Operation Ostra Brama

Operation Ostra Brama was a military operation during World War II aimed at capturing or neutralizing the German-controlled Vilnius (Vilna) area, which held strategic and symbolic importance. Conducted by Soviet forces in 1944, the operation involved intense fighting to regain control of the city from German occupation. Named after the Ostra Brama (Hell Gate) Gate, a historic and cultural symbol in Vilnius, the operation contributed to pushing German troops out of the region as the Soviets advanced eastward, ultimately aiding the broader effort to liberate the Baltics from Nazi occupation.