Fights for the Strezhnevsky bridgehead. General Popov"s fatal mistake

During the Leningrad-Novgorod operation, Soviet troops defeated the troops of the Army Group North. Unfortunately, it was not possible to defeat the retreating enemy during the persecution. By the beginning of March 1944, the Army Group North, having managed to withdraw most of the manpower and equipment from the blow, took up defense on the pre-prepared Panther defensive line.
The new book of the famous military historian Sergei Biryuk talks about battles in March-April 1944 of the troops of the 2nd Baltic Front, under the command of Army General M.M. Popova, for the Strezhnevsky bridgehead. Fierce battles for it lasted from April 7 to 12, but the Soviet troops failed to expand the formed bridgehead.
The failure of the April offensive was the last straw that overwhelmed the bowl of patience I.V. Stalin and the State Defense Committee. The command was especially dissatisfied with the operation to persecute the departing enemy. Front commander, Army General M.M. Popov was removed from his post and no longer commanded the fronts