Out of: "The Third Revolution"
Taking a rest before the decisive strike
Although the soviet troops had been able to cut off the stalinist forces in the Caucasus by the end of July things were far from over. They had trapped roughtly 850.000 men but the planned advance of the Tank Army South into the Caucasus to link up with the pro-Temanov partisans had failed and the front was very streched.
The front and deployment of forces on 1. August 1935
The Don Front with it's 150.000 men had to hold a 700 km. front against 500.000 enemies. The only positive aspect was that these 500.000 men had to also deal with the pro Temanov partisans in the south on a front that was 1.000 km. long.
The Saratov and Astrachan Front togehter had 260.000 men. Their task was probably the most important. They had to hold a 800 km. long frontier against a enemy 350.000 men strong who would probably try to break through and relief the other forces.
Along the besiedged city of Stalingrad ran a 1.000 km. long front. Over 200.000 men of the Union were massed here to attack the 250.000 stalinists trapped in it.
The Soviet High Command was faced with four major tasks:
I.To hold the Don Front with the limited ressources available.
II.To stop the stalinists from overruning the rebels in the south and exspecially hold the important town of Baku.
III. To fight off stalinist attacks on the Astrachan Front with the aim of relieving Stalingrad.
IV. To make a sucessfull attack on Stalingrad to eliminate the stalinist forces there and free troops for an offensive against the stalinist forces in the Caucasus.
As consquence of these demands Temanov issued his first general order of the war "War Directive No.1: The War in the Caucasus":
War Directive No.1: The War in the Caucasus
From: Nicolaij Temanov, High Commander of all Soviet Forces
To: The Commanders of the Stalingrad, Saratov, Astrakahn, Don and newly formed Georgian Front
The enemies position has been deceisivly weakend by operation "Soviet Sledgehammer". If he can be stopped from escaping out of his current position victory is secure. The forces of the Saratov, Astrakahn and Don Front are therefore to dig in and withstand enemy assault at all cost! I therfore issue the following depoyment orders:
Artillerie and Tanks
I. All Fronts, except for the Stalingrad Front *, are to transfer 50% of their artillerie to the Don Front.
II. The Don and Stalingrad Front are to send their tank deployments to the Astrakahn and Saratov Front. They will be used as mobile reserve to close any gape that an enemy offensive might open.
Offensive Planning:
Stalingrad
The army is to assemble a crack force at the Stalingrad Front ready to start an attack on Stalingrad by the beginning of September. The City must be taken within two months before winter sets in. The city has a great strategic and moral importance. Upon it's conquest depends wether any large scale offensive can be launced to destroy the remaining stalinist forces in the Caucasus.
To reinforce our gallant supporters in the southern Caucasus imidieate action must be taken. STAVKA** has assembled 6 regular infantry divisions *** for action in this theatre in Sevastopol. They will be transported by the Navy to the Harbour of Suchumi. A part of the fleets sailors will form navy infantry brigades to further strentgthen the defense. The Navy will also stay in readiness to evacuate all forces loyal to the Union if the situation should prove unberable. Nevertheless the soldiers are to protect the important city of Baku with all possible means. If Baku falls the stalinists will have acess to considerable resources and could possibly hold out in isolation from other stalinist forces.
Therefore I give a further strategic order:
NO PROVISIONS ARE TO BE LEFT TO THE ENEMY! IF FORCES HAVE TO RETREAT THEIR COMMANDING OFFICERS CARRY RESPONSIBILITY THAT NOTHING IS LEFT TO THE ENEMY BUT BURNED SOIL! HOWEVER FAILS TO OBEY THESE ORDERS WILL BE COURT MARSHALLED AS TRAITOR!
Nicolaj Temanov
Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the USSR
The first of these orders to be carried out was the transfer of soviet forces to the souther caucasus. On the 8. August the Soviet Black Sea Fleet set sail for Suchumi.
The first world war veteran battelship "Marat", flagship of the blackseafleet, sets sail as part of the convoy to Suchumi on the 8. August.
By the 18. all units had disembarked and most of the army units made their way towards Baku which was under heavy attack by stalinist forces. The marine brigades meanwhile fortified the city of Suchumi to keep open a route of escape.
A unit of marine infantry in Suchumi. Although they lacked army training and professional officers the sailors had the reputation of beeing hardy soldiers and served with distinction throughout the campaign.
Through these quick reinforcements the situation in the southern Caucasus could be stabilized. The decisive battles however would be fought in Stalingrad and in the plains of Astrachan.
*Fronts = sov. Army Groups
**Stavka = Soviet Supreme HQ
*** A infantry division at this point of conflict in 1935 probably contained some 16.000 men. 6 Divsions therefore had up to 96.000 men. The Marine Infantry probably amounted to 500-1.000 men.
Taking a rest before the decisive strike
Although the soviet troops had been able to cut off the stalinist forces in the Caucasus by the end of July things were far from over. They had trapped roughtly 850.000 men but the planned advance of the Tank Army South into the Caucasus to link up with the pro-Temanov partisans had failed and the front was very streched.
The front and deployment of forces on 1. August 1935
The Don Front with it's 150.000 men had to hold a 700 km. front against 500.000 enemies. The only positive aspect was that these 500.000 men had to also deal with the pro Temanov partisans in the south on a front that was 1.000 km. long.
The Saratov and Astrachan Front togehter had 260.000 men. Their task was probably the most important. They had to hold a 800 km. long frontier against a enemy 350.000 men strong who would probably try to break through and relief the other forces.
Along the besiedged city of Stalingrad ran a 1.000 km. long front. Over 200.000 men of the Union were massed here to attack the 250.000 stalinists trapped in it.
The Soviet High Command was faced with four major tasks:
I.To hold the Don Front with the limited ressources available.
II.To stop the stalinists from overruning the rebels in the south and exspecially hold the important town of Baku.
III. To fight off stalinist attacks on the Astrachan Front with the aim of relieving Stalingrad.
IV. To make a sucessfull attack on Stalingrad to eliminate the stalinist forces there and free troops for an offensive against the stalinist forces in the Caucasus.
As consquence of these demands Temanov issued his first general order of the war "War Directive No.1: The War in the Caucasus":
War Directive No.1: The War in the Caucasus
From: Nicolaij Temanov, High Commander of all Soviet Forces
To: The Commanders of the Stalingrad, Saratov, Astrakahn, Don and newly formed Georgian Front
The enemies position has been deceisivly weakend by operation "Soviet Sledgehammer". If he can be stopped from escaping out of his current position victory is secure. The forces of the Saratov, Astrakahn and Don Front are therefore to dig in and withstand enemy assault at all cost! I therfore issue the following depoyment orders:
Artillerie and Tanks
I. All Fronts, except for the Stalingrad Front *, are to transfer 50% of their artillerie to the Don Front.
II. The Don and Stalingrad Front are to send their tank deployments to the Astrakahn and Saratov Front. They will be used as mobile reserve to close any gape that an enemy offensive might open.
Offensive Planning:
Stalingrad
The army is to assemble a crack force at the Stalingrad Front ready to start an attack on Stalingrad by the beginning of September. The City must be taken within two months before winter sets in. The city has a great strategic and moral importance. Upon it's conquest depends wether any large scale offensive can be launced to destroy the remaining stalinist forces in the Caucasus.
Georgia
To reinforce our gallant supporters in the southern Caucasus imidieate action must be taken. STAVKA** has assembled 6 regular infantry divisions *** for action in this theatre in Sevastopol. They will be transported by the Navy to the Harbour of Suchumi. A part of the fleets sailors will form navy infantry brigades to further strentgthen the defense. The Navy will also stay in readiness to evacuate all forces loyal to the Union if the situation should prove unberable. Nevertheless the soldiers are to protect the important city of Baku with all possible means. If Baku falls the stalinists will have acess to considerable resources and could possibly hold out in isolation from other stalinist forces.
Therefore I give a further strategic order:
NO PROVISIONS ARE TO BE LEFT TO THE ENEMY! IF FORCES HAVE TO RETREAT THEIR COMMANDING OFFICERS CARRY RESPONSIBILITY THAT NOTHING IS LEFT TO THE ENEMY BUT BURNED SOIL! HOWEVER FAILS TO OBEY THESE ORDERS WILL BE COURT MARSHALLED AS TRAITOR!
Nicolaj Temanov
Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the USSR
The first of these orders to be carried out was the transfer of soviet forces to the souther caucasus. On the 8. August the Soviet Black Sea Fleet set sail for Suchumi.
The first world war veteran battelship "Marat", flagship of the blackseafleet, sets sail as part of the convoy to Suchumi on the 8. August.
By the 18. all units had disembarked and most of the army units made their way towards Baku which was under heavy attack by stalinist forces. The marine brigades meanwhile fortified the city of Suchumi to keep open a route of escape.
A unit of marine infantry in Suchumi. Although they lacked army training and professional officers the sailors had the reputation of beeing hardy soldiers and served with distinction throughout the campaign.
Through these quick reinforcements the situation in the southern Caucasus could be stabilized. The decisive battles however would be fought in Stalingrad and in the plains of Astrachan.
*Fronts = sov. Army Groups
**Stavka = Soviet Supreme HQ
*** A infantry division at this point of conflict in 1935 probably contained some 16.000 men. 6 Divsions therefore had up to 96.000 men. The Marine Infantry probably amounted to 500-1.000 men.
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