The unexpected war of Nazi Germany with the USSR. Part of 12. Navy
The message will consider the memories of veteran sailors about the events on the eve of the war. Let's see: did the sailors expect the start of the war on June 22, 1941? How identical are the events on different fleets?
Conclusions on the part of 11. What conclusions can be drawn from previously published information?
1) Several military commanders who, after the war, occupied the highest posts in the SA, wrote about a wrong assessment of the actions of the German command. “The highest Soviet command assumed that the enemy would not enter all forces at once on the entire Soviet-German front, and this would restrain the aggressor by using the forces of the so-called cover. But the war did not turn out that way ...”
2) There is not a single mention of the mythical 18.6.41 Directive on bringing parts of border districts to the readiness level of 2. On the contrary, there are three mentions that Tymoshenko and Zhukov were fairly calm during the day of June 21 1941. Zhukov even managed to attend a meeting at the State Agrarian University. The head of the State Department of Air Defense even writes that it seemed to him that Tymoshenko did not believe in the beginning of the war even when our cities were bombed. Around June 18, when asked about the beginning of the war by the ASAVO General A.Vasilevsky, answered: “Well, if it does not start over the next fifteen to twenty days". But what about the fiction of waiting for the June 22 war? ..
3) There is not a single mention of the fact that the main directorates of the General Staff of the Spacecraft are alerted to the control of the combat arms. They have a peaceful atmosphere, and these structures are directly subordinate to the head of the General Staff. The mythical directive from 18 numbers Zhukov and Tymoshenko could not send, because did not expect full-scale war. Therefore, they were on the phone to keep the commanders from responding to the provocations of the German generals. We will see this in the example of 22.6.41 messages and summaries in the 5 part or 6 part.
4) Alerting NKVD officers from June 18 can be a preparation for provocations or reinforcements, such as being brought closer to the ck 2's echelon border. Facts that it is not, no one will present to you.
Introduction. By the next anniversary of the attack on our homeland by the Nazi hordes, the author decided to place one of the parts out of turn. (Within two weeks, a rather rare book of one of the North Sea veterans is expected, and later I will post information from it, if there is a mention of the transfer of the Federation Council to the operational readiness level (OG) No.2 (or not) 17 June 1941) .
N.G. Kuznetsov (Commissar of the Navy): "In late February and early March, German planes again several times grossly violated Soviet airspace ... Fleet commanders anxiously reported that the Nazis were viewing their main bases. “How to be?” They asked me. I suggested that the Naval Headquarters instructed the fleets to open fire on violators without any warning. This directive was passed to 3.3.41.
17-18 March German planes were fired several times over Libau ... After one of these incidents, I was called to Stalin. In the office, except for him, Beria was sitting ... I was asked on what grounds I ordered to open fire on the violating planes ... I was severely reprimanded and ordered to immediately cancel the order ... The Maritime Headquarters gave the directive to 29 in March: “Not to open fire, but send fighters for landing enemy aircraft on airfields ...
Around 11 pm [22.6.41] the phone rang. I heard the voice of Marshal S.K.Timoshenko: “There is very important information. Come to me ... ”Our commissariats were located next door. We went outside. The rain was over, couples were walking again on the sidewalk, somewhere very close were dancing, and the sounds of the gramophone burst from the open window. A few minutes later we were already on the second floor of a small mansion, where the office of S.K.Timoshenko was temporarily located.
Marshal, walking around the room, dictated. It was still hot. Army General GK Zhukov sat at the table [without jacket] and wrote something ... It can be seen, the Commissar of Defense and the head of the General Staff worked for quite a long time. Semyon Konstantinovich noticed us, stopped. Briefly, without naming the sources, he said that it is considered possible the German attack on our country. Zhukov got up and showed us the telegram he had prepared for the border districts. I remember she was extensive - on three sheets. It described in detail what the troops should undertake in the event of an attack by Hitler Germany.
This telegram did not concern the fleets directly. Having run the text of the telegram, I asked: “Is it permitted in the event of an attack to use weapon?»
- Allowed.
I turn to Rear Admiral Alafuzov: “Run into the headquarters and immediately instruct the fleets about full actual readiness, that is, about readiness number one. Run! .. ”Vladimir Antonovich ran, I myself lingered for another minute, clarified whether I understood correctly that attacks could be expected that night. Yes, that's right, on the night of June 22 ...
The Commissariat reported to me: an emergency order has already been transferred. It is quite short - a signal by which in the field they know what to do ... I take the telephone receiver. The first call to the Baltic - VFTributsu: “Without waiting for the receipt of the telegram that has already been sent to you, transfer the fleet to FH No. XXUMX - combat. I repeat once again - combat ... ”My telephone conversation with VF Tribune ended in 1-23 minutes. In the BBB BF written: “35-23. Announced OG number 37 "...
SF received a telegram order in 0-56 22 June. A few hours later we received a report from Commander AGGolovko: "The Federation Council 04-25 switched to OG No. 1." So, during this time, the order not only reached the bases, airfields, ships and coastal batteries - they had already managed to prepare to repel the blow ... "
What is the difference between the OG for fleets? Directive of the People's Commissar of the USSR Navy to the Military Councils of the Pacific, Baltic, Black Sea and Northern Fleets, commander of the Amur, Caspian and Dnieper flotilla on the establishment of an exhaust gas system. No.9760cc / s 23.6.39:
“... 3. Set for the entire fleet three indicating the location:
a) FH №3 (everyday). Fleet core in readiness according to directive. The composition of the peacetime fleet in readiness, defined by the formation of the scheme. Repair of ships is made normally. Watch patrols at the Main base and periodic air reconnaissance at sea.
b) exhaust gas No. 2. The combat core of the fleet in 4-hour readiness for exit. The composition of peacetime, in service, in 6-hour readiness. Ship repair is boosted. Troops of rear deployed within the necessary. Watch at the bases and aerial reconnaissance at sea. Aviation dispersed at operational airfields.
c) FH №1. The combat core of the fleet in time readiness to sail. The entire composition of the peacetime fleet in 4-hourly readiness. Anti-aircraft artillery is made to action. Repair of ships forced ends. The military rear is deployed, the naval rear is within the limits of what is necessary. Enhanced aerial reconnaissance. Submarines are scattered and ready to sail. Enhanced watch at the bases. Aviation is dispersed in operational airfields.
On readiness №1, №2, №3 not to open any hostilities. Further deployment of the fleet can be either by mobilization, announced in a general manner, or by order of the People’s Commissar of the Navy without declaring total mobilization in peacetime on the following signals:
a) “CHARGE” - deployment of a peacetime fleet according to the operational plan.
b) "FIRED" - the beginning of hostilities.
4. On the basis of instructions on the OG of the fleet, develop to the Military Councils of the fleets and fleet commanders to develop more detailed schedules for the actions of all parts of the fleet ... People's Commissar of the Soviet Navy Flagship of the fleet 2 rank Kuznetsov.
With the introduction of the exhaust gas No. XXUMX, the entire naval base is being watched, aerial reconnaissance is constantly conducted in the sea, and naval aviation is dispersed. Anti-aircraft artillery is being prepared for firing at Exhaust No. 2, although it does not take long to prepare it for firing on ships during the transition from Ex. No. 1 to No. XXUMX. Ammunition already loaded.
Consider the memories of veterans of the Soviet Navy about events occurring immediately before the start of the war.
SF. A.G.Golovko (Commander of the Federation Council): «17.6.41. About 14-ti ... passed the plane with fascist identification marks ... Not a single battery made ... not a single shot ... I asked the commanders the same question: why didn't you shoot, despite the instructions to open fire? "
A strange question if the fleet is in readiness. No. XXUMX. But, it is not strange if there was an order (instruction) clarifying the actions of anti-aircraft artillery when intruders appeared. It was stated above that in the spring there was a ban from the People's Commissar of the USSR Navy banning the shelling of German intruders. Given by Stalin in the presence of Beria. Taking responsibility is worth a lot and characterizes the commander of the Federation Council as Man with a capital letter.
“I received the same answer: they did not open fire because of the fear of making a mess ... At the end of the day a link of fascist aircraft appeared at high altitude ... [Aircraft] were met by ... anti-aircraft fire...
The Federation Council on land defense issues is promptly subordinated to the LVO, my duty was to immediately bring there what was happening here ... The answer ... [signed] NSLVO: "Do not give the enemy a reason, do not shoot at high altitude." I am wondering what it means. Do not shoot so that the Nazis did not use the fact of shooting for the conflict? Or not to shoot, because there is a big height? .. It is necessary to take the initiative again at your own risk. I translate the fleet with my order on the exhaust gas №2.
18.6.41. All day surveillance service posts report so-called unknown aircraft everywhere ... One of these planes was fired at by anti-aircraft gunners 14 sd ...
19.6.41. A directive was received from the Main Naval Staff - to prepare submarines for launching into the sea ... I ordered the boats to be dispersed across different bays and lips so that they would sail immediately as soon as the signal was given ... [these actions are carried out already with the introduction of exhaust No. 1.]
20.6.41. In Polar, the commander of 14 was an army ... and NSH ... It was agreed that the army to protect this [Murmansk] the site will allocate another SD, the transfer of which ... we must ensure.
21.6.41 ...In fact, the fleet is already in readiness. It remains, as soon as the signal of a general mobilization follows, to take the various auxiliary vessels and facilities, laid out on the mobplan, and also to accept the vaults ...
22.6.41. The order of the People's Commissar of the Navy about the immediate transfer to FG No. XXUMX, sent to the Armed Forces, was executed ... with a signal from the fleet ... Everybody heard the roar of explosions ... Everywhere reports of fascist airplanes, of unidentified silhouettes of surface ships, of periscopes of submarines. Coastal anti-aircraft batteries and naval artillery continually fiercely but still uselessly fire at aircraft: at strangers and at their own ... "
In the memoirs of other veterans it is mentioned that the commander of the Federation Council ordered the army commanders also to open fire on the violating aircraft. Below are the excerpts from the railway services, according to which the army battery opened fire on a German aircraft.
RCB battery 385 Ozad (14 sd, 14 A): "18.6.41g. The battery guarded the KP division. Suddenly violating the border in 18-00, a German U-88 plane appeared at an altitude of 300. The battery opened fire after the 2 salvo, the plane disappeared behind the mountain towards the Finnish border.
19.6.41 The battery had the task of guarding the KP of the division against air attack. In 14-00, an airplane appeared at an altitude of 95 and 92 to 9000 on the course. Identify failed tk quickly disappeared. The battery did not fire.
21.6.41 Battery changes OP. T-K fire on Yu-88 18.6 made it possible to locate the battery.
22.6.41 Without a declaration of claims, Germany declared war on the USSR. Enemy aviation was not allowed in the air because meteorological conditions did not allow. The battery had the task of air defense KP, pier and bridge ... "
We see the personal initiative of the SF commander Admiral AG Golovko (Blessed him in memory) in the order to open fire on aircraft. At the Red Banner Baltic Fleet, fire on reconnaissance aircraft was not allowed until June morning 22. The fact of transferring the SF to FG No. 2 18 June 1941 of the year is not confirmed by other sources at this time. Only in the book "Captains of the Northern Fleet destroyers" noted: "In April, the 1941 Destroyer ["Swift"] embarked on a scheduled repair at the Murmansk helicopter ... 18 June came the order of the fleet commander to transfer to OG number XXUMX. The commander of the ship, A.D. Vinogradov, assembled the commanders of the combat units and demanded to determine the actual deadlines for the completion of the repair. Applications for supplies of ammunition, fuel and food in accordance with the wartime standards ... "
V.I.Platonov (commander of water area protection): “I returned to Polar on June 20. NS ... reported that Nazi reconnaissance planes were flying almost every day over the naval base and it was allowed to open fire on them, that with 19-30 19 June the fleet was transferred to OG No. XXUMX and we had already put three ship patrols into the sea ... I hurried to the commander of the fleet ... After hearing the report on the trip to the capital, Arseny Grigorievich gave permission to go on holiday to Gurzuf: "Let's hope that you completely spend your vacation."
June 21 in the sky over the Polar three times appeared at a low altitude German aircraft Me-110. The ships fired on him intense fire ... 22 June is the first day of vacation. Just managed to forget how the phone rang. In the tube the excited voice of the duty officer on the headquarters of the OVR: “Comrade Captain 1 of rank, received a signal“ Peacock 1 ”!”
- Perform "Peacock 1" to all ships and parts of the compound. I jumped up, began to dress hastily ... My wife anxiously looked at me and now at the sleeping children. How could she know that this signal, by which the fleet is being transferred to OG No. XXUMX, now meant an immediate threat of war or its beginning ... At the fleet headquarters, it was possible to learn only that the highest degree of readiness was announced by Moscow. Immediately ordered that staff officers checked the preparation of ships for battle. True, they had long been ready, we had already done everything that depended on us: we took ammunition, fuel, drinking water and foodstuffs, dispersed the ships of the divisions over the bay. At four o'clock in the morning AGGolovko called: "Vasily Ivanovich?"
- Yes, I listen to you, comrade commander.
- The war has begun! The Germans in the west crossed our border ... "
I.A. Kolyshkin: “June 18 I left after lunch from the dining room ... and suddenly I heard the claps of gunfire. Beat the battery near the polar. I routinely fumbled across the sky, looking for a plane pulling in a sleeve — a target on which anti-aircraft gunners were trained in shooting. But - what the hell! - there was no sleeve, and dirty-gray tears curled around the aircraft itself.
“What is the matter?” I asked the nearby flagship artillery brigade Peregudov. “Don't you know? Yesterday a German plane flew here, they didn’t shoot at it. Here the guest, you see, liked it, and flew again. ” The day before I was at sea ... and I did not know anything about it ... On Saturday, in the late sunny evening ... we were going to Murmansk. It is necessary to take the factory "W-402" ... and bring it to the Polar. In the morning we moored in our database. From a distance I saw ... the brigade commander N.I. Vinogradov ... Without waiting for my report, he briefly said: "War! .."
19.6.41. Senior Lieutenant Volovikov from the 72 of the combined aviation regiment of the SF aviation tried to attack the "twin-engined airplanes" on the I-153. In response, he was attacked by four Bf-109 from the cover group, after which the Soviet pilot left the pursuit in the clouds. The Air Force command in the North managed to disperse and disguise their aircraft on the ground. German historian P. Carel writes: “In the Far North, where the strategically important port of Murmansk was located, German air strikes on Soviet airbases on 22 June in 4-00 by German aviation were unsuccessful: Soviet aircraft were dispersed and disguised in advance ”
CBF. V.F. Tributs (commander of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet): “People’s Commissar of the Navy N.G. Kuznetsov a few days before the German attack strongly demanded from us ... to maintain heightened combat readiness, dispersal of fleet forces in Liepaja, Tallinn, Ust-Dvinsk and Hanko areas, as well as improving the organization of successful repulse of the alleged attack of the enemy. The battleship Marat departed from Tallinn to Kronstadt accompanied by the destroyers of destroyers, a detachment of light forces moved from Liepaja to Ust-Dvinsk. ”
We draw attention to the phrase about the departure of the battleship "Marat". 20 June 1941, the battleship "October Revolution" came to the Tallinn raid, from where he went to Kronstadt 1.7.41. Thus, we see a simple replacement of battleships in the naval base Tallinn.
“The 19 June fleet was on high alert, the bases and formations were ordered to disperse forces and strengthen the observation of water and air, and the dismissal of personnel from the units and from the ships was prohibited.
21 June 1941 of the year around 23 hours on the CP in Tallinn, the direct-call telephone from Moscow rang. People's Commissar of the Navy ... told me: "Today at night, an attack by Nazi Germany on our country is possible." He ordered, without waiting for the receipt of the telegram that had already been sent, to bring the fleet into full combat readiness, every violation of the state border, any action against our country to reflect all the power of the weapon.
“Is it allowed to open fire in the event of a clear attack on ships and bases?” I asked.
- Yes, I order the attack to repel with all forces, but you should not give in to provocations.
Summoning to the NS fleet of Yu.A. Panteleev and the Emergency Situations Ministry of MG Yakovenko, I informed them about the received orders. After that, by direct telephone, I contacted the commanders of the Navy ..., the deputy commander of the Air Force of the fleet ... and other commanders of the formations; reported the situation and ordered to bring the units and units entrusted to them into full alertness ... On 23-37 21 June, the entire fleet was ready to immediately repel the enemy attack, which was reported to the people's commissioner of the Navy. All the lighthouses at sea were extinguished. Then we informed about the situation of the NSH LVO ... and the government of the ESSR.
After the order of the People's Commissar on bringing the fleet to full combat readiness, we received a message after midnight on June 22: “During the June 23, a sudden German attack is possible. It can begin with provocative actions that can cause major complications. At the same time be on full alert, to meet a possible sudden strike by the Germans or their allies. I order: switching to FG No. XXUMX, carefully mask the increase in combat readiness. Conducting intelligence in foreign waters. I categorically prohibit. No other activities without special permission not to produce. " But I knew that the order had been sent before our conversation with the People's Commissar, so we did not lower our alertness... »
Yu.A. Panteleev (NSH CBF): “We took some measures on our own initiative ... 19 June 1941 of the year ... The Military Council of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet decided to bring the fleet into increased operational readiness ... Admiral [V.F.Tributs] detained me. He called Moscow and summoned NG Kuznetsov, People's Commissar of the Navy: “Comrade Nark, I formed the opinion that a German attack is possible at any hour. We must start to put barriers, otherwise it will be too late! I consider it necessary to increase the fleet's OG ... "Putting down the phone, the admiral sighed with relief:" With the increase of the fleet's OG agreedbut ordered to be careful not to go provocation. And with the production of mines ordered to wait. Let's act! ”
... OG number XXUMX - this is not a combat alarm, but it was necessary to do a lot. Cars were buzzing in the courtyard. The commanders of the so-called first echelon of the headquarters hurriedly carried their suitcases and briefcases with operational documents. Sailors loaded property. Everything was done quickly, at a run, because for the transition to the coastal command post there was a certain standard of time ... All the headquarters and institutions of the fleet moved to the command post. The rears were preparing to supply the ships with everything they needed ... In the 2-16, the Red Banner Baltic Fleet switched to OG No. 15 ...
We were strictly forbidden to put mines without special permission. Not once did I have to talk on the matter with the Deputy Naval Commissar of the Navy, Admiral LM Galler. “Comrade Panteleev, be careful about everything,” he invariably reminded him, “what are you thinking of putting mines there? Do not give in to provocations and please do not make noise before time ... "
Throughout the day, 21 June from Hanko and Riga, the fleet commander received reports and reports imbued with a desire to give the provocateurs a firm hand. The commander of the Libavska naval base ... was insistently asking for permission to open at least a warning fire on German aircraft appearing above the base. The commander gave a telegram to all the commanders of the formations. It stated that the provocations of the fascists in the areas of our naval base and in territorial waters do not stop, that it is necessary to increase vigilance and strengthen combat training. “To talk less about the danger of war, and to do more to raise the combat capability of ships,” the telegram ended with these words. These instructions of the komflot arrived at the ships in Libau at dawn of 22 June - at the moment when they were already bombed by German aircraft....
Around midnight, the commander urgently called me ... The fleet was already in his office ... Admiral Tributs was sitting back in his chair, tapping his knee nervously with a long pencil. “Now I was on the phone with the People's Commissar,” he told me without any prefaces, “we should expect an attack on Germany by Germany tonight.”
I ran back to my place, and in a few minutes the necessary instructions were already being transmitted to the fleet formations, to the aviation headquarters and the rear commander. In 23-37 21, June 1941, on the Red Banner Baltic Fleet, OG number 1 was announced ... Urgently transmit the signal to connections and parts. Their commanders knew what to do: the necessary documents were kept in safes, all that remained was to open the sealed bags ... This did not mean war, but obliged them to repel any attack with fire. On the approaches to the main fleet base, an additional ship patrol was installed. In 1-40 22 of June, I reported to the Chief of the Main Naval Staff: “The fleet and bases were transferred to OG No. XXUMX” ...
It was already felt that in the coming days the fleet would be concentrated in Riga and Tallinn. It was necessary to urgently bring in an additional amount of fuel ... Immediately at midnight, the People's Commissar requested permission for the Zheleznodorozhnik tanker ... immediately to go to Ust-Dvinsk, and tanker No. XXUMX from Kronstadt to Tallinn. Already by two o'clock an agreement came from Moscow; at the same time we were allowed to spend mobilization stocks.
I transferred the commander of the commander of the Libava base commander: all the remaining M-type submarines, except for the sentry, transfer immediately to Ust-Dvinsk, and the rest to Windavu. The naval commander of Hanko was ordered to transfer all submarines and torpedo boats to Paldiski. This was envisioned by our plans.
In Tallinn, there were several new ships that almost completed their state tests. It was decided to take them into the fleet and in the morning raise a naval flag on them. Less ready ships urgently went to Leningrad factories ...
Around one in the morning a telegram arrived from the People's Commissar of the Navy. She warned that during 22 – 23 June, a sudden German attack was possible, which could begin with provocative actions ... The telegram forbade reconnaissance in foreign waters and any active actions without Moscow’s permission, including defensive minefields ... June 22 4 o'clock in the morning the first bombs fell on our cities and the naval base ... "
N.M. Kharlamov (Head of the Navy Combat Training Directorate): “[20.6.41] a meeting of the Military Council of the fleet was held ... Most of the speakers were unanimous in the fact that the most likely area of the first enemy strike would be Libau. The commander of this naval base ... the day before he received an order to transfer parts to OG No. XXUMX. The same order from the district commander was received by the commander of 2 sd Major General N.A. Dedayev, who was supposed to interact with Libavskoy base and lead the defense of the city ... In the evening of 67 I was in the Navy command post when the Navy people's commissar called. He gave a verbal order: “To the fleet go to FG No. XXUMX, and in the event of an attack to use a weapon ...”
S.I.Kabanov (commander of the naval base on the Hanko peninsula): "19 June in 17-15 a signal was received from the fleet: “OG No. 2”. There were no explanations for the reasons for introducing readiness, summaries, or documents. I ... believed that readiness ... was announced from the center, Commissar of the Navy. Everything was set in motion in accordance with the instruction on readiness. But the 8 units of the squadron did not receive commands from Leningrad to occupy their battalion defense areas.
In the evening, at eleven o'clock, I came home to rest. According to OG No. 2, KP did not deploy, although the RDC was ordered to be maintained. I didn’t have time to change and sit down at the table when they reported from the border by phone that three passenger cars had passed from Helsinki to the city with the USSR plenipotentiary in Finland, T. Orlov, his deputy Yeliseyev, and naval attache captain 2 of rank Taradin. Arriving late at night in the base is an unusual thing. I was worried. I called home NS: he, it turns out, has already left.
Maximov reported that the plenipotentiary said briefly: “Perhaps 22 – 25 in June, Germany will start a war with the Soviet Union, Finland is its ally. In addition, since two German railway stations are unloading at the port of Turku ... It has now become understandable why so many German transports, especially in recent days, followed to Turku. No more waiting. AND I ordered to deploy all the forces of the base, as it was supposed by FG No. XXUMX, but not to declare an alarm. [Again we see the fact of the personal initiative of S.I. Kabanov.]
22-55 19 June received a report from 8 headquarters, which in the Finnish obstacles ... made two passes each 15-20 wide. M. In the same areas, groups of soldiers were seen dressed in uniforms unlike the Finnish ...
On the morning of June 20 ... the brigade commander reported that his regiments had fully occupied their defense sectors. At the same time, when answering my question, he asked not to remove the border guards from the border guard ... In the afternoon of June 20, a regular I.E. Stalin turboelectric commuter arrived at the base ... On the next day, he had to take passengers and cargo back on board. Leningrad. I ordered, at my own risk, not to release the 21 June turbo-electric ship on the flight.
The next day ... I received a very unpleasant radiogram from the commander of the fleet: accusing me of arbitrariness, he demanded to explain the reasons for such arbitrariness. I urgently informed the commander that I had delayed the turbo-electric approach, hoping to send the families of commanders, political workers and extra military servicemen on it. In addition, there are many civilians in the database. At the same time, I recalled the content of my radiogram from 19 June, the essence of the warning of the plenipotentiary, his actions and the measures I took.
Sent this explanation and thought. What will happen if everything goes well and OG No. XXUMX is canceled? .. Then I will have to pay from my own pocket to the Soviet Trade Fleet for a simple such a huge vessel. And I have nothing to pay ... There were no more requests. On this day ... alien submarines were twice discovered. Several times to the north and west of Hanko, alien planes appeared without violating our borders ... During the day of June 21, the 4 th fighter squadrons ... patrolled over the base, guarding it from the air... In the 23-53, the fleet commander introduced the OG No. 1. In Hanko OG base base number XXUMX, in fact, has already been entered ... "
RCB 8 Dep.: "21 June 1941. In recent days, violations of sea and land borders by the German armed forces have intensified. There is an increased concentration of troops in East Prussia and in Finland. Across Finland, there is a full mobilization of human resources. Most of the Finnish soldiers go to our eastern border - in the Vyborsk direction. On the land frontier in the district of Lappokhya - Sogare, the Finns stepped up their surveillance of our territory, and the soldiers were on alert. The civilian population of the Finns are being evacuated from the border. Border outposts are diverted from the border.
In 00-00 hours by the headquarters of the naval base of Hanko, the brigade is given the signal OG number 1. Parts of the brigade are on full alert. Enhanced surveillance throughout the border. Parts are instructed to evacuate the family s / s with the steamer departing 22.6.41 to 18-00. Families of the beginning of the eastern and western islands, and partly from Lappvik moved into the p / o ... "
B.M.Volchok (Hanko naval base): "21.6.41, the headquarters of political studies was held at Zenap headquarters. After lunch, regiment commissar [made] short message: "Air defense units are given in increased combat readiness. The workshop is terminated. Everyone should return to their units immediately! .. ”At about four o'clock in the morning of 22, blue rays dug into the sky, illuminating the Nazi planes, and the anti-aircraft gunners opened fire ...”
G.M.Egorov: "12.6.41 submarine Shch-310, in which I served as a navigator, went out of the naval base of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet - Tallinn at sea to patrol ... In addition to our Shch-310 ... other ships of the division: Shch-309 and "U-311" ... The destroyer Engels served as a target ship. Boats, alternately plunging, went to him in attacks ... In the evening of June 21 ... the division of boats ... moved to the surface position in Tallinn ...
22 June at about five in the morning came to Tallinn ... From the signal post entered ... a semaphore: "Become anchored. Expect further orders "... Yaroshevich ... said, without addressing anyone:"Again, it is clear fleet doctrine. And we have both fuel and food running out. ” "Without fuel, they will not be sent to the sea," the commander of the warhead-5 expressed a reasonable idea ...
From the post came another order from the fleet duty officer headquarters: “Immediately prepare for the cadets to write off ashore. Now a boat will suit them ”... Our watch officer asked the senior officer on the boat:“ What's new on the shore? ”
- What are you, fell from the moon? From the night of the fleet announced OG number XXUMX ...
I asked the commander: “Isn't it a war?” Dmitry Klimentevich shrugged his shoulders: “It can not be ... The Germans in the west are connected by fighting. Where they also climb to the east ...»
We see that at unexpected events of the night of June 22 about the specified detachment of ships just forgotten. There is no mood that war is about to start among the command personnel of the submarine Shch-310.
P.D.Grishchenko (submarine commander): «The attack of fascist Germany was so unexpected for us that when, at four o'clock in the morning, planes with a swastika appeared over us, we thought: this exercise continues. On the eve, on Saturday evening, everyone noticed that the loudspeakers on the territory of the naval base often repeated: “Citizens living in the town! Teaching on the local defense of Libau continues, follow the blackout. " However, in 23-37 21 June, the Red Banner Baltic Fleet was announced to be OG No. 1. At two o'clock the personnel from the coastal barracks premises moved to the submarines.
The first hour we stood with the political officer Bakanov on the bridge, smoked, wondered what would happen next. The same happened on neighboring submarines: everyone was looking forward to the “hang up” signal, but it was not there. Having gone down to the central post, I decided not to waste time, to carry out a teaching on the survivability and unsinkability of a ship ...
In 3-30, in the midst of our teachings, I received a radiogram with the address: “By fleet”, I quickly read out loud: “... recently, many commanders have been engaged in guessing the possibility of war with Germany and even trying to name a date her start ... Instead of ... I order to stop such conversations and every day, every hour used to enhance combat and political training ... The Tributz Kom-fleet. "
All relieved breathed. But after a minute or two, the navigator Petrov reported from the bridge: “Three bomber aircraft with black crosses and a fascist swastika flew over the submarines at an altitude of 500-600 meters. I give the command - "air raid". We are preparing an anti-aircraft gun for battle. But none of the submarine commanders, bearing in mind the command of the komflot, “not to open fire,” do not dare to take the liberty to break it. Meanwhile, airplanes fly over us for the third time. Somewhere in the side is not the bombings, not the shooting of guns.
All phones on the piers are busy. We call all instances, but the answer is one: wait for instructions. And we waited. Only at six o'clock in the morning the news reached us: “Germany launched an attack on our bases and ports. By force of arms to repel any attempt to attack the enemy ... "
Yu.S.Rusin: "21.6.41g. The personnel of the submarines lived according to the usual routine. In the evening, one part of the personnel was on leave ashore, the other one was on duty and watch service and rested in the cockpits at the floating bases ... In 23-37, the bells of a loud battle sounded on the ships of the fleet. I should note that we often heard such signals and were to some extent accustomed to them. Another June 19 on orders from Moscow CBF was transferred to FH # 2. Previously, the alarms were conducted as training and personnel carried out their duties in the prescribed sequence ... That night, the fleet switched to OG No. XXUMX. Throughout the night, the staff of the "babies" did not close their eyes, waiting for the combat order ... "
Z.S.Timoshkov (1 BF Marine Corps Brigade): “I was one woman - the circle of sailors. There I was the head of the dental office. 21 Jun we all went to bed. Just on the eve of us, all the guys were preparing for their leave ... On alert at 12 at night, they raised our part ... ”
A.G.Mirolyubov: "By June 1941, three Zenap units (No. 3, 4, 5), VNOS service units, a searchlight battalion, and searchlight companies were deployed to protect ships and other Navy Red Banner Baltic Fleet objects from air strikes.
To perform a combat mission, ground-based air defense weapons should have worked closely with the 13 and 71 fleet aviation and with the anti-aircraft weapons of the ships in the base. The combat control of the main base's air defense assets was carried out by Major General of Artillery GS Zashikhin, chief of the air defense of the fleet. On June 19, the fleet was transferred to OG No. 2, and on 23-27 21 June - on full combat readiness. Since that time, anti-aircraft gunners did not depart from their guns and instruments... "
M.P.Pavlovsky: “It was June 41 of the year. On a piece of ... calendar bold black number "21". The working day was nearing its end. At this time, the chief of the SHO entered the office without a report.
- What have you got? - General displeased to meet him.
- Another report, Comrade Commander.
Yeliseyev quickly ran the text through his eyes. When the officer left, the general said that German submarines appeared near our shores. We did not have time to exchange views on this matter, as the head of the SHO entered again. This time he gave the general an order for the commanders to immediately return from their vacations. The general immediately gave the necessary orders, ordered to strengthen the observation of the sea, requested a mobilization plan. On behalf of Eliseev, Okhtinsky called Tallinn several times to get at least some clarifications. But fleet headquarters invariably replied: “Wait for instructions».
“Well,” the general pondered aloud as he walked around the office, “we will wait. Maybe more readiness №1 and will not go. What do you think, Alexey Ivanovich? ”Okhtinsky was silent. "No", - continued Eliseev -" ne should go... "
The rest of the night seemed to us infinitely long. Everyone was awake. Just before sunrise ... a phone call rang ... Okhtinsky approached the device. Listening, he suddenly changed his face. We held our breath. When Yeliseyev entered, Okhtinsky slowly put the receiver down: “War, comrade general. Just called NS fleet headquarters. The Nazis crossed the border, bombed the city. "
“What instructions?” Yeliseyev deafly asked. I convey literally: “You are separated from us, act at your own discretion ...»
F.K.Timashev: "Since 1940, I served in Libau as commander of an anti-aircraft battery. Our 84 ambush, consisting of three anti-aircraft batteries, had the combat mission of protecting the harbor, the marine plant and the military camp from air strikes. The batteries of the neighboring 43 Ozad were located in positions in the southern part of Libau, and one of them was at the airfield Grobiинa ...
21 Jun was not fired into the city. At about midnight, the alarm was declared, and all units of the Libavskiy Navy were transferred to full alert. At about one o'clock in the morning, the division commander, V.S. Soroka, telephoned that provocations by the fascists were possible. About four o'clock in the morning, the reconnaissance battery ...: "The noise of aircraft engines in the maritime sector heading to the base." The report was transmitted to the divisional command post. There was a solid fog, the visibility was poor, however, the range-finders and instrumentists began searching for a target. At the same time, we heard bombings near the airfield.
The first to find the target rangefinder Skvortsov. Then the target was caught by instrumentists Gumenyuk and Velbovets. A few seconds passed and the battery opened fire, firing three volleys at the leaving Nazi planes. Other batteries and anti-aircraft guns also opened fire. Skvortsov reported that one aircraft began to smoke, went down in a southerly direction. At about six o'clock in the morning enemy aircraft made a second raid ... "
A.S.Cherny: “In the summer of 1941, I commanded the Red Banner Baltic Fleet 202 air defense command. Our batteries were located in Estonia on the islands of Suur and Väike Pakri, covering the city of Paldiski from the north ... The division consisted of three artillery batteries of 76-mm guns, a projector and a machine-gun mouth, a battery maintenance and platoon control ...
19 June 1941 of the year by order from the fleet headquarters, we switched to OG No. 2, and late at night 21 June - to OG No. 1. 22 June in 12-10 on the radio learned about the treacherous attack of fascist Germany on our country. "
P.E. Melnikov: “The sector included the 22 and 32 individual artillery divisions, the 37 ambush and the 41 th detached machine-gun battalion ... A knock at the window in the first hour of the night was a complete surprise to me. Having unlocked the door and having heard the report of the messenger that an urgent telegram arrived at the headquarters, I put on my tunic and cap without much hunting. “What's up there?” Asked Vera, in a sleepy voice.
- I do not know, now I go to headquarters, find out. Some urgent telegram.
Kryuchkov was already in place. He handed me a telegram: "Look what they write from the sector." And that was written: “OG number XXUMX. All German submarines appearing in the battery sectors should be considered enemy and open fire on them. ”
“Do you understand something?” Asked Kryuchkov. “No,” I frankly confessed. The divisional nodded his head: “Me too. But it seems to be a serious matter. ”
— But we have an agreement with Germany... " There is no word about the introduction of exhaust gas number 2.
S.G. Kushnerev: “Before the war, I served in the headquarters of an anti-aircraft compound that had covered Kronstadt with its sea and coastal forts, as well as fleet facilities from Oranienbaum to Ust-Luga. At that time, this area was considered the rear area of the fleet, since The main forces and facilities of the fleet were located in Estonia, Latvia, and also on the territory leased from Finland - the Hanko Peninsula.
In June, the Red Banner Baltic Fleet held a training exercise in which ships and units of the fleet participated, including air defense units. Teaching ended June 21. It was Saturday and the officers free of duty went home ...
When I entered on duty, I checked the readiness for combat of the anti-aircraft batteries on duty, searchlights, air observation tools, and the serviceability of all communication lines, I was convinced that there were no airplanes in the air and there were no applications for flights in our zone. After completing the check, I reported to the fleet air defense command post in Tallinn. It was assumed that the duty would be calm, as was usually the case after the exercises that had just ended. At 4 o'clock in the morning of June 22, a command from the KP received a report from the duty officer on the battery No. 413 ...: “From the north-west, the noise of aircraft engines!”
Maybe this is our "lost" aircraft? - I thought. I need to find out, and I gave the command: “To illuminate the target!” From the command post in Kronstadt they reported: “In the rays of searchlights, fascist airplanes drop some objects on parachutes in the area of Tolbukhin lighthouse.” What items can drop a combat aircraft? Bombs! But you do not need a parachute. So it can only be sea mines. The actions of the German aircraft are clearly hostile. It is clear, but to open fire? Yes, to open, - I decided, and gave the command: "To duty batteries, open fire on enemy aircraft! All other parts of the air defense system - combat alarm ...
The attacked enemy aircraft made an emergency landing on our territory and the captive crew commander could not think of anything more original: he said that the plane took off for a walk, but got lost and was shot down over Kronstadt. However, events evolved as usual. Inquiries began by calling:
- What kind of shooting over Kronstadt? - I requested the duty of the 2-air defense corps.
“Report air situation over Kronstadt,” demanded Major General F.Ya. Kryukov, commander of the Northern Air Defense Zone.
The officers came to the KP porridge for alarm, and when the military commissar of the air defense section of the regimental commissar L.L. Margulis arrived, he immediately removed me from duty: “We will understand what you have done and which aircraft you opened fire on ...”
Ya.M.Dmitriev: “11 Ambush ... had a combat mission - to cover coastal forts from possible air strikes ... Therefore, the battery positions were equipped as long-term (stationary). The 3-I battery, which I commanded, occupied a position approximately in 4-km south of Fort Krasnoflotsky ...
June 19 battery arrived at the fort "Krasnoflotsky" to perform training shooting at night. Here was our anti-aircraft range. Turned into battle order, carefully prepared for the shooting, but in the evening the sky tightened the clouds and canceled the shooting. The same picture was repeated 20 and 21 June.
21.6.41 our anti-aircraft battery is on combat duty. At night, only watch air scouts and sentries were awake. The rest, spreading out covers and tarpaulins on the grass, covered with jackets, went to sleep near the guns. Approximately at 3-40, the commander of the distance unit, I. Pakholkov, discovered a group of aircraft flying along the Finnish coast in the direction of Kronstadt. Distinguishing black crosses - the identification marks of fascist Germany - he reported: "German planes are flying on Kronstadt!"
Running up to the range finder, I made sure that they were really Nazi planes and declared an alarm. 16 – 18 airplanes “Do-215” flew at an altitude of 300 – 400 meters to the wake at extended intervals. Approaching the fairway, the planes dropped mines on parachutes, turned around and went west along the coast of the bay. One of them, having seen a fishing seiner ahead in the course, fired at him with machine guns ...
The instruction ordered the commander of the battery on duty to independently open fire on aircraft in the event of their appearance over our territory and clearly hostile actions. Such hostile actions are obvious, and there can be only one solution: when entering the “Dornier” in the battery-controlled zone, open fire. But how unlucky we are! The planes flew so low that the gunners didn’t see them because of the forest stretching along the coast ... At 12 at about o'clock on the day of 22 on June 1941 of the year, having already returned to main position, we ... listened by radio to a government report that fascist Germany ... suddenly, without declaring war, attacked our Homeland ... "
S.F.Golubev: “The Kronstadt white nights in June 1941 were beautiful and impressive. But despite the apparent calm, all the Red Banner Baltic Fleet units, including the Kronstadt naval base, were located in OG No. XXUMX, and one third of the anti-aircraft artillery, searchlights and all aerial surveillance, warning and communication posts were in full alert. [Information about Exhibitor No. 1 is not supported by other memories. Speech can go only about OG №2. In FG No. 2 for medium-caliber 1 / 3 artillery of all batteries is in readiness No. 1.]
In the eastern part of the sky, the morning was born when 22 June unidentified aircraft were discovered. They appeared on muffled engines from the Teriok area and over the fairway in the Gulf of Finland they dropped something into the water. The scouts of anti-aircraft batteries and observation posts reported what they saw on the command post. The alarm signal sounded in all parts of the air defense base. The first volleys of batteries of the 1-zenap were heard ... "
P.P.Kovkin: "In the second half of May 1941, a general fleet exercise took place. The 309 depot of the projection battalion participated in it, its battle formations were located on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland in the area of the forts. In the evening, the fighters took their positions, and in the afternoon they left for the Krasnaya Gorka fort, where our barracks were located.
So it was on the night of June 22 1941. At about three o'clock I climbed the KP tower and saw gaps of anti-aircraft shells over Kronstadt. At this time, the battalion NSh A. Kotov on the phone reported to me that a raid of fascist aircraft had been made on Kronstadt. I replied: "Everything is going according to plan." According to the plan of the training leaders, an “air attack” was planned on the “naval base Kronstadt”, and the anti-aircraft artillery was supposed to “repel the raid,” ie conduct training shooting. After a short while I heard the approaching sound of the planes, but could not detect them in the sky. I saw it only when the planes were very close and well distinguished the identification marks of fascist aviation.
Two aircraft flew heading from east to west. A third 11 battery was standing in front of my gearbox, but it did not open fire due to the low altitude of the target. Three more aircraft went through the 1 – 2 minutes. They flew along the fairway and the battery made one volley. Then I realized that this was not a doctrine, but a war with fascist Germany. It was necessary to immediately deploy the work of the headquarters and the entire battalion according to the plan of wartime ... "
E.S. Nadezhdin (foreman of 2-th article. served on the TC in the Gulf of Finland): “The Finnish War is over. The service to the spacecraft again went on as usual ... One summer in June, 1941 was a sunny day, and we swam with the guys at sea, suddenly a telephone message came to us from the headquarters that the Germans started bombing the USSR at night ... "
BSF. N.M. KULAKOV (FWS Black Sea Fleet): "18 June the teaching was over, and the ships began to return to Sevastopol. However, in the fleet was saved OG number XXUMX. Parsing maneuvers planned for June 2 ...
On June 21, the head of the RO, Colonel D. B. Namgaladze, brought me a recording of ... an English radio program saying that Germany’s attack on the Soviet Union is expected on the night of June 22. I immediately called HF IV Rogov [head of the Main Political Directorate of the Navy - Deputy Narcotics Commissariat of the Navy, member of the Central Committee of the WKB (B).] asked how to understand this. He endorsed our combat readiness actions and said that the message of the English radio in Moscow is known, the necessary measures are being taken. That Saturday evening, the ships' staff was given rest. And although the ships remained darkened, the city was shining with bright lights ... I went to my family late at night ... I was awakened by the call of the office phone.
“Comrade divisional commissar,” the operative duty officer reported, “an important telegram from the people's commissar was received. The car was sent for you ... Almost everyone in the fleet headquarters was already assembled. Business concentration reigned here, everything looked as if the naval teaching continued. Vice-Admiral F.S. Oktyabrsky ... handed me a form with a telegram of the People's Commissar. It was a brief, consisting of several words, an order to all fleets, except for the Pacific, to immediately transfer to exhaust No. XXNX. The telegram adopted at the beginning of the second o'clock in the morning, went from Moscow in a matter of minutes, but during that time the people's commissar N. G. Kuznetsov personally transmitted the same order by telephone (the rear admiral I. D. Eliseev approached the apparatus, who remained in the headquarters in the evening ).
After letting me read the telegram, the commander asked: “Do you think Nikolai Mikhailovich is a war?” “It seems so,” I replied, “it seems that the British did not lie. After all, Philip Sergeevich and I did not think that it would start so soon ... ”
The transfer of the fleet to the highest combat readiness was well worked out, and everything went according to plan. Ships and units began to accept additional ammunition, fuel, food. The garrison was given a signal "Big collection", and the base and city are darkened. Only the Chersonesus lighthouse and the Inkerman alignment signs shone, and suddenly it was discovered that the connection with them was broken. Motorcyclists were sent there, and soon the lighthouse and leading marks went out. Only the farthest leading mark, Upper Inkerman, continued to shine, but alone it could not serve as a sufficient guide for enemy aircraft. As it turned out, the communication violation was the result of sabotage - someone cut tens of meters of wire on the lines ...
By half past two, the transition to FG No. XXUMX completed all ship connections, coastal defense, and naval aviation. A report was received on the same from the Danube military flotilla ... About three o'clock in the morning from the observation posts and communications in the area of Evpatoria and on Cape Sarych they heard: the noise of the engines of unknown aircraft was heard. They flew over the sea in the direction of Sevastopol. In 1-3, the engine noise was heard already from a post on the Konstantinovsky Ravelin. In the city, even before that, the air-raid sirens roared. The anti-aircraft gunners were supposed to open fire - an order about this to the head of the fleet's air defense, Colonel I.S. Zhilin, was given to NSH of the fleet by Rear Admiral I. D. Eliseev, as soon as it became clear that unknown aircraft were approaching the main base ... In 07- 3 - ground and ship anti-aircraft guns hit ... "
N.G. Kuznetsov (Commissar of the Navy): "The first to take the brunt of Sevastopol ... The city in the evening 21 June still glittered with lights. The boulevards and gardens were filled with festive elegant public ... Admiral I. D. Eliseev writes in his memoirs: “A telegram came from 01-03 from Moscow. Two minutes later she was lying on my table. Soon the telegram was delivered to the arriving fleet commander. It was the order of the People's Commissar of the Navy to transfer the fleet to FG No. 1 ... FG No. 1 was announced for the fleet in 01: 15 ... "
Gradually, the lights on the boulevards and in the windows of houses began to fade. The city authorities and some commanders called the headquarters and asked with bewilderment: “Why did it take so hastily to obscure the city? After all, the fleet has just returned from the teachings. Would give people some rest. ” “We must black out immediately,” replied from headquarters. There was an order to turn off the power switch of the power station. The city instantly plunged into such thick darkness ... At the fleet headquarters, packages were opened that were inviolable until this fateful hour. At the airfields machine-gun bursts were heard - the fighters tried out live ammunition. The anti-aircraft gunners removed safety checks from their guns ...
“Approximately to 02-00 22 of June, the entire fleet was in readiness,” written by N.T. Rybalko. At about 3 hours, the duty officer was informed that the posts SNIS and VNOS [SNIS - monitoring and communications service] heard the noise of aircraft engines. Rybalko reports on this to I.D. Eliseev. “Does firing on unknown aircraft?” - calls the head of the air defense, Colonel Zhilin. "Report to the commander," - responds NS. Rybalko reports komflotu ... There is a conversation that I reproduce by the recording of the duty officer.
F.S. Oktyabrsky. Are our planes in the air?
N.T.Rybalko. Our planes are not.
F.S. Oktyabrsky. Keep in mind that if there is at least one of our aircraft in the air, you will be shot tomorrow.
N.T.Rybalko. Comrade commander, what about opening fire?
F.S. Oktyabrsky. Follow the instructions ...
Naturally, such a response could not satisfy the duty officer N. T. Rybalko, and he turned to the NN fleet stationed next to him ID: “What can be answered by Colonel Zhilin?” “Give the order to open fire,” said I.D. .Eliseev. “Open fire!” - N.T.Rybalko ordered the head of the air defense. But Colonel Zhilin was well aware of all the risks associated with this.
“Keep in mind that you are fully responsible for this order.” I write it down in the ccb, ”he replied, instead of saying a short naval“ Yes! ”. “Write down wherever you want, but open fire on the planes!” - almost shouts, starting to get nervous, Rybalko ... ”
G.K.Zhukov (Head of General Staff): "In 3-07, the Black Sea Fleet Commander Admiral F.S. Oktyabrsky phoned me on HF and said: “The fleet VNOS system reports a large number of unknown aircraft coming from the sea; the fleet is on full alert. Please instructions. I asked the admiral: "Your decision?"
- The solution is one: to meet the planes with the fire of the fleet's air defense.
After talking with S.K.Timoshenko, I replied to Admiral F.S. Oktyabrsky: “Act and report to your Commissar ...”
The Black Sea Fleet is also afraid of being caught up in provocation contrary to the Directive from Moscow. Specify the head of the General Staff, how to proceed. It is difficult to say: how much is this true ...
N.E.Bassisty (cruiser commander): “... Five days of“ Chervona Ukraine ”then together with the squadron, the Black Sea was frisking away from it ... volleys of its main caliber rumbled, anti-aircraft guns fired ... In order, weren't tired, 19 June we returned to Sevastopol ... 21 June came ... Great day tidy. The ship corridors and decks do not pass. Everything washes, purity and brilliance everywhere are induced. Having washed out the cruiser, as they say, from the klotik to the keel, the Red Navy men and foremen went about their business ... The commanders of combat units gathered in my cabin. Calculate how much and what stocks took the cruiser ...
The situation at the Sevastopol roadstead, despite the increased OG, did not cause much concern. At night, I woke up from gunfire and alarming beeps ... I ran through the unusually dark streets - street lighting was extinguished everywhere in Sevastopol. Front and rear heard the trampling of feet - many sailors on anxiety hurried to their ships ... Sergievsky excitedly reports: “Due to the large gathering on the ship, OG No. XXUMX was announced. To the anti-aircraft guns served ammunition. There is an order from the fleet's sun: if alien planes appear above the base - to open fire ... It was already three in the morning when the rays of the searchlights pierced the sky, the plane was lit by a cross. Hit anti-aircraft guns ... "
S.S. Vorkov (commander of the destroyer "savvy"): "...21 June 1941 of the year ... Sevastopol ... lived the ordinary life of a large seaside city. But the calm was external. Behind him were the events held in the fleet related to increased alertness. At the beginning of the second night, the duty officer woke me up and reported: “OG No. XXUMX was announced for the fleet”. Immediately I ordered: “To send by division is a combat alert!” Half past two ... The personnel were given gas masks. Getting ready to go to sea. Smoke blanketed the whole of South Bay - ships lifted pairs ...
3-15 ... Rays of searchlights pulled out a plane from the darkness, another one ... volleys of coastal batteries and ship artillery rattled, flashes of explosions flashed around the planes. “What is it, war? ..” At this time, the rumble of an aircraft engine is heard above us. I order the gunners to open fire. "Anti-aircraft battery! .. On the plane ... Fire!" - commanded by Lieutenant Mazurkevich ... "
V.M.Gerngross: "On Saturday, our high-speed minesweeper Shield ... returned, like other ships, to Sevastopol. The naval exercises ended, in which the OdVO troops participated, and now we were counting on a well-deserved Sunday rest ... I received permission from the division commander to go ashore ... In the middle of the night I was awakened by the naval navigator and reported that the alarm was declared in the database. "What is this - the continuation of the teachings? .." I get dressed, run out into the street. And I immediately feel: the situation is unusual. The city is darkened. Blue rays of searchlights run across the black sky ... The Chersonesus lighthouse went out. Inkerman leafy lights were also not on. Meanwhile, according to the rules of peacetime, including international, they were not supposed to be extinguished. In Streletskaya Bay, where OVR ships are, - not a light ...
The assistant commander, Lieutenant N. M. Sotnikov, reports: “The ship has been made for battle. Combat alarm in the database announced at two o'clock ... Reason unknown. The commanders' alarms are sent to the city ... ”The battalion commander Lieutenant Commander A.P. Ivanov rises on board the Shield. He picks up a megaphone and orders: the minesweepers to disperse in Strelets Bay. Ships occupy predetermined positions. But our minesweeper, carrying a pennant on the mast, remains at the pier.
I look into the sky with alarm. The rays of the coastal defense floodlights still feverishly penetrate the night darkness. But they freeze at one point. I throw my binoculars to my eyes. The goal is difficult to see, but around her already flashed lights of tears. I notice that the plane lies on the course leading to the raid of Sevastopol ... After a minute or two, the projectors catch two more planes in the rays. The fire of coastal batteries and ships of the squadron is increasing - volleys of anti-aircraft guns merge into a continuous hum ... "
G.A. Rogachevsky: «21 June in 19-00 I took charge of the second division. After successful exercises, the Black Sea Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral F.S. Oktyabrsky, allowed shore leave. As always, the 30% of the Red Navy men diminished in such cases to the city. They went home to the officers and extras. In the brigade ... in 15-minute readiness on duty was a link TC [torpedo boats]. I spent the evening checking of personnel, took people off the line, made the call ... I went to the duty station of the TKA ... The commanders and all the personnel ... snored in their 15-minute readiness in tents, broken directly near the boats ...
Then the operative duty officer called and announced: “To make an emergency call to the officers living in the apartments and the extras” ... I picked up the necessary sailors, built, distributed warning cards and sent them along the routes. Soon began to appear officers and extras. The division commander arrived. After about an hour they were all assembled. A “battle alert” signal followed, and everyone ran away in their boats. "Everything is clear, I thought, the fleet commander decided, after a short break, to continue the exercise.". Having handed over the duty to the team's foreman, I went to my boat, which, as before, was standing in a cell, but already afloat ... At that time, ammunition was brought up to our boat ... On the territory there was a complete blackout. Blackout, it's clear. The voice of the operative is heard on the radio: “The enemy aircraft! Do not shoot!"
And indeed - in the area of Chersonesus Cape, Cossacks and Kamyshovaya Bay in the night sky searchlight rays are flickering. On the studies - the picture is ordinary. Suddenly, the brigade of the National Brigade shouts: “Aircraft of the enemy! Shoot in fact! ”We look: indeed, the searchlights caught the plane flying toward us along the coast line, and other connected searchlights lead it to us. Seemed more planes. And such a firing began - a nightmare! Suddenly, one of the aircraft began a sharp decline. In the rays of searchlights it was clear how he began to smoke and went towards the sea.
“Apparently, this wave plane is a target,” I say to my friend, “it hit him well”. The floodlights continued to do their job - several more aircraft were flying. Suddenly, parachutes began to descend from them. And the firing continues. “They will be shot!” My friend shouted ... ”
K.D.Denisov: "The 62 airborne brigade of the Black Sea Fleet ... The second half of June in the Crimea was remembered for a long time by the withering heat ... The 14 June fleet exercises and the associated increased combat readiness blocked us all the way to the beaches ... It was a day, then another ... Not a single departure, as if there were no exercises no, as if they were not preparing to repel the navy. There was an increase in the feeling of some reticence, uncertainty ... Nothing but a prolonged pause caused by the development by the command of some new variant of the further course of the exercises! ..
For some reason, it seemed that on Saturday, 21 Jun would finally be given a signal to end the exercises, in which not a single departure had to be made. But that did not happen.
On the contrary, in addition to the night duty of single I-16, the day duty of fighter links was established, and also with the supply of ammunition to the weapon. It became obvious: something serious was brewing. But what exactly, no one knew. Just in case, we tuned in to this option: from the other airfields, the towing targets ("cones") will rise into the air, and we, the fighters, having taken off in alarm, will have to find and attack targets. We can get the job and to defeat ground targets. It only remained to wait patiently for further developments ...
On the night of June 22, changing from combat duty, defrosted, squeezed like a lemon, reached the tent and, barely unbuttoning the jumpsuit, fell on the bed. It seemed to only close his eyes, as the formidable “Alarm!” Lifted me out of bed. After a few minutes, I was on the airplane parking. Komzsk and the squadron commissioner were already here ...
“The first and second links,” Demchenko ordered, “led by me, a height of two thousand, the third and fourth links headed by senior lieutenant Denisov, a height of three thousand, to follow zone No. 1, having the task: not to allow overflight of violators , presumably German, from the sea deep into the Crimea. Takeoff - on readiness.
Aircraft in the air. A short June night is running out - dawn is breaking in the east. The units lined up in battle order "wedge of aircraft", in short bursts towards the sea tested weapons - all machine guns worked flawlessly. Turn in the climb, the course - in their own zones. Only after that he looked in the direction of Sevastopol and saw the rays of searchlights cutting the sky, the tears of anti-aircraft shells ... "
Quite a strange situation: OG number 2 on the exercises and not a single departure ...
I.N. Stepanenko (cadet of the Kachin aviation school): “June 22, 1941, wanted so much sleep! The night before, as usual on Saturdays, we had a party ... At dawn, we were awakened by explosions of unusual power that came from Sevastopol. An unfamiliar buzz was heard in the air ... ”
E.N. Bilder (Sevastopol anti-aircraft artillery school): “From 1.6.41 to 20.6.41, the entire naval squadron was at the exercises in the sea, the city was empty, but on Friday, June 20, the ships began to return to the base, the sailors went ashore at the quitters, music, brass bands played on the embankment ...
At midnight, we left the restaurant ... They just returned to their homes of the commanding staff, went to bed, as a cadet on duty resorts and shouts, “Alarm! War!". I say to him - “What are you yelling! What war? They grabbed pistols and gas masks with a friend, ran to the parade ground of the school. All the personnel of SUZA was already in the ranks. From Balaklava, a single plane appeared. The ships began to catch him with searchlights, the ship's anti-aircraft artillery opened fire ... "
D.M. Poltavets: "I got to the city of Odessa, where exactly at that time the 73-th Zenap of the Black Sea Fleet was being formed. I got into the 97 anti-aircraft artillery battery 53 ass. In total, our division had three batteries - 97, 98 and 99. Armed us 76-mm anti-aircraft guns obr.1938, it was already modern anti-aircraft guns on four-wheel carriages.
18-19 June 1941, the BSF was a teaching, so our batteries were scattered in combat positions. As a radio operator, I kept in touch, and the anti-aircraft gunners fired at the sleeve that the plane was pulling in the air. All the teachings are normally over. We 21 June arrived at their OP [there are two concepts: fire and main position] to base and went to bed. Exactly at one o'clock in the morning they declared the alarm of concern ... I ran to my station in the dugout to the radio station in some shorts, and grabbed my clothes with me ... The connection immediately improved, and a few hours later the division reported that the Germans had started a war against the Soviet Union. In the morning, the 73 zenap deployed full combat readiness, we received ammunition, all issued helmets and gas masks. "
M.S. Nazarenko: "Our anti-aircraft artillery was part of the fleet's air defense forces. We carried operational duty, because literally 40 km from the city ran the Romanian border ... Approximate time was approximately 10-15 minutes. So that the readiness of air defense was five minutes ... In the Odessa naval base was 73 zenap. It had two 16 and 53 divisions. Our battery was part of 53 ... Somewhere from June 10 training began. Well, as usual in the fleet there are exercises, aviation and fleet and coastal artillery and all kinds of rear units are involved. As I remember, they continued for about a week. Airplanes participated, they flew from one airfield to another, we trained on them. Used a live target, so to speak.
17-18 exercise numbers canceled. Summed up, but the willingness remained. At that time I was a scout, and since the operational duty continued, I sat in the dugout on the battery, gearbox ...
21 June, the command decided to release the personnel into dismissal, leaving the operatives on duty ... Somehow it happened that they dismissed us and we did not go into dismissal that day ... Approximately in 18 hours we played alarm. Well, in places, we stand in places, no one is waiting, says nothing, everyone is silent ... Nobody thought anything about war.
Hours in 12, I stepped on the watch. I sit on the gearbox on the phone. I call every half hour, reporting that nothing happened, there are no events. At about an hour, the beginning of the second, they call from the division and say: "Take the signal." I ask: “What signal?” They answer: “Tack on the sea”. I open the coded table, and it says: "The beginning of hostilities." The commander of the first platoon was with me, I tell him that I received such a signal. He says to me: “Yes, you confused something, nonsense, some kind of saying. It can not be. He himself looked at the table, he saw yes, indeed, for sure.
He again calls the division headquarters, says that he received a signal like this ... And from the headquarters to him: “Do not reason. Follow the "... At four o'clock with something appeared planes from Romania. Three U-88 aircraft ... We fired at them and they did not reach the port, dropped bombs, turned off and headed towards the sea ... "
Y.K.Zhukov (Danube military flotilla): "I remember ... the last peaceful Saturday. On ships everything glitters ... The laundry is dried, lifted on lines. After lunch, the commanders summed up the results of combat and political training for a week, and then the Red Navy men and foremen began to prepare for their dismissal ashore: they stroked their trousers and white uniforms, cleaned their boots ...
The sailors, returning to the ships, sleep in a calm, healthy sleep. Do not sleep only duty service. Vigilantly peering into the darkness of the night watch. The Nazis behaved so arrogantly that 12 June tried to get on our side of the "language". About this in those days told me the chief of the border guards in Kiliya, Major I.N. Burmistrov ...
I was awakened by a loud knock on the window. Messenger conveyed the order: immediately report to headquarters. Having fastened a belt with a TT pistol on the run, I jumped out of the house ... The duty officer reported that a combat alarm had been declared in the garrison. Commanders and political workers gathered in the headquarters building ... "Go to the commander's office," the flotilla headquarters officer announced ...
“Hitler's generals,” said the commander, “pushed the troops to the border itself; there is evidence that they are about to break it. On the provocation of the enemy not to succumb, but in the event of an attack to give a crushing rebuff. Answer fire with fire! ..
Motorcyclist Kuporosov drove me to the 463 anti-aircraft battery. This is one of the three 76-mm gun batteries covering the main flotilla base. The personnel was already on the OP ... "
Grab a language in our territory! Maybe this is regarded as a provocation? Full Can there be bigger provocations? ..
A.M. Kolesnikov: "On the night of 22 on June 1941, the detachment of Senior Lieutenant Rybakov participated in joint exercises with the border guards on the landing of troops in the Skadovsk region. After dropping conditionally landing, the squad arrived on June 21 in 23-40 minutes in Ochakov. At one o'clock in the morning all the TKs were raised to the boathouse and the teams went ashore and went to rest in the barracks ... At two o'clock in the morning 22 June the brigade was alerted, after which the team received a command to receive combat torpedoes, weapons and gas masks ... K 4- 30 all TCs were staffed and occupied the original areas in the Dnieper-Bug estuary ... "
There is no mention of waiting for the start of the June 22 war. Commanders of the highest rank (except for the Commander of the Federation Council) are avoiding responsibility for opening fire on enemy aircraft. The initiative has to be taken by middle-level commanders and individuals in a higher position.
The bright memory of the sailors who died in the water and on the fronts of the war, as well as those who died from wounds and died in the post-war period!
- aKtoR
- The unexpected war of Hitler's Germany with the USSR (part 1)
The unexpected war of Hitler's Germany with the USSR (part 2)
The unexpected war of Hitler's Germany with the USSR (part 3)
The unexpected war of Hitler's Germany with the USSR (part 4)
The unexpected war of Nazi Germany with the USSR. Pribovo (part of 5)
The unexpected war of Nazi Germany with the USSR. Pribovo, continued (part of 6)
The unexpected war of Hitler's Germany with the USSR (part 7)
The unexpected war of Hitler's Germany with the USSR (part 8)
The unexpected war of Hitler's Germany with the USSR (part 9)
The unexpected war of Hitler's Germany with the USSR (part 10)
The unexpected war of Nazi Germany with the USSR. Part of 11. Far from the border
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