0623_01: The Destruction of Army Group Center - PzC 16 Minsk '44

Minsk, June 23rd 1944: After some small "recces in force" the day before, the Soviets launched Operation "Bagration", an all-out offensive to crush the salient of AG Center. The fortified cities of Vitebsk, Orsha, Mogilev, and Bobruysk were all encircled by pincer movements, then the Soviet armor and mechanized formations swept on towards the west. Taken by surprise, the majority of the German 4th and 9th Armies were trapped between Minsk and the Berezina River. So complete was the victory, where the Soviets had amassed overwhelming superiority particularly in armor and aircraft, that five weeks later the Soviets were on the banks of the Vistula and the borders of East Prussia. [Size, large]