Army Group North surrounds Leningrad

While the battles around Rome raged, the eastern front remained relatively quiet. As yet the Russians, who by now had overwhelming numbers along the length of the front, had not launched their latest offensive. This allowed German Army Group North, commanded by Walter Model, to capitalise on the failure thus far of the Leningrad-Novgorod strategic offensive, which had faltered unexpectedly in January.

Model, having seen off the Russian offensive, now pushed his Panzer Divisions further east, facing determined resistance from the Red Army. Hundreds of modern T-34/85 and KV-85 tanks were destroyed as Model’s Panthers and Panzer IVs swept eastward. The Russians were hampered by unexpectedly mild weather, which caused extensive fog and low cloud – the reason cited for the Russian Air force’s complete failure to have a decisive impact on the crucial battles.

By the end of the month the Germans had once again surrounded Leningrad, restarting the siege which had been lifted by the Russians in 1943. However, the Wehrmacht had almost run out of fuel and their supplies were unable to keep up with the advance, thanks to the ongoing bombing campaign being kept up by the allies. Even German generals were now wondering how long this success in the east could continue.