Battle of Krasny Bor

Battle of Krasny Bor
Part of the Eastern Front of World War II
Date9–13 February 1943
Location
Krasny Bor, near present-day Saint Petersburg, Russia
Result

Axis victory

  • Loss of Soviet momentum
Belligerents
 Germany  Soviet Union
Commanders and leaders
Units involved

Nazi Germany 18th Army

Soviet Union 55th Army

Mobile group:

Strength

Initially:

  • 250th: 4,900 infantry
  • 4th SS: uncertain

33,000 infantry
30 tanks
1,000 artillery pieces
(Initially)

Total:
43,000 infantry
90 tanks
Casualties and losses
3,645 killed & wounded
300 missing
(250th Infantry Division)
13,563 casualties
6,572 injured

The Battle of Krasny Bor was part of the Soviet offensive Operation Polyarnaya Zvezda in the Eastern Front of World War II. It called for a pincer attack near Leningrad to build on the success of Operation Iskra and completely lift the siege of Leningrad, in the process encircling a substantial part of the German 18th Army. The offensive near the town of Krasny Bor formed the western arm of the pincer. The Soviet offensive began on Wednesday, 10 February 1943, and produced noticeable gains on the first day but rapidly became a stalemate. The strong defense by the Spanish Blue Division and the German SS Polizei Division gave the German forces time to reinforce their positions. By February 13, the Soviet forces had ceased their offensive in this sector.