Rank and File
A Clerk’s War
Friday 25th to Monday 28th April 1941
My small team of filing experts have settled into a routine, leaving me a little more time to follow my “hobby”. One thing has been made clear to me: there are no weekends at the OKW Annex. We are a military office, and the nation is at war. So my opportunities for relaxation are limited. At least until I learn how to work the system. Anyway, the way we are going at the moment, I won’t be able to have a day off for a while.
The big news of the 25th was the announcement that following months of study, the Heer has decided to create a new infantry unit: the panzergrenadier brigade. These heavy infantry will be provided with sufficient half-tracked vehicles to be fully motorised. A huge investment, but the researchers believe it will give our panzers the extra weight to make Blitzkrieg a reality. Minister von Blomberg is behind the project and twisted Production Minister Schacht’s arm to get approval for the manufacture of enough equipment for two mechanised divisions, each with two brigades of mechanised infantry and a self-propelled artillery and a tank destroyer regiment. It will be six months before they are ready, but if the war in Russia extends into second year they will be needed. (Von Blomberg is really pushing hard for the Heer at the moment: he also kept the research team and put them to work developing improved barrels and ammunition for our artillery).
Work has already begun on production of the Sdkfz 251 halftracks needed for our mechanised divisions. The body work is the easy part, though it does consume a lot of steel
Some of the production capacity for the new divisions was available because our second schwere Panzer Division has been completed. General Hube has taken command and it is now based at Königsberg with 1st schwere. In fact, following its arrival, a new korps has been set up, with General Model to lead 1st schwere Panzerkorps.
There has been other expenditure approved, some of it arising from what were seen as failings with our Riga air landing. The Fallschirmjägers, with only 3 brigades, are seen as underpowered. As we now use the much larger Arados for transport, we can increase each division with another brigade. Training for the selected candidates began immediately.
There is no shortage of volunteers for the Fallschirmjäger regiments, though even the training jumps from light aircraft would be enough to deter me.
With some areas of Russia now considered safe, work gangs are moving in. Sarata, Slobozia, Chenivtsi, Horodenka, Sniatyn, Iwanice and Liepaja are already having roads and rail connections surveyed. In addition, two more Romanian provinces have been identified as vital links, so work is to be carried out in Putyla and Suceava.
Then the reports started to arrive from the Front (as we now call it). Schwartzkopff on his return from a raid on Horodek was able to confirm that Semanyuk had received extra troops. Another division with 3 infantry brigades and an artillery regiment are present, but Ruoff is not worried. More helpful was Löhr’s report that the opposition in Marijampole is now only 11 brigades/regiments: 7 infantry, 2 artillery, an anti-tank and an anti-aircraft unit. General Pfeffer was greatly cheered by the news, as well as the support of the dive bombers.
Russian bombers tried to mount an air attack on Wlodawa, in a last desperate attempt to save Shats’k. While it was never going to succeed in deterring General Bremer, it was not able to drop one bomb. Christiansen had 9 Jagdgeschwader between Khudyakov and his target. More than twenty aircraft from 12 and 13 BAD were destroyed.
In the pile of papers delivered overnight (many merely copies of telegraph messages or transcripts of radio messages) were two notifying OKH of victories. Friedrich-Willich and 2nd Gebirgsjäger Division have Rozdil’na, and von Weichs has won Grodo for the second time. Both were very cheap in terms of casualties, which is a relief after the death toll of the past few days.
Next was a movement order: 13.Infanterie is to leave XI Armeekorps (1st Küste and Grenze Army) and move at full speed to Danzig. There has been a succession of similar orders. It looks as though Carls’ transports will be busy.
Then, early in the morning, a bombshell. The Russians have taken Memel, cutting off List’s 16.Infanterie in Liepaja and threatening to move down the coast to East Prussia! If that were not enough, we have lost the use of the port and, far more importantly, the airbases near the city. Not to mention the supply dumps built up for use in the forthcoming days of the offensive.
(It is perhaps at this point that I should mention a short discussion that I had on my first day. My immediate superior, a cheerful looking army officer whose use of crutches spoke of a disabling injury in the past, had welcomed me into his office. As the door shut, he had subtly changed his demeanour.
“You are to be given certain military clearances here that are not normally given to a civilian. In fact, clearances that are not normally given to an officer, except of the highest rank. “
Gone was the cheerfulness, or had it been just a charade? In its place was a toughness that somehow fitted the officer more than the façade of friendliness he usually wore. I decided that this would not be a man I would like to be my enemy. He seemed the kind who would be implacable in carrying out what he considered to be his duty.
“There are many messages sent to and from the most senior officers that contain their thoughts and perceptions on certain matters that must not become public knowledge. For example, they may report incidents that could affect morale, or they may have certain opinions regarding fellow officers or political figures that must remain forever secret. “
I hoped my face showed the correct mixture of apprehension, concern and respect.
“You will from time to time receive sealed envelopes, containing such documents. These are to be dealt with by you, personally. None of your staff are to ever see the contents. Should the contents of any of these sealed envelopes ever become public, I shall consider it a breach of my personal trust in you. Have I made myself clear?”
Certainly. Any rumours start to circulate in the building, and you will make it your mission to destroy me. I nodded.
“Good. You may think of me as a soldier unable to perform any more useful tasks for the Heer.”
No, in fact I was already sure that this could be the most dangerous man I had met for some time. There seemed nothing wrong with the way he moved, and I was suddenly aware that he wore his standard issue side-arm and knife, even in the office.
“Since it has been decided that some minor wounds incurred last year have rendered me unfit for active duty, my only opportunity to serve is here, in Berlin. While my legs may stop me from rejoining my unit, do not make the mistake of thinking it has made me soft. Never do anything that would make me believe that you are not dedicated to serving the Reich. You may go.”
This was something to think about. I was more than happy to gain access to the uncensored comments of our field generals, but to be under the eye of a fanatic was not so pleasant. This would need to be managed carefully. I made a note to warn Gisela that things were not quite as relaxed here as at the Reichkanzlei.)
A photo I saw in my Chef’s office: he did not get his injuries in a training accident, as this is a line up for combat bravery awards. He still uses the crutches, but I will never make the mistake of thinking that this renders him less dangerous.
With the news of the fall of Memel came a slim sealed envelope marked to my attention. It had the highest security rating I had ever seen, and was delivered by two soldiers, both of whom insisted I sign to confirm that the seals were not broken.
When they had left, I opened the envelope and read the short transcript inside. It was a message from General von Manstein to OKH complaining about General List’s behaviour in attacking north into Liepaje. “Imbecilic insubordination”, “reckless endangerment”, “failure to follow the simplest of orders”. It seems the commander of the Army of Polen Nord blamed General List for the situation on the northern coast and wanted to let his superiors know. This would lead to several notes on List’s file, and his time as a divisional commander could be short.
General Rommel should not have such problems with General Müller in Chelm . 10. and 14. Infanterie are both advancing as directed, straight at Pushskin’s three divisions (64, 229 and 237 Strelkovaya) in Kowel. Already Muller’s reputation as an officer with an affinity for attack seems merited, and he is ahead of schedule despite the odds.
For the first time Abernetty’s supply shuttles were attacked over Riga. The three transport geschwader lost some aircraft, but not too many. Possible this was because Vershinin’s two fighter brigades were not fully recovered from earlier battles. Abernetty reported that there only seemed to be about 180 fighters present and many showed signs of previous damage affecting their speed and forepower.
Christiansen, on hearing of the attack on Abernetty, sent his Messerschmitts off immediately, not only to rescue the transport aircraft, but also because it looked like a chance to catch a small number of fighters and give the VVS a lesson. He had misjudged the skill of his Russian opponent, Falaleev. Over Bauska he was met by 600 fighters, and returned to base at Suwalki with less than 75% of his original strength.
During the morning the waves of bombers took off, heading to Tiraspol, Laukuva and Taurage. There have been more changes at Tiraspol, with Obukhov in charge of 10 infantry brigades with two anti-air, an artillery and a rocket artillery regiments. Laukuva was the first mission for Weise’s 5th Schlachtfliegerkorps and “Gold” and “Silber” performed well, killing 233 of the enemy. They also fed back important information to General Agricola, including the fact that Zyrianov has just 6 infantry brigades with three anti-air, an artillery, and anti-tank and an engineer regiment.
The Luftwaffe also sent aircraft to Kowel, but Zhavaronkov was back over the front with 38 and 39 IAD and 36 IAD-PVO. Although Hoffman von Waldau steadied his pilots and completed his mission successfully, it was at a high cost. Just over 150 of his Henschels made it back to Lódz.
The Fallschirmjägers ran into some resistance late in the evening of the 25th, but it was not a reaction by the Russians. Rather it was a tribute to the marching speed of our soldiers. They had caught up the rear guard of Morozov’s 152 Strelkovaya, the second-line division that had attempted to help Rokossovsky hold Riga. Dietl assured OKW that he could handle the situation without assistance and before nightfall reported that all resistance in Aizkraukle has ceased.
On the 26th, the Luftwaffe paid attention to Weise’s reports of heavy anti-air concentrations in Laukuva, and replaced the low level close air support aircraft of 5th Schlachtfliegerkorps with Kitzinger and his tactical bombers. The change may not have been necessary, as overnight one of Zyrianov’s divisions had withdrawn, reducing his strength by 2 infantry brigades and 2 anti-air regiments.
Saturday must have been a repair and rest day for the Luftwaffe, as there few other bombing missions. Schwartzkopff continued to hammer Semenyuk in Horodek and Sperrle took 1st Kampffleigerkorps back to Lwów. Otherwise all aircraft were grounded.
It did not affect von Lützow who again claimed Krasni Okny, hopefully this time for good.
Other news that day came from west, where von Kortzfleisch has put down the rebellion in Melle. 720 of the French Maquis were killed, and their “army” has dissolved. Just as important, 4.Infanterie Division “Falkenberg”, the most highly decorated unit of Fall Weiss, has been removed from the Nordsee Army and is to proceed to Danzig and await further orders.
Although General von Rundstedt would not have been happy to lose 4.Infanterie, at least he received a replacement unit. 164.Infanterie has been despatched to Copenhagen, its first assignment to maintain order in the Danish capital. All production capacity was re-allocated to replacing losses incurred in the east.
On patrol in Copenhagen: usually the capital is calm, though there have been uprisings in the north of Dänemark
Having re-organised his panzer division after being ordered to halt his attack on Trembowla, Crüwell again attempted to cross the Siret. His messages to Balkans Army HQ make it very clear that he believed he had been robbed of a well-earned victory by the retreat order, though he was careful not to directly challenge General Guderian’s decision. Nothing good comes of telling your boss he was wrong. He probably already knows, and it gives him a way of releasing a bit of emotion. It probably didn’t help Crüwell’s mood to find out that his new opponent, Turchinskij, had taken advantage of the break in proceedings to dig his three infantry divisions in on the far river back.
Second Battle of Trembowla.
Dörstling led off the day’s bombing missions on the 27th, and Petzel was overjoyed to be told that Obukhov has only 8 units left in Tiraspol and just four of those are infantry brigades, the others being 2 anti-air, and artillery and a rocket artillery. With his nine Gebirgsjäger brigades and three pioniere regiments, Petzel had no doubt that soon he will break the defenders. (In fact, by the middle of the afternoon Tiraspol was in our hands).
Most of the other bombing missions were routine, as the normal targets in Horodek, Laukuva and Lwów were attacked, and raids were resumed on Aseichev in Lomonyja. No new intelligence was revealed from the debriefing of pilots and other crew.
Not so routine was the order sent direct from OKW to Admiral Carl’s at Danzig: load 31.Infanterie Division and transport to Riga at full speed. (It was only when I was filing this report that I saw that I had missed an important detail in last Thursday’s naval engagement in the Bay of Riga. Our transports had been loaded with the men of 24.Infanterie and were in the process of unloading them at Jurmala when the Russians hit. If not for the quick response of the Osteeflotte we could have had a death toll in the thousands.)
The first battle in which we were assisted by the Honved has been successful, though casualties were higher than expected. The less well trained and armed Hungarians must have taken heavy losses during the fighting in Buczasc, as General Dietrich’s daily report showed 2nd Panzer was hardly damaged, with no men lost.
Although these Hungarian soldiers seem quite pleased after the Battle of Buczasc, the Honved took heavy losses while our troops were unharmed. I fear that unless they learn quickly that many of the young men in this photo may not see the New Year.
After only a few hours’ rest, General Hell decided that 4th and 6th Gebirgsjäger Divisions were ready for action. While Petzel and 34.Infanterie secured Tiraspol, Hell and his men ploughed north, into Orhei. General Afanasiev, in his first real battle, had little hope of holding the province. He had one good division, 11 Strelkovaya, but 195 Strelkovaya is still exhausted from the battle for Tiraspol, and 53 Strelkovaya is still in headlong retreat from Slobozia! His sole reserve is the 18 Corps HQ, a few thousand clerks and cooks. To make matters worse, the Gebirgsjägers were so elated to be leading Österreich Army forward that they hit Afanasiv’s front line like a shock wave, further reducing the Russian’s ability to withstand our assault.
General von der Chevallerie must be wondering what is so hard about winning battles. With just his own 95.Infanterie he moved into the forests of Kobryn, under orders to clear out the defending 193 Strelkovaya and 39 Kaveleriyskaya. Normally one would expect this to have been a fairly difficult task: unsupported and outnumbered infantry in a frontal assault on prepared positions in good defensive terrain. But, as in the first Battle of Grodno on the 23rd, von der Chevallerie was blessed by good luck. Before midnight he had advised Polen Army Nord that his troops could not locate any enemy: all had fled.
Other battles ended over the afternoon, two of which had been raging for the whole nine days since Barabarossa began. The first of these was Edinet. At last Badanov and his three divisions had taken enough punishment. As they pulled back, leaving Edinet strewn with dead and abandoned equipment, Bader and his three divisions moved forward. It was not a triumphant claim of victory from the General Bader: with more than 1,700 of his men dead or missing he was in no mood to celebrate.
Müller’s report was definitely more exuberant. He had used his two divisions well, not allowing Pushkin a chance to steady his men. Kowel was not an easy win, but like most quick battles, the victor paid a much lower price.
If we were appalled at the never-ending casualty list from Edinet, we were speechless at the death toll in Shats’k. Nine days of continuous fighting had turned the quiet countryside south of Brzesc-Litwewski into a slaughterhouse. More than 10% of the 80,000 men who fought for the key province on the flank of the fortress city had been killed in the ground fighting, 3,000 of them ours. General Bremer would never want to repeat such butchery, a reminder of the carnage of the Western Front in the last war. It could be some days before the survivors of the carnage are able to continue east.
Some of the destruction in Shats’k: wrecked artillery tractors and a BA-6 armoured car lie next to a road, victims of either an artillery barrage or aircraft bombing.
General Ruoff showed how a pitched battle could be won without excessive losses. In the five days of fighting for Horodok he lost 534 men, despite being outnumbered. It just needs a bit of skill on the part of the commander.
While four battles were ended that afternoon, another five began (one over the same province).
The Gebirgsjägers are incapable of sitting still and disregarding the pouring rain, Friedrich-Willich was fixed on the prize of Odessa. In between him and that prize were the unfortunate Zhmachenko and his 81 Motorizovannaya Diviziya. On paper the Russian general has more experience, in practice Friedrich-Willich’s trickery and the skill of 2nd Gebirgsjäger outclassed the Russians.
It was a similar story in Kam’yanet’s-Podil’s’kyi. General Bieß, though outnumbered by Petrakovski, could rely on the skill of his own “Bitrburg” motorised division, whose reputation only grows stronger as the war progresses. To assist him, somehow General Cochenhausen had got 161.Infanterie (mot) to support Bieß from Edinet, only hours after the end of that bloody conflict. It seems that there are some of the younger generation who have inherited the qualities of my comrades of the last war.
Battle of Kam’yanets’-Podil’s’kyi
Von Manstein has reacted swiftly to the fall of Memel. General List had been ordered (the actual instructions made it clear that no initiative was to be displayed!) to turn back from Liepaja. General von Wietersheim was to be in command (another slap in the face to List, having to take orders from an untried general). A co-ordinated attack, 18.Infanterie from Liepaja and 11.Infanterie from Silute should clear the Russians from the port and airfield. Von Manstein made it clear to General List that failure was not an option. I think we can be sure he will exhort his men to do their utmost. The sooner his escapade into Liepaja is forgotten the better for him.
Late in the afternoon word of a counter-attack came from Horodok. An armoured division has moved into Horodok from the southwest, from Dunayivtsi. Ruoff is fairly confident he can hold them off with the 5cm Pak 38 anti-tank guns that are standard issue to our motorised infantry, but would appreciate some air support. The Russian commander in Dunayivtsi must have felt threatened. General Phleps is already attacking that province and obviously the thought of a potential flank attack has prompted this response.
Second Battle of Horodok
Final battle of the day was at Ratno. General Hansen had also done wonders with his men, still recovering from more than a week of fighting for Shats’k. He had resupplied 16.Infanterie (mot) and was hot on the chase of the retreating Russians. 318 Strelokovaya and the mountain infantry of 95 Moldavskaya had pulled back to Ratno, where the intact 237 Strelkovaya offered them some protection while they replaced their lost equipment and regained some form of organisation. Hansen was determined not to give them that opportunity. Hardly had combat begun when word was received that two HQ units were also present, a further incentive. Our commanders have been instructed that the Russian reserves of officers are low and any chance of killing large numbers of them is to be taken.
9 days gone and still no decisive battle, just a growing list of dead. Which side will break first?
Memel: No change (65% complete)
2nd Marijampole: Beloberedov had brought 140 Strelkovaya to the front line from reserve, but Hännicke has arrived at the front with 56.Infanterie and von Pannwitz is also moving up from Ragnit with 75.Infanterie. The tide is turning our way. (49% complete)
Taurage: Both sides are escalating the intensity. Ogurtsov has brought all his existing units to the front, deploying 6 Tankovaya, 133 and 233 Strelkovaya, 46 Dnepropetrovskaya, 82 Motorizovannaya and 34 Kavaleriyska. He has received another cavalry division as a reserve (14 Kavaleriyskaya). To counter this, von Both has added 8.Infanterie to his attack. Still in the balance, though we have cut off a few of Ogurtsov’s men which has helped a little to even the odds. (39% complete)
Alytus: General Wünnenburg is still trying hard to secure a useable bridgehead but he is losing ground. This is partly because although 38 Kavaleriyskaya has pulled back, it is in reserve if required, and had been joined by 62 Turkestanskaya, still capable of fighting despite its recent involvement in the Second Battle of Marijampole. (30% complete)
Lwów: General Schack had rushed 102.Infanterie from reserve and now has five divisions attacking from four directions. He shocked the defenders and had now captured the bulk of the city. (69% complete)
Brzesc Litewski: Larianov has put 91 Strelkovaya in reserve, but his front line is collapsing. (54% complete)
Drohobycz: 23 Har’korskaya has moved to the rear areas and after 9 days the other four divisions are at breaking point. (84% complete)
Ratno: Feklenko and the two HQ units have made their escape, leaving Sergatsov in charge of a crumbling defence. (72% complete)
Kolomyja: 345.Infanterie has engaged the enemy (from the south). The final blow, hoever, is like y to come from the west, where Dietrich’s 2nd Panzer is moving up, having suffered little in the Battle of Buczasc. Asiechev has seen the writing on the wall and is heading nerht with 5 Tankovaya and the two motorised divisions. General Mihajlov has been left behind with 73 Strelkovaya and has been ordered to mount a counter-attack. (94% complete)
2nd Horodok: No change, other than Blagodatov has increased the intensity of his attack to an assault, hoping to quickly crush Ruoff and “Vorwärts”. (35% complete)
Soroca: Köstring has doubled his force again and now has four divisions, though 386.Infanterie (mot) is still moving up from Edinet. With 6.Infanterie attacking from Botosani he has shocked Shuov’s men, drastically reducing their defensive ability. (59% complete)
Kam’yanets’-Podil’s’kyi: 315 Strelkovaya and 17 Gorno-Kavaleriyskaya have been evacuated, leaving just 302 Strelkovaya. (89%)
Dunayivtsi: Shirabokov and 6ya Armiya HQ have left, allowing Khryashchev to resume command. Generla Phleps continues his attacks, still with just his own 98.Infanterie (mot). In fact, he has decided to launch an assault on an enemy that outnumbers him more than three to one. (53% complete)
Trembowla: No change (36% complete)
Chisinau: Volkmann has shocked the defenders of the city and is slowly grinding down their resolve. (67% complete)
Illichivs’k: No change (84% complete)
Orhei: Afanasiev has been reinforced by 118 Strelkovaya, but that division is completely demoralised after its long time at the front in Tiraspol is and not fit for battle. (88% complete)
Note Maslennikov’s 181 Strelkovaya Division: it has been overtaken by our forces and its three infantry brigades will be forced to surrender.
31.Infanterie has been safely landed in Riga and 24.Infanterie is moving into the city from Jurmala. We have allowed Russian units to enter Valdemarpils unopposed as it no longer has a strategic value for us. In fact, the more Russian units west of Riga the better.
Finalised Battle Casualties
Rodzil’na: 61/9,995: 106/7,593
Grodno: 34/19,996: 67/9,993
Krasni Okny: 48/9,995: 200/10,955
Aizkraukle: 15/8,994: 34/9,994
Buczacz: 0/30,381: 760/47,330 (472 Hungarian dead)
Tiraspol: 1,849/49,983: 3,314/95,764
Kobryn: 95/19,990: 101/15,987
Edinet: 1,712/29,986: 2,726/25,984
Kowel: 420/19,994: 1,416/45,971
Shats’k: 3,088/40,000: 5,559/43,974
Horodok: 534/9,997: 761/17,986
Total Battle Casualties Friday 25th April to Monday 28th April
German:
7,856
Russian:
15,044
Prior Battle Casualties
German: 6,707
Russian: 10,595
Total Battle Casualties to Date
German: 7,856 + 6,707 =
14,563
Russian: 15,044 + 10,595 =
25,639
Bombing Summary
Horodok: Schwartzkopff with 2nd Kampffliegerkorps: 167, 270, 132, 212, 263, 118, 56, 349, 153, 169, 202 (2,091)
Horodok: Müller-Michels with 5th Kampffliegerkorps: 221(221)
Marijampole: Löhr with 2nd Schlachtfliegerkorps: 122, 120, 180 (422)
Tiraspol: Udet with 3rd Schlachtfliegerkorps: 148, 143 (291)
Tiraspol: Dörstling with 6th Kampffliegerkorps: 225, 309, 128 (692)
Laukuva: Weise with 5th Kampffliegerkorps: 233, 102 (335)
Laukuva: Kitzinger with 3rd Kampffliegerkorps: 162, 250, 281 (693)
Laukuva: Keller with 7th Kampffliegerkorps: 213, 294, 238 (745)
Laukuva: Löhr with 2nd Schlachtfliegerkorps: 177, 212 (389)
Taurage: Keller with 7th Kampffliegerkorps: 286 (286)
Kowel: Hoffman von Waldau with 4th Schlachtfliegerkorps: 169 (169)
Lwów: Sperrle with 1st Kampffliegerkorps: 348, 190, 135, 375, 186 (1,234)
Lwów: Grauert with 4th Kampffleigerkorps: 375 (375)
Kolomyja: Müller-Michels with 5th Kampffliegerkorps: 158 (158)
Trembowla: Müller-Michels with 5th Kampffliegerkorps: 325, 282 (607)
Bombing Casualties for Friday 25th April to Monday 28th April:
German:
Nil
Russian:
8,758
Prior Bombing Casualties
German: 620
Russian: 16,666
Total Bombing Casualties to Date
German: 0 + 620 =
620
Russian: 8,758 + 16,666 =
25,424
Total East Front Casualties Friday 25th to Monday 28th April 1941
German: 7,856 + 0 =
7,856
Russian: 15,044 + 8,758 =
23,802
Prior East Front Casualties
German: 7,327
Russian: 27,261
Total East Front Casualties to Date
German: 7,856 + 7,327 =
15,183
Russian: 23,802 + 27,261 =
51,063