Articles about Kobrin: Great Patriotic War

Kobrin group    

Kobrin group Mieczyslaw Kitaychuk, chapters of the book "Rough Events of Polesia". The Polish government, expecting a direct threat of war, held defensive events for mobilization of Army Polish. Marshall Rydz-Smigly declared on August 23 and 27 mobilization, and on August 31 - general mobilization. But the order of the commander-in-chief of Armed Forces was given too late as on September 1 at 4:45 Germany broke border of Poland and started offensive actions on the land, at the sea and in air.

Preparation for war

In Kobrin where the staff of the 30th infantry division and the 83rd infantry regiment settled down, started creation of point of a stock of this division. On September 8 the general Kliberg received the order from the commander-in-chief to create an infantry division from the divisions which were in spare points. The commander of the 9th case made the decision on creation of the Kobrin division under command of a tolkovnik of Epler consisting of command, a staff and independent divisional divisions (a prospecting company, a platoon of cyclists which part the horse platoon equal on number almost to a squadron, companies of communication, a staff company, a company of heavy machine guns, companies of sappers with the motorized platoon and a column of sappers, a squadron of a divisional cavalry, the battery of anti-tank artillery, three horse wagon trains (amunitsionny, transport and sanitary), an automobile column, goal hospital, three infantry regiments on two battalions everyone was: 82 infantry regiments (commander lieutenant colonel Frantsishek Targovski), 83rd infantry regiment (lieutenant colonel Vladislav Severin), 84th infantry regiment (commander major Józef Zheleski). In Zalesye, near Kobrin, the 5th division of a light artillery to which the battery of 75-millimetric guns (4 guns) and six 100-millimetric howitzers submitted was created.

Kobrin became the important defensive center to Polesia. Smaller tactical groups were: group "Drogichin Polessky", "Yaselda" and Brest group. The Kobrin division reached organizational readiness by September 14. The main fighting force of a division was made by seven battalions of infantry and a division of artillery (10 guns).

Danger is close

In the night of September 13 the general Kliberg transfers a staff of defense of Polesia to Pinsk in connection with approach to Brest and Kobrin of the 19th German tank case of the general Haynes Guderian, the situation to Polesia became unsafe. The Kobrin division received a task to organize defense in the West - Vidomlya (the river Rita), in the east - including Pruzhana and Gorodets, and also around Kobrin on the channel of the Queen Bona, the river Mukhavets and the Royal channel.

82 infantry regiment two battalions was defended by Mukhavets and the Royal channel, having at the same time on the right (east) wing in the Stone Shlyakhetsky a battalion 79 of an infantry regiment. The 83rd infantry regiment by forces of the 1st battalion defended the part of a grotto located on the southern coast of Mukhavts and also a site along the channel of the Queen Bona points of defense in the estates Province of I and II. To the north from the village of Slavka, behind the left flank of defense, the 2nd battalion 83 of an infantry regiment occupied a portion as a division reserve. The 84th infantry regiment without its battalion surrounded the highway intersection in the Rudsky wood while the 2nd battalion of a regiment settled down behind the 82nd infantry regiment.

The staff of a division organized the command post in Zalesye where all management of a division was placed. Due to the shortage of forces and imagination for deduction of long and reliable defense the colonel Epler made the decision to protect forces of separate groups for counterattacks. The German aircraft carried out intensive investigation of placement of forces, bombed the highway, the railroad and Kobrin's regions.

On September 12 divisional investigation reported that the German troops appeared from Kobrin in the north. In this situation the colonel Epler to commanders of regiments and independent divisions of a division gave a fighting task which performance they had to start immediately.

Fighting task

On September 14 the 19th tank case of the general Haynes Guderian moved to approach. the 3rd tank division acted from Kaments Litovsky, Big Kozich and Pugacheva, bypassing Brest from the East through Zhabinka. Having forced the river Mukhavets, it had to move through Stradechi on Vlodava. The 10th tank division from High Litovsky and Kustynya approached Brest with severa.20 the motorized infantry division from Radzivillovki and Volchin's area east coast of Bug went to Brest. 2 motorized infantry division as the second direction of the case from Botska's region moved through Zhabinka and Kobrin on Kovel.

Near Zhabinkaya the fights of the Polish intelligence with prospecting patrols of the 3rd tank division continuing the whole day were started on the same day. The German patrols reached railway station in northern part of Kobrin. Next day the 3rd tank division from Zhabinka's region went to the West in the direction of Brest, and her positions were taken by 2 motorized infantry division.

As there was a need to reconnoiter current situation near the bridge through Mukhavets near Zhabinkaya and to put forward defensive positions to the west from Kobrin, the colonel Epler directed to approaches to the bridge the 2nd battalion 84 of an infantry regiment with a task to make a sortie on the German crossing through Mukhavets near Zhabinkaya, and the 2nd battalion 83 of an infantry regiment - on the river to Trostyank for the organization of defense of a division, using the marshland near the river.

In Kobrin the part of administrative bodies was evacuated on the East in the vicinity of Pinsk. Few residents and the vicinities voluntarily entered Kobrin group. Also the burgomaster of the city, the former officer of legions of Pilsudsky Zygmunt Selkowski who during fight for Kobrin during the whole time was on a post in magistrate, keeping in contact with warring parts, after leaving of the city by Kobrin group by the volunteer entered a division and it was defined in horse investigation without appointment to the post.

On September 15 in the Rudsky wood, at the intersection of the highway Brest - Kovel and Kobrin - Vlodava, the columns of the 20th regiment of a light artillery moving without weapon attacked groups of the 3rd German tank division. Several officers and several tens soldiers died. In this regard an event the general Kliberg ordered to the Kobrin division to block the intersection of roads and to arrange forest blockages on roads of the intersection.

The 2nd battalion of the 84th infantry regiment directed under Zhabinka to a descent attacked on September 16 a battalion of the 3rd tank division of Germans. After short fight it pressed the opponent to the river. Having carried out investigation the battalion receded and organized protection of the southern wing of a division around Gaykovki's woods at Kobrin Road - Vlodava.

The 2nd battalion 83 of an infantry regiment which left on September 15 Kobrin and took the defense position pushed forward over Trostyanka placed a company on a dry site of the territory between bogs in a fork of the rivers of Trostyanki and Mukhavts.

Impact of the enemy

On September 17 the 2nd German motorized infantry division passed Mukhavets near Zhabinkaya and along the highway moved in the direction of Kobrin. the 2nd battalion 83 of an infantry regiment battled the whole day against the enemy, leaning on villages of the Brace bit, Sukhovchitsa and Sand. Late evening the German prospecting group under Rykovichami forced by wading Trostyanka, put in defense of a battalion and began to develop approach along the highway in the direction of Kobrin. The captain Stsislovski before the village of the Brace bit developed part of forces of a battalion, showing to the enemy persistent and effective resistance. By means of howitzers three or four armored cars were destroyed. Under the village of Yagolka the prospecting patrol took unawares the enemy and strong fire broke its approach. After these failures the German prospecting group receded under Zhabinka.

The commander of the 5th division of a light artillery captain Ludwig Los still before the Kobrin division started fights, placed the battery of 100-millimetric howitzers around Kobrin, and distributed five gun crews (1 howitzer and 4 guns) on battalions around Kobrin.

As in the north from Kobrin investigation did not confirm presence of forces of the enemy, the commander of Kobrin group, counting that the main approach of Germans will be from the West, strengthened south country defenses. The battalion 79 of an infantry regiment moved forward at dawn on September 18 through Lipovo to the wood near the village of Slavka.

On September 18 the Kobrin group prepared for fight. On the right flank the 82nd infantry regiment placed posts on the yuzhmy coast of Mukhavts from Gorodts to Kobrin, in the center of defense the western boundary occupied the 83rd infantry regiment. the 2nd battalion 84 of an infantry regiment, a battalion 79 of an infantry regiment with the battery of howitzers and six gun crews as anti-tank artillery were protected by Kobrin on the southern coast of Mukhavts, on approaches to the channel of the Queen Bona, the estates Province of I and Province of II. The 84th infantry regiment strengthened by a company of sappers had to protect the intersection of highways from Malorita in the north. The staff of command of a division was placed in the village of Zalesye where divisions of a division were also concentrated. Kobrin was the main area of defense.

Decisive fight

In the morning on September 18 before the line of defense 83 infantry regiments there was a prospecting group of a motorized infantry division of Germans which under fire of the 2nd battalion was developed in a shooting chain. Strengths of the enemy increased first of all near Brestskoye Highway and in front of the channel of the Queen Bona. The German artillery began firing. There was also an enemy aircraft. The artillery of an infantry division "Kobrin concentrated fire on group of the German infantry. About 12 o'clock in the afternoon approach of Germans began; however the coordinated actions of the Polish infantrymen, machine-gun fire and fire of artillery broke an impact. The artillery of the opponent strengthened firing that led to the fires in the city, the aircraft undertook bombing. The German infantry regiment with assistance of artillery and aircraft moved to approach and seized after cruel fight by both estates Province, but soon one of estates was fought off the enemy. Infantry regiments around Gaykovki were not attacked.

About 16 hours the German infantry regiment resumed approach to Kobrin and the channel of the Queen Bona. Reserve forces of the Polish army were engaged to action. The machine-gun company and a cannon anti-tank platoon managed to block Kobrin Highway - Pinsk, having deepened thereby defense. The undertaken counterattack forced out the enemy from the taken positions and restored the previous disposition.

Around 17.30 the Polish counterattack began forces of two reserve battalions which were placed on the southern wing of defense. Between the channel of the Queen Bona and Kobrin Highway - Vlodava from the southern direction struck the 2nd battalion 83 of an infantry regiment. Approach was continued by the 2nd battalion 84 of an infantry regiment which came along the mentioned highway on West side. Approach made full success. The Germans attacked from the flank and from the back began to recede. At night the enemy artillery fired at the city that led to the fires in the city and vicinities. The Kobrin division throughout the day held on September 18 the defensive positions, without giving the city in a charge of the enemy.

Resistance of citizens

The voluntary company created from pupils of a Kobrin gymnasium who had preconscription military training as members of a Kobrin team of "Arrows", and also the soldier of the Academic legion who arrived to Kobrin took part in fight near Kobrin also. The schoolgirl of a gymnasium Elena Voytchuk was a nurse in this company. Together with others Roman Blotsky, Zbigniew Danilovich, Hedgehogs Harmushko, Jan Yurkovski, Albert Kulakovski, Veslav Leshchinsky, Roman Sadovsky and others served in a company. In fight for Kobrin this company was recognized as command as the caused a stir division.

Inhabitants of the western part of a povet felt proximity of the front and its consequence in much bigger degree, than inhabitants of east part. Already on September 14 near Zhabinkaya there were persistent round-the-clock fights. Inhabitants endured a threat of war on September 18, during fights for the city. The German artillery fired Kobrin, forcing its inhabitants to take refuge in cellars or the constructed temporary shelters. The artillery cannonade proceeded the whole day till late evening. In the city several fires, fortunately, of not really strong broke out.

Among inhabitants the patriotic upsurge and hostile moods in relation to the enemy was observed. There are several examples. The protecting site of the highway from Kobrin to Brest the roadman Tomchik lived in a witness mark near the channel of the Queen Bona. Its housing was at forward edge of defense. During fight Tomchik's family hid in the cellar, and he shot at the attacking Germans from the gun. After fast capture of a first line of defense, including the roadman's witness marks, Germans shot Tomchik in the face of all family.

After occupation of the estate Province I Similar Fate comprehended Tadeush Zelinsky who after occupation by Germans of the estate showed resistance to the enemy. It was shot near the housing in the face of the wife.

End of defense

Fights continued till late evening on September 18. At night the Polish groups moved in the southern direction. 127 Polish soldiers, including 7 officers and podkhorunzhy were killed in battles for Kobrin. The place of burial of the dead is unknown. In September, 1991 the chief specialist of Council of memory in Poland Anna Adamska together with the director of "Energopol" Janusz Grushchynsky and Theresa Hadas searched for burials of the Polish soldiers who were killed in battle near Kobrin. No traces were found.

On September 19 in the morning Kobrin included Germans. Urgently they organized OST commandant's office and started first of all burials of the dead German sodat. On September 20 or 21 they started burials of the Polish soldiers which were carried out in two or three places. The place of burial of the Polish soldiers on a cemetery down the street is known on May 3. Germans did not establish either plates, or crosses on graves of the dead as on September 22 Kobrin included Red Army, and Germans left the city. Concerning burial of the dead in 1939 I addressed local authorities in Kobrin and received the answer of the director of the museum that it is not possible to establish the place of burial as no documents remained, and also it is impossible to find witnesses who would specify the place of burial of the dead.

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

Fight near Kobrin. Kobrin's release.


Comments


Names of articles





Search in the website





Our partners