Vokietijos Antrojo pasaulinio karo fortifikacinių statinių reikšmė Klaipėdos miesto gynyboje 1944-1945 metais

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Collection:
Mokslo publikacijos / Scientific publications
Document Type:
Straipsnis / Article
Language:
Lietuvių kalba / Lithuanian
Title:
Vokietijos Antrojo pasaulinio karo fortifikacinių statinių reikšmė Klaipėdos miesto gynyboje 1944-1945 metais
Alternative Title:
Significance of German World War II fortifications in the defence of Klaipėda City in 1944-1945
Authors:
Tamkvaitis, Titas
In the Journal:
Istorija [History]. 2023, Nr. 129, p. 61-94
Subject Category:
LT
Tarptautiniai konfliktai. Karai / International conflicts. Wars; 1940-1990. Lietuva okupacijų metais; Klaipėda. Klaipėdos kraštas (Klaipeda region); Lietuva (Lithuania); Rusija (Russia); Šiauliai. Šiaulių kraštas (Šiauliai region); Vokietija (Germany).
Summary / Abstract:

LTStraipsnyje analizuojama Vokietijos kariuomenės sukurtų fortifikacinių kompleksų reikšmė karinių veiksmų, vykusių tarp Vokietijos ir Sovietų Sąjungos pajėgų dėl Klaipėdos miesto 1944 m. spalį – 1945 m. sausį, laikotarpiu. Pagrindinis dėmesys skiriamas Vokietijos karinio jūrų laivyno priešlėktuvinių ir pakrantės artilerijos baterijų sistemai Klaipėdoje bei Vokietijos kariuomenės 1944 m. antrojoje pusėje tarp Šiaulių ir Klaipėdos miestų sukurtam gynybos ruožui, susidedančiam iš penkių gynybinių linijų. Siekiant įvertinti Klaipėdos priešlėktuvinių ir pakrantės artilerijos baterijų sistemos bei gynybinių linijų, įrengtų tarp Šiaulių ir Klaipėdos miestų, reikšmę, šių objektų panaudojimo susirėmimų metu atvejai (atsižvelgiant į sudėtį, lokalizaciją, šūvių nuotolius ir kitus techninius aspektus) išryškinami bendrame Vokietijos ir SSRS kariuomenių pajėgų karinių veiksmų 1944 m. spalį – 1945 m. sausį kontekste. Esminiai žodžiai: Klaipėda, Antrasis pasaulinis karas, fortifikacija, pakrantės artilerijos baterijos, priešlėktuvinės artilerijos baterijos, gynybinės linijos. [Iš leidinio]

ENThe article analyses the significance of the fortification complexes created by the German army in the period of the military actions between the German and the USSR forces for the city of Klaipėda from October 1944 to January 1945. The study focuses on the system of antiaircraft and coastal artillery batteries of the German Navy in Klaipėda and the defence section between the cities of Šiauliai and Klaipėda created by the German army in the second half of 1944. In order to assess the significance of these objects in the defense of Klaipėda city, the cases of their use and effectiveness during the battles are highlighted in the general context of the military actions of the German and the USSR forces during the period from October 1944 to January 1945. Until the beginning of October 1944, the German army had established a fortified defensive sector between the cities of Šiauliai and Klaipėda, consisting of five defensive lines – the Venta River defensive line, the Virvytė River defensive line and the East Prussian defensive positions (consisting of three separate defensive lines). The East Prussian defensive positions were perceived by both the German and the Red Army commands as a single defensive system. Coastal and anti-aircraft artillery batteries of the German Navy built in 1939 were also used for the defence of Klaipėda city. By the time active military actions began in October 1944, Klaipėda’s antiaircraft and coastal defence system had been re-equipped and supplemented with new coastal and anti-aircraft artillery batteries. In the final result, the Klaipėda anti-aircraft and coastal defence system consisted of eight anti-aircraft artillery batteries and one coastal artillery battery. The five German defensive lines between Šiauliai and Klaipėda were of varying importance during the October 1944 military actions.During the Red Army offensive of 5–10 October 1944, the Venta River defence line, Virvytė River defence line and the first two lines of the East Prussian defensive positions were broken. These defensive lines did not play any significant role in the military actions for the territory between Šiauliai and Klaipėda. On 10 October 1944, Red Army forces, approaching the city of Klaipėda and the vicinities of the third line of East Prussian defence positions, got into fire range of German Navy anti-aircraft and coastal artillery batteries. The Red Army’s attempts to seise Klaipėda on 10–23 October were unsuccessful. The Red Army command, assessing the reasons for the failure to take the city in October 1944, pointed out, among other reasons, that the failure of the operation was due to the successful and joint action of the artillery of the coastal and anti-aircraft artillery batteries. The third line of the East Prussian defence positions and the Klaipėda anti-aircraft and coastal artillery batteries remained active throughout the siege of Klaipėda until the end of January 1945. The analysis of memories of both German and Red Army‘s soldiers and journals of the Red Army‘s military actions allows drawing conclusions that German Navy antiaircraft – coastal batteries and the third line of the East Prussian defence positions in Klaipėda made a significant contribution to stopping the Red Army assault on the city in October 1944 and played an important role in defending the city of Klaipėda until the end of January 1945. Keywords: Klaipėda, World War II, fortification, coastal artillery batteries, anti-aircraft artillery batteries, defence sections. [From the publication]

DOI:
10.15823/istorija.2023.129.3
ISSN:
1392-0456; 2029-7181
Subject:
Istorija / History
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Permalink:
https://www.lituanistika.lt/content/106072
Updated:
2023-12-28 16:02:01
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