Sokal - Jun 1941.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a new story......................

Bug River crossing and assault on a fortified position - Sokal June 1941 ...........

According to the German plans the XXXXVIII AK (Mot) was to force the passage of the river Bug with two infantry divisions to the front (57. ID and 75. ID) and once conquered the fortified line on the eastern shore, the armored spearheads would launch deep into the Soviet territory. For the attack on the Soviet fortified line the IR 199 of the 57. ID organized two assault groups:

To the right the Pi. Btl 51 reinforced with two sections of the 14. / IR 199; the 3. / Stug Abt. 197 (less one Platoon), two Platoons of infantry and two Platoons of heavy machine guns of the IR 199 for protection during the crossing of the Bug. This battalion would only be subordinated during the conquest and destruccción of the bunkers.

To the left the I. / IR 199, with the 3. / IR 199 as first echelon.

Source: Denkschrift über die Russische Landesbefestigung.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows......................

Bug River crossing and assault on a fortified position - Sokal June 1941 ...........

June 22, 1941. The starry night sky was gradually disappearing, giving way to dawn ahead. Towards the east, beyond the Bug River, it began to see the reddish color that heralded the dawn. Under the powerful and impressive artillery fire support, rocket launchers, mortars, heavy weapons infantry support and anti-aircraft artillery at 03:15 hours the infantry assault was launched across the river. The enemy was taken completely by surprise and the important bridge over the Bug in Sokal was captured intact. River crossing was performed without complications and the assault troops reached their first objectives without significant resistance.

Soviet artillery fired sporadically without precision. At 05:00 hours the 57. ID reported that the "Sokalberg" had been conquered and further north the 75. ID conquered Height 222, however many casemates still resisted fiercely.

Sources: Denkschrift über die Russische Landesbefestigung.
Claus Hansmann Sowjetunion, Juni 1941 DHM, Berlin

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows......................

Bug River crossing and assault on a fortified position - Sokal June 1941 ...........

As the first element of the assault on the right, the 2. / Pi Btl 51 crossed the border (crossed the river Bug). After reaching the east bank, the assault teams got across the wire entanglement and went into the town. The resistance was broken in no time with the use of flamethrowers and hand grenades. After 20 minutes, the 2. Company had secured the starting positions for the other two companies.

The 1. / Pi Btl 51 crossed the Bug River to the right of the 2. / Pi Btl 51 and with the support of one assault gun, destroyed the enemy resistance located south of Sokal (Babiniec) and 45 minutes later had reached the main line of resistance located about 2 kms away. There the company destroyed three Soviet resistance nests. Taking advantage of the cover provided by the assault gun's fire, the 1st assault Platoon neutralized the armored machine gun's dome with an explosive charge of 6 kgs.

Sources: Denkschrift über die Russische Landesbefestigung.
Claus Hansmann Sowjetunion, Juni 1941 DHM, Berlin
http://relicfinder.info/forum/viewtopic ... &start=100

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows......................

Bug River crossing and assault on a fortified position - Sokal June 1941 ...........

The 3. / Sturm Pi Btl 51 reinforced with a Platoon of assault guns, anti-tank Platoon and a Rifle Platoon, seized the works 128, 169, 24, 129 and 181, together with the 1. and 2. Companies of the battalion. A Platoon of assault advanced to position 24 but about 60 meters of it received machine gun fire from a trench halfway; the enemy was repulsed with hand grenades and then reduced position 24 by mean of flamethrowers and explosive charges.

The 1st Platoon of assault went from position 169 to work 181, reaching it at 05:45 hours. The position was attacked with smoke, explosive charges and clusters of grenades and fell after three hours of fighting, the whole crew of 20 men was killed.

Sources: Denkschrift über die Russische Landesbefestigung.
Claus Hansmann Sowjetunion, Juni 1941 DHM, Berlin
http://relicfinder.info/forum/viewtopic ... &start=100

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows......................

Bug River crossing and assault on a fortified position - Sokal June 1941 ...........

Meanwhile the 1. / Sturm Pi Btl 51 was committed in order to conquer the fortifications located north of Kol. Tartakow. Here it had been engaged an infantry regiment (IR 199?) reinforced with artillery and anti-aircraft guns, but despite suffering heavy losses it failed to reduce the position.

After two hours of fighting the 1st assault Platoon could reduce the work 18 with explosive charges, that position had two anti-tank guns and 4 machine guns. The 3-kg explosive charges were unsuccessful and had to be utilized charges of 6 kg and 10 kg in order to destroy the cannon tubes.

Sources: Denkschrift über die Russische Landesbefestigung.
Claus Hansmann Sowjetunion, Juni 1941 DHM, Berlin
http://relicfinder.info/forum/viewtopic ... &start=100

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows......................

Bug River crossing and assault on a fortified position - Sokal June 1941...........

After the crossing and advance of the infantry to the east, on June 23, 1941 the 2. / Sturm Pi Btl 51 was tasked to attack the work 12 in a join action with the III. / IR 179. For this task the sappers were reinforced with one gun of 88mm Flak and two Platoons of assault guns (Stug). After carried out the reconnaissance, the assault Platoons attacked the position with explosive charges and flamethrowers, blasting the entrances.

Pictures below: 2 x Sokal - Jun 22, 1941.........................

Sources: Denkschrift über die Russische Landesbefestigung.
Claus Hansmann Sowjetunion, Juni 1941 DHM, Berlin
http://relicfinder.info/forum/viewtopic ... &start=100

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; last part......................

Bug River crossing and assault on a fortified position - Sokal June 1941...........

Pictures below: 2 x Sokal.........................

Sources: http://relicfinder.info/forum/viewtopic ... &start=120

It's all folks. Cheers. Raúl M .