The crossing of the Niemen 23jun41 XXXIX. PzK

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The crossing of the Niemen 23jun41 XXXIX. PzK

#1

Post by [email protected] » 26 Aug 2011, 13:00

Greetings to all,

On the 23rd of June 1941, 20. Pz. D. and 7. Pz. D. were near Alytus in the process of crossing the Niemen river. They were engaged by the soviet 5th Tank Division.

Has anyone additional information about the combats that followed?

Any hints will be appreciated.

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Re: The crossing of the Niemen 23jun41 XXXIX. PzK

#2

Post by hvefsjbm » 26 Aug 2011, 13:55

The divisional history of the 20.PD (Hize,Frost und Pulverkampf, R.Hinze Pöppinghausverlag 1981) mentions no major fighting at the crossing of the Njemen.


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Re: The crossing of the Niemen 23jun41 XXXIX. PzK

#3

Post by eppanzer » 26 Aug 2011, 20:34

This is an amazing story: two different versions, told by German and Soviets :) about crossing the river Nemunas by 2 bridges in the Alytus town. Actually, Soviet and Russian have told a few different stories too :)

I do not have a time right now, but I will try to translate something from our Lithuanian board diskusions later:

http://forum.rytufrontas.net/viewtopic.php?f=511&t=527


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Re: The crossing of the Niemen 23jun41 XXXIX. PzK

#5

Post by [email protected] » 04 Dec 2011, 23:55

Thank you very much, gentlemen. Sorry for my late response. At the moment my research efforts are devoted to the southern sector...

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Re: The crossing of the Niemen 23jun41 XXXIX. PzK

#6

Post by Art » 05 Dec 2011, 20:07

A lot (I warn you, really a lot) of photos from the area:
http://warhistory.livejournal.com/2140356.html

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Re: The crossing of the Niemen 23jun41 XXXIX. PzK

#7

Post by [email protected] » 06 Dec 2011, 00:52

Thanks a lot, Art! Amazing number of pictures...

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Re: The crossing of the Niemen 23jun41 XXXIX. PzK

#8

Post by tigre » 12 May 2014, 15:38

Hello to all :D; a little complement here...................

Alytus, the fight that was not.

Considering the total forces of the 7. Pz with 250 tanks and the 20. Pz with 227 tanks, the Germans had numerical superiority on the Soviet 5th TD wit 268 tanks, however considering that the German divisions did not have on hand any Pz Kw III and the bulk of their forces consisted of the tank Pz Kw 38 (t ) with little armor and a 37mm gun, which was practically useless in the fight with the T-34 and also the carcass was riveted so with any impact the screws mutilated the own crew; the reality was that the against the Soviet 50 T -34, both German divisions could only oppose a total of 61 Pz Kw IV equivalents. Apart from this it was assumed that the Germans would come forward in marching formation, while the Soviet division could wait deployed in ambush positions and supported by anti-tank guns. However this did not happen and the Germans crossed the Niemen on the first day of war taking intact the bridges in Alytus and Merkine and most importantly the armored divisions kept intact its ability to combat and rapidly continuing their operations into the Soviet territory.

In June 1941 the 5th Tank Division ( TD ) was quartered south of the city of Alytus on the western bank of the river Nemen; in those days it was the largest garrison in the northwest of the Soviet Union and only had a similar garrison at Brest- Litovsk. According to accounts of the local people around 18/ 19 June 1941, the division was put on a high level of alert and redeployed on the eastern bank of the river. The tanks were located on the edge of the forest at a distance of 300/400 meters from the river in the area of ​​the towns of Kanyukay (between the road and the tributary of the Nemen) and Muyzhelenay (between the river and the road).

By that time the PR 25, reinforced with Pz. Abt 101 (F), occupied a readiness area on the border north of Osinki. Although the SR 6 and SR 7 would carry out the first assault across the border of the Soviet Union, the PR 25 should surpass quickly both regiments and together with the Kradsch . Btl 7 and the Pz AA 37 was to conquer intact the bridges over the Niemen River in Alytus.

Fuente: http://www.solonin.org/other_s-egelyavi ... -m-solonin
The German 7th Panzer Division in France & Russia 1940-1941. by Dr. Russel H. S. Stolfi.

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
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image032.jpg
The deployment of the 5th TD around Alytus..........................
image032.jpg (62.38 KiB) Viewed 2086 times

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Re: The crossing of the Niemen 23jun41 XXXIX. PzK

#9

Post by tigre » 16 May 2014, 23:10

Hello to all :D; more follows...................

Alytus, the fight that was not.

On June 22, 1941 at sunrise Olita was bombed by the Luftwaffe (at least three raids), however any bombs fell on the deserts barracks; especially severe was the attack in the eastern sector of the city, in whose northern edge was located the airfield. Also suffered bombing the wooded area where it was deployed the 5th TD astride the road, after which the Soviet division made ​​a change of position.

However none of the tanks of the 5th TD crossed the river, although the commanding heights of the western margin afforded good observation and shooting on the roads leading to the city of Alytus. For these avenues of approach marched two German armored divisions, the 7. Pz and the 20. Pz.. At 03:05 hours the 7. Pz began its operations with strong artillery support; at 03:37 hours schw. Art. Abt 620 opened fire on Kalvarija, at 03:53 hours schw. Art.Abt. 733 with two batteries on Height 436 and between 04:22 and 4:36 hours concentrations on the path to Kalvarija. At 08:00 hours was conquered Kalvarija.

Fuente: http://www.solonin.org/other_s-egelyavi ... -m-solonin
The German 7th Panzer Division in France & Russia 1940-1941. by Dr. Russel H. S. Stolfi.
http://imf.forum24.ru/?1-2-0-00000010-000-220-0

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
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image002.jpg
Road to Kalvarija..........................
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Re: The crossing of the Niemen 23jun41 XXXIX. PzK

#10

Post by tigre » 20 May 2014, 15:33

Hello to all :D; more follows...................

Alytus, the fight that was not.

Around noon the vanguard of the 7. Pz reached the heights west of Alytus and steadily continued its advance through the town on fire, winning by 12:45 hours the bridge within the city without opposition.

After that, it managed to establish a bridgehead, securing the suburbs and accesses on the eastern shore. In this part of town, the German found resistance from some fractions of infantry and the occupants of the airfield. On the northern edge of Muyzhelenay were burned out 2/3 tanks BT-7 (possibly as a result of the aerial bombardment).

At the same time was also captured intact the bridge over the Niemen located on the road to Kanyukay and after crossing it, the Germans came under fire from the Soviet tanks waiting in ambush on the eastern shore.

Fuente: http://www.solonin.org/other_s-egelyavi ... -m-solonin
The German 7th Panzer Division in France & Russia 1940-1941. by Dr. Russel H. S. Stolfi.
http://imf.forum24.ru/?1-2-0-00000010-000-220-0

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
Attachments
image002.jpg
A Soviet T-34/76 entrenched near the Niemen.....................
image002.jpg (30.06 KiB) Viewed 1985 times

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Re: The crossing of the Niemen 23jun41 XXXIX. PzK

#11

Post by tigre » 24 May 2014, 01:50

Hello to all :D; more follows...................

Alytus, the fight that was not.

The 5th TD fought valiantly to regain both bridges, the 9th Regiment on the north bridge and the 10th Regiment in the south bridge. Particularly intense was the action in the area of Kanyukay for there the fight developed at short distances due to the terrain compartment, and in the heat of the battle the T-34 simply ran over the lighter Germans Pz Kw 38 (t) . But soon came the Luftwaffe in support of the 7. Pz and carried out ​​at least two attacks against the Soviet forces.

Fuente: http://www.solonin.org/other_s-egelyavi ... -m-solonin
The German 7th Panzer Division in France & Russia 1940-1941. by Dr. Russel H. S. Stolfi.
http://imf.forum24.ru/?1-2-0-00000010-000-220-0
http://gintarinesvajone.lt/?p=2257

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
Attachments
image008.jpg
Two T-34 destroyed across the Niemen ...............
image008.jpg (45.96 KiB) Viewed 1940 times
image010.jpg
Traces of the drama................................
image010.jpg (52.61 KiB) Viewed 1940 times
image012.jpg
German cyclists passing bside a half- buried T-34, possibly by the effect of the aerial bombardment ............
image012.jpg (27.64 KiB) Viewed 1940 times

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Re: The crossing of the Niemen 23jun41 XXXIX. PzK

#12

Post by tigre » 27 May 2014, 23:48

Hello to all :D; more follows...................

Alytus, the fight that was not.

The fighting lasted between 14:30 and 20:00 hours. In the north bridgehead fought the PR 25 (less its II. Abt), the Kradsch. Btl 7, the I. / AR 78, the 1./ Pz Jäg Abt 42 and the 1./ Pz Pi. 58; on the south bridgehead the Pz AA 37, the 6. / SR 6, the Pz Abt 101 (F), the II. / PR 25, the 2. & 3. / Pz Pi 58. At 19:30 hours the PR 21 (20. Pz) reinforced the north bridgehead.

The PR 25 losses amounted to 11 tanks, of which four were Pz Kw IV (out of 53 Pz Kw II, 167 Pz Kw 38(t) and 30 Pz Kw IV). While the Soviet 5º TD lost 82 tanks (out of 18 T-26, 170 BT-7, 30 T-28 and 50 T-34).

Below one Pz Kw IV of the PR 25 destroyed on the bridge over the Niemen River in Alytus (I think it is the north bridge) leading to Muyzhelenay..............

Fuente: http://www.solonin.org/other_s-egelyavi ... -m-solonin
The German 7th Panzer Division in France & Russia 1940-1941. by Dr. Russel H. S. Stolfi.
http://imf.forum24.ru/?1-2-0-00000010-000-220-0
http://gintarinesvajone.lt/?p=2257

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
Attachments
image018.jpg
Front view from the east bank ..............
image018.jpg (34.09 KiB) Viewed 1874 times
image020.jpg
Rear view from the western bank............
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image021.jpg
View from the river's side.................
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Re: The crossing of the Niemen 23jun41 XXXIX. PzK

#13

Post by tigre » 31 May 2014, 17:32

Hello to all :D; more follows...................

Alytus, the fight that was not.

Some photos of destroyed tanks in the area, this time I think it's in the south bridge, on the road to Kanyukay........

Fuente: http://www.solonin.org/other_s-egelyavi ... -m-solonin
The German 7th Panzer Division in France & Russia 1940-1941. by Dr. Russel H. S. Stolfi.
http://imf.forum24.ru/?1-2-0-00000010-000-220-0
http://gintarinesvajone.lt/?p=2257

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
Attachments
image004.jpg
A wrecked German tank beside Alytus, Lithuania. Photoraphed by a German military photographer on June 23, 1941.................
image004.jpg (57.12 KiB) Viewed 1841 times
image006.jpg
A Pz Kw 38(t) which was disabled by an anti-tank mine?......................
image006.jpg (61.25 KiB) Viewed 1841 times
image008.jpg
A Soviet victim, a BT-7; seems rather bogged down and abandoned by its crew...............................
image008.jpg (37.13 KiB) Viewed 1841 times

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Re: The crossing of the Niemen 23jun41 XXXIX. PzK

#14

Post by tigre » 08 Jun 2014, 13:38

Hello to all :D; more follows...................

Alytus, the fight that was not.

Some photos of another Pz Kw IV destroyed in the south bridge, on the road to Kanyukay (I guess)........In the last pictures, a Soviet light tank BT-7.

Fuente: http://www.solonin.org/other_s-egelyavi ... -m-solonin
The German 7th Panzer Division in France & Russia 1940-1941. by Dr. Russel H. S. Stolfi.
http://imf.forum24.ru/?1-2-0-00000010-000-220-0
http://gintarinesvajone.lt/?p=2257

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
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image002.jpg
image002.jpg (25.81 KiB) Viewed 1789 times
image004.jpg
image004.jpg (42.63 KiB) Viewed 1789 times
image006.jpg
image006.jpg (29.53 KiB) Viewed 1789 times

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Re: The crossing of the Niemen 23jun41 XXXIX. PzK

#15

Post by tigre » 22 Jun 2014, 17:20

Hello to all :D; more follows...................

Alytus, the fight that was not.

Sources: http://www.solonin.org/other_s-egelyavi ... -m-solonin
The German 7th Panzer Division in France & Russia 1940-1941. by Dr. Russel H. S. Stolfi.
http://imf.forum24.ru/?1-2-0-00000010-000-220-0
http://gintarinesvajone.lt/?p=2257

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
Attachments
image012.jpg
In the foreground a BT-7 and in the background the carcass of a Pz Kw IV...........................
image012.jpg (24.84 KiB) Viewed 1712 times
image013.jpg
Another victim, in this case a 38 Pz Kw (t) ................................... .....
image013.jpg (135.04 KiB) Viewed 1712 times

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