July 1944

Eastern Front

Elements of the 5th Guards Tank Army enters Minsk, it and the 31st Army fighting bitter actions with German rearguards. The 3rd Army fights its way in from the south and southeast, linking up with the 3rd Belorussian Front. The German 4th Army, with 100,000 men, is isolated. Heavy fighting rages as the XXVII, XXXIX and XII Corps retreat, unaware that their escape route has been cut.