East Pomeranian offensive

The East Pomeranian strategic offensive operation (Russian: Восточно-Померанская наступательная операция) was an offensive by the Soviet Red Army against the German Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front. It took place in Pomerania and West Prussia from 10 February – 4 April 1945.

East Pomeranian Offensive
East Pomeranian strategic offensive operation
Part of the Eastern Front of World War II

Soviet troops manning two M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage (MGMC) self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicles (half-tracks) in Danzig, March 1945.
Date24 February – 4 April 1945
Location
Pomerania, Danzig-West Prussia inside Germany
Result Soviet victory
Belligerents
 Germany  Soviet Union
Poland
Commanders and leaders
Walter Weiß
Dietrich von Saucken
(2nd Army)		 Konstantin Rokossovsky
(2nd Belorussian Front)
Strength
unknown 996,100
Casualties and losses
Unknown

234,360

  • 55,315 killed or missing
  • 179,045 wounded

Materiel destroyed or captured

  • 1,027 tanks and self-propelled guns
  • 1,005 guns and mortars
  • 1,073 aircraft

The operation happened in four phases:

Konitz-Köslin offensive operation 24 February – 6 March 1945
Danzig offensive operation 7–31 March 1945
Arnswalde–Kolberg offensive operation 1–18 March 1945
Altdamm offensive operation 18 March – 4 April 1945 (near Stettin)

It was the East Pomeranian offensive that prevented Zhukov from reaching Berlin in February (the object of the massive Vistula–Oder offensive), since it became a priority to clear German forces from Pomerania first.

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