Operation Silver Fox - Conclusion

Conclusion

The failure of Silberfuchs was to have a lasting effect on the course of the war. While the rest of the Soviet lines had collapsed in 1941, the forces of Roman Panin's Northern Front had held, causing casualties of up to 15% on the German attackers.

German failure can be attributed to a number of factors: the terrain, which hindered the advance, and led to an over-dependence on roads for mobility; second, a lack of proper intelligence preparation which led to faulty assumptions; third, a long and tenuous line of communication; fourth, supply problems caused by bad roads and British-Soviet attacks on German shipping; and finally, determined resistance from the Soviets, which made the necessary breakthrough impossible, and the stagnation of the front inevitable.

The port of Murmansk remained in Russian hands throughout the war, and around a quarter of all Lend Lease material was received through this port, and the port of Arkhangelsk. The supplies coming through this port helped the Soviets quickly recover from the disasters of 1941.

The war in the north dragged on until May 1945. In September 1944, the Finns sued for peace and the German retreat through Lapland began. In October 1944, the Red Army conducted the Petsamo-Kirkenes Operation, and achieved a decisive victory over the German forces in the Arctic.