Local Soviet counterattacks Ruzhana-Slonim 24/25/26 june 41
Local Soviet counterattacks Ruzhana-Slonim 24/25/26 june 41
Hello, I'm looking for the names of the Russian units involved in the local counterattacks against the 17th panzer division and the 29th Motorised Division in the Slonim-Baranovichi area. I only know the name of the unknown commander named Colonel Konnov. (I can't find him at any Soviet order of battle) Which units were involved, and what actually happened? I only know 55th rifle division (originally belonging to 47th Rifle Corps) was in the area...
The counterattack launched by Pavlov on June 23rd consisted of the Russian 22nd Tank Division, 30th Tank Division and 205th Motorized Division all belonging to XIV Mech Corps.
They were commited piecemeal, thus failing in stopping PzGruppe 2. Guderians 24th PzKorps crossed the Shchara River near Slonim at 2pm on June 24th.
the last 25tanks of XIV Mech Corps were destroyed between Slonim & Baranovichi
Andy from the Shire
They were commited piecemeal, thus failing in stopping PzGruppe 2. Guderians 24th PzKorps crossed the Shchara River near Slonim at 2pm on June 24th.
the last 25tanks of XIV Mech Corps were destroyed between Slonim & Baranovichi
Andy from the ShireThe main units involved were 22 and 30 tank divisions of 14th mech corps. Also 28th rifle corps.
The commander of 22 Tank division general-major Puganov was killed on 24th of June. His deputy colonel Kononov managed to rally the remaining troops to organize a tight defense together with 205 mech division (commander colonel Kudyurov) near Kobrin. Also 42nd and 6th rifle divisions fought valiantly and managed to hold on to their positions.
On the next day, two fresh divisions (55 and 121) reinforced the drained defense near Ruzhany and Slonim.
General Korobkov (commander of 4th Army) gave orders to organize defense on Muhavets river.
The commander of 22 Tank division general-major Puganov was killed on 24th of June. His deputy colonel Kononov managed to rally the remaining troops to organize a tight defense together with 205 mech division (commander colonel Kudyurov) near Kobrin. Also 42nd and 6th rifle divisions fought valiantly and managed to hold on to their positions.
On the next day, two fresh divisions (55 and 121) reinforced the drained defense near Ruzhany and Slonim.
General Korobkov (commander of 4th Army) gave orders to organize defense on Muhavets river.
Thanks for the information fellows, I also posted this topic on the forum of the Russian Battlefield website and David M. Glantz himself replied:
The Red Army forces which took part in this engagement were elements of the 55th, 155th, 121st, and 143rd, Rifle Divisions and portions of the 17th Mechanized Corps, whose commanders were:
55th RD -- D. I. Ivaniuk
155th RD -- P. A. Aleksandrov
121st RD -- P. M. Zykov
143rd RD -- D. P. Safonov
17th MC M. P. Petrov
27 TD --A. O. Akhmanov
36 TD -- S. Z. Miroshnikov
209 MD -- A. I. Murav'ev
and at my question if there are any English books about the slonim battle David M. Glantz replied:
Unfortunately, there are no accounts in English and very few if any in Russian, although we now have some documents.
Quite interesting, isn't it, so my question to you both is:
what are your sources/references?
I'm looking forward to your replies
The Red Army forces which took part in this engagement were elements of the 55th, 155th, 121st, and 143rd, Rifle Divisions and portions of the 17th Mechanized Corps, whose commanders were:
55th RD -- D. I. Ivaniuk
155th RD -- P. A. Aleksandrov
121st RD -- P. M. Zykov
143rd RD -- D. P. Safonov
17th MC M. P. Petrov
27 TD --A. O. Akhmanov
36 TD -- S. Z. Miroshnikov
209 MD -- A. I. Murav'ev
and at my question if there are any English books about the slonim battle David M. Glantz replied:
Unfortunately, there are no accounts in English and very few if any in Russian, although we now have some documents.
Quite interesting, isn't it, so my question to you both is:
what are your sources/references?
I'm looking forward to your replies
I am still reading a book by Sandalov but a few conclusions on this piece can be made. The author does not say about losses either German or Soviet. Only phrases like "55 RD was worn out after two day fighting" and "the German 17th tank division lost 50 tanks near ...." which is quite dubious of course.
It looks like the command of western front (Pavlov) had no idea about the situation in the 4th, 3rd and 10th armies. Thus the command of the western front ordered the counterattack on Ruzhany, Pruzhany and Slonim against far superior advancing german forces. 22nd and 30th tank divisions of 4th army had only old T-26 and suffered greatly in the two first days of operation Barbarossa from enemy aviation and tanks. The logistics was poor thus it was a strike not with a fist but with spread out fingers which one by one were broken.
By the end of 26th of June Bogdanov's 30th tank division had only about 20 intact tanks and Kononov's 22nd tank division had only several tanks.
These early counterstrikes only helped the Germans to their tactical victory as they were draining the forces of the 4th army which after about a week of fighting had 1000 of bayonnetes in each RD. Overall the army fought well and its main forces managed to withdraw from Minsk pocket with some artillery and autotransport. Considering the early failures of Red Army this was a good withdrawal.
It looks like the command of western front (Pavlov) had no idea about the situation in the 4th, 3rd and 10th armies. Thus the command of the western front ordered the counterattack on Ruzhany, Pruzhany and Slonim against far superior advancing german forces. 22nd and 30th tank divisions of 4th army had only old T-26 and suffered greatly in the two first days of operation Barbarossa from enemy aviation and tanks. The logistics was poor thus it was a strike not with a fist but with spread out fingers which one by one were broken.
By the end of 26th of June Bogdanov's 30th tank division had only about 20 intact tanks and Kononov's 22nd tank division had only several tanks.
These early counterstrikes only helped the Germans to their tactical victory as they were draining the forces of the 4th army which after about a week of fighting had 1000 of bayonnetes in each RD. Overall the army fought well and its main forces managed to withdraw from Minsk pocket with some artillery and autotransport. Considering the early failures of Red Army this was a good withdrawal.
No, the troops were called "motostrelki", meaning they were using autotransport to transport themselves. Mechanised were the divisions using tanks, tractors and prime movers. And these were primarily tank divisions.Musashi wrote:My notice:
Soviet division were MECHANIZED not motorized (such were German ones). Am I right???
Best regards,
Sergei