The Battle of Smolensk in 1941 lasted 2 months (from July 10 to September 10) and was a great achievement in the fight against the Nazi occupation. The complex of operations for the offensive and defense of four fronts made it possible to destroy plans and take time from the army of the German fascist invaders.
Stages, objectives of the battle
A large number of German troops surrounded Smolensk, as well as the nearest cities to it. But the Soviet Army managed to gather all its forces and organize the Western Front. During the defensive operation, several battles were fought.
The main clashes took place near Bobruisk, Velikoluksk, Gomel, Dukhovshchinsk, Elninsk, Mogilev, Polotsk, Smolensk, Roslavl-Novozybkov. The purpose of the entire complex of operations was to prevent the enemy from moving further to Moscow, to give the Soviet army an opportunity to prepare and organize its defense.
Reasons, preparation
The reasons for the organization of defensive measures were the fact that the German command ordered its army to break through the Western Front at any cost for further rapid advance towards Moscow. A group called "Center" was formed from several large armies, headed by Field Marshal Von Bock.
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The Soviet command, having revealed Hitler's plans, issued a decree on the preparation of defensive and offensive measures to protect the path to Moscow and drive the Germans away from the front line and Smolensk. SK Timoshenko was appointed the commander of the Western Front, composed of several armies.
Operation progress, results
The German army was four times larger than the Soviet one, possessed a large set of equipment and modern weapons, which allowed it to occupy Smolensk for some time. Despite all the obstacles, the task of not letting the enemy go further was completed. Having received reinforcements, the USSR army launched a counteroffensive, which came as a complete surprise to the enemy.
From the moment of the Soviet counter-offensive, the Germans were forced to turn from the attackers into the defenders. Subsequent reorganizations of the USSR army made it possible to create a powerful front. The battles lasted a long time and with varying success, the winners were either one or the other, but in the end the fascist threat in the direction of Moscow and Smolensk was eliminated.