Combat in South Estonia, 1944

Tartu Offensive
Part of Eastern Front (World War II)
Marshy banks of the Emajõgi River and Lake Võrtsjärv
Date 10 August – 6 September 1944 Location Southeastern Estonia 58°22′N 26°43′E / 58.367°N 26.717°E / 58.367; 26.717Coordinates: 58°22′N 26°43′E / 58.367°N 26.717°E / 58.367; 26.717 Result Soviet victory
Belligerents
Germany Estonian conscript, auxiliary police, border defence and Omakaitse militia forces	Soviet Union
Commanders and leaders
Jürgen Wagner	Ivan Maslennikov
Strength
65,000 personnel	272,800 personnel
Casualties and losses
?	16,292 dead or missing 55,514 wounded or sick

Germany

The Tartu Offensive Operation (Russian: Тартуская наступательная операция), also known as the Battle of Tartu (Estonian: Tartu lahing) and the Battle of Emajõgi (Estonian: Emajõe lahingud, German: Schlacht am Embach) was a campaign fought over southeastern Estonia in 1944. It took place on the Eastern Front during World War II between the Soviet 3rd Baltic Front and parts of the German Army Group North.

The Soviet tactical aim was to defeat the 18th Army and to capture the city of Tartu. The strategic goal was a quick occupation of Estonia. The Soviet command planned to reach the coast of the Gulf of Riga and trap the Army Detachment "Narwa". The German side involved Estonian conscripts, which fought to defend their country against the looming Soviet annexation. The 3rd Baltic Front captured Tartu. The conquest caused the destruction of the Estonian National Museum and 40 million rubles worth of damage to the University of Tartu. Kampfgruppe "Wagner" stabilised the front at the Emajõgi River. The XXVIII Army Corps supported by Omakaitse militia stalled the front at the Väike Emajõgi and Gauja Rivers, preventing the 3rd Baltic Front from cutting off the "Narwa".

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