Aymeric wrote:Spasiba Alex !
you mean that the 124 and 63 RD went across the Don to help the 304 RD, which was the only RD to defend serafimovitch at the beginning ?
Hi, Ottaviooricchi wrote:I was absolutely amazed by looking at this post.
For aproximately two years I have surfed the web looking for Russian information on Serafimovich.
I was desperately looking for the name of the Russian tank brigade destroyed by the Celere.
...until I found an Italian source - the only one - that mentions the brigade number
there was an article published in the Italiian army review in 1983 mentioning the 652th tank battalion. This source refers also to the 304th, 124th and 63rd; exactly same divisions hilighted in the map as of the link http://rkkaww2.armchairgeneral.com/maps ... _ru/06.HTM
In the book by Charles Sharp on Soviet orde of battle in WWII at page 97 among the Don Front reserves it is mentioned a separate tank battalion numbered 652. A person I got in touch with (Sergei Patrunin) found that this unit was also in the Red Army OOB for August 1, 1942 for 21 Army - Stalingrad front.
Do you, folks, have the tank composition of this unit?
Ottavio
PS If you are looking for additional information I could pheraps let you have a few scanned pages ...strictly in Italian!
not so strange Alex...I found more than time war reports where witnesses had no idea about whom they were actually fightingAlex Yeliseenko wrote:Hi, Ottaviooricchi wrote:I was absolutely amazed by looking at this post.
For aproximately two years I have surfed the web looking for Russian information on Serafimovich.
I was desperately looking for the name of the Russian tank brigade destroyed by the Celere.
...until I found an Italian source - the only one - that mentions the brigade number
there was an article published in the Italiian army review in 1983 mentioning the 652th tank battalion. This source refers also to the 304th, 124th and 63rd; exactly same divisions hilighted in the map as of the link http://rkkaww2.armchairgeneral.com/maps ... _ru/06.HTM
In the book by Charles Sharp on Soviet orde of battle in WWII at page 97 among the Don Front reserves it is mentioned a separate tank battalion numbered 652. A person I got in touch with (Sergei Patrunin) found that this unit was also in the Red Army OOB for August 1, 1942 for 21 Army - Stalingrad front.
Do you, folks, have the tank composition of this unit?
Ottavio
PS If you are looking for additional information I could pheraps let you have a few scanned pages ...strictly in Italian!
About, it is the valuable information!
I confirm, that the separate 652 tank battalion was a part of 21 Armies. It really was in area Serafimovich. Within the next few days I shall make translation of memoirs of the participant of fights - the Soviet tankman. A surprise - it does not remember any Italians and speaks, that fights were only with Germans.
Best regards from Siberia!
Best regards!The end of July, 1942. Fascists are torn to Stalingrade. The city the Kalach on Don has fallen. The fierce fights go in area Kletskaja-Serafimovich.
In the morning on July, 29th, 1942 our 652-nd separate tank battalion have engaged to action on approaches to the city of Serafimovich. During attack the tank of second lieutenant Vlasenko has damaged. Being the assistant to the commander tank company on technical, I with crew have begun to restore it.
To the middle of day our armies send on surburb of city. We borrowed by restoration of the tank, have not noticed it and have remained in rear with fascists. Only when on the tank fascists from city have started to shoot, we have understood our position.
Three-day struggle has begun with this moment both for the tank, and for a life of crew. Germans attacked us almost continuously. We had complete set of an ammunition, the down, two machine guns, six automatic devices. We tried to not admit close Germans, but it was necessary to apply and granates. Have passed day.
For the second day of attack of Germans have renewed, it was necessary to save an ammunition which in the first day we did not regret in the heat of fight.
In the street there was a forty-degree heat. The powder smoke which fans had not time to suck away, got in eyes, a throat, sweat from the person rolled a hailstones.
In the end of the second day I in one of respites casually managed to grope work of radio station артполка a shooting division which was supported with our battalion. I have contacted command and began to correct fire on the enemy. The tank was on the raised district, all was well looked through around. In turn fascists have marked work of our portable radio set and have strengthened attack, tried to destroy by bombing the tank from air. But in the single tank to get hardly, especially we were shot from two machine guns, having established them in the hatch of a tower as antiaircraft. In one of attacks of Germans we have lost two comrades.
By the morning on August, 1st we managed to restore the tank, but we have not risked to break to the day. Nights have decided to wait, continuing to correct fire of our artillery, and occasionally, saving shells to be shot. Hours per ten mornings our tanks have broken through defense of the opponent, and we with them have taken part in attack. With them also have returned to an arrangement of the battalion where already were considered as victims. Here we have learned about the order of Supreme commander in chief 227 from July, 28th, 1942 “ to a step back ” which we have executed, not knowing about it.
For these three day we have destroyed two tanks, one armored troop-carrier, one plane, about two hundred fascists. I was награжден an award of the Red Banner, and other members of crew - awards of the Red Star.
21 armies in structure of which our battalion was at war, the jumping-off place on right was possible to keep protect Don. From here approach on rout of a fascist grouping under Stalingrade on November, 19th, 1942 has begun. To us was pleasant to understand, that in deduction of this jumping-off place there was also our small share.
Nikolay Karin
The engineer-lieutenant colonel in resignation.
Hi,oricchi wrote:Alex,
nice story, although I see no mention is made to Italians.
What I got from this text, however, is that the Russian testimony was working with a tank repair unit and did not personally took part to the fighting. Am'I wrong?
Does you source mention anywhere "soldat kurke". Apparently Russians gave this name to Bersaglieri because of their hat (decorated with capercaillie feathers)?
Lupo,
judging from your past posts I thought you had already almost every possible informaiton on the Italian army!
Anyway, I will be pleased to send you the information I have.
Ottavio
Aymeric wrote:Thank you Alex for the testimony.
About the number of tanks, the 652° batallion had 30 tanks at the beginning of the battle, and 7 at the end, is that right ?