REFERENCE
For the period from 10th of May till the 1st of August 1945 the following foods were transferred to supply the inhabitants of city Berlin:
| 1 | Flours | 58.771,2 tn |
| 2 | Grains | 11.015,9 tn |
| 3 | Meat | 8.199,6 tn |
| 4 | Fats | 2.116,2 tn |
| 5 | Potatoes | 97.589,6 tn |
| 6 | Salt | 3.527,2 tn |
| 7 | Sugar | 5.221,3 tn |
| 8 | Tea | 161,6 tn |
| 9 | Natural Coffee | 382,6 tn |
| 10 | Surrogate Coffee | 804,7 tn |
Head of the food supplies office
Major Kuvshinov
13 August 1945
To the commander of 20th tank regiment.
Fulfilling the order of the military council of the army.
The division commander has ordered:
Select 7 people from the saergeant and private staff to perform the protection tasks of the archive and precious museum materials of the German writer Goethe. The term is from 17.7 till 23.7.45.
Instructions regarding the guarding as well as places to guard shall be received from the commander of the guarding company of the staff of the 8th Guards Tank Army (Veimar, platz Elefand, Krankenhaus (hospital))
Report the fulfillment about the beginning and end of the service at 18:00 17.7.45 and 18:00 23.7.45.
sent 2 copies
copy 1 - to file
copy 2 - to recepient
fulilled by Bavykin
17.7.45 MR
Sent at 15:50
Source: archive index temporary unavailable
| Nr | Source | Message time | Reported Attack time | Contents of the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max | 2.11.40 | After defeating England |
The attack is expected from two flanks. Flanking from the north (Finland) and from the Balkan Peninsula. He doesn't talk about reasons. |
| 2 | Skornyakov VAT | 12.25.40 | Spring of 1941 |
Anonymous. The offensive plan: from Lublin along the Pripyat River to Kiev; from Romania - between Yasen and Bukovina to Teterev; from East Prussia |
| 3 | Vkh.891ss (1 det.) | 15.2.41 | In 2-3 months |
Germany does not have food and therefore seeks to seize the Ukraine. The attack will take place through Romania. |
| 4 | Vkh.0356ss O VS | 6.3.41 | After defeating Greece |
The Military Attache of Czechoslovakia Smakovich is convinced that the capture of Greece precedes the attack on the USSR. The exit of the Germans to the Dardanelles is an act against the USSR. |
| 5 | A.G. | February 1941 | After signing peace with England |
The USSR will be fully prepared for war in 1942, and Germany may be exhausted by this time. |
| 6 | Alta | 17.1.41 | In the spring of 1941 |
The Aryan said that the war with the USSR was not just rumors, but Hitler's order, which is known to a limited circle of people involved in preparing for a war against the USSR. |
| 7 | Doj | 17.1.41 | March 1941 |
It is said in military and diplomatic circles that after the defeat of England or conclusion of peace with her, the USSR will be Germany's closest enemy. |
| eight | Khlopov, mil. attache assistant | 8.1.41 |
An assistant to the American mil. attache in Germany, in a conversation with our assistant to the mil. attache, said: “We now have information from very reliable sources that Germany is preparing to start a war against the USSR. The exact date is not indicated, but it is emphasized that the information is reliable. |
|
| 9 | Vkh.751ss (1 det) | 7.2.41 | In the spring of 1941 |
The Aryan repeats once again that in the spring there will be a clash between Germany and the USSR. It is believed in military circles and the Foreign Office that the war will bring about the end of the National Socialist regime. |
| 10 | Savva | 26.2.41 |
German troops in Romania are intended for action against the USSR ... The flow of "tourists" to Finland and military transports to Slovakia and Galicia (mechanized units) has increased. |
|
| eleven | Dixon, mil.attache | 2.3.41 |
The envoy in Belgrade was informed at the Foreign Office that the Nazi Party and the army had agreed on the expediency of launching an offensive against the USSR soon. The envoy assesses it as German propaganda fabricated for the Balkan governments. |
|
| 12 | Sophocles, mil.attache | 9.3.41 | April - May |
It is known from the Minister of the Court in Belgrade that the German General Staff has refused to attack the English Isles. The immediate task was set - the capture of Ukraine and Baku. Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria are now preparing for this. |
| thirteen | Yeshchenko (1 division) | 15.3.41 | In 3 months |
Lawyer Sakar said that the Germans allegedly have completely changed their plan and are going to attack the USSR. We, the Germans say, will take grain, coal and oil from the USSR. The main headquarters of the Romanian army, together with the Germans, is developing a plan for a war against the USSR. |
| 14 | Savva, mil.attache | 22.3.41 |
According to officials of the Ministry of Trade, on March 20 the Germans issued a secret order to suspend the fulfillment of orders for the USSR by the industry of the Protectorate. The attache of the Yugoslav trade agency Tserovych showed the stamps of the Ukrainian People's Republic. |
|
| 15 | Yeshchenko (1 det.) | 24.3.41 | May 1941 |
ABC data: when Antonescu met with Goering, they discussed the role of Romania in the upcoming war with the USSR. Rumors about the inevitability of war are widespread in Berlin. It is asserted here that the Red Army is weak, that an invasion as far as Moscow and the Urals will not present any difficulties for the Germans. If there is a war, England will not help the USSR. At present, a huge amount of weapons is being transferred from France to the border with the USSR. |
| sixteen | Savva, mil.attache | 24.3.41 | April 14, 1941 |
According to unverified information, the deadline for speaking out against the USSR is April 15. The termination of our orders in the Protectorate is confirmed. |
| 17 | Bart (1 division) | 24.3.41 |
Here they openly talk about the war with the USSR. The conscripts move towards our border. Recently, people under the age of 50 are conscripted. New troops arrive in Koenigsberg from the West. |
|
| 18 | Tomasz (1 det.) | 24.3.41 | April 15, 1941 |
Over the past week and a half, the masters are brazenly pursuing. Instructions were received to delay the shipment of equipment on orders from the USSR. By April 15, the question of the German campaign to the East must be finally decided. |
| nineteen | Tomasz (1 det.) | 26.3.41 |
The acceptance of all cargoes to Peremyshl was stopped, with the exception of equipment, food and fodder. They confirmed from another source the preparation of the German campaign to the East. |
|
| twenty | Yeshchenko (1 det) | 25.3.41. |
On March 24, Antonescu had a meeting at which the latter offered his services to fight against the USSR. German officer Herbert said: “Reds are dogs. Soon we will have an account with them. We will take Ukraine away from them.” |
|
| 21 | Yeshchenko (1 det.) | 25.3.41 | May |
ABC: "Hoffmann said that he had a conversation with Antonescu a few days ago, who said that back in January of this year he was privy to the German war plan against the USSR." |
| 22 | Yeshchenko (1 det.) | 25.3.41 | May |
The USSR is the behind-the-scenes enemy of Germany. The USSR is trying with all its might to prolong the war, and there is a danger that the advance of the German armies to the southeast will be subjected to a flank attack by the Red Army. The food crisis is forcing Ukraine to be taken away. The main reason for the war is the possibility of the USSR joining England. |
| 23 | Yeshchenko (1 det.) | 26.3.41 | After 2-3 months |
The Romanian General Staff has accurate information that 80 divisions are being prepared on the territory of East Prussia and Poland for an offensive against the Ukraine. At the same time, the Germans will also enter the Balkan countries, where they hope to raise an uprising against the USSR. The Romanians intend to participate together with the Germans in the war against the USSR in order to get Bessarabia. |
| 24 | Arnold | 27.3.41 | May - August 1941 |
Romanian conveyed to Yugoslavia that Germany would oppose the USSR, if not in May, then in August 1941. |
| 25 | Yuri (Tokyo) | 25.3.41 |
The German offensive against England may fail. In this case, there is a second plan of attack in the Middle East. Germany will not reckon with the USSR, since the Red Army has demonstrated its weakness in Poland and Finland. |
|
| 26 | Maro | 27.3.41 |
The grouping of troops created by the Germans in the Balkans is directed mainly against Ukraine, which should become the food and oil base of Germany in the event of a protracted war with England. |
|
| 27 | Skornyakov | 11.3.41 | Within 4-6 months |
Assessment of the situation by the Chinese mil.attache: “1. An invasion of England is now presented as a very difficult undertaking. 2. The Red Army does not have sufficient combat capability. 3. The Russians do not have any plan for a broad offensive against Germany, and their opposition will be reduced to holding back the German offensive. |
| 28 | Doj | First half of March 1941 | War between Germany and USSR is inevitable |
Hitler justifies the plan to seize the Ukraine with the following motives: The creation of a 50 million Ukrainian state would solve the problem of feeding Europe. This plan is supported by Hitler's adherents - the old National Socialists. 1. The military does not approve of such a plan, as this will lead to a bloody war, which will end in no one knows how. 2. Some reliability of the existence of such a plan is confirmed by the support of the Ukrainians in the General Government. |
| 29 | Khlopov, vkh. 1651 | 13.3.41 |
Statement by mil.attache Sweden: "The danger of a German attack on the USSR is growing: the transfer of German troops to the border of the USSR continues. Propaganda against the USSR intensifies in Germany. Contradictions between Germany and the USSR on the Balkan question are escalating." |
|
| thirty | Likhterov, vkh. 1590 | 12.2.41 |
The press officer of the Romanian embassy in Budapest said that he had spoken to a prominent German officer who said that if Germany needed oil during the war, she would extract it by force from the Soviet Union. The war of Germany against the USSR is inevitable. |
|
| 31 | Mars | 4.3.41 |
A high-ranking Hungarian official heard from German officers that already this year Germany would oppose the USSR. |
|
| 32 | Yeshchenko | 12.3.41 |
It was planned to transfer the Germans to Bulgaria on February 27-28, 1941, but there was an order from Berlin that part of the troops that were scheduled for transfer to Bulgaria should be sent to Moldova. There is a large concentration of Germans in Moldova and Bukovina. In German circles they say: "We will defend Romania and Bulgaria from England and the USSR." |
|
| 33 | Yeshchenko | 24.3.41 | May 1941 |
During the meeting between Antonescu and Goering in Vienna, the question of the role of Romania in the upcoming war of Germany against the USSR was discussed. Goering gave Antonescu a number of instructions to coordinate the plan for the mobilization of the Romanian armies with the plans for the mobilization of the German army, referring to the general plan for the war with the USSR. It is believed that the war should begin in May 1941. |
| 34 | Yeshchenko | 26.3.41 |
There are rumors of an upcoming conflict between Germany and the USSR. Antonescu, when visiting Berlin on January 1, 1941, was personally privy to the German war plan against the USSR, and this was discussed in detail when Antonescu met Goering in Vienna. |
|
| 35 | Yeshchenko | 26.3.41 | After 2-3 months |
Germany is expected to attack Ukraine in 2-3 months, at the same time the Baltic countries will act, where the Germans expect an uprising against the USSR. |
| 36 | Alta | 25.3.41 | Between May 15 and June 15, 1941 |
To secure his food base and maintain his authority, Hitler would oppose the USSR. Facts to support this: 120 divisions are concentrated in Poland.Western airfields in Poland are occupied by bomber squadrons. There is an intensive construction of air defense facilities in the East of Germany. Three army groups are formed: a) under the command of Field Marshals Bock, Rundstedt and Ritter von Leeb; b) the 1st army group "Kenigsberg" is moving in the direction of Leningrad; The 2nd Army Group is moving towards Moscow;The 3rd Army Group "Posen" is moving in the direction of Kiev. |
| 37 | "X" | 5.2.41 | After the end of the war with England |
1. On the border with the USSR there is such a number of German troops that is more than necessary to protect the border. 2. Immediately after the war with France, Hitler gave the order to build eastern fortifications. 3. In the eastern cities of Germany, an enhanced installation of air defense systems is underway ... |
| 38 | "X" | 27.3.41 |
In early March, a press conference was convened in Berlin, at which Hitler forbade writing anything about the USSR. Hitler declared that not everything was in order with regard to the friendship treaty with the USSR, and that public opinion should be prepared regarding a change in Germany's policy towards the USSR. In the circles of the NSDAP, the opinion prevails that if Germany does not achieve a decisive victory over England in the near future, then Germany will oppose the USSR in order to seize Ukraine. Others believe that Germany should oppose the USSR in June. |
|
| 39 | "X" | 5.4.41 | May 15-June 15, 1941 |
Government adviser Thode from the German Ministry of Economy declared that the most responsible circles in Berlin were convinced of the impending war against the USSR. The dates are called May 15, 1941, but due to the events in the Balkans, the speech was postponed to June 15, 1941. Berlin circles believe that the Red Army is easy to defeat, since it has concentrated its main forces on the central sector of the front. The Germans are going to drive several wedges into these units in the south and north, driving them into a hollow, and prepare the second Kutno. The initial attacks will be made in the south and in the north. |
| 40 | "X" | 17.4.41 |
At present, the majority of German representatives of firms, frightened by persistent rumors about the upcoming war with the USSR, have left Moscow. Judging by the ongoing preparations (the concentration of troops in the east, especially in East Prussia), a war with the USSR is not excluded in the very near future. Up to 100 divisions are concentrated on the borders with the USSR. |
|
| 41 | "X" | 29.4.41 |
Schulenburg was not accepted by Ribbentrop. Only on April 23, 1941, Hitler suddenly summoned him. Timm, a correspondent for German newspapers, was given the task of urgently reporting about the quality of the Moscow-Minsk highway. Colonel Krippe stated that the Germans expect to carry out the entire operation against the USSR up to the occupation of Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev and Odessa in a maximum of 4 weeks. The Hitlerites are quite openly preparing German public opinion for a war against the USSR. |
|
| 42 | "X" | 29.4.41 | In 6 weeks |
Schulenburg was not received by either Hitler or Ribbentrop, which is analogous to the position of the German ambassador Moltke in Warsaw, who was summoned to Berlin six weeks before the start of the German attack on Poland. Hitler's refusal to accept Schulenburg means that the question of war with the USSR is finally resolved. |
| 43 | "X" | 29.4.41. | 15 May 1941 |
The Germans intend to transfer all the rubber from Asia to Germany before May 15, 1941, or leave it in Asia altogether. Embassy employees urgently send valuables to Berlin. |
| 44 | "X" | 7.5.41 | June 1941 |
Göring's adjutant reported that the adventure with the concentration of German troops in the east had gone over the edge and threatened with serious consequences for Germany. The High Command gave the order to complete the preparation of the theater of war and the concentration of troops in the East by June 2. The number of troops after concentration: East Prussia - 2 million, former Poland - 3 million, Romania, Hungary and the Balkans - 2 million. Thus, up to 7 million troops should be concentrated against the USSR. |
| 45 | "X" | 7.5.41 | June 2, 1941 |
The war with the USSR has already been decided. Facts: In Warsaw and other cities there are schools for infirmaries. The German population from the General Government must be evacuated. The Baltics, Russians and Ukrainians must be gathered for military training. The order was given to complete all preparations by June 2, 1941. On the coast of the Baltic Sea, the Germans concentrated a large number of ships intended for landing. It is possible that Hitler, at the same time as making a move on the land borders, will try to land troops in the Baltics in order to leave the army defending the borders in the rear and turn the front from the north. |
| 46 | "X" | 23.5.41 | June 1941 |
Soldiers in the General Government openly talk about an imminent war with the USSR. Up to 2 million soldiers are concentrated in Poland. |
| 47 | "X" | 29.5.41 |
Tippelskirch decided to send important classified material to Berlin. |
|
| 48 | "X" | 5.6.41 | June 20, 1941 |
Most of the embassy workers sent their families to Berlin. In the embassy, the general situation is assessed extremely pessimistically. They believe that in the next three weeks they should finally decide the situation that has arisen, that is, if the war between Germany and the USSR does not begin before June 20, then it will not happen at all. |
| 49 | "X" | 10.6.41 | June 20-June 23, 1941 |
The days before June 20 or 23, 1941 are, according to Schieber, decisive. Hitler invited Stalin to come to Germany. The answer must be given before June 12, 1941. If Stalin does not come to Berlin, then war is inevitable. Germany made demands on the USSR: a) additional supplies of 2.5 million tons of grain, b) free transit to Persia and military occupation of Soviet grain warehouses for 4-5 million tons. The deadline for accepting proposals is June 23, 1941. I am convinced that in a few weeks after the start of the war, the most important parts of the USSR will be occupied by the Germans. Unprecedented in the history of preparations for this campaign. |
| 50 | "X" | 10.6.41 |
Hilger declared that he was aware that German military circles were afraid that the Red Army might concentrate its main forces inside the country. Then the Germans would have been able to occupy most of the country's territory, but they would not have been able to defeat the Red Army even in the first phase of the war. |
|
| 51 | "X" | 14.6.41. | First half JUNE |
In the German embassy in Moscow, anxiety and uncertainty reign. Information from Berlin indicates that military preparations are continuing and the ministries are convinced that the war will begin in the first half of June this year. |
| 52 | "X" | 19.6.41 | June 1941 |
The embassy is firmly convinced that Germany is facing an attack on the USSR within the next few days. The deadlines are June 15, June 20 and June 24. Adviser Shiber stated that he believed the attack would take place in the coming days, namely June 23 or June 24. There is an order that heavy artillery on June 19 be transferred from Krakow to the border with the USSR. Tippelskirch believes that some kind of border conflict on the Soviet-Romanian border will be the reason for the war. Mobilization has been announced in Romania and Finland. |
| 53 | "X" | 19.6.41 | June 20, 1941 |
The embassy is convinced that from June 20 the possibility of the outbreak of hostilities between Germany and the USSR should be taken into account every day. The embassy was instructed to immediately send all children and women. I received an order to leave Moscow from the German naval attache along with the staff. Hilger received a conditioned telegram that the war had been decided. Hilger stated that it was now perfectly clear that war was inevitable. |
| 54 | "X" | 20.6.41 | June 23, 1941 |
The departure of the naval attache and the children has been made. Regular diplomatic couriers were instructed not to leave Berlin. Representatives of industrial firms in Moscow were instructed (telegrams) to immediately leave for Berlin. |
| 55 | "X" | 21.6.41 in the morning | In the next 48 hours |
The Embassy received a telegram from the Foreign Office in Berlin. From 4 o'clock in the morning there is a meeting at the Tippelskirch. The source is convinced that the war will begin in the next 48 hours. |
| 56 | "X" | 21.6.41 19.00 | Immediately |
The embassy in the morning was instructed to destroy all secret papers. All employees of the embassy were ordered to pack their things before the morning of June 22 and hand them over to the embassy. Living outside the embassy - move to the embassy. It is believed that the coming night will be a decision. This solution is war. |
* Most likely, the document was prepared on June 28, 1941, when Golikov, together with Timoshenko and Zhukov, was summoned to report to Stalin, where he stayed for 1.5 hours.
Source: "Military intelligence informs. January 1939 - June 1941." International Fund "Democracy", Moscow, 2008. Pp. 701-713
Below I report the results of test firing the AT rifles and AT grenades against the "Tiger" tanks.
Test firing conducted on 13-14 November this year under the supervision of invention inspector of the military preparation detachment of the 3rd Bielorussian front. From a distance of 200-300 meters and at impact angles of 90 and 45 degrees the following results were achieved:
= Anti-Tank Rifles =
AT rifles from a distance of 200 - 300m can penetrate the caterpillar at 90 and 45 degrees angles. The links and rod joint places are also penetrated. Both for 90 degrees and for 45 degrees the effectiveness of the AT rifle is much lower that of 45mm cannon. The holes made by bullets are very small, the diameter is equal to the AT rifle bullet diameter. To break the caterpillar, around 4-5 hits must be placed next to each other in the same link.
Conclusion: it is feasable to use AT rifles to fire at caterpillars.
= Anti Tank Grenades =
AT grenades were thrown at a caterpillar one by one and also tied together by two. A single grenade, when thrown accurately can tear half of the caterpillar [link], the tank cannot move in this case. Two grenades tied together can rip the caterpillar entirely. Also AT grenades were thrown on the . When a single grenade explodes it bends the plate. The explosion of two grenades have broken the plate. Two grenades tied together were thrown from a dugout from a distance of 10m.
The division commander has ordered: Get the officer staff acquanted with the reusults of tests.
Printed 8 copies.
copy 1 to case.
copy 2 to the rear.
copy 3-8 to the
brigades.
5.12.1944
ЦАМО, Фонд: 9977, Опись: 0000001, Дело: 0001, Лист начала документа в деле: 354
2 May 1945
Upon receiving the directive of the Stavka of the Supreme Command and the directive of the Military Council of the Front, the military military prosecutor's office has issued a directive requiring the prosecutors of each army and unit to take under personal control the fulfillment of these very important instructions and by all means guarantee their fulfillment.
After that the entire operational staff of the military prosecutor's office of the front has departed to the armies and divisions to carry out this work. Separately, the forces of the military prosecutor's office of the front and the rear, a check of numerous military commandant's offices both in army and in front rear was initialized with the aim to provide a practical help.
The entire mass legal work of the military prosecutors was switched to the topics, connected to changing the attitude towards the German population. Special plans to carry out the msive law activities were developed and agreed with political agencies.
Overall based on the materials gathered by the military prosecutors, in several armies orders containing facts of the incorrect treatment of the German population were issued. The decisions were made to put the guilty persons under trial.
This approximately is what the organizational work of the military prosecutors office is about, regarding the fulfillment of the Stavka of the Supreme command directive and the directive of the Military Council of the front.
Regarding the attitude of our forces towards the German population, significant progress was achieved. Facts of meaningless and [unmotivated] shootings of the Germans, looting and raping have significantly reduced. However even after the issue of the directive of the Stavka and the Front council, several such cases still were registered.
While shootings of the Germans almost never happen now and the cases of robbery are extremely rare, the raping cases still happen. Looting also does occur in the form of our soldiers walking around the abandoned flats, gathering various things.
Here are some facts, recorded in the recent days:
On 25th April iin the city Falkenzee technical unit’s deputy commander of hte 1st battery oof the 334th guards heavy artillery regiment lieutenant Enchivatov was drunk and visitedd houses and raped women.
Enchivatov was arrested, the case was completed by the investigation and handed over to the military court.
Soldiers of the outpost of the 157th separate border guard regiment Ivanov and Manankov, while in the city Fronau, being drunk have entered a German house. In this house Manankov has raped an ill German woman Lizelet Lure. On 22nd of April she was raped by a group of our soldiers, after that she has poisoned her year and a half old son, her mother poisoned herself and she also tried to poson herself, but was rescued. While in poor condition after the poisoning attempt she was raped by Manankov. Ivanov in the mean time has raped another woman Kirhenvic. Both Ivanov and Manankov are arrested, the case investigation is finished and handed over to the military court.
The commander of the mortar company of the 216th rifle regiment of the 76th rifle division lieutenant Buyanov has willingly declared himself leader of the patrol of the city Bernau and while being drunk was stopping all the Germans that passed by, taking away their valuable items. Buyanov was sent to military court.
Chief of staff of the 278th infantry regiment of the 175th infantry division colonel Losev has sent his subordinate lieutenant to the basement to select a woman for him and bring her to him. Lieutenant has fulfilled the assignment and Losiev has raped that woman. By the order of the army council, colonell Losiev was relieved of his position and assigned with lower rank.
On April 22nd at Schenerlind village a gun commander of the 695th artillery
regiment of the 185 rifle division petty officer Dorokhin while drunk has
raped a 15 year old girl threatening her with a gun and in front of her
parents.
Dorokhin was arrested and sent to the military court.
On April 25th head of affairs of the operative staff of the 79th rifle corps lieutenant Kursakov in presence of kids and husband tried to rape an elderly German. Criminal prosecution has been initiated against Kursakov.
I consider it necessary to emphasize several points:
It is necessary to briefly analyze the causes of not fulfilling the directives of the Stavka and the Front council:
Here are facts:
In Ebersdorf, occupied by our forces on April 21st, on 27nd of April there were no commendants at Heckfield, Karlshorst, Scheneveide, Adlershof, Rudove and other settlements didn’t have commendants on 28th of April. It is necessary to consider the work of comendants separately. The military prosecutors office of the front has checked the implementation of the directives of the Stavka of the Supreme Command and the directive of the Front Council within approximately 50 commandant's offices. This check has discovered some cases that require attention.
Several commendants do not know about the directive of the Stavka and the Front council (commandant of Petershagen senior lieutenant Paschenko, commandant of Friedrichshegen senior lieutenant Nevolin, commandant of Erker major Lebedev and others), others have heard only rumors about these documents. As mentioned before, I have already pointed out that comendants are assigned with large delay. It is necessary to add to this that in many cases the selection of the comendants is not properly organized.
From the 8th army we have received a notice about the commandant of Ransdorf senior lieutenant Zinovienko, who together with burgomeister has issued an advertisement for our soldiers which states that: “From this date the robbing stops”. The staff of the military unit Nr 70594 has issued a temporary certification to the former ober-lieutenant of the police Max Kiper with a note: “Based on general Major Makhalitsin’s order the bearer of this Max Kiper is assigned temporarily as a commandant of the city Ezechvalde”. Signed by chief of staff lt-col Anisov.
The commandant of one of the districts of Berlin Tempelhof has assigned as a burgomaster a person that was a deputy burgomaster in German time. These facts speak enough about the total lack of preparedness of some candidates to perform such important tasks. And in the economic sense, a number of commandants do not correspond to their position.
At a meeting in the 8th Guards. army commandant of Kepennik Lieutenant Colonel Titov claimed that he had a reserve of bread to feed the population for 3-4 months. By further questioning it was found that in this settlement having over 100,000 inhabitants had only 35 tons of food reserves.
During my time in the army, I received an assignment by phone from a member of the Military Council of the Front, Lieutenant General Telegin, to establish the structure of local government in Berlin and all localities that include to the city area.
I consider it necessary to address this issue in this report: I have spoken to many Germans who are well aware of the principles of functioning of the local authorities. The scheme is as follows: In charge of Berlin there was a main president of the city. Ober-burgomeister is subordinated to him. Berlin and settlements which are included in its area are divided into 20 administrative districts. There was a burgomeister in each of these administrative regions who was subordinated to the Berlin ober-burgomeister. Each administrative region united 5-6 settlements. The district burgomaster's office consists of a number of departments, the main of which are: the food department, which is in charge of the distribution of food, card system, etc .; the economic department which controls the provision of the population with clothing, footwear, utilities; the department for education of youth, which is in charge of schools, issues of education of youth in the fascist spirit; department for work among women, etc. These departments are already directly connected with the population.
This local government was closely linked in its work with the police and carried out its functions through the police.
The scheme of the police institution is as follows:
The head of the Berlin police is the Chief Police President, who is subordinated to the chief president of Berlin and is in the same position as the ober-burgomaster. About 350 police stations are subordinated to him (according to the number of settlements included in the city zone). Every police station had 40-50 police staff, at the head of which was lieutenant, captain or senior officer (depending on the importance of one or another locality).
Considering the functioning scheme of the judiciary, it appears to be the following: the main court is subordinate to the Ministry of Justice; the next judicial link is the regional court, acting within a region.
This is followed by the District Court serving several administrative districts. Thus, in Berlin and its zone there were several district courts.
After examining this issue and speaking with a number of senior executives armies, I came to the conclusion that the most slender would be the following structure.
Berlin should be headed by the military commandant of the city. By his discretion the President of Berlin should be appointed. In 20 city districts military commandants must be appointed.
The President of Berlin, in agreement with the Commandant of Berlin and in accordance with the candidates nominated by the District Commandants, appoints district burgomasters according to the number of districts; district military commandants appoint burgomasters of settlements.
Just as the burgomaster of Berlin is subordinated to the military commander of Berlin, so the district burgomasters and burgomasters of settlements must be subordinated to the district military commandants.
In each locality, a civilian militia of about 10-20 people should be organized (depending on the size of the populated area). This militia should be subordinated to the burgomaster and the military commander.
To communicate with the population in each district, an authorized representative must be appointed from the population and in each house a person responsible for fulfilling all the requirements for residents of the house.
These are the considerations related to the organization of power in Berlin and its zone.
The military prosecutors of the armies and formations, in accordance with the instructions of the front military prosecutor's office, continue to work on checking the implementation of the directives of the Supreme Command Headquarters from April 20 and the Front Military Council from April 22 of this year, about changing attitudes towards the German population.
On May 5th I will present to the Military Council of the Front another memorandum on this matter, in which I will give a detailed analysis of all the facts of incorrect attitudes towards the German population, which will be recorded for the period from the beginning of the publication of these documents.
On this page of the document there is GK Zhukov's own handwritten resolution: “. I demand from you: to immediately remove from commandant's work all commandants who do not correspond to their appointment. Keep in mind that the Germans, by observing the commandants and their work and behavior, judge our army. Demand that the commandants do not dishonor the "officer corps of the Red Army." Zhukov 4.5.1945"
ЦАМО РФ. Ф. 233. Оп. 2380. Д. 40. Л. 1—7.
19.08.1944
To head of staff of the 3rd Tank Army.
With order Nr. … From 11th August 1944 the Commander of the 16 tank division has set up a task to take the small Schidlow with two columns to slice our combat order, with the right column through Otamuw and the left column through Rakuw.
The corps intel has timely discovered a tank gathering place near small Schidlow, with either Tiger or Panther type tanks assembling and moving to the East. The left enemy formation managed to push back units of the 112 rifle division and take Rakuw. Fierce battles were raging in the direction to Stashuw where separate enemy tanks managed to rip through the defenses to the Eastern border of Stashuw.
53rd tank brigade with separate tanks from 71st grds heavy tank regiment after organizing several tank ambushes in the region: Zelebitza, hill 247.9, Ponik, along the reverse sides of hills, has engaged in battles to the North West and West of the Eastern border of Stashuw.
52nd tank brigade was sent to strike the enemy from the rear and to capture the hill 272.1 and to advance in the direction towards Oseletz, Kshiv[unclear], kol. Zhendruw, Pechenogi Gatzki, Mokre, has reached the region of Mokre and organized tank ambushes at Mokre and on the Northern edge of the grove which is East of the Mokre.
This way enemies' routes to the South and retreat to the West were cut off. When moving further enemy tanks have exposed their sides to the fire of tanks of the 53rd grds tank brigade and 71st grds heavy tank regiment which were in the ambush. The distance of fire was 200-250m.
As a result 3 tanks burned down and 3 were knocked out (caterpillars were broken). Trying to help these tanks the enemy has attempted several attacks from Schidluw, but tanks of 52nd and 53rd grds tank brigades have repelled all of them, firing from the ambushes, destroying 9 enemy tanks as well as the enemy's towing vehicle.
Without the possibility to evacuate the knocked out tanks, their crews abandoned them and ran away. Groups of sub machine gunners who supported the tanks were hit by RS [Katyushas] several times which resulted in most of them being killed, while the rest fled to the North and North West directions.
Enemy attempt to break through to Yaseny direction was not successful and was stopped by the fire of the 1893 self-propelled artillery regiment [unclear] which was dropped near hill 284.2 and destroyed 5 enemy tanks.
As a result of three day battles the 501st separate heavy tank battalion which was armed with “Tiger B” tanks, lost 20 tanks and was forced to retreat and go defensive near Eastern part of small Schidluw.
The first evacuated tank was sent to the commander of the forces of the 1st Ukrainian front Marshal of the Soviet Union, comrade Konev. This tank didn’t make a single shot.
ЦАМО, Фонд: 315, Опись: 4440, Дело: 172
ЦАМО, Фонд: 315, Опись: 4440, Дело: 172
Received 20.06.1941 23:46
Arrived to district cyphering department 20.06.1941 5:30
Accepted 21.06.1941 5:23
To head of the Staff of the Front.
The deserter, captured at night on 20.06.1941 from the 13th company of the 58th infantry regiment of the 6th infantry division has testified that their company is at Pshierosly (a company of 150mm heavy guns). The 6th infantry division was transfered to the region of Suvalki in the end of May from Paris and has unloaded 180km from Pshierosly.
At Suvalki, as the deserter testifies, most of the forces, all of them at this time, were transferred from Suvalki to the border.
The infantry is positioned 5km from the border, artillery is at the positions, as for big tank formations, the deserter has not seen them.
The deserter has testified that the German units are not digging trenches near the border as they are planning offensive actions. According to the deserter claims the military actions will begin within 8-10 days. For 2 months now the officers are agitating the soldiers, saying that the USSR is the main enemy for the Germany. 50% of soldiers are are against the war.
Decrypted on: 09 hours 00 minutes "21" June 1941
