How they "broke" the blockade of Leningrad: Operation Iskra

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

On January 12, 1943, Soviet troops launched the unblocking operation "Iskra" in Leningrad. After powerful artillery fire, shock detachments of the Volkhov and Leningrad fronts, the 2nd and 67th armies, went on the attack. By January 18, the blockade of Leningrad was broken, which was a turning point in the big battle for the city. But today the opinion is increasingly heard that the price of this victory turned out to be too high.

As long as Leningrad is holding, the whole front is holding

At the beginning of 1943, the position of Leningrad, taken into the ring by the Germans, looked very difficult. The Leningrad Front and the Baltic Fleet remained isolated from other Red Army forces. In 1942, attempts were made to unblock the city through the offensive Luban and Sinyavinsk operations. But these actions did not bring any success. The territories between the Volkhov and Leningrad fronts were occupied by Nazi units. On the streets of the second Soviet capital, shells and bombs continued to explode, people died, buildings were destroyed. The city was constantly threatened by air raids and artillery shelling. As a result of the highest mortality rate, evacuations and army conscriptions, the population of Leningrad decreased by 2 million people over the year and amounted to only 650 thousand.

The lack of land communication with the territory controlled by the USSR caused serious difficulties with the supply of fuel, raw materials for enterprises, food and basic necessities for civilians. In such conditions, it was necessary to act urgently and effectively. The loss of Leningrad would mean the moral collapse of the entire front. Therefore, the command decided to prepare for the offensive. On December 2, 1942, the offensive operation "Iskra" was approved.

Breakthrough is a matter of honor

It was planned to involve the Leningrad and Volkhov fronts, which were separated by a 15 km corridor adjacent to Lake Ladoga, to participate in Iskra. General control of the operation from Headquarters was assigned to Marshal Voroshilov and at that time still General of the Army Zhukov. By the way, he received the rank of marshal at the height of Iskra. For the group of the Volkhov front, the main attack was assigned in the direction of the village of Sinyavino with a breakthrough of the fascist defense and a connection with the Leningrad group. The latter, in turn, was supposed to advance towards, breaking through the defense along the Dubrovka - Shlisselburg line.

All actions were provided by air support of the air forces, and artillery support from the Ladoga military flotilla in conjunction with the Baltic Fleet. The total number of participants in Operation Iskra was more than 300 thousand manpower, up to 5 thousand guns, more than half a thousand tanks and 800 aircraft. The military-road route across the lake ice and transshipment coastal bases were covered from possible attacks by the Luftwaffe by the Ladoga air defense units.

Special attention to training in high secrecy conditions

Preparations for Operation Iskra were carried out from December 1942 to early January 1943. All involved groups were 100% manned with the necessary amount of military equipment, guns and ammunition. The involved engineering troops erected many column routes and crossings, intended for the transfer of reinforcements. During the training, special attention was paid to the training of military personnel. Aerial reconnaissance with photography was actively carried out, which made it possible to draw up the most accurate maps. At the same time, the work was carried out in conditions of increased secrecy.

The castling of units was carried out only at night or in bad weather conditions, which ensured safety against possible detection of Soviet groups by enemy aircraft. Reconnaissance was intensified along the entire front line, the enemy did not have to guess the intentions of the Soviet command. And there were not many people aware of the very plan of the operation; Iskra was developed by a strictly limited circle of staff members. But in January 1943, shortly before the start of the offensive operation, the enemy became aware of the full readiness of the Soviet troops to attack. But information about the time and place of the operation until the last moment remained a mystery for the Hitlerite command. On January 10, 1943, before the start of the Iskra, Zhukov arrived at the local headquarters, wishing to personally make sure of sufficient readiness at all levels. Zhukov was familiarized with the state of affairs in the shock armies, on his order, the last discovered flaws were eliminated. On the night of January 11, 1943, the troops took up their initial positions.

The scale of the battles and the breaking of the front

The most powerful battles thundered. At stake for the Red Army was not only the largest Soviet city, but also the honor of the entire front. Nor could the Germans surrender. After the most complex attacks and incredible losses, at midnight on January 18, the radio announcer announced that the military blockade had been broken. Leningradskie streets and avenues were covered with general jubilation. Without restraining emotions, the Leningraders tirelessly thanked the military for breaking the blockade. Of course, the achieved result on a general military scale looked rather modest, because the width of the formed corridor was at least 11 km. The main point was the symbolic meaning of the breakout. The material and technical supply of the city also improved. A new railway line, a highway and several crossings across the Neva were promptly laid. Already on February 7, Finland Station met the first train from the so-called "Big Land".

In Leningrad, national norms for food supply began to operate, which sharply improved the life of Leningrad residents and the position of the troops on the Leningrad front. After the breakthrough in the course of Operation Iskra, the possibility of the storming of the city by German troops disappeared - the fire initiative in the North-West direction was finally ceded to the Soviet troops. This state of affairs made it possible not only to build on the achieved success, but also to carry out a larger-scale offensive that completely lifted the blockade of Leningrad. The total military losses in Operation Iskra from January 12 to 30 amounted to more than 33 thousand killed, more than 4 dozen tanks, over 400 guns and at least 40 aircraft. Some historians dispute the official data, citing many times large numbers. Almost 20 thousand soldiers and commanders were awarded high awards, and 25 people received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

And these facts about the war will slightly change the picture we are used to.