Book of memory and glory. "black" divisions formed the 69th rifle corps of the 20th army from the prisoners of the gulag

Intention Soviet command: dismember the opposing enemy grouping and defeat it piece by piece. Main blow it was planned to inflict from the Magnushevsky bridgehead in the direction of Kutsh Poznan by the forces of the 61st, 5th Shock 8th Guards. A, 1st 2nd Guards A and 2nd Guards. kk. To develop success in the main direction, the 3rd Shock A. was intended. Auxiliary strikes were to be delivered from the Ptslav bridgehead in the direction of Radom, Lodz 69th and 33rd A and 7th Guards. kk, north of Warsaw - 47th A. 1st A of the Polish Army received the task of launching an offensive on the 4th day of the operation and in cooperation with the troops of the 47th, 61st A and 2nd Guards. TA to defeat the Warsaw grouping of the enemy and capture Warsaw.
Warsaw-Poznan offensive began on January 14 with a surprise attack by forward battalions from both bridgeheads on the front over 100 km, within an hour they advanced 2-3 km without meeting organized resistance. The troops of the 5th Shock and 8th Guards A, which then went on the offensive, advanced up to 12 km by the end of the day, and the troops of the 61st A crossed the ice of the river. Pilitsa and wedged into the enemy defenses to a depth of 3 km. 69th and 33rd A, 9th and 11th TCs broke through the enemy defenses to a depth of 20 km. Jan 15 formations of the 1st Guards TA came to the river. Pilica. The 11th and 9th shopping malls were liberated by Radom by the morning of January 16th. The 47th A, going on the offensive on January 16, drove the enemy back behind the Vistula and crossed it north of Warsaw on the move. On the same day, in the lane of the 5th Shock A, the 2nd Guards TA was introduced into the breakthrough, which, having made a swift throw for 80 km in a day, went to the Sokhachev district and cut off the escape routes of the Warsaw enemy grouping. On January 17, the troops of the 47th and 61st A, together with the 1st A of the Polish Army, liberated Warsaw. For 4 days of the offensive, the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front defeated the main forces of the 9th A of the enemy, carried out a breakthrough of its defense to the entire operational depth, advancing 100-130 km. The offensive of the troops was actively supported by the aviation of the 16th VA, which struck at enemy strongholds in front of the front of the advancing troops, as well as at the troops and communication centers of the enemy in the depths of his defense. On the morning of January 18, the troops of the front began a resolute pursuit of the enemy.
On January 19, the city of Lodz was liberated. By January 22, tank armies reached the Poznań defensive line. On January 23, units of the 2nd Guards TA liberated the city of Bydgoszcz. Having bypassed the fortress of Poznan from the south, the mastery of which was entrusted to the rifle corps of the 8th Guards and 69th A, 1st Guards TA on January 25 crossed the river. Varta and rushed to the river. Oder. On January 26, the tank armies reached the old German-Polish border. On January 28, the 2nd Guards TA broke through the Pomeranian Wall on the move. It was followed by the 3rd and 5th Shock, 61st and 47th A, 1st A of the Polish Army, 2nd Guards KK, which completed the breakthrough and deployed battles west of the Pomeranian Wall. On January 29, the troops of the 1st Guards TA, 8th Guards, 33rd and 69th A, breaking through the Mezeritsky UR, entered the territory Nazi Germany. On January 31, the advanced units of the 2nd Guards TA and the 5th Shock A reached the river. Oder. By the end of February 3, the troops of the center and the left wing of the front had cleared the enemy from the right bank of the Oder, 100 km south of Zeden, and captured bridgeheads north and south of Kustrin on the left bank. At this time, the enemy was concentrating large forces in Pomerania (Army Group Vistula) to attack in a southerly direction. The commander of the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front opposed them with 4 combined arms, 2 tank armies and a cavalry. frame.
In the Berlin direction, there were 4 combined-arms armies weakened in previous battles, 2 tank and 1 cavalry. frame. Because of the danger of a counterattack from the north, as well as because of the lagging behind in the rear and the redeployment of aviation, the continuation of the attack on Berlin was considered inexpedient and, at the direction of VGK rates terminated.
The Warsaw-Poznan offensive operation is one of the largest front-line operations carried out during the war. Having started a breakthrough in several sectors with a total width of 34 km, by the end of the operation, the troops of the 1st Belorussian Front expanded it along the front to 500 km and advanced to a depth of 500 km, freeing the entire western part of Poland in their zone.

Capture of the fortress of Poznań
(01/23/1945-23/02/1945)

On the night of January 22, the advance detachments of the 1st Guards Tank Army approached the outskirts of Poznan and tried to immediately break into the city, but the garrison repelled their attacks. The commander of the 1st Belorussian Front, Marshal Zhukov, decided not to delay the tank army near Poznan, but to block the city with the forces of the 8th Guards and 69th Army Generals Chuikov and Kolpakchi. Each army allocated a rifle corps and reinforcements for the blockade.
Poznań was a classical fortress. Forts in the center, in the main defense hub of the Citadel. Both the forts and the Citadel are entirely underground structures. Under the ground, huge shelters were equipped, which housed a large garrison. Reconnaissance and interrogation of prisoners showed that in Poznan all its forts and the center of the entire defense of the fortress, the Citadel, were prepared for defense.
It has been established that the garrison of the city, together with the Volkssturm battalions, numbered up to 60,000 people and consisted of 2 cadet schools, a reserve training division of assault guns, 11 security battalions, airfield service units, a training aviation regiment, 2 officer schools, 2 engineer battalions, a Lenzer battle group from local SS men, 17 companies from vacation soldiers and soldiers of the 10th motorized, 6th, 45th, 251st infantry divisions, defeated in previous battles.
The group was commanded by Colonel Connel. He took over the garrison from Police Major General Mattern, who had been removed from this position for lack of combat experience. Mattern remained in Posen. Connel had been promoted to general the day before.
Fulfilling the will of Hitler, the command of the garrison decided to hold the city to the last soldier.
Hitler's rate gave great importance holding the fortresses of Poznan, Schneidemühl and Breslau as strategic points that covered the operational directions into the depths of Germany.
The assault units of the 39th Guards Rifle Division launched an assault on the outskirts and northern forts of Poznań on the morning of January 26. The main blow was delivered from the south by the 27th and 74th Guards Rifle Divisions. As a result, two southern forts on the western bank of the Warta fell into the hands of the attackers, troops with tanks broke into the ring of forts and attacked the enemy from the inside of his forts.
The attack from the north by units of the 39th Guards Rifle Division was not successful. By January 27, a weakened 91st Rifle Corps of the 69th Army. January 28, 4 divisions of the 8th Guards and 2 divisions 69th armies repeated the assault. Heavy bloody battles ensued for pillboxes and forts of the fortress. No less stubborn struggle went on the streets of the city for every house turned into a stronghold. Assault groups knocked the Germans out of their strongholds in fierce battles.
By February 5 assault groups completely cleared of the enemy residential areas of the city. Citadel, eastern part of the district (Shuling), Khvalishchevo and Glovno were still under siege. The assault did not stop for a minute, day or night. After February 12, the assault began on the Citadel, located on a hill and dominating the entire area. As our troops approached it, the stubborn resistance of the enemy increased.
Near the Citadel there was a railway junction, which was essential for the supply of supplies to all the troops of the front. Therefore, the assault on the Citadel continued until the enemy was completely eliminated in it. For several days, the attacks of our units stopped. They rested, ammunition and heavy artillery were brought up.
The assault on the Citadel began on 18 February. A 5-meter gap was made with artillery fire in the walls of the Citadel. Heavy guns 152.4 mm and 203.2 mm fired direct fire at embrasures and loopholes. Assault groups led the sappers of the 261st separate engineer battalion to the walls of the Citadel and they began to undermine the embrasures with powerful explosive charges. On the night of February 22, assault groups and tanks of the 251st and 34th heavy tank regiments burst into the courtyard of the Citadel through a gap. The garrison, driven into the dungeons, held out for about a day and capitulated on February 23.

The main similarity between the First and Second strategic echelons is the most powerful armies of their composition were deployed not against Germany, but against the oil fields of Romania. The main difference between the First and Second strategic echelons is color. Yes. The echelons had a different color. The first strategic echelon is green and gray-green (protective, as they say in the army), the color of millions of soldiers' tunics. The protective color was also dominant in the Second Strategic Echelon, but it was heavily diluted with black. Once I had to attend a meeting with retired general F.N. Remezov, who in 1941, under the cover of the TASS message, abandoned the Oryol military district, united all its troops and the troops of the Moscow military district into the 20th army and, heading it, secretly led to the west. The conversation went on in its own circle, without outsiders, and therefore quite frankly. The listeners are officers and generals of the district headquarters, who know this issue not only from the memoirs of retired generals. We argued. In the heat of the argument, the brisk colonel put the question directly to General Remezov:

“Why do the Germans call the 69th rifle corps of your 20th army the “black corps” in the documents? General Remezov did not give an intelligible answer. they put on black railway overcoats. But that was in December. Remezov obviously evaded answering. He was asked about June 1941, when there was no shortage yet and when soldiers in battle, of course, did not run in an overcoat - it was hot. In the 69th rifle In the corps, many soldiers were dressed in black uniforms in summer.There were enough of these soldiers that the German military intelligence paid attention and unofficially called the 69th corps "black".This corps was not the only one.The 63rd Rifle Corps of the 21st Army of the Second Strategic echelon also passes according to German documents as a “black corps.” The commander of the 63rd Rifle Corps, commander L.G. Petrovsky, by any standards, was an outstanding commander. At the age of 15 he takes part in the storming of the Winter Palace. Passed all civil war, had three serious wounds. Finished the war as a regiment commander, age - 18. At the age of 20, he brilliantly graduated from the Academy of the General Staff. Commands the best formations of the Red Army, including the 1st Moscow Proletarian Rifle Division. At the age of 35 - Deputy Commander of the Moscow Military District.

Komkor Petrovsky proved himself in battles as a commander of a strategic scale. In August 1941, he received the military rank of lieutenant general and was appointed to command the 21st Army. The 63rd Rifle Corps at that moment, after fierce fighting, was surrounded. Stalin ordered the corps to be abandoned and the army immediately taken over. Petrovsky asks to postpone for several days the order to take command of the army, the plane sent for him sends back, putting wounded soldiers on it. Petrovsky withdrew his "black corps" from the encirclement and again returned to the rear of the enemy to withdraw from the encirclement one more division - the 154th Rifle Division (commander of the brigade Y.S. Fokakov). During a breakthrough from the encirclement, Petrovsky was mortally wounded. The German soldiers, having discovered and identified the corpse of Petrovsky on the battlefield, by order of the higher command, buried the Soviet general with full military honors. A huge cross was erected on his grave with an inscription in German: "Lieutenant General Petrovsky, commander of the" black corps ".

Soviet sources confirm this unusual gesture of the German command towards the Soviet general. Details about the actions of the 63rd "black corps" can be found in VIZH (1966. N6).

The Soviet military encyclopedia (T. 6. S. 314) confirms the correctness of this article. Petrovsky's "black corps" can be found in the book of Lieutenant General of Artillery G.D. Plaskova (Under the roar of the cannonade. S. 163).

The unusual black uniform was also noted by German intelligence in other armies of the Second Strategic Echelon. When this uniform prevailed over the usual green, regiments, divisions, and sometimes entire corps were called "black". The 24th Army of the Second Strategic Echelon, secretly advancing from Siberia, was no exception. During the fighting, several of its regiments and divisions were called "black" by the Germans. But even before entering into battle with the divisions and corps of this army, very interesting things happened. At the end of June, the echelons of this army stretched for thousands of kilometers. At this time, the commander of the army, Lieutenant General S.A. Kalinin (having abandoned the Siberian Military District) is already in Moscow and is solving the problem of how to feed the 24th Army. He gets an appointment with the secretary of the Moscow City Party Committee. Word to Lieutenant General S.A. Kalinin: "The Secretary of the Moscow City Committee contacted the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs by telephone.

The comrade with whom I just spoke, - explained the secretary of the Moscow City Committee, - has extensive experience in catering. For a long time he was engaged in this business on the construction of the Volga-Moscow Canal. He will help you. Twenty minutes later, a tall, handsome commander of the NKVD troops, with three rhombuses in the buttonholes of his tunic, entered the secretary's office. We quickly agreed on everything with him "(Reflections on the past. S. 132-133).

The only pity is that General Kalinin is embarrassed to name the secretary of the Moscow City Conservatory and the slender, drawn-out one with three rhombuses. After the first battles, the 24th Army falls into the right hands: Major General of the NKVD Konstantin Rakutin took command.

And Lieutenant General S.A. Kalinin, on Stalin's personal order, returns to Siberia. No, no, do not command the district. The district remains deserted. Kalinin, on Stalin's orders, forms ten new divisions. Kalinin's word:

"Connections were formed in places where before there were no military units at all. I began my work from visiting these points. My first flight was to one of the cities of Siberia. A few years before the war, there, in the wilderness of the forest, a barracks was built town for lumberjacks. It was used to accommodate parts of the formation being formed. Almost from all sides the town was surrounded by impenetrable taiga "(Ibid., p. 182). Everything about "barrack towns for lumberjacks" - from Alexander Isaevich Solzhenitsyn: "The Gulag Archipelago", all three volumes.

So, ten new divisions (more than 130,000 people) in the Siberian Military District are being formed not in the places where military units used to be, but in "barrack towns." It will be objected that, of course, it is not the prisoners who are being turned into soldiers. It's just that General Kalinin uses the empty barracks to accommodate the arriving reservists, here they are trained and turned into soldiers. Good. Let's agree with this. Where did the "lumberjacks" go in this case? Why is the "town" (and not just one) empty? Yes, simply because General Kalinin equipped the 24th Army with "lumberjacks" BEFORE the WAR began and secretly prepared it for shipment to the west. That is why the regiments and divisions in this army and in all other armies of the Second Strategic Echelon were black: "lumberjacks" were often not even dressed in military uniform. That is why the army, which Kalinin secretly transferred to the west, is not on the payroll of the Logistics Directorate of the General Staff of the Red Army, but of the Main Directorate of Camps of the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs. That is why, instead of the semi-Chekist Kalinin, the pure-blooded Chekist Rakutin is assigned to the 24th Army by Stalin. He knows better how to deal with "lumberjacks".

  1. Dear forum participants! I collect any information on 73 str. div. (471 str. regiment) during the period
    July-October 1941. Maybe someone knows if there are documents on the division in TsAMO. Thank you in advance.
  2. 73 RIFLE DIVISION 1 FORMATION

    392, 413 and 471 rifle regiments,
    11th artillery regiment
    148 separate anti-tank battalion,
    469 separate anti-aircraft artillery battalion,
    51 reconnaissance battalion,
    25 sapper battalion,
    78 separate communications battalion,
    68 medical battalion,
    186 motor transport battalion,
    522 field post station,
    440 field cash desk of the State Bank.

    Combat period
    2.7.41-27.12.41

    * 73rd Infantry Division.
    The division was formed in Omsk (SibVO) in August 1939. The 178th Siberian division was also formed on its basis. Since April 1941, the division was kept according to the states No. 04/120. On June 10, she received a assigned staff of 6,000 people. In July, the division arrives in the Gusino, Krasnoye area, where on July 4-5 it replaced the 137th Rifle Division at the Vysokoye-Orsha line. Until July 16, it defended Orsha together with the 17th Panzer Division of the 5th MK., Then, under pressure from the enemy, it slowly retreated to Gnezdovo, Smolensk. And on August 4th we had to retreat in disorder to the Solovyovskaya crossing. After crossing the Dnieper, it was hastily restored. On August 15, it consisted of 6947 personnel ...
    In May 1941, the 19th army of General Konev (38th, 102nd 127th, 129th, 132nd 134th, 151st, 158th, 162nd, 171st rifle divisions). Konev was also attached to the 25th MK (50th, 55th tank and 219th motorized divisions). However, later, when the war began, in July, the mechanized corps was withdrawn from his army and subordinated to the 21st Army. At the same time, in the Oryol Military District, the 20th Army was hastily formed (73rd, 110th, 118th, 137th, 144th, 160th, 172nd, 229th, 233rd I, 235th, rifle divisions)

    OPERSVODKA No. 20 K 8.00 6.7.41. ZAPFRONT HEADQUARTERS
    GNEZDOVO Card 500 000
    First. On the night of July 5, 1941, the troops of the front continued to occupy the second defensive line, carried out defensive work, improved fortified areas and fought for crossings on the river. Berezina, r. Drut and r. Zap. Dvina.
    Second. 13th Army. The enemy unsuccessfully attacked parts of the army on the river. Berezina. In the area of ​​​​Chernyavka, she finally came out with a fight on the eastern bank of the river. Berezina 100th Infantry Division of the 2nd Infantry Corps. Parts of the 13th Army are preparing for the morning to attack Borisov.
    Third. On the night of July 5, 1941, the 22nd Army carried out defensive work to strengthen fortified areas, defended crossings on the river. Zap. Dvina and fought with enemy reconnaissance groups.
    Enemy actions in front of the army front on the 4th and on the night of 5.7.41 are active.
    At 1.00 5.7.41, after artillery preparation in the Yakubinki, Kushliki sector, the enemy crossed the river with up to two infantry regiments. Zap. Dvina and seeks to expand the bridgehead on the right bank of the river. Zap. Dvina.
    During 3.7.41, the enemy tried to cross the river with reconnaissance units. Zap. Dvina in the area of ​​Drissa, Disna, but was not successful.
    An air raid was made on Vetrino, and after bombing 4 enemy tanks, supported by artillery fire from one battery, broke into the defense area, 3 of them were destroyed, one returned.
    At 12.30 3.7.41 Polotsk was heavily bombarded. One bomb fell into the dining room of the command staff, there are casualties.
    The Polotsk fortified area, in addition to field units, is occupied by 5 newly formed machine-gun battalions.
    At the forefront of the fortified area, work is being done to create anti-tank obstacles (ditches, blockages, traps, mines).
    The troops of the fortified area are fully supplied with ammunition and weapons.
    The position of the troops in the remaining sectors is unchanged.
    Fourth. 20th Army. Army units continue to strengthen the occupied line of defense and pull up newly arriving units in accordance with the combat order. By the end of 4.7.41, the army has in its composition:
    69th Rifle Corps:
    233rd rifle division without the 68th anti-tank battalion, the 383rd engineer battalion, the 74th autobattalion, the 2nd and 3rd battalions of the 794th rifle regiment;
    73rd Rifle Division - in full force:
    The 137th Rifle Division concentrated only on the 624th Rifle and 278th Artillery Regiments;
    The 229th Rifle Division has only two battalions of the 783rd Rifle Regiment.
    61st Rifle Corps:
    18th rifle division - without artillery and special units of the division;
    The 172nd rifle division is without two battalions of the 747th rifle regiment, without a howitzer artillery regiment, a separate engineer battalion and a separate communications battalion.
    7th mechanized corps - in full force.
    There is no data on the 144th Rifle Division, armored trains No. 47, 48th and 49th, as well as on the air forces of the army, the 38th fighter, 31st and 28th mixed aviation divisions.
    The artillery depot east of Lepel was blown up on 4.7.41 when leaving Lepel.
    Army Headquarters - St. 12 km northeast of Krasnoye.
    Fifth. The 21st Army continued to strengthen the main resistance zone along the eastern bank of the river. Dnieper at the front: (claim.) Mogilev, Loev.
    The 45th Rifle Corps - the 187th Rifle Division, a reserve regiment, a battalion of a motor transport school - having repulsed a group of enemy tanks that had broken through in the Chigirink area, continues to hold the western bank of the river with an advanced detachment. Drut and develops defensive work on the eastern bank of the river. Dnieper at the front (suit.) Mogilev, Gadilovichi.
    The 148th Rifle Division (only three echelons arrived) on its way to the assembly area.
    Corps headquarters - 0.5 km south of Dabuzh.
    The 63rd Rifle Corps, having beaten off two enemy attempts to force the river. Dnieper in the Rogachev area, continues defensive work along the eastern bank of the river. Dnieper.
    167th Rifle Division - at the turn of Gadilovichi, Rogachev, Tsuper.
    117th Rifle Division - at the turn (claim.) Tsuper, Smychek.
    61st Rifle Division - no information received.
    Corps headquarters - Buda Koshelevo.
    66th Rifle Corps - 232nd and 154th Rifle Divisions - no change.
    The 53rd Rifle Division (110th Rifle Regiment, 36th Cannon Artillery Regiment) and the consolidated detachment occupy the defense in the Rechitsa area, the remnants of the 53rd Rifle Division and the 110th Rifle Division were transferred to the 21st Army and occupy defense at the Shklov front.
    Corps headquarters - Gomel.
    The 132nd Rifle Division is an army reserve, has the task of reaching the area of ​​Shelomy, Rzhavka, Rudnya.
    Army Headquarters - Gomel.


    Lieutenant General Malandin


    Major General Semyonov

    OPERATING SERVICE No. 21 By 20.00 5.7.41. ZAPFRONT HEADQUARTERS
    GNEZDOVO Card 500 000
    First. During the day, the troops of the Western Front fought mainly defensive battles, continuing to hold their position with the units remaining in the rear of the enemy's mobile formations. The troops of the front simultaneously concentrated in the Vitebsk region and the forests north of Orsha to launch a counterattack on the enemy's motorized mechanized units that had broken through in the general direction of Lepel.
    Second. Data on the position and actions of units of the 3rd and 10th armies, the 21st rifle, 6th mechanized and 6th cavalry corps have not been received since 26-27.6.41.
    The second echelon of the headquarters of the 3rd Army, consisting of 180 people, having left the encirclement, arrived and settled in the Gusino area. The withdrawal instructions were received from the commander of the 3rd Army at 18:00 on 26/6/41 in B. Berestovitsa (50 km south of Grodno).
    The task force was to withdraw on the night of 27.5.41 to Peski, where a bridge was built for it by the 35th pontoon regiment. The commander of the 6th Infantry Division with the headquarters and part of the forces of his division left the encirclement in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bDavid Gorodok.
    Third. 13th Army. Borisov direction. As a result of stubborn fighting in the daytime of 5.7.41 in the Borisov region, units of the army began to withdraw and by 12 o’clock, fighting holding back battles, reached the front of Krupki, Chernyavka, Brodets.
    The 44th Rifle Corps as part of the 50th Rifle Division, BTU (Probably the abbreviated name of the school), the 1st Motorized Rifle Division, fighting stubborn battles with units of the 17th and 18th motorized divisions of the enemy, withdrew to the line of Krupki, Vydritsa . Information about the 50th Infantry Division was not received (the data needs to be verified).
    Corps Headquarters - Slaveny.
    On the night of July 5, 1941, the 2nd Rifle Corps, having regrouped, went on the defensive along the eastern bank of the river. Berezina at the front:
    161st Rifle Division - Chernyavka, (suit) Zhurovka.
    100th Infantry Division - Zhurovka, Brodets; the division is fighting with small reconnaissance groups of the 10th motorized division of the enemy.
    Corps headquarters - Mikheevichi.
    The 42nd brigade of the troops of the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs, which began to retreat without permission, was stopped and went over to the defensive on the front of Esmona, Osovets.
    Headquarters of the 13th Army - Teterin.
    Fourth. 22nd Army. During the day, units of the army fought with enemy units that had broken through in the area of ​​Yakubinka, Kushliki and repelled attempts by his intelligence agencies to penetrate and the location of army units.
    51st Rifle Corps:
    The 170th Rifle Division takes up defensive positions in the Sebezh fortified area on the Zasitino, Vetrenka, and Teplyuki fronts;
    112th Rifle Division in connection with the withdrawal of units of the 27th Army Northwestern Front was forced to retreat to the line (claim.) Teplyuki, Ustye;
    The 98th Rifle Division, together with units of the 174th Rifle Division, fought with the enemy unit that had crossed over at the line (claim.) Ustye, Drissa, Dadeki, Vodva, Kulikovo. There is no information about the results of the battle yet.
    Corps headquarters - Klyastitsy.
    62nd Rifle Corps:
    The 174th Rifle Division with units of the Polotsk Fortified Region continues to successfully defend itself at the line of Kushliki, Vetrino, Gomel, (claim) Ulla;
    The 186th Infantry Division successfully continues to defend the eastern bank of the river with part of its forces. Zap. Dvina nor the participation of Ulla, Beshenkovichi. The division repelled an attempt by the enemy to cross in the Ulla area. 15 echelons of the division on the way in the area of ​​Sebezh, Vitebsk.
    Corps headquarters - 4 km southeast of st. Losvid.
    The 179th Rifle Division is carrying out defensive work in the Nevel area and is understaffing its units.
    The 128th and 153rd Rifle Divisions were reassigned to the 20th Army by Directive of Front Headquarters No. 16.
    Headquarters of the 22nd Army - Velikiye Luki. The command post and communication center is a forest 10 km north of Nevel.
    The detachment of Major General Terpilovsky (Lepel Mortar School, 2nd echelon of the 247th Infantry Regiment of the 37th Infantry Division) on the night of 5.7.41 withdrew to Vitebsk for reorganization.
    Fifth. 20th Army. Parts of the army continue to strengthen the occupied line of defense and pull up newly arriving units.
    The 69th Rifle Corps occupies the defensive line of Beshenkovichi, Senno, Bogushevsk, Orsha and continues to unload newly arriving units.
    The 153rd Rifle Division occupies the Beshenkovichi-Senno line.
    The 229th Rifle Division occupies the Bogushevsk area.
    233rd Rifle Division - Shila, Cossacks, Klyukovka.
    They arrived at the 229th Rifle Division and unloaded at the station. Orsha one rifle regiment4, command of the 229th rifle division, communications battalion, anti-aircraft artillery battalion.
    The corps headquarters is a forest north of Babinovichi.
    The 73rd Rifle Division, having replaced units of the 137th Rifle Division, occupies the Zarechye, Zaprudye, and Shchetinka fronts (3 km southwest of Orsha).
    18th Infantry Division - at the turn of Shchetinka, Kopys.
    The 137th Rifle Division, having handed over the defense sector to units of the 73rd Rifle Division, concentrated in the forest 3 km north of Orsha, its 624th Rifle Regiment and the 497th Howitzer Artillery Regiment have been unloaded in the Krichev area and are on the move to the division concentration area.
    128th Rifle Division - army reserve - in the Vitebsk region.
    The 7th mechanized corps (14th and 18th tank divisions) was concentrated by 10.00 on 5.7.41 in the area of ​​Vorona, Falkovichi, Novorotye (10 km east of Vorona).
    14th Panzer Division - in the Novorotye, Vorony, Falkovichi area.
    18th Panzer Division - in the area (suit.) Ravens, Art. Krynki, Stasevo.
    Corps headquarters - Korolevo.
    The 5th mechanized corps (17th and 13th tank and 109th motorized divisions) is concentrated in the Selekta, Selishche, Orekhovsk area.
    The 17th Panzer Division, without one battalion, entered the forest area northeast of Select.
    The 13th tank division without the 25th tank regiment and two motorized rifle battalions - in the Selishche, Vysokoye area.
    The 109th motorized division, consisting of two tank and one and a half motorized rifle battalions, entered the forest area at the crossroads south of Orsha.
    The 50th, 51st and 52nd armored trains did not arrive in the army, since according to the head of the military communications service of the Western Front, armored train No. 51 operates in the Kalinkovichi direction, armored trains No. 50 and 52 - in the Zhlobin area in contact with the enemy.
    Headquarters of the 20th Army - state farm 12 km southeast of Krasnoye
    Sixth. 21st Army. During the day, the main resistance zone continued to be strengthened along the eastern bank of the river. Dnieper at the front of Shklov, Loev.
    The 61st Rifle Corps (53rd, 110th and 172nd Rifle Divisions) occupies the Shklov-Mogilev line.
    The position of the divisions is specified.
    Corps headquarters - forest south of Art. Lupolovo.
    45th Rifle Corps. The 187th Rifle Division takes up defensive positions along the eastern bank of the river. Dnieper from Vilchitsy to Sverzhen. The forward detachments of the division by 10 o’clock occupied:
    The forward detachment of the 292nd Infantry Regiment - Kosichi, the forward detachments of the 236th Infantry Regiment - in the area of ​​Komarichi and Madora.
    The forward detachment of the 338th Infantry Regiment, as a result of the battle with the enemy with a force of up to 45 tanks at the turn of Nezovka, Glukhaya Seliba, retreated to the eastern bank of the river. Dnieper. At 10:30, the enemy captured Bykhov, losing 10 tanks in the process. An attempt by the enemy to force the river. The Dnieper in the Gadilovichi area was recaptured.
    The headquarters of the corps is a forest 0.5 km south of Dabuzh.
    The 63rd Rifle Corps has completed the regrouping and continues defensive work.
    In the morning, the enemy, with up to an infantry battalion with tanks, crossed the river. Dnieper south of Rogachev. The counterattack of the units of the 63rd Rifle Corps was driven back to the western bank of the river. Dnieper.
    The 167th Infantry Division takes up defensive positions along the eastern bank of the river. Dnieper from Zborovo to Tsuper.
    The 117th Infantry Division is conducting defensive work along the eastern bank of the river. Dnieper from Tsuper to Streshin, having tete-de-pon (bridgeheads (French) - Yu.K.) on the western outskirts of Zhlobin.
    The 61st Rifle Division has concentrated and is fortifying the area of ​​Gadilovichi, Gorodets, Fundamenka, Star. Kryvsk.
    Corps headquarters - Gorodets.
    The 66th Rifle Corps continues defensive work along the eastern bank of the river. Dnieper.
    232nd Rifle Division - at the turn (suit.) Streshin, Unoritsa.
    The 154th Rifle Division continues to work on creating anti-tank ditches on the northwestern outskirts of Gomel.
    Corps headquarters - Gomel.
    The 110th Infantry Regiment of the 53rd Infantry Division is in the Rechitsa area.
    The 67th Rifle Corps (102nd, 151.132nd Rifle Divisions) is concentrated in the area of ​​Chechersk, Gomel, Dobrush. One rifle regiment arrived from each rifle division, artillery, corps management and corps units.
    On the night of 3 to 4.741, 4 detachments with a force of one up to a regiment, the rest of 100-200 people each were sent by car to the direction through Rechitsa to Shatsilki, Parichi, Bobruisk with the task of: actions behind enemy lines to tie up his active mechanized units in the Rogachev direction .
    At 2:00 am on 5 July 1941, the detachments made crossings, one in the Shatsilka area, the second in Parichi, and the strongest detachment was 15–20 km south of Bobruisk. In addition, two armored trains operate to Bobruisk via Kalinkovichi.
    On 4.7.41 the 20th mechanized corps withdrew to the Dulebo area, on 5.7.41 to the Gorodishche, Belevichi area.
    Seventh. 19th Army is transported along railway. The first two echelons of the army command to 16.00 5.7.41 were approaching Smolensk.
    25th mechanized corps 48th, 51st tank and 220th motorized divisions (corps management concentrated in the forest southwest of Boyara) 10 km northwest of Liozno.
    Eighth. Parts of the 4th Army continue to reorganize and resupply in the areas:
    28th Rifle Corps: 6th Rifle Division - Krasnopolye (part of the forces of the 6th Rifle Division went to the David Gorodok area).
    42nd Rifle Division - Gorki, Zaruchie, Kurganovka.
    55th Rifle Division - Pokot.
    Headquarters of the 28th Corps - Pokot.
    47th Rifle Corps: 143rd Rifle Division - Dobrush, 121st Rifle Division - no data received.
    Headquarters of the 47th Corps - Bartolomeevka.
    Headquarters of the 4th Army - a forest 2 km south of Novozybkov
    Ninth. On the night of July 5, 1941, the enemy raided Vitebsk, Orsha, Mogilev, Gomel and Smolensk. Smolensk and the areas of concentration of troops were subjected to bombardment and shelling, in other points only reconnaissance was carried out.
    Smolensk was bombed by 7 planes, of the dropped bombs, about 60% did not explode. Fires broke out in 4 points of the city, which were quickly extinguished.

    Chief of Staff of the Western Front
    Lieutenant General Malandin

    Head of the Operations Department
    Major General Semyonov

    BATTLE REPORT #17
    HEADQUARTERS OF THE ZAPFRONT GNEZDOVO 5.7.41 Map 500,000
    1. Parts of the Western Front at 12.00 5.7.41 continued to hold back the enemy on the line of the Zap River. Dvina, Polotsk fortified area, Senno, r. Beaver, Berezina, Bykhov and further river. Dnieper.
    2. The enemy has concentrated the main grouping of up to two armored and two motorized divisions in the area of ​​Lepel, Dokshitsy, Glubokoe and is developing operations on Vitebsk. Simultaneously in the direction of Rogachev, Zhlobin up to one or two tank divisions unsuccessfully tried to force the river. Dnieper
    Enemy actions on the river. Berezina do not wear the same activity.
    The total strength of the enemy Western front calculated in 4-5 tank and 3-4 motorized divisions.
    3. On the front of the 22nd Army, on the night of 5.7.41, the enemy crossed the river with two regiments. Zap. Dvina in the area 8-10 km southeast of Disna and in the Ulla area at 18 o'clock enemy tanks broke through to Sirotino.
    4. The 20th Army continues to occupy and prepare the anti-tank line on the Beshenkovichi-Shklov line. The forward echelon of the 20th Army, consisting of:
    The 1st motorized rifle division, combined units of the 44th and 2nd rifle corps, with the support of tanks, attack the enemy in the direction of Borisov with the task of seizing the crossing over the river. Berezina. To the left, our units hold the front along the river. Berezina to Bozhino, bending its left flank in the direction of st. Drut, and hold the crossings over the river. Drut at st. Drut and Chechevichi.
    5. Parts of the 21st Army firmly occupy the eastern bank of the river. Dnieper, continuing to concentrate its main forces. The enemy during the night of 5.7.41 and in the afternoon of 5.7.41 made repeated attempts to force the river. Dnieper in the area of ​​Rogachev, Bykhov, but was recaptured with losses in tanks and people.
    To eliminate enemy attempts to break through with their main grouping in the direction of Polotsk, Vitebsk, the following measures were taken:
    a) The commander of the 22nd Army was ordered on 5.7.41 to destroy the 98th motorized rifle division from the Borkovichi area and the 174th rifle division with a tank regiment from the Polotsk side to destroy the river that had broken through to the right bank. Zap. Enemy move. The blow was prepared by a successful air attack. There is a fight, the result has not yet been clarified.
    b) To destroy the enemy during his offensive in the direction of Vitebsk, I prepared a counterattack by the forces of the 7th and 5th mechanized corps and the air force in the direction of Senno, with the development of the success of the 7th mechanized corps - on Kamen, Kublichi and 5th mechanized corps - on Lepel.
    At the same time, units of the 44th and 2nd rifle corps have been attacking Borisov since 1800 on 5 July 1941 in order to capture it and develop a strike in cooperation with mechanized corps on Dokshitsy.
    Counterattacks will begin tomorrow at dawn with the aim of encircling the tanks that have broken through and destroying the enemy's 57th motorized corps.
    c) On the night of July 5, 1941, forests were set on fire by aviation in the Lepel, Glubokoe, and Dokshitsy regions, where enemy tanks and motorized infantry were concentrated.
    d) The 21st Army sent strong detachments in the direction of Bobruisk to destroy individual groups of enemy tanks and motorized infantry east of Bobruisk, blow up all bridges, and block communications in the area of ​​enemy operations. These actions will noticeably disorganize him.
    6. In the organization and arrangement of the rear, order is being put in place:
    a) The basing of the armies is given with the allocation of the necessary rear institutions and warehouses; the supply of troops takes on a planned character.
    b) Military roads are being organized and for the time being a certain order is being introduced in the rear.
    c) With great difficulty, but the connection between command and control and the troops is being established; there is a shortage of funds, since for the most part they are left.
    d) We began to withdraw to the rear the especially affected units of the 13th and 4th armies in order to put them in order.
    I will report the course of the battle on 6.7.41 immediately upon receipt of the results.

    Commander of the Western Front
    Marshal of the Soviet Union Timoshenko

    Member of the Military Council of the Western Front
    L.Mekhlis

    Chief of Staff of the Western Front
    Lieutenant General Malandin

    In the OBD Memorial, in the advanced search line, type "73 sd" and by the names of the fighters, you can roughly link fighting 73 sd to settlements. You can also try options: "471 sp 73 sd" "471 sp"

    Also, in the OBD Memorial, in the advanced search line "73 sd", mark "search for reports" and see reports of second-hand losses for the period of interest to you

    Try to find on the Internet about the battles of the 20th Army in the encirclement in July-August at the beginning near Smolensk, its exit from the encirclement, and for the second time - the encirclement and death of the 20th Army in October 1941 near Vyazma during the encirclement of the 16th, 19 -th, 20th, 30th armies of the Western and 24th, 32nd and part of the 43rd Army of the Reserve Fronts.

    General information
    by 20th Army

    The 20th army of the first formation was created in June 1941 in the Oryol military district. The army included the 61st, 69th rifle and 7th mechanized corps, the 18th rifle division, a number of artillery and other units. On June 26, the army was included in the army group of the Headquarters of the High Command.
    Since June 25, 1941, as part of the Reserve Front, led by Marshal S.M. Budyonny 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd armies are deployed at the line of Staraya Russa - Bryansk.
    From July 2, the army was transferred to the Western Front and fought defensive battles in Belarus. Its 7th mechanized corps took part in a frontal counterattack north of Orsha on 6 July. Until mid-July, army troops held defensive lines in the areas of the cities of Orsha, Rudnya and pinned down large enemy forces advancing on Smolensk.
    In October, the 20th Army took part in the Vyazemsky defensive operation, during which it was surrounded by the enemy in the area west of Vyazma. Part of its troops escaped from the encirclement and entered the Mozhaisk line of defense.
    Commanders:
    Lieutenant General Remezov F.N. (June-July 1941);
    Lieutenant General Kurochkin P.A. (July-August 1941);
    Lieutenant General Lukin M.F. (August-September 1941);

    Just in case, field mail number 73 sd 1 f.-522 PPS

    In general, there is a lot of material, both here on the forum and on the Internet.
    Therefore, before going to TsAMO, study everything that is freely available, if there is not enough information for you, or you will not find an answer to your question, then it makes sense to go to TsAMO.

  3. Hello!
    73rd Rifle Division (1st formation).
    392nd joint venture, 413th joint venture and 471st joint venture, 11 ap, 148 oiptd, 469 ozad, 51 rb, 25 sapb, 78 obs, 68 medical battalion, 186 atb, 522 pps, 440 pkg.
    02.07 - 27.12.1941

    On August 1, September 1 and October 1, 1941
    Western Front: 20th Army - 73rd SD, 144, 233, 153, 229 SD.

    20th Army
    First formation
    In July-September, the army participated in the battle of Smolensk. During the attack on Smolensk at the end of July, she was surrounded. After its breakthrough, the troops of the army united with the main forces of the front. Then its formations fought stubborn defensive battles south of Yartsevo, covering the Dorogobuzh direction.
    In October, the 20th Army took part in the Vyazemsky defensive operation, during which it was surrounded by the enemy in the area west of Vyazma. A small part of its troops escaped from the encirclement and entered the Mozhaisk line of defense.
    On October 20, 1941, the field administration of the army was disbanded, and the troops were transferred to other front formations.
    Commanding:
    Lieutenant General Ershakov F.A. (September-October 1941).

    And then find here on the forum or on the Internet EVERYTHING about the battles near Vyazma and the death in October 1941, surrounded by the armies of the Western and Reserve fronts, including the 20th Army, Lieutenant General Ershakov F.A.
    For example,
    http://www.bdsa.ru/documents/html/donesiune41/410622.html
    http://www.smol1941.narod.ru/
    OBD "THE FEAT OF THE PEOPLE IN THE WWII" - http://www.podvignaroda.ru/ - there are JOURNALS OF BATTLE ACTIONS OF THE WESTERN FRONT (June, July, August, October 1941, Summaries, Maps, Combat Reports, etc.

    On October 1, 1941 (from the OBD "Feat of the People").

  4. Hello! I, too, would be interested to know about the 73rd division. It included many natives of the Kalinin region, and most of them went missing in the battles of July - October 41.
  5. In the OBD the Feat of the People about the battles of the 73rd SD in October 1941, there are few documents ...
    BATTLE ORDER of the 20th ARMY.
    BATTLE ORDER No. 67.
    STARM 20 - DEJINO.
    27.09.41 01.30.
    1. The enemy, continuing to defend on the front of the army with two divisions, simultaneously concentrates a group of troops with a force of 2-3 infantry and one tank division in the direction of Kardymovo, Solovyevo, preparing to go on the offensive in the coming days.
    2. On the right - parts of 16 A defend the line along the river. Howl. The demarcation line with it is the same.
    On the left - units of 24 A are defending.
    3. 20 A - firmly defend the line along the eastern bank of the river. Dnieper on the site: Solovyevo, Zaborye, Sheds (1 km north. Baydik), Motovo, Chuvakhi, br. (ford on the river Ustrom) and further along the northeastern bank of the river. Ustrom - to (claim) Prasolovo, concentrating the main efforts on its right wing.
    Advance detachments and outposts to hold the bridgehead occupied on the western bank of the river. Dnieper and along the eastern bank - in the area of ​​Zlydnya.
    4. 144 SD with 592 fathers, 1 and 2 batteries 872 anti-tank artillery, 222 engineer battalions, having PO on the western bank of the river. Dnieper, defend the strip: the mouth of the river. Vop, oz. Old Dnieper, Zaborye, road junction (1.5 km south of Zaborye), St. Platavets, Klimova, (claim) Forged.
    Pay special attention to the defense of your right flank. Responsibility for the joint with 108 SD - I assign to 144 SD.
    5. 73 SD with 1/302 ap, 5 batr/872 ap VET (without 471 SP and 2/562 ap) on the night of 27 and 28.09.41, hand over the combat section of the division to the 471st joint venture of 144 SD. After that, following the route Kucherovo, Borovka, Novoselki, by 07.00 28.09 concentrate in the area of ​​​​Podkholmitsa, Yelcha, Mikhailovka, making up my reserve. Prepare the indicated area as ___ area (by special order), meaning a counterattack in the direction of Yelcha, Svirkoluchye and in the direction of Kuzino, Tishkovo,
    Shtadiv - Mikhailovka district.

    Defense areas of divisions of the 20th Army on October 1-2, 1941.
    Defense areas 144 and 73 SD 20 Army.
    http://www.polk.ru/forum/index.php?app=gallery&image=603

    Defense areas 73 SD 20 Army.
    http://www.polk.ru/forum/index.php?app=gallery&image=604

    REPORT
    Chief of the Operational Department of the Western Front Headquarters, Lieutenant General Malandin
    about the beginning of the enemy offensive.
    BATTLE REPORT OF THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE WESTERN FRONT
    11:35 02.10.1941
    To: ZENIT Trofimchuk.
    Opponent 02.10 at 07.00 opened strong artillery. mortar fire at the front of the 30th, 19th and 16th Armies.
    At 07.15, in sector 244 SD, the enemy launched an offensive with forces of up to four battalions.
    At the same time, smoke curtains were installed in the Ostroluki district, Pavlovshchina and in the 89 SD section of the 19th Army.
    At the site of the 20th Army, attempts were made to advance on site 73 SD forces up to 1.5 companies repulsed.
    Counter-training from our side art. the mortar fire of the pr-ka in the sector of the 16th Army was largely suppressed.
    In the air in front of the front of the 19th Army, up to 60 aircraft were noted, and in the sector of the 30th Army, the pr-k was bombed by 8 aircraft of the city of Bely and 3 aircraft - st. Kanyutino. The rest of the front is unchanged.
    Malandin, Kazbintsev.

    OPERATIONAL REPORT OF THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE 20TH ARMY
    at 04:30 03.10.41.
    First. The army, with its forward detachments, successfully repulsed repeated attempts of power reconnaissance of the pr-ka in certain areas of our location. The main forces of the army continued to prepare their defensive lines. The position of the parts is unchanged.
    Third. 471 sp defends on the previously occupied line.
    According to additional data, at 07.00 02.10 the regiment's forward detachment, located 1.5 - 1 km west. and southwest. Poganoe was attacked by infantry, up to 2 companies, with the support of 7 machine guns and mortars. Pr-k directed his blow to the flanks of the companies from the region of ravines at the mouth of the river. Merilitsa (to the company) and from the west. forest edges south of Poganoe (up to the company). Under pressure from the pr-ka, the right flank of the rifle company withdrew somewhat. Later, with the introduction of company support and our fire, the pr-k withdrew with losses. Attempts to attack pr-ka from the south-east. the edges of the forest south of Golovino were also beaten off by our fire.
    Fifth. 229 SD and 73 SD at the former borders.
    Korneev. Mikhailov. Nyryanin.

    REPORT OF THE STAFF OF THE 20th ARMY.
    16.30 03.10.41. Transmitted by codegram (encrypted).
    1. On the morning of 03.10, the enemy, with strong reconnaissance units, supported by mortars and artillery, launched an offensive: a) on the forward detachments near Mitkovo, Pashkov - with two platoons; b) on plot 471 sp two battalions; c) in section 457 joint venture with two battalions.
    2. As a result of the battle, the enemy pushed back subdivision 471 sp and occupied Belaya Griva (265287-G) and broke through to the Seltso area (265289) with the power of two battalions with a battery. The latest information needs verification. The fight continues. To eliminate the enemy, a regiment of the 229th SD and one battalion of the 144th SD are thrown out.
    3. In the rest of the sectors, enemy attacks were repulsed. Parts in former areas.

    OPERATIVE SUMMARY OF THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE WESTERN FRONT No. 198
    by 20.00 03.10.1941
    4. 20 ARMY, firmly defending on its right wing, parts of the left wing fought with the enemy, who was trying to break into the position of the army's defense.
    On the morning of 03.10, the enemy, with strong reconnaissance units, with the support of mortars and artillery, led the offensive in the following directions: on the forward detachments near Mitkovo, Pashkovo - with a force of up to two platoons; on the site 471 joint venture - two battalions; on the site 457 joint venture - two battalions.
    As a result of the battle, the avenue pressed subdivisions 471 joint ventures and occupied White Mane; with a force of up to two battalions with a battery, he broke through to the Seltso area, where he was fighting with units of 129 SD. To eliminate the enemy, one regiment of the 229th SD and one battalion of the 144th SD are thrown out.
    In the remaining sectors of the enemy attack, they were repulsed by the fire of army units. Parts are in the same position.

    OPERATIVE SUMMARY OF THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE WESTERN FRONT No. 199
    by 08:00 04.10.1941
    9. 20 ARMY. The army, firmly holding the occupied lines in the west along the river. The Dnieper, in the south, is waging stubborn battles, repelling the persistent attacks of the pr-ka in the direction of Kucherovo.
    By the end of 03.10, Belaya Griva was held by units of 137 PD by the end of 03.10 with a force of up to 2 battalions, Seltso with a force of up to a regiment, Gorby with one battalion, Samoboltaevka with a battalion.
    144 SD with its forward detachments is fighting in the west. bank of the river Dnieper, repelling repeated attacks small groups pr-ka. Reinforced platoons occupying positions in the west. the outskirts of Pashkovo, under fire, the pr-ka retreated 100-200 meters. The rest of the forward detachments occupy their former position.
    471 sp 73 SD. The right flank firmly holds the boundary (claim) of the mouth of the river. Nerpitsa, Poganoe, Baydik, on the left flank during the night on 04.10 fought for the capture of Belaya Griva.
    73 SD at the former border. According to additional data, as a result of a night attack by parts of the division, the pr-k was knocked out of the Seltso area.

    OPERATIONAL SUMMARY
    OF THE GENERAL STAFF OF THE RED ARMY No. 209.
    At 08:00 October 4, 1941
    By the end of 3.10. our troops fought with the enemy in the same directions.
    <…>The 20th ARMY, firmly holding the occupied line on the right flank, in the center and on the left flank, fought with strong enemy reconnaissance groups.
    Up to two enemy infantry battalions, pushing the units 471 joint venture 73 SD, occupied Belaya Griva and up to two battalions broke into the Seltso area. In the remaining sectors of the army, the position of the units is unchanged.
    Measures have been taken to restore the situation in the areas of Belaya Griva and Seltso ...

    And in this most responsible and difficult period of hostilities, when the main (main) line of defense of the Western Front in the sectors of the 30th and 19th Armies had already been broken through, when the divisions of the 30th Army were fighting in encirclement, on the personal order of the commander of the Western front I.S. Konev are removed from the front and the rifle divisions of the 19th and 20th Armies begin to be withdrawn from the battle to form the “supposedly new” 16th Army of General K.K. Rokossovsky!?
    Check out, for example, the order of the commander of the 20th Army on the removal of the 73rd SD from the front...

    PRIVATE BATTLE ORDER No. 69.
    STARM 20. 19.30 04.10.41.
    1. 73 SD with their artillery without 2/11 ap 471 rep at 24.00 04.10 come out of the occupied area and, following the routes: 1) Mikhailovka, Usvyatye, Bizyukovo, Red Hill, 2) Podkholmitsa, Bol. Shevelevo, Markovo, Petrovo, by 07.00 05.10, take the line of defense of Safonovo, Red Hill, where they will be placed at the disposal of the commander of the 16th Army.
    2. Transfer the scheme of the anti-tank area occupied by the division to the commander of the 144th SD.
    3. Report on the performance and arrival in a new area.
    Commander of the 20th Army, Lieutenant General Ershakov.
    Member of the Military Council Corps Commissar Semenovsky.
    Chief of Staff of the Army, Major General Korneev.

    REPORT
    KORNEEV Chief of Staff of the Western Front
    lieutenant general SOKOLOVSKY.
    22.00 04.10.41
    KORNEEV. I report.
    <…>At the same time, due to the lack of reserves and the departure of the 73rd SD, withdraw the 229th SD to the reserve without one regiment.
    The Military Council of the Army asks you, if possible, to allocate one SD in order to finally deal with the 137th Infantry Division and thereby free your hands on the flanks.
    He asks to leave the 73rd SD in place, because he fears for the strength of the defense on the 70-kilometer front.
    The 73rd Rifle Division, on your orders, sets out at 10:00 p.m. and by 7:00 a.m. on 5:10 should occupy the indicated line.
    I'm waiting for instructions.
    SOKOLOVSKY.
    Send the 73rd SD immediately. It is not possible to give another unit. In other areas, especially with KHOMENKO, the situation is not improving, but worsening. Therefore, the command cannot be scattered.

    CODOGRAM from the 20th ARMY.
    From "STRELA" 23:15 04.10.41
    1. By 11 p.m., units of the army in their southern sector continue to wage stubborn battles for the restoration of their former position. On the right and left flanks of the army, the situation is unchanged. The enemy continues to occupy Belaya Griva, 236.5, 224.8, Samoboltaevka.
    White Mane is surrounded by parts 471 sp. Evening 04.10 first battalion 471 joint ventures broke into the White Mane, but under the strong influence of enemy fire retreated to its original position. Height 236.5 is lined with parts of a separate artillery regiment. In other sectors of the army, there is a rare rifle-machine-gun firefight.

    OPERATIONAL REPORT OF THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE 20TH ARMY No. 158
    04:25 05.10.41.
    First. The army firmly defends the line of the Dnieper and Ustrom rivers. With its center, overcoming strong fire resistance and counterattacks, the pr-ka develops a strike in a southerly direction in order to restore the situation in the Bol sector. Mane, Clematino.
    Second. The 144th SD is fighting stubbornly to restore the situation in the Bol area. Mane. 471 sp at 19.00, two battalions, with the support of artillery, launched an attack on Bel. Mane, embracing this locality from the west and east. As a result of the battle, part of the units broke into the settlement, but the units, met with strong fire from machine guns, machine guns and mortar fire, retreated to their original position. In other sectors, units of the division occupy their former position. Pr-to activity does not show. Our artillery suppressed a mortar, destroyed a dugout in the area of ​​Makeevo.
    <…>Fifth. 73 SD at 23.30 from the occupied area came out in the Safonov area, Krasny Kholm.
    Korneev. Mikhailov. Lednev.

    OPERATIVE SUMMARY OF THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE WESTERN FRONT No. 201
    by 08:00 05.10.41.
    9. 20 ARMY firmly defends the line of the Dnieper and Ustrom rivers. With its center, overcoming strong fire resistance and counterattacks, the avenue is developing an offensive in a southerly direction in order to restore the situation in the Belaya Griva, Klemyatino sector.
    471 sp with two battalions, supported by artillery, at 19.00 04.10 attacked Belaya Griva from the east and west. Part of the units that broke into Belaya Griva, met with heavy fire from machine guns, machine guns and mortars, retreated to their original position.
    73 SD at 22.30 04.10 she left the occupied area for the Safonovo area, Krasny Kholm.

    OPERATIVE SUMMARY OF THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE WESTERN FRONT No. 202
    by 20:00 05.10.1941
    <…>9. 20 ARMY firmly holds the occupied defense lines on the right and left flanks and since the morning of 10/05/41 continues the offensive in the center with the general task of restoring the former situation.
    471 sp, having semicircled the avenue in Belaya Griva, directs efforts towards mastering this point. Attacks by units of 471 joint ventures are met by strong machine-gun and mortar fire from the pr-ka.

    OPERATIONAL SUMMARY
    OF THE GENERAL STAFF OF THE RED ARMY No. 212
    At 20:00 October 5, 1941
    During 4.10 and 5.10, our troops fought stubborn defensive battles with the enemy in the Smolensk, Bryansk, Poltava-Kharkov, Melitopol directions and counteracted the breakthrough of his motorized parts in the directions of KANYUTINO, KIROV, Orel, Sinelnikovo.
    6. THE TROOPS OF THE WESTERN FRONT on the right wing continued to strengthen on the former lines, in the center and on the left wing they fought fierce battles with the advancing enemy units.
    The 20th ARMY firmly defended the borders of the river. Dnieper and r. Ustrom, with its center, overcame strong fire resistance and enemy counterattacks, developing an offensive in a southerly direction in order to restore the situation in the Belaya Griva area.
    73 SD- on the march to the Safonovo area, Red Hill.

    OPERATIONAL SUMMARY
    GENERAL STAFF OF THE RED ARMY No. 216.
    At 20:00 October 7, 1941
    The 20th ARMY, covering itself from the front with rearguards, continued to retreat to a new line of defense. The enemy did not show activity on the front of the army, influencing the retreating columns of our units only with aircraft.
    To ensure the entry of front troops to a new line of defense in the VYAZMA region, the following are concentrated: the management of the 16th ARMY, 73 SD, 50 SD, 38 SD and 229 SD with reinforcements.
    73 SD at 1:00 7.10 approached the Vyazma region.
    50 SD at 3:00 7.10 passed the Durovo area.
    The location of 38 and 229 SD is being specified. Communication with the 16th ARMY only by radio.
    Information about the presence of the enemy in the Vyazma region is not confirmed (*).
    [(*) Note. mine - Although the Germans by this time had already completed the encirclement Soviet troops under VYAZMA!]

    OPERATIVE SUMMARY OF THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE WESTERN FRONT No. 206
    by 08:00 08.10.1941
    6. As a result of the breakthrough of the reserve front of the 43rd and 33rd ARMIES, the enemy occupied Spas-Demensk, Yukhnov, and began to advance the motorized units to the north in the direction of Vyazma.
    By 17.00 07.10, up to 40 tanks and 50 vehicles with infantry, pr-ka, cut the Moscow-Minsk highway near Okhotino. As a result, the headquarters of the 16th Army was cut off from its troops.
    By 21.00 07.10 73 SD (without artillery and one joint venture) and with 5 anti-tank guns went to VYAZMA, where she received the task of defending the line of Krasnoye Selo, Abrosimovo with a front to the southwest, having a leading edge along the northwest. bank of the river Vyazma. The division was tasked with active actions to prevent the capture of the avenue of the highway.

    Cipher telegram of the commander of the 20th Army, Lieutenant General YERSHAKOV
    with the decision to break through the encirclement south of VYAZMA.
    21:26 October 10, 1941.

    "Main forces 129, 144, 108, 112, 73rd SD, 19 SD are fighting in the PANFILOVO, VYPOLZOVO, NESTEROVO, VOLODARETS area, 38 SD - in the forest area south of LUBENKO. The main assault is scheduled for 19.00 10.00. The offensive will develop through the forest sowing. RED HILL, BYKOVO, RYZHKOVO.
    Ershakov. Semenovsky. Korneev.

Formed near Moscow in March 1941.

As follows from the Certificate on the training of assigned staff in rifle divisions in 1941 (compiled by the Mobupravlenie of the General Staff of the Red Army no later than 20.05.41), the rifle divisions of the Moscow Military District are the 73rd, 110th, 118th, 137th, 144th , 160th, 172nd, 229th, 233rd and 235th - had staff No. 4/120 (i.e. 5.9 thousand people) in peacetime On May 15, June 1, and 06/10/41, 6,000 reservists per division were called up.

On June 22, 1941, the division is part of 69SK (153, 229 and 233 rifle divisions) 20 A of the High Command Reserve. According to a secret order to transfer the armies of the internal districts to the border of the Dnieper, the corps was transferred in the Smolensk region, where it was supposed to arrive according to pre-war calculations on 25.06-03.07. The administration of the 20th Army from the Oryol Military District also arrived in Smolensk.

The 69th Corps took up defensive positions in the so-called "Smolensk Gates" - the interfluve of the Dnieper and the Western Dvina. For a long time, enemy forces invaded Russia along this path. Commanded 69SK Major General E. A. Mogilevchik

On June 22, 1941 was in the Moscow Military District. June 25-28, 1941 parts of the division were loaded into trains in Kubinka and Mozhaisk with the destination Krasnoe near Smolensk.

07/03/1941 The 233rd Rifle Division concentrated in the area of ​​Shnitki, Ponizovye, Sivitsky. By the end of July 4, 31sh was unloaded. out of 33.

07/04/1941 233rd Rifle Division (commander - Colonel G.F. Kotov), ​​without the 716th GAP, who were on the way, two battalions of the 734th joint venture, 68th oiptadn, 383rd special division, 74th ab, - takes up defense at the turn of Shila, Cossacks, Klyukovka. On the right were the positions of 229sd.

On the morning of July 6, in the direction of Lepel-Senno, units of the 5th and 7th MK went on the offensive. The mechanized units operated without the support of the infantry divisions that remained in their positions. The commanders of rifle divisions 69SK were only instructed to allocate at the disposal of the commanders of the mechanized corps one strong detachment of infantry in vehicles with artillery to consolidate their successes. The counterattack was generally unsuccessful. Our troops failed not to defeat the German troops that had rushed forward, not to delay the German offensive for a long time. July 7 69SK (153, 229, 233 rifle divisions), continued to hold and strengthen the line along the river. Luchesa, st. Flocks. The task of the corps was to prevent the enemy from breaking through to Vitebsk and Liozno.

On July 7, the enemy crossed the Western Dvina in the Ulla region and, developing an offensive along the northern bank of the river, broke into Vitebsk on July 9. Despite the counterattack on Vitebsk, in which the right-flank formations of 69SK were also taken on July 11, Vitebsk was captured. In the "Smolensk Gates" on July 12, the 12th division of the enemy broke through at the junction of 229th and 233rd divisions in the direction of Babinovichi, where the headquarters of the 69th Rifle Corps was located. The 233rd Rifle Division continued to hold the Kolenki line, Art. Flocks.

On July 15, an order is received 233rd Rifle Division to withdraw at least a rifle regiment with reinforcements to the area of ​​Lyndino, Dobromysl. The fact is that the German tank divisions from the Vitebsk region broke deep into the rear of the troops of the Western Front, trying to surround its units that were still operating in the Vitebsk and Orsha regions. On July 15-16, German troops captured Smolensk and cut the Minsk-Moscow highway in the Yartsevo area. Parts of the 19th, 20th and 16th armies found themselves in an operational encirclement to the west, north and east of Smolensk. However, the infantry divisions of the Army Group Center were still far away and it was impossible to eliminate the boiler with the forces of one motorized formation scattered over a vast area. Communication with the semi-encircled troops existed through crossings across the Dnieper in the area of ​​​​Ratchino and Solovyevo.

Since July 16, under the blows of infantry divisions 5AK (5 and 35pd), units of 69SK retreated to Smolensk through Rudnya. On July 18, the division was withdrawn to the army reserve in the Dvorishche, Lemyashi area.

On July 21, 69SK (229 and 233rd Rifle Division) held the line of Urochishche, Bolshoy Chastik, r. Mal. Berezina, r. Radomsky Moss, Dubrovka.

On July 23, the division was withdrawn to the army reserve in the area northwest of Smolensk, and on July 25 received an order to move out of the reserve and prevent the enemy from breaking through from the north to Smolensk in the Penisnar area. Until July 30, it operated in the Smugulino, Porfilovo area (north of Smolensk).

In connection with the decision to withdraw units of the 16th and 20th armies beyond the Dnieper, from August 2, the division breaks through to the crossings in the Ratchino area, because. it was not possible to break through to Yartsevo along the Minsk highway. During the breakthrough to the crossings and the crossing itself across the Dnieper on August 3-5, the division suffered heavy losses. The division commander, Colonel Kotov, was taken prisoner (according to other sources, he went missing).


^ 7th Mechanized Corps

At the beginning of October 1940, this mechanized corps had 689 tanks 00, and on 20.02.41 - 792 tanks 000. 14th Panzer Division, stationed in Naro-Fominsk 0000, the basis of the tank fleet had high-speed BT tanks (there were 179 BT-7 vehicles on 1.06.41) 00000. Into the division

** all divisions - without tank battalions (ibid., p. 274); about the 3,000th divisions of the formation of the summer of 1940, see: "1941". Book 1, p. 87 (in the Moscow Military District in July 1940 - March 1941, the 160th Rifle Division and, possibly, the 118th and 137th Rifle Divisions were kept in this state) *** V.A. Anfilov. The failure of the "blitzkrieg", M, Nauka,! 974, p. 118

see footnote tt

***** in July 1940. brigade commander-39 took command of the 1st honey ("Moscow proletarian", p. 17)

X 2nd ltbr at the end of 1939. was introduced into Lithuania (“The classification was removed”, VI, 1993, p. 126); the 27th ltbr brigade was deployed to Latvia later (see V.M. , p.3)

Xx A.G. Khorkov. Thunderstorm June. VI, 1991, p. 17; the commander of the 7th mechanized corps was appointed in June 1940 ("WWII". SE, 1985, p. 130)

XXX "Moscow Proletarian", p. 17 xxxx in Gulyaev A man in armor. VI, 1964, p. 12 ххххх ibid., p.29

Armor collection, 5.96, p.27 Armor collection, 1.96, p.3O

02/23/41 The Special Cavalry Brigade was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of War, and in March 1941. on its basis, the formation of the 46th tank division began (S. Pogrebov. Not subject to oblivion. L, 1980, p. 88); see also 1941. Book 1, M., 1998, p.677.

""" A.G. Khorkov. Thunderstorm June. VI, 1991, p. 20; "1941". Book 2. M. 1998, p. 105, 123, 245. "" VIZh-93-11-77

"WWII", SE, 1985 p. 469; The 61st sk had, for example, the 601st howitzer ap. A.I. Eremenko. At the beginning of the war. M, Science, 1964, p. 141) 00 1941. Book 1, M., 1998, p.296 (document) 000 ibid., p.677 (document).

0000 A.I.Gribkov, Lieutenant's Confession. ML 999, p.71 ooooo Br ONEcollection; 5.96, p.26.

included the 27th and 28th tank regiments (of three battalions) 000000, the 14th howitzer artillery regiment (two divisions - 6 batteries) *, the 14th motorized rifle regiment **.

^ 18th Panzer Division, stationed in Kaluga ***, was equipped mainly with T-26 tanks **** and included the 35th and 36th tank regiments, the 18th howitzer and the 18th

motorized rifle regiment

^ 1st Moscow Proletarian honey had two motorized rifle regiment(6th and 175th), 13th

^ ^ -. L V, ^ ****** gr

artillery and 12 tank regiments. The equipment supplied to this division, which participated in parades on Red Square in Moscow, has always been the most modern. The personnel of the motorized rifle regiments were armed with automatic (PPD) and self-loading small arms x. Tank regiment 1st honey in 1940. was armed with the latest BT-7M XX, and on May 1, 1941. represented the KV and T-34 XXX tanks at the parade in Moscow. By the beginning of hostilities, the 1st medical division on the Western Front had 40 KV and T-34 XXXX in its tank fleet.

Among the corps units of the 7th mechanized corps were the 9th motorcycle regiment xxxxx and the 471st

»-* *-* *-* XXXXXX *-*

cannon artillery regiment, and in tank and motorized divisions there was a division of 37-mm automatic anti-aircraft guns (12 guns each) xxxxxxxx.

To the beginning of the Great Patriotic War The 7th mechanized corps had about 1000 tanks +, up to 500 guns and mortars 4 ", and regarding the staffing, it can be noted that on 15.06.41 the assigned contingent +++ began to gather in the corps.

As for the plans for the use of the 7th mechanized corps, according to the final calculations of the last pre-war days in the period from June 24-28 to July 3-5, 1941, it should have been concentrated in the Orsha area, entering the 20th Army of the High Command Reserve ++++ .

In the first decade of June 1941, acting in a counterattack in the Lepel-Senno area without the 1st motorized rifle division (remaining near Orsha), the 7th mechanized corps had to

/- v ^ -7 1 With -Н-+++

the beginning of hostilities with 715 tanks

21st Mechanized Corps

Formed in the spring of 1941. in the Idritsa-Opochka area according to the state, which provides for the presence of more than 400 combat vehicles ++++ "4 in the corps, with a planned completion date for new equipment in the middle of 1942. * As of February 20, 1941, there were 120 tanks for the corps being formed **.

Selected personnel were sent to recruit the 42nd and 46th tank divisions formed in the corps, mainly from the 1st Moscow Proletarian Medical Corps and disbanded in March 1941. Special Cavalry Brigade ***.

000000 see V.G. Gulyaev, op. cit. with. 12.

* A. Kolesnik. Myths and truth about Stalin's family. Kharkov, 1991, p.77 (document).
** V.G. Gulyaev, cit., p. eighteen.

the division was deployed on the basis of the 39th ltbr brigade, which, after participating in the SPV, was deployed in the Opochki-Sebezh region, 06/17/40 was introduced into Latvia, and returned to the Moscow Military District, to Kaluga, in September 1940 (A.I. .Gribkov, cit., p.61, 63-64,71).

**** The "initial" for the formation of the 18th TD 39th Ltbr had 5 battalions of T-26 tanks (A.I. Gribkov, op. cit., p. 32) ***** see "Order of Lenin Moscow Military District", p.210; V.A. Anfilov. The failure of the "blitzkrieg", p.400. ****** SVE, v.6, p.568

X see, for example, Izvestia of the Central Committee of the CPSU, 1990, No. 5, p. 203 (document) xx see “Armored Collection” 5.96, p. 15 (photo) xxx “Enlisted forever.” Book. 1, p. 149 chxxx V.A.Anfilov. The failure of the "blitzkrieg" p.400

see V.I. Kazakov. "At the turning point." VI, 1962, p.5, as well as I. Drogovoz and others. "Iron Fist of the Red Army". M., 1999, p.21. V.I.Kazakov. "Artillery-fire!". M., 1972, p.21. chxxxxxx V.I. Kazakov. "At the turning point", p.7.

+ ibid., p.5; according to the book "Iron Fist of the Red Army" (see footnote xxxxxx above), the 7th and 21st mechanized corps had 1134 tanks, of which the 21st MK - 98 tanks (decree, book, p. 22.76). F+ V.I.Kazakov "At the turning point", p.5. ++ ibid., p.6.

41 " M.V. Zakharov. General base in the prewar years. VI, 1989, p.260.

^ ++++ V.I.Kazakov. At the break, p. 17; S.P. Ivanov. Army headquarters, front-line headquarters. VI, 1990, p.95. +++,^ d d elyushenko Dawn of Pobedy.VI, 1966, p.4

* G.I. Khetagurov. Fulfillment of duty. VI, 1977, p. 49
** 1941. Book 1, p.677 (document).

The 185th motorized division was reorganized from the 185th rifle division of the Moscow Military District (formation of the autumn of 1939) ****.

According to the directive of the General Staff of the Red Army of 16.05.41 in June 1941. in addition to the artillery equipment received for the artillery regiments of the divisions, the corps received 95 anti-tank guns for armament

tank regiments (mainly caliber 76 mm)** **. In addition, the corps had two divisions of new
~> P ****** ~ ,- *******

37 mm automatic anti-aircraft guns, motorcycle battalion

Tanks by the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the 21st MK had 98 vehicles of the combat training fleet (BT-7, T-26) °.

Staffed by 70-80% ° °, having artillery, tanks (in wartime, the corps was reinforced by two tank battalions of the Armored Academy 000, and in the third decade of June 1941 it was supposed to receive several echelons of T-34 0000), 21st mechanized corps operationally was directly subordinate to the General Staff of the Red Army 00000.

From the middle of June 1941 the command of the mechanized corps was busy reconnoitering the routes of advance to the Daugavpils region x.

^ 20th Rifle Corps

In accordance with the updated calculations of the last pre-war days, the corps consisting of the 137th, 144th, 160th rifle divisions (137th and 160th - "Gorky") xx was to be concentrated in the period 06.28.-07.04.41 in the Krichev-Chausy area, entering the 20th Army of the High Command Reserve in Belarus xxx. At the same time, the "Ivanovskaya" 144th rifle division was earlier

l l XXXX

documents were supposed to have a connection of the 41st sk

41st Rifle Corps

In accordance with the updated calculations of the last pre-war days, he was supposed to arrive in the period from 29.06. - 07/05/41 to the Dorogobuzh region as part of two rifle divisions xxxxxx: 118th Rifle Division and 235th Rifle Division (divisions from Kostroma and Ivanovo, respectively) xxxxxxx, entering the 20th Army of the High Command Reserve in Belarus xxxxxxx.

In the second half of the third decade of June 1941. the 111th Rifle Division was included in the 41st Rifle Division (from the ArchVO, relocated through Yaroslavl), and the corps itself was sent to the Ostrov region to take up defense in the Ostrovsky and Pskov fortified areas.

61st Rifle Corps

In accordance with the updated calculations of the last pre-war days, it was supposed to be unloaded on 26.06-03.07.41 in the Mogilev area, as part of two rifle divisions: 110th sd, 172nd

SD ("Tula"), entering the 20th Army of the Reserve of the High Command in Belarus.

*** G.I. Khetagurov, cit., p.49.

A.I. Eremenko. At the beginning of the war. M., "Nauka", 1964 p. 167. ***** G. I. Khetagurov, op. cit., p. 49-50, and A. G. Khorkov, op. ****** G.I. Khetagurov, op. cit., p. 50 ******* D. D. Lelyushenko, op. cit. 17

0 D.D. Lelyushenko, cit., p.4; in addition to these types of vehicles, there were small amphibious tanks (ibid., p. 13) 00 70% of the fighters were spring call 1941, the rest - old-timers (V, A, Anfilov. The failure of the "blitzkrieg", p. 346) ° ° ° arrived at the corps on 06/24/41, were armed, mainly with BT-7 tanks (D.D. Lelyushenko, decree. cit., p. 6), there were also 2 T-34s (G.I. Khetagurov, op. cit., p. 53)

0000 on the evening of 06/22/41, three echelons of T-34 were delivered to the 21st mechanized corps, but a command was immediately received to redirect this equipment to Minsk, at the disposal of the ZapOVO (G.I. Khetagurov, op. cit., pp. 52-53) 00000 D.D. Lelyushenko, op.cit., p.5 x ibid.

Xx see according to the text of the MVO, above

XXX M.V. Zakharov, op. cit., p. 260; V. Zolotarev. Military security of the Fatherland. M, 1998, p.

Xxxx 1941. Book 2, p.359 (document), xxxxx M.V. Zakharov, op.cit., p.260. xxxxxx VIZh-93-6-18

xxxxxxxx M.V. Zakharov, op.cit., p.260 with his arrival in the Rogachev district.

* see VIZh-93-6-18; Initially, this division of the ArchVO was intended to be part of the 28th Army (see "1941", Book 2, pp. 359-360).

see, for example, A.I. Eremenko. At the beginning of the war. M., "Nauka", 1964, p. 137. *** M.V. Zakharov, decree, op., p.260; V.Zolotarev, op.cit., 295 (document).

113 69th Rifle Corps

Corps consisting of three rifle divisions: 73rd("Kalininskaya"), 229th, 233rd according to updated calculations of the last pre-war days, in the period 06/25/07/03/41, following the marching order, he was supposed to concentrate in the Smolensk region, where the 20th army command (allocated by the Oryol military district) also arrived

As follows from the Certificate on the training of assigned personnel in rifle divisions in 1941 (compiled by the Mobupravlenie of the General Staff of the Red Army no later than 20.05.41), the rifle divisions of the Moscow Military District are the 73rd, 110th, 118th, 137th, 144th , 160th, 172nd, 229th, 233rd and 235th - had staff No. 4/120 (i.e. 5.9 thousand people) in peacetime 05.15., 01.06 and 06.10.41, 6 thousand reservists were called up per division

Accordingly, by the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the formations intended to move west as part of the MVO rifle corps were in the prescribed degree of readiness in the camps and their deployment to the state of wartime did not require

lengthy events. Thus, the 172nd Rifle Division of the 61st Rifle Division, as planned, departed on June 26, 1941 for

designated area with manned compound

Oryol Military District

I. The Orel Military District was separated from the Moscow Military District by order of the NPO of the USSR dated July 28, 1938 and covered the Oryol, Voronezh, Kursk, and since October 1939 also the Tambov Region^.

The divisions stationed since the 1920s in the respective territory were the 6th Oryol, 19th Voronezh, 55th Kursk rifle divisions++.

Stationed in the 1920s - early 1930s in Tambov, the 14th cavalry division named after Parkhomenko in the spring of 1932 was relocated to Ukraine +++ .

As part of the "organizational measures" of the summer-autumn of 1939, additional rifle divisions were formed in the ORVO, and in connection with the liberation campaign in Western Belarus, the following were sent to the Belarusian Front in August-September 1939 from the ORVO: 6th and 55th I ++++, 113th (formed in Rylsk) +++++, 122nd (formed in Yelets) "1" * 4 "4 "1" rifle divisions.

For reasons of the NPO of the USSR dated 10/23/39, in the OrVO it was further supposed to have 6 rifle divisions, contained in the number of 3 thousand people. each (without tank battalions) and one directorate of the rifle corps x, while due to the change in the boundaries of the district (see above), the 89th rifle division xx was transferred to the ORVO from the Moscow Military District.

However, in April 1940, only 4 rifle divisions remained in the ORVO - all formations that "left" in August-September 1939 to the west, xxx dropped out of the control of the ORVO.

K. Simonov. 100 days of war, p.356.

the composition and belonging of the corps to the Moscow Military District, see: "1941". Book 2, M. 1998, p.245 and p.359 (documents), about redeployment - M.V. Zakharov, op.cit., p.260. ****** - 1941 years". Book 2, M., 1998, p. 245 (document).

see A.I. Eremenko. At the beginning of the war. M., "Nauka", 1964, p. 137. ^SVET.6, p.118.

for more details about these divisions, see MVO. """ see about MVO.

The 55th Rifle Division was stationed in Kursk until 1939, and in August-September 1939, having departed for the BOVO, it acted in a liberation campaign in Western Belarus; in the summer of 1940, both the 55th and 6th SDs were part of the 4th Army of the ZapOVO (D.A. Morozov. They were not mentioned in the reports. VI, 1965, p. 6.8; L.M. Sandalov, On the Moscow Direction, Moscow, Nauka, 1970, pp. 49, 51)

1--G "take us, Suomi-beauty", chL. St. Petersburg, 1999, p.251. ++ "m "Winter War 1939-1940". Book 2, M., "Nauka", 1999, p. 116 (document). x VIZH-96-3-22. xx see MVO.

XXX The 6th, 55th and 113th rifle divisions came under the control of the BOVO (while the last of them participated in the Soviet-Finnish war, to the front of which it was sent from the BOVO), and the 122nd rifle division, deployed in the first half of November 1939 city ​​in the Kandalaksha region, also after participating in the Soviet-Finnish war, remained subordinate to the LVO ("Winter War 1939-1940". Book 2, p. 116, 192).

At the same time, according to the decision of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks dated May 21, 1940, the minimum number of

The decisions of the beginning of July 1940 in the ORVO also provided for the formation of an additional two rifle divisions of a 3,000-strong staff xxxxx.

II. By the middle of May 1941 in rifle troops ORVO had 5 rifle divisions of the formation of the 1920s - 1940s; 19th [Voronezh], 89th, 120th (formed in the summer of 1940)**, 145th*", 149th".

From the spring of 1941, staff No. 4/120 (5.9 thousand people) + was established as a single reduced staff for the rifle divisions of the Red Army (including 3,000th divisions of the formation of the summer of 1940).

Of the newly formed rifle divisions in the spring of 1941, the Orel Military District had the 217th and 222nd rifle divisions ++ (two more divisions of the new formation, in accordance with the decree of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR dated 04.23.41 No. 1112-449ss, applied for the formation of anti-tank and airborne brigades of the Red Army) 4++.

As part of the covert mobilization ("large training camps") ++++, 6 thousand reservists +++++ were called up to all rifle divisions of the ORVO by 1.06.41.

In addition to rifle formations, in the spring of 1941, the 23rd mechanized corps was formed in the ORVO as part of the 48th and 51st tank, 220th motorized divisions. The corps in February 1941 was planned as a "reduced" mechanized corps of the "second stage" 00.

As of June 1, 1941, ORVO had 321 tanks, incl. combat-ready 199 (of which new, not used - 23), requiring repair in the district workshops 78, requiring major repairs 44 ° ° °. There were 56 vehicles (25 BT-7 and 31 BT-5) 0000 in the OrVO tank fleet as of January 1, 1941.

By the beginning of World War II, the ORVO had the following formations 00000.