1942-43 Battle for Velikiye-Luki

Overview
Velikiye-Luki, (Russian Вели́кие Лу́ки. Literal meaning great meanders) was a city situated on the meandering Lovat River in the southern part of Pskov Oblast, Russia. During World War II, in 1941 and 1942, intensive fighting took place in the vicinity between German and Soviet forces. During the Battle of Velikiye-Luki (in late 1942) a German force of about 20,000 was surrounded in the town which had been barricaded and turned into a fortress. After many months of heavy fighting, the German and Latvian defenders were finally wiped out in January 1943. As a result of this siege, the city suffered almost total destruction and was then abandoned by the few survivors. It was never rebuilt. (more to be added)

Causes of the conflict
When Operation Barbarossa stalled it ended with the full reassessment of the strategic goals by Adolf Hitler, who had noticed the front line in the northern sector of the Eastern Front had stabilized in the spring of 1942. The Wehrmacht was still left in control of the city of Velikiye -Luki, which had tacitly important bridges over the Lovat River and a major north-south rail line ran parallel to the river's west bank, at Novosokolniki behind the German lines, and another to Vitebsk, which was a strategic important Axis logistic centre. (more to be added)

Tactics
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Result
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Political outcome
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Also see

 * Hitlers World