July 1944

Eastern Front

Daugavpils falls to the 4th Shock Army and elements of the 6th Guards Army. Rezekne also falls to the 10th Guards Army. The 51st resumes its attack at Siauliai, but another strong counterattck by the 3rd Panzer Army halts the Soviet thrust. Bitter fighting rages throughout the day, but at dusk the 51st Army strikes again and throws the Germans back, Siauliai falling by nightfall. The 2nd Guards Army advances southwest of Siauliai.

The 28th Army from the east and 70th Army from the south launch a surprise attack upon the 2nd Army grouped near Brest-Litovsk, the 70th smashing through to link up with the 65th Army which has fought its way down from the north. 8 German divisions are isolated around the city, which falls in bitter fighting. Intense battles erupt as the Germans launch their efforts to break out from the pocket.

The 2nd Tank Army consolidates its bridgehead at Magnuszew, the 1st Polish Army arriving to reinforce the hard-pressed tankers. Just a few miles south the 69th Army gains another foothold at Pulawy.

Lvov falls to the 1st Ukrainian Front as the Germans finally abandon the city.

The Stavka sets new objectives for the 1st Ukrainian and 1st Belorussian Fronts. Both fronts are to cross the Vistula and establish bridgeheads. To carry out the attacks the 1st Ukrainian Front transfers the 1st Guards and 3rd Guards Tank Armies to support the 13th Army and push out from Sandomierz.