German Plan to Break the Luga Line
The Germans planned to break the Luga line with three attacks. The XLI Panzer Corps was to attack northwards from the Kingisepp bridgehead, the LVI Panzer Corps would attack north-eastwards from Luga, and I and XXVIII Infantry Corps would attack (the Soviet 48th Army) northwards parallel to the Volkhov River. The XXXIX Panzer Corps from Army Group Center was still in the early stages of relocating to the Luga area: it would have to move from the Yartsevo area (over 280 miles away) and would not be available until 24th August. This is especially paradoxical when one considers that the XXXIX Panzer Corps was being ordered to move mostly using its own motorized transport on poor roads while Moscow was only around 220 miles away on better roads!
The Germans launched their attack along the Luga line on the 8th and 9th of August, while 16th Army attacked south of Lake Ilmen on 10th August. All along the front the fighting was fierce and only XLI Panzer Corps (at Kingisepp) made much progress. By 14th August the Kingisepp bridgehead (defences) had started to collapse, by 16th August XLI Panzer Corps had broken out, and on 17th August Narva was captured. By 20th August XLI Panzer (now reinforced with the 8th Panzer Division) and 18th Army had isolated the main elements of the Soviet’s Luga Operational Group and trapped 30 000 men. The remnants of the Luga Operational Group contained 9 divisions (including a tank division): the fact that the average division was down to regimental strength (around 3,300 men each) is an indication of the fierce fighting in this sector, the tenacity of the Soviet defenders, and the speed with which the German Army could wear down even a dug in enemy force.