February 1945

Eastern Front

There is heavy fighting in Kurland as the 2nd Baltic Front tries to break through the German positions around Libau.

The Germans launch a fierce counter-attack from Samland aimed at reaching Konigsberg. Bitter fighting rages near Thierenberg. Elsewhere, the 2nd and 3rd Belorussian Front press the 4th Army hard, the 31st and 2nd Guards Armies capturing Landsberg and Bartenstein.

In Pomerania Army Group Vistula fights to halt the Russian thrusts which push north toward the Baltic coast. Fierce battles rage from Elbing to Pyritz, the German 2nd and 11th Armies launching desperate counterattacks to no avail.

There are severe battles at Kustrin as the Luftwaffe makes a brief sortie to hit the 1st Guards Tank Army. In Silesia the 6th Guards Army takes Brieg and Ohlau on the Oder. Steinau also falls after 10 days of fierce fighting. Overnight a thaw along the Oder brings the Russian offensive to a standstill. As the river thaws many Soviet units are isolated on the west bank. German reinforcements also begin to flood into the area.

The fighting from the Vistula to the Oder has so far cost the 1st Belorussian Front 17,000 killed and 60,000 wounded and the 1st Ukrainian Front 26,000 killed and 89,000 wounded.