Rank and File
A Clerk’s War
Sunday 13th to Thursday 17th July 1941 (
Part II)
By Wednesday the Luftwaffe had sorted out whatever problems had been affecting its performance, and the VVS was turned back harmlessly from both Cesis and Janów Poleski. If a lack of available aircraft has allowed the Russians open slather for the past few days then that lack has been overcome: at Janów Poleski Waber had nearly 900 fighters with which to tear into Golonov’s DB-3s.
Air Battle of Janów Poleski
On the ground, progress was slow. Even with substantial troop numbers already across the Daugava, von Manstein is still ordering his divisions to launch attacks on defenders on the other side. Presumably it is to pin the enemy in place and allow our bridgeheads to expand without interference. Erfurth has his nihgt attack on Marachkova well in hand, his two divisions evenly matched with the single defending unit. He has assured von Manstein he will gradually increase the pressure, sapping the ability of the Soviets to withstand the final assault.
No such problems for General Keppler. Working on information received, just before dawn he courageously flung his panzers into the swamps of Zhytkavichy. The information was accurate and Shirobokov had just one nearly defenceless division to protect four HQs. By 9AM the fighting was over, the Russians unable to hold even a temporary line of defence.
The rest of the day was calm, with no more enemy bombing raids and no more attacks from our forces. 3rd leichte Panzer won in Haradok, but the fighting was more intense than anticipated. Although Keppler’s men were unsupported, his opponents were reinforced with another division meaning that our troops were outnumbered nearly three to one. Nevertheless we have taken the province and a quick survey of the casualty lists did not detect my brother’s name. Von Weichs’ casualties in Jaunpiebalga were very low, a tribute to the effectiveness of 2nd schwere Panzer. Kesselring and the Baltic Army had expected this battle to take a few days, so it seems that the sight of nearly impregnable tanks heading their way had an impact on the defenders.
Another day, another village. A Pzkpfw 38(t) of Keppler’s 3rd leichte passes through an unnamed village in Haradok. The road is usable now, but this is summer.
Our allies sought to win some favour either late Wednesday or before daylight on Thursday (the confusion is due to the fact that OKW was not informed: it was only be chance we became aware of the battle). The Balkans Army was unable to put together a force capable of retaking Kyiv: General Guderian’s troops were either fully engaged or recuperating in the rear. Only 2nd Panzer Division was currently ready for combat, though 161.ID would be ready shortly. The Italian General Barbarsetti di Prun has sent 24a Divisione “Pinerolo” into Kyiv from Zhytomir and he has taken command of Dietrich’s panzers and is co-ordinating their simultaneous attack from Boryspil’. As soon as Cochenhausen has brought 161.ID to the front it too will join in the assault. If di Prun can move swiftly we may regain the city without heavy fighting as it is held by just weak motorised division. Speed is essential, however, as a fresh infantry division has been identified moving into the outer suburbs.
Battle of Kyiv
Soldiers of “Pinerolo” pose by a BT of 185 Motorizavannaya knocked out on the approach to Kyiv
Keppler has chalked up another cheap victory: the man has a charmed life. Once again he has caught a Russian division on the march, and routed it effortlessly. There is an obvious lack of up-to-fate information in Stavka regarding our operations as we have had numerous occasions where retreating units have walked straight into our advancing troops
2nd Battle of Zhytkavichy
After that brief flurry of excitement on the ground, it was up to the Luftwaffe to keep us occupied. Waver flew several missions over the VVSA base at Dorogobuz, eager to keep the Russian fighters as far from our bombers as possible. In this he was for the most part successful In the morning he clashed with General-Major Rog commanding six fighter regiments, and in the afternoon he and his men were involved in a running battle with Kutakhov and 39th, 47th and 54th IAD. (We believe Rog’s three units were too damaged to take part).
2nd Air Battle of Dorogobuz
It wasn’t all our way, as Verozheikin hit Wever’s 8th Kampffliegerkorps twice during the day, destroying several dozen aircraft. On his third visit he was not so lucky and the presence of hundreds of our interceptors soon stopped his efforts to halt our bombing.
The Russian bombers had one success, with von Sodenstern losing more than 100 men in Braslaw. As is now becoming noticeable, the Russian bombers immediately switched targets, but this time the tactic did not work. Over Janów Poleski Rychagov’s dive bombers were met by Fisser’s interceptors and that was the end of their bombing spree.
Air Battle of Janow Poleski
With all the aerial activity recently (and the vociferous complaints from important officers who had seen their troops getting bombes) it was with no surprise that I saw an approved order for upgrading the airfields at Minsk. We may have only just captured the city but the work gangs are already being recruited and loads of materials are on their way.
Minsk airfield took severe damage during the fighting for the city and must be repaired as well as expanded. As one can see, at the moment there is a marked lack of both enthusiasm and heavy equipment for repair work. Minister Bayerlein, however, will soon ensure there is plenty of both.
Even though Wever’s planes suffered from the VVS while carrying out their mission over Marona, the Russian pilots could not affect the outcome on the ground. A tough battle but Feige outlasted the Russians. I recollect that when this battle began nine days ago we thought that von Manstein had overreached himself asking two of his divisions to evict Baranov and 40,000 men dug in behind the Dauguva. Even though the Russians rotated fresh units into the fighting, 8 and 31.ID persisted and have been rewarded. Casualties were high (1,700 on each side) but it must have affected morale at Stavka to realise that 65,000 men were not enough to hold a river line against a determined attack.
The other victory was also hard fought and cost about 2,000 men on either side. Not far south of Marona Curtze finally triumphed over General Haritonov. Perhaps news of the loss of Marona affected the Russians, as they had held out for more than 10 days against 20 and 28.ID. The way to Kholm, Demjansk and Pskov is now open.
Finalised Battles for the period 13th to 17th July 1941
Sarny: 531 (29,994): 985 (36,975)
Minsk: 955 (27,994): 662 (25,951)
Chornabai: 2,630 (27,793): 2,301 (39,174)
Slutsk: 1,260 (27,993): 2,249 (52,523)
Rezekne: 258 (9,999): 37 (27,091)
Kamianka: 43 (19,978): 58 (8,995)
Pyriatin: 840 (9,628): 184 (45,384)
Mar’’ina Horta: 39 (9,780): 88 (17,107)
Zgurovka: 1,653 (38,351): 2,339 (68,918)
Zhytkavisky: 11 (10,000): 27 (16,940)
2nd Zhytkavisky: 5 (10,000): 6 (8,994)
Haradok: 571 (9,990): 459 (27,121)
Jaunpiebalga: 154 (31,997): 608 (39,117)
Madona: 1,789 (29,986): 1,713 (64,685)
Daugavpils: 2,044 (29,998): 1,937 (44,297)
Total Battle Casualties for the period 13th to 17th July
German:
12,783
Russian:
13,653
Prior Battle Casualties
German: 201,887
Russian: 206,679
Total Battle Casualties to date
German: 12,783 + 201,887 =
214,670
Russian: 13,653 + 206,679 =
220,332
Marachkova: No change, other than a small encirclement. (57% complete)
Dagda: 213 Motorizavannaya is no longer present, and Wünnenberg is showing his normal confidence of a quick victory over the remaining two infantry units. (83% complete)
Vitsyebsk: Stavka also realises the importance of the local airbases and has orderd 76 and 80 Strelkovaya to move from the reserve to the front. Barkhausen has responded by launching a major assault. (64% complete)
Zapadnaja Dvina: Defeat seems inevitable here. Although the Russian commander Aseichev has lost one of his reserve divisions (45 Volnyskaya) he has received two replacements. Frießner, on the other hand, is still trying single-handed to establish a toe-hold on the east bank of the Dauguva. (7% complete)
Velikie Luki: No change (45%)
Baryslaw: Having Minsk under control, 7th Panzer and 105.ID (mot) have joined the attack. Although the Soviets have withdrawn the disrupted 57 Ural’skaya and replaced the original commander with General Novoleski, they are barely hanging onto the area. 119 Strelkovaya and 7 Motorizavannaya are moving up from reserve, but it seems unlikely they will affect the outcome. (93% complete)
Pryluky: There is chaos in Pryluky as units are moved in and out of combat by the Red Army. 180 and 304 Strelkovaya alone have held their positions at the front, where they have been joined by 26 Zabajkaloskaya (from reserve). The other three reserve divisions have left, presumably determined to be too weak for combat. They have been replaced by 109 Motorizavannaya and 104, 106 and 224 Strelkovaya. Bader, however, has not altered his original plan, and now has the assistance of 34.ID from Bobrovytsya and 35.ID is nearly ready to also join the attack from Zgurovka. (50% complete)
Kyiv: No change (54% complete)
2nd Panzer moves cautiously back into Kyiv, every building a potential anti-tank position
Polis’ke: Unable to contribute any more, Schack and 106.ID have pulled back, leaving Völckers and 108.ID to keep the pressure on the retreating Russians. The four enemy divisions remaining at the front are also dead on their feet, but behind them are another four divisions in better condition. Will the Red Army continue the fight by rotating units or will it simply abandon the province (and the troops to the west)? (14% complete)
Obolon: The arrival of the “Bitburg” motorised division has not really altered the situation. The new Russian commander, Kurochkin, has three good divisions on the river (73 Har’lovskaya has been removed) and has added 9 Tankovaya and 103 Motorizavannaya to his reserves. (12% complete)
Bashtanka: 18 Tankovaya is about to collapse and 195 Strelkovaya has been called from reserve. 16 Tankovaya remains in the rear. We now have a pincer attack as 5th Gebirgsjäger is attacking from the north. (57% complete)
Svitlovods'k: 81 Motorizavannaya has fled but the remaing two divdions are standing up well. (20% complete)
Bombing Summary
Luftwaffe
Minsk: Hoffman von Waldau and 4th Schlachtfliegerkorps: 92, 214 (306)
Zgurovka: Müller-Michels with 5th Kampffliegerkorps: 291, 165, Nil, Nil, Nil (456)
Haradock: Grauert with 4th Kampffleigerkorps: 227, 306, 155, 244, 134, 179 (1,245)
Ergli: Wever with 8th Kampffleigerkorps: 191, 200 (391)
Madona: Wever with 8th Kampffliegerkorps: 208, 277 (485)
Vitsyebsk: Sperrle with 1st Kampffliegerkorps: 253, 343, 180 (776)
VVS
Braslaw: Rychagov with 1st and 2nd BAD: 124
Total Bombing Casualties for the period 13th to 17th July 1941
German:
124
Russian:
3,659
Prior Bombing Casualties
German: 3.016
Russian: 137,255
Total Bombing Casualties to date
German: 124 + 3,016 =
3,140
Russian: 3,659 + 137,255 =
140,914
East Front at end of 17th July 1941
Total East Front Casualties for the period 13th to 17th July 1941
German: 12,783 + 124 =
12,907
Russian: 13,653 + 3,659 =
17,312
Prior East Front Casualties
German: 204,903
Russian: 343,934
Total East Front Casualties
German: 12,907 + 204,903 =
217,810
Russian: 17,312 + 343,934 =
361,246