This week in the War, 24–30 January 1944: Railway line to Leningrad is opened; the siege is over

The siege of Leningrad effectively ended, this week in the war. On 27 January 1944, the Soviets announced the recapturing of the railway line between Tosno and Lyuban. Leningrad was now connected by rail to the rest of Russia, including Moscow.

The success came as a result of the new Soviet offensive against the German Army Group North. Over 800,000 Soviet soldiers and sailors (from the Baltic Fleet) took part in the operation, which would last until March and would see Soviet troops enter Estonia.