The Fall of East Prussia

[AMVAS]

http://militera.lib.ru/h/sb_vi_6/s23.gif


Fights for Gumbinnen Jan 20-21'45

[ToKu]

Thanks a lot AMVAS, I'm impressed and starting to refresh my Russian.

This text is so detailed!

And so many maps included!

Thanks a lot once again.

[AMVAS]

Thanks a lot AMVAS, I'm impressed and starting to refresh my Russian.

This text is so detailed!

And so many maps included!

Thanks a lot once again.

Welcome

Maybe I also have some info about this operation in my copy of "Experience of the war" book serie published in 1942-46

[AMVAS]

Yep, in mentioned book serie there are some articles and schemas about this operation and in particular about usage of the 11th Gds. Army

Alex

[Jacky Kingsley]

Thank you ToKu and Amvas

[Jan-Hendrik]

Any chance to get the losses figures for soviet forces in theis operation in October 1944 in the area of Schloßberg-Schloßbach-Insterburg?

Jan-Hendrik

[Alex Yeliseenko]

Any chance to get the losses figures for soviet forces in theis operation in October 1944 in the area of Schloßberg-Schlosßbach-Insterburg?

Jan-Hendrik

Now is not present. I did not see, that it was published.

[Art]

Some relevant maps:
Situation in the sector of the 3rd Belorussian Front by the start and by the end of the Gumbinnen-Goldap operation (October 1944):
http://militera.lib.ru/memo/russian/galitsky_kn/s01.gif
Plan of offensive operation of the 3rd Berlorussian Front as formulated on 28th September:
http://militera.lib.ru/memo/russian/galitsky_kn/s02.gif
Maps are from the memoir by K.Galitsky (CO of the 11th Guards Army in October 1944)

[kon]

ah not quite true, As a good friend told me who was part of the 1st Infantrie Division the primary battle during October was Ebenröde where the Soviet's lost over 400 tanks.

Losses of both sides were heavy, but Russians bigger, as always. It is estimated they lost some 30 – 40 % of their troops and some 80 % tanks. 31st Russian Army suffered heaviest losses.

Remarkable defensive operation of Wehrmacht.It has been once again confirmed that Russian move forward only for the account of the overwhelming superiority in a manpower and the technician. There where the superiority was not, the Soviet armies scattered totally. And only when Hitler has removed tank divisions from Vistula and has sent to Ardenness and Hungary, weak Russian could break through German defence

[kon]

Data about losses in people 3 Belorussian front 79527 is known. How many Russian have lost there tanks?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVQrA5Ba_Rg

[Art]

Well, regarding tanks. Here is inforamtion on number of operational tanks in the 2nd Guards Tank Corps.
On 19 October before commitment to action – 210 T-34 and 41 assault guns (SU-76 and SU-85) (TsAMO f. 661, op. 198763, d. 6, l. 209)
19-20 October – 40 tanks lost (TsAMO f. 358, op. 2593, d. 316, ll. 128-132)
By morning 22 October – 158 tanks and 38 assault guns (TsAMO f. 661, op. 199085, d. 6, l. 150)
By evening 22 October – 98 tanks and 30 assault guns (TsAMO f. 661, op. 198763, d. 6, l. 224)
By morning 24 October after withdrawl from the bulge – 98 tank and 27 assault guns (TsAMO f. 661, op. 199085, d. 6, ll. 152-153)
That is from "V boyakh za Vostochuyu Prussiyu" by K.N. Galitskiy which gives a pretty good description of operation from the Soviet side. One can see that the corps was far from being cut off and destroyed, in fact it was in relatively good shape after withdrawl and the number of operational AFVs decreased only by 3 assault guns between the evening of 22.10 when the reatreat order was recieved and the morning 24.10 when the corps was behind Rominte river.
Schemes from Galitskiy showing progress of the operation in the 11 Guards Army's sector
16-21 October 1944:
http://militera.lib.ru/memo/russian/galitsky_kn/s04.gif
22-23 October:
http://militera.lib.ru/memo/russian/galitsky_kn/s06.gif

[Art]

Here is the Stavka's directive defining the tasks of the 3rd Belorussian Front:

Directive #220235
3 October 1944 23.00

Stavka of the Supreme Main Command orders:
1. To prepare and conduct an offensive operation by forces of Krylov’s 5th Army, Galitskiy’s 11th Guards Army and Lutchinskiy’s 28th Army with the objective to defeat the Tilsit-Insterburg group and seize Konigsberg in cooperation with the 1st Baltic Front
The main blow is to be delivered by adjacent flanks of 5th and 11th Guards Armies (in all 18 rifle divisions) from the region of Vilkaviskis in general direction to Gumbinnen and further along the southern bank of Pregel River. On the breakthrough sector four artillery divisions are to be concentrated and artillery density of not less than 200 barrels (from 82-mm and higher) per kilometer is to be created.
Actions of part of the neighboring armies’ forces are to be contemplated from the region of Schirwindt to Lasdehnen and from the region of Pochernuvka to Wizhainy in order to roll up enemy defense on the flanks of the breakthrough sector.
2. The immediate task of the front’s forces – to seize not later than on 8-10th day of the operation the line Insterburg-Darkemen-Goldap.
Then the front is to advance toward Allenburg – Pr.-Eylau detaching part of its forces for attack on Konigsberg from the south.
3. 28th Army is to advance in the second echelon behind the main group and to be used for augmentation of shock power when developing the offensive.
4. Keep in mind using the 39th Army after reaching the Neman River for strengthening the offensive group of the front in the prescribed sector.
5. Delimiting lines with neighboring fronts ad responsibility for security of junctions with them are left as before.
6. Start of the offensive – according to the instructions received by you personally.
7. Report orders given.

Supreme Main Command Stavka
I. Stalin
A. Antonov

Translated from "Russkiy Arkhiv...", Vol 5(4), Terra, Moscow, 1999.

[Jan-Hendrik]

Von Gumbinnen bis Balga

Jan-Hendrik

[rossmcpharter]

Thanks for that superb link.

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

There had to be plenty of stories from the German soldiers point of view about the heavy fighting in East Prussia. The anti-tank soldiers who scored many kills over Soviet tanks are my favorite heroes of the Wehrmacht.

Sincerely,

Edward L. Hsiao