Rank and File
A Clerk’s War
A Clerk’s War
Monday 1st to Tuesday 9th September 1941
Part 2
Balkans Army (Guderian)
Position at the end of 9th September 1941
Position at the end of 9th September 1941
Guderian’s objective is now so close he can almost touch it. Herzog, with the backing of 4th leichte Panzer, crushed Golubovskiy in Navlja. In two days the two Russian divisions lost nearly 1,000 men and 36.ID (mot) is now pouring north. Supplies are the only problem – the road systems were bad enough to start with, but after the fighting our convoys are reduced to a crawl.
After fighting and rain, getting the trucks through is a problem
Not that Guderian has forgotten the Pripyat Pocket. Von Förster drove straight north from Mena into Uneca, trusting the men of 25.ID to defeat Ershakov’s 43 Strelkovaya. His faith in his men was justified, though the task was not easy. 43 Strelkovaya was not a tired and hungry group of retreating soldiers but a fresh unit from the east sent to keep the roads open for the trapped survivors of the marshes. Unfortunately von Förster’s good work was ruined by a breakdown in administration. 25.ID was ordered to remain in Mena, but nobody was detailed to occupy Uneca. As a result, another Russian division was allowed to set up defences. Late on the 6th September Rösener and 35.ID were given the job of retaking the lost province.
Still a thousand men short of its full complement, 2.ID (mot) “Vörwarts” could not sit still and rest. General Ruoff is known widely to favour the offence, even to the point of rashness. His latest battle could be seen as tempting fate as he took his trucks and armoured cars into the swamps of Chernihiv. To their credit, his men fought with determination against a foe equal in numbers and with the advantage of good defensive terrain. By the 7th Ruoff could claim victory.
Meise and 345.ID had to fight for more than three days to capture Glazunovka, but to the astonishment of Balkans Army HQ his casualty report listed less than 100 men dead. Russian losses were more than five times that. An impressive result, even if his initial opponents were a single weak rifle division trying to protect a Tannu Tuvan HQ. Some of the gloss was taken off when the victorious 345.ID suffered two heavy air attacks, losing 200 men to Russian level bombers.
Starodub, scene of Ruoff’s defeat just days ago, is again under attack, this time by General Schmidt’s 10th Panzer Division. Ruoff apparently advised against the attack, warning that 227 Strelkovaya was the hardest for he had ever faced, but Schmidt persuaded Guderian to authorise the river crossing. At first it seemed that Ruoff was correct, as scores of Schmidt’s men died without making the opposite shore. But Guderian was aware of the importance of crushing this pocket of resistance, and division after division was added to the attack, until more than 40,000 troops were committed. Although he too received reinforcements, Reshetov’s men were short of supplies and could not keep up the hail of fire needed to keep such a massive force at bay. Late on the 9th Schmidt reported his bridgehead was secure and the enemy was retreating.
Disregarding heavy fire, an inflatable boat is launched by men of 10th PzD.
The high morale of Warlimont’s 45.ID made it virtually unstoppable. As predicted, Zaev’s 238 Strelkovaya was unable to even slow the advance. A desperate Stavka flung unit after unit into Obajan’. All to no avail. At noon Warlimont claimed an unassisted victory. His single division has defeated nearly 40,000 enemy troops, for a cost of less than 450 men.
Still giving our allies a helping hand, Guderian allowed Köstring to enter Belgorod, even though that province is clearly in the responsibility of the Italians. It was a hard fought battle, but 13.ID finally won after days of see-sawing fortunes. A counter-attack by 238 Strelkovaya was fought off in a couple of hours, though with 9 extra casualties. Unfortunately, that was not the end. Late on the 9th, Guderian was informed by 13.ID HQ that the division was under heavy attack. At least three Soviet divisions were already identified and, weakened by its previous efforts, 13.ID was falling back. General Köstring was directing the defence from the front, but he requested urgent assistance.
Our allies try hard to assist, but their best is sometimes not enough. To take Zeleznogosrk, General Altrichter was promised assistance from 4a Divisione Alpina “Cuneense” but the help did not arrive until too late. The Russians flooded the area with men, at one point having more than 120,000 troops in action. By the time the Italian mountain troops had reached the front, 107.ID had broken the enemy, but had sustained horrendous casualties in the process. Altrichter has been forced to take his unit to the rear to wait for replacements for his losses.
A leutnant of 107.ID keeps his men going, despite his wound.
Great news early on the 6th: Jodl reports he has taken Sel’co and linked up with lead units from Polen Army Sud. The final attack took just hours to shatter the exhausted Russians. Now we have perhaps 20 divisions trapped. Of course he expected an attempt to push him out, and it arrived early on the 7th in the form of 49 Strelkovaya and 37 Kaveleriy. Jodl has told Rommel he has no need to worry – his hold on the province is secure.
The Pripyat Pocket is now breaking up: the trapped Russians are now doomed
With the pocket breaking up, the rush to catch those divisions that had slipped the noose began. Uneca, previously ignored, suddenly looked like a swift way to head off the fleeing columns. Rösener and 35.ID were closest and were ready for action and immediately came into contact with an armoured division. Numbers were about equal: it was a test of morale against metal. Rösener claims he has the upper hand, but it cannot be by much.
The push north-east got a temporary boost with Crüwell’s swift defeat of Lelyushen in Kromy. For once our tanks were able to operate properly and quickly persuaded the men of 197 Kievskaya that the only hope of survival was retreat. That was how to use armour: Höpner showed how not to do it in Novhorod Siverskyi. A well prepared enemy in heavy woods with a fair sized river in front is not really suitable for a frontal attack by a leichte panzer division. He did have the good sense to abandon the attack quickly.
Italian Expeditionary Army (Pintor)
Position at the end of 9th September 1941
Position at the end of 9th September 1941
With the Russians south of the Pripyat starting to crumble, General Calcagno saw an opportunity in Lokot’, now held by a single rifle division, 36 Zabajkal’skaya. 3a Divisione “Ravenna” began the attack just after midnight on Wednesday 3rd September. Initially things went well, but Soviet reinforcements halted the advance. Luckily there were several units available to assist, and by midday on the Saturday the battle was over, though Italian casualties were high. Last month’s defeat of 2nd Panzer has been answered in the best possible way.
Pintor finally has his men in position, and was able to manoeuvre 1a Divisione “Supergas” and 14a Divisione “Isonzo” to launch a simultaneous attack on the 14,000 defenders of Scigny. To the joy of the Italians (who cannot maintain an intensive attack) General Gamanik’s soldiers were in full retreat as night fell.
Österreich Army (von Kluge)
Position at the end of 9th September 1941
Position at the end of 9th September 1941
2nd Gebirgsjäger had gambled the Russians would not expect a counter-attack across the Dniepr into Kherson, and possibly Friedrich-Willich was right. Nevertheless, the 17,000 defenders made a river crossing impossible, despite the courage of the Pioniere regiment. Von Kluge ordered the attempt to halt: he could not afford to see one of his precious divisions bled dry on what was now a pointless exercise.
Not that the attack on Kherson was useless. Two good Soviet units were tied up while Heißmeyer made a far more promising attack just the north, into Novooleksiyivka. Von Kluge acknowledged that he had failed to reinforce von Roques’ previous attempt, he was sure that the weakened defenders could not successfully oppose 162.ID, fully supplied and in peak condition. As it turned out, the confidence felt in Österreich HQ back in Oleksandriya was misplaced. 162.ID faced heavy opposition from the “demoralised” Ivans, and Freidrich-Willich had to commit his weary men to assist. Still, Heißmeyer and his men did take the province by the afternoon of the 4th September. It was not until late on the 7th that the Soviet High Command could move 206 Strelkovaya from Kherson to attempt to retake Novooloksoyivka, and it seems that was too late. 162.ID has dug in and supplies are trickling in. We may have opened the door to the Crimea.
Wednesday saw the door opened a bit wider. 1 Gebirgsjäger crossed into Vesele and made quick work of Kirponos and 62 Turkestanskaya, even in the torrential rain. As if that were not enough for the Russians to handle, Bader and 6.ID engaged 103 Motorizavannaya and 18 Tankovaya in Tokmak. The idea was good, and Bader soon had the armoured division on the run. Unfortunately for Bader’s men, two more motorised divisions appeared to support Trubikov, and Österreich HQ is now very concerned with the lack of progress. Heavy rain is falling and 6.ID is running out of food and ammunition.
It may not be snowing yet, but rain is still miserable
Von Kluge was still aware, however, of his primary objective, and Österreich HQ was moving closer to Dnipropetrovsk. He was therefore not far from General Hell when 6th Gebirgsjäger and 26.ID made yet another attack ion Oleksandrivka. This time things were better planned, and the unfortunate General Osyka and 300 Strelkovaya were soundly beaten.
Von Kluge may have turned his attention northwards, but Stavka was still concentrating on the threat to the Crimea. General Popov, whom we have fought a dozen times, has an armoured division (14 Tankovaya) and a rifle division with which to drive out Volkmann and 1st Gebirgsjäger from Vesele. Our previous attempts to maintain a bridgehead across the Dneipr have been failures, but Volkmann and his men have had a chance to recover and supplies have been delivered. Popov will not find this easy.
Nor will taking Kherson be easy for 2 Gebirgsjäger. Friedrich-Willich has tried yet again to wrest this province from the Russians. Fighting is still raging, rain is pouring down and the two Soviet rifle divisions are in good condition, but Friedrich-Willich is buoyed by the knowledge that they cannot be reinforced: they can only get weaker.
He should try to tell that to General Glokke. He has been forced to take 33.ID back to Obolon to recover after being defeated in Dinprodzerzhynsk. Petzel, who was supporting the attack with 34.ID has also had to withdraw his men to recover in Cherkasy. Italian units have replaced them ,as Österreich Army has no divisions ready to move into the front line.
Finalised Battles for the period 1st to 9th September 1941
Svyetlahorsk: 3,442 (20,000): 877 (25,880)
Butchino: 696 (21,985): 432 (19,993)
Izdeshkovo: 807 (28,236): 766 (9,997)
Boksitogorsk: 4 (10,000): 12 (8,763)
Navlja: 151 (19,995): 918 (18,995)
2nd Svyetlahorsk: 50 (6,000): 1 (4,767) (Hungarian)
Morozova: 393 (19,993): 535 (9,000)
Kherson: 342 (9,931): 191 (17,543)
Novooleksiyivska: 309 (19,020): 91 (16,103)
Peklino: 197 (11,802): 330 (16,815)
Uneca: 86 (9,476): 139 (8,999)
Lokot’: 429 (29,995): 235 (16,930) (240 Italian)
Chernivhiv: 415 (8,965): 368 (8,996)
Vesele: 60 (9,709): 98 (28,530)
Butchino: 117 (10,000): 97 (16,997)
Bryanskaja: 990 (21,724): 561 (28,655)
Glazunovka: 98 (9,994): 555 (11,632)
Starodub: 542 (40,575): 768 (36,608)
Homyel’: 470 (25,726): 670 (15,146) (180 Hungarian)
Kuvsinovo: 89 (9,992): 90 (7,998)
Obojan’: 447 (9,992): 783 (39,967)
Belgorod: 1,152 (19,870): 771 (54,368)
2nd Belgorod: 9 (8,853): 20 (7,678)
Gorki: 702 (9,881): 567 (16,585)
Olekandrivka: 117 (19,947): 229 (15,885)
Krasnaya Zarya: 89 (9,994): 936 (9,999)
Azonova: 183 (9,996): 327 (8,998)
Zeleznogorsk: 1,677 (31,980): 1,246 (122,689)
Kletnja: 392 (23,994): 1,275 (17,630)
Sel’co: 8 (9,317): 59 (7,909)
1st Afimino: 65 (9,995): 92 (23,033)
2nd Afimino: 74 (9,996): 85 (9,996)
Kromy: 48 (9,857): 267 (9,770)
Novhorod Siverskyi: 7 (10,000): 2 (9,993)
Dinprodzerzhynsk: 2,729 (19,685): 1,719 (41,337)
Scigny: 84 (11,991): 70 (14,060) (Italian)
Total Battle Casualties for the period 1st to 9th September 1941
Hungarian: 230
Italian: 324
German: 11,696
Russian: 16,182
Prior Battle Casualties
Hungarian: 541
Italian: 2,849
German: 304.368
Russian: 326,028
Total Battle Casualties to date
Hungarian: 230 + 541 = 771
Italian: 324 + 2,849 = 3,173
German: 11,696 + 304,368 = 316,064
Russian: 16,182 + 326,028 = 342,210
Bombing Summary for the period 1st September to 9th September 1941
Our planes have again come under sustained attack, despite the presence of thousands of our fighters. The VVS was so determined that some of our missions were aborted. Müller-Michels and 5th Kampffliegerkorps were driven from Semenivka by Falaleev leading no less than 9 brigades of interceptors. Having won that tussle, Falaleev then took on Wever over Bologoye, but 8th Kampffliegerkorps was able to complete its task of bombing the unfortunate Sinkiang units holding that province. Weise with 5th Schlachtfliegerkorps were not so fortunate: Falaleev made sure that not one of our dive-bombers made it the target in Olenino. Von Salmuth had to wait until Thursday for air support, when Kitzinger’s Ju-188s appeared overhead. The VVS had not finished with von Salmuth though. On the 4th his men had to take cover while Waber and 600 fighters cleared the sky of Golovanov with 30 and 33 BAD. No bombs were dropped, but it was too close for comfort.
Falaleev seemed to be everywhere. On 3rd September he attacked 4th Schlachtfliegerkorps over Bryanskaja, but at last our interceptors were ready. Waber with 1200 fighters soon put paid to the brief period of VVS ascendency in the air.
Retribution at last: Waber takes on Falaleev
Falaleev was beaten, but not destroyed. The next day he tried to protect Thor’s bombers over Kursk, and despite the presence of Fisser’s 600 fighters he tied up enough of our aircraft to allow Thor to complete two missions.
On the bright side, the concentration of fighters under Falaleev’s command left the rest of the VVS understrength. Yakovlev and his single air regiment were routed when met by Fisser and 600 fighters over Kyiv. An attempt by Rog to achieve local air superiority in the south was also easily beaten by Chrtistiansen, assisted by 300 Italian Macchi MC.200 Saettas.
The Italians proved invaluable when, with Fisser occupied over Kursk, Smushkevich and his dive bombers hit Volkmann’s Gebirgsjägers in Nikopol’. One raid was frighteningly effective, but Forgier and his Macchis made sure it was the only chance Smushkevich got.
A welcome sight: our Italian allies help clear the air of the VVS
Luftwaffe and Axis Allies
Semenivka: Müller-Michels with 5th Kampffliegerkorps: 140, 316 (456)
Bologoye: Wever with 8th Kampffliegerkorps: 244, 286 (530)
Svyetlahorsk: Rapaich with 1 Légihadsereg: 60, 128, 123 (311)
Bryanskaja: Hoffman von Waldau with 4th Schlachtfliegerkorps: 86
Olenino: Kitzinger with 3rd Kampffliegerkorps: 101, 172, 228 (501)
Olenino: Löhr with 2nd Schlachtfliegerkorps: 90, 162, 158 (510)
Klincy: Rapaich with 1 Légihadsereg: 124, 57, 175, 119 (468)
Oleksandrivka: Udet with 3rd Schlachtfliegerkorps: 68, 258, 227 (553)
El’tsy: Kitzinger with 3rd Kampffliegerkorps: 135
Belgorod: Gamondi with 1st Italian Expeditionary Bomber Wing: 79
Azanovo: Löhr with 2nd Schlachtfliegerkorps: 94, 231, 166, 96 (587)
Tokmak: Udet with 3rd Schlachtfliegerkorps: 155, 195, 90, 91, 194, 179, 91 (995)
VVS
Kursk: Thor with 2 and 11 BAD: 76, 132
Nikopol’: Smushkevich and 25, 77 ShAD: 107
Vygonici: Skripko with 10 and 72 ShAD: 58
Total Bombing Casualties for the period 1st to 9th September 1941
Hungarian: Nil
Italian: Nil
German: 297
Russian: 5,211
Previous Bombing Casualties
Hungarian: 128
Italian: Nil
German: 3,787
Russian: 222,635
Total Bombing Casualties to date
Hungarian: Nil + 128 = 128
Italian: Nil + Nil = Nil
German: 297 + 3,787 = 4,084
Russian: 5,211 + 222,635 = 227,846
East Front at the end of 9th September 1941
Total East Front Casualties for the period 1st to 9th September 1941
Hungarian: 230 + Nil = 230
Italian: 324 + Nil = 324
German: 11,696 + 297 = 11,993
Russian: 16,182 + 5,211 = 21,393
Previous Casualties
Hungarian: 659
Italian: 2,849
German: 308,155
Russian: 548,663
Total East Front Casualties to date
Hungarian: 230 + 659 = 889
Italian: 324 + 2,849 = 3,173
German: 11,993 + 308,155 = 320,148
Russian: 21,393 + 548,663 = 570,056
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