The strategic operations of the Red Army in World War II were major military events carried out between 1941 and 1945 on the Eastern Front or in 1945 in the Far East during the Second World War. Such operations typically involved at least one Front – the largest military formation of the Soviet Armed Forces. The operations could be defensive, offensive, a withdrawal, an encirclement, or a siege – always conducted by at least two Services of the armed forces (the ground forces and the air forces) and often included the naval forces. In most cases the Stavka divided the strategic operations into operational phases which were large operations in their own right. In very few cases the phases were tactical, such as those requiring amphibious landings.
Introduction.
In Soviet historiography, the Great Patriotic War is divided into periods:
The war with Japan, the Campaign in the Far East including the Manchurian strategic offensive operation, (9 August 1945 – 2 September 1945) is seen as a separate theater of operations from the Great Patriotic War.
During the course of the Second World War the Red Army carried out a number of different military operations. The scope of these operations, usually known by the major cities around which they took place, was usually termed "operational-strategic" or "strategic", depending on the scale. An "operational-strategic" operation was usually undertaken by at least a group of Armies or a single Front. A "strategic" operation usually demanded cooperation of several Fronts to achieve its objectives. In both cases the operations could last from a week to several months. strategic operations were combined into seasonal campaigns, because weather and ground conditions affected planning.
Soviet historians disagreed on which operations to classify as strategic or front-level, and the names of operations often differed between early military studies and later official histories. In the 1960s 40 strategic operations were discussed, in the 1970s this expanded to 55, and by the beginning of the 1980s, "more than 50." The six-volume official "History of the Great Patriotic War", published between 1960 and 1965, and the twelve-volume "History of the Second World War 1939–1945", published between 1973 and 1982, did not clarify the number of strategic operations. In an attempt to resolve the discussion, the "Military-Historical Journal" of the Ministry of Defense published discussions during 1985 and 1986 between military historians and military leaders about strategic operations. As a result of these discussions, a list of strategic operations was developed, and the number of troops involved and durations of the operations were specified. However, this issue was not fully resolved, as the work of the commission of Grigory Krivosheyev on Soviet casualties published in 1993 contained a slightly different list of strategic operations.
Baltic Border defensive Battles 22–24 June 1941
Battle of Raseiniai
Šiauliai counter-offensive operation 24–27 June 1941
Riga defensive : 28–30 June 1941
Pskov defensive : 4–9 July 1941
Battle of Hanko (1941) 22 June – 2 December 1941
Belorussian Border defensive Battles 22–25 June 1941
Defense of Brest Fortress 22–30 June 1941
Battle of Vitebsk (1941) : 6–16 July 1941
Borisov counterattack: 6–9 July 1941
Lepel Offensive Operation: 6–11 July 194111f.
Ukrainian Border defensive Battles 22–27 June 1941
Battle of Brody (1941) (26–30 June 1941)
L'vov-Lutsk defensive 27 June – 2 July 1941
Stanislav-Proskurov defensive 3–6 July 1941
Murmansk-Kandalaksha defensive 29 June – 19 September 1941
Vyborg-Keksholm defensive 29 June – 23 September 1941
Kestenga defensive 1 July – 10 October 1941
Defensives on the Petrozavodsk, Ukhinskom-Rugozerskom, and Olonetskom directions 1 July – 10 October 1941
Korosten defensive 11 July – 20 August 1941
Timoshenko Counteroffensive 13 – 17 July 194113–18
Bobruysk offensive 13 July – 7 August 194119
Novohrad-Volynskyi defensive 10 July – 20 August 1941
Uman defensive 15 July – 4 August 1941
Tiraspol-Melitopol defensive : 27 July – 28 September 1941
Kiev-Pryluky defensive 20 August – 26 September 1941
Malyn offensive 5–8 August 1941
Tallinn defensive : 10 July – 10 August 1941
Evacuation of Tallinn (1941)
Kingisepp–Luga defensive : 10 July – 23 September 1941
Soltsy-Dno offensive : 14 – 18 July 194119ff.
Staraya-Russa offensive : 12–23 August 194151–70
Demyansk defensive : 6–26 September 1941
First Sinyavino offensive : 10–26 September 1941
Second Sinyavino offensive : 20–28 October 1941
Polotsk defensive : 2–16 July 1941
Smolensk defensive : 10 July – 10 August 1941
Smolensk offensive 21 July – 7 August 1941
Siege of Mogilev 3–26 July 1941
Rogachev–Zhlobin offensive (1941) : 13–24 July 1941
Gomel–Trubchevsk defensive : 24 July – 30 August 1941
Dukhovschina offensive : 17 August – 8 September 1941
Yelnya offensive 30 August – 8 September 1941
Roslavl–Novozybkov offensive 30 August – 12 September 1941
Battle of the Sea of Azov 26 September – 11 October 1941
Sumy–Kharkov defensive 30 September – 30 November 1941
Defence of Kharkov (1941) (20–24 October 1941)
German First Battle of Kharkov
Donbas defensive operation (1941) : 29 September – 4 November 1941
Rostov defensive : 5–16 November 1941
Orel-Bryansk defensive operation : 30 September – 23 October 1941
Vyazma defensive operation : 2–13 October 1941
Kalinin Defensive Operation : 10 October – 4 December 1941
Mozhaisk-Maloyaroslavets defensive : 10–30 October 1941
Tula defensive : 24 October – 5 December 1941
Klin-Solnechnogorsk Defensive : 15 November – 5 December 1941
Naro-Fominsk defensive : 1–5 December 1941
Tikhvin-Kirishsk offensive : 12 November – 30 December 1941
Malo-Vishersk offensive : 10 November – 30 December 1941
Bolshekrepinsk offensive 17–27 November 1941
Rostov offensive 27 November – 2 December 1941
Kalinin Offensive : 5 December 1941 – 7 January 1942
Klin–Solnechnogorsk offensive : 6–25 December 1941
Yelets offensive : 6–16 December 1941
Tula offensive : 6–16 December 1941
Kaluga offensive : 17 December 1941 – 5 January 1942
Naro–Fominsk offensive : 24 December 1941 – 8 January 1942
Kerch landing 25 December 1941 – 2 January 1942
Feodosia landing 25 December 1941 – 2 January 1942
Sychyovka–Vyazma offensive 8 January – 28 February 1942
Mozhaysk–Vyazma offensive ("Operation Jupiter")10 January – 28 February 1942
Toropets–Kholm offensive 9 January – 6 February 1942
Vyazma Airborne 18 January – 28 February 1942
Rzhev–Vyazma offensive (1942) 3 March – 20 April 1942
Demyansk offensive – second phase (1942) 7 January – 20 May 1942
German Fall Kremel ("Case Kremlin" in English) was a German deception for a summer offensive aimed at Moscow
 Axis Case Blue – Woronesh Army Group B
 Axis Case Blue – Stalingrad 6th Army
 Axis Case Blue – Baku Army Group A
1st Kastornoye defensive 28 June – 10 July 1942
2nd Kastornoye defensive 9–24 July 1942
Valuiki–Rossosh defensive 28 June – 24 July 1942
Voroshilovgrad–Shakhty defensive 7–24 July 1942
Battle of Rostov (1942) 19–24 July 1942
Defensive battles at distant approaches : 17 July – 17 August 1942
Defensive battles on near approaches and in Stalingrad 19 August – 18 November 1942
Tikhoretsk-Stavropol Defensive Operation : 25 July – 5 August 1942
Armavir-Maikop Defensive Operation : 6–17 August 1942
Krasnodar Defensive Operation : 7–14 August 1942
Novorossiysk Defensive Operation : 19 August – 26 September 1942
Mozdok-Malgobek Defensive Operation : 1–28 September 1942
1940–44 insurgency in Chechnya
Tuapse Defensive Operation : 25 September – 20 December 1942
Nalckik-Ordzhonikidze Defensive Operation : 25 October – 12 November 1942
Operation Uranus 19–30 November 1942
Kotelnikovo offensive 12–31 December 1942
Tatsinskaya Raid 16–28 December 1942
Operation Winter Storm 12–23 December 1942
Middle Don offensive (Operation Little Saturn) 16–30 December 1942
Operation Koltso (Operation Ring) 10 January – 2 February 1943
Sychevka offensive 24 November – 14 December 1942
Belyi offensive 25 November – 16 December 1942
Luchesa offensive 25 November – 11 December 1942
Molodoi Tud offensive 25 November – 23 December 1942
Velikie-Luki offensive 24 November 1942 – 20 January 1943
Salsk-Rostov offensive (or Battle of Rostov (1943)) : 1 January – 4 February 1943
Mozdok-Stavropol offensive : 1–24 January 1943
Novorossiysk-Maikop offensive : 11 January – 4 February 1943
Tikhoretsk-Eisk offensive : 24 January – 4 February 1943
Krasnoborsko-Smerdynskaya offensive
Ostrogozhsk-Rossosh offensive 13–27 January 1943
Voronezh-Kastornoye offensive 24 January – 2 February 1943
Voroshilovgrad offensive (Operation Skachok) 29 January – 18 February 1943
Kharkov offensive (Operation Zvezda) 2 February – 3 March 1943
Orel (Maloarkhangelsk) offensive : 5–28 February 1943
Lvov offensive 15 February – 1 March 1943
Battle of Krasny Bor 10–13 February 1943
Demyansk offensive 15–28 February 1943
Staraya Russa operation : 4–19 March 1943
Rzhev–Vyazma offensive (1943) 2–31 March 1943
2nd Taman offensive 26 May 1943 – 22 August 1944
Orel–Kursk Defensive : 5–11 July 1943
Belgorod–Kursk defensive 5–23 July 1943
Volkhov–Orel offensive 12 July – 18 August 1943
Kromyv–Orel offensive 15 July – 18 August 1943
Izyum-Barvenkovo offensive : 17–27 July 1943
Mius offensive : 17 July – 2 August 1943
Belgorod–Bogodukhov offensive 3–23 August 1943
Belgorod–Kharkov offensive 3–23 August 1943
Zmiev offensive 12–23 August 1943
Mirgorod direction offensive 3–25 August 1943
Spas–Demensk offensive : 7–20 August 1943
Dukhovshchina–Demidov offensive 1st Stage 13–18 August 1943
Yelnia–Dorogobuzh offensive : 28 August – 6 September 1943
Dukhovshchina–Demidov offensive 2nd Stage : 14 September – 2 October 1943
Smolensk–Roslavl offensive : 15 September – 2 October 1943
Bryansk offensive 17 August – 3 October 1943
Barvenkov-Pavlograd offensive 13 August – 22 September 1943
Mius–Mariupol offensive 18 August – 22 September 1943
Chernigov-Pripyat offensive : 26 August – 30 September 1943
Sumy–Priluky offensive : 26 August – 30 September 1943
Poltava-Kremenchug offensive : 26 August – 30 September 1943
Novorossiysk amphibious operation : 10–16 September 1943
Taman offensive (1943) 10 September – 9 October 1943
Axis Defence of the Panther–Wotan line
Kremenchug offensive 26 September – 10 October 1943
Melitopol Offensive : 26 September – 5 November 1943
Zaporizhia offensive : 10–14 October 1943
Kremenchug-Pyatikhatki Offensive : 15 October – 3 November 1943
Dnepropetrovsk offensive : 23 October – 23 December 1943
Krivoi Rog offensive 14–21 November 1943
Apostolovo offensive 14 November – 23 December 1943
Nikopol offensive 14 November – 31 December 1943
Aleksandriia–Znamenka offensive : 22 November – 9 December 1943
Krivoi Rog offensive 10–19 December 1943
Chernobyl–Radomysl offensive 1–4 October 1943
Chernobyl–Gornostaipol defensive 3–8 October 1943
Lyutezh offensive 11–24 October 1943
1st Bukrin offensive 12–15 October 1943
2nd Bukrin offensive 21–24 October 1943
1st Gomel–Rechitsa offensive 30 September – 30 October 1943
Nevel offensive 3–12 October 1943
1st Orsha offensive 3–26 October 1943
Battle of Lenino 12–13 October 1943
Vitebsk (Riga) offensive 18–30 October 1943
Idritsa offensive 18–30 October 1943
Pskov offensive 18–30 October 1943
Polotsk–Vitebsk offensive 2–21 November 1943
Pustoshka-Idritsa offensive 2–21 November 1943
2nd Gomel-Rechitsa Offensive : 10–30 November 1943
2nd Orsha offensive 14 November – 5 December 1943
Novyi Bykhov–Propoisk offensive 22–30 November 1943
Kalinkovichi offensive 8–11 December 1943
Gorodok offensive : 13–31 December 1943
Idritsa-Opochka offensive 16 December 1943 – 15 January 1944
Kalinkovichi defensive 20–27 December 1943
Zhitomir–Berdichev offensive 24 December 1943 – 14 January 1944
Kirovograd offensive 5–16 January 1944
Korsun–Shevchenkovsky offensive 24 January – 17 February 1944
German Korsun–Cherkassy Pocket
Rovno–Lutsk offensive 1 Stage 27 January – 11 February 1944
Nikopol–Krivoi Rog offensive 2 Stage 30 January – 29 February 1944
Proskurov–Chernovtsy offensive 4 March – 17 April 1944
Uman–Botoşani offensive 5 March 1944 – 17 April 1944
Bereznegovatoye–Snigirevka offensive : 6–18 March 1944
Polesskoe offensive : 15 March – 5 April 1944
Odessa offensive 26 March – 14 April 1944
Ozarichi-Ptich offensive 16–30 January 1944
Krasnoye Selo–Ropsha offensive 14–30 January 1944
Novgorod–Luga offensive : 14 January – 15 February 1944
Kingisepp–Gdov offensive 1 February – 1 March 1944
Staraya Russa-Novorzhev Offensive : 18 February – 1 March 1944
Battle for Narva Bridgehead 2 February – 26 July 1944
Perekop–Sevastopol offensive 8 April – 12 May 1944
Kerch–Sevastopol offensive 11 April – 12 May 1944
First Battle of Târgu Frumos : 9–12 April 1944
Battle of Podu Iloaiei : 12 April 1944
Second Battle of Târgu Frumos : 2–8 May 1944
 Vyborg offensive : 10–20 June 1944
 Koivisto landing operation : 20–25 June 1944
 Battle of Tienhaara : 22 June 1944
 Battle of Tali-Ihantala : 25 June – 9 July 1944
 Battle of Vyborg Bay (1944) : 30 June 30 – 10 July 1944
 Battle of Vuosalmi : 4–17 July 1944
Svir–Petrozavodsk offensive : 21 June – 9 August 1944
Tuloksinskaia landing offensive : 23–27 June 1944
 Battle of Nietjärvi : 15–17 July 1944
 Battle of Ilomantsi : 6 July – 13 August 1944
Vitebsk–Orsha offensive 23–28 June 1944
Mogilev offensive 23–28 June 1944
Bobruysk offensive 24–29 June 1944
Polotsk offensive 29 June – 4 July 1944
Minsk offensive 29 June – 4 July 1944
Vilnius offensive 5–20 July 1944
Šiauliai offensive 5–31 July 1944
Belostock offensive 5–27 July 1944
Lublin–Brest offensive 18 July – 2 August 1944
Battle of Radzymin (1944)
Kaunas offensive 28 July – 28 August 1944
Osovets offensive 6–14 August 1944
Lvov offensive : 13–27 July 1944
Stanislav offensive 13–27 July 1944
Sandomierz offensive 28 July – 29 August 1944
Yassi–Focsani offensive 20–29 August 1944
Kishinev–Izmail offensive 20–29 August 1944
Carpathian–Dukla offensive 8–28 September 1944
Carpathian-Uzhgorod offensive : 9–28 September 1944
Riga offensive 14 September – 24 October 1944
Tallinn offensive 17–26 September 1944
Moonsund landing 5–22 October 1944
Memel offensive 27 September – 24 November 1944
Kecskemét-Budapest offensive 29 October – 10 December 1944
Szolnok–Budapest offensive 29 October – 10 December 1944
Nyiregyhaza–Miskolc offensive 1 November – 10 December 1944
Apatin-Kaposvár offensive : 7 November – 31 December 1944
Esztergom–Komarno offensive 20 December 1944 – 15 January 1945
Szekesfehervar–Esztergom offensive 20 December 1944 – 13 February 1945
Assault on Budapest 27 December 1944 – 13 February 1945
German: Operation Konrad : 1–27 January 1945
Warsaw-Posen offensive : 14 January – 3 February 1945
Battle of Posen 24 January – 23 February 1945
Sandomierz–Silesian offensive 12 January – 3 February 1945
Kosice–Poprad offensive 12–28 January 1945
Bel'sk offensive 29 January –