Battle of Olita, June 22/23 1941

[big_buddha]

Hello,

I'm looking for information on the Battle to cross the Njesma river at Olita, which was fought by Army Group Centre at the opening of Barbarossa, 22/23 June 1941, in particular the actions of 7th Panzer Division during the battle.

Also, I'm looking for info the the 5th Tank Division, the Soviet force that 7th Panzer destroyed during the batle, but lost half its panzer in the process.

[Marko]

Hi big budda, here are some additional facts about the battle, not much but hope it helps.

At 0305 hrs on 22 July 7.Pz.Div. started its attack and at 0800 hrs captured Kalvarija. The division then formed a KG under the command of Oberst Rothenburg composed from Pz.Rgt.25 (Oberst Rothenburg) and K7 *(Major v.Steinkeller). The KG reached Olita at 1240hrs and managed to capture both bridges over the river Njemen intact, but as the panzers wanted to proceed to the high grounds to the east, they were fired upon by the entrenched enemy tanks, which inflicted heavy losses to the Pz.Rgt. Nevertheless KG managed to build bridgeheads at both bridges. Russians now launched heavy counterattacks with tank support.
Northern bridgehead was defended by: Pz.Rgt.25 (without II.Abt.), K7 (Maj.v.Steinkeller), I./AR78 (Hptm.Oll), 1./Pi.Btl.58,
and the southern by: AA37(Fhr.v.Paar), II./Pz.Rgt.25(Maj.Dr.Schirmer), 6./SR6, 2.&3./Pi.Btl.58
(all mentioned were divisional units)
Enemy counterattacks lasted till the evening and caused several critical situations especially in the southern bridgehead, causing the deployment of Pz.Rgt.25 and I./AR78. But by the end of the day the Russians lost 82 tanks and started retreating eastwards.
----------------------------------------------------
*Kradschutzenbataillon 7 (Motorcycle battalion)
----------------------------------------------------
Karl Rothenburg
(1894-1941)
Pour le Merite (WWI)
KC:3 July 1940
Wehrmachtbericht (8 July 1941)

Assignments:
Kdr.II./Pz.Rgt.6: 1936-1939,
Kdr. Pz.Rgt.6: Sept.1939-Feb.1940,
Kdr.Pz.Rgt.25: Feb.1940-28.Jun.1941.
--------------------------------------------
Friederich-Carl von Steinkeller
(1896-??)
DKiG: 25 May 1942,
KC: 31 March 1943,
Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold,
Wehrmachtbericht (8 July 1941)

Assignments:
IIb XV.AK: 1.Nov.1938-1939,
Kdr. K7: 17.Oct 1939-1942,
Kdr. Pz.Gren.Rgt.7: 1942-10. Jan. 1944,
Kdr. 7.Pz.Div.: 12.Dec.1943-??.Dec.1943 (only temporary),
Kdr. 60.Pz.Gren.Div. »Feldherrnhalle«: 1.Apr.1944-9.Jul.1944 (taken prisoner)

[big_buddha]

Thanks Marko, thats very useful info, if you have any more info on 7th Panzer during Barbarossa I'd love to read it.