Articles about Kobrin: Great Patriotic War

Fights for Polesia Mieczyslaw Kitaychuk, chapters of the book "Rough Events of Polesia". In response to news of crossing of the Polish border by Red Army the general Kliberg ordered to defend on the Polesia bogs, and then to concentrate task force in the south from Pripyat around Kovel, the Kobrin division started implementation of the order after the end of fights near Kobrin in the night of September 19 it moved forward in the southern direction that became the reason of leaving of the city, despite its successful defense.

RE-DEPLOYMENT

On September 20 the Kobrin group began at 18:00 the movement with two columns on Kovel. On September 22 after the analysis of current situation the general Kliberg came to a conclusion that defense of Polesia becomes impossible. He set for troops the task to develop military operations in the western direction - to conduct battles only with Germans, to avoid collisions with the Soviet troops, to move ahead in the direction of Warsaw for the purpose of assistance to the troops protecting the capital.

At the first stage of military operations the commander of task force "Polesia" general Kliberg ordered to adjust a crossing through Bug and to concentrate around Vlodava. The general ordered to the tactical connections which were under supervision to move forward on September 23. The Kobrin division began the movement with two columns at 7:00. The lieutenant colonel Severin ordered the first column, the 83rd and 84th infantry regiments were its part. In other column under command of the lieutenant colonel Targovsky the 82nd infantry regiment, a battalion of the 79th infantry regiment, the battery of horse artillery moved. After 20-kilometry march of a column concentrated in Krymno.

BEREZA GROUP

On a branch line Brest - Kovel, at stations and substations, there were structures with the weapon, ammunition, quartermaster equipment, horses, tanks with gasoline, and also two sanitary trains with partially completed structure. At Malorit's station soldiers from different bodies were brought together.

On September 20 at station incidentally there was a deputy chief of quartermaster service of the General Staff of army Polish the major Henrik Philip Bezeg who voluntarily assumed duties of the commandant of station. It began to form divisions and groups. Using the stocks which were in structures, he organized food and equipment of troops. Arrived to Malorita the soldier more and more - one by one, groups and even divisions, and on September 21-22 their number increased to several thousand.

On September 22 the colonel in resignation Otokar Bzhoza-Bzhezina accepted command of the audience at Malorit's station - Mokrana troops. The group received the name "Bzhoza" ("Birch"). On September 25 as a part of group 5 battalions of infantry, 3 batteries of artillery, and also prospecting group, wagon trains and field hospital were created. On September 26 the 13th flight squadron of the lieutenant Edmund Stanislav Perunkevich consisting of one PVS plane and two planes - coherent RVD-8 joined them.

The colonel Bzhoza-Bzhezina ordered to create on the west bank of Bug in Blodava strong predmostny strengthening. On September 25 to Blodava the main forces of Bereza group were tightened.

VPERED, NA VLODAVU!

The general Kliberg acted with the task force which was at him under supervision in the direction of Vlodava. He as the commander of task force "Polesia" ordered to tactical connections to carry out investigation in Vlodava and vicinities, and also to check sostony bridges and to find fords on the Bug River for a crossing.

The Podlyassky crew of a cavalry received the order of the commander task force "Polesia" about promotion in the direction of Vlodava, and her commander received a task to establish connection with Bzhoza-Bzhezin's ladle, to detain advance of its group in the West the direction and to enter it into podchiyeny OG "Polesia". In the night of September 27 commanders of connections of independent task force "Polesia" started speeding up of Bug.

STRENGTHENING OF GROUP

The cavalry Zaza division formed on September 27 in Bialowieza Forest under command of the general Siegmund Podgorsky moved ahead on the South. On September 28 the general Kliberg established connection with it and suggested to hold meeting at the command post with participation of the general Podgorsky and the colonel Bzhoza-Bzhezina. At meeting he characterized the developed political situation and submitted the intelligence data on the German and Soviet troops, and then suggested the general Podgorsky to enter submission of the connected task force "Polesia", reasoning it with the fact that it is necessary to struggle with the enemy by big forces. The general Podgorsky accepted this offer, and thus the Polesia group was considerably strengthened.

According to the made offer of the general Kliberg on carrying out structural changes, in the connected task force started realization of this undertaking. Especially serious reorganization had to take place in the infantry Kobrin division, and also in Bereza and Drogichin groups. The last - "Drogichin" - in connection with small fighting potential was disbanded and included in structure 60 an infantry division. The colonel Epler had to reform the Kobrin division in the 60th infantry division. Numbering of regiments which number at that time passed for 100 was also changed.

Ordered the 60th infantry division the colonel Adam Epler - the commander, the lieutenant colonel Tadeush Smigelski is a commander of divisional infantry, the major Frantsishek Shorner - the chief of a staff, the major Michal Leshchak is a quartermaster. The following army units were a part of a division: 182nd infantry regiment, 183rd infantry regiment (commander lieutenant colonel Vladislav Severin), 184th infantry regiment and independent battalion 179 of an infantry regiment, divisional artillery.

After carrying out reorganization the connected operational group "Polesia" incorporated 4 tactical connections: 50th infantry division, 60th infantry division, cavalry Zaza division, Podlyassky cavalry crew. Approximate number of staff of group - 18 thousand soldiers.

FIGHTS WITH RED ARMY

In the night of September 28 in a staff of the connected operational group "Polesia" the analysis of a situation and the decision on a re-deployment made earlier in the direction of the west bank of Vistula and transition to guerrilla actions in Sventokshisky mountains was carried out. The general made the new decision - on advance in the direction of Mateevitsa - Denblin.

On September 29 the 60th infantry division moved through Bridges, Opole on Apple-trees. At distance of two kilometers before the village of Apple-trees, in the village of Pukhov Gur, troops faced the groups of Red Army preparing for fight. About 12 o'clock in the afternoon of Pukhov Gur were taken with the Polish troops.

The 182nd infantry regiment began approach on Apple-trees, and by the evening the village of Apple-trees was taken. During fights for Pukhova of the Guru and Apple-trees both parties suffered losses. In the 182nd infantry regiment two officers, several junior officers and privates died, more than ten people got wounds. The Polish soldiers took prisoner one officer and about fifty privates.

At night the 60th infantry division left Apple-trees. Obtaining the order to protect from the North road knot in Parchev was a reason for leaving of the Apple-tree. Near the district Fires there was in the direction of Parchev the Soviet cavalry, and soon from the village of Milanov and Fires there was an infantry which conducted strong fire from person-portable weapon and machine guns. Groups of Red Army started courageous attack. Business reached use of manual grenades. The Polish battalion showed furious resistance. At that moment there was some man in a leather jacket (possibly, the political leader) and, swinging hands, asked to cease fire and to hold negotiations with command. One of junior officers of a battalion of the 179th infantry regiment and several soldier crept up to group in which there was a truce envoy, and threw it grenades. Meanwhile the machine-gun company of Army Polish opened fire from the flank and the back. In groups of Red Army there came confusion which was noticed by the Polish side. Battalion of the major Bartuli and company. the 183rd infantry regiment immediately advanced to the attack, the batteries of howitzers supported by fire. Groups of the opponent began to run with a battlefield. The last the machine-gun company shooting at running ceased fire.

The destiny of fight was defined. Troops of Red Army lost battle. In the battlefield there were more than hundred killed Bolsheviks, more than 60 were taken prisoner. 11 easel machine guns, 7 manual machine guns, one tool with a horse harness, a large number of person-portable weapon, and also 10 horse vehicles with ammunition were production of Poles. The Soviet prisoners, as well as after fight under the village of Apple-trees, asked about the accession to the Polish groups. Losses of the Polish troops were minimum: 1 officer is wounded, in two regiments some killed and wounded. Fight near Milanov was the last fight of the 60th infantry division with Bolsheviks. The division carried out the subsequent fights with the German troops.

FIGHTS WITH GERMANS

In the morning on October 2 the Zaza division was alarmed in connection with approach of the German motorized groups. The crew of a cavalry of the colonel Plisovsky acted towards to the approaching enemy and occupied defense, and about 10 o'clock in the morning Germans began approach which was suspended.

On October 1 in the afternoon the 60th infantry division continued the movement on the line Adamov - Guluv. On October 2 the 182nd infantry regiment reached the wood in the south from Gordzezhki, the 183rd infantry regiment stopped in Okshey and in the wood in the northeast from this district. The 184th infantry regiment was fixed in Gordzezhka. The independent 179th battalion protected a division from the East on Guluv Road - Gordzezhka.

By the morning on October 2 the colonel Epler concentrated the 60th infantry division in forest area near Adamuv. He made the decision on conducting defense in two directions. On the first direction the 182nd and 183rd infantry regiments, and also an independent battalion the 179th infantry regiment concentrated. On the second direction occupied defense the 184th an infantry regiment. In the morning the division was ready to battle. Together with the cavalry Zaza division and the 50th infantry division it was the first line of defense of SOG "Polesia" and was on the right flank of group.

On October 2 at 8 o'clock in the morning after aviation investigation and artillery fire preparation 13 motorized infantry division of Germans took the offensive on a site of defense of the cavalry Zaza division and achieved partial success. the 60th infantry division that day did not accept participation in fight.

The general Kliberg, analyzing a situation on a course of action, came to a conclusion that on October 3 the enemy division will strengthen attempts to break through defense, having concentrated a main blow in the direction of Serokoml - Gordzezh. He also assumed a possibility of emergence of forces of the 29th motorized infantry division before the line of defense of the 60th infantry division and Podlyassky cavalry crew. Making the decision on further military operations, he gave the order of the 50th infantry division to undertake counterstroke on the western direction. the 60th infantry division had to keep further the busy line of defense, as well as the cavalry Zaza division, blocking advance of the enemy.

In the reflections the general Kliberg assumed use 60 PD for drawing counterstroke on the left flank of the 13th motorized infantry division. Simultaneous counterstroke 50 PD and 60 PD on both sides would facilitate defeat of the German forces.

Alla Shevchenko's translation

Kitaychuk, M. Rough events of Polesia. Kobrin group / M. Kitaychuk//Kobrin-inform. – 2007. – On December 6, on November 15. – Page 7

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