Strategic operations of the Red Army in World War II

Introduction

In Soviet historiography, the Great Patriotic War (termed the Eastern Front by Germany and western historians) is divided into periods:

1. First (22 June 1941 – 18 November 1942)
2. Second (19 November 1942 – 31 December 1943)
3. Third (1 January 1944 – 9 May 1945)

The war with Japan, the Campaign in the Far East including the Manchurian Strategic Offensive Operation, (9 August 1945–2 September 1945) is seen as a separate theater of operations from the Great Patriotic War.

During the course of the Second World War the Red Army carried out a number of different military operations. The scope of these operations, usually known by the major cities around which they took place, was usually termed "operational-strategic" or "strategic", depending on the scale. An "operational-strategic" operation was usually undertaken by at least a group of Armies or a single Front. A "strategic" operation usually demanded cooperation of several Fronts to achieve its objectives. In both cases the operations could last from a week to several months. Strategic operations were combined into seasonal campaigns, because weather and ground conditions affected planning.

Summer–Autumn campaign of 1941 (22 June – 4 December)

Axis Operation Barbarossa

Baltic Operation (1941) 22 June – 9 July 1941

Baltic Border Defensive Battles 22–24 June 1941Shyaulyai Counter-Offensive (1941) 24–27 June 1941Battle of Hanko (1941) 22 June – 2 December 1941

German Battle of Białystok-Minsk/Offensive Campaign in Belorussia 22–29 June 1941

Belorussian Strategic Defensive 22 June – 9 July 1941

Belorussian Border Defensive Battles 22–25 June 1941Borisov-Lepel' Offensive 6–9 July 1941

L'vov-Chernovitsy Strategic Defensive 22 June – 9 July 1941

Ukrainian Border Defensive Battles 22–27 June 1941L'vov-Lutsk Defensive 27 June – 2 July 1941Stanislav-Proskurov Defensive 3–6 July 1941

German and Finnish Operation Arctic Fox 29 June – mid-July 1941

Arctic-Karelia Strategic Defensive 29 June – 10 October 1941

Murmansk-Kandalaksha Defensive 29 June – 19 September 1941Vyborg-Keksholm Defensive 29 June – 23 September 1941Defensives on the Kestengsky direction 1 July – 10 October 1941Defensives on the Petrozavodsk, Ukhinskom-Rugozerskom, and Olonetskom directions 1 July – 10 October 1941

Moldavian Defensive 1–26 July 1941

Kiev Strategic Defensive (1941) 7 July – 26 September 1941

Korosten Defensive 11 July – 20 August 1941Novgorod-Volynskii Defensive 10 July – 20 August 1941Uman Defensive 15 July – 4 August 1941Tiraspol-Melitopol Defensive 27 July – 28 September 1941Kiev-Priluki Defensive 20 August – 26 September 1941Malin Offensive 5–8 August 1941

Leningrad Strategic Defensive 10 July – 30 September 1941

Tallinn Defensive 10 July – 10 August 1941Kingisepp-Luga Defensive 10 July – 23 September 1941Soltsy-Dno Offensive 15–20 July 1941Staraia-Russa Offensive 8–23 August 1941Demyansk Defensive 6–26 September 1941

Battle Of Smolensk 10 July – 10 September 1941

Smolensk Defensive 10 July – 10 August 1941Smolensk Offensive 21 July – 7 August 1941Rogechev-Zhlobin Offensive 13–24 July 1941Gomel-Trubchevsk Defensive 24 July – 30 August 1941Dukhovskina Offensive 17 August – 8 September 1941Yelnia Offensive 30 August – 8 September 1941Roslavl-Novozybkov Offensive 30 August – 12 September 1941

Odessa Defensive 5 August – 16 October 1941

German Operation Wotan (Angriff am Moskow) 9 September

Donbass-Rostov Strategic Defensive 29 September – 16 November 1941

Sumy-Kharkov Defensive 30 September – 30 November 1941

Axis Crimean Campaign 26 September 1941 – 15 May 1942

Donbass Defensive (1941) 29 September – 4 November 1941Rostov Defensive 5–16 November 1941

Moscow Strategic Defensive 30 September – 5 December 1941

Orel-Bryansk Defensive 30 September – 23 October 1941Vyazma Defensive 2–13 October 1941Kalinin Defensive 10 October – 4 December 1941Mozhaisk-Maloyaroslavets Defensive 10–30 October 1941Tula Defensive 24 October – 5 December 1941Klin-Solnechnogorsk Defensive 15 November – 5 December 1941Naro-Fominsk Defensive 1–5 December 1941

Tikhvin Defensive 16 October – 18 November 1941

Crimean Defensive 18 October – 16 November 1941

Defense of Sevastopol 30 October 1941 – 4 July 1942

Tikhvin Strategic Offensive 10 November – 30 December 1941

Tikhvin-Kirishsk Offensive 12 November – 30 December 1941Malo-Vishersk Offensive 10 November – 30 December 1941

Rostov Strategic Offensive 17 November – 2 December 1941

Bolshekrepinsk Offensive 17–27 November 1941Rostov Offensive 27 November – 2 December 1941

Winter campaign of 1941/42 (5 December 1941 – 30 April 1942)

Moscow Strategic Offensive 5 December 1941 – 7 January 1942

Kalinin Offensive 5 December 1941 – 7 January 1942Klin–Solnechnogorsk Offensive 6–25 December 1941Yelets Offensive 6–16 December 1941Tula Offensive 6–16 December 1941Kaluga Offensive 17 December 1941 – 5 January 1942Naro–Fominsk Offensive 24 December 1941 – 8 January 1942

Kerch–Feodosia Amphibious 25 December 1941 – 2 January 1942

Kerch Landing 25 December 1941 – 2 January 1942Feodosia Landing 25 December 1941 – 2 January 1942

Oboyan–Kursk Offensive 3–26 January 1942

Lyuban Offensive 7 January – 30 April 1942

Demyansk Offensive – first phase (1942) 7 January – 20 May 1942

Orel–Bolkhov Offensive 8 January – 28 April 1942

Rzhev–Vyazma Strategic Offensive 8 January – 20 April 1942

Sychevka–Vyazma Offensive 8 January – 28 February 1942Mozhaisk–Vyazma Offensive 10 January – 28 February 1942Toropets–Kholm Offensive 9 January – 6 February 1942Vyazma Airborne 18 January – 28 February 1942Rzhev–Vyazma Offensive 3 March – 20 April 1942Demyansk Offensive – second phase (1942) 7 January – 20 May 1942

Barvenkovo–Lozovaya Offensive 18–31 January 1942

Crimean Offensive 27 January – 15 April 1942

Bolkhov Offensive 24 March – 3 April 1942

Summer–Autumn campaign of 1942 (1 May – 18 November)

German Demjansk Pocket 8 February – 21 April 1942

Volkhov Offensive 24 March – 3 April 1942

Battle of the Kerch Peninsula 8–19 May 1942

Izium bridgehead offensive 12–29 May 1942

Rescue of 2nd Shock Army 13 May – 10 July 1942

Axis Case Blue 28 June – 19 August 1942

German Fall Kremel ("Case Kremlin" in English) was a German deception for a summer offensive aimed at MoscowAxis Case Blue – Woronesh Army Group BAxis Case Blue – Stalingrad 6th ArmyAxis Case Blue – Baku Army Group A

Voronezh–Voroshilovgrad Strategic Defensive 28 June – 24 July 1942

1st Kastornoye Defensive 28 June – 10 July 19422nd Kastornoye Defensive 9–24 July 1942Valuiki–Rossosh Defensive 28 June – 24 July 1942Voroshilovgrad–Shakhty Defensive 7–24 July 1942

Donbass Defensive (1942) 7–24 July 1942

German Operation Seydlitz 12 July 1942

Stalingrad Strategic Defensive 17 July – 18 November 1942

Defensive Battles at Distant Approaches 17 July – 17 August 1942Defensive Battles on Near Approaches and in Stalingrad 19 August – 18 November 1942

Rzhev–Sychevka Offensive 30 July – 23 August 1942

Sinyavino Offensive 19 August – 10 October 1942

Axis Operation Braunschweig 23 July 1942 –

Axis Operation Edelweiss 23 July – 21 August 1942

North Caucasian Strategic Defensive 25 July – 31 December 1942

Tikhoretsk–Stavropol' Defensive 25 July – 5 August 1942Armavir–Maikop Defensive 6–17 August 1942Novorossiysk Defensive 19 August – 26 September 1942Mozdok–Malgobek Defensive 1–28 September 1942

Axis Operation Blücher 2 September 1942

Tuapse Defensive 25 September – 20 December 1942Nalckik–Ordzhonikidze Defensive 25 October – 12 November 1942

Winter campaign of 1942-1943 (19 November 1942 – 3 March 1943)

Stalingrad Strategic Offensive 19 November 1942 – 2 February 1943

Operation Uranus 19–30 November 1942Kotelnikovo Offensive 12–31 December 1942Middle Don Offensive (Operation Little Saturn) 16–30 December 1942Operation Koltso (Operation Ring) 10 January – 2 February 1943

Rzhev-Sychevka Strategic Offensive (Operation Mars) 25 November – 20 December 1942

Sychevka Offensive 24 November – 14 December 1942Belyi Offensive 25 November – 16 December 1942Luchesa Offensive 25 November – 11 December 1942Molodoi Tud Offensive 25 November – 23 December 1942Velikie-Luki Offensive 24 November 1942 – 20 January 1943

North Caucasian Strategic Offensive 1 January – 4 February 1943

Salsk-Rostov Offensive 1 January – 4 February 1943Mozdok-Stavropol Offensive 1–24 January 1943Novorossiysk-Maikop Offensive 11 January – 4 February 1943Tikhoretsk-Eisk Offensive 24 January – 4 February 1943

Axis Defence of the Kuban bridgeheads

Operation Iskra (Operation Spark, Breaking of the Leningrad Blockade) 12–30 January 1943

Krasnoborsko-Smerdynskaya offensive

Voronezh-Kharkov Strategic Offensive 13 January – 3 March 1943

Ostrogozhsk-Rossosh Offensive 13–27 January 1943Voronezh-Kastornoye Offensive 24 January – 2 February 1943Voroshilovgrad Offensive (Operation Skachok) 29 January – 18 February 1943Kharkov Offensive (Operation Zvezda) 2 February – 3 March 1943Orel (Maloarkhangelsk) Offensive 5–28 February 1943Lvov Offensive 15 February – 1 March 1943

Donbass Mariupol Offensive 16–23 February 1943

Krasnodar Offensive 9 February – 24 May 1943

Demyansk Offensive (Operation Pol'arnaya Zvezda) 15–28 February 1943

German Operation Büffel

Rzhev-Vyaz'ma Offensive (Operation Jupiter) 2–31 March 1943

Kharkov Defensive 4–25 March 1943

1st Taman Offensive 4 April – 10 May 1943

2nd Taman Offensive 26 May 1943 – 22 August 1944

Summer–Autumn campaign of 1943 (1 July – 31 December)

German Operation Citadel

Kursk Strategic Defensive 5–23 July 1943

Orel–Kursk Defensive 5–11 July 1943Belgorod–Kursk Defensive 5–23 July 1943

Orel Strategic Offensive (Operation Kutuzov) 12 July – 18 August 1943

Volkhov–Orel Offensive 12 July – 18 August 1943Kromyv–Orel Offensive 15 July – 18 August 1943

Donbass Strategic Offensive (July 1943) 17 July – 2 August 1943

Izyum–Barvenkovo Offensive 17–27 July 1943Mius Offensive 17 July – 2 August 1943

1st Mga Offensive 22 July – 22 August 1943

Belgorod–Khar'kov Strategic Offensive (Operation Rumyantsev) 3–23 August 1943

Belgorod–Bogodukhov Offensive 3–23 August 1943Belgorod–Kharkov Offensive 3–23 August 1943Zmiez Offensive 12–23 August 1943

Smolensk Strategic Offensive (Operation Suvorov) 7 August – 2 October 1943

Spas–Demensk Offensive 7–20 August 1943Dukhovshchina–Demidov Offensive 1 Stage 13–18 August 1943Yelnia–Dorogobuzh Offensive 28 August – 6 September 1943Dukhovshchina–Demidov Offensive 2 Stage 14 September – 2 October 1943Smolensk–Roslavl Offensive 15 September – 2 October 1943Bryansk Offensive 17 August – 3 October 1943

Donbass Strategic Offensive (August 1943) 13 August – 22 September 1943

Barvenkovo–Pavlograd Offensive 13 August – 22 September 1943Mius–Mariupol Offensive 18 August – 22 September 1943

Chernigov–Poltava Strategic Offensive 26 August 1943 – 30 September 1943

Chernigov–Pripyet Offensive 26 August – 30 September 1943Sumy–Priluki Offensive 26 August – 30 September 1943Poltava–Kremenchug Offensive 26 August – 30 September 1943

Novorossiysk–Taman Strategic Offensive 10 September – 9 October 1943

Novorossiysk Amphibious 10–16 September 1943Taman Offensive (1943) 10 September – 9 October 1943

2nd Mga Offensive 15–18 September 1943

Operation Concert (partisan offensive in support of Operation Suvorov) 19 September 1943

Lower Dnieper Offensive 26 September – 20 December 1943

Axis Defence of the Panther–Wotan LineKremenchug Offensive 26 September – 10 October 1943Melitopol Offensive 26 September – 5 November 1943Zaporizhia Offensive 10–14 October 1943Kremenchug–Pyatikhatki Offensive 15 October – 3 November 1943Dnepropetrovsk Offensive 23 October – 23 December 1943Krivoi Rog Offensive 14–21 November 1943Apostolovo Offensive 14 November – 23 December 1943Nikopol Offensive 14 November – 31 December 1943Aleksandriia–Znamenka Offensive 22 November – 9 December 1943Krivoi Rog Offensive 10–19 December 1943

Kiev Strategic Offensive (October 1943) 1–24 October 1943

Chernobyl–Radomysl Offensive 1–4 October 1943Chernobyl–Gornostaipol Defensive 3–8 October 1943Lyutezh Offensive 11–24 October 19431st Bukrin Offensive 12–15 October 19432nd Bukrin Offensive 21–24 October 1943

Byelorussian Strategic Offensive (1943) 3 October – 31 December 1943

Gomel–Rechitsa Offensive 30 September – 30 October 1943Nevel Offensive 3–12 October 19431st Orsha Offensive 3–26 October 1943Vitebsk (Riga) Offensive 18–30 October 1943Idritsa Offensive 18–30 October 1943Pskov Offensive 18–30 October 1943Pololsk–Vitebsk Offensive 2–21 November 1943Pustoshka-Idritsa Offensive 2–21 November 1943Gomel-Rechitsa Offensive 10–30 November 19432nd Orsha Offensive 14 November – 5 December 1943Novyi Bykhov–Propoisk Offensive 22–30 November 1943Kalinkovichi Offensive 8–11 December 1943Gorodok Offensive 13–31 December 1943Idritsa-Opochka Offensive 16 December 1943 – 15 January 1944Kalinkovichi Defensive 20–27 December 1943

Kerch–Eltigen Operation 31 October – 11 December 1943

Kiev Strategic Offensive (November 1943) 3–13 November 1943

Kiev Strategic Defensive (1943) 13 November – 22 December 1943

Winter Spring campaign of 1944 (1 January – 31 May)

Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive 24 December 1943 – 17 April 1944

Zhitomir–Berdichev Offensive 24 December 1943 – 14 January 1944Kirovograd Offensive 5–16 January 1944Korsun–Shevchenkovsky Offensive 24 January – 17 February 1944German Korsun–Cherkassy PocketRovno–Lutsk Offensive 1 Stage 27 January – 11 February 1944Nikopol–Krivoi Rog Offensive 2 Stage 30 January – 29 February 1944Proskurov–Chernovtsy Offensive 4 March – 17 April 1944Uman–Botoşani Offensive 5 March 1944 – 17 April 1944Bereznegovatoye–Snigirevka Offensive 6–18 March 1944Polesskoe Offensive 15 March – 5 April 1944Odessa Offensive 26 March – 14 April 1944

Kalinkovichi–Mozyr Offensive 8–30 January 1944

Leningrad–Novgorod Strategic Offensive 14 January – 1 March 1944

Krasnoye Selo–Ropsha Offensive 14–30 January 1944Novgorod–Luga Offensive 14 January – 15 February 1944Kingisepp–Gdov Offensive 1 February – 1 March 1944Staraia Russa–Novorzhev Offensive 18 February – 1 March 1944

German: Battle of Narva 2 February – 10 August 1944

Battle for Narva Bridgehead 2 February – 26 July 1944

Narva Offensive (15–28 February 1944)

Rogachev–Zhlobin Offensive 21–26 February 1944

Narva Offensive (1–4 March 1944)

Narva Offensive (18–24 March 1944)

Crimean Strategic Offensive 8 April – 12 May 1944

Perekop–Sevastopol Offensive 8 April – 12 May 1944Kerch–Sevastopol Offensive 11 April – 12 May 1944

First Jassy–Kishinev Offensive 8 April – 6 June 1944

Summer–Autumn campaign of 1944 (1 June – 31 December)

Vyborg–Petrozavodsk Offensive 10 June – 9 August 1944

Vyborg Offensive 10 June – 15 July 1944Svir–Petrozavodsk Offensive 21 June – 9 August 1944

Byelorussian Strategic Offensive (Operation Bagration) 23 June – 29 August 1944

Vitebsk–Orsha Offensive 23–28 June 1944Mogilev Offensive 23–28 June 1944Bobruysk Offensive 24–29 June 1944Polotsk Offensive 29 June – 4 July 1944Minsk Offensive 29 June – 4 July 1944Vilnius Offensive 5–20 July 1944Šiauliai Offensive 5–31 July 1944Belostock Offensive 5–27 July 1944Lublin–Brest Offensive 18 July – 2 August 1944Kaunas Offensive 28 July – 28 August 1944Osovets Offensive 6–14 August 1944

Rezhitsa–Dvinsk Offensive 10–27 July 1944

Pskov-Ostov Offensive 11–31 July 1944

German – Operation Doppelkopf 16–27 August 1944

Lvov-Sandomierz Strategic Offensive 13 July – 29 August 1944

Lvov Offensive 13–27 July 1944Stanislav Offensive 13–27 July 1944Sandomierz Offensive 28 July – 29 August 1944

Narva Offensive 24–30 July 1944

German: Battle of Tannenberg Line 26 July – 10 August 1944

Madona Offensive 1–28 August 1944

Tartu Offensive 10 August – 6 September 1944

Jassy–Kishinev Strategic Offensive 20–29 August 1944

Yassi–Focsani Offensive 20–29 August 1944Kishinev–Izmail Offensive 20–29 August 1944

East Carpathian Strategic Offensive 8–28 September 1944

Carpathian–Dukla Offensive 8–28 September 1944Carpathian–Uzhgorod Offensive 9–28 September 1944

Baltic Offensive 14 September – 24 November 1944

Riga Offensive 14 September – 24 October 1944Tallinn Offensive 17–26 September 1944Moonsund Landing 5–22 October 1944Memel Offensive 27 September – 24 November 1944

Courland Pocket 9 October 1944 – 8 May 1945

Belgrade Offensive 14 September – 24 November 1944

Debrecen Offensive 6–28 October 1944

Petsamo-Kirkenes Strategic Offensive 7–29 October 1944

Goldap-Gumbinnen Offensive 16–30 October 1944

Budapest Strategic Offensive 29 October 1944 – 13 February 1945

Kechkemet–Budapest Offensive 29 October – 10 December 1944Szolnok–Budapest Offensive 29 October – 10 December 1944Nyiregyhaza–Miskolc Offensive 1 November – 31 December 1944Esztergom–Komarno Offensive 20 December 1944 – 15 January 1945Szekesfehervar–Esztergom Offensive 20 December 1944 – 13 February 1945Assault on Budapest 27 December 1944 – 13 February 1945

Campaign in Europe 1945 (1 January – 9 May)

Vistula-Oder Strategic Offensive 12 January 1945 – 3 February 1945

Warsaw–Poznan Offensive 14 January – 3 February 1945Sandomierz–Silesian Offensive 12 January – 3 February 1945

Western Carpathian Strategic Offensive 12 January – 18 February 1945

Kosice–Poprad Offensive 12–28 January 1945Bel'sk Offensive 29 January – 18 February 1945Pleshevets–Breznovsk Offensive 12 January – 18 February 1945

East Prussian Strategic Offensive 13 January – 25 April 1945

Insterburg–Königsberg Offensive 14–26 January 1945Mlawo–Elbing Offensive 14–26 January 1945Rastenburg–Heilsberg Offensive 27 January – 12 February 1945Braunsberg Offensive 13–22 March 1945Königsberg Offensive 6–9 April 1945Zemland Offensive 13–25 April 1945

Lower Silesian Offensive 8–24 February 1945

German Siege of Breslau 13 February – 6 May 1945

East Pomeranian Strategic Offensive 10 February – 6 March 1945

Chojnice–Koeslin Offensive 10 February – 6 March 1945Danzig Offensive 7–31 March 1945Arnswalde–Kolberg Offensive 1 March 1945 – 18 March 1945Altdamm Offensive 18 March – 4 April 1945

German Lake Balaton counteroffensive Operation Frühlingserwachen

Balaton Defensive 6–15 March 1945

Bulgarian Battle of the Transdanubian Hills

Moravian–Ostrava Offensive 10 March – 5 May 1945

Vienna Offensive 13 March – 15 April 1945

Győr Offensive 13 March – 4 April 1945Veszprem Offensive 16–25 March 1945Sopron–Baden Offensive 26 March – 4 April 1945Nagykanizsa–Körmend Offensive 26 March – 15 April 1945Assault on Vienna 4–13 April 1945

Upper Silesian Offensive 15–31 March 1945

Bratislava–Brno Offensive 25 March – 5 May 1945

Berlin Strategic Offensive 16 April – 8 May 1945

German Defence of the Oder–Neisse LineSettin-Rostock Offensive 16 April – 8 May 1945German Defense of Schwedt Bridgehead 1 February – 3 March 1945Seelow-Berlin Offensive 16 April – 2 May 1945Cottbus–Potsdam OffensiveSpremberg–Torgau Offensive 16 April – 5 May 1945Brandenberg–Ratenow Offensive 3–8 May 1945

Prague Offensive 6–11 May 1945

Dresden–Prague Offensive 6–11 May 1945Sudeten Offensive 6–11 May 1945Olomout Offensive 6–9 May 1945Jihlavo–Benesov Offensive 6–11 May 1945