Military "Intelligence" ETO (id:#66958)

(Dispatches from the Bunker #58 ID: DB190)   [next]   [previous]

Heights south of Rossinie, Lithuania 1941-06-23 (12 others)

Overview:

On the second day of OPERATION BARBAROSSA, Kampfgruppe Seckendorff drove east to take a key rise south of Rossinie. This was to be done quickly so as to allow their recon units to scout out and possibly take Rossinie. Unbeknownst to German Military Intelligence, the Russians had moved up the 48th Infantry Division two weeks earlier, which was not considered a first line unit. Two companies of the 301st Rifle Regiment, with supporting artillery and anti-tank elements, took over the southern heights, and proceeded to dig in. Although the 48th had almost their full complement of guns and support weapons, they were in the process of upgrading weapons while operating at about 55% manpower. Most of the division’s new recruits, who had just arrived, were conscripted soldiers from Central Asia, and their training now consisted of building fortifications. To aid in raising morale and motivation, a NKVD platoon had recently arrived. To start the attack, a German artillery forward observer had hidden himself near the hill and called in 150mm artillery as the Russians were in the open.

Defender: Russian (NKVD)/Russian (301st Rifle Regiment, 10th Light Artillery Regiment, 127th A-T Battalion, 48th Rifle Division and 52nd NKVD Rifle Regiment, 2nd NKVD Railroad Security Division)  

Errata (source)