page_title: Battle of Lenino
section_title: Results and casualties
hierarchical_section_title: Battle of Lenino / Aftermath / Results and casualties
caption_attribution_description: English: Polish Bronze medallion, D.= 70 mm in commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the WWII battle of Lenino, Byelorussia. Polish soldier r. swearing his military oath. 2 lines above below the Polish Eagle: "WITAJ ŻOŁNIERZU WCZORAJSZY TUŁACZU". 6 lines at r.: "SKŁADAM UROCZYSTĄ PRZYSIĘGĘ ZIEMI POLSKIEJ". 2 lines below: "SIELCE PTAIN". / "LENINO 12. - 13. X 1943" above battle scene. British Museum AN908479001 Medallist: J. (Józef) Markiewicz, Sculptor in Warsaw, 1913-1991 Condition: Uncirculated MS 63+
context_page_description: The Battle of Lenino was a tactical World War II engagement that took place between October 12 and October 13, 1943, north of the village of Lenino in the Mogilev region of Byelorussia. The battle itself was a part of a larger Soviet Spas-Demensk offensive operation with the aims of clearing the eastern bank of the Dnieper River of German forces and piercing the Panther-Wotan line of defences.
  While the Polish and Soviet forces managed to break through the German defences and inflict heavy casualties on the Germans, they were unable to keep the advance. There was a failure in cooperation from other Red Army units, and a lack of artillery support or close air cover caused by the ongoing Wehrmacht panzer counter-attack against the 10th Guards Army to the north of the 33rd Army. The division was forced to assume defensive positions, and was ordered to hold its ground due to the expected arrival in its sector of the 6th Guards Cavalry Corps, which was tasked with breaking through the German defensive position.
context_section_description: The Polish division had held its sector for two days, despite sustaining heavy losses, after which it was returned to the second echelon of the Front for rebuilding. Altogether, the 1st Division lost roughly 25-33% of its personnel in one day. Losses reached almost 3,000 men: 502 killed in action, 1,776 wounded and 663 captured or missing. It was not until spring of the following year that the division could be used in combat again.
  Despite heavy losses, the Soviet-Polish troops managed to keep the Lenino bridgehead, which later played a considerable role in Operation Bagration.
  German losses were heavy as well and were reported to reach 1,500, in addition to 326 German soldiers taken prisoner. The Wehrmacht also sustained heavy losses in equipment: 72 machine guns, 42 pieces of artillery, two tanks and five aeroplanes.
caption: Poland Medallion 1983: Commemoration of the World War II Battle of Lenino 1943
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