the 19th Army, reinforced by the 3rd Guards Tank Corps, was being withdrawn. The left wing of the front was supposed to reach the sea, and then turn east and advance on Gdynia. The troops of the right wing and center of the front - the 2nd shock, 65th, 49th and 70th armies - continued the offensive in the northern and northeastern directions, towards Gdansk and Gdynia. They were supposed to finish off the German group surrounded by the attack of the 19th Army.

On February 20, the command of the 1st Belorussian Front decided to first switch to a tough defense and, within a few days (until February 25-26), bleed the enemy strike forces advancing from the Stargard area, and then launch a powerful counter-offensive. To solve this problem, the armies of the front's right wing were involved - the 61st and 2nd Guards Tank Armies, and additionally the 1st Guards Tank Army from the second echelon. By the beginning of the offensive, the 3rd Shock Army was also deployed. The main blow was delivered in a general direction to the north and northwest, towards Kolberg and Kammin. Auxiliary attacks were carried out by troops of the 1st Army of the Polish Army on the right flank and the 47th Army on the left flank, in the direction of Altdamm.

To quickly break through the enemy’s defenses and develop a high tempo of offensive, Zhukov planned to throw two tank armies into battle on the very first day of the front’s offensive. The troops of the 1st Guards Tank Army were given the task of occupying the Wangerin, Dramburg area, then advancing in the general direction of Kolberg, towards the troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front. The troops of the 2nd Guards Tank Army were to advance in a northwestern direction, at the beginning of the offensive to capture the area of ​​Freienwalde, Massow, then advance to Kammin. Powerful strikes by the front armies were supposed to lead to the defeat of the 11th German Army.

Thus, the main blow was delivered by the forces of two combined arms and two tank armies (61st, 3rd Shock Armies, 1st Guards Tank and 2nd Guards Tank Armies), and auxiliary attacks were carried out on the flanks by the 1st Polish and 47th I am the army.

Plans of the German command

The main goal of the German command was to disrupt the advance of Soviet troops on Berlin at any cost, to try to push them back across the Vistula in order to gain time. In Berlin they still hoped to find a common language with the Anglo-American leadership, conclude a truce with the Western powers and preserve the core of the Nazi regime in Germany and Austria. After the truce with the West, it was possible to transfer all forces to the Eastern Front. Continuing the war, Berlin hoped for a change in the political situation in the world (a quarrel between the allies) and for a “miracle”. So, there is an opinion that by the fall of 1945 or a little later, Germany could have received nuclear weapons.

To achieve this goal, the German command planned to hold the Courland bridgehead in the Baltic states, the Königsberg area, at any cost, linking long time significant Soviet forces blockaded these areas. In addition, the Soviet troops hoped to pin down focal defenses in major cities and former fortresses located in Silesia (Breslau, Glogau), in the Oder valley (Küstrin and Frankfurt), in East Prussia and Pomerania. At the same time, the German command transferred all possible forces and reserves, including removing units from Western Front, to Eastern Pomerania. Having concentrated a strong group in Pomerania, mainly from mobile formations, the Germans hoped to deliver a powerful blow to the flank and rear of the Soviet troops advancing in the Berlin direction. With the successful development of the offensive, there was hope to return the line of the Vistula River, eliminating the results of the January offensive of the Red Army.

At the first stage of the operation, while the strike force was being concentrated, the troops of the first echelon of the Vistula group were tasked with conducting a tough defense, preventing the Soviet troops from breaking through into the depths of Eastern Pomerania, exhausting and bleeding them.

In addition, there was a more extensive counter-offensive plan. German troops had to strike a strong blow not only from Pomerania, but also from Glogau to Poznan. The converging attacks of the Wehrmacht should have led to the evacuation of Soviet troops from Western Poland, beyond the Vistula. However, the German command could not implement this plan, since there was neither time for preparation nor the appropriate forces and means.

It is also worth remembering that Eastern Pomerania played an important role in the German economy - a large number of military enterprises were located here, the region was an important agricultural base, supplying the Reich with bread, meat, sugar and fish. Large bases of the military and merchant fleet of the German Empire were located here.

German troops on the march in Pomerania

German mounted 88-mm anti-tank grenade launchers "Puppchen" (Raketenwerfer 43 "Puppchen"), captured by the Red Army in one of the cities of Pomerania

Soviet forces

At the beginning of the battle, the 2nd Belorussian Front consisted of four combined arms armies - the 2nd shock, 65th, 49th and 70th armies, reinforced by 2 tank, mechanized and cavalry corps. Later, the front was reinforced by the 19th Army and the 3rd Guards Tank Corps. The offensive was supported from the air by the 4th Air Army. The front consisted of 45 rifle and 3 cavalry divisions, 3 tank, 1 mechanized and 1 cavalry corps, 1 separate tank brigade and 1 fortified military unit. In total, the front numbered more than 560 thousand people.

Of the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front, six armies took part in the operation - the 47th, 61st, 3rd Shock, 1st Polish, 1st Guards Tank and 2nd Guards Tank Armies. From the air ground forces supported by the 6th Air Army. The right wing of the front included 27 rifle divisions, 3 cavalry divisions, 4 tank and 2 mechanized corps, 2 separate tank corps, 1 self-propelled artillery brigade and 1 fortified area. In total, more than 359 thousand people, plus more than 75 thousand Polish soldiers (5 infantry divisions, cavalry and tank brigades).

Thus, the Soviet forces (together with the Poles) numbered about 1 million people (78 rifle and cavalry divisions, 5 Polish infantry divisions, 10 mechanized and tank corps, 2 fortified areas, etc.).

Soviet heavy tank IS-2 on the street of Stargard in Eastern Pomerania

German forces. Defense

Eastern Pomerania was defended by Army Group Vistula under the command of Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler. It included the 2nd, 11th armies, 3rd tank army, which included more than 30 divisions and brigades, including 8 tank divisions and 3 tank brigades. Already during the battle, the number of divisions was increased to 40. In addition, the East Pomeranian group included a significant number of individual regiments and battalions special purpose, brigades, regiments and reinforcement artillery divisions, militia battalions. On the coast, ground forces were supported by coastal and naval artillery. From the air ground forces supported part of the 6th Air Fleet (300 aircraft).

The 2nd Field Army under the command of Walter Weiss (from March Dietrich von Saucken) held the line in front of the troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front. The 20th, 23rd Army Corps and the Rappard Corps Group defended on the left flank. They had positions on the banks of the Nogat and Vistula rivers, and also held the Graudenz fortress. Units of the 27th Army, 46th Tank and 18th Mountain Rifle Corps defended in the center and on the right flank. In the first echelon there were up to 12 divisions, in the second, including reserves, 4-6 divisions.

The 11th Army of Anton Grasser (the newly formed 11th SS Panzer Army, the army of the 1st formation died in the Crimea) held the defense in front of the troops of the right wing of the 1st Belorussian Front. It included formations of the 2nd Army, 3rd and 39th Panzer Corps, 10th SS Corps, Tettau Corps Group, two Landwehr and three reserve divisions.

To strengthen these armies, the German command transferred to Eastern Pomerania formations that had previously held defenses along the rear line on the Oder from Stettin Bay to Schwedt. Units of the 3rd Tank Army began to be transferred from East Prussia to Pomerania. The 11th Army, 7th Panzer Corps and 16th SS Corps, which were in the reserve of Army Group Vistula, were subordinated to the army control of the 3rd Panzer Army. The German High Command planned to strengthen the East Pomeranian group with the 6th Panzer Army, which was transferred from the Western Front. However, due to the deterioration of the situation on the southern flank of the strategic Soviet-German front, the 6th Tank Army was sent to Budapest. In general, by February 10, the German group had 10 corps, including 4 tank corps, united in three armies, two held the defense in the first line, the third was in reserve.

In addition, surrounded enemy groups continued to resist in the Soviet rear: in the Schneidemühl area - up to 3 infantry divisions (about 30 thousand soldiers), in the Deutsch-Krone area - about 7 thousand people; Arnswald - about 2 divisions (20 thousand people). According to Soviet intelligence The East Pomeranian group was strengthened by troops in Courland and East Prussia.

Pomerania was a hilly plain, one-third covered with forests. The Kashubian and Pomeranian uplands, as well as a large number of lakes with narrow defiles between them, rivers and canals, hampered the maneuver of troops in general, and especially mobile ones. Rivers such as the Vistula, Warta and Oder were serious obstacles to the troops. In addition, in February and March, warm, slushy weather set in, which, given the large number of reservoirs and swampy places, led to the fact that troops could only move along roads. As a result, the region in its own way natural conditions was very convenient for organizing a strong defense.

Eastern Pomerania had a developed network of railways, highways and dirt roads. The highways were mostly paved. River and sea routes were also used for communication. Vistula, Oder, Bydgoszcz Canal and river. Wartas were usually navigable almost all year round. There were major ports on the coast, especially Danzig, Gdynia and Stettin, which were bases for the German fleet. Almost all cities and towns were connected by telegraph and telephone lines, including underground ones. This facilitated maneuver, the transfer of German troops and their communications.

Corpses dead soldiers and shot down german tank Pz.Kpfw. VI Ausf. B "Royal Tiger". Pomerania

The Germans led active work to equip fortifications and create strong strongholds. Not only field troops and special organizations, but civilians and prisoners took part in these works. Back in 1933, the Pomeranian Wall was built on the Polish-German border. The left flank of the rampart adjoined the seaside fortifications in the Stolpmünde area, then the line passed through the fortified strongholds of Stolp, Rummelsburg, Neustettin, Schneidemuhl, Deutsch-Krone (the southern part of the rampart was broken through by Soviet troops) and adjoined the defensive structures on the banks of the Oder and Warta rivers. The basis of the Pomeranian line were long-term military installations that defended small garrisons from platoon to company. They were strengthened by field fortifications. Field installations were covered by a developed system of anti-tank and anti-personnel barriers such as ditches, reinforced concrete gouges, minefields and wire lines. A number of cities, including Stolp, Rummelsburg, Neustettin, Schneidemuhl, and Deutsch-Krone were key strongholds. They were prepared for all-round defense and had many pillboxes and other engineering structures. There were coastal fortified areas on the coast - in the area of ​​Danzig, Gdynia, Hel Spit, Leba, Stolpmünde, Rügenwald and Kolberg. There were specially equipped coastal artillery positions here.

Danzig and Gdynia had a defense system built with a front to the southwest. Danzig and Gdynia each had several lines of defense, which relied on both long-term structures and field fortifications. The cities themselves were prepared for street fighting. At the beginning of 1945, the Pomeranian Wall was supplemented by a defensive line along the western bank of the Vistula, from the mouth to the city of Bydgoszcz, with a front to the east and further along the Netze and Warta rivers to the Oder, with positions to the south. This defensive line, 3-5 km deep, consisted of two to five trenches and was reinforced with long-term firing points in the most dangerous areas.

Anti-tank barriers near the road in the vicinity of Danzig

To be continued…

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