Articles about Kobrin: 1917 - 1941

Fatal 1939

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The world felt the burning breath of the approaching military hurricane long before the beginning of World War II. Inspired with a number of political progress, Hitler at the beginning of 1939 completely occupied Czechoslovakia and imposed on Poland categorical requirement to agree to carrying out through a so-called Danzig corridor of the exterritorial highway which is forced to connect directly Germany to East Prussia which was separated by this Polish territory. From Poland flat refusal followed owing to what the relations between two neighbors sharply worsened.

Mobilization

In response to the German claims in March-April in voivodeships Kresov vskhodny mobilization of spare was carried out in wide scales. Thousands of inhabitants of Kobrin district put on military uniforms. To structure of a wartime the 83rd infantry regiment standing in Kobrin was replenished and it is immediately sent to the western border. The Polish authorities not without justification considered "kresovyak" as more reliable in the West, than in the east.

Noticeably fevered the country. A row of months of a painful nervous tension, waiting something decisive stretched. Mass media heated a situation sharp performances more and more actively against a Hitlerism whereas before they carefully avoided to criticize even the most disgusting lines of the fascist mode. In a border area well organized Hitlerite "fifth column" provocatively became impudent, all became frequent acts of diversions and direct attacks.

Visitors on a short-term visit home mobilized reported unclear things. Whereas extensive fortification works were defiantly conducted with the German side, from the Polish side of border nothing similar was observed. As zealous hurrah - patriotic convinced some, "let Germans become stronger – they are afraid of us whereas we march pryamekhonko to Berlin to which it is not so far..."

Actually everything was incomparably more simply: for the device of defensive constructions, at least the most primitive entrenchments on privately owned lands, owners needed to compensate the cost of the destroyed crops. On it, naturally, monetary expenses what chronically being empty treasury was not able to afford were required. Some of visitors from border with caution told that nerves at soldiers were strained to a limit, and if not that circumstance that troops providently held at some distance from border, then war could flash spontaneously long ago; absolutely unexpectedly for politicians and military command. On the next holiday of the sea Rydz-Smigla's marshal, the Supreme Commander inheriting the power belonging to Pilsudsky, in the speech in Gdynia self-confidently promised "not to give even buttons from a dress of the clearest Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth".

Situation in Kobrin

Meanwhile on a drama background of big-time politics in Kobrin district there were comical events which forced to forget the population about all other completely clashing with the endured historical moment.

Apparently, with the purpose to distract inhabitants from disturbing reflections the administration announced the resolution according to which under the threat of heavy fines house owners were recommended to construct urgently bathrooms where those were absent, and also to bleach them lime, to bleach chimneys, fences and even wattle fences. (That it was easy for German planes to be guided, by definition of "evil tongues"). The unimaginable turmoil which is adjoining on panic, forced to forget about other, more large-scale events rose. Scanty reserves of lime in warehouses were quickly settled. The police raged, adjusting people, and those were swept up in search of an exit. At the message on the forthcoming arrival of new consignment of lime long wagon trains country a supply were on duty at the station for days. The hearing about suicide of the certain man who became stupid from this mad action dispersed.

One more mysterious fact attracted attention citizens. The residence of sir head on Pervomayskaya Street was enclosed with a high blind fence. And suddenly the order to remake this solid fence in slot-hole followed. The national rumor significantly assured that it is made of fear of a congestion at a dense protection of enemy fighting gases …

Beginning of World War II

… Foggy dawn serenely sleeping Kobrin Hitlerite "lyuftvaffy" bombed on September 1 the first, by a deadly dotted line rushed from the West on the East on the southern suburb of the city. Among civilians there were victims. Prospecting raids of chernokresty planes proceeded further. And only the only time in the sky appeared samoletik with white-red identification marks.

Already from the first official statements it was possible to feel, events on fronts were how adversely developed. It was told about heavy defensive actions in the most general expressions: the directions were called, there were no concrete cities. The population managed to get more exact data only from transfers of foreign radio stations. (I will in passing note that in use of radio listeners there was extremely insignificant number of lamp receivers which cost equaled to the price of several cows. So, in the Polesia voivodeship only seven receivers were the share of one thousand inhabitants. Citizens therefore till the end of lightning war receivers were not confiscated) were their owners well-founded, that is "loyal", from the point of view of the authorities. For a raising of spirit of listeners the Warsaw radio center besides promotion until the very last day transferred bravura marches yes rollicking variety smash hits.

When after the beginning of military operations the general colors were called, many to the kobrinchena went to the next Brest. There they were kept by several days, and then confoundedly suggested to part on houses, having very strictly forbidden to report that in mobilization warehouses there was neither weapon, nor regimentals.

Trouble presentiment

Already soon from the West the numerous refugees aspiring in saving on their representation, impassable pinsky bogs where with the heavy machinery Germans for certain will not risk to be put began to arrive. Emaciated, confused, from legs to the head dusty people went alone with heavy backpacks behind the back, went by bicycles and supplies, carried poor belongings and children on manual two-wheeled carts. The overdressed young women with manual doggies escaping on cars did not pay attention on occurring on roadsides. Stories of the correspondence witnesses about atrocities of fascists spread panic and scared stiff listeners. Fortunately, the fall stood dry, with hot days and lack of dew at night.

Here it is pertinent to tell about one an episode rather characteristic for those times. In the chock-full bus to Kobrin there arrived the group of officials of the Warsaw starostvo. On a lodging for the night of refugees placed on apartments of local employees, left the bus in the protected yard of the local head. When in the morning guests gathered for continuation of the mournful way, the bus on the place did not appear. As then it became clear, the Kobrin administration which completely lost the head which had no so convenient type of transport did not resist temptation and stole the bus of guests for own flight "on vskhud".

From fronts the most inconsistent rumors arrived, more and more close cities were called. In the people panic spread, told about emergence nearby of the German prospecting tanks. Gramote with the growing cold heart estimated according to the card to what the southern border of ominous East Prussia – really no distance is devilishly close located …

And the full confusion and disorganization of the authorities is demonstrated at least by such fact. At the end of the second week of war on the suburban street to houses where there were men, the police demanding to take a shovel and to join already collected group of neighbors knocked. Completely this time grown quiet "vlad" politely asked to observe a complete silence, and police officers used pritemnenny small lamps. All were led to the railway bridge. Though nothing was told, the audience understood that the bridge mining is necessary. Police officers were nervous, damning all and everything, however the expected explosive was not delivered, and after several hours of painful expectation from the dawn of all dismissed on houses.

Fight on September 16

So sixteen inexpressibly painful days lasted. And since early morning on September 17 on the western suburb of the city of Kobrin fight was started. It is unknown how there was that 83rd infantry regiment which before war stretch stood in the city. Actions of infantry supported several easy field guns. The German infantry had similar artillery so forces were rather equal. Throughout the day fight happened on fields of vacant then southern suburb of the city which center was the estate of a manor the Province (nowadays park of Suvorov). Both parties several times came and receded between the channel of the Check and Sverdlov St. Often reached hand-to-hand fights.

After the next occupation of the Province Hitlerites shot the owner of a manor Zelinsky who was taken from the cellar, and it burned the house. The Polish soldiers suffered heavy losses: they had no shantsevy tool and helmets, most of the killed were struck in the head. On unchecked rumors, the number of the killed reached several hundreds of people. Hitlerites took away the killed. The battlefield remained for Germans as at Poles ammunition ran low and the regiment began to depart on the East. In the suppressed mood, citizens that disturbing night fell asleep with a gloomy presentiment of the trouble which approached closely. With horror it was thought of the beginning fascist occupation.

New page of history

The joyful shock for morning of the next day was that stronger. On the city the stunning message was immediately carried: we are not left to the mercy of fate: from the East of part of Red Army bear to the population Kresov vskhodny release. The behavior of Germans, appear, confirmed these rumors. Having dug round on the west bank of the channel of the Bond, they behaved further is indifferent, without interposing in the matter of citizens at all, though appearing on city streets alone and groups.

There came the period of full anarchy. Representatives of all steps of the Polish administration either ran, or hid in waiting. For prevention of possible robberies and violence the group of the former underground workers of KPZB started creation of groups of working self-defense. The numerous yesterday's prisoners of a near concentration camp of Kartuz-Bereza who arrived to Kobrin were soon connected to their initiative. According to their stories, during one of raids of the German aircraft which constantly watched "safety" of prisoners security guards of camp took refuge in a shelter. Using the presented opportunity, prisoners ran up. For arms of samooboronets the weapon of the frightened police officers and wardens who without resistance allowed to disarm themselves was used. So in centuries-old history of Kobrin the new page opened.

A. Martynov 

Materials about Kobrin district

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