Leningrad Front

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Leningrad Front

Head of the Leningrad front and Marshal of the Soviet Union Leonid Govorov (left) with head of Leningrad's defense Andrei Zhdanov (right).
Active 1941-1945
Country Soviet Union
Branch Soviet Army
Type Army Group Command
Size Several Armies
Engagements World War II
Siege of Leningrad
Baltic Offensive
Battle of Courland
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Georgy Zhukov
Leonid Govorov

The Leningrad Front (Russian: Ленинградский фронт) was first formed on August 27, 1941, by dividing the Northern Front into the Leningrad Front and Karelian Front, during the German approach on Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg).[1]

Contents

[edit] History

The front was immediately given the task of containing the German drive towards Leningrad, and to defend it from the approaching Army Group North. By September 1941, German forces to the south were effectively stopped on the outskirts of Leningrad, initiating the two and a half year long Siege of Leningrad. Although Finnish forces to the north stopped voluntarily at the old Finnish-Soviet border, the Leningrad front suffered severe losses in the ensuing Continuation War. From September 8, soldiers of the front were forced to conduct operations under the conditions of a blockade, with very little supply.

Diorama of the Siege of Leningrad, in the Museum of the Great Patriotic war, in Moscow
Diorama of the Siege of Leningrad, in the Museum of the Great Patriotic war, in Moscow

During the blockade, the front executed various offensive and defensive operations, until finally with the help of the Baltic and Volkhov Front, the blockade was lifted.[1] From June 1942, Leonid Govorov had been the commander of the front, and in June 1944, he was awarded the title Marshal of the Soviet Union. In January 1943, forces of the Leningrad front made their first advances in years when they took the town of Shlisselburg from German forces, thus restoring communications between Leningrad and the rest of the country. In January-February the Leningrad front, along with the Volkhov Front, the 1st Baltic Front and the 2nd Baltic Front destroyed the German Army Group North and broke the 28 month long blockade - the Oranienbaum Offensive. Several days later, these forces would completely liberate all of the Leningrad Oblast, Kalilin Oblast and parts of Estonia.[1]

On August 24, 1944, parts of the Leningrad front were broken off to create the 3rd Baltic Front. In June 1944, the Leningrad front, along with the Baltic fleet had successfully carried out the Vyborg operation. As a result of which, Finland would later leave the German side of the war. From September-November 1944, the front participated in the Baltic Offensive, it advanced in the Narva-Tartu direction, and then towards Tallin. Following the capture of continental Estonia, elements of the front, along with the Baltic fleet, took part in recapturing islands of the Estonian archipelago. These were the last offensive operations of the front. Forces of the Leningrad front were then stationed on the Soviet-Finnish border, and all along the Baltic coast from Leningrad to Riga. Later, the Leningrad front was reinforced with elements of the recently disbanded 2nd Baltic Front. These forces were primarily stationed near the Courland Pocket, with the task of containing the German Army Group Courland, which would continue to resist Soviet forces up until the end of war in Europe.[1]

On June 24, 1945, the Leningrad front was reorganized into the Leningrad Military District.[1]

[edit] Structure

Upon its creation in August 1941, the Leningrad front included:

Following November 25, 1942, the structure of the Leningrad front constantly increased, it subsequently included:

  • 20th Army
  • 21st Army
  • 22nd Army
  • 42nd Army
  • 51st Army
  • 52nd Army
  • 54th Army(Until Oct 1944; then disbanded)
  • 55th Army(Aug 1941 - Dec 1943; then disbanded)
  • 59th Army
  • 67th Army

[edit] Commanders

[edit] See also

[edit] References


  1. ^ a b c d e Ленинградский фронт. Russian ministry of defense. Retrieved on 2008-02-02.