Key Facts
- Duration
- 7 January 1942 – 30 April 1942
- Soviet forces involved
- Volkhov and Leningrad Fronts
- Armor used
- None (terrain prevented tank use)
- German counterstroke
- Operation Raubtier (Wild Beast)
- Notable prisoner
- General Andrey Vlasov, 2nd Shock Army commander
Strategic Narrative Overview
Soviet infantry and artillery advanced in January 1942 but quickly encountered fierce German defensive fire. Without adequate artillery support to suppress German positions, the offensive stalled and the Soviets transitioned to a defensive posture. Field Marshal Georg von Küchler seized the initiative with Operation Raubtier, cutting off the Soviet 2nd Shock Army. The encircled army fought desperately but could not break out, and its position steadily deteriorated through the spring.
01 / The Origins
By early 1942, German Army Group North had encircled Leningrad, subjecting its population to a devastating siege. Soviet high command ordered the Volkhov and Leningrad Fronts to launch a coordinated offensive aimed at breaking the siege ring, encircling the besieging German forces, and relieving the city. The marshy, forested terrain of the Volkhov region shaped the character of the operation from the outset, precluding the use of armored formations.
03 / The Outcome
The 2nd Shock Army was destroyed in June 1942 after months of encirclement. Its commander, General Andrey Vlasov, was captured by German forces. Vlasov subsequently collaborated with the Germans, becoming a leading figure in the Committee for the Liberation of the Peoples of Russia and the Russian Liberation Army. The siege of Leningrad remained unbroken, and the Soviet offensive achieved none of its strategic objectives.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Andrey Vlasov.
Side B
1 belligerent
Georg von Küchler.
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.