The Wehrmacht's Worst Defeat
By Jonathan W. Jordan
World War II July/August 2006

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Originally timed for June 14, 1944, the operation's start was delayed by Soviet rail congestion until June 22, 1944 - three years to the day from the Nazi invasion of Soviet territory.

June 26, three days after the main assualt began, the first Axis reinforcement, the 5th Panzer Division, arrived from the Ukraine to plug the gap between the Third Panzer, and Fourth armies. Boasting 70 Panther, and 29 Tiger tanks, 5th Panzer was sent to hold the line east of the Berezina River.

On July 1 and 2, the 5th Panzer Division fought a series of intense battles against the Fifth Tank Army northwest of Minsk. By the end of a weeks fighting, 5th Panzer, a supporting Tiger batallion, and some smaller reinforcements had knocked out 295 Soviet armored vehicles. By July 8, however, all the Tigers were lost, and the division was reduced from 125 tanks to eight.

All told, Operation Bagration cost Hitler 350,000 men, plus hundreds of tanks, and more than 1,300 guns.

During their 400-mile drive from Vitbsk to Warsaw's outskirts, the Soviets lost some 765,000 troops, plus 2,857 tanks, and assualt guns, and 2,447 artillery pieces.
Please remember the many brave souls lost on the 52nd anniversary of this often overlooked campaign.


Service To The Line,
On The Line,
On Time

US Army Ordnance Corps.