OOBs for the battle of Brest, 1941

[SergioDV]

I'm looking for Soviet and German OOBs during the siege of Brest in June 1941.

I know only that the Soviet garrison comprised men from 6th and 42nd Rifle Division, 17th NKVD Frontier Guard Detachment and other smaller units. From the German side: 31st, 34th and 45th Infantry Division and 2nd Panzer Group.

More detailed info is available?

[Art]

I know only that the Soviet garrison comprised men from 6th and 42nd Rifle Division

Only a part of both divisions.

17th NKVD Frontier Guard Detachment

Also a part of the 132 NKVD Convoy Battalion.

From the German side: 31st, 34th and 45th Infantry Division and 2nd Panzer Group

It was mainly 45 ID with attached units. Tank and motorized divisions of the Guderian's group operated north and south of the fortress itself.

[SergioDV]

Thank you for the reply, Art!

What do you mean for "a part"? Coys, battalions?

So, NKVD soldiers came from 17th NKVD Guard Detachment and 132rd NKVD Convoy Battalion. How many men from those units?

[Robert Westby]

The German 31st, 34th and 45th Infantry Divisions were part of the XII Armeekorps. Our friends over at Lexikon der Wehrmacht have the OOB for this Corps on June 20, 1941.

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... IKorps.htm

in "Mein Weg mit der 45. Infanterie-Division: by Dr. Rudolf Gschöpf, it is stated that the initial assault was carried out by the 130th and 135th Inf. Rgt's. The 133rd I.R was in Corps reserve and Aufklärungs-Abteilung 45 was the Division reserve. The left (north) flank of the 45 I.D. was covered by I.R. 82 of the 31st I.D and the right (south) flank was covered by I.R. 80 of the 34th I.D.

All the best
Robert

[SergioDV]

Thank you for the input on the German side, Robert. So, I suppose that the siege of Brest was carried only by German infantry troops. Is that right?

[Art]

What do you mean for "a part"? Coys, battalions?

From the 6 Rifle Division: 84 Rifle Regiment (-2 battalions), 125 Rifle Regiment, 333 Rifle Regiment, 98 AT Artillery Battalion
from the 42 Rifle Division: 2 battalion of the 44 Rifle Regiment, one battalion of the 455 Rifle Regiment, 393 AA Artillery Battalion.
Also a military hospital (No.2396).
This scheme might be helpful:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... post-1.jpg

So, NKVD soldiers came from 17th NKVD Guard Detachment and 132rd NKVD Convoy Battalion.

132 Battalion - up to 100 men
17th Detachment had a transport company and an engineer platoon plus temporary courses, about 200 men. In addition there was a district school for drivers of unknown strength.
In all the garrison had some 10 thousands men. It's a common knowledge, but it is worth to add that the fortress itself was of little defensive value and was used as a barrack/dump area. In case of war the most part of the garrison was supposed to leave the fortress and occupy positions along Bug north and south of it.

[SergioDV]

I can't read Russian, sorry Art. What is written in the legend of the picture? By the way, thank you for the answers!

[Art]

As far as units' location is concerned:
1. - 98 AT artillery battalion
2. - 393 AA artillery battalion
7. - 125 rifle regiment
11. - 455 rifle regiment
13. - 84 rifle regiment
16. - 44 rifle regiment
17. - 9 border guard post (17 border detachment)
18. - 333 rifle regiment
21. - border troops district's school for drivers
22. - courses at the 17 border detachment
23. - transport company of the 17 border detachment
24. - hospital