August 1944

Eastern Front

The fighting in Latvia intensifies as the 4th Shock Army attacks from Krustpils in an effort to drive along the Dvina to Riga. The right wing of the 18th Army absorbs the attack, slowing Soviet progress to a crawl.

The Luftwaffe arrives over Warsaw and bombs the Wola suburb, killing thousands of civilians. The Home Army goes onto the defensive, having gained control of three-fifths of the city. German troops launch a fierce attack and after a bloody battle, capture the Saxon Gardens and Bruehl Palace. This splits the Polish pocket in two. An immediate Polish counterattack forces the Germans onto the defensive but they remain between the two groups.

Hitler makes it clear that he wants Warsaw wiped from the map. the army and SS being given a free hand against the Poles. In just 5 days' fighting the Poles have lost 15,000 killed, The Germans launch a strong counterattack against the Magnuszew bridgehead, hitting the 8th Guards Army with the redeployed Herman Göring Para Panzer Division. Despite heavy fighting the Germans are halted after little progress.