Memel operation (1944)

The Memel operation was an offensive operation by the Soviet troops of the 1st Baltic and the 39th army of the 3rd Byelorussian fronts , conducted from October 5 to 22, 1944 with the aim of cutting off the forces of the Army Group North from East Prussia. It was part of the Baltic strategic operation . The troops of the 1st Baltic Front reached the approaches to Riga south of the Daugava . There they met strong enemy resistance. The Supreme Command headquarters decided to postpone the main strike direction to the Memel direction. The regrouping of the forces of the 1st Baltic Front near the city of Siauliai was made . The command of the Soviet troops planned to reach the coast at the turn of Palanga — Memel — the mouth of the Neman River in the event of a breakthrough of defense to the west and south-west of the city of Siauliai . The main attack was on the direction of Memel, auxiliary - on the Kelm-Tilsit.

The decision of the Soviet command was a complete surprise to the enemy, who was waiting for the resumption of attacks on the Riga direction. On the first day of the fighting, Soviet troops began to break through the defenses and by the evening advanced to a depth of 7-17 km. By October 6, all the troops prepared according to the preliminary plan were involved.

By October 10, the Germans were cut off from East Prussia. As a result, between the enemy groups in East Prussia and in Kurland formed a strip of Soviet defense up to 50 kilometers wide, which the enemy could not overcome. By October 22, most of the northern bank of the Neman River was cleared of the enemy.

In Latvia, the enemy was driven out to the Kurland Peninsula and securely blocked there. In addition, 3 German divisions were blocked in Memele itself (Memel was taken by assault on January 28, 1945 ).

As a result of the Memel operation, advancement of up to 150 km was achieved, an area of ​​more than 26 thousand km² and more than 35 thousand settlements were freed. 78 Soviet units and formations awarded orders.