Transcript of talks of the Supreme Commander and the Commander of the Joint Staff to the Commander of the 54th Army.

16.09.1941 ended at 23:30

Volkhovstroy.: Marshal Kulik at the device.

Moscow.: Stalin and Shaposhnikov at the device. Hello. We got acquainted with your last order, where you plan to strike against the Schlisselburg enemy group first and then reach the Mga station.
We think that you must leave cover from the Schlisselburg direction and use your forces to strike at the direction to the station Mga, while covering your left flank from the direction of Shapka, Sologubovka and after that not to delay the preparations for the offence but lead it decisively in order to connect with Zhukov’s forces.
In conversation with you on 15.09 Zhukov has described his situation to you and that is why your operation cannot be delayed. Over.

Kulik.: Hello. My main strike with three divisions and a mountain rifle brigade is in the direction of the station Mga while covering from the right from the direction of Schlisselburg and from the left from the direction of Turyshkino.
The detailed order [with indication] of the limiting lines [between] the divisions will be given to you now. I repeat that the enemy has concentrated 21st infantry division and 12th tank division in the region of Slavyanka, Voronovo. These two divisions are concentrated, holding the road Slavyanka - Voronovo.
I set my main objective: to defeat these two divisions and only after that to capture the station Mga. Tomorrow at 10:00AM I will start my offensive. Today I just finished all the organization of the offensive. The units have taken their initial positions, the cooperation has been worked out in detail. Over.

Shaposhnikov.: Good. In the following days after staffing two additional combat divisions will be sent to you. Over.

K.: I have one more question for you.
This morning I found out from comrade Cvetaev that the enemy has crossed the river Svir in the region of Podporozhye and captured the railway bridge across the river Svir. I have immediately sent my aviation there, considering the seriousness of the situation.
The recon has discovered a big concentration of forces in the region of station Sviry and to the South in the forests. Also the enemy has built a bridge across Vyazhenka near its mouth. In the second half of the day the bombers and attack planes were operating against the concentration of the enemy forces and destroyed the ferry across the river Vazhenka near its mouth. Huge losses were inflicted upon enemy man force and vehicles.
Also, comrade Cvetaev has reported to me that the railway bridge was cleared {from the explosives} according to the order of the brigade kommissar Rumyantsev from Petrozavodsk. Our sappers have cleared it and the enemy has captured it.
I ordered my aviation to destroy it, but the special aviation link sent there between 16:00 and 17:00 didn’t reach it because of the fog.
I will not be able to allocate anything to this region tomorrow because my aviation will be occupied by another operation. While reporting, I consider it necessary to take serious measures and under no conditions not let the enemy to cross the river Sviry. Cvetaev has very limited forces. Over.

Shaposhnikov.: Good, we will tackle this. As for you, without delay you must attack and defeat the enemy tomorrow 17.09 in the direction of station Mga, capture that station and chase the enemy.
You have three artillery regiments of corps level and you can solve this task. Over.

K.: Everything is prepared and we will act. Will report with the results. Wish you well.

Stalin.: Hello again.
We are very happy that you have success. But take into account that if tomorrow you will strike hard towards Mga to break through or get around the Mga defences, then you will get two good personnel divisions and maybe even a tank brigade. But if you delay the strike tomorrow, then I swear that you will not get those new divisions nor the tank brigade.

K.: I’m hearing you comrade Stalin. Everything is aimed there, everyone is waiting for the morning and delay is out of the question. We will do our best to fulfill your instructions and to get your promised forces. I will speak now to comrade Zhukov about the coordination of our efforts.

Stalin.: Do not forget to put RS to action.

K.: Yes they do participate, but we have only three barrages left. I ask to deliver us at least ten barrages, because the enemy doesn’t like them.

Stalin.: ten barrages are sent to you. You will get them tomorrow or at least the day after tomorrow.

K.: Good.

Stalin.: I shake your hand, wish you well.

K.: Over. Good bye.

ЦАМО. Ф. 96а. Оп. 2011. Д. 5. Л. 104-107.

Transcript of talk of the Supreme commander to the Commander of the South West Front.

08.08.1941

Brovary.: General Colonel Kirponos at the device.

Moscow.: Stalin at the device.

Stalin.: We received information that the Front {army unit} with a light heart has decided to give Kiev to the enemy, justifying this with the lack of men that are capable of defending it. Is it true?

Kirponos.:Hello comrade Stalin. They reported you wrong. I and the Front Council are doing everything that is possible to not to lose Kiev. The enemy has started the offence with up to three divisions against the Southern part of the fortified region. With support of aviation he has broken through the fortified region and wedged in for up to 4km. Yesterday, as reported by general Vlasov, the enemy lost up to 1200 men killed and wounded. Fighting was fierce and several villages have been passing from one side to another for several times. To reinforce the fortified region yesterday and today two aeromobile brigades were given. Additionally 30 tanks were tasked with an objective to eliminate the enemy in the breakthrough region and restore the previous positions. Aviation has been tasked to support the land forces.

S.: Can you confidently say that you have adopted all the needed measures to unconditionally restore the previous positions of the Southern part of the fortified region?

K.: I assume that the forces that are at my disposal should ensure achieving the goal assigned to the defence region. However I must report that I have no more reserve left in the given direction.

S.: Take forces from other directions to reinforce the Kiev direction. I think that after Muzichenko has left the circle, your offence in the direction known to you loses its initial importance. However it will be more difficult for Ponedelin, but here we will have to come up with some different combinations. That is, you will also have some forces freed up in this direction. Perhaps it would be possible to reinforce the defences West or North from Kiev with the freed up forces, but from these regions take some forces for the Kiev Fortified region. The Defence Committee and the Stavka beg you to do everything possible and impossible to protect Kiev. It will be easier in about two weeks as we will be able to support you with fresh forces, but during two weeks you must hold Kiev whatever it takes. I ask you to acquaint Budenny with this tape {telegraph tape}. My request and my demand to not to give Kiev away are addressed not only to you but also to Budenny. Over.

K.: Comrade Stalin, both my and the Front Council’s aspirations are directed to not letting Kiev fall to the enemy. All that we have at our disposal will be used for the defence of Kiev in order to fulfill the task that you have set for us - to hold Kiev. Your instruction to acquaint Budenny with this tape will be fulfilled now.

S.: Very good. I shake your hand tightly. Wish you luck. Over.

K.: Over. Good bye, thank you for wishing luck.

ЦАМО. Ф. 96а. Оп. 2011. Д. 5. Л. 28-30.

Transcript of talks of the Supreme Commander to the Commander of the Western Front.

02.07.1941

NARKOM of defenceThis is a mistake, Stalin has become NARKOM of Defence on 19.07.1941 at the device with the presence of Stavka at the device.:
We are interested if you have placed mines on the highway Orsha-Minsk? Have you found out where the 53rd division is? Are your units arriving in the defence region? Which of them remain? What work is going on in the region? And finally, do you know which Pavlov’s units have retreated towards the region that is occupied by your units and in what condition are those units? You must report these matters constantly.

Timoshenko.: Materials for the minefields are being delivered to us. Part of the explosives deliveries arrived in the defence regions yesterday. The highway is not being mined because it is used for the forces and rears of the Western front.
Secondly, the 53rd division is occupying the region on Dnieper: Shklov (inclusive) - Mogilev (Exclusive). The 172nd has begun concentrating at the Mogilev area with six echelons unloaded yesterday. The forward units of the 18th division have reached the region of Orsha (exclusive) - Shklov. The first motorized division has its forward units in the region of Tolochin. The first echelon of the 78th division has just unloaded at Smolensk together with the command and control units of the 69th corps. I decided to move the unloading place of the divisions to the region of Orsha, Krasnoe, Gusino.
Tonight, three armoured trains entered Smolensk and came under command of Remezov. Special battalion of Leningrad has arrived in the Vinogradov’s region of concentration.
We experience a serious lack of diesel fuel. Also we need additional armor piercing shells for the group’s artillery: 12 thousands of the 145mm, 7 thousands of the 76mm.
I personally visited Remezov yesterday. It appears that Remezov hasn’t had a comprehensive plan of the organization of a frontal edge {of defences of his forces}. I ordered him to immediately do a recognition of the entire region of defence together with artillerymen and engineers. I’m going to visit him once more right now in the defence region.
We are in dire need of the reconnaissance aircraft and fighter aircraft. I have no means to conduct the air reconnaissance and to cover the concentration of our forces and major objects. I ask to accelerate the arrival of the head of the aviation of the group.
Up until yesterday no Pavlov’s units had retreated to our region.
Additionally I want to report about the situation with our communications: on the night of the 29th, the enemy has bombed Smolensk for several hours and has done damage to the communication hub. The staff of the group is therefore isolated from the army and from Moscow. The city is in flames, there is close to no leadership of the firefighting efforts. That consolidated signal battalion that I have with huge strain is trying to create bypass lines around Smolensk.
We need your help regarding the communication situation. First: organize the formation of at least one signal battalion of army type and I ask you to order to immediately send a signal regiment from Bryansk to Remezov. The only communication he has with his forces is through delegates on cars.
And finally, the question about maps. Here we have a complete mess: Remezov has only a few complects and now the 73rd division has arrived which has no maps at all. Is everything clear?

Stalin.: We will take measures regarding your questions. We have instructions for you: the highway must be properly mined from the direction of Minsk to Orsha. Do you understand?

T.: And what about the highway Minsk - Mogilev, can we mine that one as well?

S.: Mine that one too. Mine several places so later it is possible to blow it up by a signal. Do you understand?

T.: Understood. I give orders now and leave to go to Remezov. I ask for one small thing. Order Trubetskoy to send us plans of transportation of our forces group otherwise we have to search for the echelons at the stations.

S.: Good. All from us, good bye.

T.: Good. All will be done. Good bye.

ЦХСД Д. У/5--б/11.

Transcript of talk of the Supreme commander to the commander of the Leningrad front.

08.11.1941

Leningrad.: Zhdanov, Khazin at the device.

Moscow.: Stalin at the device. We are very worried by your slowness about carrying out the operation you know about. You have a term of several days. If you do not break through to the East within those several days then you will ruin the Leningrad front and the whole population of Leningrad as well. We are being told that after the artillery barrage the infantry doesn’t go forward. But you must know that infantry will not go without tanks. After the barrage you must put forth the tanks and only after them you can let the infantry attack, giving the artillery an order to redirect their fire 3-4 kilometers to the East of the frontline of your tanks. So that the tanks and the infantry could maneuver freely while the enemy couldn’t bring in fresh forces. And in general, you must redirect your artillery fire further to the East as your forces are advancing. Without such organization you will not achieve anything. Of course the aviation and RS must do their jobs also. Over.

Zhdanov.: The offense of the infantry has bumped upon a quite strong fortified construction. The artillery barrage was enough each time, but the infantry didn’t use its fire and airstrikes. The infantry usually, after starting the movement, had to stop and lie down while sustaining high casualties. Because of this there is a serious lack of forces in the divisions operating on the left bank of Neva river.
Regarding tanks, des[ite all the measures taken, we only managed to transfer 7 tanks to the left bank of Neva and those quickly went out of service. Regarding KVs, we didn’t manage to get any of those across the Neva yet. It is enough to say that three quarters of the ferry vehicles are out of service. That is why ferrying is slow and happens generally at night.
Regarding artillery, they are very good at firing against the front edge of the enemies front, but they don’t see the targets when firing deeper. The cannot do a stronger barrage at an area and the enemy has dug in very deep and has bunkers and dugouts.
Due to our losses and not yet organized ferry we were forced to hold on our offensive for a few days to put our units in order, reinforce them, organize the ferry properly, prepare the battle so there is a full cooperation between the infantry and the artillery.
Regarding the area of the 55th army, there is movement here in the direction of the supporting strike. Blocking units of sappers and supporting tanks have been created. Tanks are used at full here. We lost 29 tanks knocked out and burned. Now at night a battle is going on to capture the firing points near Usty-Tosno and the railway bridge. The commanders of the 55th army have an assignment to clear the Western bank of the Usty-Tosno today during the day, to start crossing the Usty-Tosno tomorrow.
The forces are in a combat mood. On the right bank all is dependent on the difficulties of using tanks. Low manpower of our divisions is also an issue. We are taking measures: by reducing the rear (artillery men) for 8000 men, signalmen by 5000, AA by 8000 and sending them as riflemen. Some divisions are reduced to two regiment compositions. Over.

S.: You have to choose between the captivity on one side and sacrificing several divisions on the other. I repeat, sacrifice and break through the road to the East for you, to save your entire front and Leningrad. As soon as you break through, we will make a railroad. The infantry will not go without tanks. Take actions to ferry the KV tanks to the left bank. If they are too heavy, then let them make their armor lighter for 10-20 tons. If there are lighter tanks, then ferry those. If the 55nd army can strike from the South to the North to the rear of the enemy who is at Neva, then let it strike. I repeat there is not much time left for you - you will run out of food soon. Try to form groups of hunters of the most brave men from different divisions and create one or two regiments of them. Explain the great significance of the feat that is required from them to break through. Perhaps those consolidated regiments of brave men could encourage all the rest to go after themSomething similar was mentioned later in “The last 100 yards” book, where it was said that there are some brave men who encourage others to go forward. Over.

Z.: The military council of the front not only doesn’t have any doubt, but also fully agrees with you and will not stop before any opposing force not for a minute. So that you have no doubts in our actions I report that we have transferred to the left bank 5 of our best divisions. The 168th rifle division and 20th rifle division after 3-4 days of fighting have only around 200-300 men but nevertheless they don’t have any deserters or those avoiding the battle. We throw into battle everything we have in our hands. We will not be able to transfer light tanks to the left bank because those, a few dozen machines, are used by the 55th army near Usty-Tosno.

S.: If you do not agree or have any doubts, then say it directly. You are using your forces poorly. If you have such good divisions operating at the front, then it is very sad that you have used them poorly. Infantry division, armed with machine guns and rifles, cannot go against enemy fortified positions. Fortified regions must firstly be destroyed with artillery, mortars, then you should let tanks go there and only then, behind the tanks the infantry division can show itself as a real force. Without tanks the infantry is helpless against enemies fortified regions.

Z.: We will re organize our artillery work as you have instructed. We will immediately create consolidated regiments of hunters. Units of hunters are operating in the 55th army and are used to capture enemy dugouts and bunkers. Over.

S.: I ask you and comrade Khazin to inform us about the situation with this matter at around 12PM. Over.

Z.: All from us.

S.: Wish you well. Wish you luck. I’m waiting for the first information via the direct wire tonight at 12 o’clock. Call me to the device on 8.11.1941, 6.00. Stalin.

Z.: Good bye comrade Stalin, we are getting down to the implementation of your instructions and will inform you at 12:00 in the night.

ЦАМО. Ф. 96а. Оп. 2011. Д. 5. Л. 151-155.

Transcript of talks of the Supreme Commander to the Commander of the Leningrad front

09.11.1941

Leningrad.: Zhdanov and Khozin at the device. Good day com. Stalin. Reporting about fulfillment of your orders. The following measures are taken:

• Forming three volunteer regiments of selected people. The formation will be finished by the end of today. By morning of 10.XI we hope to transfer them to the other side of Neva.
• Thanks to the shrinking rear we reinforced the divisions that are on the left bank of Neva.
• We gathered around 40 medium and light tanks which will be shipped to the left bank of Neva at night between 9th and 10th of November.
• Today we have listened to the combat plans, presented by the Military Council of the 8th army. We achieved that the Military council of the 8th army fully understands how to organize the operation of breakthrough and plan the breakthrough operation according to indications of comrade Stalin.
• Ready time for operation start is set to 10th - 11th of November. On the direction of a support blow of the 55th Army we started to form a volunteer regiment. The nearest objective for the army is to clear the Western bank of river Tosna; following with capturing the ferries on the river Tosna and advancing in the direction of Mga station to meet up with the 8th and 54th Armies.

Considering the experience of previous battles, we have given instructions about carrying out the offensive towards a dug-in enemy. Our forces have shown their weakness in performing such operations, especially on company, battalion and regiment levels. Considering this, instructions have been given to reform the work of artillery.

Stalin.: Pause the transmission. Tikhvin is occupied by the enemy. We are clearing the situation. If it will be possible, we will connect to you by the wire. This wire goes through Tikhvin. Over. Stand by the device.

Z.: All clear, standing by.

Zhdanov and Khozin by the device.: Continuing the report. Instructions to reform the work of artillery were given, according to your indications. We now got information from the 54th Army that the enemy has occupied Tikhvin but in the Volkhov direction the enemy is 15-18km away from Volkhov. The commander of the 54th Army asks for a division to be transferred to cover Volkhov. We think that it is better to take that division from the 54th Army, because transferring from us is difficult because of the transport issues. Over. Waiting for indications.

Stalin at the device.: Sorry, I was late. To eliminate the enemy forces we have transferred Meretskov with some units of the 7th army to Tikhvino region. We are sending tanks and one full division there. I think that the 54th army could move one of its divisions to cover its rear. As you see, the enemy wants to create the second line of encirclement around Leningrad and completely cut it off from the rest of the country. It is very dangerous to wait any longer. Be hurry to create a large group of forces, concentrate all the fire: artillery, aviation, 120mm mortars and RS on a large he said “narrow” as it is evident from the reply, but the document has a typo areas and punch through and create a road to the East until it’s not too late. We will eliminate the Tikhvino enemy group by ourselves I suppose.
Could you ship disassembled KVs across the Neva or handle large amounts of KV to your Tosno groups and let them go along the Southern bank of Neva to the enemy rears? Over.

Z.: Comrade Stalin! Reporting: your instructions are being implemented. We have considered an offensive plan and we are creating quite a powerful artillery group in the 1km wide breakthrough region which consists of 600 guns and mortars as well as three RS batteries. All the aviation will operate there as well. Shipping KV tanks across Neva is a very difficult and very lengthy task. We have already transferred one brigade to the region of the 55th army and will transfer one more brigade there. We are doing as you said - forming one motorised regiment for these brigades. We will be setting them the following objective: as soon as we capture the ferries across Tosna river, they will strike the enemy rear towards station Mga. Over.

Comrade Stalin, we have a request. Due to unreliability of supply across the Ladoga lake, we ask to give us 30 additional “Douglas” aircrafts and 10 TB-3 for evacuating the war materials from Leningrad and bringing in food concentrates and other provisions. Additionally they will need a regiment of fighters to support their actions. We ask for your instructions on what to do with the 69 regimental artillery pieces you have ordered us to transfer. Those are at Volkhov. Over.

S.: We will do our best to provide “Douglas” and TB-3 for you. As for the 69 regiment cannons, let the 54th army take them for storage.

Over. Good bye.

Z.: Over. Good bye.

ЦАМО. Ф.96а. Оп. 2011. Д. 5. Л. 156-159.

Transcript of talk of the Supreme Commander to the Commander of the Air Force of the Red Army

26.09.1941

Zhigarev.: at the device.

Stalin.: Comrade Zhigarev, I beg you to go to Kholzakov to the region of Volkhovstroy and help him to organize massed airstrikes upon the German forces. I suppose you could leave the North West front for two or three days, leaving Kucevalov as your replacement and who probably already has learned how to command the aviation. Your help is very needed by the 54th Army which is moving towards Mga station to establish connection with the Leningrad front. You must know that Kholzakov’s group supports this army. It would be good to go there today. We will try to send fresh air forces there. I wait for your answer.

Zhigarev.: Good. All clear. I will depart from Morozov from Semenovshina, Valdai and after I brief Kucevalov I will leave for the airfield Khotilovo from where I will fly on a “Douglas” to Kholzakov. Kucevalov has learned how to concentrate the aviation forces on the battlefield and so did the commanders of aviation divisions. From Valdai, if you allow, I will call you via phone “VCh”. I will be at Valdai in one and a half or two hours.

S.: Good, call me from there.

Z.: Good bye, I have departed to Valdai.

S.: Good bye.

ЦАМО. Ф. 96а. Оп. 2011. Д. 5. Л. 124.

Transcript of talk of the Supreme Commander and the Head of the Joint Staff to the Commander of the forces of Reserve front

04.09.1941 03:50AM - 04:30AM

Zhukov.: at the device

Stalin, Shaposhnikov.: at the device. Hello. It appears that you plan to send forces to Smolensk direction for the elimination of Yelnya {enemy forces} as a result leaving Roslavly in its current unpleasant situation. I think that this operation you are planning must be executed only after the elimination of Roslavly {enemy forces}. And even better would be to wait with Smolensk operation and eliminate Roslavly together with Eremenko and then “sit on the tail” of Guderian by moving some divisions to the South. The most important is to defeat Guderian, but Smolensk will not walk away from us. Over.

Z.: I wish you health comrade Stalin. Comrade Stalin, I do not think about the Smolensk operation and am concerned that it is Timoshenko’s work. Strike 109, 149, 104 {seems like numbers on a map} I want to carry out right now to help the fastest elimination of Yelnya adversary group. When that is done, I will free up additional 7-8 divisions to relocate to the region of Pochinki. There, while defending from the Smolensk direction, I could carry out a powerful strike in the direction of Roslavly and to the West of it. That is to strike against Guderain’s rear.

As experience shows, performing a deep strike with 3-4 divisions leads to trouble because the enemy quickly surrounds these groups with its mobile units. That is why I asked your permission for such a maneuver. If you will order to strike towards Roslavly, then I can organize this measure. But there would be more use if I would eliminate Yelnya first. Today at the end of day, the right flank of our Yelnya group has occupied Sofiyevka. The enemy has only a 6 km wide opening so I think that tomorrow we will complete a tactical encirclement. Over.

S.: I’m worried about the terrain in the direction of Pochinki - there are forests and swamps and your tanks can get stuck there.

Z.: Reporting. The strike is planned through the Pogulyaevka, South of river Khmara along a good terrain, with exit towards Storino, Vasykovo, 30 km North West of Roslavly around 10 km South from Pochinki. Also it is a bad idea to strike along the previous route. A German soldier has moved to us and told us that during the night today the defeated 23rd infantry division was replaced by the 267 infantry division as well as he saw SS units in the area. Strike to the South is also better from the perspective that it will hit between the two divisions. Over.

S.: Do not overly trust the enemy POWs interrogate him and then shoot him. We do not object against your proposed manuever 10km South of Pochinki. You can act. Especially concentrate airstrikes against it and use RS also {Katyusha}. When do you plan to start?

Z.: I will finish regrouping until 7th. Preparation is on 7th and on 8th in the morning we strike. I beg you to support me with charges for the RS, 76mm shells and also 152mm shells year 09/30 and mortar mines 120mm. Also, if possible, one regiment of ILs {IL-2} and one regiment of Pe-2 and tanks, around 10 KVs and around 15 T-34s. These are all my requirements.Over.

S.: Unfortunately we currently don’t have any RS reserves. We will give them when we have them. You will get RS. Pity that Yeremenko will have to operate alone against Roslavly. Could you organize a push against Roslavly from the North East?

Z.: No comrade Stalin I have nothing to push with. Only separate units with some artillery support, but this will be a chilling blow while the main strike I will perform on the 8th in the morning. I will do my best. Perhaps I can do it on the morning of 7th. Yeremenko is still far from Roslavly and I think comrade Stalin that strike on 7th or 8th will not be too late. Over.

S.: And for how long will the glorified 211th division sleep?

Z.: Acknowledged. Will organize on the 7th. The 211th division is forming now and will be ready no earlier than 10th. I will pull it as a reserve, won’t allow it to fall asleep. I ask you to grant permission to arrest and to put under trial those alarmists and traitors I reported about. Over.

S.:Seventh is better than eighth. We agree and authorize to trial them as strictly as necessary. Over. Good bye.

Z.: Wish you health.

ЦАМО. Ф. 96а. Оа. 2011. Д. 5. Л. 68-70