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We’re embedded again with the recon unit connected to the 20. PzD for the forth time. We’ll see more color private footage as the unit moves on and then takes the strategically important Belorus city of Witebsk. As we often do we’ll then take a look at the original campaign Atlas to get a macro view of Army Group Center’s positioning, but this time we’ll dig in deeper by introducing the tactical symbols used in the situational maps and reading excepts from the German High Command War Diary for that day.

To see the uncensored version of the Soviet footage go to the new website military1945.com, create an account and sign in. Eventually there will be a full video-on-demand channel associated to that website.

During the first week of Barbarossa the 20. PzD acted as the tip of Colonel General Hoth’s 3rd PzG pincher rapidly advancing east. On June 28 in coordination with Guderian’s 2 PzG, the pinchers came together just east of Minsk creating the Bialystock-Minsk pocket and entrapping 20 Soviet divisions.

During the next few days the unit was able to refit and actually had a bit of time to relax. I’d guess that this cameraman was interested in both the lack of Russian men working the fields … and the presence of the young women.

By June 30 the pockets guard units had managed to beat off counter attacks by the Soviet 20th Mechanized Corps and 4th Airborne Corps which were trying to break out and the fate of the Soviet divisions was sealed.

On July 1 the 20. PzD was relieved from pocket guard duty by the 12. PzD and the division and immediately set off advancing East towards Beresina and the Düna river. On July 7th they crossed the Düna between Ulla and Komatschino and advanced on Witebsk.

The 20. PzD was part of Panzer Group 3 that was lead by Colonel General Hoth in the 39th Motorized Corps along with the 7th PzD, the 14th (mot) ID and the 20. (mot) ID.

The difference between mechanized and motorized infantry divisions is that mechanized units were equipped with armored personnel carriers, or infantry fighting vehicles for transportation and combat. Motorized infantry simply meant that the soldiers were transported by trucks or other motor vehicles.

In the War Diary, the daily entries related to each Army Group are divided into two sections. The first section gives an overview of the most important events of the day for the entire Army Group; it was an honor for units to be mentioned here. The second section describes what’s happened to each individual Army or Panzer Group in the Army Group. If there has been little or no change to the unit then this is also stated.

Pz. Gr. 3 has broken through the enemy defensive positions along the upper Düna. Witebsk is securely in German control and the rail bridge into the city has been taken undamaged. Enemy resistance around Witebsk and Senno has diminished. The advance of the 2nd and 9th armies towards the front is going as planned. The 4th Army are unchanged.

For Panzer Group 2, being lead by Colonel General Guderian, the 24 XXIV. AK. and the 46 XXXXVI. AK. are unchanged. The 47 XXXXVII. AK. of Pz. Gr. 2 is approaching the Dnjeipr to the north west of Kopys.

The War Diary diary stating that Witebsk was was firmly in German hands on July 9 is not entirely accurate. Unit commanders often communicated optimistic situational reports, and so did the German High Command.

This is an original 1941 military issue map of Witebsk.

On the 9th of July, part of the 20th PzD advancing from the north west and the 20. ID (mot) directly from the west advanced on the city. Part of the 20. PzD had been sent north in a blocking movement to counter heavy Soviet troop concentrations around the city of Gorodok. By 15:00 hours the advance and reached this line.

By 17:00 hours the west bank of the Duna river was in German hands however progress had been slow. Soviet artillery fire was effective and carefully prepared reinforced positions that were well camouflaged had proven difficult to overcome.

Shortly thereafter the 20. ID (mot.) managed to capture the rail bridge in tact and build a bridgehead on the eastern bank. This was significant because the other bridges had all been blown by the Soviets.

Heavy fighting continued throughout the late afternoon with the Soviets attacking the bridgehead with heavy tanks in battalion strength. The defenders, armed with little more than light infantry weapons were able to hold on.

By nightfall, the fires burning in the city had spread considerably which endangered the attacking units and made it necessary for the Germans to move the majority of their forces back out of the city. Witebsk certainly was not yet securely in German hands. That would take another few days.

Collection of books covering
the 20th (Mot.) Infantry Division
www.20pzgrendiv.eu

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