Eastory

End of October 1944

Added 2019-06-04 06:37:54 +0000 UTC

In the autumn on 1944 the Red Army conducted offensives on its flanks - in the Baltics and the Balkans. In August the situation in the Baltics was more promising, as here the Soviet forces enjoyed more than 2:1 superiority and had already cut the Army Group North off from their main front. In the Balkans the troop strength ratio was around 1:1.5 and the Axis had the opportunity to use the Carpathian mountains and many rivers as consecutive defensive positions.

Despite that the Germans were able to avoid full destruction in the Baltics and retreat into the Courland pocket. However, if a success of operation is measured with casualties inflicted and territory captured vs casualties sustained, then the operation in the Balkans was one of the most successful for the Red Army in the whole war.

First the Soviet forces carried out an encirclement, halving the Axis strength on the front. This led to Romania switching sides, which led to a total collapse of the whole front. Soviets outflanked the German positions in the Carpathians and crossed into Hungary. This forced the Axis to abandon the Eastern Carpathians. As the Red Army neared Budapest, logistical difficulties and the Axis forces regaining their balance halted their advance. In the South Bulgaria also joined the war against Germany and the Germans were forced to abandon Greece.