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Strategic operations of the Red Army in World

War II
The Strategic operations of the Red Army in World War II were major military events on the Eastern
Front during the Second World War, commonly conducted by at least one Front or major part of its
forces. The operations could be either defensive, offensive, a withdrawal, an encirclement, or a siege,
always conducted by at least two Services of the armed forces, the ground forces and the air forces,
and often included the naval forces. In most cases the strategic operations were divided
into operational phases which were large operations in their own right. In very few cases the phases
were tactical, such as those requiring amphibious landings.

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.

First period (22 June 1941 – 18 November 1942)

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 1941
Battle of Raseiniai
Shyaulyai Counter-Offensive (1941) 24–27 June 1941
Battle 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 1941
Defense of Brest Fortress 22–30 June 1941
Borisov-Lepel' Offensive 6–9 July 1941

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

Ukrainian Border Defensive Battles 22–27 June 1941
Battle of Brody (1941) (26–30 June 1941)
L'vov-Lutsk Defensive 27 June – 2 July 1941
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Stanislav-Proskurov Defensive 3–6 July 1941

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

Artic-Karelia Strategic Defensive 29 June – 10 October 1941
Murmansk-Kandalaksha Defensive 29 June – 19 September 1941
Vyborg-Keksholm Defensive 29 June – 23 September 1941
Defensives on the Kestengsky direction 1 July – 10 October 1941
Defensives 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 1941
Novgorod-Volynskii Defensive 10 July – 20 August 1941
Uman Defensive 15 July – 4 August 1941
Tiraspol-Melitopol Defensive 27 July – 28 September 1941
Kiev-Priluki Defensive 20 August – 26 September 1941
Malin Offensive 5–8 August 1941

Leningrad Strategic Defensive 10 July – 30 September 1941

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

Battle Of Smolensk 10 July – 10 September 1941

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

Odessa Defensive 5 August – 16 October 1941

Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran 23 August – 18 September 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
Defence of Kharkov (1941) (20–24 October 1941)
German First Battle of Kharkov

Axis Crimean Campaign 26 September 1941 – 15 May 1942

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

Moscow Strategic Defensive 30 September – 5 December 1941

Orel-Bryansk Defensive 30 September – 23 October 1941
Vyazma Defensive 2–13 October 1941
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Kalinin Defensive 10 October – 4 December 1941

Mozhaisk-Maloyaroslavets Defensive 10–30 October 1941
Tula Defensive 24 October – 5 December 1941
Klin-Solnechnogorsk Defensive 15 November – 5 December 1941
Naro-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 1941
Malo-Vishersk Offensive 10 November – 30 December 1941

Rostov Strategic Offensive 17 November – 2 December 1941

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

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

Moscow Strategic Offensive 5 December 1941 – 7 January 1942

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

Kerch–Feodosia Amphibious 25 December 1941 – 2 January 1942

Kerch Landing 25 December 1941 – 2 January 1942
Feodosia 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 1942
Mozhaisk–Vyazma Offensive 10 January – 28 February 1942
Toropets–Kholm Offensive 9 January – 6 February 1942
Vyazma Airborne 18 January – 28 February 1942
Rzhev–Vyazma Offensive 3 March – 20 April 1942
Demyansk 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
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Summer–Autumn campaign of 1942 (1 May – 18 November)[edit]

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 Moscow
Axis Case Blue – Woronesh Army Group B
Axis Case Blue – Stalingrad 6th Army
Axis Case Blue – Baku Army Group A

Voronezh–Voroshilovgrad Strategic Defensive 28 June – 24 July 1942

1st Kastornoye Defensive 28 June – 10 July 1942
2nd Kastornoye Defensive 9–24 July 1942
Valuiki–Rossosh Defensive 28 June – 24 July 1942
Battle of Voronezh (1942)
Voroshilovgrad–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 1942
Defensive 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
1940–44 insurgency in Chechnya

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 1942
Armavir–Maikop Defensive 6–17 August 1942
Novorossiysk Defensive 19 August – 26 September 1942
Mozdok–Malgobek Defensive 1–28 September 1942

Axis Operation Blücher 2 September 1942

Tuapse Defensive 25 September – 20 December 1942
Nalckik–Ordzhonikidze Defensive 25 October – 12 November 1942
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Second period (19 November 1942 – 31 December 1943)[edit]

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

Stalingrad Strategic Offensive 19 November 1942 – 2 February 1943

Operation Uranus 19–30 November 1942
Kotelnikovo Offensive 12–31 December 1942
Middle Don Offensive (Operation Little Saturn) 16–30 December 1942
Tatsinskaya Raid
Operation 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 1942
Belyi Offensive 25 November – 16 December 1942
Luchesa Offensive 25 November – 11 December 1942
Molodoi Tud Offensive 25 November – 23 December 1942
Velikie-Luki Offensive 24 November 1942 – 20 January 1943

North Caucasian Strategic Offensive 1 January – 4 February 1943

Salsk-Rostov Offensive 1 January – 4 February 1943
Mozdok-Stavropol Offensive 1–24 January 1943
Novorossiysk-Maikop Offensive 11 January – 4 February 1943
Tikhoretsk-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
Battle of Krasny Bor

Voronezh-Kharkov Strategic Offensive 13 January – 3 March 1943

Ostrogozhsk-Rossosh Offensive 13–27 January 1943
Voronezh-Kastornoye Offensive 24 January – 2 February 1943
Voroshilovgrad Offensive (Operation Skachok)[1] 29 January – 18 February 1943
Kharkov Offensive (Operation Zvezda) 2 February – 3 March 1943
Orel (Maloarkhangelsk) Offensive 5–28 February 1943
Lvov 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
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Summer–Autumn campaign of 1943 (1 July – 31 December)[edit]

Kursk Strategic Defensive 5–23 July 1943

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

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

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

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

Izyum–Barvenkovo Offensive 17–27 July 1943
Mius 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 1943
Belgorod–Kharkov Offensive 3–23 August 1943
Zmiez Offensive 12–23 August 1943

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

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

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

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

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

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

Novorossiysk–Taman Strategic Offensive 10 September – 9 October 1943

Novorossiysk Amphibious 10–16 September 1943
Taman 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 Line
Kremenchug Offensive 26 September – 10 October 1943
Melitopol Offensive 26 September – 5 November 1943
Zaporizhia Offensive 10–14 October 1943
Kremenchug–Pyatikhatki Offensive 15 October – 3 November 1943
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Dnepropetrovsk Offensive 23 October – 23 December 1943

Krivoi Rog Offensive 14–21 November 1943
Apostolovo Offensive 14 November – 23 December 1943
Nikopol Offensive 14 November – 31 December 1943
Aleksandriia–Znamenka Offensive 22 November – 9 December 1943
Krivoi Rog Offensive 10–19 December 1943

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

Chernobyl–Radomysl Offensive 1–4 October 1943
Chernobyl–Gornostaipol Defensive 3–8 October 1943
Lyutezh Offensive 11–24 October 1943
1st Bukrin Offensive 12–15 October 1943
2nd Bukrin Offensive 21–24 October 1943

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

Gomel–Rechitsa Offensive 30 September – 30 October 1943
Nevel Offensive 3–12 October 1943
1st Orsha Offensive 3–26 October 1943
Vitebsk (Riga) Offensive 18–30 October 1943
Idritsa Offensive 18–30 October 1943
Pskov Offensive 18–30 October 1943
Pololsk–Vitebsk Offensive 2–21 November 1943
Pustoshka-Idritsa Offensive 2–21 November 1943
Gomel-Rechitsa Offensive 10–30 November 1943
2nd Orsha Offensive 14 November – 5 December 1943
Novyi Bykhov–Propoisk Offensive 22–30 November 1943
Kalinkovichi Offensive 8–11 December 1943
Gorodok Offensive 13–31 December 1943
Idritsa-Opochka Offensive 16 December 1943 – 15 January 1944
Kalinkovichi Defensive 20–27 December 1943

Kerch–Eltigen 31 October – 11 December 1943

Kiev Strategic Offensive (November 1943) 3–13 November 1943
Kiev Strategic Defensive (1943) 13 November – 22 December 1943

Third period (1 January 1944 – 9 May 1945)[edit]

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

Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive 24 December 1943 – 17 April 1944

Zhitomir–Berdichev Offensive 24 December 1943 – 14 January 1944
Kirograd Offensive 5–16 January 1944
Korsun–Shevchenkovsky Offensive 24 January – 17 February 1944
German Korsun–Cherkassy Pocket
Rovno–Lutsk Offensive 1 Stage 27 January – 11 February 1944
Nikopol–Krivoi Rog Offensive 2 Stage 30 January – 29 February 1944
Proskurov–Chernovtsy Offensive 4 March – 17 April 1944
Uman–Botoşani Offensive 5 March 1944 – 17 April 1944
Bereznegovatoye–Snigirevka Offensive 6–18 March 1944
Polesskoe Offensive 15 March – 5 April 1944
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Odessa 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 1944
Novgorod–Luga Offensive 14 January – 15 February 1944
Kingisepp–Gdov Offensive 1 February – 1 March 1944
Staraia 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 1944
Kerch–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)[edit]

Vyborg–Petrozavodsk Offensive 10 June – 9 August 1944

Vyborg Offensive 10 June – 15 July 1944
Svir–Petrozavodsk Offensive 21 June – 9 August 1944
Tuloksinskaia Landing Offensive 23–27 June 1944

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

Vitebsk–Orsha Offensive 23–28 June 1944
Mogilev Offensive 23–28 June 1944
Bobruysk Offensive 24–29 June 1944
Polotsk Offensive 29 June – 4 July 1944
Minsk Offensive 29 June – 4 July 1944
Vilnius Offensive 5–20 July 1944
Šiauliai Offensive 5–31 July 1944
Belostock Offensive 5–27 July 1944
Lublin–Brest Offensive 18 July – 2 August 1944
Battle of Radzymin (1944)
Kaunas Offensive 28 July – 28 August 1944
Osovets 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 1944
Stanislav Offensive 13–27 July 1944
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Sandomierz 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 1944
Kishinev–Izmail Offensive 20–29 August 1944

East Carpathian Strategic Offensive 8–28 September 1944

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

Baltic Offensive 14 September – 24 November 1944

Riga Offensive 14 September – 24 October 1944
Tallinn Offensive 17–26 September 1944
Moonsund Landing 5–22 October 1944
Memel 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 1944
Szolnok–Budapest Offensive 29 October – 10 December 1944
Nyiregyhaza–Miskolc Offensive 1 November – 31 December 1944
Esztergom–Komarno Offensive 20 December 1944 – 15 January 1945
Szekesfehervar–Esztergom Offensive 20 December 1944 – 13 February 1945
Assault on Budapest 27 December 1944 – 13 February 1945

Campaign in Europe 1945 (1 January – 9 May)[edit]

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

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

Western Carpathian Strategic Offensive 12 January – 18 February 1945

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

East Prussian Strategic Offensive 13 January – 25 April 1945

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

Zemland 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 1945
Danzig Offensive 7–31 March 1945
Arnswalde–Kolberg Offensive 1 March 1945 – 18 March 1945
Altdamm 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 1945
Veszprem Offensive 16–25 March 1945
Sopron–Baden Offensive 26 March – 4 April 1945
Nagykanizsa–Körmend Offensive 26 March – 15 April 1945
Assault 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 Line
Settin-Rostock Offensive 16 April – 8 May 1945
German Defense of Schwedt Bridgehead 1 February – 3 March 1945
Seelow-Berlin Offensive 16 April – 2 May 1945
Battle of Halbe (Russian: Хальбский "котел", Halbe cauldron) 24 April – 1 May 1945
Cottbus–Potsdam Offensive
Spremberg–Torgau Offensive 16 April – 5 May 1945
Battle of Bautzen
Brandenberg–Ratenow Offensive 3–8 May 1945

Prague Offensive 6–11 May 1945

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