OPERATION “WEST”: THE ROLE OF THE NORTHERN FLEET AND ITS AIR FORCES IN THE LIBERATION OF THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC IN 19441 (110,00 руб.)

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This article was downloaded by:[University of Calgary] On: 25 September 2007 Access Details: [subscription number 769428683] Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK The Journal of Slavic Military Studies Operation "West": The Role of the Northern Fleet and its Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t713636668 Air Forces in the Liberation of the Russian Arctic in 1944 Mikhail Suprun Online Publication Date: 01 July 2007 To cite this Article: Suprun, Mikhail (2007) 'Operation "West": The Role of the Northern Fleet and its Air Forces in the Liberation of the Russian Arctic in 1944 ', The Journal of Slavic Military Studies, 20:3, 433 - 447 To link to this article: DOI: 10.1080/13518040701533022 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13518040701533022 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.informaworld.com/terms-and-conditions-of-access.pdf This article maybe used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, re-distribution, re-selling, loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material.

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Downloaded By: [University of Calgary] At: 21:11 25 September 2007 Journal of Slavic Military Studies, 20: 433–447, 2007 Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC ISSN 1351-8046 print DOI: 10.1080/13518040701533022 FSLV556n-al of6 Slavic Military Studies, Vol. 20, No. 3, jul 2007: pp. 0–0 1351 300 Jour 804 OPERATION “WEST”: THE ROLE OF THE NORTHERN FLEET AND ITS AIR FORCES IN THE LIBERATION OF THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC IN 19441 Operation “West” M. Suprun Mikhail Suprun Translated by Vera Hill The Petsamo-Kirkenes Operation, the naval component of which received the codename Operation “West,” saw the Soviet Northern Fleet play a major role in the liberation of the Russian Artic in late 1944. The capabilities of the Northern Fleet had been substantially enhanced by LendLease aid since the summer of 1941 and British and American vessels provided in lieu of the Soviet share of Italian naval assets. Nonetheless, it seems that a fear of losing major naval units led to timidity in their use and only partial fulfillment of the objectives of the operation. During World War II, 1944 was a year of decisive victories for the Allies. By the autumn, the German Army had retreated hundreds of kilometers on the Eastern Front. On the map, the solid front line almost coincided with the dotted line of the pre-war Soviet border. However, in the North it remained the same as the invaders had marked it in 1941. On 31 March 1944, Stalin signed a special directive on the liberation of the Russian Arctic.2 From this point on, the leadership of the Karelian 1The translation of this article from Russian was made possible thanks to support from the Center for Military and Strategic Studies of the University of Calgary. Maps covering the region discussed in this article are provided with the introduction to this special issue of the Journal of Slavic Military Studies on ‘Russian and Soviet Naval Power in the Arctic 1914–1945’. 2For a wider account of the Petsamo-Kirkenes Operation from a Soviet perspective, see Major James F. Gebhardt, The Petsamo-Kirkenes Operation: Soviet Breakthrough and Pursuit in the Arctic, October 1944 (Leavenworth Papers, Number 17) (Fort Leavenworth, Kansas: Combat Studies Institute, US Army Command and General Staff College, 1990). For a broader overview of the war in the Arctic from a German perspective see the reprinted Earl F. Ziemke, The German Northern Theatre of Operations 1940–1945 (German Report Series) (Uckfield, E. Sussex: The Naval and Military Press Ltd, no date) (ed.). Address correspondence to Mikhail Suprun, Faculty of History, Pomor State University, 163002 Arkhangel’sk, Naberezhnaia Severnoi Dvini 4/2–57, Russian Federation. E-mail: vma@pomorsu.ru

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