Operation Barbarossa and Germany's Defeat in the East (64 page)

In the final analysis Luftwaffe operations over the eastern front in the summer of 1941 suffered from the same debilitating deficiencies as the army. Although the initial performance was impressive, the Luftwaffe's strength was clearly insufficient to sustain the momentum into the vast spaces of the Soviet Union. Indeed, by the end of July 1941 the Luftwaffe was reduced to a mere 1,045 serviceable aircraft across the whole eastern front.
¹⁸⁶
As losses mounted and the demands of the war sharply increased, it took very little time for the Luftwaffe to become over-extended, giving the badly mauled Soviet air force time to revive. In practice, the Luftwaffe became a kind of flying fire brigade, rushed to trouble spots along the front or used to support the spearhead of new offensives, but an aerial superiority of the kind enjoyed in the earliest days of the conflict was never again
achieved.

1
Hoth,
Panzer-Operationen
, p. 96.

2
Jacob Kipp, ‘Overview Phase 1: to 20 July 1941’ in David M. Glantz (ed.),
The Initial Period of War
, p. 375.

3
‘3rd Pz. Gr. KTB 25.5.41 – 31.8.41’ BA-MA Microfilm 59054, Fol. 139 (17 July 1941).

4
Fedor von Bock, KTB ‘Osten I’, Fol. 24,
War Diary
, p. 247 (13 July 1941).

5
‘Gen.Kdo.LVII.Pz.Korps Kriegstagesbuch Nr.1 vom 15.2. – 31.10.41’ BA-MA RH 24–57/2, p. 197 (18 July 1941).

6
‘Kriegstagesbuch Ia. 14.Inf.Div. (mot) vom 25.5.41 – 1.10.41’ BA-MA RH 26–14/10, Fol. 66 (19 July 1941).

7
‘Kriegstagesbuch Ia. 14.Inf.Div. (mot) vom 25.5.41 – 1.10.41’ BA-MA RH 26–14/10, Fols. 69–70 and 74 (20 July 1941); Hoth,
Panzer-Operationen
, p. 99.

8
Fedor von Bock, KTB ‘Osten I’, Fol. 36,
War Diary
, pp. 255–256 (20 July 1941).

9
Hoth,
Panzer-Operationen
, p. 99.

10
Howard and Paret (eds.), Carl von Clausewitz,
On War
, p. 638.

11
Fedor von Bock, KTB ‘Osten I’, Fol. 33,
War Diary
, p. 253 (18 July 1941).

12
A reference to Madrid's defiant role in the Spanish civil war, which was kept under siege from November 1936 to its fall in March 1939 (Kipp, ‘Barbarossa and the Crisis,’ p. 134).

13
Franz Halder, KTB III, p. 88 (17 July 1941).

14
In spite of the remarkably poor performance of Foreign Armies East under Kinzel, Halder did not have him replaced until 1 April 1942. The new head was Lieutenant-Colonel Reinhard Gehler (Thomas, ‘Foreign Armies East’, pp. 262–263).

15
‘KTB Nr.1 Panzergruppe 2 vom 22.6.1941 bis 21.7.41’ BA-MA RH 21–2/927, Fol. 241 (16 July 1941).

16
Fedor von Bock, KTB ‘Osten I’, Fol. 33,
War Diary
, p. 253 (18 July 1941).

17
Ibid., Fol. 34, p. 254 (19 July 1941).

18
Ibid. (19 July 1941).

19
Ibid., Fol. 35, p. 255 (20 July 1941).

20
Ibid., Fol. 38, p. 258 (21 July 1941).

21
‘3rd Pz. Gr. KTB 25.5.41 – 31.8.41’ BA-MA Microfilm 59054, Fol. 132 (15 July 1941).

22
Ibid., Fol. 131 (15 July 1941).

23
Horst Fuchs Richardson (ed.),
Sieg Heil! War Letters of Tank Gunner Karl Fuchs 1937–1941
(Hamden, 1987), p. 118 (15 July 1941).

24
Jürgen Kleindienst (ed.),
Sei tausendmal gegrüßt. Briefwechsel Irene und Ernst Guicking 1937–1945
(Berlin, 2001), p. 86 (14 July 1941).

25
Walter Tilemann,
Ich, das Soldatenkind
(Munich, 2005), p. 136.

26
James Lucas,
War of the Eastern Front 1941–1945. The German Soldier in Russia
(London, 1980), p. 53.

27
Senior Lieutenant Yakov Dzhugashvili (Stalin's son) was captured near Smolensk by elements of the 12th Panzer Division. A German report stated that he maintained the outcome of the war was still unclear and refused to give up the hope of a Soviet victory. ‘Kriegstagebuch Nr.1 der 12.Pz.Div. vom 25.5.41 – 30.9.41’ BA-MA RH 27–12/2, Fols. 53–54 (18 July 1941). See also Perel,
Europa Europa
, pp. 33–34; Nagorski,
The Greatest Battle
, p. 71; Axell,
Russia's Heroes, 1941–45
,
Chapter 5
, ‘Stalin's Son’.

28
Hitler reinstated the Iron Cross on 1 September 1939 and it was awarded in four grades: Iron Cross 2nd Class, Iron Cross 1st Class, Knight's Cross and the Grand Cross (Herman Göring was the only man to received the Grand Cross). The Knight's Cross was awarded in four grades; with Oakleaves, with Oakleaves and Swords, with Oakleaves and Swords and Diamonds and with Golden Oakleaves and Swords and Diamonds. This last award was issued to only one man, Hans-Ulrich Rudel, who was a Luftwaffe war hero and flying ace. See Norman Davies,
No Simple Victory. World War II in Europe, 1939–1945
(London, 2007), pp. 264 and 267.

29
‘3rd Pz. Gr. KTB 25.5.41 – 31.8.41’ BA-MA Microfilm 59054, Fol. 139 (17 July 1941); Guderian,
Panzer Leader
, p. 178. See also Hürter,
Hitlers Heerführer
, p. 280.

30
‘Panzerarmeeoberkommandos Tagesmeldungen 21.6 – 31.8.41’ BA-MA RH 21–3/43, Fol. 166 (17 July 1941); ‘3rd Pz. Gr. KTB 25.5.41 – 31.8.41’ BA-MA Microfilm 59054, Fol. 139 (17 July 1941).

31
Fedor von Bock, KTB ‘Osten I’, Fol. 33,
War Diary
, p. 253 (18 July 1941).

32
Ibid., Fols. 34–35, pp. 254–255 (19 July 1941).

33
‘18. Panzer Division, Abt. Ia. Kriegstagebuch Teil I vom: 22.6 – 20.8.41’ BA-MA RH 27–18/20, Fol. 40 (18 July 1941).

34
‘Kriegstagebuch Nr.2 XXXXVII.Pz.Korps. Ia 25.5.1941 – 22.9.1941’ BA-MA RH 24–47/2 (19 July 1941).

35
Guderian,
Panzer Leader
, p. 179. Guderian's memoir makes the claim that the 18th Panzer Division was being moved to relieve the Infantry Regiment
Grossdeutschland
, not to attack towards Dorogobuzh, but this contradicts wartime records.

36
‘Kriegstagebuch der 10.Panzer Division Nr.5 vom: 22.5. bis: 7.10.41’ BA-MA RH 27–10/26a (19 July 1941).

37
‘KTB Nr.1 Panzergruppe 2 vom 22.6.1941 bis 21.7.41’ BA-MA RH 21–2/927, Fol. 287 (20 July 1941).

38
Hoth,
Panzer-Operationen
, p. 97.

39
‘KTB Nr.1 Panzergruppe 2 vom 22.6.1941 bis 21.7.41’ BA-MA RH 21–2/927, Fol. 282 (20 July 1941).

40
Fedor von Bock, KTB ‘Osten I’, Fol. 36,
War Diary
, p. 256 (20 July 1941).

41
Ibid., Fol. 35, p. 255 (20 July 1941).

42
‘KTB Nr.1 Panzergruppe 2 vom 22.6.1941 bis 21.7.41’ BA-MA RH 21–2/927, Fol. 287 (20 July 1941); Fedor von Bock, KTB ‘Osten I’, Fols. 36–37,
War Diary
, p. 255 (20 July 1941).

43
Von Luck,
Panzer Commander
, p. 59.

44
Fedor von Bock, KTB ‘Osten I’, Fol. 36,
War Diary
, p. 256 (20 July 1941).

45
At a meeting five days later (on 25 July), Kinzel reported to Halder and Heusinger that he still had no clear picture of the strength or size of Soviet reserves, but nevertheless concluded his presentation: ‘Large enemy operations I consider to be hardly possible.’ Adolf Heusinger,
Befehl im Widerstreit. Schicksalsstunden der deutschen Armee 1923–1945
(Tübingen, 1957), p. 130.

46
Fedor von Bock, KTB ‘Osten I’, Fol. 37,
War Diary
, p. 257 (20 July 1941).

47
Glantz,
Battle for Smolensk
, p. 30.

48
Kipp, ‘Barbarossa and the Crisis’, p. 140.

49
Glantz,
Battle for Smolensk
, p. 31.

50
KTB OKW, Volume II, p. 1029, Document 76 (17 July 1941); Mendelssohn,
Die Nürnberger Dokumente
, p. 369.

51
Indeed, on 16 July Hitler had already hosted a meeting of top officials to make selections for the posts of Reich and General Commissar (senior civil administrators) in the occupied Soviet territories. See Kay,
Exploitation
, pp. 180–185.

52
Trevor-Roper (ed.),
Hitler's War Directives 1939–1945
, pp. 139–141.

53
Muggeridge (ed.),
Ciano's Diary
, p. 371 (18 July 1941).

54
Franz Halder, KTB III, p. 98 (20 July 1941). In his post-war writings Halder conveniently disassociated himself from such rash judgements and even suggested that he had warned Hitler against attempting too much. ‘Hitler's keen ears had heard the warning of his military advisors…The boundaries of military possibilities he did not acknowledge.’ Franz Halder,
Hitler als Feldherr
(Munich, 1949), p. 39.

55
Italics mine. Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb, KTB, p. 303 (21 July 1941).

56
KTB OKW, Volume II, p. 1030, Document 77 (21 July 1941); Mendelssohn,
Die Nürnberger Dokumente
, p. 373.

57
Franz Halder, KTB III, p. 100 (21 July 1941).

58
Ibid., p. 102 (22 July 1941).

59
Trevor-Roper (ed.),
Hitler's War Directives 1939–1945
, p. 143.

60
Ibid.

61
KTB OKW, Volume II, p. 1031, Document 79 and pp. 1034–1035, Document 80 (23 July 1941); Mendelssohn,
Die Nürnberger Dokumente
, pp. 378–379.

62
Halder later described Hitler's decision to strike towards Leningrad as entirely motivated by ‘political fanaticism’ without any military grounding (Halder,
Hitler als Feldherr
, p. 40).

63
Franz Halder, KTB III, pp. 104–106 (23 July 1941).

64
Ibid., pp. 107–108 (23 July 1941).

65
Ibid. (23 July 1941). See also KTB OKW, Volume II, pp. 1030–1031, Document 78 (23 July 1941).

66
Franz Halder,
Hitler als Feldherr
, p. 42.

67
‘KTB Nr.1 Panzergruppe 2 vom 22.6.1941 bis 21.7.41’ BA-MA RH 21–2/927, Fol. 294 (21 July 1941).

68
‘Verlustmeldungen 5.7.1941 – 25.3.1942’ BA-MA RH 21–2/757, Fol. 4 (casualty lists until 19 June 1941, report dated 23 July 1941). In fact the real figure is a little higher as the information for the report was collected from all the divisions, with one submitting its data on 16 July, one on 17 July and two on 18 July.

69
‘Panzerarmeeoberkommandos Anlagen zum Kriegstagesbuch “Berichte, Besprechungen, Beurteilungen der Lage” Bd.III 25.5.41 – 22.7.41’ BA-MA RH 21–3/46, Fol. 180 (21 July 1941).

70
Franz Halder, KTB III, p. 103 (23 July 1941).

71
‘Verlustmeldungen 5.7.1941 – 25.3.1942’ BA-MA RH 21–2/757, Fol. 4 (casualty lists until 19 June 1941, report dated 23 July 1941).

72
‘Panzerarmeeoberkommandos Anlagen zum Kriegstagesbuch “Berichte, Besprechungen, Beurteilungen der Lage” Bd.III 25.5.41 – 22.7.41’ BA-MA RH 21–3/46, Fol. 180 (21 July 1941).

73
‘KTB Nr.1 Panzergruppe 2 Bd.II vom 22.7.1941 bis 20.8.41’ BA-MA RH 21–2/928, Fol. 6 (22 July 1941).

74
Walther Lammers (ed.),
‘Fahrtberichte’ aus der Zeit des deutsch-sowjetischen Krieges 1941. Protokolle des Begleitoffiziers des Kommandierenden Generals LIII. Armeekorps
(Boppard am Rhein, 1988), p. 205 (21 July 1941).

75
‘Kriegstagebuch der O.Qu.-Abt. Pz. A.O.K.2 von 21.6.41 bis 31.3.42’ BA-MA RH 21–2/819, Fol. 289 (22 July 1941).

76
Ibid., Fol. 285 (24 July 1941).

77
Guderian,
Panzer Leader
, p. 181.

78
‘Kriegstagebuch der 10.Panzer Division Nr.5 vom: 22.5. bis: 7.10.41’ BA-MA RH 27–10/26a (21 July 1941).

79
‘Kriegstagebuch Nr.2 XXXXVII.Pz.Korps. Ia 25.5.1941 – 22.9.1941’ BA-MA RH 24–47/2 (22 July 1941).

80
Bartov,
Hitler's Army
, p. 20.

81
‘Kriegstagebuch Nr.2 XXXXVII.Pz.Korps. Ia 25.5.1941 – 22.9.1941’ BA-MA RH 24–47/2 (22 July 1941); ‘Kriegstagebuch 4.Panzer-Division Führungsabtl. 26.5.41 – 31.3.42’ BA-MA RH 27–4/10, pp. 67–68 (22 July 1941). The 4th Panzer Division had in fact raised the number of its operational tanks by repairing and returning to service about 20 panzers since 17 July.

82
‘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).

83
Franz Halder, KTB III, p. 104 (23 July 1941).

84
‘Kriegstagebuch 4.Panzer-Division Führungsabtl. 26.5.41 – 31.3.42’ BA-MA RH 27–4/10, pp. 67–68 (21 July 1941).

85
Fedor von Bock, KTB ‘Osten I’, Fol. 38,
War Diary
, p. 258 (21 July 1941).

86
Hoth,
Panzer-Operationen
, p. 97.