This article is a continuation of the article. In the time that has passed since the writing of the previous article, scans of original documents from the Great Patriotic War have been found on the Internet. Here, special thanks to the following sites: http://smolbattle.ru/ and http://www.podvignaroda.mil.ru/.
Briefly the background is as follows. We have it at the entrance. The famous exposer of “bloody tyrants” Boris Sokolov “On myths old and new.” 08/18/2010 writes: “...At the same time, more than once, cavalrymen were thrown at the enemy, who managed to take up defense and had a sufficient number of fire weapons. As a result, the cavalry was subjected to a real beating. Here we can recall the tragic consequences of the use of two cavalry divisions of the 16th Army near Moscow in November 1941.”
More and more details: “Rokossovsky’s counterattacks…. On the same day, the 17th and 44th cavalry divisions, arriving from Central Asia, were thrown into an attack on the dug-in German infantry and tanks. The description of this battle was preserved in the combat log of the 4th Panzer Group of Gepner: “... It was hard to believe that the enemy intended to attack us on this wide field... But then three ranks of horsemen moved towards us. Riders with shining blades rushed to attack across the space illuminated by the winter sun, bending down to the necks of their horses. The first shells exploded in the thick of the attackers. Soon a terrible black cloud hung over them. People and horses torn to pieces fly into the air.”. Newspaper “Forty One” No. 40 dated 10.28.11 (http://www.id41.ru/printing/8406/)
And here someone carefully indicated the place of death of two divisions http://wikimapia.org/20308702/ru/Place-of-death-of-the-44th-and-17th-cavalry-divisions
And here is the text of the “report” itself. It’s written very poetically, if you’re interested, read it, you won’t regret it! I intentionally hid this nonsense under a spoiler. Source of all this: collection Russian Archive: Great Patriotic War T. 15(4-1), Moscow, ed. "TERRA", 1997, p.50-52
Read the report
On November 16, General of Infantry Ruof's 5th Corps (2nd Tank Division, 35th and 106th Infantry Divisions), on the left flank of the 4th Panzer Group, was the first of the group to go on the offensive from the Volokolamsk area in the direction of Klin . The 23rd Infantry Division follows as a reserve. The task of the corps is to capture the city of Klin and then, turning to the southeast, cut off Moscow from the north. The enemy is trying by all means to prevent his capital from being captured. Fierce fighting breaks out. The means to which the Russians resort in this struggle can most clearly be seen in the example of one combat report, which describes the attack of the enemy 44th Cavalry Division, which took place on November 17 in the Musino area. This Asian cavalry was hastily transferred by the enemy to the most threatened northern flank of the Moscow defense.
“At 9:00 the morning fog clears and you can finally see the cold winter landscape around you. We are located at the top of a hilly ridge, somewhat east of Musino, at the observation post of one battery. 3 kilometers from us the forest begins, disappearing beyond the horizon. Between us and the forest there are narrow fields with small bushes. Furrows and stubble are visible through the thin snow cover. The sun is rising higher. One of our regiments has the task of advancing in a northern direction. He occupies the starting line in the village behind us. 10.00 am.
Suddenly, in the direction of the planned offensive of the regiment, 60-70 horsemen appear, who, after several shots from our artillery, hide in the depths of the forest. But our command is counting on the enemy to have cavalry, so the appearance of cavalry is not given much importance. To our right we can see the wooden thatched huts of the village of Parfinikovo. The houses stretched out like a horseshoe towards the forest. This village was the scene of fierce fighting just yesterday, and today it still remains a tempting target for Soviet troops.
Suddenly, four tanks appear in front of these huts, occupied by soldiers from one of the battalions of our regiment. Now they are not moving gropingly and carefully, as usual, but are rushing across the frozen field straight towards their intended goal. Toleo once they make a short stop and then rush on. Why are the well-camouflaged howitzers and anti-tank guns on the outskirts of the village silent, we ask ourselves. True, there is no accompanying infantry behind the tanks, but the danger of a breakthrough seems increasingly likely. But behind the guns and guns are battle-tested soldiers, who just yesterday destroyed more than one tank at short distances; and then the first shells explode. After bursting into flames, the lead tank travels another 100 meters and then explodes. Within 10 minutes, the other three suffer the same fate. Enemy tanks are slowly burning out.
All our attention is still focused on this quickly unfolding battle, when suddenly a short command from the division commander standing in front forces us to turn our gaze from south to east. His sharp gaze spotted cavalry galloping along a narrow clearing in the depths of the forest. It seems that these are large forces that either disappear behind the trees, then reappear in small clearings, and finally, moving south, disappear into the thicket. By telephone, short, clear orders are transmitted to the battery. Suddenly, 3000 meters from us, horsemen appear at the edge of the forest. At first there are only a few of them, then 50, 100, 300, and finally, from the right and left, from the thick of the forest to the west, ever new masses of cavalry are rushing. We still can’t believe that the enemy intends to attack us on this wide field, which seems to be intended only for parades. True, on occasion they talked about this possibility, they also talked about small cavalry attacks in defensive battles near Smolensk, but an attack with the forces of more than one squadron against our perfect weapons and on terrain over which we completely dominate seems a reckless undertaking.
And yet the enemy uses this last trump card of his. Masses of cavalry appearing in disarray from the forest imperceptibly and quickly take up battle formation. Now these are three ranks, echeloned one after another, which are galloping in a southerly direction, moving away from the forest.
It is an indescribably beautiful sight when, in a clear, sunny winter landscape, a cavalry regiment rushes to the attack, saddle to saddle, bending low to the horses’ necks, with shining sabers drawn. It seems that the times of the Mongol invasion have returned, and an unstoppable stream of small black shaggy horses with Asians grown into them is rapidly rushing into the countries of the West.
But the charm dissipates. The observation officer shouts shooting data into the telephone receiver. Machine guns roll out to the edge of the trenches, soldiers throw off their warm mittens and a performance begins that even the greatest imagination cannot depict. The battery fires from an open firing position. The first shells fly out of the barrels with a hiss and explode in the mass of attackers. They are joined by explosive shells from anti-tank guns. From the village to the south of us all the guns that had just destroyed Russian tanks are firing. A solid black cloud hangs over the squadron, which continues to gallop. Apparently, nothing can restrain this impulse, although shells now and then tear out huge gaps in the solid mass of horse bodies. And it is completely inexplicable how, in this sea of fire, the squadron turns slightly to the right, and its vanguard is carried straight to the open side of the village.
The fire of our artillerymen forms a solid wall. Horse corpses fly into the air. It is impossible to make out where the people are and where the horses are. The squadron lost control and the goal of its attack. What had recently been a parade-like scene has now turned into a helpless mass. The entire mass of the squadron is marking time aimlessly in place. Now to the right, now to the left the horses running wild in this hell are rushing, crushing everything that remains alive on their way. The few cavalrymen still on their horses are drowning in this continuous mass, and our artillery finishes off the last remnants of the attack.
And now the second cavalry regiment rushes out of the forest to attack. It is impossible to imagine that after such a death of all the squadrons of the first regiment, the nightmare performance would repeat itself again. The direction of the attack and the distance are now known, and the death of the second regiment occurs even faster than the first. Only 30 cavalrymen, led by an officer on a beautiful horse, gallop almost to the village itself, and here they die in the fire of our machine guns.
Deep silence reigns over the battlefield. Everyone looks to where just now, as if in a dream, numerous horses were rushing. One of the first big cavalry attacks of the Second World War took place near Moscow. We must hope that it was the first and last in this war, and perhaps in all military history. But then sharp orders come. The regiment goes on the offensive."...
So, we decided on the date of the attack - November 16-17 and the divisions - 44th and 17th, and the location of the village of Musino. Now the original documents
Report on the combat operations of the 17th Cavalry Division for the period from November 16, 1941.
author Colonel Gaidukov
TsAMO fund 208 inventory 2511 storage unit 35
database entry number 60163031
...Initial position Egorievo, Borodino d.b. occupied at 9.00 on November 16, 1941. The same detachment assigned the division 2 companies of 58 TD tanks in the amount of 15 T-26 tanks. on the right they defended the river line. Lama is the remnant of units 120 MSP 107 MSD, which did not receive an active task. To the left, from the starting line Kuleshovo, Teleshovo in the direction of Solgino, b. Syrkovo, Ilyinskoye, Zubovo, Kozino d.b. break through the front in the Vlasovo, Kuzyaevo 24 KD sector.
IN 9.00 16.11.1941
The 13th CP crossed the river. Lama, took the starting position for the attack, Egorievo, 128 CP - Borodino, 91 CP, in the second echelon, Glazkovo. Shtadiv is a grove, 0.5 km to the west. Glazkovo. The attached tank companies of the 58th TD, despite sending the order, did not arrive in the area of the initial positions.
Exactly at 10.00, units of the 17th CD of the first echelon / 128 CP and 2 squadrons of the 13th CP / launched an offensive in a western direction - by 11.00 they reached Osheynikovo and Novoselki. The second echelon, under the cover of 2 squadrons of the 13th CP, began to cross the river. Lama with the task of developing the success of the 1st echelon.
No fighting was heard in sector 24 CD. The sent liaison officer reported that only 56 command posts had reached their original position. Thus, by the beginning of the offensive, the division found itself alone.
At the moment the 2nd echelon approaches the crossing of the river. Lama in the Yegoryevo district, a sudden fire raid from the Matyushino district and reaching the infantry regiment with tanks, the 2nd echelon was cut off from the 1st echelon. A fierce battle ensued, lasting 10 hours. At the height of the battle of the 2nd echelon, the pr-k threw 120 tanks and up to an infantry regiment onto the 1st echelon from Lotoshino, which began to shoot and crush the battle formations of the 1st echelon. Finding themselves without tank support, having lost artillery, and without the support of the 2nd echelon, the 1st echelon began to retreat to its original position. Heroically fighting off tanks and infantry, 150-200 people, led by unit commanders and commissars, returned to their starting position.
Having defeated the 1st echelon, the pr-k attacked the 2nd echelon with all its might. After 5 hours of fierce battle, Colonel Gusev arrived from the headquarters in the area of 91 CP with the order of the division at 8.30 on November 16, 1941 to quickly attack the avenue in the direction of Sentsovo, throw it back in the direction of Turginovo and subjugate all the detachments of the 107 MSD - firmly occupy defense in the Sentsovo region. ……
At 20.00 on November 16, 1941, having surrendered the 120th SME sector, units of the division began to leave the battle and concentrate in the Pokrovskoye region. The division lost 50% of its personnel, artillery, mortars and machine guns of 2 regiments. ….
According to reconnaissance data and units of the 107th MSD pr-k moved to the eastern bank of the river. Lama and occupied Stepankovo, Markovo, Maksimovo. To complete the division's mission, there was only one movement route left: Izosinye-Kuzminskoye-Kitenevo-Glukhino-Sentsovo. ….
On November 17, 1941, the 16th division was assigned the task of reaching the Vozdvizhenskoye, Svistunovo, Kitenevo districts and, with 120 small and medium-sized infantry regiments, firmly defending the river line. Yauza. To the right, on the Volovnikovo section, Bortniki d.b. defend 24 AC.
By the end of November 18, 1941, the division reached the defense area on time and due to heavy losses and a large area of defense, a decision was made: to occupy the defense with separate strongholds - Vozdvizhenskoye, Bortnikovo, Vysokovo, Ovsyannikovo - 91 CP (the most full-blooded). In the Kitenevo district, in the 2nd echelon 128, 13 checkpoint in Izosinya....
During November 18, 1941, the pr-k led fierce attacks throughout the entire front.
44th Cavalry Division
From the reports for November 16, 1941, it follows that the 44th Cavalry Division was generally in the second echelon, behind the positions of the 58th Tank Division; only one squadron of the 51st Cavalry Regiment, which occupied Kuzyaevo, took part in the battle.
The conclusion is this: there was no “epic massacre” in the Musino area, it was just it couldn't be neither the 17th Cavalry Division nor, especially, the 44th Cavalry Division. How there was no horse lava attack on tanks and entrenched German units at all. The 17th Cavalry Division suffered heavy losses (up to 50% of its personnel), but not because “the cavalrymen were thrown at the enemy, who managed to take up defense,” but because of the counterattack delivered by the Germans from the Matyushino and Lotoshino districts.
It would seem that everything is clear and understandable - the German report is a fake. I even understand why this lie is so tenacious, roaming dozens of sites. She is very “beautiful” because she has everything that is so dear to the heart of every “conscientious intellectual”:
1. attack with sabers “naked” against tanks and artillery - i.e. “overwhelming with corpses” and bloodthirstiness of commanders
2. Voroshilov and Budyonny, who were limited “horsemen” and considered tanks to be sabotage
3. repressed Tukhachevsky, who loved tanks
4. the Germans, who almost went crazy, shooting masses of Asians on “shaggy horses”
etc.
The only thing I don’t understand is how to stop the replication of this blatant lie on the Internet! All that remains is to write more and more so that more people can find out the truth.
Below are scanned documents.
Motorized divisions
Each mechanized corps, along with two tank divisions, included a motorized division. It was intended to consolidate the success achieved by tank divisions and solve other problems in the depths of enemy defenses. Motorized divisions of the first nine mechanized corps were deployed from rifle divisions, maintaining the same numbering. For the second wave of MK, the formation of new divisions began - from scratch or on the basis of disbanded cavalry divisions. The composition and organization of the motorized division were approved by resolution of the Defense Committee of May 22, 1940 No. 215c.
Organizationally, the motorized division consisted of the following units and subunits:
division management;
two motorized rifle regiments;
cannon artillery battery (4 76 mm cannons);
tank regiment (consisting of 4 tank battalions and support units);
support units.
According to the wartime staff, the division should have had: 11,534 people; 258 BT and I7T-37 tanks; 51 armored vehicles; 12 152 mm howitzers; 16 122 mm howitzers; 16 76 mm guns; 30 45-mm anti-tank guns; 8 37 mm anti-aircraft guns; 12 DShK anti-aircraft machine guns; 12 82 mm mortars; 60 50 mm mortars; 80 heavy machine guns; 367 light machine guns; 1587 cars; 128 tractors; 159 motorcycles.
BA-10 of the 2nd MK General Yu.V. Novoselov are moving to Ungheni for a counterattack on Romanian units.
Medium armored vehicles BA-10 on the march. The headlights of the armored vehicle are covered with light-protective visors.
Armored vehicle BA-20 and its driver, awarded the Order of the Red Banner.
The numbering of units in motorized divisions was the same as that of rifle divisions, that is, unsystematic (although until 1939, the numbering of regiments in rifle divisions was simple - their numbers were in order, for example, the 11th Rifle Division - 31st, 32nd and 33rd joint venture, 24th infantry division - 70th, 71st and 72nd joint ventures (since 1939 7th, 168th and 274th joint ventures, respectively).
Motorized divisions varied greatly in terms of personnel, weapons and equipment. This is clearly seen in the example of three formations - the 131st, 213th and 215th MD, which were part of the KOVO mechanized corps. Having personnel close to the regular number (1,1534 people), in the 131st MD - 10,580, in the 213th MD - 10,021, in the 215th MD - 10,648 people, these divisions experienced a large shortage of command personnel: with the regular number of command personnel in 1095 people, there were 784 in the 131st MD, 459 in the 213th MD, 596 in the 215th MD. Tank fleet - on average 36% of the staff. By division: in the 131st - 122 tanks, in the 213th - 55, in the 215th - 129. Artillery weapons - the total percentage of staffing for the three divisions: 76 mm guns - 66.6%, 37 mm guns - 50 %, 152 mm howitzers - 22.2%, 122 mm howitzers - 91.6%, 82 mm mortars - 88.8%, 50 mm mortars - 100%.
The situation with vehicles was much worse:
cars - 24% of the state. Instead of 1,587 vehicles, in the 131st MD - 595, in the 213th MD - 140, in the 215th MD - 405;
tractors and tractors - 62.6% of the state. Of the 128 full-time personnel, in the 131st MD - 69, in the 213th MD - 47, in the 215th MD - 62;
motorcycles - 3.5% of the state. Instead of 159 vehicles, in the 131st MD - 17, in the 213th and 215th MD - none at all.
But these were divisions of the First Strategic Echelon. In the inner districts the situation was even worse. Therefore, from the first days of the war, most motorized divisions were used in battles as rifle formations.
In total, before the war, the mechanized corps had 29 motorized divisions. In addition to them, there were several more separate motorized divisions.
The fates of motorized divisions of mechanized corps during the war were different:
The 1st MD of the 7th MK was reorganized into the 1st Guards Medal on September 21, 1941 (since January 23, 1943, the 1st Guards). She completed her combat career during the war years as the 1st Guards Moscow-Minsk Proletarian Order of Lenin, Red Banner Orders of Suvorov and Kutuzov SD.
The 7th MD of the 8th MK was reorganized into the 7th Infantry Division on September 12, 1941. Disbanded on December 27, 1941.
The 15th MD of the 2nd MK was reorganized into the 15th Infantry Division on August 6, 1941. Ended the war as the 15th Inzenskaya Si-Vash-Szczecin Order of Lenin, Twice Red Banner Order of Suvorov and the Red Banner of Labor SD.
The 29th MDB-Gomk was disbanded on September 19, 1941.
81st Infantry Division of the 4th MK 07/16/1941 was reorganized into the 81st Infantry Division. Disbanded on September 27, 1942.
84th Infantry Division of the 3rd MK 07/16/1941 was reorganized into the 84th Infantry Division. Finished the war as the 84th Kharkov Red Banner Rifle Division.
103rd MD of the 26th MK. On August 28, 1941, it was transformed into the 103rd Infantry Division. Disbanded on December 27, 1941.
109th Infantry Division of the 5th Mk 07/19/1941 was transformed into the 304th Infantry Division.
131st Infantry Division of the 9th Mk 07/29/1941 was reorganized into the 131st Infantry Division. Disbanded on December 27, 1941.
The 163rd MD of the 1st MK was reorganized into the 163rd Rifle Division on September 15, 1941. Ended the war as the 163rd Romny-Kiev Order of Lenin Red Banner Order of Suvorov and Kutuzov SD.
The 185th MD of the 21st MK was reorganized into the 185th Infantry Division on August 25, 1941. Ended the war as the 185th Pankratov-Prague Order of Suvorov SD.
The 198th MD of the 10th MK was reorganized into the 198th Infantry Division on September 17, 1941.
The 202nd MD of the 12th MK was reorganized into the 202nd Infantry Division on September 20, 1941. Finished the war as the 202nd Korsun-Shevchenkovskaya Red Banner Regiment of the Orders of Suvorov and Kutuzov.
204th Infantry Division of the 11th MK was disbanded on September 19, 1941.
205th Infantry Division of the 14th MK was disbanded on June 30, 1941.
208th Infantry Division of the 13th MK was disbanded on September 19, 1941.
209th Infantry Division of the 17th MK was disbanded on September 19, 1941.
The 210th infantry division of the 20th MK was transformed into the 4th cavalry division on July 14, 1941.
The 212th Infantry Division of the 15th MK was reorganized into the 212th Infantry Division on July 29, 1941. Disbanded on November 21, 1941.
213th Infantry Division of the 19th MK was disbanded on September 19, 1941.
215th Infantry Division of the 22nd MK was disbanded on September 19, 1941.
216th Infantry Division of the 24th MK was disbanded on September 19, 1941.
218th MD of the 18th MK 09/08/1941 was reorganized into
218th Infantry Division Disbanded on September 27, 1942.
219th MD of the 25th MK 9.09.1941 was reorganized into
219th Infantry Division Disbanded on December 27, 1941.
The 220th Infantry Division of the 23rd MK was reorganized into the 220th Infantry Division on July 21, 1941. Finished the war as the 220th Orsha Red Banner Order of Suvorov SD.
221st Infantry Division of the 27th MK was disbanded on August 10, 1941.
236th Infantry Division of the 28th Mk 09.1941 was reorganized into the 236th Infantry Division. Finished the war as the 236th Dnepropetrovsk Red Banner Order of Suvorov SD.
239th MD of the 30th MK 08/06/1941 was reorganized into
239th Infantry Division Finished the war as the 239th Red Banner Rifle Division.
240th MD 16th MK 08/06/1941 reorganized into
240th Infantry Division Ended the war as the 240th Kiev-Dnieper Red Banner Order of Suvorov and Bogdan Khmelnitsky SD.
Most of the motorized divisions, after the abolition of the mechanized corps, were transferred to the staff of rifle divisions, since there were practically no tanks left in them, and there was no hope for the arrival of new ones.
Tank divisions
The main striking force of the mechanized corps were the two tank divisions that were part of them. The main purpose of the tank division was to break through the weakly fortified defenses. enemy forces, the development of an offensive to great depth and actions in operational depth - the destruction of reserves, disruption of control and demoralization of the rear, the capture of important objects. In defensive operations, the TD had to launch counterattacks in order to destroy the enemy who had broken through. This task before the war was considered secondary and unlikely. Therefore, in the ensuing battles, it was not possible to organize and properly carry out counterattacks.
The organization of the tank division and its staff fully corresponded to its purpose. Due to the dominance of the theory of “war with little blood on foreign territory1,” which implied the seizure of air superiority and offensive as the main type of combat operations, tank divisions had great striking power, but a completely insufficient (as the war showed) number of air defense systems and evacuation equipment.
The formation of tank divisions began in accordance with the states approved by the Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR dated July 6, 1940 No. I93-464s. The division was supposed to have: personnel - 11,343 people, tanks - 413 (of which 105 KB, 210T-34, 26 BT-7, 18 T-26, 54 chemical), armored vehicles - 91, guns and mortars (without 50 mm) - 58. In March 1941, the organization of the tank regiment of the tank division was changed - the number of heavy tanks in it decreased from 52 to 31. Accordingly, the number of tanks in the division decreased from 413 to 375. In the mechanized corps, instead of 1108 tanks, there were 1031. In 1940 . was
18 tank divisions were formed as part of mechanized corps and two separate TDs (6th - in the Western Kazakh Military District and 9th - in the SAVO).
The organizational structure of the tank divisions was as follows:
two tank regiments, each consisting of 4 tank battalions (heavy tank battalion - 31 KB and 2 medium tank battalions of 52 T-34 each; chemical tank battalion);
motorized rifle regiment;
howitzer artillery regiment;
auxiliary units.
A tank company of medium tanks had 17 vehicles (5 in a platoon), and a battalion had 52 tanks. The heavy tank battalion consisted of 31 tanks (10 in a company, 3 in a platoon).
T-34s move into position. The “bare” bodies attract attention - the machines are not equipped with spare parts, boxes with accessories and tools. Northwestern Front, September 1941
The numbering of units in tank divisions was simpler than in motorized and rifle divisions. The numbers of tank regiments were in order (with a few exceptions) and corresponded to the division number multiplied by 2, and the number multiplied by 2 minus 1 (for example, in the 47th tank division - the 93rd and 94th tank regiments). Exception: 16th TD - 31st and 149th TD. 23rd TD - 45th and 144th TC, 24th TD - 48th and 49th TC, 25th TD - 50th and 113th TC, 27th TD - 54th and the 140th TC, 29th TD - 57th and 59th TC, 31st TD - 46th and 148th TC. The numbers of the motorized rifle regiment, artillery regiment, anti-aircraft artillery battalion, reconnaissance battalion, pontoon bridge, medical and sanitary, motor transport, repair and restoration battalions and communications battalion, regulation company and field bakery coincided with the number of the division. Field postal stations and State Bank cash desks had their own numbering system.
In the tank divisions formed for the mechanized corps of the internal districts, the numbering system was broken - the regiment numbers changed - and did not have the same order.
Here is the composition of the 1st Red Banner Tank Division: 1st, 2nd tank tank, 1st motorized rifle division, 1st ran, 1st rear battalion, 1st reconnaissance battalion, 1st pontoon battalion, 1st separate communications battalion, 1st medical battalion, 1st motor transport battalion, 1st repair and restoration battalion, 1st regulation company, 1st field bakery, 63rd field postal station, 204th field cash desk of the State Bank.
The staff of the Red Army tank division in 1941 was 10,942 people, including 1,288 command personnel, 2,331 junior command personnel, 7,323 privates.
The division's armament consisted of 375 tanks (63 heavy, 210 medium, 26 BT, 22 T-26, 54 chemical); 95 armored vehicles (56 BA-10 and 39 BA-20); 12 122 mm howitzers; 12 152 mm howitzers; 4 76 mm regimental guns; 12 37-mm automatic anti-aircraft guns; 18 82-mm battalion mortars; 27 50-mm company mortars; 1360 cars; 84 tractors; 380 motorcycles; 122 light machine guns; 390 submachine guns; 1528 self-loading rifles.
The events of the beginning of the war showed that the weak point of the tank divisions was the lack of anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons, armored personnel carriers (there were none at all), although all other weapons were at the level of the best examples of the Wehrmacht or even surpassed it.
Colonel Baranov (second from left) indicates the battle line to the tankers of his unit. The “conning tower” characteristic of the T-34 model of 1941, the driver’s viewing devices and the rounded joint of the front hull sheets are clearly visible. Southern Ukraine, October 1941
Heavy tanks in KOVO, ZOVO and PribOVO were represented by 48 T-35 (all as part of the 34th TD), 516 KV-1 and KV-2 (the latter were 31 in the 41st TD at the beginning of the war, but all of them were left without ammunition). Medium tank fleet in the western districts in 1940 - 1941. replenished with 1070 "thirty-fours". The most common remained the light BT-5 and BT-7 (about 3,500 units) and the most widespread in the Red Army, the T-26, as well as its flamethrower modifications (about 9,500 vehicles in total). The floating T-37, T-38, T-40 and armored vehicles BA-20 and BA-10, which were equipped with reconnaissance battalions and reconnaissance companies of tank divisions, were intended for reconnaissance.
Each tank division was supposed to have 84 tractors and tractors for towing artillery pieces. In fact, there were much fewer of them, for example, in the 19th TD - 52, and in many divisions the situation was even worse: in the 41st TD - 15, in the 20th TD - 38, in the 35th TD - 7, in the 40th TD - 5. The percentage of manning tank divisions of the mechanized corps of the 5th Army KOVO with tractors was 26.1%. In addition, agricultural tractors were also used very often, since there was a lack of special equipment. As for the suitability of the existing tractors as an evacuation vehicle, even the best of them, the Comintern, could only tow a 12-ton load and was, at best, suitable for removing light tanks.
The regular size of the tank divisions' vehicle fleet was 1,360 vehicles. But there weren’t enough of them either, so the number of cars fluctuated from 157 in the 40th TD to 682 in the 41st TD. The average strength of the tank divisions of the 9th, 19th, and 22nd mechanized corps was 27% of the regular strength, and that of the motorized divisions was 24%.
Each tank division was required to have 380 motorcycles. However, in reality the picture was different. 35, 40, 41 TD had no motorcycles at all, 19 and 20 TD had 10 cars each, 43 TD - 18. The overall percentage of staffing was only 1.7 of the standard one. The situation was no better in the motorized divisions - with a standard number of 159 motorcycles, 213, 215 motor divisions had none at all, while 131 motor divisions had 17. The staffing percentage was 3.5. In addition, the existing motorcycles had served well and were in poor technical condition. Here is the testimony of the commander of the 43rd reconnaissance battalion of the 43rd TD V.S. Arkhipov: “By the beginning of June 1941, the 43rd reconnaissance battalion was almost completely formed. Only new motorcycles were waiting. In the motorcycle company, the cars were old and of different brands, and There are very few of them, so most of the fighters were transported on trucks." This created great difficulties in conducting reconnaissance and organizing communications.
BA-10s are undergoing repairs in the factory workshops.
Communications were one of the weak points of the mechanized corps. As in the 1939 model corps, the main ones remained tank radios 71-TK and automobile 5-AK. These radio equipment were not enough to control the tank corps of the previous organization, much less the new corps, the number of tanks in which had almost doubled.
While homogeneous on paper, in reality the number of personnel, weapons and equipment in tank divisions was different; there were very few fully equipped divisions at the beginning of the war.
The number of tanks ranged from 36 in the 20th TD to 415 in the 41st TD. The number of vehicles close to the standard number was 1,3,7, 8, 10 td, while most of the divisions were in the initial stage of formation.
Comparing the armament of Soviet and German tank divisions, it should be noted that the tank division of the Red Army in terms of the number of tanks (regular) was 2 times larger than the German one, being inferior in the number of personnel (10,942 versus 16,000 people). The organizational and staffing structure of the divisions was different: in the Soviet there were 2 tank regiments of 3 battalions, in the German there was one tank regiment of 2 battalions. Against one motorized rifle regiment (3 battalions) in the Red Army TD, the German one had 2 grenadier regiments (2 battalions each). The remaining units and units were almost the same.
Table N9 7. Data on the tank fleet of some tank divisions
The tank fleet of the Red Army tank divisions was also diverse. If the 7th, 8th, 10th TD had a large number of new KB and T-34 tanks, then in the 40th TD, out of 158 tanks, 139 were lightly armored amphibious T-37s and only 19 T-26s, and its combat potential as a tank formation was minimal - one loud name. Most divisions had mainly tanks of the BT and T-26 series of various modifications.
The staffing of tank divisions with weapons and military equipment can be considered using the example of formations 9, 19, 22 of the KOVO mechanized corps, since the most reliable information is available about them. Let's start with the personnel. The total staffing of tank divisions with command and control personnel was 46% (with a regular strength of 1288 people, ranging from 428 in the 35th TD to 722 in the 19th TD), junior command personnel - 48.7% (regular strength - 2331 people, in fact - from 687 in the 20th TD to 1644 in the 35th TD). More than half of the commanders at various levels were missing. With a staff of 10,942 people, the number of personnel ranged from 8,434 in the 43rd TD to 9,347 in the 19th TD. The overall staffing level was 81.4%.
These 6 divisions had 51% of the staff's tanks. The spread in vehicle types was great: KB had only 9.41%, T-34 - even less - 0.16%, BT - 41%, T-26 - 64.9%, chemical - 16%. The main vehicle was the T-26 - in the 41st TD - 342, in the 43rd TD - 230. Things were a little better with artillery weapons - the overall percentage of manning by type of guns was as follows: 76-mm guns - 66.6%, 37 mm anti-aircraft guns - 33.3%, 152 mm howitzers - 66.6%, 122 mm howitzers - 86%.
A big problem for division commanders was the lack of vehicles, especially fuel tankers. For example, in the 11th, 13th, 17th, 20th mechanized corps there were only 8 - 26% of the standard vehicles.
The most difficult situation with fuel tankers was in the Baltic OVO, where the commander of the district, Mr. Kuznetsov, was forced on June 18, 1941 to give the order: “Select gasoline tanks from among the district units (except mechanized and aviation) and transfer them 50% each to the 3rd and the 12th mechanized corps." All this led to sad consequences: in the first days of the war, very often tanks at the most inopportune moment found themselves without fuel and were forced to wait for hours for it (which disrupted all cooperation plans), or the crews had to destroy their vehicles so that they would not fall to the enemy.
T-34s enter positions near Leningrad.
Another drawback of the tank divisions was the lack of evacuation means, as a result of which not only damaged, but even serviceable tanks, but stuck in swamps, rivers and other obstacles, were not evacuated and were destroyed. The divisions had only 3-4 low-power tractors intended for evacuation. In addition, in the pre-war years, repairs were considered as a purely technical measure, ensuring only the elimination of malfunctions in vehicles during operation, but not contributing to the restoration of the combat effectiveness of troops. Therefore, repairs of equipment on the battlefield were to be carried out only after the troops had completed combat missions. Combined with poor training of personnel, all this led to the fact that losses of materiel due to non-combat reasons exceeded 50%.
Table No. 8. Number of vehicles by border districts
The reason for this “wastefulness,” along with the weakness of the repair base and the lack of spare parts (according to existing practice, their production ceased with the removal of the vehicle itself from production plans), was the poor training of many crews, who for the first time in the army encountered complex equipment and abandoned tanks at the slightest breakdown which they were unable to eliminate. According to German data, in the first two months of the war they captured 14,079 Soviet tanks destroyed or abandoned by their crews.
This is also discussed in the political report of the propaganda department of the Southwestern Front dated July 8, 1941: “In the 22nd mechanized corps during the same time (06/22 - 07/06/1941) 46 vehicles, 119 tanks were lost, of which 58 were blown up by our units during withdrawal time due to the impossibility of repairs on the way. The losses of KB tanks in the 41st Tank Division were extremely high. Of the 31 tanks in the division, 9 remained as of June 6. 5 were disabled by the enemy, 12 were blown up by the crews, and were sent to repairs - 5... Large losses of KB tanks are explained primarily by the poor technical training of the crews, their low knowledge of the hardware of the tanks, as well as the lack of spare parts. There were cases when the crews could not fix the malfunctions of stopped KB tanks and blew them up."
Table No. 9. Reasons for the loss of materiel of the 8th TD of the 4th MK SWF as of 08/1/1941
Table No. 10. Reasons for the loss of materiel of the 10th TD of the 15th MK SWF
The state of many tank divisions before the war can be imagined by reading “Description of the combat operations of the 40th TD of the 19th MK”:
“By June 22, 1941, the division was 8-9% equipped with tanks, and those were not serviceable. The condition of the materiel was not adequate for battle (T-37, T-38, T-26 vehicles, mainly those that had undergone medium repairs, intended for the combat training fleet). Service tanks are completely absent.
Armament: tank regiments had rifles for guard duty. The command staff was staffed at 35%. Due to the lack of tanks, the division did not have special weapons. The artillery regiment had 12 guns. The motorized rifle regiment was 17-18% equipped with service weapons, especially automatic weapons."
Pz Kfpw III Ausf E was knocked out in the Smolensk direction. The tanks that broke through to the trenches were shot at the sides and stern. July 20, 1941
The pre-war deployment of many divisions was extremely unprofitable. Here is one example: the 22nd Tank Division of the 14th MK4th Army of the ZapOVO was located in the Southern military town of Brest (2.5 km from the border). For her, a serious problem was access to the gathering areas - to get to the Zhabinka area, it was necessary to cross the Mukhavets River, cross the Warsaw Highway and two railway lines: Brest - Baranovichi and Brest - Kovel. This meant that while the division was passing through, all movement in the Brest area would cease. In addition, due to the proximity of the border, in the very first hours of the war the division suffered huge losses from artillery fire, having also lost ammunition and fuel and lubricants.
Red Army soldiers near a light armored personnel carrier Sd Kfz 253 stuck in their trenches.
After the start of the war, the organizational and headquarters structure of many tank divisions, due to a lack of material, underwent changes. Already on June 24, the tank divisions of the 21st mechanized corps of the Moscow Military District were reorganized. There were two tank regiments left in the 42nd and 46th TDs, but each now had only one two-company tank battalion. The company has 3 platoons of 3 tanks each. To these were added 9 command tanks. In total, the tank division had 45 tanks, which was less than in the tank battalion of the pre-war organization. In July 1941, after the abolition of the mechanized corps, 10 tank divisions of the new organization were formed from the mechanized corps of the internal military districts - the number of tanks in them was reduced to 217, in the tank company instead of 17 tanks there were 10, the howitzer artillery regiment was transformed into an anti-tank regiment, Instead of a repair and restoration battalion, a repair and restoration company was introduced into the divisions, which included:
a platoon for the repair of heavy and medium tanks;
2 light tank repair platoons;
wheeled vehicle repair platoon;
electrical platoon;
a platoon for the repair of artillery and small arms;
spare parts delivery platoon;
tractor (evacuation) platoon.
The famous photograph depicting a T-34 tank duel with a German “Panzer” shows the vehicle of tank company commander L.L. Kukushkin, who destroyed three enemy tanks in one of the battles. The weapons of the destroyed Pz Kpfwll Ausf C have already been removed and the engine and transmission compartment has been dismantled. August 7, 1941
Individual tank divisions were transferred to the subordination of the commanders of the combined arms armies.
Until January 1942, all tank divisions were disbanded or converted into tank brigades, which became the main tactical unit of the armored forces. Until 1945, only the 61st and 111th tank divisions, which were part of the Transbaikal Front, survived. They took part in the defeat of the Kwantung Army in August-September 1945.
The combat operations of Soviet tank divisions in the summer of 1941 can be judged by the example of the 43rd TD of the 19th MK of the 5th Army of the Southwestern Front. It was not possible to complete the formation by the beginning of the war, although the division had 237 tanks, of which 5 KB, 2 T-34 and 230 T-26. The division was commanded by Colonel I.G. Tsibin, chief of staff - Colonel V.A. Butman-Doroshkevich. The “Report on the combat operations of the 43rd TD of the 19th MK for the period from June 22 to June 29, 1941” speaks about how the 43rd TD entered the war:
"Personnel:
The division headquarters was staffed almost entirely by fully trained command personnel, assembled and capable of commanding troops; it was staffed by the headquarters of the 35th Red Banner Tank Brigade, which arrived as part of the division.
Senior and middle command personnel were also quite satisfactorily prepared; most had combat experience in battles with Finland.
The division was staffed with specialists, both in quantity and quality, quite satisfactorily, the crews of combat vehicles were trained, many of them had combat experience and were completely master of the available equipment.
The junior command staff, especially the motorized rifle regiment, was 70% short-staffed and insufficiently trained, as they arrived from other units and were promoted from the Red Army.
The personnel of the first battalions of tank regiments remained untrained as soon as they arrived for recruitment, due to the lack of material, having completed only the young fighter course.
The combat vehicles were completely ready for battle, manned, but technically very worn out. Of the available number of cars, about 150 were faulty, partially repaired at repair depots, and some of them stood without drivers in Berdichev until they were received from the assigned personnel according to the mob plan. Only 40-45% of spare parts for combat vehicles were available in the division's warehouses.
The available number of vehicles in no way provided the division with the capacity to go on a campaign and raise all supplies. As a result, the bulk of the personnel of the motorized rifle regiment and other specialists of non-combat vehicles could not be transported by vehicles. Also, the people of the first battalions of tank regiments, which did not have material, could not be raised.
There were absolutely no shells for 37-mm anti-aircraft guns in the unit. There was only one ammunition load for the 122 and 152 mm guns. The MP was equipped with automatic weapons and mortars at 1520% of what was required according to the report card.”
Pz KpfwIIAusf C, knocked out by Soviet tankers on the Southwestern Front. August 1941
At noon on June 22, the division was given the task of concentrating 20 km southwest of Rivne and being ready to attack in the direction of Dub-no-Dubrovka. The march under its own power took three days under continuous air strikes and a constant shortage of fuel and lubricants and spare parts, which literally had to be searched for along the route, moving 150 - 200 km away from the unit. During all this time, the division headquarters did not receive any information about the situation at the front, intelligence data or operational reports, remaining in the dark even about neighbors on the flanks and the enemy. Thus, it was believed that the main forces of the Red Army were already successfully fighting to the west and the division’s task was to eliminate the German tank groups that had broken through. At the same time, one and a half thousand people had to walk on foot due to lack of transport. On the morning of June 26, the division's tank group, which included 2 KB, 2 T-34s and 75 T-26s, moved towards Dubno and met the retreating Soviet units. They managed to stop them and, subjugating them, included them in the defense. However, the division was left without artillery, hopelessly lagging behind on the march, and did not have any air cover, still lacking proper intelligence data. Nevertheless, as a result of the tank attack, it was possible to reach the target and reach the outskirts of Dubno, throwing the enemy back 15 km. The tank battle lasted 4 hours, and its result was the destruction of 21 German tanks, two anti-tank batteries and 50 vehicles, and, due to the lack of armor-piercing shells KB and T-34, it was necessary to fire with fragmentation shells and crush the enemy anti-tank missiles with their mass. The price of this was 2 burned out KB and 15 T-26. The achieved success could not be developed due to weak interaction with its neighbors, who retreated back under a flank counterattack by the Germans. Behind them, the 43rd Panzer Division retreated at night under fire.
T-34, which lost its road wheel and burned out after being blown up by a mine.
T-34, destroyed by an explosion of ammunition.
Having occupied the lines east of Rivne, the 43rd Panzer Division continued to remain under artillery fire and bombing, repelling German attacks and constantly losing contact with its neighbors, every now and then discovering that they had already left their positions. The tankers had to switch to a “mobile defense”, with short counterattacks, leaving one line after another and fighting off the advancing Germans. By the end of the day on June 28, the 43rd TD lost 19 T-26 tanks.
The 1st Red Banner TD was formed in July 1940 in the Leningrad Military District on the basis of the 20th Red Banner Tbri of the 1st Ltbr as part of the 1st MK. She was stationed before the war in Pskov. By order of the chief of staff of the Leningrad Military District, Mr. Nikishev, on June 17, 1941, she was transferred to the Arctic, where from the beginning of the war until July 8 she fought against 36 German tanks in the Alakurtti region. 3.07 tank crew of the 1st tank tank under the command of Art.S. A.M. Borisov, holding the line at the bridge over the Kuolaiki River, repelled enemy attacks for 32 hours. In July (without the 2nd tank tank) it was transferred to the Gatchina area and until mid-August it fought defensive battles on the approaches to Leningrad. In mid-September it became part of the 42nd Army of the Leningrad Front and defended itself at the Ligovo-Pulkovo line. On September 30, it was disbanded, and the 123rd Tank Brigade was created on its basis. Commander - Mr. V.I. Baranov. As of June 22, it had 370 tanks and 53 armored vehicles.
The T-60 light tank was put into production in September 1941. The tank in the photo has two types of rollers - solid and cast with spokes.
Modified KB, carrying 25-mm screens of the upper and lower frontal hull plates, introduced in July 1941, and a mounting bracket for the DT anti-aircraft machine gun (the machine gun itself is missing).
1st TD (2nd formation) converted from 1st med 08/18. She fought on the Western Front. On September 21, it was renamed the 1st Guards Medical Unit.
The 2nd TD was formed in July 1940 in the Baltic Military District as part of the 3rd MK. Before the war she was stationed in Ukmerge. On June 22, she was in the area east of Kaunas. On June 23, together with the 48th and 125th Infantry Divisions, it launched a counterattack on the troops of Army Group North in the direction of Skaudville. In an oncoming tank battle with the German 6th TD, it inflicted great damage, but by the end of June 24 it was surrounded by troops of the 56th MK Manstein and was left without fuel and ammunition. In the Raseinai area, one KB from the division held back the advance of Mr. Landgraf’s 6th TD for almost two days. On June 26, she fought her last battle in the forest northeast of the city of Raseiniai, in which the division commander, Mr. E.N. Solyankin, died. The remaining tanks were blown up, and parts of the personnel managed to break through to their own. On July 16 it was disbanded.
The 3rd TD was formed in July 1940 in the Leningrad Military District as part of the 1st MK. Before the war, it was stationed in the Pskov region, having 338 tanks and 74 armored vehicles. At the beginning of July, it received 10 KB tanks and was transferred to the NWF troops. Participating in a counterattack against the German 56th MK, which was rushing towards Novgorod, on July 5, it attacked the German 1st TD, which occupied the city of Ostrov. Having no air support and conducting an offensive without infantry, it lost more than half of its tanks. On July 6, 43 tanks remained in the division. By the evening of July 5, it captured the Island, but by the morning of July 6, it was knocked out of the city by the blow of the 1st and 6th German TDs. On July 7, the 5th Tank Division was transferred to the 22nd Infantry Division, and the 6th Tank Division fought as part of the 41st Infantry Division, as a result of which the 3rd Tank Division ceased to exist as a combat unit. By August 1, the division had 15 tanks left and was used as an infantry unit. On December 14, 1941, it was transformed into the 225th SD (ended the war as the 225th Novgorod Order of Kutuzov SD). Commander - Colonel K.Yu. Andreev.
The 4th TD was formed in July 1940 in the Western Military District as part of the 6th MK. By the beginning of the war, it was based in the Bialystok area, having, among others, 63 KB and 88 T-34s. On June 22, it entered the battle at the turn of the Na-rev River, but in the evening it was withdrawn to participate in the counterattack of the mechanized corps of the Western Front. On June 23, together with the tank divisions of the 6th and 11th MK, it launched a counterattack on the Suvalka group of German troops. During the battle, she was left without fuel and ammunition and was forced to retreat towards Novogrudok. The remaining tanks were blown up. The remnants of the division, along with other troops of the 3rd and 10th armies, were surrounded west of Minsk, where until July 1 they fought with the enemy's 10th infantry division, trying to break through to the Baranovichi region. Disbanded on July 6. Commander - Mr. A.G. Potaturchev.
The 5th TD was formed in July 1940 in the Baltic Military District on the basis of the 2nd Ltbr as part of the 3rd MK. Before the war, she was stationed in the city of Alytus. On June 22, after leaving the point of permanent deployment, the division was supposed to deploy on a 30 km front to defend crossings in the Alytus area and ensure the withdrawal of the 128th Infantry Division. Units of the division entered the battle at different times, as they were ready. In difficult conditions, the 5th TD was unable to complete its combat mission - the tank units suffered heavy losses and allowed German troops to capture 3 bridges across the Neman. The division itself was surrounded on the eastern banks of the Neman in the Alytus area and was practically destroyed. The headquarters of the 3rd Tank Group informed Army Headquarters Center on June 22: “On the evening of June 22, the 7th Tank Division had the largest tank battle during this war east of Olita against the 5th Tank Division. 70 tanks and 20 enemy aircraft (at airfields) were destroyed. We lost 11 tanks, 4 of them heavy...".
Repair of KV-1 after the battle. Hanging logs served for self-pulling, often necessary for a heavy machine.
A German soldier leads captured KV tankers. The “staged” photograph is an obvious plot of one of the Wehrmacht propaganda companies; none of the crew would have survived in an exploded tank.
A shielded KV-1, shot down by 88-mm cannon fire, the only guns capable of fighting these tanks.
The 6th TD was formed in July 1940 in the Trans-Kazakhstan Military District as a separate tank division, then included in the 28th MK. Before the war it was based in Armenia, being fully equipped. After the disbandment of the 28th MK in July 1941, it was included in the 47th Army as a separate TD. In August, it was transferred to the Nakhichevan region, from where on August 25, as part of the 45th Army, it entered Iranian territory and marched to Tabriz. Later it was returned to the ZakVO, where on October 17 it was disbanded, and the 6th Tank Brigade was created on its basis. Commander - Colonel V.A. Alekseev.
The 7th TD was formed in July 1940 in the Western Military District as part of the 6th MK. Before the war, it was stationed in the Bialystok area, having 368 tanks (of which 51 KB, 150 T-34). One of the most equipped and powerful tank divisions of the Red Army. On June 22, it was raised by alarm, and on the night of the 23rd it marched to the area east of Bialystok to eliminate the supposedly broken German TD, having lost 63 tanks from air strikes, but did not find the enemy. On the night of June 24, she made a march to the area south of Grodno, but again did not find the enemy. On June 24 - 25, she took part in the counterattack of the 6th MK against the breakthrough German troops. Due to the lack of fuel, she lost almost all her tanks and retreated towards Minsk, where she was surrounded along with the troops of the 3rd and 10th armies. At the end of June, she tried to break through the front of the 12th German tank division in the direction of Molodechno in order to escape the encirclement, but by July 1 she lost all her tanks. On July 6 it was disbanded. Commander - Mr. S.V. Borzilov (died surrounded on September 28, 1941).
Guns, tractors and trucks abandoned in the encirclement near Kiev. In the Kiev cauldron, the Germans got 3,718 guns and about 15,000 trucks.
The flamethrower OT-133s were disarmed and blown up by their crews. Kyiv area, September 1941
The 8th TD was formed in July 1940 in KOVO as part of the 4th MK. By the beginning of the war, it was in the Lvov region, having 325 tanks (of which 50 KB, 140 T-34). Since June 22, she fought in the Lviv ledge in the area of Gorodok, Nemirov with the troops of Army Group South. On June 23, in the Radekhov area, she repelled attacks by the 262nd Infantry Division and other troops of the enemy’s 44th Army Corps. On June 26, she was transferred to the command of the commander of the 15th MK. At the end of June - beginning of July, it fought defensive battles in Western Ukraine and retreated to Kyiv. Since July 8, the division's combined detachment defended Berdichev. At the end of July, she was surrounded near Uman, but managed to escape from the encirclement. In mid-August she fought near Dnepropetrovsk. On September 20 it was disbanded, and on its basis the 130th Tank Brigade was created. Commander - P.S. Fotchenkov.
The 9th TD was formed in July 1940 in the North Caucasian Military District as a separate tank division, then included in the 27th MK. Stationed in the city of Mary. In mid-June, the transfer of division units to Ukraine began. After the start of the war, the 27th MK was disbanded, and the 9th Tank Division became separate. Soon it changed its number, becoming the 104th TD. Commander - Colonel V. G. Burkov.
The 10th TD was formed in July 1940 in KOVO as part of the 4th MK. In 1941 transferred to the 15th MK. She was stationed before the war in the city of Zolochev. Fully equipped - 365 tanks (of which 63 KB, 38 T-34) and 83 BA. On June 22, she marched to the Radekhov and Brody area, where on the 23rd she entered into battle with the enemy’s 262nd and 297th infantry divisions. On June 26, as part of the 15th MK, she participated in the attack of the mechanized corps of the Southwestern Front, advancing from the Brody area to Radekhov, Berestechko. In the battles it suffered heavy losses and subsequently covered the withdrawal of the Southwestern Front troops. At the beginning of July, Berdichev fought with the 11th Tank Division of the Germans, was surrounded, but managed to break through to its own. At the end of July, she was again surrounded near Uman and again managed to break out of the ring. After reorganization on August 20, it was included in the 40th Army and defended itself at Konotop. On August 29, she launched an offensive in the direction of Shostka and Glukhov. In September, it repulsed (unsuccessfully) the attack of Guderian's tank group to the south, which ended in the encirclement of the main forces of the Southwestern Front. After the loss of almost all the equipment, the 10th TD was withdrawn to the rear, to the Kharkov area. Here on September 28 it was disbanded, and on its basis the 131st and 133rd Tank Brigades were created (from December 8, 1942 - the 11th Guards Korsun-Berlin Red Banner Order of Suvorov, Kutuzov, Bogdan Khmelnitsky Tank Brigade). Commander - Mr. S.Ya. Ogurtsov (was captured in August).
The 11th TD was formed in July 1940 in the OdVO as part of the 2nd MK. Before the war, she was stationed in the Tiraspol area. With the beginning of the war, it reached the Soviet-Romanian border, where on June 25, together with the 74th Infantry Division, it launched a counterattack in order to eliminate the Skulyan bridgehead. On the 27th, Skulany was released. At the end of June - beginning of July, she participated in the counterattack of the 2nd MK on Balti in order to stop the enemy advance. On July 8, she struck at the junction of the 4th Romanian and 11th German armies, managing to stop the enemy by 10.07. Due to the aggravation of the situation on the right flank of the Southern Fleet, the 2nd MK was transferred to the Khristianovka area, where on July 22 the 11th and 16th tank divisions launched a counterattack on the 11th and 16th tank divisions of the Germans in the direction of Uman with the aim of not allow the 18th Army to be encircled. The task was completed, and subsequently the division fought defensive battles, retreating to the east. By July 30, the 11th and 16th TDs of the 2nd MK had lost 442 tanks out of 489. On August 27, they were disbanded, and the 132nd Tank Brigade was created on its basis (since January 24, 1942, the 4th Guards Smolensk-Minsk Red Banner Order of Suvorov TBR). Commander - Mr. G.I. Kuzmin.
The Germans are inspecting abandoned equipment at the crossing of the Dnieper, removing suitable spare parts. One of the drivers liked the spare tire from the BA-10.
The 12th TD was formed in July 1940 in KOVO as part of the 8th MK on the basis of the 14th Tank Brigade. Before the war she was stationed in Stryi. On June 22, after the transfer of the 8th MK from the 26th Army to the 6th Army, it marched to a new concentration area. On the 23rd, in the Brody area, it repelled the attack of the 16th tank and 16th motorized divisions of the 48th MK of the Germans. On June 24, by order of the commander of the 6th Army, she marched in a new direction. Having received the order from the commander of the Southwestern Front, on June 26 she moved to a new deployment area to participate in the counterattack of the mechanized corps. During the first 4 days of the war, obeying contradictory orders from the command, she covered 500 km and lost 50% of her materiel due to technical reasons. On June 26, it was introduced into battle on the move, in parts and without sufficient preparation. Having crossed the Słonówka River and fighting with the 16th German Tank Division, it advanced 20 km. On June 27, at the Turkovichi-Poddubtsy line, it suffered heavy losses from artillery fire and went on the defensive. On the 28th, she again attacked the enemy - the 16th TD, 75th and 111th Infantry Divisions, advanced 12 km, but by the evening was forced to withdraw. On the 29th she was surrounded in the Radzivilov area, but by the end of the day she managed to escape from the encirclement, having lost all her materiel. By June 30, out of 858 tanks, 10 remained in the 8th MK. In subsequent battles, the division participated as a rifle unit. On September 1, it was disbanded, and the 129th Tank Brigade was created on its basis. Commander - Mr. T.A. Mishanin.
The 13th TD was formed in July 1940 in the ZabVO as part of the 5th MK. Stationed in the Borzi area. On June 15, 1941, as part of the 16th Army, she was sent to KOVO. At the end of June it was transferred to the Polar Fleet, where it became part of the 20th Army. On July 5, having 238 BT-7 and other vehicles, together with the 17th TD of the 5th MK, the 14th and 18th TD of the 7th MK, participated in a counterattack on the 39th and 47th MK Army Group " Center" in the Lepel direction. Having advanced 20 km, I stopped due to lack of fuel. Resuming the offensive on July 7, the tank divisions encountered organized defenses and suffered heavy losses (more than 50% of their materiel). Since July 9, she fought against the German 17th TD north of Orsha. In mid-July, together with other troops of the 20th Army, she was encircled in the Smolensk region. At the beginning of August, the remnants of the division made their way to their own. Disbanded on August 10. Commander - Colonel F.U.Grachev.
The 14th TD was formed in July 1940 in the Moscow Military District as part of the 7th MK. Stationed in the Moscow region. By the beginning of the war it had 179 BT-7 and other tanks. After the start of the war, the 7th Mechanized Corps became part of the Polar Fleet troops. On July 5, she participated in the counterattack of 5 and 7 MK in the Lepel direction against 3 Tgr. On July 8, she fought a counter battle with the 18th German tank division in the Senno area. Due to heavy losses (more than 50% of tanks), on July 9 it was withdrawn from the battle into reserve. At the end of July she was in the Vyazma region in the reserve of the commander of the Polar Fleet. Disbanded on August 19. Commander - Colonel I.D. Vasiliev.
The 15th TD was formed in March 1941 in KOVO as part of the 16th MK. Stationed in Stanislav. From the beginning of the war, she fought with the German 48th MK, which operated on the right flank of the 1st Tank Group. On June 26, it was transferred to the 18th Army of the Southern Fleet. In July, again as part of the Southwestern Front, she took part in defensive battles in the Berdichev area, covering the withdrawal of the Southwestern Front troops. By the end of July, she had lost almost all her tanks (as of July 30 in the 16th MK - 5 T-28 and 12 BA) and
found herself surrounded near Uman. The remnants of the division managed to break out of the encirclement in August. On August 14, it was disbanded, and on its basis the 4th Tank Brigade was created (since 11/11/1941, the 1st Guards Chertkovskaya twice Order of Lenin Red Banner Orders of Suvorov, Kutuzov, Bogdan Khmelnitsky Tank Brigade). Commander - Colonel V.I. Polozkov.
The 16th TD was formed in July 1940 in the OdVO as part of the 2nd MK. Stationed in Kotovsk. After the start of the war it became part of the 9th Army of the Southern Fleet. At the end of June, together with the 11th TD, it participated in a counterattack in the direction of Balti, stopping the enemy advance. Then it was transferred to the Uman region, where from the 11th tank division it struck the enemy’s 11th and 16th tank divisions in order to eliminate the threat of encirclement of the 18th Army. Having thrown the enemy back 40 km, she subsequently fought defensive battles in the Khristianovka area. Disbanded on August 20. Commander - Colonel M.I. Myndro.
The 17th TD was formed in July 1940 in the ZabVO as part of the 5th MK. Stationed in the Borzi area. By the beginning of the war it had 255 BT-7 and other vehicles. On June 15, the division began transferring to Ukraine, but after the start of the war with the 5th MK it was sent to the Polar Fleet. On July 5, she took part in the counterattack of the 5th and 7th MK in the Lepel direction. Having advanced 20 km, it stood for almost a day without fuel, resuming the offensive on July 7. On July 8, she fought a counter battle with the enemy’s 18th Tank Division in the Dubnyaki area. After the loss of most of the tanks, it was withdrawn to reserve in the Orsha region. Later she participated in the Battle of Smolensk. The 17th Motorized Rifle Division was the first to be awarded the Order of Lenin in the Great Patriotic War. On August 28, it was disbanded, and the 126th Tank Brigade was created on its basis. Commander - Colonel I.P. Korchagin.
Lying in the BT river. The tank, left on the bridge as a barrier, was thrown into the water by German tank crews to clear the road.
The wreck of a T-26, destroyed by an explosion of fuel and ammunition. Karelian Isthmus.
KV-1 manufactured in August 1941 with additional hull armor. Side 25 mm screens of increased height to protect the turret ring. In place of the headlight there is a plug.
The 18th TD was formed in July 1940 in the Moscow Military District as part of the 7th MK. Stationed in the Moscow region. On June 28, it became part of the Polar Fleet troops. In July, she took part in a counterattack in the Lepel direction. In an oncoming tank battle with the enemy's 17th and 18th tank divisions, it lost more than 50% of its materiel. On July 9, she was transferred to the reserve of the Polar Fleet in the Vyazma region. Later she fought in the Moscow direction. On September 1, it was disbanded, and the 127th Tank Brigade was created on its basis. Commander - Mr. F.T. Remizov.
The 19th TD was formed in March 1941 in KOVO as part of the 22nd MK. Stationed in Rivne. As of June 22, it had 163 tanks. On the night of June 23, she made a 50 km march to the area northeast of Lutsk, suffering losses from air strikes and for technical reasons (118 tanks - 72%). On the 24th, with only 45 T-26s, it attacked the 14th German Panzer Division in the Voinitsa area. Having lost most of the tanks, they retreated. In the battle, the commander of the 22nd mechanized corps, Kondrusev, was killed, and the division commander was wounded. The remnants of the division retreated to Rivne. On July 1, she took part in a counterattack in the direction of Dubno, but, having suffered an attack from the flank of the SS division “Adolf Hitler” on July 2, she was forced to defend herself, retreating to the east. 10-14.07 attacked the enemy’s 113th Infantry and 25th Motorized Divisions in the Novograd-Volynsk direction. At the end of July - beginning of August, she fought in the area of the Korosten fortified area. By 19.08 there was only one tank left in the division. Disbanded on October 8. Commander - Mr. K.A. Semenchenko.
The 20th TD was formed in July 1940 in KOVO as part of the 9th MK. Stationed in Shepetivka. By the beginning of the war it had 36 tanks. On the evening of June 22, she marched to Lutsk. On the 24th, near Klevan, she attacked the German 13th Infantry Division, losing all her tanks in the battle. On June 26, as part of the 9th MK, she took part in a counterattack in the Dubno area against the enemy’s 13th Tank and 299th Infantry Divisions. By the end of the day, due to the threat of encirclement, it retreated to Klevan. Until June 30, she fought with the Germans’ 14th TD and 25th MD at the line of the Goryn River, and then near Klevan. 10-14.07 participated in a counterattack in the Novograd-Volyn direction, after which until August 6 she fought in the Korosten fortified area (no tanks, 2 thousand personnel). At the end of August it defended itself in the area north of Chernigov. Disbanded on September 9. Commander - pc M.E. Katukov (in the first days of the war due to Katukov’s illness - pc V.M. Chernyaev).
Booked in the Leningrad workshops ZIS-5 with the installation of a DT machine gun in the cabin and a 45-mm 21-K naval gun in the wheelhouse in the back. Leningrad Front, October 5, 1941
Another version of a homemade armored truck with an anti-tank “forty-five” installed in the back. A car in winter camouflage. Leningrad Front, November 22, 1941
The 21st TD was formed in March 1941 in the Leningrad Military District as part of the 10th MK. It was stationed in the Leningrad area. From the beginning of the war she was in reserve. In July, it was included in the 1st MK NWF, then sent to strengthen the 11th Army. Participated 14 - 18.07 in the counterattack of the 11th Army troops against Manstein's 56th MK in the area of the city of Soltsy, striking from the north. After 16 hours of battle with the 8th TD and 3rd MD, the Germans threw the enemy back 40 km. In August it became part of the 48th Army and fought defensive battles in the NWF as an infantry unit. On March 3, 1942, it was disbanded, and on its basis the 103rd (from November 20, 1944 - the 65th Guards Sevsko-Pomeranian Order of Lenin twice Red Banner Orders of Suvorov, Kutuzov, Bogdan Khmelnitsky Tank Brigade) and the 104th Tank Brigade were created . Commander - Colonel L.V. Bunin.
The 22nd TD was formed in March 1941 in the Zapovovo as part of the 14th MK on the basis of the 29th Tank Brigade. It was stationed in Brest, 2 km from the border. In the first hours of the war, it was subjected to massive shelling, as a result of which it lost most of its tanks, artillery and vehicles. The artillery warehouse and the fuel and lubricants warehouse were destroyed. The remnants of the division reached the concentration area by 12 o'clock, having almost no fuel, ammunition and communications equipment. On the 2nd half of the day on June 22, it entered into battle with the 3rd Panzer Division of General Model. On June 23, with about 100 tanks, it took part in the counterattack of the 14th MK in the Brest area. In the battle near Zhabinka with the 3rd TD she suffered losses and, under the threat of encirclement, retreated to Kobrin, where she was subjected to air strikes. The division commander, Mr. V.P. Puganoye, died. Command was taken over by Colonel I.V.Konnov. On June 24, together with the 30th TD, having a total of 25 tanks, it stopped the troops of the 47th MK of General Lemelsen at the turn of the Shara River, southeast of Baranovichi. 25 - 28.06 fought in the Slutsk area with the 3rd German TD. By the end of June 28, the division had 450 people, 45 vehicles, and no tanks. Disbanded on June 28.
The 23rd TD was formed in March 1941 in the Baltic Military District as part of the 12th MK. Stationed in Liepaja. On June 22, she was in the Kurtuvena area. On June 23, having received an order to launch a counterattack against the enemy’s Tilsit group that had broken through in the Skaudville area, it marched from Plunge to the Laukuwa area, armed with 333 T-26s. On the march, it lost 17 tanks to air strikes. On the same day, the first military clash with the enemy took place. On June 24, she took part in an oncoming tank battle in the Siauliai area with troops of the 4th Tank Group. By the end of the day, having lost most of its tanks, the 23rd Division ceased to exist as a single combat unit. Its remnants became part of the 8th Army and defended themselves in the Ostrov area until July 3rd. On July 8, it left Pskov under the attacks of the German 1st Tank Division. At this time, the division had 2 serviceable tanks left (plus 56 damaged and in need of repair). 144 tanks were lost from enemy fire, 122 due to technical reasons, 9 were transferred to other units. Disbanded on August 16. Commander - Colonel T.S. Orlenko.
The 24th TD was formed in March 1941 in the Leningrad Military District as part of the 10th MK. Stationed in the Leningrad area. As of June 22, it had 139 BT-2, 88 BT-5 and other vehicles. In early July, it was included in the Luga operational group. 13.07 entered into battle with the enemy's 41st MK, participating in a counterattack on the Luga line. In July - August she fought defensive battles here. At the beginning of September, she was surrounded along with the troops of the Luga operational group. The remnants of the division managed to break through to their own. On September 22, it was disbanded, and the 124th and 125th tank brigades were created on its basis. Commander - Colonel M.I. Chesnokov.
The 25th TD was formed in March 1941 in the Zapovovo as part of the 13th Mk. It was stationed in the Bielsk-Podlasny area. Since June 22, she fought on the Bialystok ledge. On June 25, together with other troops of the 10th Army, she was surrounded west of Minsk. The remnants of the division, without equipment, made their way to their own at the end of July on the Sozha River. Disbanded on July 4th. Commander - Colonel N.M. Nikiforov.
The 26th TD was formed in March 1941 in the Zapovovo as part of the 20th Mk. It was stationed in the Borisov area. Before the war, the 20th Mechanized Corps had only 93 tanks. On June 24, the division was sent to the front as part of the 13th Army. On the same day, she entered into battle at Negoreloye station. She fought for 7 days between the Berezina and Dnieper rivers. June 29 - on the near approaches to Minsk with the 17th TD von Arnim, but by the end of the day she was forced to leave Minsk. With fighting it retreated to the Dnieper. On July 7, the division had 3,800 people and 5 guns. On 9.07, in the defense sector of the 20th MK, the troops of the 2nd Tank Group of the Germans broke through the front of the 13th Army, and it was soon withdrawn to the rear. On July 12, the 26th TD was transferred to the command of the commander of the 61st Infantry Division and on July 17, it took part in the counterattack on Orsha. Having advanced to the west, it was stopped by German troops and forced to retreat to its original line on July 20 with heavy losses. Disbanded on July 21. Commander - Mr. V.T. Obukhov.
The 27th TD was formed in March 1941 in the Zapovovo as part of the 17th Mk. Stationed in Novogrudok. By the beginning of the war, the formation of the division was not completed. There were no materiel, the personnel were armed with rifles by 30 - 35%. The incapacitated division was ordered to take up defensive positions in the Baranovichi area. Only three thousand people came to the defense line, and the remaining 6 thousand were concentrated in the forest without weapons. As a result of the attack by German troops, the division was destroyed. Disbanded on August 1. Commander - Colonel A.O. Akhmanov.
Tank landing on the armor of KV-1 and T-34 during a counterattack. Tank unit of the holder of two Orders of the Red Banner, Major V.I. Filippova.
The 28th TD was formed in February 1941 in the Baltic Military District as part of the 12th MK. Stationed in Riga. On June 18, it began advancing to the border, consisting of 210 BT-7s and other vehicles. On June 23, having received an order to launch a counterattack on German troops in the direction of Skaudvile, she marched to the starting line of Varnai-Uzhventis, losing 27 tanks from air strikes. After standing for several hours due to lack of fuel, it entered into battle with the enemy’s 1st Tank Division only on the evening of the 24th. On June 25, at Pashili, it defeated a column of the 8th motorized regiment of the Germans, but, coming under heavy artillery fire, retreated after 4 hours of battle, losing 48 tanks. In total, 84 tanks were lost on June 25. By June 26, 40 vehicles remained in the division. In the following days, the 28th TD covered the withdrawal of the NWF troops. 6.07 was withdrawn to the rear for reorganization (by this time it had lost 133 tanks from enemy fire, and 68 due to technical reasons). At the beginning of August, the remnants of the division, some parts of the 48th Army and all attached sapper units were united into an operational group under the command of division commander I.T. Korovnikov for the defense of Novgorod, and then participated in the battles in Valdai. On September 13, the division had 552 people and 4 guns. On January 13, 1942, the 28th TD was transformed into the 241st Infantry Division (ended the war as the 241st Vinnitsa Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky and the Red Star of the Infantry Division). Commander - Colonel I.D. Chernyakhovsky.
The 29th TD was formed in March 1941 in the Zapovovo as part of the 11th Mk. Stationed in Grodno. On June 22, she counterattacked units of the enemy’s 20th Army Corps in the direction of Lipsk, but due to the disorganization of supplies at the height of the battle, she was left without fuel and ammunition. As a result of the oncoming battle at the Golynka-Lipsk line, having lost almost all materiel and a large number of personnel, Novogrudok retreated towards Novogrudok. On June 25, 600 people and 15 tanks remained in the division. At the end of June it was surrounded west of Minsk. Due to the lack of 2.07 fuel, all materiel was destroyed. The remnants of the division made their way to their own. Disbanded on July 14. Commander - Colonel N.P. Studnev.
The 30th TD was formed in April 1941 in the Zapovovo as part of the 14th MK on the basis of the 32nd Tank Brigade. Stationed in Pruzhany. Before the war it had 174 T-26s. On June 22, it entered into battle in the Pilitz area with the 18th German TD of General Nehring and stopped it for some time. On June 23, having 120 tanks, it took part in the counterattack of the 14th MK near Brest. During an oncoming tank battle with the enemy's 17th and 18th tank divisions, it lost 60 tanks and retreated, leaving Pruzhany. Due to poor organization and management, the counterattack failed. On June 24, together with the 22nd TD, she fought on the Shara River, where most of the infantry units were surrounded. 25 - 28.06 defended Slutsk, repelling attacks of the German 3rd Panzer Division. By the end of June 28, the division remained with 1,090 people, 2 T-26s, 90 vehicles and 3 tractors. Disbanded on June 30. Commander - Colonel S.I. Bogdanov.
The 31st TD was formed in March 1941 in the Zapovovo as part of the 13th Mk. It was stationed in the Bielsk-Podlasny area. On June 22, it entered the battle in the defense zone of the 10th Army of the Polar Fleet at the turn of the Nurets River. It was surrounded in the area of Belovezhskaya Pushcha and destroyed. Disbanded on June 30. Commander - Colonel S.A. Kalikhovich.
The 32nd TD was formed in March 1941 in KOVO as part of the 4th MK on the basis of the 30th Ltbr. Stationed in Lvov. It was fully equipped, had about 200 KB and a T-34. Since June 22, she fought on the Lvov ledge against the right wing of the strike group of Army Group South. It came into contact with the enemy at noon on 22.06 south of Christi-nople. On June 23, she fought in the Velikiye Mosty area. In the evening of the same day, having received an order from the commander of the 6th Army to destroy the enemy in the Kamenka area, she attacked German troops on this section of the front. On June 24, she was withdrawn to Lvov, where she came under fire on the streets from members of the OUN. On June 25, units of the 14th MK counterattacked in the Yavorov area, losing 15 tanks in battle. From 26.06 to the north-west of Lvov it repelled attacks of the 1st State Guard Division of the Germans. Subsequently, she fought defensive battles in the area of Starokon-stantinov and Ostropol. At the beginning of July, she participated in the defense of Berdichev, acting against the German 16th Panzer Division. She was surrounded near Uman at the end of July. The remnants of the division made their way to their own in August. On August 10, it was disbanded, and on its basis the 1st (from 02/16/1942 - 6th Guards Sivashskayatbr) and 8th Tank Brigade (from 01/11/1942 3rd Guards Minsk-Gdansk Order of Lenin Red Banner Order of Suvorov) were created tbr). Commander - Colonel E.G. Pushkin.
A dug-in T-28 in defensive positions near Leningrad. The tank is whitewashed with winter camouflage. December 9, 1941
Red Army soldiers inspect the damaged self-propelled gun Stu G III Ausf E. Judging by the antenna and armored box of the powerful radio station, this is the vehicle of the division commander.
The 33rd TD was formed in March 1941 in the Zapovovo as part of the 11th MK. Stationed in Grodno. On June 22, it entered the battle in the Augustow area. 23-24.06 participated in the counterattack of the 11th MK in the Bialystok area, but, being left in the midst of the battle without fuel and ammunition, lost almost all the tanks and retreated towards Novogrudok. Here on June 25 she was surrounded. The remnants of the division managed to break through to their own in July. Disbanded on July 14. Commander - Colonel M.F. Panov.
The 34th TD was formed in July 1940 in KOVO as part of the 8th MK on the basis of the 14th heavy tank brigade. Stationed in Sadovaya Vishnya. The only tank division armed with heavy T-35 tanks (the 67th 68th tank regiments had 48 tanks that were previously part of the 14th Tank Brigade, all of which were lost in the first days of the war for technical reasons). On June 22, it was transferred from the 26th Army to the 6th Army and marched to a new concentration area. 06/24 - another march (by order of the commander of the 6th Army) to a new location. On June 25, by order of the commander of the Southwestern Front, she began moving to participate in the counterattack in the Dubno area. In the first three days of the war, it covered more than 500 km, losing 50% of its materiel due to technical reasons. On June 26, she attacked the enemy’s 16th Tank Division, advancing 10 km in the direction of Berestechko. On June 27, a mobile group was formed from the 34th Tank Division, the 24th Tank Division of the 12th Tank Division and the 2nd MtsP under the command of Brigade Commissar N.K. Popel, who was ordered by a member of the Military Council of the Southwestern Front Vashugin, under threat of execution, to take Dubno. The offensive began without preliminary reconnaissance and preparation. With heavy losses, the division drove the enemy out of Dubno by the evening of June 27, driving him back with the 11th tank. The next day it was surrounded by the Germans (16th Panzer Division, 75th and 111th Infantry Divisions) and completely destroyed. On June 29, division commander I.V. Vasilyev died in battle. A small group led by Popel managed to get through to their own people. After this failure, Corps Commissar Vashugin shot himself. On August 15, the division was disbanded, and the 2nd and 16th tank brigades were created on its basis. Commander - Colonel I.V. Vasiliev.
The 35th TD was formed in December 1940 in KOVO as part of the 9th MK. Stationed in Novograd-Vo-lynsk. By the beginning of the war it had 142 tanks (141 T-26, I chemical). On June 22, she marched to Lutsk. On June 24, southwest of Klevan, it entered into battle with the German 13th TD, participating in a counterattack by the Southwestern Front mechanized corps. 26-27.06 fought with the 299th Infantry Division at the Stawok-Mlynow line. In the evening of June 27, it withdrew across the Goryn River under the attacks of the enemy’s 14th TD and 25th Infantry Division. Then, until July 4, it defended itself in the Tsuman and Klevan areas. 1014.07, as part of the 9th MK, launched a counterattack on the 44th and 95th German infantry divisions in the Novograd-Volynsk direction, slowing down their advance. At the end of July - beginning of August, she fought at the line of the Korostvo fortified area. By August 19, the division had 927 people and not a single tank. Disbanded on September 10. Commander - Mr. N.A. Novikov.
The 36th TD was formed in March 1941 in the Zapovovo as part of the 17th Mk. It was stationed in the Baranovichi area. By the beginning of the war, it had virtually no materiel, so from the first days of the war it was used in defensive battles in Belarus as a rifle formation. Disbanded on August 1. Commander - Colonel S.Z. Miroshnikov.
The 37th TD was formed in March 1941 in KOVO as part of the 15th MK. Stationed in Sukhodoly. On June 22, she marched to the border in the area west of Brody. As part of the 15th Mechanized Corps, she participated in a counterattack on the right flank of the 1st Tank Group of Kleist, advancing from the Brod area in the direction of Radekhov, Berestechko. In battles with the 297th Infantry Division it suffered heavy losses and was forced to retreat. At the beginning of July, it defended itself in the Berdichev area, then on the approaches to Kyiv. On August 10, it was disbanded, and the 3rd Tank Brigade was created on its basis. Commander - Colonel F.G. Anikushkin.
T-26 unit before the march.
In the Moscow direction: Pz Kpfw II Ausf C and Pz Kpfw III Ausf G on a village street near Rzhev.
The 38th TD was formed in March 1941 in the Zapovovo as part of the 20th Mk. It was stationed in the Baranovichi area. As of June 22, 3 divisions of the 20th Mechanized Corps had 13 BT tanks and 80 T-26s. 06/24 sent to the front as part of the 13th Army. Until June 30, she fought on the outskirts of Minsk with von Arnim’s 17th Tank Division. After Minsk was abandoned, it retreated to the Berezino-Svisloch line. Until 09.07 she fought defensive battles on the Berezina-Dnieper line. After the Germans broke through the front in the defense sector of the 20th MK, he was withdrawn to the rear. On July 17, as part of the 61st Rifle Corps, together with the 26th Tank Division, it launched an attack on Orsha. It moved forward, but by 20.07 it was thrown back to its original line. Disbanded on August 1.
The 39th TD was formed in March 1941 in KOVO as part of the 16th MK. Stationed in Chernivtsi. From June 23, she took part in battles against the enemy's 48th MK. On June 26, it was transferred to the 18th Army of the Southern Front and fought on the right flank of the Southern Front. 04.07 returned to the Southwestern Fleet, on July 7 began unloading from railway trains, immediately entering the battle at Berdichev, where in July-August it fought back to the east. On September 19, it was disbanded. Commander - Colonel N.V. Starkov.
The 40th TD was formed in March 1941 in KOVO as part of the 19th MK. Stationed in Zhitomir. By the beginning of the war it had 158 tanks (19 T-26, 139 T-37). Having completed a 300 km march, on June 24 she entered the battle west of Rivne. On June 26, participating in a counterattack by the mechanized corps of the Southwestern Front, it fought a counter battle with the German 13th Panzer Division, in which it suffered heavy losses. Due to the breakthrough of the enemy's 13th Panzer Division at the junction of the 40th and 43rd Panzer Divisions and the emerging threat of encirclement, it was forced to withdraw. On June 27, it defended itself on the outskirts of Rivne, repelling attacks from the enemy’s 13th TD and 299th Infantry Division. The next day, due to the envelopment of the divisions of the 19th Mechanized Corps, the 11th German Tank Division abandoned Rivne and held the defense on the line of the Goryn River until 3.07. From 4.07 began the withdrawal to the line of fortified areas. At 09.07, 75 tanks remained in the 40th and 43rd divisions. 10 - 14.07 participated in the counterattack in the Novograd-Volyn direction against the 99th and 298th German infantry regiments. Then, until August 5, it defended itself at the line of the Korosten fortified area. Disbanded on August 10. On its basis, the 45th (since 02/07/1943, the 20th Guards Yassko-Mukden Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Tank Brigade) and the 47th Tank Brigade were created. Commander - Colonel M.V.Shirobokov.
The 41st TD was formed in March 1941 in KOVO as part of the 22nd MK. Stationed in Vladimir-Volynsky. By the beginning of the war it had 415 tanks (31 KB, 342 T-26, 41 chemical and 1 T-37). All 31 KV-2s arrived a week before the war and had not yet been used by the crews. In addition, there were no 152-mm shells for them, so on June 24, the Chief of the General Staff G.K. Zhukov, who was in the Southwestern Federal District, was forced to order the use of concrete-piercing shells of the 1909-30 model. On June 22, in accordance with the mobilization plan, the division left Vladimir-Volynsky for the Kovel region, but, on the way, it got into a swamp, got stuck in it and was unable to complete its task, having also suffered heavy losses from air strikes and artillery fire. For this, the division commander, Pavlov, was removed from his post. Having been transferred to the subordination of the commander of the 15th Infantry Division, the division was fragmented into small units: on June 22, the 41st Motorized Rifle Regiment was transferred to the 45th Infantry Division, on June 23, two tank battalions were transferred to the 87th Infantry Division, 5 tanks to guard the headquarters of the 5th Army . 06/24 20 tanks were transferred to the 45th Infantry Division, 30 tanks to the 62nd Infantry Division. On the same day, a tank company was engaged in the pursuit of small enemy landings, and two more tank companies were sent to guard the CP of the 15th infantry regiment. By the end of June 25, the entire 41st TD was divided into units. Then, until the beginning of July, it was in the Kovel area in readiness to repel an attack from Brest. On July 1, having 16 KB and 106 T-26s, it took part in a counterattack on Dubno against the 14th German tank division, which ended in failure. After retreating to the east, 10-14.07 participated in a counterattack in the Novograd-Volyn direction against the 113th Infantry Division, 25th Infantry Division, SS Adolf Hitler ICBM. 18.07 began to retreat to the northeast. At the end of July - beginning of August, she fought in the area of the Korosten fortified area. By 19.08 there was only one tank left in the division. At the end of August, it defended itself on the Dnieper, in the Chernobyl region. Disbanded on September 9. Commander - P.P. Pavlov.
Map from the German army magazine "Signal" for October 1941, illustrating the losses of the Red Army.
On the approaches to Moscow. T-26s move forward to attack. October 1941
Members of the government evacuated to Kuibyshev take part in the parade on November 7, 1941.
The 42nd TD was formed in March 1941 in the Moscow Military District as part of the 21st MK. Stationed in the Idritsa area. By the beginning of the war, the three divisions of the 21st MK had only 98 tanks. On June 25, as part of the 21st MK, it was transferred to the NWF in order to cover the Daugavpils direction, where the 8th Tank and 3rd Motorized Divisions of the 56th MK Manstein, which broke through at the junction of the 8th and 11th armies, were advancing. Having completed a 200-km march, on June 29 she entered into battle with the 121st Infantry Division east of Daugavpils, then participated in street battles with the 3rd German Infantry Division. From July 2, it repulsed attacks by the 8th Tank Division, the 3rd Infantry Division, and the SS Division “Totenkopf” in the Rezekne area (on July 3, at Dalda, it defeated a column of this division). In July - August it took part in the battles near Pskov and Novgorod as a rifle formation. On September 5, it was disbanded, and the 42nd Tank Brigade was created on its basis. Commander - Colonel N.I. Voeikov.
The 43rd TD was formed in March 1941 in KOVO as part of the 19th MK on the basis of the 35th light tank brigade. Stationed in Berdichev. By the beginning of the war it had 237 tanks (5 KB, 2 T-34, 230 T-26). On June 22, she began advancing to the border. 27-28.06 on the outskirts of Rivne it fought with the 13th Tank and 299th Infantry Divisions. As a result of the German breakthrough (11th TD) and the threat of encirclement, it left Rivne on June 28 and began retreating to the east. In July, she took part in counterattacks on the left flank of Army Group South in the Kiev direction in the area of Novograd-Volyn and Korosten UR. At the beginning of August it was withdrawn to the rear, near Kharkov. On August 10, it was disbanded, and the 10th Tank Brigade was created on its basis. Commander - Colonel I.G. Tsibin.
The 44th TD was formed in March 1941 in the Military Division as part of the 18th MK on the basis of the 49th Ltbr. Stationed in Tarutino. Since the beginning of the war, she fought in the Southern Front zone. On June 29, 18 MK was sent to the Western Front. On July 9, due to the danger of encirclement of the 6th Army of the Southwestern Front by the troops of the 1st Tank Group that reached Berdichev, the divisions of the 18th Mechanized Corps, which at that moment were marching from Chernivtsi to Lyubar, were transferred to the 6th Army. From 10.07, the 44th Division fought at Berdichev with the enemy’s 16th Tank Division. On July 19, it became part of the 18th Army and took part in the counterattack south of Vinnitsa against the German 17th Army. On July 25, troops of the 17th Army broke through the defenses in the zone of the 18th Mechanized and 17th Rifle Corps, forcing them to retreat from the Gaisin-Trostyanets area. By July 30, 22 tanks remained in the 18th MK. At the beginning of August it was withdrawn to the rear, to the Pavlograd area. Disbanded on August 21. Commander - Colonel V.P. Krymov.
The 45th TD was formed in March 1941 in KOVO as part of the 24th MK. It was stationed in the Proskurov area. By the beginning of the war, the 45th and 49th tank divisions had 222 tanks. Since June 22, she fought as part of the troops of the 26th Army of the Southwestern Front. At the end of June, it defended itself in the Starokonstantinov area, fighting with the 14th MK. At the beginning of July it was transferred to the 12th Army and defended itself in the Letichevsky fortified area. At the end of July she was surrounded near Uman, where she died. Disbanded on September 30.
KV-1 leaves the Moscow plant after repair. The applied armor shields on the bolts on the turret and hull are clearly visible.
Camouflaged KV-1 in a forest ambush. Ambush tactics have become the most effective in the fight against advancing enemy tanks. October 29, 1941
The 46th TD was formed in March 1941 in the Moscow Military District as part of the 21st MK. Stationed in Opochka. At the end of June it was transferred to the Northern Western Fleet to repel the German attack on Daugavpils. On June 28, in the first echelon of the 21st MK, she attacked the 56th Motorized Corps, as a result of which the enemy was stopped in this direction until July 2. After the start of a new offensive by German troops (8 TD, 3 MD) in the Rezekne area, from July 2, it fought back to the northeast. Later, left without materiel, she took part in defensive battles in the NWF. On September 1, it was disbanded, and on its basis the 46th Tank Brigade was created (since 02/16/1942, the 7th Guards Novgorod-Berlin Red Banner Order of Suvorov and the Red Star Tank Brigade). Commander - Colonel V.A. Koptsov.
The 47th TD was formed in March 1941 in the OdVO as part of the 18th MK on the basis of the 23rd Ltbr. Stationed in Akkerman. In the first days of the war she was in reserve. On June 29, it was transferred to the Vinnitsa area, where in mid-July it entered into battle with units of the 17th Army. At the end of July she was surrounded in the Tulchin area. On July 28, the remnants of the division, without equipment, made their way to their own. In early August, a group was formed from parts of the 18th Mechanized Corps under the command of Mr. P.V. Volokh, which fought as part of the 18th Army. On August 12, it was withdrawn to the rear to the Poltava region for reorganization. On August 31, having 34 tanks, it became part of the 38th Army and took up defense on the Dnieper near Kremenchug. After the start of the German offensive with the aim of encircling the Southwestern Front, it fought back to Poltava. On September 10, it launched a counterattack in the Kobelyak area, and on September 19–22, it fought at the Pisarevka-Shevchenko line near Poltava. 30.09 was withdrawn to the rear, to the Kharkov area. Here the 47th Motorized Rifle Regiment was transferred to the 199th Infantry Division and materiel to the 71st separate tank battalion. On October 7, it was disbanded and the 142nd Tank Brigade was created on its basis. Commander - PC G.S.Rodin.
The 48th TD was formed in March 1941 and the Ordnance Military District was formed as part of the 23rd Mk. Stationed in the Orel area. At the end of June she was transferred to the Western Front, where she entered into battle on July 6. Participated in the Battle of Smolensk. On September 2, it was disbanded, and on its basis the 17th (from 11/17/1942 the 9th Guards Zaporizhian Order of Suvorov Tank Brigade) and the 18th Tank Brigade were created (from 04/10/1943 the 42nd Guards Smolensk Red Banner Order of Suvorov, Bogdan Khmelnitsky , Red Star tbr). Commander - Colonel D.Ya.Yakovlev.
The 49th TD was formed in March 1941 in KOVO and as part of the 24th MK. It was stationed in the Proskurov area. With the beginning of the war, it became part of the 26th Army of the Southwestern Front, and then, at the beginning of July, the 12th Army. Conducted defensive battles in the area of Letichevsky UR. At the end of July she was surrounded in the Uman region. Disbanded on September 17.
The 50th TD was formed in March 1941 in the HVO as part of the 25th MK. Stationed in the Kharkov region. On June 25, she was sent by rail to the Southwestern Federal District. On June 30, it began unloading near Kyiv, joining the 19th Army. But soon she was transferred to the Polar Fleet in the Gomel region. On July 4, at Novozybkovo, the 25th MK, having received 32 T-34s in addition to 300 tanks, became part of the 21st Army and struck German troops in the direction of Godilovichi. In mid-July, she took part in a counterattack on Bobruisk, after which she defended herself in the Mogilev region, repelling attacks by the 10th and 17th infantry divisions. In mid-August it was included in the 13th Army of the Bryansk Front. She fought against the troops of the 2nd Tgr, who turned south with the aim of encircling the Southwestern Front. On September 17, it was disbanded, and the 150th Tank Brigade was created on its basis. Commander - Colonel B.S. Bakharev.
The 51st TD was formed in March 1941 in the Ordnance Military District as part of the 23rd MK. Stationed in the Orel area. After the start of the war, it was included in the 30th Army, formed in the Moscow Military District, as a separate tank division. In July it was transformed into the 110th TD.
The 52nd TD was formed in March 1941 in the North Caucasus Military District as part of the 26th Mk. By the beginning of the war, the divisions of the 26th MK had 184 tanks. In mid-June, she began redeploying to Ukraine as part of the 19th Army. After the start of the war, she was transferred to the Western Front. After the disbandment of the 26th mechanized corps in early July, it was transformed into the 101st TD. Commander - Colonel G.M. Mikhailov.
The 53rd TD was formed in March 1941 in the North Caucasian Military District as part of the 27th Mk. It was stationed in the area of the city of Mary. In mid-June, the 27th Mechanized Corps was sent to the Polar Fleet. After the start of the war, the 27th MK was disbanded. The 53rd division became separate and reorganized into the 105th TD.
"Thirty-four" in a forest clearing. In addition to camouflage, the crew covered the front of the tank with a barricade of logs.
BT-7 and KV-1 on the outskirts of the village after the battle.
Landing on T-34 armor. The chassis combines different types of road wheels, but they all have rubber tires. The tank carries a spare 200-liter barrel of fuel on its armor.
The 54th TD was formed in March 1941 in the Trans-Kyrgyz Military District as part of the 28th Mk. After the start of the war, the 28th MK was disbanded, and the 54th Tank Division became part of the 47th Army. It did not participate in hostilities, was disbanded, and on its basis the 54th (from December 26, 1942, 25th Guards Elninskaya Order of Lenin Red Banner Order of Suvorov Tank Brigade) and 55th Tank Brigade were created.
The 55th TD was formed in March 1941 in the HVO as part of the 25th MK. Stationed in Chuguev. On June 25, it was sent to the Southwestern Fleet in the Kyiv region, and at the beginning of July, with the troops of the 19th Army, it was transferred to the Western Fleet. 4.07 became part of the 21st Army. She took part in the counterattack near Bobruisk and in the Battle of Smolensk. On August 10, it was disbanded, and the 8th and 14th separate tank brigades were created on its basis. Commander - Colonel V.N. Badanov.
The 56th TD was formed in March 1941 in the North Caucasus Military District as part of the 26th Mk. In mid-June, she was sent to Ukraine as part of the 19th Army. After the start of the war, it was transferred to the Polar Fleet. In July, after the disbandment of the 26th mechanized corps, it was transformed into the 102nd TD. Commander - Colonel I.D. Illarionov.
The 57th Red Banner TD was formed in March 1941 in the ZabVO as a separate TD of the 17th Army. Stationed in Mongolia. In May 1941, she was included in the 5th MK of the 16th Army and sent to KOVO. By the beginning of the war it had more than 300 tanks. She entered the battle near Shepetovka, then was transferred to the Polar Fleet in the 19th Army. Soon transferred to the 20th Army and took part in the Battle of Smolensk. From 9.07 she fought near Krasnoye with the 29th Infantry Division. By mid-July, the division did not have the main forces of the 114th and 115th tank tanks: one lost tanks in the battles near Shepetovka, and the second was part of the 20th Army. On July 20 it retreated beyond the Dnieper. On September 1, it was disbanded, and the 128th Tank Brigade was created on its basis. Commander - Colonel V.A. Mishulin.
The 58th TD was formed in March 1941 in the Far East as part of the 30th MK. In October it was transferred to Moscow. She took part in defensive battles near Moscow from November 1, and then in the counter-offensive of Soviet troops. On December 31, it was disbanded, and the 58th Tank Brigade was created on its basis. Commander - Mr. A.A. Kotlyarov.
The 59th TD was formed in March 1941 in the Far East as a separate tank division. Stationed in the Khabarovsk region. In June
sent to the Western Front. On the way it was transformed into the 108th TD. Commander - Colonel N.I. Orlov.
The 60th TD was formed in March 1941 in the Far East as part of the 30th MK. In October it was transferred to the Northwestern Front, where it became part of the 4th Army. On November 1st she entered the battle, participating in the battles for Tikhvin. Subsequently she fought in the NWF. On January 20, 1942, it was disbanded, and the 60th Tank Brigade was created on its basis. Commander - Mr. A.F. Popov.
The 61st Red Banner TD was formed in March 1941 in ZabVO as a separate TD on the basis of the 11th Tank Brigade. She was stationed in Mongolia as part of the 17th Army. In 1941-1945. as part of the Transbaikal Front. Equipment - BT and T-26. In March 1945, it received T-34 tanks. In August 1945 it became part of the 39th Army. 9.08-2.09 1945 participated in the operation to defeat the Kwantung Army in Manchuria. Having overcome the Greater Khingan, it ended the war on the Liaodong Peninsula, defeating the 107th and 117th Japanese infantry divisions. Commander - Colonel G.I. Voronkov.
A tank landing force, supported by a T-34, attacks the village. Western Front, December 1941
The 101st TD was formed in July 1941 on the basis of the 52nd TD. On July 15, it entered the battle at the Polar Fleet. Participated in the Battle of Smolensk. In mid-July, she fought in the Smolensk region, trying to relieve the encircled 16th, 19th and 20th armies of the Polar Fleet. On September 16, it was transformed into the 101st med (10/20/1941 - disbanded). Commander - Colonel G.M. Mikhailov.
The 102nd TD was formed in July 1941 from the 56th TD. On July 15, it entered the battle at the Polar Fleet. As part of the 24th Army, it participated in the counterattack near Yelnya against the 20th Army Corps at the end of August - beginning of September. On September 10, it was disbanded, and the 144th Tank Brigade was created on its basis. Commander - Colonel I.D. Illarionov.
The 104th TD was formed in July 1941 from the 9th TD. On July 11, in the Bryansk region, it became part of the Polar Division. 20-22.07 fought with the German 10th TD west of Spas-Demensk. From July 23, as part of General Kachalov’s task force, she participated in a counterattack with the goal of breaking through to Smolensk. When leaving the area, Yelny suffered heavy losses from aviation. On July 24, it launched an offensive in the direction of Smolensk, fighting with the 137th and 292nd Infantry Divisions. On July 31, it was surrounded in the Roslavl area. At the beginning of August, the remnants of the division made their way to their own. On September 6, it was disbanded, and on its basis the 145th Tank Brigade was created (since 04/10/1943, the 43rd Guards Verkhnedneprovskaya Tank Brigade). Commander - Colonel V.G. Burkov.
The 105th TD was formed in July 1941 from the 53rd TD. Since July 15, she fought on the Western Front. She took part in the Battle of Smolensk, together with the 104th TD tried to relieve the troops encircled in the Smolensk area. On September 13, it was disbanded, and the 146th Tank Brigade was created on its basis.
The 107th TD was formed on July 17, 1941 on the basis of the 69th Infantry Division on the Western Front. On July 18, together with the 110th TD, it launched a counterattack on Dukhovshchina with the goal of reaching Smolensk to relieve the blockade of the 16th, 19th, and 20th armies of the Western Front. Having suffered heavy losses in battles with the 7th German Tank Division, it was unable to complete the task. On July 20, having 200 tanks, it participated in the offensive of the 30th Army in the direction of Smolensk (until July 28). Subsequently, she fought defensive battles in the Polar Fleet. At the beginning of September, the division had 153 tanks. On September 16, it was transformed into the 107th Medal (from 01/12/1942 the 2nd Guards Medal, from 10/13/1942 the 49th Guards Kherson Red Banner Order of Suvorov SD). Commander - Colonel P.N. Domrachev.
Soviet soldiers inspect a German MP 38 submachine gun near a captured Pz Kpfw IV Ausf E.
The 108th TD was formed in July 1941 from the 59th TD. On July 15, it entered combat on the Western Front. At the end of August, as part of the mobile group of the Bryansk Front, she participated in a counterattack against the enemy’s 47th Tank Corps in the Unecha area, which ended unsuccessfully. Subsequently, it defended itself in the Orel area, fighting with Guderian’s troops. By October 6, the division had 20 tanks left. In November, as part of the 50th Army, she fought in the Epifani area. On December 2, it was disbanded, and the 108th Tank Brigade was created on its basis. Commander - Colonel N.I. Orlov.
The 109th TD was formed in July 1941. From July 15, it took part in battles on the Western Front, in the Battle of Smolensk (without much success). On September 16, it was disbanded, and the 148th Tank Brigade was created on its basis.
The 110th TD was formed in July 1941 from the 51st TD. She took part in hostilities from July 15th. On July 18, it launched a strike in the direction of Dukhovshchina against the 7th German TD with the aim of reaching Smolensk. She did not complete the task and was transferred to the reserve of the Polar Fleet commander in the Rzhev area. Subsequently she fought on the Western Front. On September 1, it was disbanded, and the 141st and 142nd tank brigades were created on its basis.
The 111th TD was formed in March 1941 in the Western Military District on the territory of Mongolia. In 1941-1945. was part of the 17th Army of the Transbaikal Front. Stationed in the Choibalsan area. 9.08-3.09.1945 participated in the defeat of the Kwantung Army, being in the reserve of the commander of the Trans-Baikal Front. Commander - Colonel I.I. Sergeev.
The 112th TD was formed in August 1941 as part of the troops of the Far Eastern Front on the basis of the 42nd infantry brigade. It was stationed in the Voroshilov area. In October she was sent to the Western Front, near Moscow. On November 5, having 210 T-26 tanks, the division began combat operations in the Podolsk region as part of a mobile group of the Polar Fleet under the command of P.A. Belov. On November 18, it launched a counterattack on the enemy’s 17th Tank Division in the Tula area. As part of the 50th Army, she took part in the counterattack near Moscow. She liberated Yasnaya Polyana and was the first to enter Kaluga on December 21. 01/3/1942 disbanded, and on its basis the 112th Tank Brigade was created (from 10/23/1943 the 44th Guards Berdichev Order of Lenin Red Banner of the Orders of Suvorov, Kutuzov, Bogdan Khmelnitsky, Red Star, Sukhbaatar and the Battle Red Banner of the MPR named after Sukhbaatar tank brigade). Commander - Colonel A.L. Getman.
Conclusion
The failures of the first months of the war and the loss of 90% of all materiel, especially noticeable in the corps and tank divisions, forced by the end of 1941 to switch to new organizational forms and staffing that were more in line with the real situation. The main form of organization of armored and mechanized troops became brigades, tank, mechanized and motorized rifle, more mobile and flexible in structural and tactical terms. The return to large combat forms began in the spring of 1942. They became tank corps, which included three tank brigades with the necessary motorized rifle and artillery reinforcement, and in the fall of 1942 the first mechanized corps with a new organizational structure were deployed:
3 mechanized brigades (each with a tank regiment);
tank brigade;
2-3 self-propelled artillery regiments;
mortar regiment;
anti-aircraft artillery regiment;
guards mortar division;
motorcycle battalion;
engineer battalion;
communications battalion.
Since December 1941, the armored forces began to be called armored and mechanized troops (BT and MB). Organizationally, they consisted of tank armies, tank and mechanized corps, tank, heavy tank, mechanized, self-propelled artillery and motorized rifle brigades and separate tank regiments.
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58th Tank Division.
Formed in March 1941 in the Far East as part of the 30th Mechanized Corps of the 1st Separate Red Banner Army of the Far Eastern Front.
By the beginning of November 1941, it was armed mainly with BT-7 tanks and only in small quantities with T-26 and T-34 tanks.
In the active army from November 1 to December 31, 1941, after which it was disbanded, and the personnel and equipment were used to form the 58th separate tank brigade.
Headquarters of the 58th TD in a combat situation.
On November 15, 1941, parts of 58 TD occupied the following position:
117 TP occupied the PTO at the front along the edge of the grove, which is 1.5-2 km northeast. Tikhomirovo, front to the southwest:
116 TD occupied the PTO at the edge of the grove, which is 2 km north. And s.v. Petrovskoye, front to the southwest.
SME with AP, OZAD occupied the defense on the front of Puptsevo, Parfenkovo, Knyaginino, Filatovo, with a front to the west.
Intelligence Bat-n was located in a grove, 2.5 km west. Nekrasino.
Station 58 TD - Troitskoe.
13.45 11/15/41, the division headquarters received an order from the commander of the 16th Army No. 04/OP, which set the following task for 58 TD: “58 TD with 483 AP PTO, sap. Rotoy 51 pont. Bat-on attack the pr-ka on the site height without mark 2 km north. Bludy, Bortniki, with the task of capturing the districts of Parfenkovo, Suvorovo, Khrulevo. Further developing the attack on Putyatino, Volokolamsk, together with units of the cadet regiment, the 125th and 315th SD destroyed the 106th and 35th Infantry Division and captured Volokolamsk.
Starting positions: high. 154.7 (3014): app. env. Uteshevo, high. 162.4 at 9.00 11/15/41 Artillery: ready 20.00 11/15/41 Artillery preparation 30 minutes. The infantry attack began at 10.00 on November 16, 1941.”
At 14.00 on November 15, 1941, through the unit communications delegates, the division chief of staff gave the following preliminary orders:
1. By the end of the day on November 15, 1941, 58 TD take the reference. Positions: 154.7, svh. Steblevo, Nosovo.
A) 117 TP from 58 AP - Steblevo, b) 116 TP from 483 AP PTO - Teryaeva Sloboda, c) 58 ORB - Stramilovo, d) 58 SMEs - two battalions - Steblevo and one battalion - Teryaeva Sloboda, e) 58 OZAD - Steblevo, Stramilovo, e) GEPs of units in the areas of their units. Headquarters - Petrovskoe.
The order of the units: 117 TP with 58 AP moves along the route: Tikhomirovo, Borikhino, Elgovino, Alferyevo, Chashch, Steblevo. Go to the starting point of Yelgovino at 19.00. The remaining units of the division along the route: Petrovskoye, Paveltsevo, Tarkovo, Kaverino, Teryaeva Sloboda. The starting point (the head part of the TB) is Tarkhovo at 18.00 on 11/15/41. Report the concentration of units to headquarters 58 at 4.00 on 11/16/41 in Pokrovskoye.
Combat order No. 04 of the headquarters of the 58th TD was sent to units from 4 to 6.00 on November 16, 1941, already in new places where units were concentrated. Units by this time were just being pulled up, especially 117 TP could not bring up half of the combat materiel due to the large shedding of tracks on the road, and 116 TP was also not fully concentrated due to the wedge of 41 KD into this route.
Unit commanders were not able to:
1. Conduct reconnaissance ref. Positions and attack on the front edge of Bludi Avenue - Bortniki moved on the move. Moreover, 117 TP was late by 1 hour 45 minutes.
2. 483 AP VET only three guns arrived at 15.00 on 11/16/41, and glanders. The pontoon battalion company did not arrive at all.
3. The interactions of artillery, tanks, infantry and the actions of neighboring units were not coordinated. As a result, on November 16, 1941, the units captured: Bludi, Bortniki and reached the line: western ravine. Fornication and zap. env. Bortniks.
At the front of the division, a project of up to 2 battalions of infantry was determined - Khrulevo, Spas-Zaulok and up to 1 battalion of infantry - Bortniki.
Conclusion.
The night march (17.00 15.11.41 to 8.00 16.11.41) at a distance of 60 km from the location of the units to the initial positions did not give the unit commanders any spare time to organize interaction before the attack and could not even use their entire combat equipment ( delay due to the dropping of tracks, delay due to wedging into the route of column 44 KD).
The first day of the battle could not produce results that would ensure the implementation of the order of the Commander of the 16th Army. On the first day of hostilities, the headquarters of units 116 and 117 TP and SMEs took an active part in the battle as personal actions and lost control of the units; for the entire day of the battle, none of them could give a combat report on the situation at the front. Only the personal participation of representatives of the division headquarters revealed the situation about the pr-ka and about their units.
The location of the Pokrovskoye division headquarters was very far from the advancing units and the division headquarters was forced to leave for Stramilovo in the afternoon of November 16, 1941.
On 11/17/41, by order of division No. 05, the situation at the front was clarified, interaction within the division’s units and communications with neighbors was clarified, and the units were tasked with carrying out the order of the Commander of the 16th Army for 11/17/41. The start of the attack was scheduled for 9.00, artillery preparation for 30 minutes. Unit headquarters were ordered to submit combat reports every hour.
On November 17, 1941, units of the division managed to capture Khrulevo, Spas, and Shishkovo. By 22.00 on November 17, 1941, units of the pr-ka were retreating to Suvorovo in disarray. The unit headquarters worked somewhat better that day. The headquarters of the SME, AP and 117 TP were aware of the situation of their unit and made it possible for the division headquarters to know about the situation at the front. The headquarters of 116 TP worked worse, but this headquarters also improved its work somewhat.
The main drawback of the work of unit headquarters is that the commanders of the tank (116 and 117) regiments did not always use the headquarters as a command authority.
On this day of battle, the division headquarters located in Uteshevo promptly received the situation from the front, from its representatives, from unit headquarters and from reconnaissance sent to communicate with the front and with neighbors. The division headquarters identified, approximately exactly, the composition of the division (up to 4 infantry battalions) and all the time the headquarters was aware of the actions of its neighbors.
The main reason for the improvement in the work of the division headquarters and unit headquarters on this day was determined in the correct organizational structure of the management:
A) Every 2-3 hours, one of the responsible headquarters commanders went in the direction of each active unit to clarify the situation.
B) Through intelligence agencies and communication delegates, contact was established with neighbors.
C) Continuous communication with the Army.
D) Periodic submission of reports from division headquarters.
D) Normal distance between headquarters and active units (5-6 km).2.
22 hours 55 minutes On November 17, 1941, an order was received from the commander of the 16th Army.
1. The pr-k broke through the front of the 30th Army and reached the Zavidovo district.
2. 58 TD immediately withdraw from the battle and with a forced march head to the Reshetnikovo district, 15 km north west of Klin, with the task of preventing the penetration of the tank in the direction of Klin. Travel route: Terneva Sloboda, Klin, Reshetnikovo.
3. Concentrate the division in the Reshetnikovo region by dawn on November 18, 1941.
From 23.00 to 24.00 on November 17, 1941, unit commanders and commissars were summoned to the Uteshevo headquarters, and the following order was verbally given:
1. The pr-k broke through the front of the 30th Army and goes to the Zavidovo district.
2. 58 TD has the task of leaving the battle and withdrawing all combat-ready units along the route Teryaeva Sloboda, Klin, Reshetnikovo with the task of detaining the pr-ka in the direction of Klin.
A) Movement order: RB, 116, 117 TP, SME, AP, OZAD, with the head of the main forces (116 TP) go through the ref. Point Teryaeva Sloboda at 2.00 11/18/41 Concentration of units Spas-Zaulok, Reshetnikovo 9.00 11/18/41
3. To collect damaged equipment, weapons and the wounded, the following remain: deputy division commander Lieutenant Colonel Serov, PKTC Major Tselik, head. Sanitary service military doctor of the rank Galkovich, who will organize the removal of equipment and wounded soldiers to the division concentration area. The headquarters moves to Zhukovo.
Units of the division made a 75-kilometer night march along one road, along which 126 SD and 24 CD were simultaneously marching, which also affected the organization and speed of the march, and by 10.00 on November 18, 1941, units of 58 TD concentrated Spas-Zaulok with limited funds (total up to 25 tanks and an AP division arrived, and only by the end of the day on November 18, 1941, the SMEs and the remnants of other units were brought up)
On 11/18/41, the 58th TD came under the control of the 30th Army, and at 5 hours 50 minutes on 11/19/41, the division headquarters received combat order No. 22 from the Headquarters of the 30th Army, where the following task was set for the division:
58 TD with ten tanks to support the attack of 46 CP, 18 CD for an attack in the direction: Kabanovo, Bezborodovo and 30 tanks, having 18 CD in the 2nd echelon to develop an attack in the southwest encirclement. Zavidovo. Place the remaining tanks and anti-tank guns in defense: elevation. 137.4, road intersection, 1 km southwest. Kontsovo; s.z. env. Spas-Zaulok, with the task of preventing the breakthrough of tanks in the eastern and southwestern directions. Readiness for action 6.00 11/19/41
The 58th TD, with its combat order No. 02, gave the 46th CP a company of tanks and 1st AP division. Krom 116 TP a tank barrier was put up with. env. Golikovo with the task not to let the tanks pass at Spas-Zaulok. K-r 117 TP take ref. Position in the combat disposition area - grove southwest. 2 km Spas-Zaulok, be ready to develop the success of the 46 KP strike. Concentrate the remaining parts of the division in the region of elevation. 137.4 road intersection 1 km southwest Kontsovo, s.z. env. Spas-Zaulok. Additionally, by combat order of the 30th Army No. 49 - 58 TD, be ready to support the offensive of the 18th CD, acting from behind its right flank in the direction of Zavidovo, Vysokovo from the Spas-Zaulok, Reshetnikovo district.
20.11.41 00.35 min. Combat Order No. 51 30 Army 58 TD was given the following task:
1. Firmly defend the Turkmen lane on the right, level on the left. Senkovskoe, one baht-n 58 SMEs at the fork in the road south. 5 km Turkmen to subordinate the 107 MSD to the 107 MSD, one battalion of SMEs to defend the line of Velmogorovo, Reshetnikovo and one battalion of 58 SMEs with a company of tanks and anti-tank guns, withdraw to the commander’s reserve - grove, which is south. 1 km Spas-Zaulok. Comrade 58 MSP was appointed commander of the reserve. Station 58 TD – Selevino.
At 8.00 on November 20, 1941, up to 60 tanks of the pr-ka with motorized infantry and motorcyclists broke through the front of the 107th MSD in the Kopylovo district, crashed into the defense of the Reshetnikovo SME and occupied the latter. Subsequently, by 11.00 on November 20, 1941, tanks and infantry appeared in Spas-Zaulok. All day on November 20, 1941, units of the 58th TD fought with the breakthrough units of the avenue in the Reshetnikovo area and partially Spas-Zaulok.
At 20.00 on November 20, 1941, combat order No. 54 of Shtarm 30 was received, which assigned the task to 58 TD:
A) The operation planned for the night, to attack Spas-Zaulok, Reshetnikovo 58 TD, is not carried out in view of the fact that Spas-Zaulok and Reshetnikovo are on fire, the area in the circle is illuminated. Parts of the division take up anti-tank and anti-personnel defense at the front: the edge of a grove, 2 km southeast. Spas-Zaulok, lake, 5 km south. Spas-Zaulok with the task: to prevent the breakthrough of the division through the battle formations.
By dawn on November 21, 1941, units of the 58th TD took up defensive positions in accordance with combat orders and combat instructions No. 07 / OP dated November 21, 1941.
Conclusions
From November 18, 1941 until the evening of November 20, 1941, the division headquarters directed all its work to carry out individual orders from the 30th Army headquarters regarding the allocation of tank companies and groups to individual units of the 30th Army (18 CD, units 1319, 107 MSD, etc. ) The headquarters of the units attached to the 18th CD were torn off and data on the combat activities of their units were provided very late. On the morning of November 20, 1941, the commander of the 58th TD did not carry out the order received from the commander of the 30th Army to move the 58th TD to the offensive on Spas-Zaulok, but decided to transfer the headquarters to Yamuga, and position the tank division in the defense of the southwest. 2 km Spas-Zaulok, front to the southwest. The reason for not carrying out the order to go on the offensive is difficult to explain, since the division commander shot himself, and at 20.00 on November 20, 1941, the commander of the 30th Army himself canceled this operation.
The main drawback of the division headquarters' work in this operation was: a) Distribution of subunits and units among other formations.
B) Isolation of unit headquarters from division headquarters (attached to other formations).
IN). Representatives of the division headquarters (NO-1, NO-2, NO-3) taken by the division commander with him to the command post during the entire operation did not return to the headquarters and the headquarters, as such, did not have accurate data on the situation at the front.3.
On November 21, 1941, units of the 58th TD occupied a defense of 2 km. S.E. Spas-Zaulok. The headquarters was located in Berezino. The neighbor on the right, 280 SP, occupied the defense - Zhukovo, Minino. By 14.00, units of the 280th joint venture, under pressure from a superior enemy force, abandoned Zhukovo and Minino, and up to 7 tanks and a company of motorized infantry with machine gunners attacked Berezino (headquarters). With the permission of the Commander of the 30th Army, headquarters 58 withdrew to Zakharovo at 16.00 and then by the morning of November 22, 1941 moved to Opalovo, where it turned out that unit 58 TD independently withdrew units from the previous line, withdrew to the Yamuga region, took up defense there along r. Sister, Lipnya. To the right of Shapovo-Shevelevo, 24 CD took up defense; in addition, by order of the Commander of the 30th Army, 58 TD was transferred to the operational subordination of 107 MRD.
The division's deputy commander, Lieutenant Colonel Serov, and the division's commissar, Regimental Commissar Kolosov, took command of the division.
The position of units of 58 TD on 11/22/41 was as follows:
117 TD occupied the defense of Pleskovo, elev. 138.7: to the left the defense was occupied by 24 KD and in the Yamuga region 58 MSP, 116 TP, division 58 AP and 58 OZAD.
16.00 November 22, 1941, the group commander, Colonel Chanchibadze, arrived at the division headquarters and presented the following to the division chief of staff: “Your units are fleeing the front. We saw several enemy tanks and ran. Tanks, guns, and SMEs. Where are the division commander and commissar? Why did you leave one Cavalry Regiment 24 KD to defend Klin to the mercy of fate? Beginning headquarters, knowing that the commander and commissar of the division had left for the Belavino district, but did not know what was going on there at the moment, he urgently began to contact the active units near Yamuga by radio, it turned out that enemy tanks, together with motorized infantry, broke into Klin from two sides: from the grove that is sowing. Klin 5 km. (West Shevelevo 3-4 km) and from the direction Golyadi-Polukhanovo. Thus, the active units of the 58th TD were cut off and continued to fight in the Yamuga region, surrounded all night. It was not possible to verify who the group commander from the 58th TD met fleeing from the front. I assume: the rear areas of the SMEs were located in the Belavino region, destroyed tanks and groups of fighters who remained surrounded in the Turkmen region on 11/19/41 also approached there.
On November 24, 1941, at 10.00 the pr-k launched an offensive with superior forces in the direction of: Plyuskovo, Voronino, Klin, Opalevo. By order of Com. Group 58 TD received the task: to go to the Rusino, Spas-Korkodino district and take up defense there. Units of the 58th TD began to carry out this order in an organized manner, with the exception of the encircled units in the Yamuga region, which exited through Mal. Shapovo in the TD defense area with some delay.
In the Spas-Korkodino region, 58 TDs were assigned to 237 SMEs, 120 SMEs and 118 AP 107 MSDs, which, together with 58 TDs, should take up defense in the Rusino, Spas-Korkodino region.
On November 25, 1941, tank units of up to 20 tanks with motorized infantry attacked units in the direction of Rusino and along the highway to Dorotevo. Units of 24 CD began to retreat to the east and 58 TD received the task: to enter a new defense area: 117 TP with 58 SMEs and AP - Doroshevo, 116 TP with 237 SMEs - Chumichevo and 120 SMEs with 118 AP - Voblovo, Ivlevo. The units began to withdraw at 12.00 on November 25, 1941.
The pr-k, pressing on the retreating units, did not allow 117 TP and 58 SMEs to gain a foothold in the region of Doroshevo, Butyrka, the units were attacked from the southwest. and zap. and retreated to the Pokrovskoye district.
The attached units of 107 MSD: 237 MSP, 120 MSP and 118 AP did not occupy their defensive line, and at 15.00 on November 25, 1941 they passed through Pokrovskoye to Rogachev. The division chief of staff detained these units and gave them orders to take up the defense of Prudy, Ivlev, but since there were no unit commanders or staffs with these units, but only up to 100-200 armed people, the latter retreated in the direction of Prudy, and as can be seen went to the rear.
A night raid by tank units of the Pokrovskoye Ave. did not allow units of the 58th TD to gain a foothold at the Pokrovskoye line, and the units retreated to a new line of defense - Trekhdenevo, with a front to the west. Headquarters 58 TD - Vasnevo.
The action of the unit headquarters during the period of withdrawal from the Opalevo-Trekhdenevo battle was limited only to short combat reports by the end of the day. The operational group of the TD headquarters was mainly located with active units.
Subsequently, the headquarters of the 58th TD lost even more control over the units for the following reasons:
17.00 November 25, 1941, the Deputy Commander arrived at headquarters 58 TD. group Colonel Chanchibadze, who personally gave the order to the NS division:
1. Units of the 58th TD left their designated defense area - Doroshevo and forced the 24th CD to bear the brunt of the defense alone in the Nechaevka area.
2. 24 CD one command post moves in the direction: Bogdanovo, Nechaevo, with the task of occupying Petrovka by the morning of November 26, 1941.
3. You personally (NS) with 4 tanks should immediately move in the direction of Bogdanovo, Nechaevo, attack Petrovka, and then Doroshevo and restore the situation.
The NS with 4 tanks reached Petrovka and attacked it, but one tank was blown up by mines, the second tank burned out, and the last two tanks were jammed and could not fire after the attack on Petrovka.
By 9.00 NS returned back to Trekhdenevo to the TD headquarters area.
The division commander at this time personally led units of the division in the attack on Mikhalevo.
Under pressure from superior forces, the avenue from the direction of Ivanovskoye, Pokrovskoye, by the end of the day on November 26, 1941. The group ordered: Parts of the group to retreat. All units except 58 TD - along the Rogachev highway to Bunyatino, and parts of 58 TD - to Prozhektor, crossing Competition. Before the arrival of the 58th TD, the NS group sent the TD headquarters to Sinkovo. As a result, the units retreated along one road, and the headquarters was sent along another. The headquarters of the 58th TD met with units of the division only on the night of November 27-28, 1941 in Dmitrov.
On November 28, 1941, units of the 58th TD occupied the defense of the west. env. Dmitrov, and by the end of the day an order was received that the defense of Dmitrov was occupied by other units, and 58 TD to withdraw to Tatishchevo.Conclusion.
A) The mobile type of battle (departure of units) required the division headquarters to constantly be aware of the situation at the front and with its neighbors, but this did not work out at all for the reason:
1. Mixing units and subordinating some units to other formations (107 MSD subdivision 58 TD) did not always give positive results, since the commanders and staffs of the assigned units did not appear in a timely manner and their actions were difficult to control.
2. Receiving orders in the form of separate orders relating only to their part; the tasks of the neighbors were not clear (Task 24 CD at the Spas-Korkodino and Doroshevo line was not known to the TD headquarters).
3. Issuing a direct order from the NS group to the TD headquarters to move along one road, and the Group Commander gave the division units movement along another road.
4. Isolation of the stand from the headquarters.
B) The TD headquarters could not be the commanding body of the army in such a situation and due to the direct execution of combat missions not only by the departments of the headquarters commanders, but also by the National Staff, while the headquarters remained without leadership.
C) Units of the 58th TD during the entire period of hostilities from 11/16/41 to 11/29/41 waged an active struggle to destroy the German fascists and during this period, according to minimal estimates, up to 2 infantry units were destroyed. Regiments, more than 10 mortar and artillery batteries and up to 50 tanks.
During the same period, the division headquarters had positive aspects during the offensive near Volokolamsk and in the defense of Spas-Zaulok, when the units were mixed. In other cases, i.e. from the beginning of the mixing of defense in several directions of temporary additions of individual units and then their withdrawal, the setting of individual tasks by staff commanders only to carry out individual combat episodes and their isolation from division headquarters - in these cases, the division headquarters obtained isolation from the control of units
Chief of Staff of the 58th TD Colonel Levi.
12/12/1941
Formed in March 1941. in the Far East as part of 30MK (58, 60 td 239md).
On June 22, 1941, the division was part of the 30MK 1st Separate Red Banner Army of the Far Eastern Front.
Due to the difficult situation that developed near Moscow in the fall of 41, the division was sent to the front where it arrived in early November 41. It became part of the Western Front and occupied the defense of the southwest and west. Klina in the Vysokovsk area, protecting the city from a possible enemy breakthrough from Volokolamsk. However, after the capture of Volokolamsk at the end of October 41. German troops stopped further offensive and temporarily went on the defensive.
Until November 15, the 58th Division occupied defense in the Vysokovsk area. On November 13, an order came from the commander of the Western Front, Zhukov, for an offensive operation on the right flank of 16A. Here the 58th infantry division, together with the 316th and 126th infantry divisions, were supposed to break through the front of the German 35th infantry division and seize Volokolamsk with a strike from the north. Having left late in the evening along the route Vysokovsk, Teryaeva Sloboda, Bludi, the division, having completed a 60 km night march on the morning of November 16, concentrated in the Bludi area, from where it immediately went on the offensive. The unit commanders did not have time to conduct reconnaissance of the area and link the division with other formations. The division was armed with obsolete tanks (mainly BT-7 and some T-34 and T-26). As a result of the march, due to the dropping of tracks, many tanks remained on the roads and did not participate in the attack. At least one day was needed to put the division in order and establish interaction with other units, but it did not happen.
During the attack, they managed to capture the villages of Bludi and Bortniki and advance several. kilometers ahead. The next day in the morning, already at 30 min. Artillery preparation and the offensive continued. It was possible to capture Shishkovo and push the enemy back to Suvorovo. The division suffered heavy losses in attacks on German positions. In just two days of the offensive, November 16 and 17, out of 198 available tanks, 58 remained (according to the 30A headquarters, on November 18, the 58th Division consisted of 13 T-34, 50 BT and 15 T-26 (fire)).
Late in the evening an order came from the commander of 16A to transfer the division to the Zavidovo area. Here enemy LVIMK units broke through front 30A and advanced along the Volga to Zavidovo. There was a threat of an enemy breakthrough along the Leningradskoye Highway. Leaving an evacuation group at the site of the counterattack to collect and repair damaged equipment, the division again moved at night to another section of the front.
Having completed a 75 km night march, by 10:00 units of the division concentrated in the Spas-Zaulok area. In total, up to 25 tanks and part of an artillery regiment arrived. The remaining parts came later. The division took up defensive positions in the area of Spas-Zaulok, Reshetnikovo and temporarily delayed the advance of the 6th Division, which had broken through to Zavidovo. However, on November 20, the enemy broke through the defenses of the weak left-flank 107th Motorized Rifle Division in the Kopylovo area. All day the division fought in the area of Reshetnikovo and Spas-Zaulok, repelling the offensive of the enemy's 14th and 7th infantry divisions. On the evening of November 20, the 58th Panzer Division, abandoning the planned counterattack, retreated 5 km south of Spas-Zaulok.
Division commander, Major General Kotlyarov A.A. shot himself on November 20, leaving a note with the following content: “...General disorganization and loss of control. The higher headquarters are to blame. I don't want to be responsible for the general mess. Retreat to Yamuga behind anti-tank obstacles, save Moscow... There are no prospects ahead.” Deputy commander Lieutenant Colonel Serov took command of the division, and on November 24, Colonel Chanchibadze (commander of the 107th Motorized Rifle Division). The division became subordinate to the 107th Motorized Rifle Division.
On November 21, the division retreated to the Yamuga area and took up defense along the river. The sister, to the right, occupied a 24kd defense. On November 23, enemy motorized units bypassed the positions of the 58th Panzer Division in the Yamuga area and broke into Klin from the north and west. To the south, 2nd Division captured Solnechnogorsk. Part of the 58th Division was cut off from the main forces. On November 24, the division was withdrawn from Yamuga east to the Spas-Korkodino area. On November 25, the positions were again attacked by LVIMK formations (6.7td 14md) deployed from Klin to the east. The units of the 107th Motorized Rifle Division attached to the division could not withstand the blow and began to retreat in disarray to the east in the direction of Rogachev. The attempt to gain a foothold in the Pokrovskoye area (west of Rogachev) was unsuccessful as the enemy broke through our positions with a night raid. On November 26, the unit launched a counterattack together with units of 24kd, but it was not successful and the remnants of the formation continued to retreat to Dmitrov, where they took up defense on November 28.
On November 29, it was ordered to withdraw the division from the battles and send it to the east. bank of the canal named after Moscow to the Tatishchevo district. The division transferred the remains of its equipment to the 107th Motorized Rifle Division and was transferred to the reserve. In total, 17 tanks, 2 BA, 3 76mm guns, 2 37mm, 3 STZ-5 tractors, 80 vehicles, 3 tank trucks were transferred. During the battles from November 16 to November 28, 1941, the division's losses amounted to 157 tanks out of 198 available and 1,731 personnel out of 5,612 people.
The division was transferred to reserve in the Kimry area, and by December 22 it was concentrated in the Konakovo area. On December 28, 41 The division (in documents it was already called a brigade) consisted of 3004 people. personnel, 2 T-34s, 6 light tanks, 1 BA.
TsAMO. f. 38, op.11360, d. 2. l.l. 168,169,170, 174
Report about military operations 58 th tank regiment for the period from June 22, 1941 to 27.7.1941
On December 20, 1940, according to the order of the KOVO Troops, 58 th Separate tank regiment 131 th motorized division(9th mechanized corps) with deployment in the mountains. Novograd-Volynsky. Despite the large shortage of command personnel and equipment, regular training began in the regiment on January 1, 1941. With exceptional persistence, painstaking work was carried out to put together units and master the military equipment that was constantly arriving at the regiment's arsenal.
By the time hostilities began, i.e. by June 22, 1941 V the regiment already had:
T BT-7 ankovs - 28 pieces
T BT-5 ankovs - 59 pieces(production of this modification ended in 1934)
T BT-2 ankovs - 36 pieces (production of this modification ended in 1933);
Only 123 pieces.
Of these: 83 tanks belonged to the 2nd category and 40 tanks to the 3rd category.*
The personnel numbered:
Senior command and command staff - 14 people;
Average command staff - 159 people;
Junior command staff - 154 people;
Rank and file - 1416 people.
Despite the short period / 6 months / that has passed since the organization of the regiment,By the day hostilities began, the regiment was fully combat-ready and ready to go into battle with fascist gangs. The political and moral state of commanders and privates With the remainder was very high. Everyone was ready to face the enemy,mercilessly destroying it and defending our great Motherland.
June 22, 1941 at 8.00 according to the order of Commander 131 m A combat alert was declared for the division in the regiment. Before receiving the combat order, the regiment command issued a preliminary order, according to which all equipment and personnel were withdrawn to the assembly area on alert. Ammunition was supplied here, as well as vehicles were refueled with fuel and lubricants. and materials. By 14:00 [June 22] basically the regiment was put on combat readiness,within the specified time according to the mobile plan.
According to the order of the Commander of the 131st Motorized Division No. 02, received on June 22 at 14040, the regiment must march along the route: Novograd-Volynsk th , Yarun, Mukharev, Krylov, Bashiny, Novy Dvur, Tynne, count. Mowing, concentrating to 24-00 forest 2 km west of Bronniki (settlement 14 km northwest of Rivne, on the highway Lutsk, Rivne - M.S.). The total length is 122 km. At 19-00 June 22 regiment consisting of: headquarters, 4th tank battalion, reconnaissance companies, repair companies, and a motorized transport company, a communications platoon and service units set out along this route. With this column, 83 tanks left Novograd-Volynsk.
During June 23, the regiment continued to move along the established route. The column was greatly stretched. The reasons should be considered: O lack of petrol stations that commander of the 131st motorized division, were sent along a different route (???). Technical malfunction of individual machines. Delay at the crossing of the Goryn River, where the ferry could only transport one tank at a time, and the ferry itself was faulty and unprepared*
* The advance route was laid 5-10 km south of the main highway Novograd-Volynsky, Goshcha, Rivne, so we had to cross on a village ferry in Bashino. It can be assumed that, without further ado, units of the 131st MD advanced along the routes specified in the Cover Plan; in this case, the choice of off-road movement, away from the main highway, becomes clear
The first 3 tanks arrived at BRONIKI by 14-00 June 23. With regard to quickly pulling up the remaining vehicles, the regiment command took the following measures: Gasoline workers were sent out under the command of Lieutenant Kukushkin. Repair guards were sent to meet the column, and it was also allowed to use stationary bridges located to the south and north of the river crossing in order to speed up the crossing. GORYN.
By 16 - 00 35 tanks arrived in BRONIKI, of which, on the basis of the order of the Commander of the 131st Motorized Division, a combined battalion of 14 tanks was formed under the command of Captain TERMET and(two? one?) Reconnaissance units consisting of 10 tanks under the command of Captain RUDENKO.
General management of both groups, as well as one battalion of the 743rd motorized regiment, one battalion of the 135th yelkova str. division and artillery division, was assigned to the Commander of 58 1st Tank Regiment Lieutenant Colonel KA NSHIN. This group was given the task of concentrating on the eastern edge of the mountains. LUTSK and prevent the enemy from crossing the river. STYR, holding the crossings in their hands until the main forces of the division arrived.
To 10 - 00 the defense was ready. The tanks of the combined battalion took up a stationary defense along the eastern bank of the river. STYR and on both sides of the LUTSK-ROVNO highway. The reconnaissance team occupied the eastern edge of the mountains. LUTSK.
By 18 - At 00, on the southeastern outskirts, the enemy began to accumulate in preparation for the crossing. By 20.00, under the cover of artillery and mortar fire, the enemy began crossing on the left flank of our defense. Despite the superior enemy forces, our units held him back to 15-00 June 26.
On this day, in the battles near the mountains. LUTSK, our tanks took part in two attacks, inflicting serious defeats on the enemy, who lost more than a company of personnel, 8 motorcycles and one tank. The battalion commanders and soldiers showed exceptional persistence and heroism. Jr. Lieutenant DENISENKO destroyed 2 motorcycles and knocked out an enemy tank. Lieutenants SKOMOROKHOV and KONEV destroyed 6 motorcycles and a lot of manpower.
In this battle they died the death of the brave: l Lieutenant SKOMOROKHOV, m l. Lieutenant DENISENKO, Jr. political instructor IVANCHENKO, private and junior command staff 5 people and missing: middle command staff 2 people and private 13 people.
Among individual divisions of rifle units, operating together with tanks, a panicky retreat began. By about this Commander 58 th tank regiment Lieutenant Colonel KAS SHIN said to the one who arrived to him military equipment 1st rank PUCHNIN: " It is not so difficult to defeat the enemy as to overcome the panic of your troops " .
To combat alarmists in this area, a With Comrade political instructor GUSEV, who with his courage and personal example contributed to the mobilization of all forces for a decisive rebuff to the fascist gangs. In one of the battles in the tank turret With Comrade political instructor GUSEV's turning mechanism failed. He,sitting on top of a tank,turned the tower with his hands(!!!) at enemy landmarks, thus adjusting the fire of his tank, despite the explosions of shells and mines quite close to him.
On the same day the company l Lieutenant SATINA, consisting of 7 tanks, was sent by order of the Division Commander to help the 743rd Motorized Regiment,one battalion of which was surrounded in the ZHIDICI area (northern suburb of Lutsk - M.S.). Combined battalion and reconnaissance The company was replenished with additional tanks from the BRONIKI area. WITH military technician 1st rank and PUCHNIN arrived 10 tanks and with l Lieutenant LOKTEV 17 tanks (i.e., no less than 51 (and maybe 62) tanks out of 83 are fighting - an incredible story, M.S.).
Holding back superior enemy forces,who had the intention of striking at the division headquarters located in SAPOGUW (north-eastern suburb of Lutsk, 8 km from the city center - M.S.), 12 tanks under command[regiment commander] Lieutenant Colonel KA NSHINA and apitana TERMET in 10-00 went into battle. In this battle, the enemy organized exceptionally strong anti-tank artillery fire, with great activity of motorized infantry, which, presumably, it was no less than a regiment. Having lost at least one and a half companies killed and wounded,the enemy could not withstand heavy fire from our side,suspended the offensive and switched to temporary defense,accumulating their troops on the held lines.
In this battle the heroes died:[regiment commander] Lieutenant Colonel KANSHIN, with Comrade Lieutenant PAVLOVSKY, l lieutenants STATIN And LOKTEV, m l. Lieutenant Porokhnyavy, junior command and enlisted personnel- 4 people. From that time on, he took command of the regiment n Chief of Staff of the Regiment, Major LEGEZA.
All remaining 7 tanks, according to the order of the Division Commander, were used for reconnaissance and protection of the division headquarters.
On the same day, under the command of Captain GRIGORY E VA, Lieutenant VORONOV, and Jr. Lieutenant TRETYAKOV carried out reconnaissance of the BOROCHOW-TEREMNO area. During reconnaissance, Lieutenant VORONOV, creeping up to a group of German officers who were drinking at that time, And threw a grenade. Three officers were killed, the rest fled. As proof l Lieutenant VORONOV brought buttonholes,taken from the killed officer. When retreating to the tank l Lieutenant VORONOV was wounded in the leg by the fascists surrounding him.
Carrying out a reconnaissance mission,The required information was delivered to the division headquarters. The crews left after the battle without material, numbering about 50 people, were used to defend the division headquarters. The command of this group was led by: To captain of TERMET, and from July 1- Captain RYABKIN, and Art. political instructor GUSEV.
By this time, the 1st and 2nd battalions remaining in Novograd-Volynsk, by order n Assistant to the Division Commander Colonel MOROZOVall faulty combat vehicles , located at the repair base , equipped with ammunition and used as fixed firing points in the SD (what a regiment!!!), placing them on the line: Novograd-Volynsk - GULSK, and Novograd-Volynsk - CHIZHOVKA.
The remaining personnel took up defensive positions on the eastern edge of the mountains. Novograd-Volynsk.
Fascist bandits, sending their agents to the rear,they tried to destroy and burn everything, trying to undermine the organization and discipline in the rear of our troops. Near the village of VISHNIUV, three unknown persons were detained and handed over to the division headquarters.,hiding in the cellar and calling themselves brothers, which was not confirmed at all upon verification. A can of fuel was found on them.,obviously for organizing arson, with which fascist agents often signaled and guided the enemy about the location of our units.
This is also confirmed by the following episode: on the night of June 29, Military Technician 1st Rank PUCHNIN and Jr. Lieutenant VOLTOVSKYtowed a tank at the location of their troops (no words - M.S.) . During a forced stop, a barn nearby suddenly caught fire from all sides.,and immediately a rocket went up, indicating the locationthese two tanks (how? they still “know” that it is impossible to tow a tank with a tank! - M.S.). The tanks, having covered 3-4 km, were again ambushed by the Nazis behind the house. By throwing a grenade and firing from a tank cannon, Military Technician 1st Rank PUCHNIN and Ml. Lieutenant VOLTOVSKY destroyed a group of 14 fascists led by an officer.
So oh showing stubborn resistance and destroying the enemy, the group under G op. LUTSK, with the exception of the tanks left at the headquarters, according to the order of the Division Commander, began to retreat to a new line of defense - the north-eastern outskirts of the mountains. Novograd-Volynsk yy. ..
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On l. 174 of the archival file provides the following data on the losses of the regiment in the period from 22.6 to 22.7. 41
Personnel: 44 killed, 55 wounded, 126 (of which 107 were rank and file) missing, a total of 225 people.
Arithmetically, after such losses (13% of the original strength), 1,518 people should have remained in the regiment. However, in the entire 131st MD (two motorized rifle regiments, an artillery regiment, a reconnaissance battalion, a communications battalion and other units), according to the headquarters of the Southwestern Front, by July 15 there were only 1,283 people left (SBD No. 38, p. 38)
Tank losses:
46 were destroyed in battles and during bombing
8 lost due to technical reasons
5 settled in a swamp
75 (including 34 BT-2) were transferred to the SD or handed over to a repair base
Amount for 11 units. exceeds the original amount, because On June 29, the regiment received 11 more tanks (type not specified)
