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 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 talks of the Supreme Commander to the commander of the Leningrad front.

26.08.1941

Stalin at the device.:Please describe briefly what is going on in the region of Luban station.

Popov.: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 {Machine Gun Battalions} 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.

Stalin.: 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?

Popov.: 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.

Stalin.: 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 tied up in battlesseems that he speaks about other divisions that are ready, but were handled to others and are impossible to bring back
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?

Popov.: Answering. Not yet, Moscow holds them because of the weather. Everything is ready to receive them.

Stalin.: 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, KlimVoroshilov is helping or bothering?

Popov.: All is clear. Goodbye comrade Stalin. He [Klim] helps. We are sincerely thankful. Comrade Stalin, a small request.

Stalin.: Yes of course, I’m listening.

Popov.: If engineer KarbishevD.M.Karbyshew was captured on 08.08.1941. Seems like neither of them knew about it yet. is free now, we would be glad to have him with us.

Stalin.: Who is he? Do I know him?

Popov.: General-lieutenant of the engineering forces, lecturer of the Joint Staff Academy.

Stalin.: 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?

Popov.: We ask that it will end on 29th inclusive, because sometimes interruptions happen in the factory.

Stalin.: 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.

Popov.: 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.

Stalin.: 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.

Popov.: Then allow one more request. As soon as available, it would be desirable to get at least a regiment of dive bombers.

Stalin.: 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.

Popov.: 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.

Stalin.: 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.

Popov.: 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.