The town of Narva, situated on the eastern border of Estonia, had significant strategic importance during World War II due to its location along the Narva River, which marked the boundary between the Soviet Union and German-occupied territories. As the Eastern Front progressed in the early 1940s, battles fought in this region held pivotal consequences for territorial control. By early 1944, Soviet forces were making concerted efforts to push the German Army back and reclaim occupied territories in the Baltic region, including Estonia.

On March 6, 1944, Soviet bombers conducted an aerial assault on Narva, which had been evacuated by its civilian population due to the advancing conflict. The objective of this bombing campaign was twofold: to cripple German military installations within the town and to disrupt supply lines that would aid the German war effort. The raid resulted in the total destruction of Narva’s historical Swedish-era buildings, which had remained part of the town's identity for hundreds of years. This act not only obliterated the physical spaces but also symbolized the broader devastation wrought by the war across European cities.

The air attack on Narva was part of the Soviet offensive known as Operation Polar Star, which aimed to recapture Estonia and increase pressure on German forces. The successful bombing campaign highlighted the increasing air capabilities of the Soviet military and signified a turning point in the conflict in the region, ushering in further offensives that would eventually lead to the liberation of Estonia from German occupation later that year.