East Wall (defensive line)
Encyclopedia
The East Wall was a German defensive line
on the Eastern Front of World War II, built after the battle of Kursk
. While it appeared that in ordering the East Wall Adolf Hitler
had accepted a general retreat on the Eastern Front as inevitable, subsequent decisions revealed that he actually intended to establish a barrier behind which the armies could not retreat. Beginning in the south at Melitopol
, the wall ran due north to the Dnieper River
, following to Kiev
and the Desna River
to Chernigov, thence taking a line almost due north to the southern tip of Pskov Lake, and, running along the west shores of Peipus Lake, anchored on the Gulf of Finland
at Narva
. The East Wall was broken by Soviet troops after the battle of the Dnieper
.
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
on the Eastern Front of World War II, built after the battle of Kursk
Battle of Kursk
The Battle of Kursk took place when German and Soviet forces confronted each other on the Eastern Front during World War II in the vicinity of the city of Kursk, in the Soviet Union in July and August 1943. It remains both the largest series of armored clashes, including the Battle of Prokhorovka,...
. While it appeared that in ordering the East Wall Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
had accepted a general retreat on the Eastern Front as inevitable, subsequent decisions revealed that he actually intended to establish a barrier behind which the armies could not retreat. Beginning in the south at Melitopol
Melitopol
Melitopol is a city in the Zaporizhia Oblast of the southeastern Ukraine. It is situated on the Molochna River that flows through the eastern edge of the city and into the Molochnyi Liman, which eventually joins the Sea of Azov....
, the wall ran due north to the Dnieper River
Dnieper River
The Dnieper River is one of the major rivers of Europe that flows from Russia, through Belarus and Ukraine, to the Black Sea.The total length is and has a drainage basin of .The river is noted for its dams and hydroelectric stations...
, following to Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
and the Desna River
Desna River
Desna is a river in Russia and Ukraine, left tributary of the Dnieper. The word means "right hand" in the Old East Slavic language. Its length is , and its drainage basin covers ....
to Chernigov, thence taking a line almost due north to the southern tip of Pskov Lake, and, running along the west shores of Peipus Lake, anchored on the Gulf of Finland
Gulf of Finland
The Gulf of Finland is the easternmost arm of the Baltic Sea. It extends between Finland and Estonia all the way to Saint Petersburg in Russia, where the river Neva drains into it. Other major cities around the gulf include Helsinki and Tallinn...
at Narva
Narva
Narva is the third largest city in Estonia. It is located at the eastern extreme point of Estonia, by the Russian border, on the Narva River which drains Lake Peipus.-Early history:...
. The East Wall was broken by Soviet troops after the battle of the Dnieper
Battle of the Dnieper
The Lower Dnieper Offensive took place in 1943 during the Second World War. It was one of the largest Second World War operations, involving almost 4,000,000 troops on both sides and stretching on a 1400 kilometer long front...
.