Gorodok Operation 1943

On December 13, 1943, the Gorodok offensive operation began. Soviet troops faced large forces of the Wehrmacht. On December 14, after the 1st and 5th Tank Corps joined with the 83rd Guards Division, the German defense was broken, and four divisions of Hitler's troops were encircled. Partisans actively supported the offensive: in the village of Telyakovo, they destroyed dozens of enemy vehicles and disrupted punitive raids. The young scout Marat Kazei obtained important documents by eliminating a German colonel.

By the end of the month, Soviet troops reached positions 20 km from Vitebsk. During the operation, the front broke through enemy defenses, captured Gorodok, and cut the Polotsk-Vitebsk railway line, creating conditions for encircling the enemy.

For their heroism, 30 soldiers were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union, and 12 military units received the honorary name "Gorodok". In Moscow, an artillery salute thundered in honor of the liberation of Gorodok.

Context

The Gorodok operation was conducted during the Soviet offensive campaign in Eastern Belarus following the Battle of Kursk