26.08.1941
Please describe briefly what is going on in the region of Luban station.
Reporting.
The 48th army, transferred at my disposal, despite some help from us, yesterday on 25th of August has retreated on sections Chudovo and Luban to the North. Leaving the Moscow highway. Small units of the 41th mountain rifle brigade were fighting on the South outskirts of Lyuban for the whole day yesterday and in the evening retreated to the West 5-6km. More precisely to the North-West along the highway.
Tonight we moved parts of the 70th division to the region of Ushaki, Tosno. Those are not full-fledged units. We reinforced them with sappers and tanks and since sunrise have organized a defense on a highway between Lobany and Tosno. There are yet no forces to resist the attacking enemy in the region of Lobany. Everything that is there in the 48th army needs lengthy restoration work, because divisions have only around a 1000 men. Only the 70th division was brought up to 9000 men in strength with the help of marching battalions.
Together with a threat to our city from the Chudovo direction, a threat to our Northern communications appeared. We cannot count on the 48th army; marching battalions are hardly enough there and require a lot of time. This shortly is what was happening in Luban, Chudovo.
What are we doing:
1 - as already said, we are organizing a defence between Lobany and Tosno.
2 - temporarily reinforcing the MGBats in Sluck-Kulpinsk sector of our Red Guards defence region.
3 - Began transporting the 168th division to Sluck,which has been brought by Ladoga to Shlisselburg, it has around 7000 men and quite good artillery.
4 - concentrating aviation actions on tanks and motorized infantry columns which are moving since sunrise from Chudovo to Lyubany.
5 - taking out of action our Luga group to the region of Dvinskaya, Sivenskaya. Unfortunately we cannot provide any help to the 48th army in creating a good defence along river Tigoda to support our Northern communications. Tense situation does not allow us to provide any real help for the 48th army. Over.
We have some requirements and proposals:
1. We consider it necessary to ask for the 292nd division which is Klikov’s army and has arrived by leading trains to the station Kirishi, which is near river Volkhov 40 km North-East of Chudovo. Transfer it to the Western bank of Volkhov river and assign it to the 48th Army to use for the defence on river Tigoda and to the South, covering the direction on Kirishi.
2. To transfer to the Western bank of Volkhov another one of the divisions, arriving at this direction to the Klykov’s army. With the purpose of covering the direction of Lyuban to the North. This will allow to create a front from Krasnogvardeisk to Vyritsa, Ushaki and mouth of river Tigoda. That will provide some time to regroup at least some divisions of the 48th Army behind the front created by the mentioned divisions.
3. If possible, help us with the automatic weapons, as reinforcements arrive armed with rifles only.
4. Increase the amout of march battalions for us, because what is scheduled for us does not cover even half of the combat losses: killed wounded or missing.
5. Also, if possible, we ask to provide us with the production of our armoured vehicle factories for at least several more days.
These are our major requirements, rather than an exhaustive description of all our needs. Over.
We have already transferred to you our armoured vehicle factory production output. You can take additional 3 or 4 day portions of production. Will that be enough?
Many thanks for four day production output. Allow to boast a bit: there are days when we knock out with only tanks and artillery around 40-50 German tanks. Unfortunately those days are rare. Over.
1. We will increase the amount of marching battalions, but I cannot say now for how much.
2. We will increase the amount of automatic weapons.
3. We cannot give Klykov’s divisions to you. Those are raw and not yet properly assembled and formed. It would be criminal to throw them at front - they would run away and leave the equipment to the enemy. I think we will be able to handle you two prepared divisions in two weeks. If your people could work by plans and two weeks ago would ask us 2-3 divisions in advance, then those would already be at your disposal. But the problem is that at your place they like to live and work like gipsies - from day to day without looking forward. That is why we are in situation when prepared divisions are already distributed and
4. I oblige you to bring order in the 48th Army, especially in that division, the commander of which has cowardly retreated from the Lyuban region to somewhere God knows where. I oblige you to put mines on the Moscow highway and a system of minefields created in the entire region North of Lyubany. I oblige you that from now on the main forces of aviation should be used to support ground troops not to act in enemy rear. I consider it necessary for you to concentrate maximum aviation, especially attack planes in the region of Lyubany to support our troops. The best instrument against the enemy tanks is IL-2. By the way have you received four regiments of aviation?
Answering. Not yet, Moscow holds them because of the weather. Everything is ready to receive them.
You will get them today, I suppose so or at worst tomorrow, because those are your regiments. I require that at any cost and any measures the region of Lyubany, Chudovo is cleared from the enemy. I’m making you personally responsible for this assignment. That’s all, good bye. Wish you success. Answer shortly, is helping or bothering?
All is clear. Goodbye comrade Stalin. He [Klim] helps. We are sincerely thankful. Comrade Stalin, a small request.
Yes of course, I’m listening.
If engineer is free now, we would be glad to have him with us.
Who is he? Do I know him?
General-lieutenant of the engineering forces, lecturer of the Joint Staff Academy.
I will try to fulfill your request. One question. Please tell me, when your armoured vehicle production receiving term will end if we count that you will have production for 7 days in total?
We ask that it will end on 29th inclusive, because sometimes interruptions happen in the factory.
Good. I have just received information that except 18 marching battalions which have already arrived, you will get 43 more battalions, starting from 15th of August. If this is not enough, we can add 10 more. All battalions are armed.
Answering - it would be very good to get those additional 10 battalions; Up until now, all were arriving armed, but without light and heavy machine guns.
We have shortages of machine guns. In two weeks or so it will become better. Keep in mind that in August we have sent around 2 million men reinforcements to the front. All from me.
Then allow one more request. As soon as available, it would be desirable to get at least a regiment of dive bombers.
I just received information that a regiment of attack aircraft has arrived to you, to the left [on the map] of Tikhvino, as your people requested. Other three regiments will arrive tomorrow, those are near Bolog now. I can send you a regiment of dive bombers in the coming days. I would like to know to whose disposal does the aviation come, personally.
All arriving aviation we leave under the command of the Front and will use it according to our plans. Novikov is in charge of the air forces.
I must say that marching battalions are not being armed with machine guns, that is why they don’t have them. But I’m aware that your divisions lack machine guns and we will try to address that issue in around 10 days. Well that’s all from me.
Cannot hold you for any longer. Your indications are clear. Grateful for your help. Good bye.
ЦАМО. Ф. 148а. Оп. 3763. Д. 78. Л. 36-41.
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