Leningrad strategic defensive
1941 military operation
Leningrad strategic defensive operation is the term in Soviet historiography for the defensive operations in the area south of Leningrad by the Red Army and the Soviet Navy during World War II from 10 July to 30 September 1941. The following operations are considered as part of the strategic operation:
Kingisepp–Luga defensive 10 July – 23 September 1941
Soltsy–Dno offensive 14–22 July 1941
Tallinn defensive 5– 28 August 1941
Staraya–Russa offensive 8–23 August 1941
Demyansk defensive 6–26 September 1941
Positions of the German forces at the start of the operation
After the start of Operation Barbarossa on 22 June 1941, the German Army Group North, consisting of the 18th, the 4th Panzer Group and 16th Armies, had made a spectacular advance through the Baltic states.
In two and a half weeks, Lithuania and Latvia had been overrun and on 9 July, the 4th Panzer Group had already reached Pskov in Russia and the southern shore of Lake Peipus, with a bulge to the north-east towards Slavkovich. On the left flank of the bulge was the XXXXI Motorized Corps and on the right the LVI Motorized Corps.
The German 18th Army had advanced along the coast and pursued the Soviet 8th Army from its position on the border. The Soviet 8th Army was able to break contact and establish new defensive lines farther to the rear of the pre-war borders. On 10 July the German 18th Army, helped by the local Forest Brothers, had entered Southern Estonia and was positioned with its left flank occupying positions north of the city of Pärnu, along the Pärnu River through the Võhma District and then south-east to Tartu and Lake Peipus.
The 16th Army was at that time on the southern flank of the Army Group around the Velikaya River and west of Novorzhev. The Infantry of the 16th Army was lagging behind the 4th Panzergroup because of the difference in speed, but also because it was asked to support Army Group Center on its right flank.
Area covered during the operation
Territory
The campaign was conducted in the area to the northwest of the Kalinin Region to the Baltic Sea.
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