Russian Front Article - Canadian Army Infantry Journal

[Michael Dorosh]

Will format later - after supper! For now - enjoy....

ANTI TANK BATTLE -- JAZOW STARY

The following article was taken from "Les apercus du fantassin moderne" No 18 Ecole d"application du l'infanterie, and translated

by Captain R.J. Evraire (now Brigadier-General R.J. Evraire, CD). In spite of the passage of time since the battle of Jazow Stary the continuing tank threat especially in the North West Europe scenario should make us seriously consider the lessons learned and see what application they have in our present training.

The Editor

GENERAL SITUATION 1st MOUNTAIN DIVISION

During the first days of the Russian campaign, the lst Mountain Division of the "Wehrmacht" crossed the German-Russian

Border and attacked the 49th Mountain Corps, north of FREZEMYSL, directing its main thrust towards LEMBAERG

This Division, commanded by General Lanz, contained some of Germany's most experienced soldiers, all of whom were Physically and psychologically capable of accomplishing seemingly impossible tasks. Their weapons were adequate and in Sufficient supply.

The Tank-Hunting Battalion was equipped with Mechanized 37mm and 50mm Anti-Tank guns. Anti-Tank companies (one for both Regiments of the Division) were equipped with 37mm guns. The other companies within the Regiments were equipped with one Model 41 Anti-Tank gun per section, a number of steel-core burst-type

projectiles and hand grenades.

No effort had been made at that time to give any instruction to the troops on close-range tank combat. The troops had merely been shown a few prints of out-dated Russian tanks and had been

told that the enemy had concentrated its forces at LEMBERG.

In previous campaigns, German soldiers had very seldom dealt with tanks. During the French campaign, one small skirmish occurred

between French tanks and the 16th Company of the 98th Mountain Regiment, near JUVIGNY. However, no lesson was drawn from this encounter.

SITUATION-1st DIVISION - 24 JUNE 1941

According to a Corps order, dated 23 Jun 41, the lst Division was to continue on the offensive until having reached JAZOW STARY.

to do this, it had first to capture the high ground overlooking the LAWOROW-NIEMIROW road. Of special importance to the Division Commander was the Armoured threat which he expected would

materialize.

At 0600 hrs, the Division launched its attack with the 98th and 99th Regiments. By 1330 hrs, the forward elements of the 99th Regiment were near CZERNILAWA with those of the 98th, near

SEMEROWKA and NORAJEC. The enemy was losing ground reluctantly, and with the exception of the Northern flank, was defending it with amazing stubbornness. Progress on the Southern flank was much slower because of violent heavy artillery bombardments. The Division losses increased and the advance slowed down. The right flank was eventually stopped by the heavy artillery bombardment.

The 99th Regiment was very hard pressed to stop repeated armour-supported counter-attacks. Eventually, the 54th Battalion was moved to BOZAWDLA and was later able to halt an enemy attack on MAHACZOW.

On the left flank, the Division's reserve battalion was sent to DROWAMYSL to cover an area which had been neglected by a neighbouring division during the latter's push to the North-East.

In the evening of 24 Jun, the lst Division had reached its objectives, and was now covering a front 27 km wide, stretching from BOZAWOLA to NORAJEC. With a few exceptions, all of the units

within the Division were now committed.

TACTICAL STUDY OF THE GROUND

Generally speaking, the ground in the area was considered good tank going ground. A gently rolling countryside, covered with tall vegetation and spotted with small woods and creeks, offered rather short field of observation and fire. The ground itself was sandy, and in only a few areas were there swampy patches offering little

or no difficulty to tanks. The whole area lent itself to anti-tank tactics, a fact which was to prove particularly advantageous to the Germans.

THE ENEMY

The enemy picture was vague. A Recce Patrol from the 3rd Battalion of the 98th Regiment managed to make is way to within five miles of JAZOW STARY without seeing any enemy. Near JAWOROW, the patrol spotted a long column of troops, withdrawing to the East. Had the previous battle been staged as a rear-guard action to

allow the bulk of the troops to withdraw? Surely not, as many Soviet tanks had been spotted in many sectors along the front and no major armoured attack had been launched.

That evening, the battle was rejoined, and with renewed violence. At approximately 2100 hrs, the enemy launched its first armoured attack, using light and medium tanks and aiming its thrust

at JAZOW STARY and KOTY. The tank "alarm" was sounded all along the front, and everyone prepared for the impending armoured attack.

THE FOOT SOLDIER

Weighted down with weapons, ammunition and equipment, the foot-soldiers had been on the move since early morning. Snipers, machine-gun nests, mortar fire and infantry attacks, heavy

artillery barrages, all these things had characterized the battle that day. The German foot-soldier had seldom had to contend with

such tactics. He was extremely weary that evening when he received the order to halt, but he wasted no time in finding shelter by digging himself a well camouflaged pit.

SITUATION-1st DIVISION-25 JUNE

Assuming that the Soviets were in fact withdrawing, the Corps Commander issued the order to resume the attack on the 25th and to

regroup on a line stretching between CZERNILAWA and KOTY.

But, before the Germans could launch their offensive, the Soviets launched three major armoured attacks (with heavy and super

heavy tanks) at lion, 1400 and 1700 hrs. Along most of the Divisions' front, a fierce armoured battle raged.

The previous night had been a quiet one, but at first light, the Soviets sent down extremely accurate heavy artillery fire which

lasted most of the day. Coupled with this intense fire, repeated armoured attacks were launched, in both the 98th and 99th Regiments fronts. At dawn, the 99th Regiment had to repulse a 20-tank attack

launched from ZALUZE. At 1930, it had to repulse a 40-tank attack launched from CZERNILAWA and ROMANIKI. Both Soviet attacks were met by strong anti-tank fire, causing them to break off the engagements and head for JAZOW STARY, leaving many burning vehicles on the battlefield.

ARMOURED ATTACK AGAINST THE 98th REGIMENT

At 1140 hrs, an armoured attack, supported by artillery, was launched from KOTY against the lst and 2nd Battalions in the 98th Regiment sector. The attack was successfully defeated. Because of the possibility of more armoured attacks, the lst division was reinforced by the 52nd Anti-Tank Battalion. Shortly after its

arrival, the 3rd Company of the 52nd Battalion was attacked North- West of JAZOW STARY. The Company had been in position for a half-

hour when, at 1430 hrs, a heavy enemy attack was launched from a wooded area, East of the defences, in the direction of the

NIEMIROW-JAWOROW road and Hills 275 and 277 between JAZOW STARY and KOTY. The enemy attack was made up of two groups of 30 tanks each.

From the onset of the battle, the German artillery and anti-tank fire succeeded in forcing the enemy to scatter over a large area. However, using a new type of tank (T-34), the Soviets enjoyed a relative immunity from the German 37 and 50mm anti-tank projectiles. Nonetheless, concentrated German artillery fire created a fair amount of havoc, in some cases forcing tanks to move to areas where they eventually bogged down.

These tanks, separated from the main force, and seemingly disorganized, were easy prey for the Germans who attacked each one in close combat. The tank crews fought bravely, inside or outside their disabled tanks. In some cases, some hand to hand combat lasted for as much as a half hour before the tank could be destroyed.

This massive tank attack was eventually re-pulsed after a bitter fight which lasted more than an hour.

ARMOURED ATTACK AGAINST THE 3rd Bn OF THE 98th REGIMENT

Situated near JAZOW STARY, the 3rd Battalion of the 98th Regt received the

brunt of a 50-tank attack launched by the 32nd Soviet Armoured Division.

It was the first time that the German soldier had been subjected to a full-scale armoured attack. Anti-tank gun emplacements were almost all destroyed by accurate enemy fire. The 37mm guns proved useless against the thick armour

of the Soviet tank and the 50mm, from ideal range, was able to do no more than pierce

the sides of a few tanks.

Once the initial armoured assault had been launched, the Soviet tanks, deprived of their initial advantage gained through surprise , found

themselves subjected to German artillery fire, to more concentrated anti-tank fire, and to close combat tactics. Unable to see the approaching enemy infantry due to the high growth in the area, the Soviet tanks, had difficulty in defending themselves as they were without any infantry protection of their own.

Forgetting for the moment the seemingly insurmountable odds against which they were fighting, the German soldiers carefully made their way to the tanks, or let the tanks roll over their trenches, and, receiving covering fire from some of their own, clambered onto the rear decks of the tanks.

Firing pistols, rifles, and automatic weapons into open windows and cupolas, dropping grenades into the tanks' 75's and into open hatches, placing explosive charges against tracks, firing signal pistols into ventilation

systems, placing explosive charges against turret rings, distorting machine gun barrels, the soldiers did everything they could to render the tanks and their crews inoperative. Once this was done, the tanks were destroyed. In the dispatches

of the lst Mountain Division, it is said that "many soldiers distinguished themselves by jumping onto tanks which were in the process of firing and attacking tank and crew with hand grenades and pistols."

This is how armoured attacks were stopped along the battalions' entire front; the tanks that had not been destroyed had to fumble back, unable to continue the battle. The few tanks that succeeded in getting behind the 3rd Battalion's lines were destroyed in a similar manner. Twenty-eight Soviet tanks were destroyed in the 3rd Battalion front alone, and almost all of them by

close combat.

ANTI-TANK BATTLE-13th COMPANY Personal Experience

"It's a very hot afternoon. A few kilometres away, JAZOW STARY has been set

ablaze by an incendiary bombardment. Individual trenches of the 13th Company have been carefully dug in among the high vegetation of the fields. It is approximately 1415 hrs. Suddenly, silhouetted against the afternoon sky we

see purple flares...tank attack. To our front, we can hear the tanks approaching. From their trenches, steel-helmeted troops show their waxen faces as one of them cries: "This is the end. They'll trample us to death". One of them decides

to get out of his trench and run. The others stay, not knowing what to do. No one has seen the tanks yet.

"Stay where you are. Prepare your anti-tank charges. Prime your hand grenades", cries one of the platoon commanders. The tanks fire their main

guns, and kick up the dirt with their machine guns. Panic-stricken and holding onto what is left of his left arm, one of the German soldiers staggers out of his trench crying: "We're through. We haven't got a chance". Panic is in

everyone's mind. What can they do? Who can help? Suddenly, one of the Soviet tank guns looms

above the trenches, belching shot after shot. Other tanks appeared. The T34 is now through the front line. More tanks appear. "Tank on the right", someone cries,"Bring up the anti-tank guns". "Bring the ammunition forward". The

37mm anti-tank gunners, straining under the searing sun, manage to get some of the guns into position to fire point blank against the tanks. On the commanders' left flank, one of the anti-tank guns is crushed under the weight of a tank as it was trying to get into position. The 37 mm anti-tank gunners can do little else but watch their rounds bounce off the heavily armoured T34.

<Firing a signal from the tank>

Some of the wounded make their way to the rear. "Stay in your trenches. Let the tanks roll over the positions. Engage the infantry following the tanks", cries a platoon commander. All of a sudden, the battalion commander appears in the midst of the turmoil and cries: "Anyone who is caught withdrawing will be sent to the supply company and used as a mule-driver. Tie grenades together and prepare concentrated charges. Fire into the openings of the tanks. Then, destroy

the tanks. Come on, show your stuff".

Covered by some of his men, Private S... throws a grenade on the back deck of a tank. Unfortunately, it falls to the ground before exploding. LCol L... clambers onto the front of one of the tanks, slides onto the barrel,

clambers onto the turret and tries to pry open the turret to drop a grenade inside. At that precise movement the weapons fires and the concussion throws him to the ground.

Crawling unobserved, a few men manage to crawl onto a tank to fire a signal pistol into one of the posts. Unfortunately, the tank is sealed up tight.

Following a dramatic duel lasting two to three minutes, during which two members of a tank crew manage to get out of their tank through the hole in the bottom and fire at attacking Germans through the tank tracks, Sergeant B ...

reaches this tank, and, unmolested, drops two grenades into the muzzle of the gun. A few seconds later, a terrific explosion rocks the area, as the tank is virtually blown apart".

This is how 6 Soviet tanks were destroyed by the men of the 13th Company, at a cost of no more than 5 wounded.

Armoured attacks continued throughout the day. By night-fall, 12 attacks, each of 10 to 25 tanks, had been launched and defeated. Following a final attack around 1800 hrs, quiet settled all along the front.

That night, the lst Division was holding onto its positions. Coupled with accurate artillery fire onto strategic areas, the masterful way in which the 52nd Battalion destroyed a great number of Soviet tanks, did a lot to bring about the success against this major

armoured thrust.

SITUATION 1st DIVISION - 26 JUNE

The troops remained on full alert on the night 25/26 June. Tank movement could be heard coming from JAZOW STARY,and because of the fact that an enemy message had been intercepted stating that a new attack would be launched, everyone expected to rejoin battle at any movement. However, by the next morning,

only a weak push materialized in the 99th Regiment sector, headed in the direction

of Romaniki. Some of the Soviet tanks that managed to regain their areas were destroyed by the 150's of the 4th Battalion of the 79th Mountain Artillery Regiment. It appeared that the enemy had withdrawn to the east, obviously

stunned by its many losses the previous night.

Having met less opposition on the right flank during the morning, the lst Division's 99th Regiment gained a foothold near ZALUZE, meeting at that time the 98th Regiment that had occupied JAZOW STARY. Both these groups sent out strong

recce elements to the west of the forest, east of their area. On a number of occasions, these recce elements ran into enemy tanks.

During the day, the clearing of the battlefield gave rise to a number of small skirmishes against Soviet soldiers who had succeeded in finding shelter or camouflaging themselves from the Germans. This in fact is the reason the 3rd Bn of the 79th Regt was suddenly attacked by three tanks and accompanying

infantry.

On the morning of the 27th, members of the 13th Coy of the 98th Regiment were suddenly engaged by a battle-worthy tank in front of JAZOW STARY. The tank had been camouflaged in the heavy growth. The Germans succeeded in setting the tank ablaze, but the crew fought to the bitter end.

<Sheltering from tanks>

ENEMY TANKS

Every one of the Soviets' armoured attacks was supported by heavy artillery

bombardments, aimed primarily at the German rear areas. Were they trying to destroy the German artillery and anti-tank resources and reserves? Did they not see the heavily entrenched infantry positions in the fields? This question has never been answered.

It is amazing to note the enemy's armoured attacks were never supported by their own infantry. This, naturally, made close combat a relatively easy task for the Germans. Also, the German line of defence and the positioning of some of its strong points was never clearly defended by the Soviets. This made it difficult

for the Soviet tanks to bring accurate Eire to bear onto the German positions.

It was also noted that the Soviet tanks never penetrated the areas from which our defensive fire became effective. It appeared that they were trying to force us to show our hand and this way determine our actual strength and

disposition.

As for the tank crews, these were composed mainly of Officer Cadets and members of the "Young Communist" groups.

They had little or no combat experience and tried to make up for it by attempting rather uncanny and suicide type tactics. This is probably the reason for which very few Soviet groups were taken prisoners. Practically all of

them fought to the last ounce of energy, resorting to fist-fighting once their vehicles were out of action. This attitude cost many German lives.

<Fighting until its over>

BATTLE STATISTICS

Over a three day period, stretching from 24 June to - 26 June, the 1st Mountain Division destroyed and practically annihilated the bulk of the Soviet armoured Corps, which had been first sighted near LEMBERG. These Corps consisted

of elements of the 8th, 32nd and 34th Armoured Divisions and of the 81st Motorized Division.

Soviet losses amounted to 81 tanks, three recce cars, one complete Heavy Motorized Battery of three 210mm guns, one anti-aircraft battery and a number of vehicles and cars. Many tanks, bogged down along the roads of the forest

east of JAZOW STARY, were captured the next day (some of the captured tanks were of the heavy type, some mounting more than one gun turret).

German losses for the period 22-26 June were 16 Officers killed, 18 wounded, 136 NCOs and men killed and 364 wounded. Most of these casualties were sustained during the first two days of fighting along the border.

It might prove interesting to list the amounts of ammunition expended during this period, most of which was used against tanks:

- 38,000 steel core projectiles

- 5,400 hand grenades

- 370 anti-tank rounds (anti-tank rifle)

- 6,800 rounds of 37mm.

- 336 rounds of 50mm

LESSONS LEARNED

Twenty years have passed since the battle of JAZOW STARY. Tanks, as well as those weapons used for close tank combat, have been greatly improved. New thinking has evolved with respect to tank and anti-tank tactics. The author

thinks that this example taken from the pages of military history, holds a number of salient points which still hold true today:

1. Tanks will play an increasingly important role on the battle-field. They are capable of intervening at any time night or day, in almost any type of terrain. Practical and theoretical instruction on anti-tank tactics is therefore

more important than ever. All soldiers mist be conversant with these tactics.

2. The effect on morale approaching tanks seem to have, will continue to affect the soldier. This "fright of tanks" must be mastered. Internal

cohesion, aggressiveness of the troops, are of the essence, as of course is the example set

by officers and NCO's alike.

3. In future battles, it is very likely that rear elements will have to cope with tanks, with little or no anti-tank weaponry. In such a case one rule applies: maintain morale and use ground and cover to advantage.

4. Heavy and long range anti-tank guns aren't always available. Other types of anti-tank defences might be too bulky and/or cumbersome to provide them in quantity. Troops must therefore realize that rifle fire, although it does

not pierce armour, can certainly force crews to stay buttoned up and, once their visibility and ability to manoeuvre is limited, the troops can then attack these tanks with any improvised weapons they can find or make.

5. Modern tanks aren't invincible. They all have their weak points. It must therefore, be understood by the foot-soldier that he should never waste an opportunity to take advantage of these inherent weaknesses. He must get to know

the principle types of enemy AFVs and be able to recognize the strong points and particularly the weaknesses of each.

6. It is impossible to engage tanks in close combat whenever they are accompanied by infantry. It is therefore necessary to initially separate,

with defensive fire, the infantry from the tanks. The infantry mist either be destroyed or pinned down.

7. Tank crews have their own personal weapons enabling them to defend themselves while inside or outside the tank. It is therefore imperative that the soldier must never attack a tank alone. He must do so in a group, thereby gaining

protection.

8. It is difficult to fight against a tank that is moving quickly. It is therefore necessary to slow down or stop the tank before attacking.

9. As a general rule, tanks that cannot move can usually still fight, and later be recovered by their own troops. This is why it is essential that all tanks be completely destroyed, once they have been damaged.

[ November 28, 2002, 12:57 AM: Message edited by: Michael Dorosh ]

[Hans]

Excellent, thanks for the article....looks like a scenario opportunity!

[Michael Dorosh]

I only wish some maps had been included, or some Russian units identified - would indeed be good fodder for a scenario. Perhaps someone's creative juices will start flowing here.

[K_Tiger]

Great read, really....

Maybe with the information, that the 8th, 32th, 34th armoured and 81th mechanized division where involved could help to made a nice 41` scenario.

After this read, i dont know for what i would have more fear, a tank assault or to sit in a tank surounded by a horde of crazy mountain troops swinging signal pistols and possibly....tooth-picks..

Thanks again for this Artikel.

[Thin Red Line]

From their trenches, steel-helmeted troops show their waxen faces as one of them cries: "This is the end. They'll trample us to death". One of them decides to get out of his trench and run. The others stay, not knowing what to do. No one has seen the tanks yet.

"Stay where you are. Prepare your anti-tank charges. Prime your hand grenades", cries one of the platoon commanders. The tanks fire their main

guns, and kick up the dirt with their machine guns. Panic-stricken and holding onto what is left of his left arm, one of the German soldiers staggers out of his trench crying : "We're through. We haven't got a chance". Panic is in everyone's mind.

Really interesting.

[ November 28, 2002, 03:34 AM: Message edited by: Thin Red Line ]

[JaegerMeister]

Excellent read, thanks, and yes it would make a great scenario/operation !

We should have more articles like this on the forum to stir everyones juices, shame i'm stuck at work cos i now want to play CMBB after reading that !

[aka_tom_w]

bump

[SaTyR]

Great read, as usual with your posts, thanks.

I've tried using the tactics described in the text when tackling early war heavy soviet tanks. Isolation by artillery and then close assault with infantry works great. I have a saved file where my 122mm (finn) howitzer barrage hits a soviet T-34 platoon straight on, with a couple of TOP PENETRATIONS and a great brewups after that. Saved a lot of infantry that way. Then molotovs for the survivors when the soviet infantry panicked away. It's a small chance that the raining shells hit a tank on the deck or on the top, but it can happen. Need to use heavy artillery though.

[abram]

I had never thought of the effect of dropping a hand grenade in the barrel of the main gun. Ouch.

[PiggDogg]

Mike D,

Thanks for making this informative article available to us. Many lessons learned.

Cheers, Richard

[KG_SSpoom]

Great article Bro

Thanks

[Andreas]

Very interesting indeed.

[coe]

even with trenches I haven't been able to replicate anything close to that in terms of a kill ratio.....