Hill 621

In late June, 1944, the Soviets began what eventually would be known as the "Destruction of Army Group Center." The key to this offensive was the city of Minsk. Should it be captured, numerous German units would be hopelessly cut …

1944-07-01

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In late June, 1944, the Soviets began what eventually would be known as the "Destruction of Army Group Center." The key to this offensive was the city of Minsk. Should it be captured, numerous German units would be hopelessly cut off. One of the key routes for the German retreat was via Stolbtsky Highway which ran behind a series of low ridges and then crossed the Berezina River south of Minsk. On July I st, the much overworked and understrength German l 70th Infantry Division, in reality a large battalion, was overwhelmed by elements of Rotmistroves Fifth Guards Army. The survivors took to their heels and attempted to patch together a defense along the last line of ridges overlooking the vital escape route to Minsk. This scenario portrays a typical struggle along just one of those ridges. Russians, in probing for a weakness in the German line, have managed to overrun the German held village of Letornovski and are now boiling out towards a key series of ridges that overlook the German lines of communication in this sector. Hurriedly gathered German units converge in an attempt to patch up the line and hold Hill 621 which is the key to the German defense in this sector.

Minsk, Russia

Operation Bagration was the codename for the 1944 Soviet Belorussian Strategic Offensive Operation, a military campaign fought between 23 June and 19 August 1944 in Soviet Byelorussia in the Eastern Front of World War II. The Soviet Union destroyed 28 of 34 divisions of Army Group Centre and completely shattered the German front line. It was the biggest defeat in German military history and the fifth deadliest campaign on in Europe, killing around 450,000 soldiers.

Wikipedia: Operation Bagration

German

Russian