Baltic Offensive - Battles

Battles

In common with other Soviet strategic offensives, the Baltic Offensive covers a number of operational level operations and individual Front offensive operations:

• The Riga Offensive (Russian: Рижская наступательная операция) (14 September-24 October 1944) was carried out by the 3rd and 2nd Baltic Fronts and cleared the coast of the Gulf of Riga.

• The Tallinn Offensive (Russian: Таллинская наступательная операция) (17–26 September 1944) was carried out by the Leningrad Front to drive German forces from Estonia.

• The Moonsund Landing Operation (Russian: Моонзундская десантная операция) (27 September-24 November 1944) was the amphibious landing on the Estonian islands of Hiiumaa, Saaremaa and Muhu, which block access to the Gulf of Riga. According to Soviet data Germany lost 7.000 dead soldiers and 700 captured.

• The Memel Offensive (Russian: Мемельская операция)(5–22 October 1944) was an attack by the 1st Baltic Front aimed at severing the connection between the German Army Groups Centre and North.

From the German defensive perspective, the period included the following operations:

• Operation Cäsar, aimed at the restoration of contact between Army Groups Centre and North 16–21 September 1944;
• Operation Aster aimed at the evacuation of Army Group North from mainland Estonia 17–26 September 1944
• The siege of Memel 5–27 October 1944;
• Formation of the Courland Pocket 15–22 October 1944.