July 6, 1941: The Lepel Counteroffensive or the Battle of Senno

On July 6, 1941, Soviet troops launched a powerful tank counteroffensive toward Lepel, involving about 2,000 tanks on both sides. The counterattack pushed German forces back by 40 km, halting their advance for several days and allowing the Red Army to regroup and strengthen defenses on the Moscow axis. Despite holding out until July 11, Soviet troops were forced to retreat from Vitebsk, though they disrupted Hitler's blitzkrieg plans. The defenders' heroism remains a symbol of unwavering courage.