Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-76847-4 - and Germany’s Defeat in the East David Stahel Frontmatter More information

Operation Barbarossa and Germany’s Defeat in the East

Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, began the largest and most costly campaign in military history. Its failure was a key turning point of the Second World War. The operation was planned as a to win Germany its Lebensraum in the east, and the summer of 1941 is well known for the German army’s unprecedented victories and advances. Yet the German blitzkrieg depended almost entirely upon the motorised panzer groups, particularly those of Army Group Centre. Using previously unpublished archival records, David Stahel presents a new history of Germany’s summer campaign from the perspective of the two largest and most powerful panzer groups on the eastern front. Stahel’s research provides a fundamental reassessment of Germany’s war against the Soviet Union, highlighting the prodigious internal problems of the vital panzer forces and revealing that their demise in the earliest phase of the war undermined the whole German invasion.

DAVID STAHEL is an independent researcher based in Berlin.

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Operation Barbarossa and Germany’s Defeat in the East

David Stahel

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University Printing House, Cambridge CB2 8BS, United Kingdom Cambridge University Press is part of the University of Cambridge. It furthers the University’s mission by disseminating knowledge in the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence. www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9780521170154

C David Stahel 2009

This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press.

First published 2009 Third Printing 2010 First paperback edition 2010 7th printing 2015

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A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication data Stahel, David, 1975– Operation Barbarossa and Germany’s defeat in the East / by David Stahel. p. cm. – (Cambridge military histories) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-521-76847-4 (hardback) 1. World War, 1939–1945 – Campaigns – Eastern Front. 2. World War, 1939–1945 – Tank warfare. 3. Soviet Union – History – German occupation, 1941–1944. I. Title. II. Series. D764.S795 2009 940.54217 – dc22 2009016993

ISBN 978-0-521-76847-4 Hardback ISBN 978-0-521-17015-4 Paperback

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Contents

List of illustrations page vii List of maps ix Acknowledgements xi Glossary of terms xiii Tables of military ranks and army structures xv

Introduction 1

Part I Strategic plans and theoretical conceptions for war against the Soviet Union 1 Fighting the bear 33 The evolution of early strategic planning 33 Two ways to skin a bear – the Marcks and Lossberg plans 39 Crisis postponed – from war games to Directive No. 21 54 2 The gathering storm 70 The army deployment directive 70 The dysfunctional order – delusion as operative discourse 84 Barbarossa – the zenith of war 95 3 Barbarossa’s sword – Hitler’s armed forces in 1941 105 Carrying fear before them and expectation behind – Hitler’s panzer arm 105 Standing before the precipice – the infantry and Luftwaffe on the eve of Barbarossa 117 The impossible equation – the logistics and supply of Barbarossa 127 4 The advent of war 139 ‘Welcome to hell on earth’ 139

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vi Contents

Part II The military campaign and the July/August crisis of 1941 5 Awakening the bear 153 Indecisive border battles and the surfacing of strategic dissent 153 The Belostok– – anatomy of a hollow victory 170 Straining the limits – Bock’s race to the rivers 186 6 The perilous advance to the east 209 Forging across the Dvina and Dnepr – the threshold to demise 209 ‘The Russian is a colossus and strong’ () 228 Caught in the hinterlands 245 7 The battle of Smolensk 260 The end of blitzkrieg 260 Crisis rising – the German command at war 273 ‘I am on the brink of despair’ () 290 8 The attrition of Army Group Centre 306 The killing fields at Yel’nya 306 Sealing the Smolensk pocket and Army Group Centre’s fate 324 Victory at Smolensk? The paradox of a battle 344 9 In search of resurgence 361 The arduous road to renewal 361 ‘Today is the beginning of positional warfare!’ (Fedor von Bock) 380 Embracing world war and apocalypse – Hitler reaches resolution 400 10 Showdown 423 Hitler’s triumph in defeat 423

Conclusion 439

Bibliography 452 Index 474

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Illustrations

FIGURES 1.1 Hitler rewarding his generals after the Polish campaign, 1939. Ullstein bild – ullstein bild. page 36 2.1 Hitler, Halder and Brauchitsch planning operations in the east. Ullstein bild – SV-Bilderdienst. 80 3.1 Panzer models available for Operation Barbarossa on 22 June 1941. Rolf-Dieter Muller,¨ ‘Von der Wirtschaftsallianz zum kolonialen Ausbeutungskrieg’, p. 185. 116 5.1 The German advance into the Soviet Union. Militargeschichtliches¨ Forschungsamt, Potsdam. 157 5.2 Soviet roads and the problem of dust. Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-136-0882-12. 168 5.3 German motorised divisions quickly outpaced the slow moving infantry divisions. Militargeschichtliches¨ Forschungsamt, Potsdam. 171 5.4 German infantry marching into the Soviet Union. Ullstein bild – SV-Bilderdienst. 197 5.5 A field conference on 8 July 1941 between Bock, Hoth and Richthofen. Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-265-0048A-03, Photographer: Moosdorf. 205 5.6 Summer downpours slow the speed of the advance. Ullstein bild – SV-Bilderdienst. 207 6.1 Many bridges in the Soviet Union could not support German tanks. Bundesarchiv, B 145 Bild-F016208-0012. 225 6.2 Soviet ambushes were common on the narrow forest roads. Militargeschichtliches¨ Forschungsamt, Potsdam. 245 7.1 A German war cemetery from the early days of the campaign. Militargeschichtliches¨ Forschungsamt, Potsdam. 267

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viii Illustrations

7.2 Exhausted German infantry after weeks of hard marching. Ullstein bild – SV-Bilderdienst. 272 7.3 Combat readiness of Panzer Group 3 on 21 July 1941. ‘Panzerarmeeoberkommandos Anlagen zum Kriegstagesbuch “Berichte, Besprechungen, Beurteilungen der Lage” Bd.IV 22.7.41 – 31.8.41’ BA-MA RH 21–3/47. Fol. 112 (23 July 1941). 282 7.4 The thin German lines east of Smolensk, July/August 1941. Ullstein bild – SV-Bilderdienst. 294 7.5 Roadside graves mark Army Group Centre’s summer advance. Ullstein bild - ullstein bild. 304 8.1 A 1941 Soviet propaganda poster. Ullstein bild – SV-Bilderdienst. 312 8.2 Combat readiness of Panzer Group 2 on 29 July 1941. ‘KTB Nr.1 Panzergruppe 2 Bd.II vom 22.7.1941 bis 20.8.41’ BA-MA RH 21–2/928. Fols. 78–79 (29 July 1941). 316 8.3 Captured Red Army soldiers. Militargeschichtliches¨ Forschungsamt, Potsdam. 318 8.4 Public hangings were a common feature of Germany’s . Ullstein bild – SV-Bilderdienst. 351 9.1 Positional warfare in the summer of 1941. Militargeschichtliches¨ Forschungsamt, Potsdam. 364 9.2 Halder and Brauchitsch discussing operations for the east. Ullstein bild. 389 9.3 Guderian with his troops in the east. Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-139-1112-17, Photographer: Knobloch, Ludwig. 399 9.4 Combat readiness of Panzer Group 3 on 21 August 1941. ‘Panzerarmeeoberkommandos Anlagen zum Kriegstagesbuch “Berichte, Besprechungen, Beurteilungen der Lage” Bd.IV 22.7.41 – 31.8.41’ BA-MA RH 21–3/47. Fols. 78–79 (21 August 1941). 418 9.5 Combat readiness of Panzer Group 3 on 4 . Burkhart Muller-Hillebrand,¨ Das Heer 1933–1945, Band III, p. 205. 420 9.6 Combat readiness of Panzer Group 2 on 4 September 1941. Burkhart Muller-Hillebrand,¨ Das Heer 1933–1945, Band III, p. 205. 421

TABLE 1.1 Division of forces in Marcks’ plan. Erhard Moritz (ed.), Fall Barbarossa, p. 126. 43

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Maps

1 Dispositions of Army Group Centre 22 June 1941. Glantz, David M., Atlas and Operational Summary The Border Battles 22 June–1 July 1941 page 154 2 Dispositions of Army Group Centre 27 June 1941. Glantz, David M., Atlas and Operational Summary The Border Battles 22 June–1 July 1941 172 3 Dispositions of Army Group Centre 1 July 1941. Glantz, David M., Atlas and Operational Summary The Border Battles 22 June–1 July 1941 192 4 Dispositions of Army Group Centre 7 July 1941. Glantz, David M., Atlas of the Battle of Smolensk 7 July–10 September 1941 218 5 Dispositions of Army Group Centre 10 July 1941. Glantz, David M., Atlas of the Battle of Smolensk 7 July–10 September 1941 224 6 Dispositions of Army Group Centre 13 July 1941. Glantz, David M., Atlas of the Battle of Smolensk 7 July–10 September 1941 238 7 Dispositions of Army Group Centre 16 July 1941. Glantz, David M., Atlas of the Battle of Smolensk 7 July–10 September 1941 258 8 Dispositions of Army Group Centre 20 July 1941. Glantz, David M., Atlas of the Battle of Smolensk 7 July–10 September 1941 265 9 Dispositions of Army Group Centre 22 July 1941. Glantz, David M., Atlas of the Battle of Smolensk 7 July–10 September 1941 284 10 Dispositions of Army Group Centre 24 July 1941. Glantz, David M., Atlas of the Battle of Smolensk 7 July–10 September 1941 287

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x Maps

11 Dispositions of Army Group Centre 26 July 1941. Glantz, David M., Atlas of the Battle of Smolensk 7 July–10 September 1941 310 12 Dispositions of Army Group Centre 28 July 1941. Glantz, David M., Atlas of the Battle of Smolensk 7 July–10 September 1941 314 13 Dispositions of Army Group Centre 30 July 1941. Glantz, David M., Atlas of the Battle of Smolensk 7 July–10 September 1941 321 14 Dispositions of Army Group Centre 1 August 1941. Glantz, David M., Atlas of the Battle of Smolensk 7 July–10 September 1941 325 15 Dispositions of Army Group Centre 8 August 1941. Glantz, David M., Atlas of the Battle of Smolensk 7 July–10 September 1941 370 16 Dispositions of Army Group Centre 15 August 1941. Glantz, David M., Atlas of the Battle of Smolensk 7 July–10 September 1941 397

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Acknowledgements

This book constitutes a revised version of my doctoral dissertation, which was submitted to the Philosophical Faculty I of the Humboldt- Universitat¨ zu Berlin with the title: And the World Held its Breath. The July/August 1941 Crisis of Army Group Centre and the Failure of Opera- tion Barbarossa. The process of researching and writing this study was enormously rewarding, for which a good deal of thanks belongs to my supervisor Professor Rolf-Dieter Muller¨ of the German Military Research Institute in Potsdam. His patience and selfless devotion to the project allowed me the benefit of his years of research and tremendous knowl- edge in the field. The end result is, I hope, a reflection of his faith in me and the project. A number of others deserve special mention for their time, services and friendship. The distinguished American historian Colonel David M. Glantz provided useful commentary and promptly replied to all my questions during the research process. He also kindly agreed to allow the reproduction of his own privately produced maps for publication in this study. They are the most detailed and comprehensive maps available on the German/Soviet war, and an invaluable asset to my work. Historians Dr Alex J. Kay and Dr Jeff Rutherford both read drafts and provided much critical commentary and useful feedback. Their respective exper- tise in the area of Germany’s eastern front also led to many enlightening discussions of the field. During my first year of postgraduate studies at Australia’s Monash University I wrote my first substantial research project on the eastern front under the skilled tutelage of Dr Eleanor Hancock. She went on to recommend future study at King’s College Department of War Stud- ies and throughout my time in England and Germany has remained a constant source of both helpful advice and encouragement. My deepest gratitude also extends to two German families without whom my desire to undertake this research would not have been possi- ble. Upon my arrival in Germany the Mogge family in Koln¨ took in a simple friend of the family and made me feel like one of their own. The

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xii Acknowledgements

whole family tirelessly taught me German throughout my initial year in Germany and even supported me financially in that period. Further- more, I would like to thank the Graichen family originally from Bonn, whose great kindness has provided an education in itself. They provided me with accommodation to do the bulk of my primary research at the military archive in Freiburg. More particularly, to my old friend Jakob Graichen, who provided technical assistance and cast a critical eye over my many translations, I owe a special debt of thanks. I should also like to add my thanks for the many years of friendship, good humour and countless travel adventures. Likewise, his lovely wife Mariana, who never failed in her interest for this project leading to much support and, at times, welcome distraction. Anna Held did some excellent last-minute translations for which I was very grateful. Thanks also to Isabella Kessel for providing me with accommodation in Freiburg at short notice and to Stefan Sonneberger for numerous favours. On a more personal note, I should like to thank my aunt Priscilla Pet- tengell for her thorough correction and commentary on the draft, as well as for all the years of loving dedication she has devoted to my education. To my father Warren and my brother Andy, my heartfelt thanks for all the blissful memories together in Cheltenham and everything else since. Finally to Paddy Stahel who passed away in 1998. An extraordinary woman of strength, wit and compassion, who never failed to recognise the important things in life. I was privileged to call her my mother. This work is dedicated to her.

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Glossary of terms

BA-MA Bundesarchiv-Militararchiv¨ (German Military Archive) ‘Action groups’ of the SD and Security Police, used mainly for mass killings Eisenbahntruppe Railroad troops FHQ Fuhrerhauptquartier¨ (Fuhrer¨ Headquarters) Gestapo Geheime Staatspolizei (Secret State Police) Grossdeutschland ‘Greater Germany’ Infantry Regiment Grosstransportraum ‘Large transport area’. Referring to the transport regiment responsible for bridging the gap between front-line divisions and railheads Kleinkolonnenraum ‘Small column area’. Referring to the transportation unit belonging to a division KTB Kriegstagebuch (War Diary) Landser German infantry man Lebensraum Living space Luftwaffe German Air Force MGFA Militargeschichtliches¨ Forschungsamt (Military History Research Institute) NCO Non-commissioned officer NKVD Narodnyi Komissariat Vnutrennych Del (People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs) NSDAP Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (National Socialist German Workers Party) OKH (High Command of the Army) OKW Oberkommando der (High Command of the Armed Forces) Panzerjager¨ Anti-tank unit POW Prisoner of war Pz. Div. Panzer Division RAF Royal Air Force

xiii

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xiv Glossary

Das Reich ‘The Reich’ 2nd SS Division Reichsbahn German railways SD Sicherheitsdienst (Security Service) SS (Protection Echelon) Stavka Soviet High Command UK United Kingdom USA United States of America USSR Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Wehrmacht German Armed Forces

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Tables of military ranks and army structures

Table of equivalent ranks

Translation used Equivalent US German Army/Luftwaffe in this study Army ranks

Officer Ranks Generalfeldmarschall Field Marshal General of the Army Generaloberst Colonel-General General General General Lieutenant General der Infanterie of Infantry der Artillerie of der Flakartillerie of Flak Artillery der Flieger of Aviation der Kavallerie of Cavalry der Luftwaffe of the Luftwaffe der Panzertruppe of Panzer Troops der Pioniere of Engineers Generalleutnaut Lieutenant-General Major General Generalmajor Major-General Brigadier General Oberst Colonel Colonel Oberstleutnant Lieutenant-Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Major Major Hauptmann Captain Captain Oberleutnant 1st Lieutenant 1st Lieutenant Leutnant Lieutenant 2nd Lieutenant

Enlisted Ranks Stabsfeldwebel Master Sergeant Master Sergeant Oberfeldwebel Technical Sergeant Technical Sergeant Feldwebel Staff Sergeant Staff Sergeant Unterfeldwebel Sergeant Sergeant Unteroffizier Corporal Corporal Gefreiter Private Private 1st Class Soldat Private Private 2nd Class

Source: Karl-Heinz Frieser, The Blitzkrieg Legend. The 1940 Campaign in the West (Annapo- lis, 2005) p. 355.

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xvi Tables of military ranks

Structure and size of the German Army

Germany Army English Number of subordinate Average number of formation translation units personnela

Heeresgruppe Army Group Two or more armies From 100,000 to over a million Armee Army Two or more corps From 60,000 to 250,000 Korps Corps Two or more divisions From 40,000 to 70,000 Division Division Two or more brigades From 12,000 to 18,000 Brigade Brigade Two or more regiments From 5,000 to 7,000 Regiment Regiment Two or more battalions From 2,000 to 6,000 Bataillon Battalion Two or more companies From 500 to 1,000 Kompanie Company Two or more platoons From 100 to 200 Zug Platoon From 30 to 40

Note: a Wide variations of these figures occurred especially after 1941 Source: Own records.

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