Forczyk, Robert/Hook, Adam (Illustr.) Smolensk 1943. The Red Army's Relentless Advance

With the German defeat at Kursk, the Soviet Stavka (high command) ordered the Western and Kalinin Fronts to launch Operation Suvorov in order to liberate the city of Smolensk. The Germans had held this city for two years and Heeresgruppe Mitte's (Army Group Centre) 4. Armee had heavily fortified the region. The Soviet offensive began in August 1943 and they quickly realized that the German defences were exceedingly tough and that the Western Front had not prepared adequately for an extended offensive. Consequently, the Soviets were forced to pause their offensive after only two weeks, in order to replenish their combat forces and then begin again. The German 4. Armee was commanded by Generaloberst Gotthard Heinrici, one of the Wehrmacht's top defensive experts. Although badly outnumbered, Heinrici's army gamely held off two Soviet fronts for seven weeks. Eventually, the 4. Armee's front was finally broken and Smolensk was liberated on 25 September 1943. However, the Western Front was too exhausted to pursue Heinrici's defeated army, which retreated to the fortified cities of Vitebsk, Orsha and Mogilev; the 4. Armee would hold these cities until the destruction of Army Group Centre in June 1944. Operation Suvorov focuses on a major offensive that is virtually unknown in the West and which set the stage for the decisive defeat of Heeresgruppe Mitte in the next summer offensive.

As a result, the Soviets were forced to interrupt their offensive after just two weeks in order to replenish their fighting forces and then start again. The German 4th Army was commanded by Colonel General Gotthard Heinrici, one of the Wehrmacht's best defensive experts. Despite being outnumbered, Heinrici's army held two Soviet fronts at bay for seven weeks. Finally, the 4th Army's front was smashed for good and Smolensk was liberated by the Red Army on 25 September 1943. However, the Western Front was too exhausted to pursue Heinrici's defeated army, which retreated to the fortified cities of Vitebsk, Orsha and Mogilev; the 4th Army would hold these cities until the destruction of Army Group Centre in June 1944. Volume 331 of the "Campaign" series focuses on Operation "Suvorov", a major Red Army offensive largely unknown in the West, which prepared the way for the decisive defeat of Army Group Centre in the next summer offensive.