serafimovitch battle (july-august 1942)

[Aymeric]

Hello,
I'm looking for information on the serafimovitch battle, which took place between the 28 of july and the 3rd of august 1942. The battle involved the 578 german infantry regiment and the 3rd italian Celere division on the axis side, and some rifle divisions and an armored brigade on the russian side. I've find italian sources to comment the action, but no german or russian one. Anybody could help me ?
Thanks in advance,
Aymeric

[Alex Yeliseenko]

Hello,
I'm looking for information on the serafimovitch battle, which took place between the 28 of july and the 3rd of august 1942. The battle involved the 578 german infantry regiment and the 3rd italian Celere division on the axis side, and some rifle divisions and an armored brigade on the russian side. I've find italian sources to comment the action, but no german or russian one. Anybody could help me ?
Thanks in advance,
Aymeric

I shall look on Russian and German sources. But information will be a little.

Best regards from Siberia

[Aymeric]

Thanks for your kind help Alex. It seems that there is very few data about this battle in the russian sources. But according to italians ones, there were about 3000 men to defend the serafimovitch area.

[Alex Yeliseenko]

Hi, Aymeric

Filatov in the book " Mussolini's East campaign " writes: " Division Celere participated in fights for Serafimofich and there first of the Italian divisions has tested impact of the Soviet tanks. On July, 30th positions of a division attacked 30 Т-34. The division has lost almost all artillery. It is killed and wounded 1700 soldier. It is third of all the soldier of a division. On August, 14th a division have deduced on rest.

Best regards

[Aymeric]

Thanks ! this book has been written with the help of russians sources ?
Have you any data about the OOB of the russians forces at serafimovitch ?

[Alex Yeliseenko]

Thanks ! this book has been written with the help of russians sources ?
Have you any data about the OOB of the russians forces at serafimovitch ?

The book is written with use of Russian, Italian and German sources. Basically in it it is spoken about political events in Italy connected with East campaign.

In the beginning of August the area Serafimovich was defended with divisions of 21 armies. From the German party - 17 army corps.

In the middle of July 21 army had: the rests 63,76,124,226,293,343 rifle divisions, the rests 13 tank corps.

As soon as I will have new data I shall throw off in this string.

Best regards

[Aymeric]

Thank you Alex ! I'm happy to see that russian sources deals with the use of T34 during the serafimovitch battle. According to the italian source, there was a russian tank brigade with about 50 tanks, with T34 and light tanks.
In the 21 Army, there should be the 304 Rifle Division no ?

[Alex Yeliseenko]

Thank you Alex ! I'm happy to see that russian sources deals with the use of T34 during the serafimovitch battle. According to the italian source, there was a russian tank brigade with about 50 tanks, with T34 and light tanks.
In the 21 Army, there should be the 304 Rifle Division no ?

304 RD was in structure of 38 armies.

There are data that in the beginning of August 38 army has replaced 21 army. But in my sources (A.Panin " Stalingrad - the Forgotten fight ") on a card in area Serafimovich - 21 army.

On July, 23rd on the basis of 38 armies 4 tank army has been created.

OoB 38 army

- 15 jule

The rests 9 Guards, the rests 162,199,242, 277, 278, 300, 304 RD + the rests 22 tank corps

OoB 4 tank army

- 23 jule

22 TC (133, 173,176, 182 tank brigades, 22 моторизированная a shooting brigade, 51 battalion of motorcyclists)
23 TC (99, 189 tank brigades, 9 моторизированная shooting brigades)
133 heavy tank brigade
5 истребительная a brigade (fighters of tanks)
18 RD
205 RD

About has found! The site of defense of 21 armies on July, 23rd has been transferred 38 armies! Means there there was a mix of divisions of two armies. Formally the strip was 38 armies. Most likely PADA Celere attacked tanks 22 TC.

Sorry my bad English

Best regards from Siberia

Aleksey

[Alex Yeliseenko]

22 TC (133, 173,176, 182 tank brigades, 22 motorized rifle brigade, 51 battalion of motorcyclists)
23 TC (99, 189 tank brigades, 9 motorized rifle brigades)
133 heavy tank brigade
5 fighter brigade (fighters of tanks)

[Aymeric]

Thank you very much, it's a great help that you provide me !
Concerning the 22 tank corp, I've found that the 176° tank brigade had 32 T34 and 16T70, for a total of 48 tanks on the 28 july 1942. The number of tanks and their type may correspond to the tank brigade reported in the italian source.

If I understand you well, the 21° Army has been replaced by 38° Army between the end of july and the beginning of august 1942 for the defense of Serafimovitch area. And the 22° Tank corp was the only tank unit of the 4° Tank Army in the area ?

[Aymeric]

Could you send me a scan of the map ?

[Alex Yeliseenko]

Could you send me a scan of the map ?

This assumption. 22 TC was closest from tank corps of Red Army to Serafimovich. Its approach has begun on July, 29-30th. Corps had 96 T-34, 58 Т-70, 26 Т-60.

I shall have the scanner only in a week

[Alex Yeliseenko]

Whether you saw it? http://rkkaww2.narod.ru/battles/don/tankdatadon42.htm

Best regards

[Alex Yeliseenko]

http://rkkaww2.narod.ru/battles/Staling ... les_42.htm

[Aymeric]

Yes, that's on this website that I've found the composition of 176th tank brigade.
Do you know which rifle divisions were in the Serafimovitch bridgehead exactly ?