02.07.1941
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.
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?
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?
And what about the highway Minsk - Mogilev, can we mine that one as well?
Mine that one too. Mine several places so later it is possible to blow it up by a signal. Do you understand?
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.
Good. All from us, good bye.
Good. All will be done. Good bye.
ЦХСД Д. У/5--б/11.
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