At night with November 24/25 from an encirclement in region Bol. Dontshchinka, Mal. Dontshchinka, Medvezhij the group of Germans has left: 35 tanks and a mechanized infantry - on 100 motor vehicles and 50 motorcycles. The common number of a mechanized infantry is estimated in 1500 person.
The route of movement of this group was such: from Medvezhij on the south on a ravine Medvezhij up to the big road to the west from Petrovka; an exit on road with turn to the west; movement on road to a western direction up to the bridge through Chir; transition on the bridge through Chir and attack on Chernyshevskaja (to look on the map ).
At this time Chernyshevskaja defended a left-wing battalion left-wing 437-th RR 47-th Guards RD (comander guards of general - major Fokanov).
From Chernyshevskaja on the south on the river Chir Russian at that time still was nothing.
Number of the German group which have left an encirclement does not cause doubt. Messages on movement of this column acted from various places and from different sources independent from each other.
In all these messages it is underlined about presence in a German column from 35 up to 40 tanks, up to 100 motor vehicles and up to 50 motorcycles.
The same data on amount of tanks and mechanized infantries informed POWs.
These German tanks and mechanized infantry belonged 22 Pz. Div.
It, for example, the radiogramm informs about occurrence of a column of Germans in Chernyshevskaja.
TSAMO RF f. 331 i. 5041 f. 24 s. 285
Radiogramm No 34
To whom: the Aquarium *
It is accepted: 15.27 25/11
From radio station: the Bolt (47 GRD)
Has accepted: Devochkin **
It is sent: 25/11 14.03
To Strgeev ***, on northeast surburb Chernyshevskaja have broken up to 35 tanks and the big column of a mechanized infantry and motorcyclists, I conduct battle on destruction of the broken grouping of the enemy.
Dubov [oaks -Yuri] ****
= Ol'khov [alder-Yuri] ***** =
Has accepted [Signature] 15.35
The chief of an army headquarters 47 GRD.
It is informed
NSHA ******
25/11/42
14.30
* An aquarium - a code name of an army headquarters 5TA
** Devochkin - a surname of the radio operator
*** Sergeev - a conditional surname commanding 5TA general - lieutenant Romanenko
**** Dubov (Oaks) - a conditional surname of the commander 47 GRD guards of general - major Fokanova
***** Ol'khov (Alder) - a conditional surname of the chief of an army headquarters 47GRD - guards of colonel Golosko
****** NSHA - an abbreviation from « the chief of an army headquarters »
Earlier, till November, 25, for the river Chir to Chernyshevskaja other units from structure 22 Pz. Div have receded.
Except for units from structure 22 Pz. Div here there were other German units, for example, two railway battalions. One of these battalions had 740 person.
Railway battalions conducted construction of the narrow-gauge railway from Oblivskaja to the north to Don and to 19/11/42 these battalions were in Pitchugin (to northeast from Chernyshevskaja).
After departure for the river Chir railway battalions have not received an independent defended area. It is logical to assume, that she began to operate under the direction of an army headquarters 22 Pz. Div. In anyone cases railway battalions submitted to an army headquarters XLVIII Pz Korp.
In German sources of data on number 22 Pz. Div. it is not enough and they are strongly fragmentary. Only from German sources it is not possible to define real force of this division.
According to the Romanian source in 22 Pz. Div on 19/11/42 was more than 11,0 thousand person.
During the period with 19 on 25/11 losses in 22 Pz. Div have not exceeded 50 % from initial number.
In book Hans Dyorr «The Campaign to Stalingrad » it is told, that till November, 25 all XLVIII (general Heim) has lost 50 % of the initial structure. However it is known, that losses rum. 1AD (included corps Heim's) exceeded losses of Germans. Thus, losses 22 Pz. Div in should be less than 50 %/
Before occurrence broken of Bol. Dontshchinka 35 German tanks, in Chernyshevskaja were already 15 tanks. Thus, the common number of German tanks in Chernyshevskaja by November, 25 has reached 50 pieces.
Except for German tanks from an encirclement 10 Romanian tanks have left structure 1 Arm Div.
Hence, for November, 26 in XLVIII Pz. Korp was about 60 tanks.
Such number of German and Romanian tanks in region Chernyshevskaja figures in all documents.
By this time to the north from Chernyshevskaja (on a boundary of the river Krivaja -Curve) arrived two German infantry divisions XVII AK (294 ID and 62 ID).
With 26/11/42 German-Romanian forces massed on the river Krivaja (Curve) and in Chernyshevskaja, have led approach by forces German XLVIII Pz. Korp., rum. II AK, German XVII AK, rum. I AK
Attacks XLVIII Pz. K in region Chernyshevskaja till November, 29 beat off 47-n GRD general Fokanova.
Germans aspired to reject Russian from western coast of Chir. Here Russian had bridgehead with two settlements arranged to the north from Chernyshevskaja. One of these settlements was Chistjakovskaja (it is shown on my card{map} to the north from Chernyshevskaja) refers to. Other settlement refers to Leont'evsky (it is arranged between Chernyshevskaja and Chistjakovskaja).
Defense on western coast of Chir at Chernyshevskaja was held with two rifle regiments of 47-th GRD - 437 RD and 473 RD. Thus Chistjakovskaja and Leont'evskij were in zone of defense 437 RD. Distance from Chernyshevskaja up to Chistjakovskaja of 8 kms on a straight line. In Chistjakovskaja there was a joint with positions 473 RD. The right border 473 RD rested against coast of Chir in 6 kms from Chistjakovskaja.
Thus, 437 RD and 473 RD held defense in a strip of 14 kms on a straight line.
However, the main danger for 5 TA proceeded not from XLVIII Pz. Korp, and from again arrived of a reserve XVII AK. Therefore commanding 5 TA has commanded to general Fokanov to throw to the north the main forces 47 GRD.
They should help 159 RD and 14 GRD which reflected attacks of German and Romanian infantry divisions in a boundary of the river Krivaja (Curve).
From the below-mentioned message of the commander of 47-th GRD it is visible, that he has received the corresponding order from commanding 5 TA and on November, 29 starts to movement of the main forces of the division to the north. Thus on western coast of the river Chir general Fokanov decides to leave one 437 RD. Thus, since November, 29 this rifle regiment holds a strip defense of 14 kms.
TSAMO RF f. 331, i. 5041, f. 24, s. 299
To Commander 5 TA
1. Within three days 47 GRD conducts not equal battle with tanks and a mechanized infantry of the opponent, has had the big losses.
2. In 7.00 28/11/42 mine CP [command point - Yuri] in Leont'evskij has been attacked by 16 tanks of the opponent. Attack has been beaten off. Directly in Leont'evskij we destroy 5 heavy tanks and one reserved platform [the self-propelled open gun - Yuri], and for three days of battles we destroy 18 tanks of the opponent and 1 reserved platform.
3. Carrying out your order from 28/11/42 main forces of a division I focus in region Pronin with approach of darkness as tanks and aircraft of the opponent attack battle orders of a division. The aircraft of the opponent bombs continuously groups at 20-40 planes.
For maintenance of a direction Chernyshevskaja I leave 437 RR.
My command point as I move Pronin.
28/11/42
The division commander 47 general - major [signature - Yuri]
The chief of an army headquarters the colonel [signature - Yuri]
In the morning on November, 29 to Chernyshevskaja there has arrived the new chief XLVIII Pz. Korp the lieutenant colonel the von Mellenthin. Early the von Mellenthin was at war in Africa. Having arrived on the river Chir to Chernyshevskaja he has seen, that in German tankmen to sink at ocean of hordes Russian.
Anyway, so the von Mellenthin describes in memoirs attack 22 Pz. Div on "two villages » - farm Leont'evskij and a village Chistjakovskaja.
It is difficult to tell, how the von Mellenthin stretched at the front in 14 kms to a regiment could see the whole ocean of hordes.
There can be on the river Chir a von Mellenthin has brought with itself from Africa any special field-glass from Zeis?
But, can be 437 RR 47 GRD any special regiment was and had improbable number of fighters?
However from archival documents it is visible, that it was a usual rifle regiment.
We have an opportunity precisely to specify number persons 437 RR 47 GRD that day when it was seen in fight by the von Mellenthin.
TSAMO RF f. 331 i. 5041 f. 24 s. 302
Operative report No 37 Army headquarters 47 GRD 13.00 2/12/42
1. The general Fokanov's units place in region: Karasev, Varlamov, Pronin, Old Pronin is assiduously prepare for defense by centers of resistance on type fire interactions in readiness together with 216-n TBR to counter a strike on a case of break opponents on a defended area 159th RD and 50th GRD.
159th RD holds a former boundary of a harrow. At night with 1 on 2/12/1942 opponent ñèëîþ up to IR, at support of 15 tanks attacked Krasnokutskaja, has crumpled defense 159th RD, has held Krasnokutskaja and was consolidated.
With parts 14th GRD elbow connections are not present, with 50th GRD there is an elbow connection.
Data on position of units 50th GRD did not act.
216 TBr Pronin in readiness for delivery of a strike with parts 47th GRD holds all-round defense in region.
Has sent a tank platoon in sentry guards in region height 168.6
Battle structure: KV - 12; T34 - 2; T70 - 5
Only 19 battle units.
Security 216 Tbr
…
2. 47 GRD is increased prepares for defense and mines on boundaries
473 RR - a southwest Karasev
437 RR - northwest of surburb Varlamov
510 RR - northeast of surburb Old Pronin, a ravine the Big Broad gully.
3. In time with 19/11 on 30/11/4247 GRD in battles with Romanian-German troops has lost:
Average commanding structure - 292;
Younger commanding structure - 516;
Ordinary structure - 2616.
Only 3,424 killed and wounded.
Losses of an equipment are specified.
4. As of 1/12/42 in 47 GRD has:
Average commanding structure-749;
Younger commanding structure - 917;
Ordinary structure - 3224.
Only 4910, including:
473 RR - 953 persons;
519 RR - 1290 persons;
437 RR - 668 - "-
Arms:
Machine guns manual - 97
Rifles - 3934,
Automatic devices - 522,
Machine guns heavy - 47,
- " - air-defence - 5,
ATR - 94
Guns of 122 mm - 10,
- " - 76 mm - 21,
- " - 45 mm - 20,
- " - 37 mm - 1
Mortars of 120 mm - 11,
- " - 82 mm - 56;
- " - 50 mm - 37
The deputy chief of an army headquarters
The chief of an operations section
Guards the senior lieutenant /Tarannikov/
From this message it is visible, that on December, 2 47-n GRD conducts struggle against the opponent on a boundary of the river Krivaja (Curve).
By December, 3 collected on average Chir and on the river Krivaja (Curve) of force of Germans and Romanian their attacks here have run low also have calmed down.
On December, 4 the army headquarters XLVIII Pz. Korp has moved to the bottom Chir. Thus any troop movement did not occur. German and Romanian divisions earlier included XLVIII Pz. Korp have remained on an old place - in region Chernyshevskaja.
The purpose of this thread a forum to show under archival documents a course of battle for state farm « Red Star » (No 79), occurred on December, 7 and 8, 1942.
Short digression about the events happened before this battle on the river Chir in region Chernyshevskaja and on the river Krivaja (Curve), is necessary because on December, 9 the von Mellenthin on a new place will meet the old enemies general Fokanov and 8th GSTBr. Having understood on December, 8, that in region state farm "Red Star" (No 79) fresh forces of Germans, including a tank division have appeared, the general - lieutenant the Romanenko throws in the shortest term from river Krivaja (Curve) to state farm "Red Star" (No 79) of the general Fokanov's 47 GRD and 8th GSTBr.
It is necessary to notice, that courageous maneuvering on wide front (a distance almost in 200 kms) commander 5 TA the general - lieutenant the Romanenko has created at German command illusion of presence at him ocean of hordes Russian.
Compare: completely motorized division of the general of the Balck maneuvers at the front 25 kms and it is presented by American military historian Stolfi as top of military art.
The general - lieutenant the Romanenko carries out a manoeuvre the not numerous tank brigades and infantry divisions at the front 186 kms. A troops of the general - lieutenant the Romanenko overcome this distance for 24 hours per winter conditions. It is necessary to mean still, that a motor-vehicle transport in 5-th tank army was less, than it was in 11 Pz. Div the general of the Balck.
And what we read about the general - lieutenant Romanenko in article of American military historian Stolfi? The dark, gloomy and severe type, hardly thinks brains. The basic role for the Romanenko in serving as a boxing pear for such German generals as the Balck and the von Mellenthin.
But it is a theme for separate discussion.
On the bottom Chir an army headquarters the von Mellenthin takes the new divisions arriving from deep rear under the command: 7 LW-FD, 336 ID, 11 Pz. Div.
Except for these regular divisions on the bottom Chir the structure XLVIII Pz. Korp includes some the battle groups formed here on a place since November, 23.
Among these numerous groups for us the main interest represent:
Kg. SMIDT, Kg. WIKE, Kg. SELLE, Gr. STUMPFELD, Gr. ADAM.
The army headquarters the von Mellenthin starts development of the plan joint with LVII Pz. Korp attacks to Stalingrad for break of blockade around of 6-th army.
However the von Knobelsdorff's corps obviously prevents Russian bridgehead which russian have grasped on western coast of the river Chir to the south from Surovikino.
And an army headquarters the von Mellenthin develops operation on liquidation of this bridgehead Russian.
The plan of attack of a troops XLVIII Pz. Korp (the von Knobelsdorff and the von Mellenthin) on bridgehead Russian is shown on map.
Attack is appointed at 6.00 (time Central European) 7/12/42.
Note for map:
1.
WEKE – place of command point of battle group WEIKE on 2/12/42.
2.
Weike - place of a concentration of forces of battle group WEIKE at the moment of attack on Russian bridgehead 6.00 7/12/42.
Similarly for battle groups SELLE, SCHMIDT, STUMPFELD, ADAM.
3.
Selle-ArtGr - Artillery group battle group SELLE
4.
3HAAR - 3th Heavy of Air Defence Regiment
5.Northern border XLVIII Pz. Korp up to 6/12/42 passed through Lisinskij and further on northeast on the river Liska.
With 7/12/42 northern border passed through Chuvilevskij.
