Rank and File
A Clerk’s War
Monday 7th to Saturday 12th July 1941 (
Part II)
The Waffenamt has decided to equip our militia with the Panzerbüchse 38. We have thousands of these sitting in warehouses doing nothing, and we may as well give them to the second line units. They may not be very effective, but they will make the troops feel more confident (at least until it comes time to use them). The research funds have been sent somewhere more useful: to a heavy engineering group testing a new model of medium tank. The vast numbers of tank destroyers we have encountered in the East have led to calls for bigger and better armoured panzers and we hope to put a new vehicle into production in a few months.
Teaching garrison troops how to use the “new” anti-tank weapon
Any thought that the Luftwaffe’s response over the past few days had taught the VVS a lesson were soon removed. All we received from the East on Thursday were messages from the Baltic Army and Polen Army Nord complaining about air attacks. The messages got more and more distraught as the Russian bombers dropped their payloads, disappeared east and, a few hours later, reappeared again with a fresh load. General Kesselring’s men in Sigulda were subject to three raids by Smuschkevich’s dive-bombers, while Polatsk (in General von Manstein’s area) was hit four times by Novikov’s aircraft.
Von Manstein had the only positive report for the day. Erfurth’s three divisions defeated the two Russian units holding Hlybokaye and Polen Army North has authorised a further advance east. Let us hope that they beat the Soviets to the river line.
Our strategic bombers have been very quiet recently, perhaps because of the high losses experienced in their last few missions. Steady work has seen the adaptation of the 15mm MG 151 for use by 1st Langstrecken-Großbomberfliegerkorps. Once these are fitted maybe Fröhlich will risk his precious aircraft again: at the moment they are a not earning their keep. Even Minister Göring’s pleading could not stop the Heer from diverting the researchers to a study of mobile warfare strategy: every effort is being made to improve our ground troops and hopefully reduce the casualty lists.
A 15mm MG 151 ready to be installed in one of our Ju 89 strategic bombers
If Thursday was predominately bad news, then so was Friday. The day started with a Spanish uprising in Cangas del Narcea. To his credit, General Sachs, commander of Heeresgruppe Spanien, has reacted swiftly by sending troops to the area with orders to put down the rebellion.
Loss of Cangas del Narcea
The VVS was back in action, though mercifully the Russian bombers did not return to Polatsk. This was little consolation for Brandenburger and his men in Sigulda, who were paid three visits by Smushkevich and lost a further 200 men. The only other message of note was the announcement by by Balkans Army HQ that the battle of Zolotonsha has ended with the retreat of 10.ID (mot). I suspect that General Bieß was not too upset as the project was doomed from the start, with the enemy far too strong for just one division. Even so, Bieß lost more than 500 men in two days.
At least Saturday started well. We have a bridgehead over the Dniepr, as General Förster has at last secured the province of Kremenchuk. Our soldiers are flowing over the temporary bridges, and work is proceeding on more permanent structures to allow an expansion of the area we hold on the far side of the river.
Even with no enemy fire, crossing the Dniepr can still be a risky business
The good news was followed closely by more depressing updates. Smushkevich and his bombers were once again over Sigulda, and General Steiner pulled 3rd PzD out of Zaslawye, having lost nearly 2,000 men in his failed attempt to take the province. One panzer division against 116,000 men is asking a great deal. At least his efforts have increased the likelihood of success in Minsk.
Then, as if a switch had been thrown, the tenor of the news picked up. Generalleutnant Fisser and 600 Messerschmitts intercepted Novikov’s bombers over Janów Poleski. We are not sure if Novikov was heading for Polatsk to repeat his success of two days ago or whether he had a different target in mind. It is not important. The shattered survivors of Fisser’s attack, nursing their bombers back to base, are unlikely to worry our troops for some time to come.
Then it was news of revenge for the humiliating retreat of our panzers from Zaslawye. General Nehring has taken 32,000 men back into the marshes, and the Russians have been caught unawares. Weakened by the struggle against 3rd PzD, the defenders are reeling at the onslaught by fresh and highly motivated troops. Should we achieve victory here, we will not only close on Minsk but also threaten the nearby airbases in Vitsyebsk.
Within hours of Förster gaining a bridgehead across the Dniepr for the Österreich Army, von Förster swept into Yahotyn, gaining a foothold for the Balkans Army. With the Dniepr Line breached in two spots, surely the Red Army must start to pull back further east?
More good news as the day progressed, with Smushkevich finally getting his come-uppance. Klepke and his veterans met the VVS over Sigulda, and though the Russian bombers were escorted by 300 enemy fighters they could not withstand our more modern aircraft (and far more advanced tactics). Brandenburger’s men are safe again.
This Russian fighter won’t be returning home, and nor will many of Smushkevich’s bombers
There were a couple of items to dampen enthusiasm, but these were minor. The Spanish rebellion spread to Piedras Blancas, but strong forces are closing on the area and the uprising should soon be contained, then crushed. And General Erfurth mounted a brief attack on Velikie Luki: it was more an armed reconnaissance than an attack. Three divisions were a bit much for Erfurth’s 1.ID to take on so soon after his recent fighting for Hlybokaye, and after losing a few dozen men he withdrew back across the Daugava
It seems the success of von Förster in Yahotyn must have affected Geyr von Schweppenburg’s judgment, or he has received faulty intelligence. As 25.ID and 100.ID (mot) consodlidated their hold on Yahotyn, von Schweppenburg sent 2nd leichte Panzer across the Dniepr into Pyriatin. This was madness: why not wait until von Förster and Jodl were ready to assist with a flank attack from the east bank of the river? As it is, even by committing to a full-scale assault, any chance of success is remote.
That master of deception, Erich von Manstein, has done it again! By sending Erfurth’s 1.ID into Velikie Luki and then withdrawing it almost immediately, he has fooled the Russians into pulling out most of their troops. He has now unleashed Kleinheisterkamp’s panzers, and they report just a single second rate infantry division present. It will still be tough going, but our prospects of seizing the far bank of the Daugava are far better than this morning.
2nd Battle of Velikie Luki
Von Manstein made an appearance at the front to watch 5th PzD launch its attack
As we closed up that evening the last word arrived from the east: a glorious victory for General Nehring. General Tanaschishin has ordered a full retreat and his 45,000 men did not wait for confirmation – they were already on their way. Minsk is now cut off from the north, and General von Salmuth is making good progress from the south in Slutsk. It can only be a matter of days before the capital of Byelorussia is ours.
Finalised Battles for the period 7th to 12th July 1941
Braslaw: 82 (9,996): 213 (18,885)
Makhrovka: 5 (9,996): 19 (8,997)
Peresyaslav Khmel’nyts’kyy: 1,392 (24,702): 528 (17,995)
Hlybokaye: 448 (51,974): 2,322 (45,239)
Zolotonosha: 539 (9,994): 212 (59,384)
Kremenchuk: 463 (19,995): 854 (43,017)
Zaslawye: 1,857 (11,995): 1,418 (116,204)
Yahotyn: 1,758 (39,986): 1,331 (24,502
Velikie Luki: 39 (9,919): 6 (28,201)
2nd Zaslawye: 159 (31,994): 300 (45,209)
Total Battle Casualties during the period 7th to 12th July 1941
German:
6,742
Russian:
7,203
Prior Battle Casualties
German: 195,145
Russian: 199,476
Total Battle Casualties to date
German: 6,742 + 195,145 =
201,887
Russian: 7,203 + 199,476 =
206,679
Madona: There have been wholesale changes in the defending units. 7 Tankovaya, 209 Motorizavannaya and 126 Strelkovaya have been withdrawn, and 161 Strelkovaya is now involved in the fighting at the river. 111 Strelkovaya is in reserve. (45% complete)
Daugavpils: 28.ID has arrived at the front andCurtze has encircled some of the defenders,while Haritonov has been joined by the shattered survivors of the battle of Svedesai: 55 “Kurskaya” and the garrison division 162 Strelkovaya. Neither of these units will be able to assist him in any way in the foreseeable future. (35% complete)
Ergli: Von Weichs now has 58.ID hitting the Russians on the flank, moving down the east bank of the Daugava. (68% complete)
Velikie Luki: No change (40% complete)
Slutsk: Von Salmuth is well on the way to victory, and only one Russian division remains to be thrown out of the province. (89% complete)
Minsk: Kreß von Kressenstein is managing our Hungarian allies well, but he will no doubt be glad that 75.ID is moving up from reserve. His opponent, General Parkhomenko, has already received assistance in the form of 198 Motorizavannaya (57% complete)
Zgurovka: Köstring now has three divisions attacking from three directions, as 35.ID joins in from Pereyaslav Khmel’nyts’kyy. As the general predicted, Bessarabskaya Kavaleriy collapsed and ran, but its place has been taken by 43 Strelkovaya. Nevertheless, our three units have launched a general assault and expect to win the battle shortly. (69% complete)
Sarny: No change (71% complete)
Polis’ke: Schack is making some progress, mainly due to the help of 108.ID (mot) from Makhrovka. He has also cut off some of the enemy. Thousands of Russian soldiers have been detected in the rear, and we have identified three new divisions at the front: 34 Srednevolzhslaya, 13 Tankovaya and 75 Strelkovaya. Trying to flee through the back roads are 61, 86, 101 and 316 Strelkovaya, 37 Kavaleriyskaya and 202 Motorizavannaya. In all more than 90,000 Soviet troops are in the area, most of them a disorganised starving rabble. (30% complete)
Chornabai: There has been a seamless transfer of command from General Veith to General von Lützow. Veith’s 112.ID (mot) has withdrawn and von Lützow’s 163.ID (mot) has taken its place. It has been joined by 136.ID (mot) and the arrival of 20,000 fresh troops has guaranteed success. Two enemy divisions have already been disposed off and the remaining three are faltering. (96% complete)
Bashtanka: 16 Tankovaya has evacuated Novo Odesa and is in reserve with 195 Strelkovaya. (44% complete)
Pyriatin: Gamarnik has seen his force halved, with both 118 and 307 Strelkovaya moving east. Even so, he is still in control of the battle as his armoured and motorised division hold off an assault by Geyr von Schweppenburg’s panzers. (20% complete)
Bombing Summary
Luftwaffe
Zaslawye: Grauert with 4th Kampffliegerkorps: 305 (305)
Zaslawye: Sperrle with 1st Kampffleigerkorps: 255, 270, 197 (722)
Daugavpils: Kitzinger with 3rd Kampffliegerkorps: 262 (262)
Kremenchuk: Udet with 3rd Schlachtfliegerkorps: 116, 241, 169, 92 (618)
Slutsk: Grauert with 4th Kampffliegerkorps: 277, 409, 219 (905)
Zgurovka: Müller-Michels with 5th Kampffliegerkorps: 293, 226, 257 (776)
VVS
Vodoskhovyshche: Zhigarev with 23rd and 46th ShAD: 48, 89, 108, 66, 86 (397)
Polatsk: Novikov with 1st and 9th ShAD: 92, 111, 63, 92, 43 (401)
Sigulda: Smushkevich with 25th and 77th ShAD: 94, 103, 54, 90, 94, 47, 74, 109 (665)
Total Bombing Casualties for the period 7th to 12th July 1941
German:
1,199
Russian:
3,588
Prior Bombing Casualties
German: 1,817
Russian: 133,667
Total Bombing Casualties to date
German: 1,199 + 1,817 =
3,016
Russian: 3,588 + 133,667 =
137,255
East Front as at midnight 12th July 1941
Total East Front Casualties for the period 7th to 12th July 1941
German: 6,742 + 1,199 =
7,941
Russian: 7,203 + 3,588 =
10,791
Prior East Front Casualties
German: 196,962
Russian: 333,143
Total East Front Casualties to date
German: 7,941 + 196,962 =
204,903
Russian: 10,791 + 333,143 =
343,934