Doppelgänger: the Untold Story of the Third Reich
The start of the second year of Barbarossa. The first year has been difficult to say the least. It started with such hope, an expectation that our finely tuned and magnificently trained Wehrmacht would crush the Red Army as it had crushed the Poles and the French. It has ended in a bitter struggle against a determined and far more numerous enemy who shows no sign of weakening.
Can we change that situation, to again seize the initiative and start to roll up the Red Army?
As a first step, our researchers delivered some hope. Improvements in Brigade and Divisional headquarters organisation will lead to better tactical results and reduced time between attacks. Combined arms studies have developed new methods for armour co-operation, our latest officer recruitment plan will reduce the number of officers required. We started research into advanced artillery barrels and ammunition, better radar technology, and self sealing tanks for our aircraft. Several project teams were disbanded: we need more officers to replace the horrifying losses in the east.
On a more practical note, Liebstandarte SS “Adolf Hitler” has been upgraded (at vast expense) to a panzer division. It has been withdrawn from France and is already on its way east.
Defeats in
Ilyushino and
Malkowicze were predictable but still depressing. I was actually not too upset with
Malkowicze: for von Boroweitz to inflict heavy losses on the swamp defenders was a good performance. But Höhne’s brief foray into
Ilyushino was very bad for morale, though to be fair if he had not had to pull out he may have been able to destroy the enemy, despite their huge numbers. On the bright side, General Karl defeated the mechanised unit holding
Gatcina, though it cost him dearly. Every kilometre closer to
Leningrad is paid for with blood, but it is a price I am willing to pay.
I didn’t have a problem with Friessner’s attack into
Krychaw, his opposition amounting to less than 3,000 NKVD. Schulz’s move back into
Malkowicze however was close to driving me to distraction. What makes him think his motorised division will do any better than before? Moskalenko still has 45,000 men in the fens and marshes. I am in two minds about Auer taking two panzer divisions into
Welykyj Tokmak. He is outnumbered two to one, but most of the enemy are cavalry and many are close to exhaustion. It is a gamble, but one that may pay off.
Steel versus horseflesh: the battle of Welykyj Tokmak
Some good returns on investment are what we need, as results for Wednesday were, even to the most positive interpretation, mixed. A good win in
Hlusk, a decent win in
Malyn and a fairly brutal defeat in
Demidov. The Soviet counter-attacks look promising from our point of view. In neither
Makariv nor
Liezna has Stavka launched one of its feared mass assaults, and both Blümm and Strauss appear safe for now. Nevertheless, I will keep my thumbs pressed for them both.
Another massive defeat for the Romanians in
Targu Fromos was the last report from the east, but there was still plenty of action in France. A small SS Police unit (less than 2,000 men) came under attack in
Beauvais, while “Wotan” moved on the defenders of
Tours and General Lucht deployed two infantry divisions against the severely damaged 2e Division Légère in
Abbeville. (Both
Beauvais and
Abbeville were over quickly, with the French retreating in the former and surrendering in the latter).
A lot of events took place overnight, but international and local. A cable from Tokyo informed us that a combined IJA/IJN operation had captured Midway Island, while Mexico declared war on the Reich. (Apparently one of our submarines inadvertently sank a Mexican ship, the “Potero de Llano”. The commander, Reinhard Suhren, thought the flag painted on the side was Italian, and as no Italian tankers were in the area, proceeded to fire his torpedoes. He was unaware that only ships of the Mexican navy were permitted to display the eagle in the centre of the flag.)
The “Potero de Llano” burns fiercely after being torpedoed
Better news came from our ally, Italy. A whole army (the 8th) has been provided for us in the east. The troops are currently of low quality and lack anti-tank weaponry, but all additional men are welcome. Which is why the arrival of the “Azul” division from Spain has been greeted with enthusiasm. The Italians have been ordered to
Rusnitsa, where I hope we can rearrange them to cover some of their inadequacies. Their lack of notable leaders is a real problem. The Spanish are more combat ready and are destined for
Kiwerce. The other order that issued early was an addition to the objectives of the Leningrad Armee:
Leningrad itself is now on the list.
The total of eight divisions and four smaller units will make up for some of our losses. These continue to climb, with a small loss in
Staraya Toropa and a badly botched push into
Ilyushino.
Golynki was a disappointment, as we thought Grase had a fair chance of winning. Close to 9,000 men for very little.
The poor results had no impact on the Wehrmacht which was almost as enthusiastic on 1 July 1942 as it had been a year before. Fighting broke out in
Berezan, Boryspil, Borodjanka and
Nova Odesa. All are winnable and hopes are high. On the other side of the ledger, Semenovskiy’s attack on
Hlusk is, according to General Krüger, doomed to failure.
The enthusiasm continued after a win in
Krychaw and a loss in
Liezna, the two battles both over in just over a day. Von Obstfelder used the weak 16th divize on the even weaker 50th Motor Machine-gun Brigade in
Berezanka. Hoepner’s tanks charged into
Demidov and Nehring’s 2.PzD took on the job of uprooting 136,000 Russians from
Nelidovo.
I thought that was an acceptable start to the month. Although our losses were still far too high, the battles started appeared promising and the Luftwaffe was performing well. The first battle of the 3rd July (
Druzhnaya Gorka) also looked as though it would end well, and the Soviet response was limited to a tank attack on Großdeutschland Division in
Babruysk. They may be in a position to do more attacks soon, as von Kleist’s defeat in
Rahachow would free up nearly 125,000 men. That defeat was not alone, as once again our soldiers trudged out of
Malkowicze, leaving the swamps in Soviet control. Blümm’s victory over the NKVD in
Makariv made up for that at least.
Not that the NKVD were dismayed. To Blümm’s amazement, he came under attack by the NKVD again, even though he had three divisions in
Makariv. Nearly as hard to understand was the attack on
Fastiv: 10,000 men against Pfeffer’s 45,000. All I can say is that I hope the Soviet commanders keep up this squandering of their men’s lives.
In France the Wehrmacht is on the move again, led by Hoppe’s attack on
Ruffec. That should not take long, as 218.ID is twice the size of 12e Division d’Infanterie.
Coutras should not be much harder, even though Mayer-Buerdorff’s opponent has armour. (I was right about
Ruffec: it was over during the night).
Another battle for
Krychaw began, but it should not be any harder than the first, though Stavka has added a mechanised brigade. Böttcher faces an armoured assault in
Zaplyuse, but otherwise all was calm. Two battles ended towards the end of Friday, both wins for the Wehrmacht but each costing us more dead and missing than it did the enemy. Still, we did take
Kotovsk and
Borodjanka, and that means we are slowly pushing the Red Army back.
Saturday the Luftwaffe maintained its clear superiority, not only in support of our attacks but also in preventing the VVS from being anything more than an irritant. Over
Orsha, Kitzinger and Felmy virtually annihilated a Soviet air formation that attempted to reach the front line. There was a delivery of new interceptors, but these were destined for France, to boost the Reichsluftverteidigung. Losses in aircraft have been heavy, and I have convinced Reichsmarschall Göring that we should increase all jagdfliegerkorps in the west from 400 to 500 planes.
The VVS is outclassed and outnumbered: the eastern skies are ours
During the night it had been the Red Army’s turn to take the initiative, all three attacks being by Soviet forces. Two were in the far north, on
Gatcina and
Petrodvorets, the other far to the southeast in
Piatykhatky. Perhaps that indicates Stavka’s priorities. I hope it indicates the condition of the Red Army: none of the attacks comprised more than one division. The result of the battle of
Welykyj Tokmak would make all the battles a little harder for the enemy: the scale of the defeat has rattled the entire organisation. Auer’s panzers showed no mercy on enemy who outnumbered them three to one. With a casualty ratio of nearly thirty to one in our favour, it would go a long way to offsetting the imbalance of the past days.
There were only two battles on Saturday, though a lot of smaller engagements.
Golynki is not a likely victory for us, and
Kyiv is a predetermined defeat. That was not too encouraging, but the mere fact that six battles ended is a positive. Winning four of them was even better, and while we did lose more than the Russians, it was not too many.
Makariv saw the NKVD thrashed again, but
Cornesti was a nightmare for the Luftlande Division, unable to overcome the better armed Russians. 5th Tankovaya was no match for 19.PzD in
Kamianka but 2.PzD could not match the firepower that Batiuna could call on: by the end of that battle the Red Army had committed nearly 175,000 men against our solitary panzer division.
Berezenka was a little disappointing, as Obstfelder ran into some heavy fire before he could push the machine-gunners out. Finally
Fastiv: a close call in the end as Pfeffer found his men collapsing from fatigue, but our soldiers were just able to see off the huge force of remnants. (What possessed Pfeffer to chase them back into Kyiv nobody knows).
Firing from a protected position, the Maxim is deadly against infantry when operated by committed solders
Good news on Tuesday, as the wealth of experience we have acquired in air battles finally pays off. Our veteran air force has led to a boost in both organisation and the rate we regain it, as well as an increase in both the number of leaders identified and the number destined for the officer corps. Add to that new radar stations at
Schweinfurt, Saarbrücken and
Leipzig, a new Messerschmitt geschwader and a new U-boat flotte and the day was off to a good start. There were no new orders placed, as repair and reinforcement is a huge drain on the economy.
Von Prittwitz und Gaffron had to fight again to demonstrate that the Soviets were no longer welcome in
Borodjanka. Even with two infantry divisions he will find the massive 3rd Guards Motorised Division a challenge. He will probably find it easier than Warlimont’s expedition into
Lelchtsy. I have a real aversion to these adventures into the Soviet swamps.
No less than six battles ended overnight, but once again our casualties were far too high, even though we won half the battles.
Kyiv, Hlusk and
Golynki were all defeats, and though we won
Druzhnaya Gorka it was with more than 5,000 dead. Only
Gatcina and
Petrodvorets could be celebrated as victories. Still, as our more strategic colleagues pointed out, all the success was in the north, near Leningrad. That was the most important thing. Some of the blame for the losses could be planted at the feet of the anonymous order that sent half the Rostov Armee west at a critical moment. That allowed the Red Army a breathing space when it was reeling from our offensive. Could we have a communist infiltrator in the higher echelons of the Heer?
The morning was deadly quiet, the silence only broken by the occasional delivery of Luftwaffe bombing estimates. Not until 1PM was there word of progress on the ground, and the news that Hoernlein and the “Großdeutschland” ID had been mauled in
Babruysk could have waited.
The afternoon, however, we did show some aggression though I wish Weyer had shown some restraint (sense?) and not attacked two mechanised brigades in
Tosno. One jäger division is not enough for that task. The two Soviet attacks (
Liezna and
Dubrouna) were just as incomprehensible, so maybe our losses in
Tosno will be matched by their’s. The one attack in France was far better planned. 218.ID will make short work of the Maginot Line headquarters in
Ruffec. For a dismal day, the last bit of news was particularly welcome: 3rd Guards were on the run from
Borodjanka, leaving thousands of their comrades behind.
Day 6 of the second year of Barbarossa was one of the most hectic and bloody days of the war. 10 battles began, as well as 6 smaller clashes. 5 battles were completed, including the most expensive victory the Wehrmacht has ever had to endure. 18 Luftwaffe missions and 5 VVS missions. 24 hours packed with activity.
Just after midnight Böttcher admitted defeat in
Zaplyuse, though he and 73.ID were not disgraced, putting up a good fight. Hopefully Auer’s midnight attack on
Zaporizhzhaya will balance that: his two panzer divisions backed by a motorised division make a potent strike force that Mishulin will be hard pressed to resist.
Auer strikes again, but this time the terrain and his opponents are a bit tougher
Yet another geschwader of interceptors headed east, further strengthening the defence of the Reich’s major production centres. 303.ID was announced ready for action, and is one its way east as I write this in my diary. The factory space freed up has been set aside for equipment for another mechanised division. It will be a long time until it is ready, but we must accept the fact that it is unlikely we will completely destroy the Soviet Union this year.
It looks as though the Vichy government might fall by the end of the month, however, or at least that all French forces on mainland Europe might be eliminated.
Ruffec is now ours, and von Hadeln is again fighting in
Marmande, this time using two infantry divisions.
Apart from Haenicke’s hopeless attack on the huge force in
Nelidovo, all early fighting was the result of Soviet troops’ attempts to regain captured provinces.
Drizhnaya Gorka, Kotovsk and
Parycy are all multiple formation assaults on single units and all look as though they will succeed. That coincided with Rittau’s defeat in
Berezan, a five day battle that had started well but deteriorated quickly. That was nothing, however, to the news of our victory in
Kremenchuk. After a fortnight, we are across the Dniepr, but at such cost! More than 22,000 soldiers lost as we sent wave after wave of men in their fragile storm boats into the maelstrom of bullets and blasts that the river had become. It is a tribute to the courage of our men that they overcame the more than 100,000 defenders who held the opposite bank, but we cannot afford to pay this price. The local commanders had better not lose this province for which we paid so much.
A shattered and burning bridge in the background, storm boats head towards the Russian held shore. Most do not make it.
Then the counter-attacks. Von Obstfelder found the Red Army had not yet ceded possession of
Berezenka and was prepared to fight again, and von Vaerst was just as prepared to dispute the ownership of
Berezan: and he had two panzer divisions to back him up. We recaptured the air base at
Novo Odesa, but again losses were far higher than those of the defenders. (It was not as bad as at first glance: the battle had begun as a Hungarian operation and 12.ID had joined to deliver the coup de grace.) To end the day, twin panzer attacks on
Ivankov and
Akciabrski hint at a rejuvenation of both Panzerarmee Hoth and von Manstein.
We will need something like that: the week’s death toll has risen above 100,000 again, while Soviet losses are far lower. Although we are advancing, we are bleeding with every step. The only bright spot was the performance of the Luftwaffe: it continues to dominate and provide the support the Heer so badly needs.
Finalised Battles for Barbarossa Days 366 to 362 (July 1 to 6, 1942)
Location (Armee)
| Result
| German losses (engaged)
| Soviet losses (engaged)
|
| | | |
Malkowicze (PAH)
| Defeat
| 5,428 (41,770)
| 3,352 (47,956)
|
Ilyushino (MA)
| Defeat
| 3,678 (23,992)
| 402 (132,030)
|
Gatcina (LA)
| Victory
| 2,511 (22,778)
| 831 (22,982)
|
Hlusk (PAH)
| Victory
| 1,419 (22,430)
| 1,867 (39,961)
|
Demidov (MA)
| Defeat
| 3,596 (13,917)
| 1,063 (113,855)
|
Malyn (AotP)
| Victory
| 939 (43,377)
| 749 (64,106)
|
Staraya Toropa (MA)
| Defeat
| 870 (80,127)
| 1,310 (84,322)
|
Golynki (PAH)
| Defeat
| 4,039 (21,289)
| 1,577 (43,397)
|
Krychaw (MA)
| Victory
| 115 (21,110)
| 829 (2,949)
|
Liezna (MA)
| Defeat
| 2,373 (66,403)
| 1,005 (28,542)
|
Rahachow (PAH)
| Defeat
| 3,439 (25,704)
| 983 (124,812)
|
Makariv (RA)
| Victory
| 360 (48,793)
| 2,835 (14,842)
|
2nd Malkowicze (PAH)
| Defeat
| 2,540 (19,772)
| 187 (44,590)
|
Kotovsk (AotC)
| Victory
| 5,073 (28,572)
| 4,108 (31,883)
|
Borodjanka (AotP)
| Victory
| 2,511 (23,465)
| 1,035 (22,698)
|
Welykyj Tokmak (PAvM)
| Victory
| 306 (36,819)
| 8,784 (103,051)
|
2nd Makariv (RA)
| Victory
| 52 (50,521)
| 1,257 (2,587)
|
Cornesti (AotC)
| Defeat
| 5,195 (9,895)
| 1,082 (44,665)
|
Kamianka (PAvM)
| Victory
| 416 (17,459)
| 3,222 (8,463)
|
Nelidovo (PAH)
| Defeat
| 3,848 (17,733)
| 805 (174,461)
|
Berezanka (RA)
| Victory
| 613 (9,992)
| 505 (9,989)
|
Fastiv (RA)
| Victory
| 1,091 (44,456)
| 1,144 (9,855)
|
Kyiv (RA)
| Defeat
| 692 (53,077)
| 21 (20,756)
|
Druzhnaya Gorka (LA)
| Victory
| 5,312 (87,953)
| 1,831 (37,413)
|
Petrodvorets (LA)
| Victory
| 287 (14,892)
| 1,198 (8,354)
|
2nd Golynki (PAH)
| Defeat
| 4,648 (19,272)
| 716 (107,929)
|
2nd Gatcina (LA)
| Victory
| 205 (27,939)
| 2,893 (14,671)
|
2nd Hlusk (PAH)
| Defeat
| 3,510 (42,381)
| 1,913 (60,452)
|
Babruysk (PAH)
| Defeat
| 4,126 (25,283)
| 137 (11,283)
|
2nd Borodjanka (RA)
| Victory
| 421 (83,202)
| 2,263 (31,969)
|
Berezan (PAvM)
| Defeat
| 7,687 (39,729)
| 854 (47,150)
|
Kremenchuk (RA)
| Victory
| 22,798 (106,774)
| 6,177 (106,835)
|
Novo Odesa (RA)
| Victory
| 7,692 (64,310) [1,650]]
| 2,191 (11,288
|
| | | |
Total
| 18/15
| 101,748
| 59,126
|
Probe
Ilyushino (MA)
| German
| Defeat
| 4,095
| 160
|
Deniskowicze x 2 (PAH)
| German
| Defeat
| 1, 8 (9)
| Nil, Nil
|
Parfino x 3 (MA)
| German
| Defeat
| 247, 317, 139 (703)
| 2, 11, 9 (22)
|
Zhubrovycvhi (AotP)
| German
| Victory
| 186
| 544
|
Gatcina (LA)
| Soviet
| Defeat
| 7
| 40
|
Krychaw (MA)
| Soviet
| Defeat
| Nil
| 262
|
Novgorod x 4 (LA)
| German
| Defeat
| 84, 224, 115, 169 (592)
| 1, 9, 6, 8 (24)
|
Tesovo (MA)
| German
| Defeat
| 4
| Nil
|
Petrodvorets (LA)
| Soviet
| Defeat
| 15
| 23
|
Parycy (PAH)
| Soviet
| Defeat
| 18
| 155
|
Kyiv x 2 (AotP)
| German
| Defeat
| 514, 117 (631)
| 4, 1
|
Kaniv (PAvM)
| Soviet
| Defeat
| 1
| 4
|
Leningrad x 3 (LA)
| German
| Defeat
| 186, 528, 500 (1,214)
| Nil, 7, 8 (15)
|
Liezna (PAH)
| Soviet
| Defeat
| 291
| 72
|
Marevo x 2 (MA)
| German
| Defeat
| 373, 326 (699)
| 30, 12 (42)
|
Kholm (LA)
| Soviet
| Defeat
| Nil
| 586
|
Golynki (PAH)
| German
| Defeat
| 158
| 141
|
Babruysk (PAH)
| German
| Victory
| 19
| 34
|
Borodjanka (RA)
| Soviet
| Defeat
| 3
| 28
|
| | | | |
Total
| | | 8,645
| 2,157
|
Bombing summary for Barbarossa Days 366 to 362 (July 1 to 6, 1942)
Luftwaffe
Location (Armee)
| Commander
| Air unit(s)
| Casualties
|
| | | |
Kotovsk (RA)
| Grauert
| IX Kfk
| 86, 137, 129, 55 (407)
|
Ilyushino (MA)
| Schweickhardt
| VI Kfk
| 129, 233, 222, 94 (678)
|
Andreapol (MA)
| Wever
| II Kfk
| 127, 241, 252 (620)
|
| Lörzer
| III Kfk
| 159, 163, 108 (430)
|
| Schweickhardt
| VI Kfk
| 139, 181, 148, 178, 164, 87, 185, 168, 80 (1,330)
|
Nelidovo (MA)
| Kühl
| C.S.I.R.
| 66, 84 (150)
|
| Wever
| II Kfk
| 158, 178, 76 (412)
|
Krasnyy (PAH)
| Pflugbeil
| Escadrilla Azul
| 56, 58, 37, 11 (162)
|
Kremenchuk (RA)
| Dessloch
| IV Kfk
| 201, 232, 182, 133 (748)
|
| Kesselring
| II Skfk
| 139
|
Kyiv (AotP + RA)
| Korten and Keller
| VII + VIII Kfk
| 247, 237, 81 (565)
|
Kyiv (RA)
| Dessloch
| IV Kfk
| 245, 155, 119 (519)
|
Akciabrski (MA)
| Kühl
| C.S.I.R.
| 53, 35 (88)
|
Berezan (RA)
| Dessloch + Keller
| IV + VIII Kfk
| 198, 278 (476)
|
| Keller
| VIII Kfk
| 127, 155, 142, 156 (580)
|
| Sperrle
| I Kfk
| 163, 205, 103 (471)
|
Leningrad (MA)
| Fröhlich
| II Kfk
| 168, 160 (328)
|
Borodjanka (AotP)
| Korten
| VII Kfk
| 171, 172, 40 (383)
|
Novgorod (MA)
| Lörzer
| III Kfk
| 173, 180, 49 (402)
|
| Wever + Lörzer
| II + III Kfk
| 258, 235, 199 (692)
|
Druzhnaya Gorka (MA)
| Kühl
| C.S.I.R.
| 71, 39 (110)
|
Boryspil (RA)
| Lörzer
| III Kfk
| 159, 46 (205)
|
| Dessloch
| IV Kfk
| 149, 70, 142 (361)
|
Marevo (MA)
| Lörzer
| III Kfk
| 217, 211, 94, 190, 188, 73 (973)
|
Lelchytsy (AotP)
| Korten
| VII Kfk
| 147, 192, 54 (393)
|
Dniprodzerzhynsk (RA)
| von Richthofen
| V Kfk
| 146, 146 (292)
|
| | | |
Total
| | | 11,914
|
VVS
Svitlovodsk
| Bogolyubov
| 214, 215 ShAD (2 x CAS)
| 19 (Mensching)
|
Melitopol
| Zhavaronkov
| 212, 123 ShAD (2 x CAS)
| 18
|
Velizh
| Volkov
| 1,72 ShAD (2 x CAS)
| Abort (Felmy)
|
| Mironov
| 128, 137 ShAD (2 x CAS)
| 26 (Felmy)
|
Orsha
| Yermolayev
| 207 IAD, 1, 2 BAD (MRF, 2 x TAC)
| Abort (Kitzinger, Felmy)
|
| Korovin
| 125, 172 ShAD (2 x CAS)
| Abort (Felmy)
|
Liezna
| Vershinin
| 9 TAC, 28 ShAD (TAC, CAS)
| Abort (Klepke)
|
Nikopol
| Zhavaronkov
| 212, 213 ShAD (2 x CAS)
| 26, 32, 15 (73)
|
| | | |
Total
| | | 136
|
Unternehmen Barbarossa: Days 366 to 371 (1 – 6 July 1942)
Nationality
| Ground Losses
| Bombing Losses
| Total
|
| | | |
German
| 101,748 + 8,645 = 110,393
| 136
| 110,529
|
Soviet
| 59,126 + 2,157 = 61,283
| 11,914
| 73,197
|
Unternehmen Gegenreaktion
Finalised Battles
Abbeville
| Victory
| Nil (41,959)
| 117 (9,959)
|
Beauvais
| Victory
| 24 (1,993)
| Nil (9,959)
|
Ruffec
| Victory
| 112 (20,393)
| 303 (10,986)
|
2nd Ruffec
| Victory
| 2 (20,274)
| 130 (1,256)
|
| | | |
Total
| | 138
| 580
|
Probe
Argentan sur Creuse
| German
| Victory
| 54
| 245
|
Marmande
| German
| Victory
| 25
| Nil
|
Luftwaffe
Argenten sur Creuse
| Deichmann
| V Skfk
| 76
|
Ongoing Battles
Coutras (Forest) 11.5 degrees
Meyer-Buerdorff (Asault): 30.ID
Debeney (Defend): 43ème Division Cuirrassée
The French armour are proving to be a real obstacle
Marmande (Forest): 11.4 degrees
von Hadeln (Shock): 71, 72.ID
Unknown (Delay) (nullified): 13e Corps d’Armée headquarters
Not a fair fight and will be over soon
Tours (Forest): 11.8 degrees
Gille (Attack): 51st SS Freiwilligen ID “Wotan”
Audet (Defend): 1re Division d’Infanterie
The city will soon be ours.
Unternehmen Gegenreaktion: Ongoing Casualties
| Current
| Prior
| Total
|
| | | |
German Ground Losses
| 138 + 54 = 192
| 52,668
| 52,960
|
German Bombing Losses
| Nil
| 227
| 227
|
German Total Losses
| 192
| 52,895
| 53,087
|
| | | |
French Ground Losses
| 580 + 245 = 825
| 166,048
| 166,873
|
French Bombing Losses
| 76
| 19,706
| 19,782
|
French Total Losses
| 901
| 185,754
| 186,655
|
Barbarossa at midnight 6th July 1942: ongoing battles
Leningrad Armee (Paulus)
Objectives: Kohlta Järve, Simsk, Petrodvorets
Victories: Gatcina x 2, Druzhnaya Gorka, Petrodvorets
Defeats: Nil
Druzhnaya Gorka (Woods): 7.3 degrees
Kirponos (Shock): 34th Tankovaya, 1st Guards Rifle Diviziya, 11th Mechanised Brigade
Cantzler (Masterful Delay): 28th Jäger Division, 3rd Divisioona, 6.ID
It will take more than this weak Soviet attack to shift Cantzler
Tesno (Forest):
Weyer (Attack): 5th Jäger Division
Zhirov (Defend): 21st Mechanised Brigade, Red Army remnants RES: 9th Mechanised Brigade
Weyer will need reinforcements soon if he is to have any chance of success
Moskva Armee (List)
Objectives: Kholm, Demjansk
Victories: Krychaw
Defeats: Ilyushino, Demidov, Staraye Toropa, Liezna
Krychaw (Plains): 7.3 degrees
Friessner (Attack): 45.ID
Gorelov (Defend): 50th Tankovaya Diviziya RES: 22nd Tankovaya Diviziya
No winner can be determined as yet
Nelidovo (Forest): 7.5 degrees
Haenicke (Shock): 4th Ostmark Division
Batiuna (Delay) (nullified): 2 x Red Army remnants, Proletarian Division, 12th “Kuban” Kavaleriy Diviziya, 3rd Infantry (semi-motorised) Division RES: 31st Tankovaya Diviziya
A pointless exercise that will only lead to more casualties, even though the Russians are close to exhaustion
Dubrouna (Plains): 7.2 degrees
Anisimov (Shock): Red Army remnants
Bohnstedt (Delay) (nullified): 52nd Motorised Division “Torino” RES: 20.ID (mot)
The Italians are fighting hard to cover the retreat of 20.ID (mot), but there are 30,000 enemy pressing hard and “Torino” is close to breaking.
Panzerarmee Hoth (Hoth)
Objectives: Vitsyebsk, Smolensk, Krasnyy
Victories: Hlusk
Defeats: Malkowicze x 2, Golynki x 2, Rahachow, Nelidovo, 2nd Hlusk, Babruysk
Liezna (Plains): 7.5 degrees
Leselidze (Shock) (nullified): 11th Strelkovaya Division
Von Knobelsdorff (Ambush): 18.ID (mot), 23.ID
We are in control of the situation
Andreapol (Forest): 7.5 degrees
Brandenberger (Reckless Assault): 16.PzD
Shubin (Defend): 17th Gorno-Kavelriy Diviziya
This battle appears to be a race between our losses and Russian lack of organisation. (30/6)
Having seen the entire starting line-up retreat, only the newly arrived mountain cavalry can rob Brandenburger of victory
Krasnyy (Plains): 7.3 degrees
Jodl (Attack): 85.ID (mot)
Trofimenko (Defend): 25th Kavaleriy Diviziya
Our infantry are effortlessly rolling forward
Parycy (Plains): 7.3 degrees
Fedorov (Breakthrough): 25th, 48th Tankovaya, 6th “Orlovskaya”, 55th “Kursk” Rifle Diviziya, NKVD detachments
Rendulic (Counter-attack): 29.ID (mot)
Rendulic is doing well to hold off this heavy attack, but he cannot last forever
Akciabrski (Plains): 7.3 degrees
Veiel (Attack): 1.PzD
Semenovskiy (Ambush): 60th “Causcasian”, 44th “Kiev” Rifle Diviziya
The Russian infantry have just about had enough
Demidov (Plains): 7.5 degrees
Hoepner (Shock): 3.PzD
Sokolov (Defend): 82nd, 84th Tankovaya Diviziya
The Soviet armour is starting to pull back
Armee of the Pripyat (Dollman)
Objectives: Borodjanka, Malyn, Korosten, Zhytomyr, Volodarsk Volynski
Victories: Malyn, Borodjanka
Defeat: Nil
Lelchtsy (Marsh): 7.3 degrees
Warlimont (Attack): 17, 211, 278.ID
Medvedev (Defend): Opolcheniye, 23rd “Kharkov” Rifle Diviziya
Although Warlimont has done well, it will be the terrain that defeats him
Rostov Armee (Henrici)
Objectives: Kherson, Mikolaiv, Chaplynka, Snihurivak
Victories: Makariv x 2, Berezanka, Fastiv, 2nd Borodjanka, Kremenchuk, Nova Odesa
Defeat: Kyiv
Berezanka (Plains): 6.0 degrees
Von Obstfelder (Assault): 16th divize
Batov (Delay): 50th Motorised Machine-gun Brigade
After a week of heavy fighting the machine gunners cannot last for long
Panzerarmee von Manstein (von Manstein)
Objective: Kirovgrad, Svitlovodosk, Novo Ukrainka
Victories: Welykyj Tokmak, Kamianka
Defeats: Berezan
Boryspil (Plains):
Völckers (Attack): 60.ID (mot)
Yegorov (Defend): 46th Tankovaya, 9th “Crimean” Kavaleriy Diviziya
The Dniepr is proving an obstacle, but Völckers is full of hope
Zaporizhzhya (Urban): 7.0 degrees
Auer (Attack): 10, 18.PzD, 10.ID (mot)
Mishulin (Defend): 46th Tankovaya, 82nd Motorizavannaya Diviziya, 134th Mechanised Brigade, Red Army remnants
Auer is finding the city fighting much harder than he anticipated: the Russians are getting a lot of assistance in the built-up areas.
Berezan (Plains): 7.3 degrees
Von Vaerst (Attack): 6, 11.PzD
Galkin (Defend): 31st, 42nd Tankovaya Diviziya, 16th Mechanised Brigade
Two panzer divisions take a lot of stopping, and Galkin has not been able to do it
Piatykhatky (Plains): 7.4 degrees
Afrosimov (Attack): 17th “Nizhniy-Novgorod” Rifle Diviziya
Stumme (Defend): 5.PzD
Stumme and his men have nothing to worry about from one rifle division
Ivankov (Plains): 7.2 degrees
Kirchner (Attack): 4.PzD
Shubin (Defend): 80th Border Guard Brigade, NKVD detachments
The Soviets are starting to feel the strain
Army of the Crimea (von Falkenhorst)
Objectives: Cahul, Romanesti
Victories: Kotovsk
Defeats: Cornesti
Kotovsk (Plains): 7.2 degrees
Degtaryev (Attack): 2nd Heavy Tank Brigade, 2nd Tuvanska Strelkovaya, 59th Tankovaya RES: 22nd „Krasnodar“ Rifle Diviziya
Brennecke (Defend): Notfallgruppe
Unternehmen Barbarossa: Ongoing Casualties
| Current
| Prior
| Total
|
| | | |
German Ground Losses
| 110,393
| 2,723,846
| 2,834,239
|
German Bombing Losses
| 136
| 5,834
| 5,970
|
German Total Losses
| 110,529
| 2,729,680
| 2,840,209
|
| | | |
Soviet Ground Losses
| 61,283
| 3,154,281
| 3,215,564
|
Soviet Bombing Losses
| 11,914
| 376,783
| 388,697
|
Soviet Total Losses
| 73,197
| 3,531,064
| 3,604,261
|
War at Sea
| | Current
| Prior
| Total
|
| | | | |
U-boat losses
| | Nil
| 12
| 12
|
| | | | |
Convoys
| German
| 1
| 28
| 29
|
| | | | |
| British
| 3
| 364
| 367
|
| French
| Nil
| 25
| 25
|
| Canadian
| 1
| 28
| 29
|
| South African
| Nil
| 7
| 7
|
| New Zealand
| 2
| 52
| 54
|
| Australian
| Nil
| 32
| 32
|
| Belgian
| Nil
| 5
| 5
|
| Norwegian
| Nil
| 37
| 37
|
| Greek
| Nil
| 17
| 17
|
| Soviet
| Nil
| 10
| 10
|
| | | | |
Total
| Allied Convoy Losses
| 6
| 577
| 583
|
Escorts
| German
| Nil
| 11
| 11
|
| | | | |
| British
| 4
| 258
| 262
|
| Canadian
| Nil
| 28
| 28
|
| French
| Nil
| 12
| 12
|
| New Zealand
| Nil
| 20
| 20
|
| Australian
| Nil
| 44
| 44
|
| Belgian
| Nil
| 9
| 9
|
| Norwegian
| Nil
| 9
| 9
|
| South African
| Nil
| 22
| 22
|
| Greek
| Nil
| 6
| 6
|
| Soviet
| Nil
| 7
| 7
|
| | | | |
Total
| Allied Escort Losses
| 4
| 415
| 419
|
Destroyers
| German
| Nil
| 1
| 1
|
| Norwegian
| Nil
| 2
| 2
|
| Soviet
| Nil
| 16
| 16
|
|
|
|
|
|
Torpedo Boats
| German
| Nil
| 2
| 2
|
| Norwegian
| Nil
| 2
| 2
|
| Russian
| Nil
| 1
| 1
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coastal BB
| Norwegian
| Nil
| 2
| 2
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aux Vessels
| German
| Nil
| 2
| 2
|
| Soviet
| Nil
| 4
| 4
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subs
| Norwegian
| Nil
| 1
| 1
|
| Russian
| Nil
| 4
| 4
|
