I am interested in the fighting south and east of Parnu in Estonia towards the Latvian border in either 1941 or 1944 has anyone any info regarding the exact actions taking place in this area,it would be very much appreciated,
Paul
Fighting in Estonia
Moderator: sniper1shot
Fighting in Estonia
Hello Paul E, here goes something to start, a tiny article that is related more to the fights that taken place at Tartu, but yet I think is useful.
The excerpts were taken from " Tartu in the 1941 Summer War" By Major Riho Rõngelep and Brigadier General Michael Hesselholt Clemmesen.* Baltic Defense Review Nº 9 Vol 1/2003.
(*Brigadier General Michael Hesselholt Clemmesen is the Commandant of the Baltic Defence College. Major Riho Rõngelep is a Directing Staff member at the Baltic Defence College). At that time.
On 12 July the first stronger German elements from the Task Force "Burdach" came to the support of the Tartu Partisan Battalion. It consisted of anti-tank gun platoons7 . German speaking students and Estonian army officers were assigned to anti-tank guns crews as liaison officers and interpreters. The German units took positions close to the Tähtvere manor house and park in the north western part of the town.
On the arrival, the German units were met by accurate artillery fire, an indication of the effectiveness of the Soviet artillery observers who stayed behind.
Heavy artillery fire against the area around the Riga Hill forced Major Kurg to move his command post to the south eastern part of the town, close to an exhibition ground here. Even if neither the Estonian nor German narratives mention this -they both ignore the effort of the other
- there probably was division of responsibility leaving the Estonian Resistance to defend the central and eastern parts of the town.
Effective artillery fire led to a hunt for the observers, and a vast number was found and killed that day. Thereafter the bombardment became less well-directed, still, however, destroying a large number of buildings. The destruction of Tartu was also continued in the northern part of the town, which was controlled by the Soviets. Buildings were burned down systematically, street by street. The German narrative mentions that the Soviet air force bombed their positions in the Tartu area on that day.
During the following days, the Task Force "Burdach" carried the main burden of fighting the 16th Soviet Rifle Division.
The Estonian narrative mentions a "stabilisation" of the situation, whereas the German narrative underlined how difficult it became to contain the Soviet formation's aggressive forays across the river.
On 12 July Army Group North acknowledged that the Soviets would fight hard for Estonia, not withdraw quickly as they had from Lithuania and Latvia.
The German 18th Army realised now that the 8th Soviet Army in Rakvere was deploying two Rifle Corps in the defence of North Estonia, and the 254th Infantry Division was sent from Võru to join the 61st Division near Viljandi. The 291st Infantry Division was given orders to move from Kurzeme (Kurland) to join the 217th Division North of Pärnu.
Two more Soviet rifle divisions, the 48th and 125th were assembled by the 11th Rifle Corps in North Estonia on 14 July, and two days later they appeared on the northern side of the Emajõgi , relieving the 16th Division. The 48th Division had deployed to the West and the 125th had deployed to the East of Tartu. On that day the good summer weather was replaced by rain and thunderstorms, worsening the road conditions and hampering operations. On 16 July, the 18th Army also decided to employ its last reserve, the 93rd Infantry Division, in Estonia.
XXVI Corps now resumed its offensive operations in Western Estonia on 17 July, but no significant progress was possible until significant parts of the two additional divisions became available.
From 18 to 20 July the pressure of the 11th Rifle Corps' two divisions against the Task Force "Burdach" developed into a critical situation, and the 18th Army was forced to send the 93rd Infantry Division to the Tartu front. Seconded elements from that division doubled the strength of Burdach's force on their arrival on 21 July.
From 20 July, the 18th Army concentrated its attention in Estonia. The mission was to keep the Soviet forces in Estonia from reinforcing the defence of Leningrad. Its headquarter (HQ) was now in Võru.
(The task force under Major General Karl Burdach (1891-1976) thereafter consisted of the Reconnaissance Battalions 1 and 11, as well as the First Battalion of Infantry Regiment 2. The two Reconnaissance Battalions of the Task Force consisted each of a horse cavalry squadron, a bicycle squadron, and a heavy squadron with one troop with three 37 mm anti-tank guns, a troop with two 75 mm infantry guns and a troop with two armoured cars. There is no information that the infantry battalion from Infantry Regiment 2 was reinforced with anti-tank guns.)
(The 93rd Division (commanded by General Otto Tiemann), detached an infantry battalion (II/ Infantry Regiment 270), one anti-tank battalion(number 193), one combat engineer company and one bicycle company to the task force.)
Tartu - July 1941
The last phase of the Tartu fighting, the destruction of the 11th Rifle Corps
will follows ASAP. Cheers. Tigre.
The excerpts were taken from " Tartu in the 1941 Summer War" By Major Riho Rõngelep and Brigadier General Michael Hesselholt Clemmesen.* Baltic Defense Review Nº 9 Vol 1/2003.
(*Brigadier General Michael Hesselholt Clemmesen is the Commandant of the Baltic Defence College. Major Riho Rõngelep is a Directing Staff member at the Baltic Defence College). At that time.
On 12 July the first stronger German elements from the Task Force "Burdach" came to the support of the Tartu Partisan Battalion. It consisted of anti-tank gun platoons7 . German speaking students and Estonian army officers were assigned to anti-tank guns crews as liaison officers and interpreters. The German units took positions close to the Tähtvere manor house and park in the north western part of the town.
On the arrival, the German units were met by accurate artillery fire, an indication of the effectiveness of the Soviet artillery observers who stayed behind.
Heavy artillery fire against the area around the Riga Hill forced Major Kurg to move his command post to the south eastern part of the town, close to an exhibition ground here. Even if neither the Estonian nor German narratives mention this -they both ignore the effort of the other
- there probably was division of responsibility leaving the Estonian Resistance to defend the central and eastern parts of the town.
Effective artillery fire led to a hunt for the observers, and a vast number was found and killed that day. Thereafter the bombardment became less well-directed, still, however, destroying a large number of buildings. The destruction of Tartu was also continued in the northern part of the town, which was controlled by the Soviets. Buildings were burned down systematically, street by street. The German narrative mentions that the Soviet air force bombed their positions in the Tartu area on that day.
During the following days, the Task Force "Burdach" carried the main burden of fighting the 16th Soviet Rifle Division.
The Estonian narrative mentions a "stabilisation" of the situation, whereas the German narrative underlined how difficult it became to contain the Soviet formation's aggressive forays across the river.
On 12 July Army Group North acknowledged that the Soviets would fight hard for Estonia, not withdraw quickly as they had from Lithuania and Latvia.
The German 18th Army realised now that the 8th Soviet Army in Rakvere was deploying two Rifle Corps in the defence of North Estonia, and the 254th Infantry Division was sent from Võru to join the 61st Division near Viljandi. The 291st Infantry Division was given orders to move from Kurzeme (Kurland) to join the 217th Division North of Pärnu.
Two more Soviet rifle divisions, the 48th and 125th were assembled by the 11th Rifle Corps in North Estonia on 14 July, and two days later they appeared on the northern side of the Emajõgi , relieving the 16th Division. The 48th Division had deployed to the West and the 125th had deployed to the East of Tartu. On that day the good summer weather was replaced by rain and thunderstorms, worsening the road conditions and hampering operations. On 16 July, the 18th Army also decided to employ its last reserve, the 93rd Infantry Division, in Estonia.
XXVI Corps now resumed its offensive operations in Western Estonia on 17 July, but no significant progress was possible until significant parts of the two additional divisions became available.
From 18 to 20 July the pressure of the 11th Rifle Corps' two divisions against the Task Force "Burdach" developed into a critical situation, and the 18th Army was forced to send the 93rd Infantry Division to the Tartu front. Seconded elements from that division doubled the strength of Burdach's force on their arrival on 21 July.
From 20 July, the 18th Army concentrated its attention in Estonia. The mission was to keep the Soviet forces in Estonia from reinforcing the defence of Leningrad. Its headquarter (HQ) was now in Võru.
(The task force under Major General Karl Burdach (1891-1976) thereafter consisted of the Reconnaissance Battalions 1 and 11, as well as the First Battalion of Infantry Regiment 2. The two Reconnaissance Battalions of the Task Force consisted each of a horse cavalry squadron, a bicycle squadron, and a heavy squadron with one troop with three 37 mm anti-tank guns, a troop with two 75 mm infantry guns and a troop with two armoured cars. There is no information that the infantry battalion from Infantry Regiment 2 was reinforced with anti-tank guns.)
(The 93rd Division (commanded by General Otto Tiemann), detached an infantry battalion (II/ Infantry Regiment 270), one anti-tank battalion(number 193), one combat engineer company and one bicycle company to the task force.)
Tartu - July 1941
The last phase of the Tartu fighting, the destruction of the 11th Rifle Corps
will follows ASAP. Cheers. Tigre.
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
In Kriegstagebuch of II.Armeekorps is some interesting info about this final retreat in 1944. Last units to cross Estonian border in 23.-24. september were remains of generalmajor Rudolf Höfer's Kampfgruppe (HQ of 300. special purpose division and remains of 207. security division). Covering this retreat were from south of Pernau II. battailon of 49. regiment ("De Ruyter") /4.SS-panzergrenadier brigade "Nordland" . This battailon was encircled before Heinaste by large armored units of the enemy, but after struggle of several hours was able to break free, destroying in close combat 12-15 tanks. As last unit it retreated to Heinaste, blew up the bridge behind them and tanks of red army were stuck behind it. One of the tanks that rushed over the bridge on the last moment was destroyed with Panzerfaust...
Sources:
II.A.K.KTB.Nr.5.Gruppe Höfer.24.9.1944.
Armee-Abt.Narwa.KTB Nr.7.Ia Morgenmeldungen.05.00,25.9.1944.
II.A.K.KTB. NR.5.Gruppe Höfer.19.00,24.9.1944.
Sources:
II.A.K.KTB.Nr.5.Gruppe Höfer.24.9.1944.
Armee-Abt.Narwa.KTB Nr.7.Ia Morgenmeldungen.05.00,25.9.1944.
II.A.K.KTB. NR.5.Gruppe Höfer.19.00,24.9.1944.
Fighting in Estonia
The last phase of the Tartu fighting, the destruction of the 11th Rifle Corps. From " Tartu in the 1941 Summer War" By Major Riho Rõngelep and Brigadier General Michael Hesselholt Clemmesen.* Baltic Defense Review Nº 9 Vol 1/2003.
On 21 July, the 18 Army decided to accomplish its mission by an operation from the Viljandi area, initially cutting off the 11th Rifle Corps by an advance in its back to the Peipsi Lake, thereafter cutting of the rest of the 8th Army in Northwest Estonia by an advance to the Finnish Gulf.
Early next morning the offensive started with the 61st, 217th and 254th Divisions.
The 61th Division captured two bridges in Põltsamaa intact at noon and continued towards Jõgeva, where Soviet forces on 23 July fought to avoid the Germans cutting the main road out of Tartu to the North. The 11th Rifle Corps had realised the threat to the 125th and 48th Rifle Divisions. The Task Force "Burdach" and the 93rd Division found that the resistance of the forces in front of them lessened. During the night 23-24 July, the bulk of the Soviet forces with the artillery left, leaving only a couple of rifle battalions as a screen.
The 93rd Division had created a small flotilla of fishing boats and combat engineer assault boats. It was now used to occupy the island of Piirisaar in the Lake Peipsi and to land forces on the coast North of the Emajõgi, and during the next days elements of the division advanced up the shore of the lake.
Forward elements of the 61st Division reached the lake 7 kilometres south of Mustvee on the night 24-25 July, and on the following day the 254th Division occupied the town. Parts of the 11th Rifle Corps that had not escaped were surrounded, and the following days the German forces had to meet several attempts to break out.
On 25 July, the 93rd Division got command of all forces advancing north from Tartu. On 29 July, the 18th Army started the next part of the offensive, the advance to the Finnish Gulf to cut off and destroy the Soviet forces in Northwestern Estonia. The XXVI Army Corps commanded the 254th, 93rd, 61st and later the 291st Division in the offensive towards the Finnish Gulf. The newly arrived XXXXII Corps would later command the offensive to capture Northwestern Estonia and the islands.
Destruction of the surrounded remnants of the 11th Rifle Corps was left to the 93rd Division and a task force from the 61st Division. That mission was accomplished four days later, on 31 July, bagging 8.794 prisoners, 68 artillery pieces, 5 anti-tank guns, 5 tanks and 3 armoured cars captured. Thus the 1941 fighting in the Tartu area ended, three weeks after it was started by a small group of Estonian students.
The last part follows ASAP. Cheers. Tigre.
On 21 July, the 18 Army decided to accomplish its mission by an operation from the Viljandi area, initially cutting off the 11th Rifle Corps by an advance in its back to the Peipsi Lake, thereafter cutting of the rest of the 8th Army in Northwest Estonia by an advance to the Finnish Gulf.
Early next morning the offensive started with the 61st, 217th and 254th Divisions.
The 61th Division captured two bridges in Põltsamaa intact at noon and continued towards Jõgeva, where Soviet forces on 23 July fought to avoid the Germans cutting the main road out of Tartu to the North. The 11th Rifle Corps had realised the threat to the 125th and 48th Rifle Divisions. The Task Force "Burdach" and the 93rd Division found that the resistance of the forces in front of them lessened. During the night 23-24 July, the bulk of the Soviet forces with the artillery left, leaving only a couple of rifle battalions as a screen.
The 93rd Division had created a small flotilla of fishing boats and combat engineer assault boats. It was now used to occupy the island of Piirisaar in the Lake Peipsi and to land forces on the coast North of the Emajõgi, and during the next days elements of the division advanced up the shore of the lake.
Forward elements of the 61st Division reached the lake 7 kilometres south of Mustvee on the night 24-25 July, and on the following day the 254th Division occupied the town. Parts of the 11th Rifle Corps that had not escaped were surrounded, and the following days the German forces had to meet several attempts to break out.
On 25 July, the 93rd Division got command of all forces advancing north from Tartu. On 29 July, the 18th Army started the next part of the offensive, the advance to the Finnish Gulf to cut off and destroy the Soviet forces in Northwestern Estonia. The XXVI Army Corps commanded the 254th, 93rd, 61st and later the 291st Division in the offensive towards the Finnish Gulf. The newly arrived XXXXII Corps would later command the offensive to capture Northwestern Estonia and the islands.
Destruction of the surrounded remnants of the 11th Rifle Corps was left to the 93rd Division and a task force from the 61st Division. That mission was accomplished four days later, on 31 July, bagging 8.794 prisoners, 68 artillery pieces, 5 anti-tank guns, 5 tanks and 3 armoured cars captured. Thus the 1941 fighting in the Tartu area ended, three weeks after it was started by a small group of Estonian students.
The last part follows ASAP. Cheers. Tigre.
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
Fighting in Estonia
Hello to all here goes the last part.
Aftermath. From " Tartu in the 1941 Summer War" By Major Riho Rõngelep and Brigadier General Michael Hesselholt Clemmesen.* Baltic Defense Review Nº 9 Vol 1/2003.
In the offensive towards the coast, on 5 August, the 61st Division at Järva-Jaani destroyed the 16th Rifle Division that had fought the first days in Tartu. As a result of a successful advance towards Narva by 58th Infantry Division east of Lake Peipsi, the XXVI Corps offensive could swing Northeast, after reaching Tapa and Rakvere on the same day. The 254th Division reached Kunda and the coast two days later. The continued offensive by the Corps met hard resistance that involved the survivors of the 125th and 48th Rifle Divisions. It took 12 days of intense fighting to capture Narva, and the XXVI Corps only crossed the 1920-1940 Estonian-Soviet border on 20 August.
The XXXXII Corps with the 61st, 217th, and 254th Divisions remained in Estonia. On 27 August, Tallinn was surrounded, and the following day the Soviets in the town gave up and surrendered, even if evacuation of the communists and others from the port was still ongoing. Haapsalu was
captured on 31 August. The German invasion of the Estonian Islands started 14 September and ended on 27 September.
In Tartu 1007 buildings had been destroyed. Purely Estonian part of the fighting had been intense, but short. Only 19 resistance fighters had been killed and 23 wounded. The number of civilians killed is estimated to have been around 100, mainly as a result of artillery fire.
The reason why the Estonian human losses were relatively limited seems to be that after 10-12 July the fighting moved away from the town centre toward the river east and west of the town. That would also explain the very different German and Estonian impressions of the events. That the Estonian picture of the period 12-24 July is less than complete is confirmed by the interacting Soviet-German escalation in force build-up during that second phase, making it possible for the Germans to bag most of two rifle divisions in the third phase.
The Soviet choice to fight for Estonia that led to the fighting in Tartu did not change anything. The terrain in the main Army Group North axis did not allow much additional deployment of German forces, so the use of 5 infantry divisions in Estonia rather than in the main effort made no difference. Leningrad would have survived anyway.
For the Estonians, however, that choice led to tragedies, far beyond the destruction and losses of the "Summer War". The Soviets used the time to "evacuate" machinery, cattle, and vehicles as well as 25.000 Estonians to the East. On top of that, 33.000 young Estonian men were mobilised and transported to Russia. The mobilised 22nd Estonian Territorial Rifle Corps of about 7.000 Estonians was destroyed while fighting for the Soviets in 1941: 2.000 were killed, and 4.500 taken prisoner by the Germans. The rest, the recruits, were initially used in the "Construction Battalions", which were really mobile forced labour camps. Then the evacuated Estonian communist leadership succeeded in getting permission to use the members of the construction battalions to form the 8th Estonian Rifle Corps.
It came to consist of 27.000, including around 23.000 Estonians. The Corps was used in the fighting of 1942 and 1943 and suffered massive losses, due to unprofessional leadership. Between 1.200 and 2.000 succeeded in surrendering to the Germans. The Corps was used in 1944 in Estonia, especially in the hard fighting at the Saaremaa at the foot of the Sõrve peninsula in the end of November. Here the soldiers of the Corps fought against their countrymen in German uniform - none of them with a chance to escape. Thereafter more Estonians were mobilised into the Corps before it was sent to Kurzeme (Kurland), ending the German-Soviet fighting for the reoccupation of Latvia.
Best Regards. Tigre.
Aftermath. From " Tartu in the 1941 Summer War" By Major Riho Rõngelep and Brigadier General Michael Hesselholt Clemmesen.* Baltic Defense Review Nº 9 Vol 1/2003.
In the offensive towards the coast, on 5 August, the 61st Division at Järva-Jaani destroyed the 16th Rifle Division that had fought the first days in Tartu. As a result of a successful advance towards Narva by 58th Infantry Division east of Lake Peipsi, the XXVI Corps offensive could swing Northeast, after reaching Tapa and Rakvere on the same day. The 254th Division reached Kunda and the coast two days later. The continued offensive by the Corps met hard resistance that involved the survivors of the 125th and 48th Rifle Divisions. It took 12 days of intense fighting to capture Narva, and the XXVI Corps only crossed the 1920-1940 Estonian-Soviet border on 20 August.
The XXXXII Corps with the 61st, 217th, and 254th Divisions remained in Estonia. On 27 August, Tallinn was surrounded, and the following day the Soviets in the town gave up and surrendered, even if evacuation of the communists and others from the port was still ongoing. Haapsalu was
captured on 31 August. The German invasion of the Estonian Islands started 14 September and ended on 27 September.
In Tartu 1007 buildings had been destroyed. Purely Estonian part of the fighting had been intense, but short. Only 19 resistance fighters had been killed and 23 wounded. The number of civilians killed is estimated to have been around 100, mainly as a result of artillery fire.
The reason why the Estonian human losses were relatively limited seems to be that after 10-12 July the fighting moved away from the town centre toward the river east and west of the town. That would also explain the very different German and Estonian impressions of the events. That the Estonian picture of the period 12-24 July is less than complete is confirmed by the interacting Soviet-German escalation in force build-up during that second phase, making it possible for the Germans to bag most of two rifle divisions in the third phase.
The Soviet choice to fight for Estonia that led to the fighting in Tartu did not change anything. The terrain in the main Army Group North axis did not allow much additional deployment of German forces, so the use of 5 infantry divisions in Estonia rather than in the main effort made no difference. Leningrad would have survived anyway.
For the Estonians, however, that choice led to tragedies, far beyond the destruction and losses of the "Summer War". The Soviets used the time to "evacuate" machinery, cattle, and vehicles as well as 25.000 Estonians to the East. On top of that, 33.000 young Estonian men were mobilised and transported to Russia. The mobilised 22nd Estonian Territorial Rifle Corps of about 7.000 Estonians was destroyed while fighting for the Soviets in 1941: 2.000 were killed, and 4.500 taken prisoner by the Germans. The rest, the recruits, were initially used in the "Construction Battalions", which were really mobile forced labour camps. Then the evacuated Estonian communist leadership succeeded in getting permission to use the members of the construction battalions to form the 8th Estonian Rifle Corps.
It came to consist of 27.000, including around 23.000 Estonians. The Corps was used in the fighting of 1942 and 1943 and suffered massive losses, due to unprofessional leadership. Between 1.200 and 2.000 succeeded in surrendering to the Germans. The Corps was used in 1944 in Estonia, especially in the hard fighting at the Saaremaa at the foot of the Sõrve peninsula in the end of November. Here the soldiers of the Corps fought against their countrymen in German uniform - none of them with a chance to escape. Thereafter more Estonians were mobilised into the Corps before it was sent to Kurzeme (Kurland), ending the German-Soviet fighting for the reoccupation of Latvia.
Best Regards. Tigre.
Last edited by tigre on Sun Jun 11, 2006 2:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
Thanks Tigre
You are a scary guy Tigre. Estonia, China. Where do you get all this stuff? :^)
ASIATICUS
Estonia
Hello asiaticus, from here and there; I found this article by chance looking for some info about the actions of the German ID 61 in the Baltics Islands, of course I found nothing about the latter subject till now. Cheers. Tigre.
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
ID 291 - Baltic States 1941.
Hello folks here goes something more about that subject.
The Infanterie Division 291 in the Baltic States and Ingria.
On jun 13 all the regiments received the attack order; on jun 21 came the code word: “Dusseldorf”, the attack had been set for jun 22 at 03:05 hours. The ID 291 under Major Grl Herzog (Ia: Major in Generalstab Dienst v. Roeder) was directly under orders of the German 18 Army’s commanding officer, Grl Oberst v. Kuchler. The 11/IR 504 was detached as security for the Army’s HQ.
The attack’s direction was due north meanwhile the neighbour to the right, the ID 61 belonging to the XXVI AK should attack toward northeast. The division would go losing contact toward its right.
The ID 291 reinforced with the following formations: 402 Battalion of bikers, two Navy Assault Battalions, one Anti aircraft battery of 20 mm (self propelled), 633 heavy Artillery Group, one battery of heavy mortars (210 mm) from the 637 heavy artillery Group, Navy Artillery Group 530, one Anti aircraft Group (two batteries of 20 mm and one of 88 mm) and one armored train would attack towards north as independent division, so a gap would go opening with the XXVI Army Corps attacking towards the northeast.
During the night of 21 - 22 June 1941, the assault elements of the reinforced Division moved into their reconnoitered positions in readiness with the IR 504 right (first objective Krottingen), IR 505 centre and IR 506 left along the coast.
When the assault was launched the Russian troops were surprised and rejected of their advanced positions located on the border.
The IR 505 (Oberst Lohmeyer) constituted the main effort and by nightfall had reached Schoden after break the enemy resistance at Darbenai. A bridgehead was established on the border river between Latvia and Lithuania.
On jun 23 1941 the advanced detachment reached Prekuln, moving on 70 kilometers from the jump off position in one and a half day. At Prekuln, Oberst Lohmeyer with the IR 505 turned West heading towards the first great objective, Libau, and by afternoon on jun 24 1941 took all around position at Grobin.
The city itself was well secured by two lakes located on its sides and the only access toward it was through one isthmus of 3 kilometers wide. A quick “coup de main” was therefore out of question.
The assault on the city of Libau began on jun 25 at 01:30 hours but soon stalled in front of the fortified position in the isthmus, hence the attack was called off. The city was encircled and the Division was deployed as follows: to the north nearby the coast the IR 506; adjoining, the IR 504 up to the road Grobin - Durben and to the south the IR 505.
On 27 jun the fight reached its peak when the Soviets attempted a break out which they did along the coastal road, losing 7 tanks and 43 trucks; another group fled on the "red road" leading north, there the Artillery cooperated decidedly, even the 10./ AR 291(OLt Guckel) fought in its positions as infantry. But in doing so the Soviet lost all its vehicles, heavy equipment and guns. On the same day the Navy troops and the 505 IR broke into the south of Libau and the next day 28 jun 1941 the city was seized after stuborn resistence in urban environment. The enemy will was broken with fire support furnished by infantry cannons firing at close range, mortars and heavy artillery. Oberst Lohmeyer won the RK after that.
Thereon the ID 291 was brought forward through Curland and on jul 9 was gathered at Riga.
Source: Historia de la 291 División de Infantería Alemana. Werner CONZE. Cap III. Círculo Militar. Buenos Aires. 1956.
More follows ASAP. Cheers. Tigre.
The Infanterie Division 291 in the Baltic States and Ingria.
On jun 13 all the regiments received the attack order; on jun 21 came the code word: “Dusseldorf”, the attack had been set for jun 22 at 03:05 hours. The ID 291 under Major Grl Herzog (Ia: Major in Generalstab Dienst v. Roeder) was directly under orders of the German 18 Army’s commanding officer, Grl Oberst v. Kuchler. The 11/IR 504 was detached as security for the Army’s HQ.
The attack’s direction was due north meanwhile the neighbour to the right, the ID 61 belonging to the XXVI AK should attack toward northeast. The division would go losing contact toward its right.
The ID 291 reinforced with the following formations: 402 Battalion of bikers, two Navy Assault Battalions, one Anti aircraft battery of 20 mm (self propelled), 633 heavy Artillery Group, one battery of heavy mortars (210 mm) from the 637 heavy artillery Group, Navy Artillery Group 530, one Anti aircraft Group (two batteries of 20 mm and one of 88 mm) and one armored train would attack towards north as independent division, so a gap would go opening with the XXVI Army Corps attacking towards the northeast.
During the night of 21 - 22 June 1941, the assault elements of the reinforced Division moved into their reconnoitered positions in readiness with the IR 504 right (first objective Krottingen), IR 505 centre and IR 506 left along the coast.
When the assault was launched the Russian troops were surprised and rejected of their advanced positions located on the border.
The IR 505 (Oberst Lohmeyer) constituted the main effort and by nightfall had reached Schoden after break the enemy resistance at Darbenai. A bridgehead was established on the border river between Latvia and Lithuania.
On jun 23 1941 the advanced detachment reached Prekuln, moving on 70 kilometers from the jump off position in one and a half day. At Prekuln, Oberst Lohmeyer with the IR 505 turned West heading towards the first great objective, Libau, and by afternoon on jun 24 1941 took all around position at Grobin.
The city itself was well secured by two lakes located on its sides and the only access toward it was through one isthmus of 3 kilometers wide. A quick “coup de main” was therefore out of question.
The assault on the city of Libau began on jun 25 at 01:30 hours but soon stalled in front of the fortified position in the isthmus, hence the attack was called off. The city was encircled and the Division was deployed as follows: to the north nearby the coast the IR 506; adjoining, the IR 504 up to the road Grobin - Durben and to the south the IR 505.
On 27 jun the fight reached its peak when the Soviets attempted a break out which they did along the coastal road, losing 7 tanks and 43 trucks; another group fled on the "red road" leading north, there the Artillery cooperated decidedly, even the 10./ AR 291(OLt Guckel) fought in its positions as infantry. But in doing so the Soviet lost all its vehicles, heavy equipment and guns. On the same day the Navy troops and the 505 IR broke into the south of Libau and the next day 28 jun 1941 the city was seized after stuborn resistence in urban environment. The enemy will was broken with fire support furnished by infantry cannons firing at close range, mortars and heavy artillery. Oberst Lohmeyer won the RK after that.
Thereon the ID 291 was brought forward through Curland and on jul 9 was gathered at Riga.
Source: Historia de la 291 División de Infantería Alemana. Werner CONZE. Cap III. Círculo Militar. Buenos Aires. 1956.
More follows ASAP. Cheers. Tigre.
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.
Soviet Libau force?
Do we have any idea of what the Soviet units were that were in this battle?
ASIATICUS
Soviet Libau force?
Hello asiaticus.
As for the Soviets troops deployment: the 67 Rifle Division with two battalions of the 56 Rifle Regiment and the 281 Rifle Regiment was holding Libau while the 114 Rifle Regiment reinforced with one Battalion of the 56 Rifle Regiment was defending the coast sector on the section Kolgasrago - Pavilosta.
Source: Operations Summary of the staff of the 27th Army. Tsamo, folio 325.
Cheers. Tigre.
As for the Soviets troops deployment: the 67 Rifle Division with two battalions of the 56 Rifle Regiment and the 281 Rifle Regiment was holding Libau while the 114 Rifle Regiment reinforced with one Battalion of the 56 Rifle Regiment was defending the coast sector on the section Kolgasrago - Pavilosta.
Source: Operations Summary of the staff of the 27th Army. Tsamo, folio 325.
Cheers. Tigre.
Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada. General José de San Martín.