Rifle Division 04/550

[Der Alte Fritz]

Pamyat Naroda have changed the structure of the site so the links do not work but the document number is still correct. So copy and paste the Shtat document number from AHF link, open another document in Pamyat Naroda and then replace its number in the browser address bar with the Shtat number and it should load the correct page.
Most documents are still on the site.

[Piet Duits]

I must be doing something wrong, because I only get blank pages.
https://pamyat-naroda.ru/documents/view/?id=262168527

[Gary Kennedy]

Piet,

I'm just uploading them to wetransfer, so you should get an email in the next half hour or so if you still need.

Cheers,

Gary

[Piet Duits]

Guys, where can I find the August 1943 reduction order? Also, the 1943 change in ranks-order?

[Piet Duits]

<bump>

[Gary Kennedy]

Piet, can you give a bit more info on what those two particular orders stated?

Gary

[Piet Duits]

Gary,
The reduction order was the reduction from the original 2474 strong Rifle Regiment to the 2443 strong Rifle Regiment. With August 1943 I actually meant the 15.7.1943 order (if I am not mistaken, that is).
The other order at least deals with changing of specialist and political ranks. I don't have a date on that one.

Piet

[Gary Kennedy]

The deletion of the Deputy Company commanders and the Company (and one Platoon) level political officers was highlighted by Art, way back in post 65 - "pay attention that political leaders in all companies and batteries were deleted from the tables by the GKO decree of 24 May 1943. Second commanding officers were deleted also in May 1943, which leaves only 1 officer in HQ of each company and battery."

That took the 2474 strength down by 45 to 2429. There were then 6 CW NCOs added (1 per Bn and 1 per Bty for the Regtl Arty), 6 Bn level political officers, and 2 officers to the Regtl Staff. That's what gets you to 2443. The dates for the additions, I don't know.

Gary

[Piet Duits]

Gary,

Thanks, I must have missed that one

[Art]

As already mentioned the GKO decree of 24 May 1943 ordered to eliminate positions of political deputy commanders in companies, batteries and squadrons and also political deputies chiefs of staffs. Also positions of political deputy commanders of a brigade, division, or corps and chiefs of political departments of respective HQ were merged into one position.

Three days later the same points were repeated in a joint directive of the Red Army's Main Political directorate and Main Cadres Directorate:
https://pamyat-naroda.ru/documents/view/?id=259893812

There were probably formal amendments to tables organization issued later but I can't find them.

[Piet Duits]

Thanks Art! Losing so many political eyes and ears must have been hard to swallow for a while, I guess.

[Der Alte Fritz]

They were being recruited to fill the officer shortage, so there were still there just with another hat on. Lots of generals were former NVKD Officers but generally the ability to round up large numbers of peasants did not translate into military competence.

[Art]

Order of the People's Commissar for Defense No. 0433, 23 October 1943

2. By 5 November one separate ski battalion, shtat No. 04/335 with 420 men is to be formed in rifle and guard rifle divisions of the Karelian, Leningrad, Volkhov, North-West, 2 Baltic, 1 Baltic, West, and Belorussian Fronts and 7 Separate Army.

Organization of the separate ski battalion shtat 04/355 issued by the Sov.Gen.Staff

1. Command - battalion commander, political deputy, deputy commander (3 men)
2. Staff - chief of staff, 2 assistant chief of staff, senior clerk (4)
3. Party&political section - chief of party organization, chief of komsomol organization (2)
4. Supply&administrative section - deputy battalion commander (supply), chief of ordnance supply, chief of intendance, paymaster/ chief of finance, senior clerk (5)
5. Scout platoon - platoon commander, assistant platoon commander, 3 squad leader, 3 deputy squad leaders, 18 scouts (26)
6. Radio platoon - platoon commander, chief of RB radio station, 4 senior radio operators, 4 radio operators, 3 ski messengers, 1 sled/wagon driver (14 men), 1 RB radio with extended antenna, 3 RB radios, 1 horse
7. Anti-aircraft platoon - platoon commander, 3 section leaders, 3 gunners, 6 gun numbers (13), 3 DShK machine guns, 3 horses
8. Sapper&demolitions platoon - platoon commander, 3 squad leaders, 3 deputy squad leaders, 12 sappers (19)
9. Ski company (2 per battalion):
- company commander
- company sergeant major
- 2 sappers
- 1 messenger
Total 5
a) Medical section - 1 medical instructor, 2 medics (3)
b) 3 rifle platoon, each - platoon commander, assistant platoon commander, 2 snipers, 3 quad leaders, 3 deputy squad leaders/gunners, 3 machine gunners, 21 riflemen (34), 3 DP light machine guns
Total company - 110 men
10. Mortar company
- company commander
- company sergeant major
a) 2 82-mm mortar platoons, each - platoon commander, 3 section leaders, 3 deputy section leaders, 9 mortar numbers, 3 cart drivers (19)
Total company: 40 men, 6 82-mm mortars, 6 horses
11. Machine gun platoon - platoon commander, assistant platoon commander, 6 section leaders, 6 deputy section leaders/gunners, 6 machine gunners (20), 6 DP light machine guns
12. Anti-tank rifle platoon - platoon commander, assistant platoon commander, 3 section leaders, 3 deputy section leaders/gunners, 6 gunners, 15 anti-tank rifle numbers (29), 9 anti-tank rifles
13. Medical platoon - platoon commander/doctor, medical instructor, 4 litter bearers, 1 wagon driver (7), 2 horses
14. Administrative platoon - platoon commander, senior weapons master, quartermaster sergeant,senior cook, 2 cooks, transport section leader, 11 wagon drivers (1 is also a smith), total 18 men, 19 horses

Total battalion: 420 men, 31 horses, 77 submachine guns, 95 rifles or carbines, 6 two-horse sleds or wagons, 13 on-horse carts or sleds, 3 kitchens.
https://pamyat-naroda.ru/documents/view/?id=454989633

[Gary Kennedy]

Hopefully that one should be the same as detailed here;

https://pamyat-naroda.ru/documents/view ... vki:drugie

I didn't know it was to be used as part of a Rifle Division.

Gary

[Art]

Yep, it's the same establishment.