Battle of Sovkhoz «Red Star» (Sovkhoz 79)

[Yuri]

Lw.GRUPPEN, Lw.Schütztuppe and Lw.Schützenkompanien of 9.Flakdiv.
In the battle for State Farm 79
Lage 25.11.1942.
(for the DORN's group and this 1., 3.Lw.Schützenkompanie 28.11.1942-04.12.1942)

9FlakDiv_Chir_Sovchoz79_Lage_42-11-25.jpg

[Yuri]

The location of the Groups, Lw.Schütz.Komp./9.Flakdiv., and Lw.Kampftruppe/9.Flakdiv on 14 Dec 1942.

German documents use abbreviations:
- Sich.Gr.9.Div.;
- Lw.Schutzt.Gr./9.Flakdiv.
- 9.Lw.FD
- Lw.Sch.Reg.D.
- Lw.Sich.Reg. D./9.Flakdiv.
In fact, all these symbols are Lw.Gruppe, Lw.Schütz.Komp./9.Flakdiv., and Lw.Kampftruppe/9.Flakdiv.
They operated in Nov-Dec 1942 on the site between Surovikino – Lisinskiy- Werch-Chirskiy – Eretskiy – Rychkov (bridge Don river).

9Flak_42-12-14_Karte_.jpg

Please note, the HQ Sch.Reg.D./9.Fakdiv uses maps of HQ AOK.6. Tactical signs and labels of the HQ.AOK.6. (blue) clears and then applied their own symbols.
According to the HQ.AOK.6's signs at Morozovskaya:
- HQ.A.O.K.3.(rum.);
- Al.Btl.Stlino I.;
- 1Btl.Gren.Reg.154.;
-Pz.Reg.710.;
The date of the A.O.K.6's card myself can't be recovered.
Someone might want to try to do something here:
http://wwii.germandocsinrussia.org/ru/n ... ect/zoom/4

[Yuri]

Gr.EHM acted on the beachhead between the Chir and the don, together with the Heer Group Adam (December 10, converted to 384.I. D. – there is a document in this regard).
The Ehm group for tactical use is given Heer.Fla.Battr.'s (8.8 cm, 3.7 cm, 2cm Flak and MG).
On Gr.Adam's Gliederung from 4.12.42 for Kg.Hem shows the number of Heer.FlakArtilleristen. – 428 mann.
At the same time on November 25 in the captain EHM's group was about 1500 Lw.Soldaten and Lw.FlakArtilleriesten.
On November 27 group EHM tactically attached 3./res.147.Fla.Abt. (4 - 8.8 cm, 2 - 2 cm)
On 15 December, the bridgehead was cleared and the Group EHM moved to the West Bank of Chir river.

December 8, Lw.Sch.Reg.D. tactically attached 48.Pz.Korp. (Knobelsdorf and Mellentin).
On the same day, the HQ of Lw.Sch.Reg.D. to establish direct communication with the HQ of 48.Pz.Korp.

[Yuri]

The assessment of enemy forces on the Chir front by the AG DON's headquarters.
As of December 14, 1942.

AGDON_FaindLage_42-12-14.jpg

[Yuri]

Station Sekretew (between Obliwskaya and Surovikino) guarded the battery of Oblt.Menzel (Flak-Reg.38.)
I. and II./Flak-Reg.38. subordinate to the HQ of Flak-Reg.99. (Obstlt. Obergetmann).
The Flak-Reg.99. was not part of 9.Flakdiv.
The Obergetmann's regiment was part of the Group Don (8th air corps).
Several batteries of the Romanian's anti-aircraft brigade attached to the Obergetmann's Regiment. On the eve of the November 19 Gliederung Flak-Reg.99 and position his of the batteries as shown here.

Flak-Reg_99_42-11-14_.jpg

[Yuri]

German map of the lower reaches of the river Chir.
This map helps well when you read German documents.

9Flak_42-11-07_Karte_Nizh_Chir_1920.jpg

However, it is the map no show Obliwskaya.
There is another map, where there is Oblivskaya, but the quality of map not very good.

[Yuri]

9Flak_42-09-04_Karte_Nizh_Chir_1240.jpg

[Yuri]

24.12.42 11:00 Here is last reported on a the list of units of LuftwaffenGefechtsVerband DORN (aka: Sich.Gr./9.Div; Lw.Sch.Gr/9.Faldiv.; 9.Lw.FD; Lw.Sch.Reg.D.).
Full list add dissolved December 20:
- 3 Lwkampftruppen (Reibschtein; Soldmann and Manager)
- 1 Lw.SchutztKompanie (2.Lw.Schutz.komp.9.Flakdiv.).

FlakKorp1_Stand_KampGruppen_24-12-42(b).jpg

December 30, The Chirfront collapsed and in one day dropped to 50 km to the West.

[Yuri]

The arms of Lw.Sch.Reg.D on November 28, 1942

9FlakDiv_KTB_28-11-42_Geschutzt.jpg

[Yuri]

The battle for state farm 79 by Lw.Sch.Reg.D
1. Radiogram 7 Dec 42.

LwSchRegD_07-12-42_.jpg

2. KTB 7 Dec 42

9FlakDiv_KTB_07-12-42.jpg

[Yuri]

The battle for state farm 79 by Lw.Sch.Reg.D
1. Telegram 8 Dec 42.

Swch79_RegD_48PzK_08-12-42__.jpg

2. KTB 8 Dec 42

9FlakDiv_KTB_08-12-42.jpg

9FlakDiv_KTB_08-12-42_.jpg

[Yuri]

These documents let know following.
First, Chef of 4th Fleet General-Col. von Richthofen - a full participant in the battle for State farm 79. (let me remind you, we know from the memoirs of Stukapilot Rudel – he is also a participant in this battle).
Second, in memories of General Knobelsdorf wrong, December 8 headquarters 48.Pz.K. arrived Obrst.Lt. Dorn – commander just completed Lw.Sch.Reg. not commander just arrived air field division.
Thirdly, General Balck reported to a higher authority incorrect number of tanks in 11.Pz.D. (in the Balck's division was 110 tanks - a long-barreled 5 cm and 7.5 cm).
Fourth, the degree of reliability of information about the enemy (Russian) in the documents of Lw.Sch.Reg. is higher than in the Heer's documents.
In the Lw's documents Number of the Russian tanks in the attack on Sovkhoz Nr. 79 on December 7 (over 50 tanks) and number of the destroyed tanks on December 8 (29 tanks) is almost accurate.
In the Lw's documents is correct – on December 8, the Russian tanks from the State farm Nr 79 broke in the direction of East as a result: darked, not clear on the positions of opponents, the German forces between the State farm Nr. 79 and Lisinskiy weak.
This fully corresponds to the report of the commander of 216th tank Brigade Lt.Colonel Kozhanov in the report of December 9, 1942.
Additionally can specify that on the Lw's documents mentioned presence of Russian the installations BM-13 ("Katyusha" or "Stalinorgel"). The Russian documents also noted the destructive effect of the BM-13 volleys on the infantry of the 7th air field division that were not in shelters.

[Yuri]

Alas, the assumption of identity Gliederung of 5.Lw.FeldDiv. and Gliederung of 15.Lw.FeldDiv. mistakenly.
Information about 15.Lw.FeldDiv. on this site lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de should be corrected.
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /15LFD.htm
The only correct thing on this site is that originally the division was called Luftwaffen-Felddivision Süd-Ost. Everything else is wrong.
First of all, 15.Lw.FeldDiv. this is the German-Caucasian formation.
Second, at 15.Lw.FeldDiv. not four, but six battalions: five German (1.-5.Batl.) and one (6.Batl.) Caucasian.
Gliederung of battalion: two rifle companies (1. and 2.Schut.Komp.), one hunting company (3.Jg.Komp.) and one heavy company (schw.4.Komp.).
Place of formation 15.Lw.FeldDiv. Yesentuki, no Salsk. More precisely, the division was lodged in sanatoriums in Esentuki. I must say, von Richthofen defined a great place for this division, as saying in Russia - not life, but raspberries.
The beginning of completion of 15.Lw.FeldDiv. – November 3, 1942, the willingness of units to use on the frontline – 1 December 1942.
The 9th, 15th, and 17th anti-aircraft divisions of 1st anti-aircraft corps were to assign officers, unter-officers and artillery soldiers to Divisionstab and schw.4.Komp.'s of 15.Lw.FeldDiv.
In division two regiment: Nr. 29 and Nr. 30.
Special mention should be said about the artillery regiment of 15.Lw.FeldDiv. This very powerful unit.
This art.regiment was created on the basis of Flak.Reg.7 in the composition: four gems.Flak.Abtl. and two lei.Flak.Abtl.
Total six Abteilungs (21 batteries): 9 - 8.8 cm batteries 36 guns; (4+1/3) - 3.7 cm batteries 39 guns; (7+3/4) – 2 cm batteries 93 guns. Total 165 guns.
From the data for October 1942, this batteries were equipped with weapons at 100%.
Mixed Abteilung – 1,200 people; light Abteilung – 800 people. Thus, only in Abteilungs of Art.Reg./5.Lw.FeldDiv. – 165 guns and a 6,400 people gunners (+ Trosse, communications comp. and other). It's not a Art.Regiment, it's an full Artillery Division.
In operation “Winter storm” units of 15th Air Field Division operated in conjunction with 57th tank corps, 6th and 23rd tank divisions.
By 10 December 1942 (start of operation December 12) all Abteilungs of Art.Reg./15.Lw.FD. was in the area of 4th Panzer Army of General Hoth (Kotel'nikovo).
The addition of 168 guns of 15th Air Field Dvision to the forces of 6th tank division is such an increase in power that it is impossible to overestimate.

[Yuri]

Gliederung of 15.Lw.FD (Lw.FD Sud-Ost)

LwFeldDiv_SudOst_Gliederung_1-2.jpg

LwFeldDiv_SudOst_Gliederung_3-4.jpg

LwFeldDiv_SudOst_Gliederung_5.jpg

[Yuri]

Gliederung schw.4.Komp. of I.-V.Batl./15.lw.FD

LwFeldDiv_SudOst_Gliederung_Anlage1.jpg

LwFeldDiv_SudOst_Gliederung_Anlage1-2.jpg