In the previous parts, we examined reconnaissance materials (RM) about the enemy grouping concentrated against the troops of the PribOVO (part 1 and part 2). In accordance with the RM, on June 21, German troops were located at a fairly large distance from the Soviet-German border.
At the end of the topic of PribOVO, consider the graph of changes in the size of the group, built according to the RM data. It should be noted that, in accordance with the RM, received in the fall of 1940, the number of troops concentrated against the PribOVO included formations located on the right flank of the ZAPOVO.
The German grouping did not include 7 cavalry regiments, which our reconnaissance "discovered". These units will additionally make up at least one more division …
Intelligence data on German troops against KOVO
Consider the territories of neighboring countries, in which, in accordance with the RM, German formations were deployed against the KOVO troops. The area of responsibility of KOVO on the right ran along the line of Wlodawa (exclusively) - Demblin (claim) - Radom (claim), and on the left was limited to Art. Lipcani.
In accordance with Reconnaissance report No. 5 on 1.6.41, the following German groups are listed against KOVO:
Part of the Romanian troops are stationed on the southern flank of the district.
On the basis of RM, the figures show the dependences of the change in the number of German divisions in the above directions.
In accordance with the RM, from the beginning of April to mid-May there is an increase in the German grouping in the Lublin-Krakow region. The maximum number of German divisions remains unchanged since 15.5.41!
The number of German troops in Slovakia (in the Duplin area (57 km in a straight line from the border) - Presov (98 km) - Michalovce (67 km)) has remained unchanged since May 5, 1941. The borderland in this area is mountainous and due to the limited number of roads in the direction of the border, the distances indicated above may increase significantly when troops move.
In the figure, the increase to 7 divisions is associated with their increase in the Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the spacecraft at 22-00 on 22.6.41. When exactly in the period from June 19 to 22, intelligence "discovered" an increase in German divisions - it is not known …
We see the same in the Carpathian Ukraine (direction Uzhgorod - Mukachevo). Since the beginning of May, the number of German divisions in the RM has remained unchanged. The increase in the number of divisions after June 19 is due to their increase in the Intelligence Directorate's summary as of June 22.
When preparing the material, the author considered two German maps, on which the situation with the deployment of troops on the eve of 22.6.41 was plotted. Five German divisions in Slovakia (in the Duplin - Presov - Michalovets region) and four in the Carpathian Ukraine are absent on these maps …
The presence of these nine divisions in the RM can only be explained by purposeful German disinformation, when small units of German troops could be passed off as whole regiments or divisions. This may also be the result of misinformation by the special services of Germany, Hungary and Slovakia. In this case, the Hungarian and Slovak units were passed off as German … Nothing else can explain the constant mention of nine German divisions in the RM in the indicated directions for a long period of time, which were not there …
Thus, in accordance with the RM, from early-mid-May to June 19-20, 1941, the number of the German group against the KOVO troops practically did not change. With a high degree of probability, we can say that on June 21, this number was unchanged. However, this statement cannot be verified due to the lack of intelligence information in the period from 20 to 21 June …
Data on the location of enemy troops on the KOVO map
Consider the situation on the eve of the war, which is plotted on the map of the KOVO headquarters (SWF).
Above the line of demarcation of responsibility ZAPOVO and KOVO, we see information about the presence at the border of a grouping of three infantry divisions, two cavalry brigades, a tank brigade and two tank battalions. The map shows the zone of the location of this group with a depth of 45 to 67 km from the border. Therefore, it cannot be argued that all these troops were stationed directly at the border.
The presence of two cavalry brigades can be identified as the existing cavalry division. The two infantry divisions discovered by reconnaissance can be identified as the 167th and 255th Infantry Divisions. The 3rd Infantry Division is either the 10th Motorized Division (which is unlikely), or the rifle regiments of the tank divisions, or the 34th Infantry Division, located behind the 3rd Panzer.
A tank brigade and two tank battalions can be identified as tank regiments of tank divisions.
With this interpretation, the data presented on the map is quite accurate RM … The only major drawback is the failure to detect the 24th motorized corps itself!
From its composition, presumably only found: tanks of two tank regiments (in fact, there was a regiment in each division), a cavalry and infantry division. Motorized rifle and artillery regiments of tank divisions, motorized reconnaissance, engineer and motorcycle battalions, as well as other divisions were not found. No motorized division found. The 46th motorized hull was not found deep.
Scattered two tank battalions and a tank brigade can only be:
- or attached to infantry divisions;
- or included in the mobile group of these units and two cavalry brigades.
Infantry formations with attached tanks will advance slowly, and a small mobile group will not be able to make a deep breakthrough. A breakthrough of a small mobile grouping is not terrible, since you can quickly concentrate in this direction parts of the 14th mechanized corps, which is not far away.
The two infantry divisions located along the line of demarcation of the districts were not there on 22 June. Whether they were there before, it was not possible to establish.
Four infantry and one motorized divisions are located directly at the border of KOVO. Opposite them is the 15th Rifle Corps and units of the 87th Rifle Division.
In the depths are the headquarters of the army, the headquarters of the rifle corps, two unknown headquarters of the army corps, two unknown headquarters (perhaps they were the headquarters of the divisions), two infantry, one tank and four motorized divisions. These seven divisions are located at a distance from 48 … 52 to 106 km from the border. It will take from one to two days to concentrate these troops to the border! Only the headquarters of infantry formations were found, which would not be able to organize a quick and deep penetration by infantry formations into the depths of the KOVO territory. Everything, as it was considered at the team games in 1941 by the military commanders of the spacecraft: the enemy's advance 200-250 km in 10-14 days …
In the new picture, there are more German troops at the border: up to 6 infantry divisions and up to two tank regiments. A little further there are three more infantry, and one armored and one motorized divisions.
In the depths of the territory there are two army corps headquarters, two infantry, two tank and one motorized divisions, and a tank regiment. There is a grouping of enemy forces, which can be identified as a shock grouping in the corps headquarters, two tank and one motorized divisions, and a tank regiment. This group is deployed quite far from the border: from 94 to 116 km. On the roads, this distance will be slightly longer …
On a fragment of the map, we see the concentration of small groupings of infantry troops in the directions Sokal - Kristnopol (up to 2 infantry divisions in the upper right corner of the map), Rava Ruska (two divisions located one after another) and a small shock grouping from a motorized division, two tank regiments at Przemysl. On the right, this grouping is supported by one infantry division. Are these forces enough to unleash a full-scale war on June 22? Of course, they are not enough …
There are other German troops on the map, which are located outside the presented map fragments:
- in the city of Piotrkuve (west of the city of Radom, 190 km from the Soviet-German border) - an infantry division;
- in the city of Bochnia (west of the city of Tarnow, 218 km from the border) - an unknown headquarters and 2-3 infantry divisions;
- in the city of Krakow (232 km from the border) - the unknown headquarters of the army corps;
- in the city of Novy Tarts (194 km from the border) - an infantry division.
The following conclusions can be drawn about the RM, which were available on the eve of the war in our headquarters, about the grouping of German troops concentrated in the Lublin-Krakow region:
- in accordance with the RM, there are 35-36 divisions in the indicated area. Therefore, we can say that about 21 divisions are concentrated at a distance from the border;
- the concentrated grouping has one army headquarters and four army corps headquarters. Based on this, the KOVO headquarters and the General Staff could conclude that there were no large mobile groups in the area in the form of a tank army or motorized corps.
The figure shows a fairly large grouping of enemy forces: two army corps, about six divisions (of which up to 1, 5 tank divisions). Another misinformation planted on our intelligence. In fact, in this area, near the border, there was an 8th Army Corps consisting of four Hungarian brigades (up to two divisions).
In the figure, a pink stripe corresponds to the demarcation line between KOVO and OVO. More than six infantry, two motorized, tank, cavalry, mountain rifle divisions, cavalry and mountain rifle brigades are concentrated near the border with KOVO. In total, up to 12 divisions, 8 of which are deployed far enough from the border. In fact, in this area there were up to five divisions of German and Romanian troops. There has never been one tank and two motorized divisions in the area. Again, we see incorrect information in the RM.
Summing up the consideration of the presented fragments of the map and RM concerning KOVO, it can be stated that intelligence information and the actual deployment of enemy troops near the border are very different. Not enough enemy troops were stationed directly at the border on the eve of the war to start a war with the USSR. According to the author, the information from the RM could not alarm the leadership of the spacecraft and the Soviet Union until the evening of June 21, 1941.
In the summary of the intelligence department of the KOVO headquarters on 20.6.41, it is said about the movement of German troops to our borders, but the wrong conclusion is made:. It is possible that such a conclusion led to the fact that the information in the summary did not cause concern in the Intelligence Directorate and the General Staff. There was no reaction … There was also no reaction in Moscow after the receipt of an alarming message from the ZAPOVO on the morning of June 21 about the advance of German troops into the Suvalka salient.
Data from the first military intelligence reports
Below are data from Bulletin No. 1 of the Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Spacecraft as of 22:00 on June 22. The figure shows three directions of German strikes against the troops of the district and analyzes the enemy force groupings discovered on June 22. Everything is the same as it was before the war: intelligence data differ from the actual distribution of enemy forces.
Based on the pre-war knowledge of the composition and deployment of enemy troops on June 22, Reconnaissance No.1 of the Southwestern Front is being prepared:
… Lutsk direction … The enemy is actively fighting during the day; its main groupings: an infantry division is advancing in the direction of Lyuboml; in the direction of Vladimir-Volynsky - an infantry division and a tank division; in the direction of Prezk-Uvolvonek - an infantry division; from the direction of Sokal, Krystynopol - an infantry division …
Rava-Russian-Lviv direction. Two infantry divisions, a cavalry regiment and a tank regiment attacked in the Makhnuv, Lyubycha Krulewska sector in the direction of Rava Rusk. From the area of Lubachów Oleshice, Stare Selo … at 12 o'clock in the southern direction more than an infantry division operated with the support of small units of tanks …
Przemysl-Lviv direction. On the Yaroslav, Medyka sector, at 14:45 in the direction of Krakovets, Mosciska, an infantry division and a cavalry unit were advancing. In the area of Przemysl, he operates up to an infantry division …
Hungarian direction. The enemy tried to cross the border in small units in the Kereshmeze, Vorokhta area, attempts were repulsed.
Chernivtsi direction … … In total, four Romanian infantry divisions are operating in the Lipcani, Radauci sector. Probably, the Germans are also acting in this direction, since some of the captured prisoners turned out to be German soldiers …
conclusions: … The enemy crossed the state border on the front of Wlodawa, Przemysl and Lipkany, Vikoverhnya (10 km north-west of Radauci) consisting of:
- Lutsk direction - four to five infantry divisions and a tank division;
- Rava-Russian-Lviv direction - three to four infantry divisions with tanks;
- Przemysl-Lviv direction - two or three infantry divisions;
- Chernivtsi direction - four Romanian infantry divisions …
In accordance with the intelligence reports, the combat operations are mainly carried out by infantry divisions, supported by one tank division, tank and cavalry regiments, as well as small tank units. The only large mobile grouping discovered by reconnaissance in the Tarnov area (two tank and motorized divisions, a tank regiment) is not mentioned in the summary and, therefore, has not yet been put into action. Everything is not as serious as it really was …
The information from the first SWF report is in good agreement with the situation on the presented map and intelligence information, which was reflected in other pre-war documents.
Information about the incomplete data provided in the RM on the eve of the war is also reflected in the memoirs of war veterans. THEIR. Baghramyan (head of the operational department of the KOVO headquarters):
… In the area of Lyuboml, one infantry division advances, in the direction of Vladimir-Volynsky - one infantry and one tank, and the southern, to the very border with the 6th Army - two more German infantry divisions. Considering that we had four rifle divisions not far from the border, the situation, of course, did not seem so threatening …
It was not yet known that a German motorized corps poured from Sokal to Radzekhów across the area free from our troops, and that the same corps was trying to break through from Ustilug to Lutsk
A. V. Vladimirsky (head of the operations department of the headquarters of the 5th Army):
The composition, numbering and location of enemy formations by our reconnaissance were not revealed accurately and completely. So, in front of the 5th Army, the presence of only 15 enemy divisions was noted, including only two tank divisions. In reality, there were 21 divisions, including five tank divisions. The concentration of the 1st Panzer Group in front of the 5th Army … was not noted at all …
We saw that information about the concentration of German motorized corps against the KOVO was absent in the RM, as well as against the PribOVO.
