Eastern FrontNORTHERN SECTORThe Soviet offensive begins, the customary arty barrage softening the German defenses before the main attack is launched. The attack by the 2nd Shock Army from the Oranienbaum bridgehead takes the German entirely by surprise, ripping Steiner's III SS Panzer Corps apart. The 2 Lufwaffe divisions allocated to the corps take the full force of the blow and collapse almost immediately. South of Leningrad the guns of the 42nd and 67th Armies pound the well dug in German forces in preparation for their attack on the 15th. To the south, the 2nd Baltic Front's 22nd Army gains ground north of Novosokolnikov. |
| [ January 13th - January 15th] |