Do you know what responsibilities this security regiment would have had? Would they travel separately or would they accompany regular army units in their retreat?Art wrote: ↑25 Sep 2019, 20:3064 Railroad Security Regiment (1.06.41):
- regiment HQ - at Kovel
- 1st battalion HQ at Rovno
- 1st company HQ at Sarny
- 2nd company HQ at Rovno
- 3rd company HQ at Kivertzy
- 2nd Battalion HQ at Kovel
- 4th company HQ at Kovel
- 5th company HQ at Vladimir-Volynskyi
- reserve company at Kovel
- NCO school at Malynek st.
SS vs. NKVD
Re: SS vs. NKVD
Re: SS vs. NKVD
The regiment fielded garrisons numbering from a dozen to several dozen men at important railroad bridges in the area. These garrisons were supposed to blow up bridges and evacuate when German advanced to them. I don't know, what really happened with them in details. As of 1 August 1941 the regiment was reported at the Bobrik station (NE of Kiev) with 1225 men available and manned posts on roads in the rear of the South-West Front. Losses from 22 June to 31 July were reported as 137 men, mostly missing in action:
https://obd-memorial.ru/html/info.htm?id=9743520&p=34
From the name lists in available in the same folder most losses were suffered in June and early July in Volynia. Apparently few casualties occurred after that.
https://obd-memorial.ru/html/info.htm?id=9743520&p=34
From the name lists in available in the same folder most losses were suffered in June and early July in Volynia. Apparently few casualties occurred after that.
Re: SS vs. NKVD
OOB of the NKVD border forces not assigned to the operational fronts by the end of 1941 (mostly a repetition of an earlier OOB):
Black Sea District
26, 32 Border Detachments
Georgian District
36, 37, 38 Border Detachments, 21 Training Rifle Regiment [1], 41 Reserve Rifle Regiment
Armenian Border District
39, 40 Border Detachments, 9 Sep. Border Komendatura, 182 Sep. Reserve Rifle Battalion
Azerbajan District
41, 42, 43, 44 Border Detachments, 17 Cavalry Regiment, 26 Border Regiment [2]
Turkmen District
45, 46, 47, 67, 68, 71 Border Detachments, 1 Sep. Border Komendatura, 44 Reserve Cavalry Regiment, 183 Sep. Reserve Rifle Battalion
Central-Asian District
48, 61, 81 Border Detachments, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 26 Sep. Border Komendatura, 45 Reserve Cavalry Regiment, 190 Sep. Cavalry Battalion
Kazakh District
30, 49, 50 Border Detachments, 10-12 Sep. Border Komendatura, 11 Cavalry Regiment
West Siberia District
28, 29 Border Detachments, 21 Sep. Border Komendatura
Transbaikal District
51, 53, 54, 55, 64, 75 Border Detachments, 19 Sep. Border Komendatura, 47, 48 Reserve Cavalry Regiments, 179 Sep. Rifle Battalion, 180 Sep. Reserve Battalion
Khabarovsk District
52, 56, 63, 65, 70, 75, 76, 77, 77 Border Detachments, 49 Reserve Rifle Regiment
Maritime District
57, 57, 59, 60, 61, 62, 69 Border Detachments, 50 Reserve Rifle Regiment, 184 Reserve Rifle Battalion
Directly under NKVD’s Main Directorate of Border Forces
4 Border Detachment (Arkhangelsk), 40 Special Purpose Motorized Rifle Regiment (Moscow)
[1] formed by the NKVD order of 10.11.41
[2] formed from the 189 Sep. Reserve Rifle Battalion by the NKVD order of 10.11.41
Re: SS vs. NKVD
This is exactly what I was looking for.
There was a reported battle at the Antonivka station on 7 JUL 1941, with the 52 Sapper Bn engaged against forward German units. In the memoirs of a veteran, he said the bridge was blown up after a desperate struggle to rig the explosives while under fire. 52 Sapper began their mission in Kovel before 28 JUN 1941, when the city was captured. They were ordered to destroy 1km of railroad for every 3km during the retreat East, and they used their own train to travel with. This means they should have been the last unit on the railways covering the retreat of the 45 Rifle Division towards Korosten.
Would any unit from the 64 Railroad Security Regiment have travelled with the sappers, or did they work together to sabotage or defend the rail network?
Re: SS vs. NKVD
I don't have such details, sorry.
Re: SS vs. NKVD
Probably in the Russian state Military Archive in Moscow. Also some information on this particular regiment can be found in documents of the NKVD Main Directorate of Interior Forces, Directorate of Railroad Security Forces, and 10 Division in the same archive.
The remaining part of the NKVD military forces OOB at the end of 1941
The remaining part of the NKVD military forces OOB at the end of 1941
NKVD operative forces, save for the units listed above
Special Purpose Motorized Rifle Division (OMSDON) - Moscow:
- 1 Motorized Rifle Regiment
- 2 Motorized Rifle Regiment
- 10 Motorized Rifle Regiment [1]
- artillery regiment
- brigade (3 Rifle Regiment, Cavalry Regiment)
- tank battalion
- artillery (anti-tank) battalion
- sapper battalion
- signal battalion
- support battalion
- chemical company
- medical batttalion
- maintenance park
2nd Special Purpose Motorized Rifle Division (Moscow) [2]
- 7 Motorized Rifle Regiment [3]
- 9 Motorized Rifle Regiment [4]
- 20 Motorized Rifle Regiment
- artillery regiment
- artillery (anti-tank battalion)
- tank battalion
- sapper battalion
- signal battalion
- support battalion
- chemical company
- medical battalion
- maintenance park
Special Purpose Motorized Rifle Brigade – Moscow [5]
- 1 Special Purpose Motorized Rifle Regiment
- 2 Special Purpose Motorized Rifle Regiment
76 Motorized Rifle Brigade – Tbilisi
- 8 Motorized Rifle Regiment – Tbilisi
- 36 Motorized Rifle Regiment – Baku [6]
77 Cavalry Brigade – Mary, Turkmen SSR
- 18 Cavalry Regiment
- 29 Cavalry Regiment
Separate units
- 2 Motorized Rifle Regiment – Khabarovsk
- 12 Rifle Regiment – Sverdlovsk [7]
- 19 Motorized Rifle Regiment – Tashkent [8]
- 22 Motorized Rifle Regiment – Debin, Magadan region
- 25 Rifle Regiment – Kuybyshev (Samara) [9]
- 32 Motorized Rifle Regiment - Kuybyshev (Samara) [10]
- 135 Rifle Regiment [11]
- 136 Rifle Regiment [11]
- 137 Rifle Regiment [11]
- 138 Rifle Regiment [11]
- 139 Rifle Regiment [11]
- 140 Rifle Regiment [11] - Makhachkala
- 141 Rifle Regiment [11] – Grozny
- 142 Rifle Regiment [11]
- 143 Rifle Regiment [11]
- 171 Sep. Rifle Battalion – Urumqi, China
- 174 Sep. Rifle Battalion – Ulyanovsk
- 175 Sep. Rifle Battalion – Inza
- 2 Sep. Rifle Company - Yakutsk
Also: HQ 22 Motorized Rifle Division, 1, 5, 15 Motorized Rifle Regiments, 35 Rifle Regiments were defunct or incorporated into the Red Army but not formally disbanded by the NKVD
[1] from the 10 Cavalry Regiment in June 1941
[2] formed in early October 1941
[3] from 7 Cavalry Regiment in June 1941
[4] from 12 Sep. Battalion in October 41
[5] commando training unit, formed in October 41 from NKVD Special Group
[6] formed in November 41
[7] formed in July 41
[8] from 19 Cavalry Regiment in June 41
[9] formed initially as motorized rifle regiment by NKVD order of 29.10.41
[10] formed at mobilization at Novosibirsk as 32 Cavalry Regiment from 7 Remount Cavalry Regiment of NKVD border forces, in July 41 reformed as motorized rifle regiment as transferred to Kuybyshev
[11] formed by the NKVD order of 27.11.41
NKVD railroad and industry security forces, administrative order of battle:
2 Railroad Security Division (51, 52, 80, 82, 100 Railroad Security Regiments, 32 Reserve Battalion, Armored Trains No. 26, 82, and 110) – with the operational army (Karelian and Leningrad Fronts)
3 Railroad Security Division (53, 73, 76, 78, 79 Railroad Security Regiments, Armored Train No.53) – with the operation army (West and Bryansk Fronts)
4 Railroad Security Division (55, 56, 57, 114 Railroad Security Regiments, 34 Reserve Battalion, 81 Industry Security Battalion) – with the operational army (South-West and South Fronts)
5 Railroad Security Division (54, 81, 113, 115 Railroad Security Regiments) – with the operational army (South-West and West Fronts)
6 Railroad Security Division (71, 72, 107, 117 Railroad Security Regiments, 198 and 202 Industry Security Regiments, 72, 101, 102 Industry Security Battalions) – Far East
7 Railroad Security Division (62, 63, 70 Railroad Security Regiments) – Far East
8 Railroad Security Division (67, 67, 69 Railroad Security Regiments, 35 Reserve Battalion, 193 Industry Security Regiment) – Transbaikal region
11 Industry Security Division (150, 165, 173, 174, 194, 197, 207 Industry Security Regiments) – Moscow, under operational control of the West Front
12 Industry Security Division (158, 159, 160, 164, 189, 196, 199 Industry Security Division) – Moscow region, under operational control of the West Front
18 Railroad Security Division (61, 116, 119 Railroad Security Regiments, 1 and 14 Railroad Security Battalions, 36 Reserve Battalion, 161 and 209 Industry Security Regiments, 67 and 123 Industry Security Battalions) - Caucasus
19 Railroad Security Division (74, 87, 112 Railroad Security Regiments, 88 Reserve Regiment , 6 Railroad Security Battalion, 3 Reserve Battalion, 183, 184, 204, 205 Industry Security Regiments, 118 Industry Security Battalion) – Central Russia (Gorky)
Former 20 Industry Security Division (152, 155 Industry Security Regiments, 95, 104, 151, 166, 167, 168 Industry Security Battalions) – with the operational army (Leningrad and Karelian Fronts)
25 Industry Security Divisions (153, 179, 181, 182, 190 Industry Security Regiments, 93, 124 Industry Security Battalions, 85 Railroad Security Regiment) – Urals
27 Railroad Security Brigade (65, 111, 118 Railroad Security Regiments, 98 and 115 Industry Security Battalions) – Siberia
29 Railroad Security Brigade (120, 121 Railroad Security Regiments, 21 Railroad Security Battalion, 162, 163, 186 Industry Security Regiments, 96 Industry Security Battalion, 10 Industry Security Company) – Volga region
30 Railroad Security Brigade (8, 9, 10 Railroad Security Battalions)
36 Railroad Security Brigade (59, 125 Railroad Security Regiments, 30 Railroad Security Battalion, 178 Industry Security Regiment, 113 and 116 Industry Security Battalions) – Voronezh, Lower Volga, North Caucasus
57 Industry Security Brigade (169, 170 Industry Security Regiments, 120 Industry Security Battalion) – with the operational army (Bryansk Front)
69 Industry Security Brigade (156, 180, 188 Industry Security Regiments, 76 Industry Security Battalion) – with the operational army (West Front)
71 Industry Security Brigade (172, 175, 176 Industry Security Regiments, 85 and 89 Industry Security Battalions) – with the operational army (South Front)
NKVD convoy forces, administrative order of battle:
13 Convoy Division (227, 228, 233, 237, 249 Convoy Regiments, 154 Convoy Battalion) – South Russia
14 Convoy Division (229, 236, 242, 250 Convoy Regiments, 134, 146 Convoy Battalions) – Central Russia
42 Convoy Brigade (23, 226, 240, 251, 252 Convoy Regiments, 155 Convoy Battalion) – Moscow and Moscow region, under operational control of the West Front
43 Convoy Brigade (230, 231 Convoy Regiments, 139 Convoy Battalion) – North Caucasus
44 Convoy Brigade (238 Convoy Regiment, 151, 152 Convoy Battalions) – Volga and Urals
45 Convoy Brigade (239 Convoy Regiment, 133, 149, 150 Convoy Battalions) – Volga, Urals, West Siberia
46 Convoy Brigade (234, 235, 241 Convoy Regiments, 143, 161 Convoy Battalions) – Siberia and Far East
47 Convoy Brigade (232 Convoy Regiment, 141, 142 Convoy Battalions) – Central Asia
225 Convoy Regiment – with the operational army, Leningrad Front
Re: SS vs. NKVD
Strength of NKVD and Navy elements attached to Soviet operational fronts as of 20 December 1941 according to the Red Army's General Staff:
From this table:
Karelian Front - 10,947 men in NKVD troops
Leningrad Front - 34,990
54 Army - 511
Volkhov Front - 559
North-West Front - 11,739
Kalinin Front - 4,062
West Front - 7,966
Bryansk Front - 3,982
South-West Front - 24,536
Total 99,292 men and 5,746 horses. For some reasons the South Front is missing in the table. It's obvious that there is a large difference with the NKVD's report made earlier. I believe, a large body of NKVD forces at Moscow was not included in the count. Unsurprisingly the largest concentration of NKVD troops was at the Leningrad Front (3 combat divisions, one combat brigade and other elements).
From this table:
Karelian Front - 10,947 men in NKVD troops
Leningrad Front - 34,990
54 Army - 511
Volkhov Front - 559
North-West Front - 11,739
Kalinin Front - 4,062
West Front - 7,966
Bryansk Front - 3,982
South-West Front - 24,536
Total 99,292 men and 5,746 horses. For some reasons the South Front is missing in the table. It's obvious that there is a large difference with the NKVD's report made earlier. I believe, a large body of NKVD forces at Moscow was not included in the count. Unsurprisingly the largest concentration of NKVD troops was at the Leningrad Front (3 combat divisions, one combat brigade and other elements).
Re: SS vs. NKVD
Bottom line from all said above:
NKVD forces were a regular military organization combining border guard troops and interior troops designed for various auxiliary security tasks in the country’s interior and controlled by the People Commissariat for Internal Affairs (NKVD). With the start of the war NKVD troops were given additional security functions on the theater of operation. For this end all NKVD forces in USSR’s western regions were placed under operational control the Red Army’s via NKVD rear security headquarters attached to every operational front. NKVD border troops at European borders were ultimately reorganized as a security and police force operating in the immediate rear zone of the Soviet Army, although administratively they were still controlled by the NKVD directorate of border forces. Elements of other branches of NKVD military forces (operative, convoy, railroad and industry security troops) were also attached to the Red Army via NKVD HQs but to a large extent continued performing their normal functions (security of factories, railroad bridges, administrative organs, signal lines, prisons, escort of prisoners). Owing to a critical situation many NKVD force elements on the theater of operation were employed as a first-line fighting force, although they mostly lacked necessary organization and weapons for this task. Also many Red Army’s commanders couldn’t resist a temptation to seize NKVD elements and incorporated them into army units or even formed improvised battle groups and formations, sometimes as large as divisions, partly or fully based on NKVD military personnel. For these reasons or also due to heavy casualties suffered by the end of 1941 NKVD military organization became rather chaotic.
Very conveniently the start of the year 1942 was also a beginning of major reorganization of NKVD troops which was initiated by the following document.
NKVD forces were a regular military organization combining border guard troops and interior troops designed for various auxiliary security tasks in the country’s interior and controlled by the People Commissariat for Internal Affairs (NKVD). With the start of the war NKVD troops were given additional security functions on the theater of operation. For this end all NKVD forces in USSR’s western regions were placed under operational control the Red Army’s via NKVD rear security headquarters attached to every operational front. NKVD border troops at European borders were ultimately reorganized as a security and police force operating in the immediate rear zone of the Soviet Army, although administratively they were still controlled by the NKVD directorate of border forces. Elements of other branches of NKVD military forces (operative, convoy, railroad and industry security troops) were also attached to the Red Army via NKVD HQs but to a large extent continued performing their normal functions (security of factories, railroad bridges, administrative organs, signal lines, prisons, escort of prisoners). Owing to a critical situation many NKVD force elements on the theater of operation were employed as a first-line fighting force, although they mostly lacked necessary organization and weapons for this task. Also many Red Army’s commanders couldn’t resist a temptation to seize NKVD elements and incorporated them into army units or even formed improvised battle groups and formations, sometimes as large as divisions, partly or fully based on NKVD military personnel. For these reasons or also due to heavy casualties suffered by the end of 1941 NKVD military organization became rather chaotic.
Very conveniently the start of the year 1942 was also a beginning of major reorganization of NKVD troops which was initiated by the following document.
[1] In a draft version “The strength of NKVD interior forces is to be increased by 20,000 to 100,000 men at the expense of the overall strength of NKVD military forces”, “interior forces” apparently meaning operative forces (strength limit as of 10 December 1941 equal to 79.892 men).State Defense Committee
Decree No.GKO-1099ss of 4 January 1942 Moscow, Kremlin
Practical experience demonstrated that our forces after taking towns leave there garrisons detached from their units and thus weaken themselves in their advance forward.
The State Defense Committee finds this practice unacceptable.
The State Defense Committee decrees:
1. Garrisons from NKVD USSR forces (company, battalion, or regiment) should be posted in towns, liberated by the Red Army from enemy forces, and where this garrisons are already detached by the Red Army they should be replaced by NKVD troops.
2. NKVD garrisons are given the functions of garrison service and assistance to NKVD organs in their work on disposal of enemy agents, traitors and other anti-Soviet elements.
3. Garrisons of NKVD troops in towns should be company, battalion, or regiment-strong, depending on importance and size of the town and region.
4. The strength of NKVD interior forces assigned to the task described above is to be increased to 100 thousand men [1].
5. In order the replace losses of NKVD forces, NKVD USSR is allowed to form 5 replacement regiments, each 2 thousand men strong, at the expense of the overall strength of the NKVD forces.
Chairman of the State Defense Committee J.Stalin
Re: SS vs. NKVD
On the next day the NKVD issued an order (No.0021 of 5.1.42) which published the decree quoted above and also defined a plan to form a whole series of new divisions:
- 5 Rifle Division at Tikhvin with 3 Motorized Rifle Regiment, 137, 138, 140, 260, 261 Rifle Regiments
- 6 Rifle Division at Kalinin with 135, 136, 139, 145, 262, 263 Rifle Regiments
- 7 Motorized Rifle Division at Tula with 32 and 34 [1] Motorized Rifle Regiments, 12, 143, 264, 265 Rifle Regiments
- 8 Motorized Rifle Division at Voronezh with 4, 6, 16, 28 Motorized Rifle Regiments, 274 and 266 Rifle Regiments
- 9 Motorized Rifle Division [2] at Rostov-on-Don with 19, 30, 33 Motorized Rifle Regiments, 21 [3], 142, and 267 Rifle Regiments
- 10 Rifle Division at Stalingrad with 41 [4], 269, 270, 271, 272, 273 Rifle Regiments
- 11 Rifle Division at Krasnodar with 26 [5], 275, 276, 277, 278, 279 Rifle Regiments
- 12 Rifle Division at Saratov with 268, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284 Rifle Regiments
Also 21 Motorized Rifle Division at Leningrad was to be reorganized as 3 Rifle Division with 1 [6], 13, 24 [7], 35 [8], 286, 287 Rifle Regiments
and 22 Motorized Rifle Division at Leningrad - as 4 Motorized Rifle Division with 5, 14, 15 [9] Motorized Rifle Regiments, 39 [10], 288, 289 Rifle Regiments
[1] From 34 Rifle Regiment
[2] Division HQ from the 76 Motorized Rifle Brigade HQ
[3] from 21 Training Rifle Regiment of NKVD border forces
[4] from 41 Reserve Rifle Regiment of border forces
[5] from 26 Border Regiment of border forces
[6] a defunct 1 Motorized Rifle Regiment incorporated into Red Army’s 247 Rifle Division to be restored
[7] to be renamed from 6 Rifle Regiment/21 NKVD Rifle Division
[8] a defunct regiment incorporated into the Red Army’s 44 Rifle Division as 46 Rifle Regiment to be restored
[9] a defunct regiment incorporated into the Red Army’s Petrozavodsk (37) Rifle Division as 20 Rifle Regiment to be restored
[10] to be renamed from the 8 Rifle Regiment/21 Rifle Division
These divisions were to be employed as a pool of garrison troops; the size of the garrison (company, battalion or regiment) was to be determined by the division commanders. The division numbers obviously continued the series after the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division. Some of regiments included in the new division already existed; the others (in the 200 series) were to be formed anew. The order wasn’t fully carried out, since the Leningrad Front failed to release control of the NKVD forces in its area, accordingly 3 and 4 Divisions were not actually formed. Situation around 8 Division became very confusing as the division with the same number (albeit with different composition and tables of organization) was already formed at the South-West Front and was committed to action in early January 1942. Despite much bickering the SWF refused to return the division and three NKVD regiments it included (6, 16, 28 Motorized Rifle Regiments). As a result the NKVD had to form a new 13 Motorized Rifle Division at Voronezh which incorporated other elements meant for the 8 Division.
- 5 Rifle Division at Tikhvin with 3 Motorized Rifle Regiment, 137, 138, 140, 260, 261 Rifle Regiments
- 6 Rifle Division at Kalinin with 135, 136, 139, 145, 262, 263 Rifle Regiments
- 7 Motorized Rifle Division at Tula with 32 and 34 [1] Motorized Rifle Regiments, 12, 143, 264, 265 Rifle Regiments
- 8 Motorized Rifle Division at Voronezh with 4, 6, 16, 28 Motorized Rifle Regiments, 274 and 266 Rifle Regiments
- 9 Motorized Rifle Division [2] at Rostov-on-Don with 19, 30, 33 Motorized Rifle Regiments, 21 [3], 142, and 267 Rifle Regiments
- 10 Rifle Division at Stalingrad with 41 [4], 269, 270, 271, 272, 273 Rifle Regiments
- 11 Rifle Division at Krasnodar with 26 [5], 275, 276, 277, 278, 279 Rifle Regiments
- 12 Rifle Division at Saratov with 268, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284 Rifle Regiments
Also 21 Motorized Rifle Division at Leningrad was to be reorganized as 3 Rifle Division with 1 [6], 13, 24 [7], 35 [8], 286, 287 Rifle Regiments
and 22 Motorized Rifle Division at Leningrad - as 4 Motorized Rifle Division with 5, 14, 15 [9] Motorized Rifle Regiments, 39 [10], 288, 289 Rifle Regiments
[1] From 34 Rifle Regiment
[2] Division HQ from the 76 Motorized Rifle Brigade HQ
[3] from 21 Training Rifle Regiment of NKVD border forces
[4] from 41 Reserve Rifle Regiment of border forces
[5] from 26 Border Regiment of border forces
[6] a defunct 1 Motorized Rifle Regiment incorporated into Red Army’s 247 Rifle Division to be restored
[7] to be renamed from 6 Rifle Regiment/21 NKVD Rifle Division
[8] a defunct regiment incorporated into the Red Army’s 44 Rifle Division as 46 Rifle Regiment to be restored
[9] a defunct regiment incorporated into the Red Army’s Petrozavodsk (37) Rifle Division as 20 Rifle Regiment to be restored
[10] to be renamed from the 8 Rifle Regiment/21 Rifle Division
These divisions were to be employed as a pool of garrison troops; the size of the garrison (company, battalion or regiment) was to be determined by the division commanders. The division numbers obviously continued the series after the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division. Some of regiments included in the new division already existed; the others (in the 200 series) were to be formed anew. The order wasn’t fully carried out, since the Leningrad Front failed to release control of the NKVD forces in its area, accordingly 3 and 4 Divisions were not actually formed. Situation around 8 Division became very confusing as the division with the same number (albeit with different composition and tables of organization) was already formed at the South-West Front and was committed to action in early January 1942. Despite much bickering the SWF refused to return the division and three NKVD regiments it included (6, 16, 28 Motorized Rifle Regiments). As a result the NKVD had to form a new 13 Motorized Rifle Division at Voronezh which incorporated other elements meant for the 8 Division.
Re: SS vs. NKVD
Further changes in 1942:
1. In January 1942 the NKVD's Main Directorate of Interior Forces was disbanded and substituted with three independent directorates (railroad security, industry security and convoy forces). At the same time NKVD's Directorate of Operative Forces was renamed as Directorate for Interior Forces which took control of former operative troops and divisions formed according to the NKVD order of 5 January 1942. So now command of the NKVD military forces looked as follows:
Commander of NKVD forces (MG Apollonov)
- Main Directorate of Border Forces
- Directorate of Interior Forces
- Directorate of Railroad Security Forces
- Directorate of Industry Security Forces
- Directorate of Convoy Forces
- Military Supply Directorate
2. State Defense Committee's Decree of 7 March 1942 approved further increase of NKVD forces by 50.000 men. Accordingly on 13 April 1942 the NKVD ordered formation of new units of interior forces:
- 16 Rifle Brigade (144, 146, 147 Rifle Regiments) at Yaroslavl
- 17 Rifle Brigade (148, 149, 290 Rifle Regiments) at Ivanovo
- 18 Rifle Brigade (291, 292, 293 Rifle Regiments) at Kazan
- 19 Rifle Brigade (294, 295, 296 Rifle Regiments) at Kuibyshev (Samara)
- 20 Rifle Brigade (297, 298, 299 Rifle Regiments) at Penza
- 21 Rifle Brigade (300, 301, 302 Rifle Regiments) at Tambov
- 22 Rifle Brigade (303, 304, 305 Rifle Regiments) at Balashov
- 23 Rifle Brigade (306, 307, 308 Rifle Regiments) at Zagorsk
- 285 Rifle Regiment at Tashkent
- 172 Rifle Battalion at Stalinabad
- 173 Rifle Battalion at Kazalinsk
- 174 Rifle Battalion at Yerevan
3. On 28 April 1942 all units of NKVD border forces assigned to rear security of operation fronts (border regiments etc) were transferred to the NKVD Directorate of Interior Forces which was now called the Main Directorate to underline its status and included Directorate of Operational Army's Rear Security Forces.
1. In January 1942 the NKVD's Main Directorate of Interior Forces was disbanded and substituted with three independent directorates (railroad security, industry security and convoy forces). At the same time NKVD's Directorate of Operative Forces was renamed as Directorate for Interior Forces which took control of former operative troops and divisions formed according to the NKVD order of 5 January 1942. So now command of the NKVD military forces looked as follows:
Commander of NKVD forces (MG Apollonov)
- Main Directorate of Border Forces
- Directorate of Interior Forces
- Directorate of Railroad Security Forces
- Directorate of Industry Security Forces
- Directorate of Convoy Forces
- Military Supply Directorate
2. State Defense Committee's Decree of 7 March 1942 approved further increase of NKVD forces by 50.000 men. Accordingly on 13 April 1942 the NKVD ordered formation of new units of interior forces:
- 16 Rifle Brigade (144, 146, 147 Rifle Regiments) at Yaroslavl
- 17 Rifle Brigade (148, 149, 290 Rifle Regiments) at Ivanovo
- 18 Rifle Brigade (291, 292, 293 Rifle Regiments) at Kazan
- 19 Rifle Brigade (294, 295, 296 Rifle Regiments) at Kuibyshev (Samara)
- 20 Rifle Brigade (297, 298, 299 Rifle Regiments) at Penza
- 21 Rifle Brigade (300, 301, 302 Rifle Regiments) at Tambov
- 22 Rifle Brigade (303, 304, 305 Rifle Regiments) at Balashov
- 23 Rifle Brigade (306, 307, 308 Rifle Regiments) at Zagorsk
- 285 Rifle Regiment at Tashkent
- 172 Rifle Battalion at Stalinabad
- 173 Rifle Battalion at Kazalinsk
- 174 Rifle Battalion at Yerevan
3. On 28 April 1942 all units of NKVD border forces assigned to rear security of operation fronts (border regiments etc) were transferred to the NKVD Directorate of Interior Forces which was now called the Main Directorate to underline its status and included Directorate of Operational Army's Rear Security Forces.
Re: SS vs. NKVD
After that massive expansion the authorized organization of NKVD interior troops looked as follows (circa June 1942):
Units highlighted with red font were crossed out in the original document. Note: that is a planned rather than actual organization.
From http://voenspez.ru/index.php?topic=9279.01. Main Directorate of NKVD interior forces - 174 men
Units directly subordinated to the Directorate:
- signal center of NKVD interior forces – 74 men
- sep. signal battalion – Moscow - 665 men
- 2 Motorized Rifle Regiment – Khabarovsk – 1800
- 8 Motorized Rifle Regiment – Tbilisi – 1800
- 22 Rifle Regiment – Debin – 1448
- 36 Motorized Rifle Regiment – Baku – 1800
- 285 Rifle Regiment – Tashkent – 1650
- 172 Sep. Rifle Battalion – 600 [Stalinabad]
- 173 Sep. Rifle Battalion – 600 [Kazalinsk]
- 174 Sep. Rifle Battalion – 600 [Yerevan]
- 2 Sep. Rifle Company – 150 [Yakutsk]
2. NKVD rear security units of the operational army:
Karelian Front – 9812 men total
- HQ – 276 men
- 72 Border Regiment – Lake Lebedinoye – 1557
- 73 Border Regiment – Urosozero – 1557
- 80 Border Regiment – Chelmigin – 1557
- district NCO school – 167
- 15 Border Regiment [?] – Girvas Ozero – 1640
- 101 Border Regiment – Ivanovy Gory – 1603
- 100 Reserve Battalion – Ozertsy – 693
- 181 Rifle Battalion – Salzhit
7 Army – total 2305 men
- HQ - 87
- 1 Border Regiment - Alekhovino – 1557
- 185 Sep. Rifle Battalion – 661
Leningrad Front – total 12784 men
- HQ - 242 men
- 99 Border Detachment – Seltzy - 544
- 104 Border Regiment – Irinovka – 1490
- 103 Border Regiment – Toksovo – 1490
- 106 Border Regiment – Leningrad – 1490
- sep. signal company – Leningrad - 159
- 108 Border Regiment – Murzinka – 1490 men
- district NCO school – Leningrad – 75
- garrison commandant – Leningrad – 4
- sep. sea checkpoint – Leningrad – 36
- band – Leningrad – 42
- films depots – Leningrad – 7
- 9th Sep. Laboratory – 4
Volkhov group of the Leningrad Front/Volkhov Front) – total 3169 men
- HQ – 120
- 10 Border Regiment – 1490
- 105 Border Regiment – 1490
North-West Front – 4756 men total
- HQ - Valdai - 269
- 9 Border Regiment – Terebushki -1490
- 12 Border Regiment – Vypolzovo – 1490
- 11 Border Regiment – Bor – 1490
- band – 17 men
Kalinin Front – 6246 men total
- HQ – Zubarevo – 269 men
- 13 Border Regiment – Cheremino – 1490
- 37 Border Regiment – Korotyshi – 1490
- 31 Border Regiment – Stolovod – 1490
- 83 Border Regiment – Babynino – 1490
- band - 17
West Front – 6246 men total
- HQ – 269 men
- 16 Border Regiment – Kaluga – 1490
- 87 Border Regiment – Balabanovo -1490
- 86 Border Regiment – Dor – 1490
- 88 Border Regiment – Kozelk – 1490
- band – 17 men
Bryansk Front – 6246 men total
- HQ – Yelets – 269 men
- 17 Border Regiment – Livny – 1490
- 38 Border Regiment – Yelets – 1490
- 18 Border Regiment – Sinegubovo – 1490
- 90 Border Regiment – Rzhavets – 1490
- band – 17 men
South-West Front – 4756 (6246) men total
- HQ – 269 men
- 79 Border Regiment – 1490
- 91 Border Regiment – 1490
- 92 Border Regiment – 1490
- 98 Border Regiment – 1490
- band - 17
South Front – 6246 men total
- HQ - 269 men
- 2 Border Regiment – Novoselovka - 1490
- 24 Border Regiment – Roven’ki – 1490
- 23 Border Regiment – Voroshilovsk – 1490
- 25 Border Regiment – Nvoshakhtinsk – 1490
- band – 17 men
Crimean Front – 4414 men total
- HQ – 103 men
- 26 Border Regiment – Kerch – 1490
- 95 Border Regiment – Kerch – 1490
- 32 Border Detachment – Novorossiysk – 621
- district NCO school – Sevastopol
- 23 Sep. Komendatura – 191
- signals platoon – Kerch – 24
- 24 Sep. Komendatura – Sevatopol – 209
- films depots – 3
- 25 Sep. Komendatura – Karantin st. – 324
- sep. sea checkpoint – 27
3. Formations:
Separate Special Purpose Motorized Rifle Division –14511 men total
- division HQ - Moscow - 112
- 1 Motorized Rifle Regiment – Moscow - 2416
- 2 Motorized Rifle Regiment – Moscow - 2416
- 10 Motorized Rifle Regiment – Moscow - 2416
- artillery regiment – Reutov - 1115
- 26 Brigade (3 Rifle Regiment – Moscow - 1885, cavalry regiment – Moscow - 1341, camp command – Reutov - 261)
- sep. tank battalion – Moscow - 460
- sep. artillery battalion – Moscow - 324
- sep. anti-tank battalion – 231
- sep. sapper battalion – Reutov - 95
- sep. signals battalion – Moscow - 263
- sep. combat support battalion – Moscow - 234
- sep. maintenance battalion – Moscow- 120
- sep. chemical defense company – Moscow - 220
- sep. motor transport company – Moscow - 190
2nd Motorized Rifle Division – 10725 men total
- division HQ - Moscow
- 7 Motorized Rifle Regiment – Mozhaisk - 2417
- 9 Motorized Rifle Regiment – Moscow – 2417
- 20 Motorized Rifle Regiment – Moscow – 2417
- artillery regiment – Moscow – 1117
- sep. tank battalion – Moscow – 459
- sep. combat support battalion – Moscow – 234
- sep. signals battalion – Moscow – 263
- sep. sapper battalion – Moscow – 394
- sep. medical battalion – Moscow – 130
- sep. chemical company – Moscow - 220
- maintenance battalion – Moscow – 120
- sep. motor transport company – Moscow -143
3 Rifle Division – Leningrad – 8637 men total
- division HQ – Leningrad - 81 men
- 1 Motorized Rifle Regiment – 1798
- 35 Motorized Rifle Regiment – 1648
- 13 Rifle Regiment – Leningrad – 1650
- 286 Rifle Regiment – Leningrad – 1650
- 24 Rifle Regiment – 1648
- support company – Leningrad – 72
- medical battalion – Leningrad – 90
4 Motorized Rifle Division – Leningrad – 8785 men total
- division HQ - Leningrad - 81
- 5 Motorized Rifle Regiment – 1798
- 39 Rifle Regiment – 1648
- 14 Rifle Regiment – 1648
- 288 Rifle Regiment – Leningrad – 1650
- 15 Motorized Rifle Regiment – Leningrad – 1798
- support company – Leningrad – 72
- medical battalion – Leningrad – 90
5 Rifle Division – Tikhvin – 5190 (correct sum 8633) men total
- division HQ – Tikhvin - 81 men
- 3 Motorized Rifle Regiment – N. Setenka – 1798
- 138 Rifle Regiment – Proletarskoye – 1648
- 137 Rifle Regiment – Malyie Vishery – 1648
- 261 Rifle Regiment – Borovichi – 1648
- 260 Rifle Regiment – Boksitogorsk – 1648
- support company – Tikhvin – 72
- medical battalion – Tikhvin – 90
6 Rifle Division – Kalinin – 10 131 men total
- division HQ – Kalinin - 81 men
- 135 Rifle Regiment – Staritsa – 1648
- 136 Rifle Regiment – Ostashkov – 1648
- 139 Rifle Regiment – Toropets – 1648
- 145 Rifle Regiment – Kalinin – 1648
- 263 Rifle Regiment – Kalinin – 1648
- support company – Kalinin – 72
- medical battalion – Kalinin – 90
7 Motorized Rifle Division – Tula – 10 431 men total
- division HQ – Tula - 81 men
- 32 Motorized Rifle Regiment – Deshevka – 1798
- 143 Rifle Regiment – Tula – 1648
- 34 Motorized Rifle Regiment – Tula – 1798
- 264 Rifle Regiment – Yelets – 1648
- 12 Rifle Regiment – Plavsk – 1648
- 265 Rifle Regiment – Kaluga – 1648
- support company – Tula – 72
- medical battalion – Tula – 90
9 Motorized Rifle Division – Rostov-on-Don – 10 581 men total
- division HQ –Rostov-on-Don - 81 men
- 18 Motorized Rifle Regiment – Rostov-on-Don – 1798
- 30 Motorized Rifle Regiment – Rostov-on-Don – 1798
- 33 Motorized Rifle Regiment - 1798
- 21 Rifle Regiment – Rovenki – 1648
- 142 Rifle Regiment – Voroshilovsk – 1648
- 267 Rifle Regiment – 1648
- support company – Rostov-on-Don – 72
- medical battalion – Rostov-on-Don – 90
10 Rifle Division – Stalingrad – 10 131 men total
- division HQ – Stalingrad - 81 men
- 41 Rifle Regiment – Voronezh – 1648
- 271 Rifle Regiment – Stalingrad – 1648
- 269 Rifle Regiment – Stalingrad – 1648
- 270 Rifle Regiment – Stalingrad – 1648
- 272 Rifle Regiment – Stalingrad – 1648
- 273 Rifle Regiment – Stalingrad – 1648
- support company – Stalingrad – 72
- medical battalion – Stalingrad – 90
11 Rifle Division – Pyatigorsk – 11 314 men total
- division HQ – Pyatigorsk - 81 men
- 17 Cavalry Regiment [1] – Pyatigorsk – 1183
- 26 Rifle Regiment – 1648
- 277 Rifle Regiment – Maikop – 1648
- 275 Rifle Regiment – Cherkessk – 1648
- 278 Rifle Regiment – Nalchik – 1648
- 276 Rifle Regiment – 1648
- 279 Rifle Regiment – Voroshilovsk - 1648
- support company – Krasnodar – 72
- medical battalion – 90
12 Rifle Division – Saratov – 10 131 men total
- division HQ – Saratov - 81 men
- 268 Rifle Regiment – Saratov – 1648
- 282 Rifle Regiment – Krasniy Yar – 1648
- 280 Rifle Regiment – Tula – 1648
- 283 Rifle Regiment – Shvets – 1648
- 281 Rifle Regiment – Stariy Oskol – 1648
- 284 Rifle Regiment – Shumeika – 1648
- support company – Saratov – 72
- medical battalion – Saratov – 90
13 Motorized Rifle Division – Voronezh– 8 633 men total
- division HQ – Voronezh - 81 men
- 4 Motorized Rifle Regiment – Kupyansk – 1798
- 266 Rifle Regiment – Kupyansk – 1798
- 287 Rifle Regiment – Voronezh – 1798
- 289 Rifle Regiment – Izyum – 1648
- 274 Rifle Regiment – Pyatnitskoye – 1648
- support company – Voronezh – 72
- medical battalion – Voronezh – 90
16 Rifle Brigade – Yaroslavl - 5060 men total
- brigade HQ – Yaroslavl – 116
- 144 Rifle Regiment – Yaroslavl – 1648
- 146 Rifle Regiment – Rybinsk – 1648
- 147 Rifle Regiment – Kostroma – 1648
17 Rifle Brigade – Ivanovo - 5060 men total
- brigade HQ – Ivanovo – 116
- 148 Rifle Regiment – Ivanovo – 1648
- 149 Rifle Regiment – Shuya – 1648
- 290 Rifle Regiment – Toikovo – 1648
18 Rifle Brigade – Kazan - 5060 men total
- brigade HQ – Kazan – 116
- 291 Rifle Regiment – Kazan – 1648
- 292 Rifle Regiment – Yoshkar-Ola – 1648
- 293 Rifle Regiment – Cheboksary – 1648
19 Rifle Brigade – Kuibyshev - 5060 men total
- brigade HQ – Kuibyshev – 116
- 294 Rifle Regiment – Kuibyshev – 1648
- 295 Rifle Regiment – Chepayevsk – 1648
- 296 Rifle Regiment – Syzran – 1648
20 Rifle Brigade – Penza - 5060 men total
- brigade HQ – Penza – 116
- 297 Rifle Regiment – Penza – 1648
- 298 Rifle Regiment – Kuznetsk – 1648
- 299 Rifle Regiment – Saransk – 1648
21 Rifle Brigade – Tambov - 5060 men total
- brigade HQ – Tambov – 116
- 300 Rifle Regiment – Tambov – 1648
- 301 Rifle Regiment – Tambov – 1648
- 302 Rifle Regiment – Michurinsk – 1648
3 Rifle Brigade [2] – Grozny - 5060 men total
- brigade HQ – Grozny – 116
- 169 Rifle Regiment [3] – 1648
- 170 Rifle Regiment [4] – 1648
- 141 Rifle Regiment – 1648
23 Rifle Brigade – Zagorsk - 5060 men total
- brigade HQ – Zagorsk – 116
- 306 Rifle Regiment – Zagorsk – 1648
- 307 Rifle Regiment – Aleksandrov – 1648
- 308 Rifle Regiment – Pereyaslavl – 1648
77 Cavalry Brigade – Mary – 2397
- brigade HQ – 64
- 18 Cavalry Regiment – 1198
- 19 Cavalry Regiment – 1135
Total authorized strength of NKVD interior forces:
- 27 939 officers
- 49 935 NCOs
- 176 536 privates
- 248 433 men total
[1] former 17 Cavalry Regiment of NKVD border forces
[2] reformed from the 57 Industry Security Brigade
[3] reformed from the 169 Industry Security Regiment
[4] reformed from the 170 Industry Security Regiment
Units highlighted with red font were crossed out in the original document. Note: that is a planned rather than actual organization.
Re: SS vs. NKVD
Remarks about OOB and tables of organization. NKVD interior forces divisions (with an exception of two "elite" divisions at Moscow) consisted of a varying number of rifle (motorized rifle) regiments. The word "motorized" in the division's name indicated a presence of several motorized regiments, but otherwise it seems that there were no other differences between "rifle" and "motorized rifle" divisions. In addition to regiments divisions had only the most minimal support units.
A divisional support company consisted of a HQ security platoon, signals platoon, and transport platoon. Total 8 officers, 21 NCOs, 43 privates, 6 cars, 14 3-ton trucks, 1 staff bus, 3 radio trucks, 1 gasoline tanker, 46 rifles, 2 light machine guns, 4 submarine guns, 1 RSB and 1 11-AK radio.
A divisional medical battalion (company) consisted of surgical platoon, hospital platoon, sanitary platoon, motor transport and evacuation platoon. Total 25 officers, 19 NCOs, 46 privates, 1 car, 4 1.5-ton and 3 3-ton trucks, 8 special purpose vehicles (1 disinfection truck, 1 motor shower, 5 ambulances, 1 mobile workshop)
No other support elements (artillery, anti-tank, anti-aircraft, reconnaissance, engineer etc) which are normally expected in combat divisions.
NKVD rifle brigades which started forming in April 1942 consisted of a HQ (apparently with some support elements) and three rifle regiments. At the end of 1942 brigade started switching to battalion organization: each brigade consisted a HQ, several rifles battalion, and a combat support battalion.
The basic building block was a rifle regiment which had the same organization in NKVD interior forces rifle divisions and brigades. Early in 1942 the NKVD TO&E (shtat) 05 was active which provided the following numbers of personnel and equipment:
143 officers (88 commanders, 20 political, 5 technical, 13 administrative, 16 medical, and 1 veterinary officers)
212 NCOs
1245 privates
1600 men total
6 cars, 45 1.5-ton trucks, 1 3-ton truck, 6 special vehicles (1 disinfection truck, 1 ambulance, 1 shower truck, 1 cinema truck,1 gasoline tanker, 1 mobile workshop), 2 motorcycles
425 rifles and carbines, 909 (semi-)automatic rifles, 12 medium and 81 light machine guns, 72 sub-machine guns, 6 45-mm guns, 12 50-mm mortars, 1 RSB and 7 RB radios
Organization of the regiment:
I. HQ
- command 6 officers+0 NCOs + 0 privates = 6 men
- staff 10+2+0=12
- political section 6+1+0=7
- club 2+1+1=4
II. HQ elements
- chemical defense platoon 1+3+14=18
- recce platoon 1+4+21=26
- sapper platoon 1+3+21=25
- signals platoon 2+15+21=38
III. Main units
- 3 rifle battalions each with
-- staff 8+1+0=9
-- signal section 0+2+9=11
-- administrative section 0+2+4=6
-- 3 rifle companies (each three platoons of three squads) 7+13+103=123 men, 9 light MG
-- machine guns platoon 1+5+22=28, 4 medium machine guns
-- mortar platoon 1+4+15=20, 4 50-mm mortars
-- gun platoon 1+2+15=18, 2 45-mm guns
IV. Service elements
- transport platoon 2+5+33=40
- ordnance supply and workshop 3+4+0=7
- clothing supply 2+3+3=8
- ration and forage supply 2+4+1=7
- quartering section 1+1+0=2
- medical service 5+0+6=11
- finance section 2+1+0=3
- veterinary section 1+0+2=3
In April 1942 this TO&E was substituted with a somewhat modified Shtat No. 030 with the following parameters
154 officers (92 commanders, 25 political, 5 technical, 14 administrative, 17 medical, 1 veterinary officer)
369 NCOs
1127 privates
Total 1650 men
136 horses (37 riding, 16 artillery, 83 draft)
6 cars, 38 1.5-ton and 8 3-ton trucks, 11 special purpose vehicles (1 ambulance, 1 pickup with recharging machine, 1 shower truck, 1 disinfection truck, 1 mobile workshop, 4 buses with radios, 1 cinema truck, 1 gasoline tanker), 6 motorcycles (1 with sidecar)
4 45-mm guns, 4 82-mm and 8 50-mm mortars, 12 medium and 81 light machine guns, 27 anti-tank rifles, 172 submachine guns
1 RSB, 6 RB, 3 5-AK radios
Organization:
I. HQ
II. HQ units
- chemical defense platoon
- recce platoon
- sapper platoon
- signals company (staff, radio, telephone platoons)
III. Main combat units
- 3 rifle battalions, each:
-- 3 rifle companies (3 platoons x 3 squads, 9 light machine guns)
-- machine gun platoon (4 medium machine guns)
- mortar company (1 platoon (4 82-mm mortars, 2 platoons (4 50-mm mortars))
- gun battery (2 platoons, 4 45-mm guns)
- submachine gun company (3 platoons)
IV. Service elements
- transport platoon
- ordnance supply ans workshop
- clothing supply
- ration and fodder supply
- quartering section
- medical section
- finance section
- veterinary section
For the point of comparison contemporary organization of the Red Army's rifle regiment was as follows:
Shtat 04/751 from December 1941 - 2957 men, 515 horses, 3 trucks, 184 submachine guns, 81 light, 36 medium and 3 heavy (12.7-mm) machine guns, 27 anti-tank rifles, 20 flamethrowers, 24 50-mm and 24 82-mm mortars, 6 45-mm and 4 76-mm guns, 7 RB radios, 2 radio receivers
Shtat 04/201 from March 1942 (ordinary rifle division) - 3173 men, 361 horses, 3 trucks, 188 sub-machine guns, 108 light, 36 medium, and 3 heavy machine guns, 75 anti-tank rifles, 20 flamethrowers, 24 50-mm and 24 82-mm mortars, 6 45-mm and 4 76-mm guns, 5 RB, 4 RBS radios and 1 radio receiver
Shtat 04/201 from March 1942 (guards rifle division) - 3273 men, 362 horses, 288 sub-machine guns, other numbers the same as in ordinary rifle divisions
So the NKVD rifle regiment was much downsized compared with the Red Army's rifle regiment and had a smaller allotment of heavy weapons. Not surprising, considering that it was a garrison and line-of-communication unit. NKVD regiment was superior in terms of motor transport and number of range of radios. That was because it was supposed to operate at large distance from divisional HQ and had to be logistically self-sustained. In general, NKVD rifle division with 6 regiments was close to the Red Army's rifle division in personnel strength (above 10,000 men), however it was much inferior in heavy weapons. NKVD rifle brigade with three regiments was close to the Red Army's rifle brigade in personnel strength, but was also inferior in heavy weapons. Again, I have to warn against a common myth of NKVD forces as some sort of "elite" troops armed to the teeth with the most advanced weaponry. All said above applied to NKVD interior forces only, as other branches had their own organization of divisions, brigades, and regiments.
A divisional support company consisted of a HQ security platoon, signals platoon, and transport platoon. Total 8 officers, 21 NCOs, 43 privates, 6 cars, 14 3-ton trucks, 1 staff bus, 3 radio trucks, 1 gasoline tanker, 46 rifles, 2 light machine guns, 4 submarine guns, 1 RSB and 1 11-AK radio.
A divisional medical battalion (company) consisted of surgical platoon, hospital platoon, sanitary platoon, motor transport and evacuation platoon. Total 25 officers, 19 NCOs, 46 privates, 1 car, 4 1.5-ton and 3 3-ton trucks, 8 special purpose vehicles (1 disinfection truck, 1 motor shower, 5 ambulances, 1 mobile workshop)
No other support elements (artillery, anti-tank, anti-aircraft, reconnaissance, engineer etc) which are normally expected in combat divisions.
NKVD rifle brigades which started forming in April 1942 consisted of a HQ (apparently with some support elements) and three rifle regiments. At the end of 1942 brigade started switching to battalion organization: each brigade consisted a HQ, several rifles battalion, and a combat support battalion.
The basic building block was a rifle regiment which had the same organization in NKVD interior forces rifle divisions and brigades. Early in 1942 the NKVD TO&E (shtat) 05 was active which provided the following numbers of personnel and equipment:
143 officers (88 commanders, 20 political, 5 technical, 13 administrative, 16 medical, and 1 veterinary officers)
212 NCOs
1245 privates
1600 men total
6 cars, 45 1.5-ton trucks, 1 3-ton truck, 6 special vehicles (1 disinfection truck, 1 ambulance, 1 shower truck, 1 cinema truck,1 gasoline tanker, 1 mobile workshop), 2 motorcycles
425 rifles and carbines, 909 (semi-)automatic rifles, 12 medium and 81 light machine guns, 72 sub-machine guns, 6 45-mm guns, 12 50-mm mortars, 1 RSB and 7 RB radios
Organization of the regiment:
I. HQ
- command 6 officers+0 NCOs + 0 privates = 6 men
- staff 10+2+0=12
- political section 6+1+0=7
- club 2+1+1=4
II. HQ elements
- chemical defense platoon 1+3+14=18
- recce platoon 1+4+21=26
- sapper platoon 1+3+21=25
- signals platoon 2+15+21=38
III. Main units
- 3 rifle battalions each with
-- staff 8+1+0=9
-- signal section 0+2+9=11
-- administrative section 0+2+4=6
-- 3 rifle companies (each three platoons of three squads) 7+13+103=123 men, 9 light MG
-- machine guns platoon 1+5+22=28, 4 medium machine guns
-- mortar platoon 1+4+15=20, 4 50-mm mortars
-- gun platoon 1+2+15=18, 2 45-mm guns
IV. Service elements
- transport platoon 2+5+33=40
- ordnance supply and workshop 3+4+0=7
- clothing supply 2+3+3=8
- ration and forage supply 2+4+1=7
- quartering section 1+1+0=2
- medical service 5+0+6=11
- finance section 2+1+0=3
- veterinary section 1+0+2=3
In April 1942 this TO&E was substituted with a somewhat modified Shtat No. 030 with the following parameters
154 officers (92 commanders, 25 political, 5 technical, 14 administrative, 17 medical, 1 veterinary officer)
369 NCOs
1127 privates
Total 1650 men
136 horses (37 riding, 16 artillery, 83 draft)
6 cars, 38 1.5-ton and 8 3-ton trucks, 11 special purpose vehicles (1 ambulance, 1 pickup with recharging machine, 1 shower truck, 1 disinfection truck, 1 mobile workshop, 4 buses with radios, 1 cinema truck, 1 gasoline tanker), 6 motorcycles (1 with sidecar)
4 45-mm guns, 4 82-mm and 8 50-mm mortars, 12 medium and 81 light machine guns, 27 anti-tank rifles, 172 submachine guns
1 RSB, 6 RB, 3 5-AK radios
Organization:
I. HQ
II. HQ units
- chemical defense platoon
- recce platoon
- sapper platoon
- signals company (staff, radio, telephone platoons)
III. Main combat units
- 3 rifle battalions, each:
-- 3 rifle companies (3 platoons x 3 squads, 9 light machine guns)
-- machine gun platoon (4 medium machine guns)
- mortar company (1 platoon (4 82-mm mortars, 2 platoons (4 50-mm mortars))
- gun battery (2 platoons, 4 45-mm guns)
- submachine gun company (3 platoons)
IV. Service elements
- transport platoon
- ordnance supply ans workshop
- clothing supply
- ration and fodder supply
- quartering section
- medical section
- finance section
- veterinary section
For the point of comparison contemporary organization of the Red Army's rifle regiment was as follows:
Shtat 04/751 from December 1941 - 2957 men, 515 horses, 3 trucks, 184 submachine guns, 81 light, 36 medium and 3 heavy (12.7-mm) machine guns, 27 anti-tank rifles, 20 flamethrowers, 24 50-mm and 24 82-mm mortars, 6 45-mm and 4 76-mm guns, 7 RB radios, 2 radio receivers
Shtat 04/201 from March 1942 (ordinary rifle division) - 3173 men, 361 horses, 3 trucks, 188 sub-machine guns, 108 light, 36 medium, and 3 heavy machine guns, 75 anti-tank rifles, 20 flamethrowers, 24 50-mm and 24 82-mm mortars, 6 45-mm and 4 76-mm guns, 5 RB, 4 RBS radios and 1 radio receiver
Shtat 04/201 from March 1942 (guards rifle division) - 3273 men, 362 horses, 288 sub-machine guns, other numbers the same as in ordinary rifle divisions
So the NKVD rifle regiment was much downsized compared with the Red Army's rifle regiment and had a smaller allotment of heavy weapons. Not surprising, considering that it was a garrison and line-of-communication unit. NKVD regiment was superior in terms of motor transport and number of range of radios. That was because it was supposed to operate at large distance from divisional HQ and had to be logistically self-sustained. In general, NKVD rifle division with 6 regiments was close to the Red Army's rifle division in personnel strength (above 10,000 men), however it was much inferior in heavy weapons. NKVD rifle brigade with three regiments was close to the Red Army's rifle brigade in personnel strength, but was also inferior in heavy weapons. Again, I have to warn against a common myth of NKVD forces as some sort of "elite" troops armed to the teeth with the most advanced weaponry. All said above applied to NKVD interior forces only, as other branches had their own organization of divisions, brigades, and regiments.
Re: SS vs. NKVD
it should be added that NKVD troops experienced a large deficit of weapons even compared with their very modest tables of organization. In August 1942 NKVD interior forces possessed:
109 45-mm AT guns vs 396 authorized
441 AT rifles vs 2286 authorized
3347 machine guns vs 7140 authorized
5486 sub-machine guns vs 15571 authorized
10 NKVD Rifle Division at Stalingrad provides another example. At the start of the battle of Stalingrad (July 1942) this division of 5 rifle regiments had
5714 rifles vs. 5916 authorized
36 medium machine guns vs. 60 authorized
110 light machine guns vs. 407 authorized
1 (!) sub-machine gun vs. 839 authorized
0 82-mm mortars vs 20 authorized
5 50-mm mortars vs 40 authorized
0 45-mm guns vs 20 authorized
The division also experienced a lack of horses, transport and communication equipment.
109 45-mm AT guns vs 396 authorized
441 AT rifles vs 2286 authorized
3347 machine guns vs 7140 authorized
5486 sub-machine guns vs 15571 authorized
10 NKVD Rifle Division at Stalingrad provides another example. At the start of the battle of Stalingrad (July 1942) this division of 5 rifle regiments had
5714 rifles vs. 5916 authorized
36 medium machine guns vs. 60 authorized
110 light machine guns vs. 407 authorized
1 (!) sub-machine gun vs. 839 authorized
0 82-mm mortars vs 20 authorized
5 50-mm mortars vs 40 authorized
0 45-mm guns vs 20 authorized
The division also experienced a lack of horses, transport and communication equipment.
Re: SS vs. NKVD
Always curious to know something new from the internet:
"...the 10th NKVD division at Stalingrad. This particular division was drawn from Stalingrad itself so consisted of local civilians in uniform and the NKVD was secret police, so this is basically a police division".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RUMTYXMfLA
As explained in this topic NKVD troops were regular military troops whose personnel had the same legal status as personnel of Soviet Army and Navy and they were mostly composed of men drafted to military service in a usual way. While the NKVD had both various kind of militia and regular police under its control and they fought on the front on a number of occasions, these police and militia formations were separate and different from the NKVD troops proper. The 10th NKVD Rifle Division was one of several similar units formed in 1942 for garrison service and security of the lines of communication, hence a difference from a "normal" Red Army rifle division discussed in the video. Not to mention that the Red Army TO/Es didn't apply to the NKVD troops and vice versa.
The video (circa 7:00) further discusses the personnel and weapons strength of the 10 NKVD Division as of 13 September 1942, in particular:
38 heavy machine guns
129 light machine guns
1080 sub-machine guns
63 anti-tank rifles
63 50-mm mortars
23 82-mm mortars
12 45-mm guns
That was actually much more that it had three months earlier (see the previous message), but mostly less than the division was supposed to have according to the tables of equipment. The five NKVD rifle regiment were supposed to include:
5x12 = 60 heavy (Maxim) machine guns
5x81 = 405 light machine guns
5x172 = 860 sub-machine guns
5x27 = 135 anti-tank rifles
5x8 = 40 50-mm mortars
5x4 = 20 82-mm mortars
5x4 = 20 45-mm guns
"Extra" mortars and SMG were probably a result of reinforcement given by the Stalingrad Front from stocks of weapons which were available.
Speaking generally the very idea of finding some kind of "party political" formations within the Soviet military is a no-goer. The entire Soviet military force was "party" and "political" from its very inception in 1918 and continued to be in WW2. It is just like discussing which fishes can swim in water.
"...the 10th NKVD division at Stalingrad. This particular division was drawn from Stalingrad itself so consisted of local civilians in uniform and the NKVD was secret police, so this is basically a police division".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RUMTYXMfLA
As explained in this topic NKVD troops were regular military troops whose personnel had the same legal status as personnel of Soviet Army and Navy and they were mostly composed of men drafted to military service in a usual way. While the NKVD had both various kind of militia and regular police under its control and they fought on the front on a number of occasions, these police and militia formations were separate and different from the NKVD troops proper. The 10th NKVD Rifle Division was one of several similar units formed in 1942 for garrison service and security of the lines of communication, hence a difference from a "normal" Red Army rifle division discussed in the video. Not to mention that the Red Army TO/Es didn't apply to the NKVD troops and vice versa.
The video (circa 7:00) further discusses the personnel and weapons strength of the 10 NKVD Division as of 13 September 1942, in particular:
38 heavy machine guns
129 light machine guns
1080 sub-machine guns
63 anti-tank rifles
63 50-mm mortars
23 82-mm mortars
12 45-mm guns
That was actually much more that it had three months earlier (see the previous message), but mostly less than the division was supposed to have according to the tables of equipment. The five NKVD rifle regiment were supposed to include:
5x12 = 60 heavy (Maxim) machine guns
5x81 = 405 light machine guns
5x172 = 860 sub-machine guns
5x27 = 135 anti-tank rifles
5x8 = 40 50-mm mortars
5x4 = 20 82-mm mortars
5x4 = 20 45-mm guns
"Extra" mortars and SMG were probably a result of reinforcement given by the Stalingrad Front from stocks of weapons which were available.
Speaking generally the very idea of finding some kind of "party political" formations within the Soviet military is a no-goer. The entire Soviet military force was "party" and "political" from its very inception in 1918 and continued to be in WW2. It is just like discussing which fishes can swim in water.