ABSTRACT
Despite advancing up to 250 kilometers in some sectors and making temporary penetrations in others, the Soviet January offensive did not achieve its objectives. Operational gains came only at a prohibitive cost in men and equipment and never translated into strategic victory. The most articulate Soviet assessment reasoned that:
the absence of large tank units, of powerful aviation, of sufficiently strong artillery, of a fresh flow of reserves, understrength forces, large deficiencies and difficulties in logistics (first and fore-most weapons and ammunition) – all that rendered impossible the decisive development of success to the depth of the defense after a penetration of the enemy front was realized–finally, the Western Front was capable of conducting operations only in separate sectors with limited means. 1
