#25
Post
by CNE503 » 26 Dec 2014, 16:49
Concerning Romanian contribution, I found three contradictory orders of battle for late June or early July 1941:
1) from a Romanian source (Armata Romana 1941-1945, by Cornel Scafes, Horia Serbanescu, Ioan Scafes, Cornel Andonie, Ioan Danila and Romeo Avram):
(from North to South)
3rd Army:
- 8th Cavalry Brigade;
- 1st Mountain Brigade;
- 2nd Mountain Brigade;
- 4th Mountain Brigade;
- 7th Infantry Division.
German 11. Armee:
- Cavalry Corps with 1st Armored Division, 5th and 6th Cavalry Brigades, 6th Infantry Division;
- under German LIV. Armeekorps: 5th, 8th, 13th and 14th Infantry Divisions.
4th Army:
- 3rd Army Corps: 11th and 15th Infantry Divisions, 35th Reserve Infantry Division;
- 5th Army Corps: Guards and 21st Infantry Divisions, Borderguards Division;
- 11th Army Corps: 1st and 2nd Fortress Brigades.
Independant 2nd Army Corps with 9th and 10th Infantry Divisions.
2) from Dr. Niehorster's website (on June, 22nd 1941):
3rd Army with the Cavalry Corps (5th and 8th Cavalry Brigades), Mountain Corps (1st, 2nd and 4th Mountain Brigades) and 4th Army Corps (6th and 7th Infantry Divisions);
Under German 11. Armee command: 1st Armored Division and 6th Cavalry Brigade with the German XI. Armeekorps, 8th, 13th and 14th Infantry Divisions with the German XXX. Armeekorps, 5th Infantry Division with the LIV. Armeekorps;
4th Army with 3rd Army Corps (Guards and 15th Infantry Divisions, 35th Reserve Infantry Division), 5th Army Corps (Borderguards Division, 21st Infantry Division) and 11th Army Corps (1st and 2nd Fortress Brigades);
2nd Army Corps (9th and 10th Infantry Divisions) and 11th Infantry Division were under direct army group command.
3) from worldwar2.ro (on July, 2nd 1941):
The 3rd Army was on the left (north) wing to reconquer Northern Bukovina. To do so, it had the reinforced Mountain Corps (1st, 2nd and 4th Mountain Brigades) but also the 8th Cavalry Brigade and the 7th Infantry Division;
The main thrust was in the central sector, under German 11. Armee direction. There were three main axis of attack: towards Moghilev (on the Dniestr river) with the XI. Armeekorps (76. and 239. Infanterie Divisionen, 1st Armored Division and 6th Infantry Division), with the Romanian Cavalry Corps (5th and 6th Cavalry Brigades) as a flankguard on the left ; towards Balti first, then Soroca with the XXX. Armeekorps (198. Infanterie Division, 8th, 13th and 14th Infantry Divisions) ; towards Dubosari with the LIV. Armeekorps (50. and 170. Infanterie Divisionen, 5th Infantry Division);
On the right (south) wing, the 4th Army had to clear up the area between the Pruth and the Dniestr rivers, with a double attack: the 3rd Army Corps (11th and 15th Infantry Divisions, 35th Reserve Infantry Division) towards Chisinau, the 5th Army Corps (Guards and 21st Infantry Divisions, Borderguards Division) towards Odessa. At the same time, the 11th Army Corps (with the two fortress brigades) had to establish a defensive line along the Siret river.
At the extreme right wing, the 2nd Army Corps (9th and 10th Infantry Divisions) had to break the Danube line and to clear up the coast to the Dniestr estuary.
The latter order of battle seems to be more related to the reality of operations, with a very understable and clear map to help to understand the Axis deployment. It is in accordance to the facts precisely related on the website concerning operation "München", so I tend to believe it is the most accurate of the three.
What do you think about this?
Cheers,
CNE503
"Sicut Aquila" / "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre" / "par l'exemple, le coeur et la raison" / "Labor Omnia Vincit"