Soviet a major offensive Leningrad region most lethal siege in history following Soviet offensive halted on the pre-war Estonian border Army Group North Estonians re-establish national independence Baltic Sea liberated Crimea largely expelled Axis forces from Ukraine incursions into Romania Leningrad German Romania Estonia Axis Ukraine Italy
On 27 January 1944, Soviet troops launched a major offensive that expelled German forces from the Leningrad region, thereby ending the most lethal siege in history. The following Soviet offensive was halted on the pre-war Estonian border by the German Army Group North aided by Estonians hoping to re-establish national independence. This delay slowed subsequent Soviet operations in the Baltic Sea region. By late May 1944, the Soviets had liberated Crimea, largely expelled Axis forces from Ukraine, and made incursions into Romania, which were repulsed by the Axis troops. The Allied offensives in Italy had succeeded and, at the expense of allowing several German divisions to retreat, Rome was captured on June 4.
