Sandomierz Beachhead

Sandomierz Beachhead 

a base of operations captured by forces of the First Ukrainian Front (commanded by Marshal of the Soviet Union I. S. Konev) on the west bank of the Vistula River in the Sandomierz region from July 29 to August 29 during the L’vov-Sandomierz Operation of 1944.

Units of the 350th and 162nd rifle divisions of the Thirteenth Army were the first to capture small beachheads on the far side of the Vistula on July 29. On July 30 forces of the Third Guards Army also secured small beachheads. After bitter fighting against counterattacking fascist German forces in August, the beachheads were expanded and joined into one general beachhead with a maximum width of 75 km and a maximum depth of 60 km. Forces of the Thirteenth, Third, and Fifth Guards combined arms armies and the First, Third Guards, and Fourth Tank armies took part in the fighting on the Sandomierz beachhead. In January 1945 forces of the First Ukrainian Front launched the Vistula-Oder Operation of 1945 from the Sandomierz beachhead.