February 1941
February 1941
I just put together a few facts:
In February 1941, Zhukov is appointed Chief of the General Staff
In February 1941, GUGB NKVD becomes independent and starts its activities as the NKGB.
In February 1941, Fronts are created in the RKKA
Does anyone know what else happened in February 1941?
In February 1941, Zhukov is appointed Chief of the General Staff
In February 1941, GUGB NKVD becomes independent and starts its activities as the NKGB.
In February 1941, Fronts are created in the RKKA
Does anyone know what else happened in February 1941?
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The NKVD was the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs (Poice, firefighters, prisons, etc)
The GUGB (Main Administration of State Security) was one of several branches of the NKVD and was responsible for State Security. It was the political police. In February 1941 it became independent from the NKVD and was known as NKGB: People's Commissariat for State Security.
It went one step higher in the governemental scale.
The GUGB (Main Administration of State Security) was one of several branches of the NKVD and was responsible for State Security. It was the political police. In February 1941 it became independent from the NKVD and was known as NKGB: People's Commissariat for State Security.
It went one step higher in the governemental scale.
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Re: February 1941
Lots of things obviously, but like nublu said Fronts were not created in February but as far as I know on 23.6.1941 when Military Districts changed their names. I think there were initially four Fronts in the west:Starinov wrote:In February 1941, Fronts are created in the RKKA
Does anyone know what else happened in February 1941?
Northern Front (Popov -> Meretshkov),
North Western Front (Kuzhnetsov -> Voroshilov, Commissar Zhdanov),
Western Front (Pavlov -> Timoshenko, Commissar Bulganin),
South Western Front (Kirponos -> Budjonny, Commissar Hrusthsev)
Soviets had many wargames at the beginning of 1941, perhaps the largest one at Frunze Military Academy was held in February 1941? It handled Soviet counter-attack after Germans attack. The result of this wargame was that German troops could be bet easily although the numbers attacking soldiers, airplanes and tanks were largely overestimated compared to the real figures (which Soviets knew well).
(After that Zhukov also made a plane of pre-emptive Soviet attack against German forces. That plan was dated on 15 May 1941.)
Sry, but as much as i remember - 3 fonts (possible that 4) were created just few days before 22nd of June. (19th?? but not sure about date???)Lots of things obviously, but like nublu said Fronts were not created in February but as far as I know on 23.6.1941 when Military Districts changed their names. I think there were initially four Fronts in the west:
Northern Front (Popov -> Meretshkov),
North Western Front (Kuzhnetsov -> Voroshilov, Commissar Zhdanov),
Western Front (Pavlov -> Timoshenko, Commissar Bulganin),
South Western Front (Kirponos -> Budjonny, Commissar Hrusthsev)
Those were
South Western Front (from Kiev Special Military District)
Western Front (from Western Special Military Distrct)
North Western Front (from Baltic Special Military District)
HQ's were formed from the Military district leaderships.
Not sure about Northern Front and Leningrad Military District. Must check for my sources, and will let you know about them also...
rgrds
Toomas
In february 1941, RKKA General Staff gave order to Border Military Districts to creat Front HQ's. On June 21st, General Staff gave another order to those Border Military Districts HQ's to move into Fronts Command Posts. 4 Fronts were created: Northern, North-Western, Western and South-Western.
Southern Front was created on June 24th from Moscow Military District HQ but Army General Tuleniev who was its commander left Moscow for Odessa prior to June 22nd.
Southern Front was created on June 24th from Moscow Military District HQ but Army General Tuleniev who was its commander left Moscow for Odessa prior to June 22nd.
I looked 2 books now about Fronts.
Meltyuhhov, MI "Upuchtchennyi chans Stalina" - in ammendum he says about Western, Northern West, and Southern West Fronts - were created in June 1941.
About Southern Front it's mentioned in the text - was created on 21st of June 1941.
From the book "1941" - no information on creation on other fronts. But about Southern front. There is published project of decision (Politbureau of Central Bureau of Communist Party) to create Southern front dated on 21st of June 1941. Consisting 2 armies, with HQ in Vinnitsa, nominating Tyulenev the Commander of the Front, and Zaporozhetc as Member of Military Council of Front.
In same project Mehlis would be named the head of GlavPur (insteed of Zaporozhetc), Budjonnyi commander of the 2nd line Armies, and Malenkov has been named as the Member of Military Council for 2nd line Armies. their HQ should be organised in Bryansk.
And Zhukov would be nominated as General Commander for Southern Direction (Southern and Southern West Fronts).
Meretskov would be nominated as General Commander for Northern Front (not Commander of the Front but "Obctcheye rukovodstvo", similar post as Zhukov would get in South), and Kuznetsov as Member of Military Council for Northern Front.
So, from this project it seems so, that other Fronts were already formed and manned. And now there were just last ammendments and changes.
Meltyuhhov, MI "Upuchtchennyi chans Stalina" - in ammendum he says about Western, Northern West, and Southern West Fronts - were created in June 1941.
About Southern Front it's mentioned in the text - was created on 21st of June 1941.
From the book "1941" - no information on creation on other fronts. But about Southern front. There is published project of decision (Politbureau of Central Bureau of Communist Party) to create Southern front dated on 21st of June 1941. Consisting 2 armies, with HQ in Vinnitsa, nominating Tyulenev the Commander of the Front, and Zaporozhetc as Member of Military Council of Front.
In same project Mehlis would be named the head of GlavPur (insteed of Zaporozhetc), Budjonnyi commander of the 2nd line Armies, and Malenkov has been named as the Member of Military Council for 2nd line Armies. their HQ should be organised in Bryansk.
And Zhukov would be nominated as General Commander for Southern Direction (Southern and Southern West Fronts).
Meretskov would be nominated as General Commander for Northern Front (not Commander of the Front but "Obctcheye rukovodstvo", similar post as Zhukov would get in South), and Kuznetsov as Member of Military Council for Northern Front.
So, from this project it seems so, that other Fronts were already formed and manned. And now there were just last ammendments and changes.
Some events from February 1941:
1st February - Zhukov became head of the General Staff
12th February - new mobilisation plan was accepted
15th - 20th February - XVIII Conference of Communist Party. Several Generals from the army became members of Central Committe of CP
21st February - Meeting of new Central Committe, several new members nominated into Politbureau of Central Commitee
22nd February - 8th Meeting of Supreme Council of Soviet Union
25th February - Decision on reorganisation of Aviation
26th February - Trade agreement between Soviet Union and Rumenia was signed
Seems all for now...
rgrds
Toomas
1st February - Zhukov became head of the General Staff
12th February - new mobilisation plan was accepted
15th - 20th February - XVIII Conference of Communist Party. Several Generals from the army became members of Central Committe of CP
21st February - Meeting of new Central Committe, several new members nominated into Politbureau of Central Commitee
22nd February - 8th Meeting of Supreme Council of Soviet Union
25th February - Decision on reorganisation of Aviation
26th February - Trade agreement between Soviet Union and Rumenia was signed
Seems all for now...
rgrds
Toomas
Some documents are published in book "1941"
Proposals to Stalin about changes in mobilisation plan, and project of the new plan (what probably was adopted withour changes). What exactly was changed - you must compare it with earlier plans...
"Reorganisation of Aviation" document isn't in this book. I should check perhaps there are some information on it in some other sources.
"1941" you can find online from http://militera.lib.ru
Here is the link to the first part of the book where are documents from February...
http://militera.lib.ru/docs/ww2/chrono/malinovka_1.zip
rgrds
Toomas
Proposals to Stalin about changes in mobilisation plan, and project of the new plan (what probably was adopted withour changes). What exactly was changed - you must compare it with earlier plans...
"Reorganisation of Aviation" document isn't in this book. I should check perhaps there are some information on it in some other sources.
"1941" you can find online from http://militera.lib.ru
Here is the link to the first part of the book where are documents from February...
http://militera.lib.ru/docs/ww2/chrono/malinovka_1.zip
rgrds
Toomas