October 1944

Eastern Front

Elements of the 8th Army land no Yezel Island but encounter strong German resistance.

Using thick fog as cover, the 1st Baltic Front opens its offensive toward Memel. Over the preceding couple of weeks the front has redeployed the 51st and 5th Guards Tank Armies around Siauliai. Between Dobele and Rasianiai the 1st Baltic Front has the 3rd Shock, 42nd, 4th Shock, 6th Guards, 51st, 5th Guards Tank, 43rd and 2nd Guards Armies. Supporting the southern wing, based just south of Rasianiai, is the 39th Army of the 3rd Belorussian Front. To the north, around Riga, the 1st Baltic has the 43rd and 4th Shock Armies, while the 2nd Baltic has the 22nd and 10th Guards Armies east of Riga and the 3rd Baltic Front, northeast of Riga, has the 54th 61st, 1st Shock, 67th and 2nd Shock Armies.

Concentrated arty fire hits the 3rd Panzer Army between Siauliai and Rasianiai, inflicting heavy casualties. The 43rd and 6th Guards Armies quickly cross the Venta River and advance 10 miles. The 2nd Guards Army forces the Dubissa River despite ferocious German resistance.

Aware of Soviet intentions, Army Group North accelerates the withdrawal of the 18th Army from Latvia, the army abandoning its positions around Sigulda.