In October 12th and 13th 1943 Soviet 33rd Army under gen Gordonov with one polish guard division and two russian infrantry division (in fact this two division was like brigade) unsuccesful tried break frontline near the town Lenino on road Mohilev - Smolensk.
Was it part of larger operation or just small scale assault?
Battle of Lenino 12 - 13 oct. 1943
Moderator: sniper1shot
Battle of Lenino 12 - 13 oct. 1943
Hi Pirx
Sorry, although I can read English, I am poor at writing English.
The operation including "Battle of Lenino" is also called "Orsha Offensive Operation(Oct.12-18.1943)"
I think that it was part of "Belorussian Strategic Offensive Operation (Oct.3.-Dec.31.1943)".
"Orsha Offensive Operation (Oct.12-18.1943)"
The offensive was to be conducted by Soviet Western Front's 10th Guards, 21st, 31st, and 33rd Armies. 33rd Army was the main attack force. 1st Polish Infantry Division(33rd Army) went into combat for the first time on Oct.12 at Lenino.
Soviet
33rd Army's Situation
First echelon
42nd Rifle Division (4,646men)-Lenino's left area
1st Polish Infantry Division (12,144men)-Lenino's front area
290th Rifle Division(4,435men)-Lenino's right area
Second echelon
164th Rifle Division
222nd Rifle Division
Support or Reserve
5th Mechanized Corps
6th Guards Cavalry Corps
65th Rifle Corps
70th Rifle Corps
German
4th Army-XXXIX Pz Corps Situation
337th Infantry Division-Lenino's front area
25th Pz Grenadier & 252nd Infantry Division -Lenino's northern area
95th Infantry Division-Lenino's southern area
Between Oct. 12-18 in the 33rd Army's attack sector, 1st Polish Division lost 502men killed and the other attaking divisions more than 1,700men more.
Cheers
Shingo
Sorry, although I can read English, I am poor at writing English.
The operation including "Battle of Lenino" is also called "Orsha Offensive Operation(Oct.12-18.1943)"
I think that it was part of "Belorussian Strategic Offensive Operation (Oct.3.-Dec.31.1943)".
"Orsha Offensive Operation (Oct.12-18.1943)"
The offensive was to be conducted by Soviet Western Front's 10th Guards, 21st, 31st, and 33rd Armies. 33rd Army was the main attack force. 1st Polish Infantry Division(33rd Army) went into combat for the first time on Oct.12 at Lenino.
Soviet
33rd Army's Situation
First echelon
42nd Rifle Division (4,646men)-Lenino's left area
1st Polish Infantry Division (12,144men)-Lenino's front area
290th Rifle Division(4,435men)-Lenino's right area
Second echelon
164th Rifle Division
222nd Rifle Division
Support or Reserve
5th Mechanized Corps
6th Guards Cavalry Corps
65th Rifle Corps
70th Rifle Corps
German
4th Army-XXXIX Pz Corps Situation
337th Infantry Division-Lenino's front area
25th Pz Grenadier & 252nd Infantry Division -Lenino's northern area
95th Infantry Division-Lenino's southern area
Between Oct. 12-18 in the 33rd Army's attack sector, 1st Polish Division lost 502men killed and the other attaking divisions more than 1,700men more.
Cheers
Shingo
Thanks!
I must say that battle of Lenino is well known in Poland, especialy under communists goverment it was very famous. In second half 1943 Polish Army (except air forces and navy) on western front didn't fight. Anders Corps in Africa made reorganisation, and preparation to assault in Italy, and Maczek's Panzer Division, and Sosabowski's paratroopers were under training.
Communists in USSR wanted show the world that they are not sleeping. But in fact nobody knows too much about "Orsha Operation". Maybe somebody knows more about this operation, and was this battle succesful?
Best regards.
I must say that battle of Lenino is well known in Poland, especialy under communists goverment it was very famous. In second half 1943 Polish Army (except air forces and navy) on western front didn't fight. Anders Corps in Africa made reorganisation, and preparation to assault in Italy, and Maczek's Panzer Division, and Sosabowski's paratroopers were under training.
Communists in USSR wanted show the world that they are not sleeping. But in fact nobody knows too much about "Orsha Operation". Maybe somebody knows more about this operation, and was this battle succesful?
Best regards.
Orsha offensivi operation
Hi Pirx,
I did not know that the Battle was famous in Poland.
According to the report of M. A. Gareev, Soviet Western Front had ordered Orsha offensive operation 5 times from October 12. 1943 to April 1, 1944.
1)October 12.-18. 1943
2)October 21.-26. 1943
3)November 14.-19. 1943
4)Nobember 30.-December 2. 1943
5)March 5.-9. 1944
In September 1943 the German implemented the strategic withdrawal to the PANTHER line ( East of Vitebsk-Orsha-Mogilev-Gomel ).
*The town of Lenino was on the defensive line.
The German defended the PANTHER line desperately.
I think that Orsha operations were failure.
Because Soviet was finally able to recapture Orsha on June 27, 1944.
Sokolovsky, Western Front Commander and many of his staff and subordinates, including Gordov, commander of 33rd Army, were removed from command and reassigned.
Cheers,
Shingo
I did not know that the Battle was famous in Poland.
According to the report of M. A. Gareev, Soviet Western Front had ordered Orsha offensive operation 5 times from October 12. 1943 to April 1, 1944.
1)October 12.-18. 1943
2)October 21.-26. 1943
3)November 14.-19. 1943
4)Nobember 30.-December 2. 1943
5)March 5.-9. 1944
In September 1943 the German implemented the strategic withdrawal to the PANTHER line ( East of Vitebsk-Orsha-Mogilev-Gomel ).
*The town of Lenino was on the defensive line.
The German defended the PANTHER line desperately.
I think that Orsha operations were failure.
Because Soviet was finally able to recapture Orsha on June 27, 1944.
Sokolovsky, Western Front Commander and many of his staff and subordinates, including Gordov, commander of 33rd Army, were removed from command and reassigned.
Cheers,
Shingo
Re: Battle of Lenino 12 - 13 oct. 1943
Battle of Lenino 1943 (from the Polish war movie "Do krwi ostatniej", 1977):
Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGsW53RXEek
Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thGUwyPubCQ
Part 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzjP4_Qc-8g
Part 4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaHaOn0e61A
Part 5:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kILwhCwDTE4
Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGsW53RXEek
Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thGUwyPubCQ
Part 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzjP4_Qc-8g
Part 4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaHaOn0e61A
Part 5:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kILwhCwDTE4
Re: Battle of Lenino 12 - 13 oct. 1943
Here there are translations of some archival documents (are found out by me in TsAMO) in which reveal some interesting circumstances of battle with participation of 1st Polish infantry division of a name of T.Kostjushko who has occurred 12.10.1943 near to settlement Lenino.
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 9&start=45
And at this Russian military forum I have given the full text (in Russian) the battle official report of general Berling about this battle. There can be someone can translate into English. General Berlig writes in Russian correctly, but phrases at it very long and difficult, to me not on forces to translate such difficult text.
http://imf.forum24.ru/?1-1-20-00000028- ... 1242480770
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 9&start=45
And at this Russian military forum I have given the full text (in Russian) the battle official report of general Berling about this battle. There can be someone can translate into English. General Berlig writes in Russian correctly, but phrases at it very long and difficult, to me not on forces to translate such difficult text.
http://imf.forum24.ru/?1-1-20-00000028- ... 1242480770