July 1944

Eastern Front

The 51st Army turns north from Siauliai to strike toward the Gulf of Riga and isolate the 16th ane 18th Armies in Latvia and Estonia. The Germans immediately begin to redeploy to secure the narrow corridor that connects the 3rd Panzer Army to Army Group North.

After capturing Vilnius the 5th Army pushes toward Kaunas, The XXXIX Panzer Corps launches a counterattack at Wolomin and becomes embroiled in heavy fighting with the 2nd Tank Army. Lack of fuel hinders the German operation, breaking the momentum of even this limited attack.

The 3rd Guards Tank Army crosses the Vistula at Sandomierz, gaining a bridgehead on the west bank.

With the orientation of the 1st Ukrainian Front north of the Carpathian Mountains, the Stavka re-forms the 4th Ukrainian Front to cover the Slovak border regions. The re-formed front is commanded by Gen Petrov and has the 1st Guards Army, 18th Army and 8th Air Army. It deploys between the 1st and 2nd Ukrainian Fronts.