The Rzhev slaughterhouse : the Red Army’s forgotten 15-month campaign against Army Group Center, 1942-1943

504 Pages·2013·26.86 MB·English

by  Gerasimova

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Published by Helion & Company 2013
Designed and typeset by Farr out Publications, Wokingham, Berkshire
Cover designed by Euan Carter, Leicester (www.euancarter.com)
Printed by Gutenberg Press Limited, Tarxien, Malta
Text © Svetlana Gerasimova 2013. English edition translated and edited by Stuart Britton,
© Helion & Company Limited 2013.
Maps © Helion & Company Limited 2013. Maps designed by Paul Hewitt, Battlefield
Design (www.battlefield-design.co.uk)
For © of photographs see credits within the book.
Originally published as 1941: Viazemskaia katastrofa (Moscow: Yauza, Eksmo, 2008).
ISBN: 978 1 908916 51 8
EPUB ISBN: 978 1 910294 17 8
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Contents
List of photographs
List of maps
List of map abbreviations
List of tables
Introduction
1 The Enemy Staging Area on the Approaches to the Capital
2 The First Attempt at Encirclement – the First Rzhev-Viaz’ma
Offensive 8 January–20 April 1942
3 The Wehrmacht Mops up the Rear of Army Group Center – Combat
Operations in May-July 1942
4 The Second Attempt … “By the end of the second day, seize the city
of Rzhev”1 – The First Rzhev – Sychevka (Gzhatsk) Offensive, 30
July–30 September 1942
Photo Gallery

5 Operation Mars – The Second Rzhev – Sychevka Offensive, 25
November–20 December 1942
6 The Dénouement – The Liquidation of the Rzhev Salient – The
Rzhev – Viaz’ma Offensive Operation, 2-31 March 1943
7 Results of the Battle – “This large and lengthy battle … ”
Appendices
Documents of the Stavka VGK [Supreme High Command] and the General
Staff regarding matters of the combat operations in the area of the Rzhev –
Viaz’ma salient (as published in the collected volumes of documents from the
series Russkii arkhiv: Velikaia Otechestvennaia)
I Stavka VGK Directive No. 151141 to the Commanders of the
Western and Kalinin Fronts about the Encirclement of the Enemy’s
Mozhaisk – Gzhatsk – Viaz’ma Grouping
II Stavka VGK Directive No. 170007 to the Commander of the Kalinin
Front about the Liberation of Rzhev
III Stavka VGK Directive No. 170035 to the Commander of the Kalinin
Front about a Change of the Front’s Roster and Specification of
Tasks
IV Stavka VGK Directive No. 170038 to the Commander of the 30th
Army about the Confirmation of the Decision of the Kalinin Front
Commander to Conduct a Regrouping
V Stavka VGK Directive to the Commander of the Kalinin Front about
the Liquidation of the Enemy Breakthrough West of Rzhev
VI Stavka VGK Directive to the Commanders of the Western and
Kalinin Fronts about Re-establishing the Post of Commander-in-
Chief of the Western Direction
VII Stavka VGK Directive No. 01542 to the Commander-in-Chief of the
Western Direction on the Destruction of the Enemy’s Rzhev –
Viaz’ma – Iukhnov and Bolkhov – Zhizdra – Briansk Groupings
VIII Stavka VGK Directive No. 170124 to the Commander-in-Chief of
the Western Direction about Confirming the Decision to Break
Through the Enemy’s Defense on the Motaevo, Kostrovo Sector
IX Stavka VGK Directive No. 170157 to the Commander of the Red
Army Air Force on the creation of a Strike Air Group of the Stavka
of the Supreme High Command
X Stavka VGK Directive No. 153589 to the Commander-in-Chief of
the Western Direction about Hastening the Destruction of the
Enemy’s Rzhev – Viaz’ma – Gzhatsk Grouping
XI Stavka VGK Directive No. 170183 to the Commander-in-Chief of
the Western Direction Regarding Changes in the Composition of the
Western Front
XII Stavka VGK Directive No. 170182 to the Commander of the Kalinin
Front Regarding Changes in the Front’s Composition
XIII Stavka VGK Directive No. 170363 to the Commanders of the
Western Front and the Red Army Air Force Regarding Measures for
Holding and Expanding the Staging Area, Occupied by Belov’s
Operational Group
XIV Stavka VGK Directive No. 170394 to the Commander of the
Western Front Regarding the Front’s Reinforcement
XV Stavka VGK Directive No. 170433 to the Commander of the Kalinin
Front on the Preparation of an Operation to Smash the Enemy’s
Olenino Grouping
XVI Stavka VGK Directive No. 170514 to the Commanders of the
Kalinin and Western Fronts about Conducting an Offensive
Operation in the Rzhev Area
XVII Stavka VGK Directive No. 170549 to the Commanders of the
Western and Kalinin Fronts and the Red Army Air Force on
Measures to Eliminate the Causes of the Impermissibly High
Breakdowns of Aircraft
XVIII Stavka VGK Directive No. 994146 to the Commander of the Kalinin
Front about Unifying the Commands of the 39th and 58th Armies
XIX To the Commander of the Western Front, to the Commander of the
Kalinin Front
XX To Kalinin Front’s Chief of Staff about Shortcomings in the
Organization of the 30th and 29th Armies’ Combat Operations
XXI Stavka VGK Directive No. 170558 to the Commander of the
Western Front Regarding the Plan of the Operation in the Rzhev
Area
XXII Stavka VGK Directive No. 170591 to the Commanders of the
Western and Kalinin Fronts about the Reassignment of the 29th and
30th Armies
XXIII Stavka VGK Directive No. 170606 to the Commander of the
Western Front Regarding the Working Out the Plan of the Gzhatsk
Operation
XXIV Stavka VGK Directive No. 170651 to the Commander of the Kalinin
Front about Reinforcing the Front
XXV To the Chief of Staff of the Western Front Regarding the
Inexpediency of Using Improvised Tank Groups for Exploiting a
Breakthrough
XXVI To the Commander of the Kalinin Front about Expanding the Area
of the Unloading of the Motorized Units
XXVII To the Chiefs of Staff of the Northwestern, Kalinin and Western
Fronts and of the Main Intelligence Directorate about Strengthening
Reconnaissance
XXVIII An Order of the Supreme Commander to the Stavka Representative
about Reinforcing the 20th Army
XXIX Stavka VGK Directive No. 170700 to the Commanders of the
Western and Kalinin Fronts on the Assignments Pertaining to the
Destruction of the Enemy’s Rzhev – Sychevka – Olenino – Belyi
Grouping
XXX To the Chief of Staff of the Kalinin Front about Shortcomings in the
Organization of the Defense
XXXI Stavka VGK Directive No. 30040 to the Commander of the Western
Front about the Transfer of the 61st Army to the Briansk Front and
the Assignment for Cooperation between the Fronts
XXXII Stavka Directive No. 30041 to the Commander of the Briansk Front
about the Sequence of the Destruction of the Enemy’s Orel – Briansk
Grouping
XXXIII Stavka VGK Directive No. 30043 to the Commander of the Central
Front for an Offensive with the Aim of Emerging in the Rear of the
Enemy’s Rzhev – Viaz’ma – Briansk Grouping
XXXIV Stavka VGK Order No. 0045 Regarding the Replacement of the
Commander and Chief of Staff of the Western Front
XXXV Stavka VGK Order No. 0046 Regarding the Replacement of Army
Commanders of the Western Front
XXXVI Stavka VGK Directive No. 30062 to the Commanders of the Kalinin
and Western Front on the Pursuit of the Retreating Enemy
Notes
Bibliography
List of photographs
Construction of a bunker in the sector of the 6th Infantry Division’s 18th
Infantry Regiment, north of Rzhev, summer of 1942.
Entrance to a German bunker in the sector of the 18th Infantry Regiment, north
of Rzhev, summer of 1942.
A pillbox on Novaia Street in the village of Selizharovo, Tver’ Oblast; a 1968
photograph, author’s collection.
A pillbox on the Kirov Embankment in the village of Selizharovo, Tver’ Oblast;
a 2004 photograph, author’s collection.
Views of two more pillboxes in the Olenino District of Tver’ Oblast, 1980s
photographs, author’s collection.
A Soviet infantry attack, beginning of 1942.
Red Army soldiers on the attack, beginning of 1942.
Fighting for a village, January 1942.
Soviet infantry manning positions, January 1942.
Commander of the 39th Army, Lieutenant General I. I. Maslennikov; a post-war
photograph.
Medics of Kalinin Front’s 31st Army evacuate wounded from the battlefield,
early 1942. Photo by B. Vdovenko.
Commander of the 29th Army, Major General V. I. Shvetsov; a late 1940s
photograph.
A Soviet cavalry unit on the march, winter 1941/1942.
Lieutenant General M.G. Efremov, commander of the 33rd Army.
Lieutenant General P.A. Belov, commander of the 1st Guards Cavalry Corps.
Wehrmacht soldiers, early 1942.
A German infantry column, early 1942.
German infantry on the march, early 1942.
German supply wagons, winter of 1941-1942.
Major General (from January 1942) Lieutenant General D.D. Leliushenko,
commander of the 30th Army; a late 1941 photograph.
Red Army troops who have emerged from encirclement in the Frolovo area,
February 1942. Photo by B. Vdovenko.
A Pe-2 taxis to a stop at a forest airstrip, Kalinin Front, early 1942. Photo by B.
Vdovenko.
The crew of a Pe-2 receives an assignment, Kalinin Front, early 1942. Photo by
B. Vdovenko.
Dead Red Army troops in front of the positions of the 129th Infantry Division,
February 1942.
After an attack against German positions in the Rzhev area, early 1942.
Kalinin Front, spring 1942.
The command of the 31st Army on the Zubtsov axis, spring 1942.
Kalinin Front commander I. S. Konev’s visit to the 31st Army on the Zubtsov
axis, spring 1942.
An official condolence letter, notifying a family of the death of a Red Army man
in the Rzhev region.
A Lenin kiosk. Kalinin Front, summer 1942.
Red Army troops waiting to be served at a field kitchen, summer 1942.
Red Army men taken prisoner during Operation Seydlitz, July 1942. A German
photograph.
Lieutenant General I.A. Bogdanov, deputy commander of the 39th Army, made
Major General in July 1942.
Colonel S.V. Sokolov, commander of the 11th Cavalry Corps.
Guards Senior Lieutenant I.I. Zhukov, who in July 1942 flew Lieutenant General
Maslennikov out of encirclement.
Major General A.D. Berezin accepts the Guards Banner for the 17th Guards
Rifle Division, near Belyi, Kalinin Oblast, 1942.
Major General P.P. Miroshnichenko, 39th Army chief of staff, killed when
coming out of encirclement.
Major General P.S. Ivanov, commander of the 18th Cavalry Division, killed
when coming out of encirclement in July 1942.
The grave of Major General A.D. Berezin, Belyi District, Kalinin Oblast.
Acceptance into the Party before a battle, summer 1942.
Moving up into position, Kalinin Front, summer of 1942. Photo by B.
Vdovenko.
Flamethrowers of the 1245th Rifle Regiment before the battle, summer of 1942.
Katiusha rocket launchers announce the opening of Western Front’s offensive, 4
August 1942.
German prisoners, Western Front, August 1942.
Rations being delivered to the front on horses due to the muddy quagmire caused
by the heavy rains. The Pogoreloe Gorodishche area, 10 August 1942.
Crossing a river line, Kalinin Front, summer of 1942.
A downed German Heinkel He 111 bomber, Kalinin Front, summer of 1942.
A disabled Lend-Lease American M3A1 Stuart light tank being towed through a
Russian village back to a field repair shop, August 1942.
German vehicles destroyed during the Pogoreloe Gorodishche operation,
Western Front, August 1942.
A mortar team in action near Rzhev, summer of 1942.
A German artillery crew in its firing position in the Rzhev area, summer of 1942.
Soviet infantry dash along a street in Karmanovo. Western Front, August 1942.
In the liberated village of Pogoreloe Gorodishche, August 1942.
Residents of a liberated village greet their liberators, autumn of 1942.
Fighting for a village, August 1942.
A Wehrmacht soldier, vicinity of Rzhev, August-September 1942.
Knocked-out Soviet tanks loom over a German trench, Rzhev area, August 1942.
Fighting in Rzhev, September 1942.
German soldiers occupied with a too-familiar task: killing lice. Rzhev area,
summer-autumn 1942; a captured German photograph.
Before the German positions, west of Rzhev, November 1942.
The battlefield after an attack by mounted Cossacks on German positions east of
Osuga, December 1942. A captured German photograph.
Dead Red Army men after an attack on positions of the 129th Infantry Division;
Rzhev area, December 1942. German photographs.
Interrogation of a German prisoner, Kalinin Front, end of 1942.
On the attack. Soldiers of the 158th Rifle Division, Kalinin Front, west of
Rzhev, November 1942.
Another view of soldiers of the 158th Rifle Division on the attack, Kalinin Front,
west of Rzhev, November 1942.
Major General M.D. Solomatin; in 1942 the commander of the 8th Tank Corps
(August-September) and the 1st Mechanized Corps (November-December).
Fighting of the 158th Rifle Division for the village of Kondrakovo; Kalinin
Front, west of Rzhev, December 1942.
Fighting for the village of Sverkuny west of Rzhev; Kalinin Front, December
1942.
German flamethrowers in action, Rzhev area, January 1943.
Wehrmacht units on the move to a new position, February 1943.
The central church in Belyi – a symbol of the city. March 1943.
A graveyard of tanks between the Soviet and German positions in the
northeastern portion of Rzhev. Early 1943.
German units pulling out of Rzhev, March 1943.