Voroniezh 1942-1943

[Minotauros]

Dear Friends,

The city of Voroniezh was captured after brief fight by units of the "Grossdeutschland" on July 7th, 1942.
It was retaken on January 25, 1943 after three days of bitter fighting. A German general officer was killed during those fights.

Who can tell me more about the occupation of this city? (the occupation regime, the losses among the population, maybe some pics?...)
What Axis units were entrusted with the defence of this sector?
Which Soviet units liberated it in 1943?

[Abel Ravasz]

As far as my sources go, Voronezh was abandoned by the bulk of the 88. ID (w/o its GR 246 detached to the 168. ID) on 25/1/43, one day after the initiation of the Voronezh-Kastornoje offensive. Soviet units occupied the abandoned city the following day.

The "three days of bitter fighting" is not mentioned in any of my sources.
Gen.d.Inf. Gollwitzer, co 88. ID survived the fighting, so no clue on the supposed killed general.

Abel

[Königstiger]

Killed in action:

Oberst Josef Schmidt of Inf.Rgt. 199 was killed in action at Voronezh on January 29 1943. (He was promoted posthumeously Generalmajor.)
Generalleutnant Alfred Baentsch of 88. Inf.Div. was wounded several times at Voronezh on January 27 1943. He died of his wounds subsequently.

Missing:

Generalleutnant Adolf Lechner of 377 Inf.Div. was missing at Voronezh since January 29 1943.

http://www.geocities.com/~orion47/CROIS ... alties.htm

[Abel Ravasz]

Hi Auke, nice to meet you again
Unfortunately, I think that none of the above mentioned people are the same as we are looking for.

Both the 377. ID (Lechner) and the 82. ID (Bäntsch) were deployed with the XIII. AK to the north of the city. These units fought and suffered these casualties against the upper pincer of the encircling Soviet forces (38., 13. Armies). The fighting for Voronezh occured in the sector of the VII. AK (against the 60. Army).

The G.R. 199 was part of the Gruppe Siebert (Div Stab 57) during the course of this battle and had suffered heavily while encircled at Sinje Lipiagy, to the southwest of the city. Suppose Schmidt was killed in this fighting, too, at least the date suggests so.

So these were good tries but close misses, all of them unfortunately. I'm clueless about the true identity of the man we're looking for, if there is any.

Abel

[salex]

Sorry for my bad English.
I am interested in the history of Voronezh, including the period of occupation.
I understand that picked up the oldest theme, but if it is to someone else interested, I'll post some photos and i will communicate for this topic with interest.

[leachjeff]

It would be interesting to see some war time photographs of Voronezh and any information you have about the German occupation.

[salex]

Most of the city of Voronezh was captured by units of the "Grossdeutschland" and 24-th Panzerdivizion on July 7-9th, 1942

Front line passed along the River Voronezh and the northern outskirts of the city. Thus in the hands of the Red Army remained left-bank part of the city, as well as the northern suburbs: City Park,hospital campus and campus of Agricultural Institute.

A little later, the units of Red Army forced the River Voronezh in around the southern bridge ( a total it was two bridges and one rail in the North) and formed a large springboard in the central part of the city.

Thus the front line ran directly through the town and the whole period of occupation continued street fighting.

For this reason, civilian occupation authority had not been established in the city. The town was administered by the military commandant's Office.

Some of the inhabitants did not have time to evacuate and remained in the occupied city.

During the occupation killed nearly 2000 civilians.

2 August, the Germans began the forced evacuation of the townspeople behind the River Don. Those who could not move himself was killed by shot. Including destroyed nontransportable hospital patients (about 500 people).

People caught in the city after the evacuation were hung or shot in the streets as guerrillas and spies.

So was caught on the street and immediately shot the young scout Feoktistov (Feoktistov, Konstantin Petrovich (1926-2009) famous Russian engineer cosmonaut). But the wound was not fatal, he hides pretending dead and later was able to move to left-bank

Here's what i can say in short on the regime of occupation.

I hope that I write understandable. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

[salex]

some photos

[tigre]

Hello to all , here a little complement as well...............

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=81388&start=45#p1361874

Cheers. Raúl M .

[salex]

Good day!

tigre thanks. Is it possible to see sources that topic? The most of links are not available.



and two airphoto by luftwaffe


German aerial photographs from 16.05.1943 industries of Voronezh. The image marked airfields, factories, and other military and industrial facilities. Northern and North-eastern part of the city


German aerial photographs from 19.05.1943 industries of Voronezh. The image marked airfields, factories, and other military and industrial facilities. South and South-West part of the city







P.S. Maybe it to correct heading of theme? Correctly Voronezh

[tigre]

Hello to all ; salex here goes the links...............

http://www.57id.de/index.php?title=Feldzug_Dezember_1941_-_Februar_1943_-_Obojan_und_Woronesh
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanteriedivisionen/323ID.htm

The following two were offline for the time being............

http://www.photosammler.de/Serien/list01e.htm
http://www.neuhaus-nick.de/HPOpa/noname5.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a complement dealing with this subject................

The withdrawal of 2 AOK from Woronesh - Winter 1943.

At the beginning of 1943 the city of Woronesh was located in the area of ​​responsibility of the 2 AOK (Generaloberst Hans v. Salmuth) within the Army Group B (Generalfeldmarschall Maximilian Reichsfreiherr v. Weichs). The 2 AOK was composed of the following Army Corps:

VII. AK = 323.ID, 1/3 168.ID, 75 and 57.ID, 1/3 383.ID (Group V) and the group of Oberst Roth;
XIII. AK = 377 ID, 340 ID, 68 ID and 82.ID;
LV. AK = 1/3 88.ID, 2/3 383.ID, 45.ID and 299.ID

The 57. ID, the 75. ID and the 323. ID, subordinated to the VII AK retained the Woronesh bridgehead.

Sources: Schlacht um Woronesch. 06. Juli 1942 bis 01. August 1942. http://www.neuhaus-nick.de/HP%20Opa/noname5.htm (off line)
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/PanzerArtReg/PAR103-R.htm
http://www.57id.de/index.php?title=Januar_-_Februar_1943_-_R%C3%BCckmarsch_von_Woronesh
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Armeen/2Armee.htm
Panzer Ari Rgt 103 Panzerhaubitze Hummel 203 Fotos rar bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 24_09_08 212603 MESZ).
http://www.photosammler.de/Serien/list01e.htm (off-line)
52. - RAD Army Photo Album – Inf. Rgt.158. Historical Media, LLC. Viernes, 19 de Septiembre de 2008, 21:59:56.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows................

The withdrawal of 2 AOK from Woronesh - Winter 1943.

On January 12, 1943 the Soviet offensive had beaten the 2nd Hungarian Army achieving the penetration into the depth of its defensive deployment. On January 15, 1943 the 57th ID evacuated the Woronesh bridgehead and in the basis of the unit it was organized the Group of Army Corps Siebert, which until January 24, 1943 retained the line Staro Melovoje-Siniye Lipyagi-Kotechowka-Aleksandrowka along the Don.

Sources: Schlacht um Woronesch. 06. Juli 1942 bis 01. August 1942. http://www.neuhaus-nick.de/HP%20Opa/noname5.htm(off line)
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/PanzerArtReg/PAR103-R.htm
http://www.57id.de/index.php?title=Januar_-_Februar_1943_-_R%C3%BCckmarsch_von_Woronesh
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Armeen/2Armee.htm
Panzer Ari Rgt 103 Panzerhaubitze Hummel 203 Fotos rar bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 24_09_08 212603 MESZ).
http://www.photosammler.de/Serien/list01e.htm(off-line)
52. - RAD Army Photo Album – Inf. Rgt.158. Historical Media, LLC. Viernes, 19 de Septiembre de 2008, 21:59:56.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows................

The withdrawal of 2 AOK from Woronesh - Winter 1943.

On January 25, 1943 arrived up to the Army Corps Cramer (now part of the 2. AOK) the 168th ID and the remnants of the 1. Hungarian Armored Division. The Group of Army Corps Siebert resisted strong enemy attacks in its sector. In the bridgehead of Woronesh the German rearguards managed to break contact with the enemy and retreated to the west bank of the River Don. The 2. AOK was attacked from the north but also resisted this threat successfully.

Sources: Schlacht um Woronesch. 06. Juli 1942 bis 01. August 1942. http://www.neuhaus-nick.de/HP%20Opa/noname5.htm(off line)
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/PanzerArtReg/PAR103-R.htm
http://www.57id.de/index.php?title=Januar_-_Februar_1943_-_R%C3%BCckmarsch_von_Woronesh
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Armeen/2Armee.htm
Panzer Ari Rgt 103 Panzerhaubitze Hummel 203 Fotos rar bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 24_09_08 212603 MESZ).
http://www.photosammler.de/Serien/list01e.htm (off-line)
52. - RAD Army Photo Album – Inf. Rgt.158. Historical Media, LLC. Viernes, 19 de Septiembre de 2008, 21:59:56.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows................

The withdrawal of 2 AOK from Woronesh - Winter 1943.

On January 26, 1943 enemy attacks along the entire front of the 2. AOK, although the Soviets achieved partial success. From Woronesh the Soviets gained a foothold on the western bank of the River Don. Since 08:00 hours the Group of Army Corps Siebert was subordinated to the VII AK.

The Kradsch. Btl 34 (Major Hans-Joachim Kahler), reinforced with the 4. / PAR 103 (OLt. Gerstenmeier) belonging to the 4 Pz, was entrained in Orel as the vanguard of the division, being landed in Schtschigry. Soviet tanks entered Gorshechnoye looking encircle and destroy the GR 199 and the I. / GR 217. The commander of the GR 199, Oberst Schmidt, fell in action and Hauptmann Josef Heindl (II./ GR 199) in charge of the regiment, led the breakthrough to the NW.

Sources: Schlacht um Woronesch. 06. Juli 1942 bis 01. August 1942. http://www.neuhaus-nick.de/HP%20Opa/noname5.htm(off line)
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/PanzerArtReg/PAR103-R.htm
http://www.57id.de/index.php?title=Januar_-_Februar_1943_-_R%C3%BCckmarsch_von_Woronesh
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Armeen/2Armee.htm
Panzer Ari Rgt 103 Panzerhaubitze Hummel 203 Fotos rar bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 24_09_08 212603 MESZ).
http://www.photosammler.de/Serien/list01e.htm(off-line)
52. - RAD Army Photo Album – Inf. Rgt.158. Historical Media, LLC. Viernes, 19 de Septiembre de 2008, 21:59:56.

Cheers. Raúl M .