Wehrmacht: 7. ID at Yelnya Offensive

[Mr.No one]

I would expect this book to have some information about the engagement:

http://www.amazon.com/Barbarossa-Derail ... a+derailed

But I am not sure about whether it is written in a degree of detail similar to your expectation...?

Hopefully you will be able to acquire a copy from the library.

All the best,
Sean Hansen:)

[Stephanie625]

Thanks Sean. I've read some of Glantz's other work, and while I expect not to find much specifically about the regiment concerning me, I'm going to take a look at Barbarossa Derailed with my Amazon Prime account before I buy it.

[Art]

So let's sup um what we have. The sector of the German 7 Infantry division consisted of two parts. ...The left part facing to the south had the Soviet 303 Rifle and apparently at least elements of 106 Motorized Divisions, it was hit my a major Soviet attack leading to abandonment of the Yelnya salient.

Below are some info about these two.

From the battle order of the 24 Army HQ:

…..
3. 24 Army attacking with its wings and center encircles and captivates the entire enemy Yelnya group and on 3.9.41 reaches the line: Bezzabot state farm, Novotischevo, Kukuevo and then continues offensive to Pochinok
The start of the offensive from the morning of 30.08.1941
….
11. 106 Motorized Division with 305 Cannon Artillery Regiment, SB aircraft observation flight attacking with its left wing and destroying opposing enemy units is to take point 223.3, Moksaki. Later on by the end of the day it is to take K.Popovka, Filatki. Destruction of enemy artillery in the sector of 303 Rifle Division is carried out by the 305 Cannon Artillery Regiment.
Border from the left: Murashkino, Sutoki, Novosokolniki, Sadesenye, Vityakovka.
12. 303 Rifle Division with 540 Rifle Regiment, 1/ and 2/488 Corps Artillery Regiment, 24 Mortar Battalion, M-13 rocket battery delivering the main thrust in the direction Straina, Skokova, Tscheplevo, Leonidovo is to destroy opposing enemy units and take Straina, Skokovo. Later on it is to reach by the end of the day the line Gorodok, Leonovo with the view of attacking to Mileevo, Tscheplevo, Leonidovo then. Upon reaching the line Gorodok, Leonovo one company is to occupy the line Ozerensk, Bobylevo with the task of preventing enemy counterattacks from the west and south-west against the left flank – 540 Rifle Regiment.

14. Artillery – in readiness by 21.00 28.8.41
Artillery preparation – one hour. The start of the preparation – by additional order.
Tasks:
a) To suppress and destroy surviving weapon emplacements on the forward line and in depth of enemy defenses.
b) Set on fire forests, fields and villages
c) Destroy pillboxes and engineer works
Destruction starts from 29.8.41
d) Destroy enemy artillery, mortars, and weapon emplacements in the sector of attack groups advance.
e) Secure our troops offensive with firm antitank defense against possible enemy counterattacks
f) Deliver long-range fire attacks on concentrations of enemy troops. Sudden fire attacks are to start on 29.8.41.

106 Motorized Division strength report from 28.8.41:
612 officers + 690 NCOs + 5271 privates = total 6573 men 55 tractors, 16 motorcycles, 4 armored cars, 4450 rifles, 123 automatic rifles, 44 medium machineguns, 95 light machineguns, 13 submachineguns, 3 antiaircraft machineguns, 11 76-mm guns, 3 76-mm AA guns, 24 45-mm, 2 37-mm guns, 3 152-mm and 14 122-mm howitzers, 6 82-mm and 12 50-mm mortars, 30 cars, 664 trucks, 116 special purpose vehicles, 23 radiosets.
Attached to the division:
540 Rifle Regiment (120 Rifle Division): 113+252+1880=2245 men, 1690 rifles, 13 medium and 6 light machineguns, 12 45-mm guns, 2 120-mm and 6 82-mm mortars, 1 car, 6 trucks, 1 radioset
24 Mortar Battalion: 51+63+327=442 men, 29 tractors, 1 motorcycle, 369 rifles, 17 automatic rifles, 3 medium, 8 light, 2 AA machineguns, 9 submachineguns, 1 45-mm gun, 33 120-mm mortars, 1 car, 49 trucks, 2 special purpose vehicles
3/606 Howitzer Artillery Regiment: 25+55+273=353 men, 13 tractors, 307 rifles, 7 light machineguns, 15 trucks
Sep. engineer company: 7+21+173=201 men, 169 rifles, 10 light machineguns, 12 trucks
Special battery (rocket): 9+20+94=123 men, 116 rifles, 1 medium, 2 light, 2 AA machineguns, 4 rocket launchers, 34 trucks, 4 special purpose vehicles, 2 radiosets

303 Rifle Division, report from 25.08.41 (without some service elements):
734 officers + 1433 NCOs + 8250 privates = 10417 men, 2329 horses, 5 cars, 39 trucks, 1 special purpose vehicle, 12 tractors, 7549 rifles, 1085 automatic rifles, 108 medium, 150 light machineguns, 98 submachineguns, 28 76-mm, 18 45-mm guns, 8 122-mm howitzers, 4 120-mm and 64 50-mm mortars, 45 radiosets

From the report on artillery strength of the 24 Army (unspecified date):
106 Artillery Regiment/106 Motorized Division: 6 76-mm, 19 122-mm, 1 152-mm, total 26 pieces. Attached 305 Cannon Artillery Regiment 22 122-mm guns and 23 152-mm gun-howitzers,
844 Artillery Regiment/303 Rifle Division: 16 76-mm and 8 122-mm, total 24 pieces. Attached 488 Corps Artillery Regiment – 12 122-mm guns and 10 152-mm guns-howitzers, 24 Mortar Battalion – 29 120-mm mortars, rocket battery – 4 M-13 launchers.

Compiled from documents of the Reserve Front HQ.

[John Hilly]

Thanks Art!
What would those special purpose vehicles be?

With best,
J-P

[Art]

Anything on truck chassis not designed for transporting usual cargoes: tank trucks, ambulances, repair trucks etc.

[Stephanie625]

Would we see any of the T34's out there?

[Art]

It doesn't appear so.