Bitwa w Pradolinie Redy-Łeby. Działania bojowe sowieckich wojsk pancernych na kierunku Gdyni (6–16 marca 1945 r.)
Battle in Reda-Łeba Urstromtal Valley. Combat Operations of Soviet Armoured Forces towards Gdynia (6–16 March 1945)

Summary/Abstract: The history of battles in Gdańsk Pomerania in 1945 was shaped by Soviet historiography. Relying on the source material from the Central Archives of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, the article presents the operational activities of Soviet armoured units in the outskirts of Gdynia. Of great importance for the course of the fights for Gdynia was the battle in Reda-Łeba Glacial Valley. On March 6, 1945, the units of the 2nd Belorussian Front began a rapid offensive and quickly seized Sławno, Słupsk and Lębork. Despite the high speed of the offensive, the Soviets did not manage to destroy the retreating German forces. Basing on a system of anti-aircraft defense posts, German 2nd Army units managed to stop the Soviet attack at Wejherowo and Rumia. The thopographical characteristics of Gdańsk Pomerania had a strong influence on the fights. The course and effects of the battle in the Reda-Łeba Glacial Valley forced the command of the 2nd Belorussian Front to reconsider the previous operational assumptions. As consequence of the Soviet failure in the Reda-Łeba Glacial Valley, Marshal Konstantin Rokossovsky ordered to send additional forces to fight for Gdynia. For the sake of propaganda, the Polish 1st Armoured Brigade of the Heroes of Westerplatte was also engaged in the battle, which came at a price of heavy casualties.

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