Fights on Grodno-Volkovysk direction.
Early morning of June 22, Soviet forces
in fortification district are strengthenings, 56th and 27th Rifle Divisions are
in battle readyness on their places. June 22, at three o'clock four
German corps of Panzer Group have crossed state border of USSR. For 3-rd Panzer
Group was by the large unexpectedness that all bridges through the Neman river
were seized intact. In the evening one of German Panzer Regiment
already approached to Varena. Commander of
39th Panzer Corps send their forces along a highway Suvalki-Kalvariy
with a task take possession of heights to the south of Kalvariy,
having the important tactical value. Already to the midday
German tanks have rushed in Alitus and have grasped bridges intact.
As a result of unexpected offensive of the
opponent there was a following situation:
From the general report of general
Kuznetsov followed, that 56th Rifle Division
has lost of 25 percents personal structures and by the end of the first day and
by morning of the second day defended on the bank of Neman river. 85th
Rifle Division of 3rd Army, has carried heavy
losses, but was quite efficient. Having unwrapped on a boundary to the west of
Grodno, under attack of German tanks, began a withdrawal on the south and
southeast.27th Rifle Division
of 3rd Army withdrawaled and has occupied a defense line Suhovogo-Genions,
having entered in connection with 2nd Rifle Division
of 10th Army. The situation on the right flank of Soviet 3nd Army was
catastrophic and isolated formations in Koze area (to the north of Grodno)
hardly constrain German attacks. Soviet rifle regiment which placed between Koze
and Druskeniki, was route by impact from rear by
large panzer forces.Under influence of German
impact, the staff of 3rd Soviet Army has left Grodno and passed in Luno.
Pavlov order: "29th Tank Division in interaction with 4th Rifle
Corps must destroy the opponent by impact in a direction Sapotskin
- Kalety, border not pass".
Here on June 22 developed
large counter battle. By first, at 11:00 29th Tank Division
under command of the colonel Studnev put impact
. In result of counterattackour forces have
advanced forward on 7-9 kms and have stopped enemy offensive on this direction,
came by 14:00 on a boundary Lobny, Ogorodniki.
In second half day Pavlov has ordered to 3rd
Army: Using attack of 11th Mechanized Corps in a direction Sapotskin, 85th
Division of this army occupy second line defenses to the west of Grodno on
Suhovolo. The shabby forces of 56th Division collect on the right bank of the
Neman river and defend Grodno and Lida direction.
June 23, Commander
of front the general of army Pavlov according to the order received from
Soviet High Command,
has accepted the decision to create the Cavalry-Mechanized Group of armies
and to put by them powerful counterattack
on coming German forces in a general direction on Belostok,
Grodno with the purpose to destroy the opponent on the left bank of Neman river
and to not admit exit of its formations in Bolkovysk area
" You should by all measures strongly keep
Grodno city. Since
morning 23.6.41, 6th Mechanized Corps with 36th Cavalry Division
puts resolute impact in a general direction on Meysk
for destruction of a grouping of the opponent coming on western bank of the
Neman river. 21st Rifle Corps by 37th and 17th Rifle Divisions put forward on a boundary
Orany, Novo-Kazakovitchy, Dubintsy,
Dzitva river. 8th Anti-Tank Brigade use for defenses of a boundary Dzitva river."
3rd Soviet Army on the second day has advanced forward on 13 - 17 kms on a
direction of Grodno.
39th German Panzer Corps on June 23,
by 7th Panzer Division has left on a road
Lida -Vilnius. 57th Panzer Corps by the advanced formations
has reached Voronovo.19th Panzer Division
was forwarded through Neman river only in morning of June 24 and advanced behind 18th
Motorized Division.
In second half of day of June 24, Soviet tank
forces of 6th Mechanized Corps
were transferedon the southeast
direction from Grodno, where in the evening have entered fight with formations of
German 3rd Panzer Group, trying to stop its progress on the
Minsk direction. Having entered in battle 8th and 20th Army Corps, June 25,
Germans managed to dismember forces of
6th Mechanized Corps,
which were compelled isolated fights. The general Boldin's staff has appeared in an
encirclement and has lost communication with 6th Mechanized Corps.
June 25, Germans in Vilno direction route
5th Mechanized Division and appeared
on the right flank of 21th Rifle Corps. 50th Rifle Division moved on Vileyka
24th Division moved on connection to
21th Rifle Corps. To the north of Lida
24th Rifle Division was attacked by
one Panzer Division of the
opponent and has stopped by front on the northwest.37th
Rifle Division, with the large losses
for the opponent beaten off tanks,
having risen in one line with 24th and 17th Rifle Divisions.
The Germans have directed on Molodechno,
bypassing formations of Soviet 21st Rifle Corps, not meeting any resistance. In passing having
touched 50th Soviet Rifle Division in
Vileyka area,
the opponent has occupied Molodechno and by that, cut a way of connection
50th Rifle Division with 21st Rifle
Corps.
The commander of 50th R.D. has accepted the completely correct and reasonable
decision to depart and occupy area Pleshanitsa for a strong defense of minsk-borisov
direction.
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Early morning of June 22, Soviet forces
in fortification district are strengthenings, 56th and 27th Rifle Divisions are
in battle readyness on their places. June 22, at three o'clock four
German corps of Panzer Group have crossed state border of USSR. For 3-rd Panzer
Group was by the large unexpectedness that all bridges through the Neman river
were seized intact. In the evening one of German Panzer Regiment
already approached to Varena. Commander of
39th Panzer Corps send their forces along a highway Suvalki-Kalvariy
with a task take possession of heights to the south of Kalvariy,
having the important tactical value. Already to the midday
German tanks have rushed in Alitus and have grasped bridges intact.