The German Army on Russian Front in WW2 - Process of war since June 22, 1941 - Part 2

Подробнее о видео

The invasion of Russia by the German army
in the summer of 1941

This description is referred from "The memoirs of Marshal Zhukov"

On the night of June 21, 1941 the surrender soldier of the German army appeared to the guard corps of Kiev district. He told that the German army would go into the departure point of the border to attack on the morning of June 22.

At 4:10 a.m. June 22, Russian General Staff received the report from Western district and the Baltic district that the attack of the German army started for the ground position.

At 4:30 a.m., all the Politburo members gathered in the cabinet room of Kremlin. Timoshenko and Zhukov also entered the cabinet room.

Stalin said:
"We need to call German embassy immediately."

The answer from German embassy was that Ambassador Schulenburg demanded a meeting to notice urgently. The duty to talk with the ambassador was given to Molotov.

Meanwhile, Vatutin reported that the German army performed intense bombardment and were moving to attack in the northwest district and western district.

Molotov came back in the cabinet room hastily and said:
"The German government declared war against us."

Stalin sat down on the chair deeply and thought seriously. Heavy silence continued for a long time.

Zhukov tore this silence and suggested that they ordered immediately the district of the border to concentrate attack with all energy on the collapse part of the German army and to continue maintaining not to break the state.

Timoshenko emphasized:
"Not only maintain, but destroy the German army."

However they noticed afterwards that the communications network between military units was cut in each district of the western border before night of June 22, and there was not the method to order quickly between the staff section and the military unit of the district. The spy and disturbance corps, sent beforehand in Russia by the German army, already finished to destroy communications network. They shot Russian communication soldiers and attacked the commanding officer. Most military units of the border district could not contact by the radio means either. The staff section of each district received the information that contradicted each other.

The General Staff could not receive the report from the staff section of each district at first, but, about 8:00 a.m., the General Staff got information about the situation of the battle.

They needed to hold a meeting about the promulgation of the mobilization order. In addition, they had to make the bill of the presidium about member of the Russian army Supreme Headquarters.

Timoshenko and Zhukov reached Kremlin at 9:00.
After having heard a report, Stalin said:
"Molotov will appear to radio at noon."

Stalin heard the draft of the mobilization order that made by the General Staff. He modified a little it and handed it to the secretary and ordered to get confirmation from the presidium. The proclamation about the national mobilization of military service was given on June 23. The state of war was announced at the same time. All national functions related to national defense were shifted to the military affairs. All authorities to secure the most relevant supplies for national economy were shifted to the military section.

Stalin decided the member of the Russian army headquarters with the Politburo. The Russian army Supreme Headquarters consisted of the following members: Semyon Timoshenko as the chairperson, Joseph Stalin, Georgy Zhukov, Vyacheslav Molotov, Kliment Voroshilov, Semyon Budjonny, Nicolai Kuznetsov.

On June 22, Baltic district, the Western district, Kiev district came to be called the Northwestern Front, the Western Front, the Southwestern Front.

Molotov made a speech for the Soviet Union people on the radio.
The summary of the speech was as follows:
"At today's 4:00 a.m., the German armies attacked our country without any statement, without declaration of war. They attacked many points at border, and bombed Jitomir, Kiev, Sevastopol, Kaunas and other our cities. This is the betrayal that is unprecedented for the history of the civilization nations. The bloodthirsty German leaders betrayed the Soviet Union which carried out all the duty of the friendship. Our army will achieve a duty for nations and give the enemy a decisive blow. We are right. The enemy will be defeated, and the victory will be ours."

At June 22 13:00 Stalin gave Zhukov an order:
"There is no commander who have enough experience of the tactical command on the front. It causes a series of defeat. So the Politburo decided to dispatch you in the southwestern front as the representative of the Russian army Supreme Headquarters. Go to Kiev immediately and command the front of Ternopoli with Khrushchev."

This description is referred from "The memoirs of Marshal Zhukov"