Hanny
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Joined: 7/5/2011 Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Light4bettor "The first paratroopers from the 1st Belarusian assault platoon (41 people in the form of the Red Army) were dropped onto Soviet territory on June 18, 1941 near the town of Suwalki to sabotage the Stolbtsy - Baranovichi railway line in parties of 5-11 people. Most of the group was eliminated by the state security authorities." Hanny/Bobo, Hanny, the above quote is from that website that you referenced (IK-PTZ RU). Kind of ambiguous as to how they were caught and when they were eliminated but implies these both occurred before the invasion (and that page offers no sources). I find it plausible that a German trained/backed Belarusian nationalist team (which given the name of the unit, they would presumably be Belarusian nationals) would be dropped behind Soviet lines to low-key cause some infrastructure disruption in that area a few days before the the invasion. It's a small enough operation that the Germans could always feign ignorance to the Soviets I guess. To illustrate some of the German's pre-war brazenness that adds credence to the above-- What are the estimates on the number of reconnaissance sorties flown by the Luftwaffe into Soviet controlled territory in the months prior to the Barbarossa? Like at least 2000? So it was somewhat blatant in some regards (we know Stalin at the time was informed that the Germans were making relatively frequent reconnaissance flights into the USSR). If the Germans were flying as deep as Kharkov before the invasion (which I believe has documentation in the form of actual aerial photos of pre-war Kharkov military installations)), I would guess at least a few air-crews may have made forced landings in Soviet occupied territory and were never heard of again Pre war SU Secret service archives records, reveal they found 95 German spy rings working inside the SU, and captured and executed a total of 1596, Itz is using the archives opened up since 1990s. Brandenburgers, under Abwehr command, in January had been instructed by Canaris to form 3 groups walli 1 to 3 for front line recon inside Russia, one for each AG, they got there orders from OKW Auslund/Abwehr, the ones we’re after is Obs Smalschlagers, who was instructed to recruit 2000 Ukrainian nationlists, Under Jary a Ukrainian and Brandenburger Von Lahousen commanding Bttn 800, stationed and trained In Luckenwalde, these began transferring into Russia by end of Jan, Brandenburgers begin forming to act in concert with them in Feb, lahousen, by Order of Kietel, “co ordination of all secret service and military operations to conceal the German build up against Russia” giving Canaris his brief. Feb 28 Army and Abwehr conference as to how to get the intel it he Army wanted, frame work of submissive operations worked out.Example 1 June 100 Estonians in Russian uniforms, walli 1 was AG North, in operation Erna were deployed from Finland to the Baltic states, 11 June 6 agents went from Krakow to blow up the line between stulponova and Kiev, and were never heard from again. 15 to 18 June large numbers of combat and sabotage teams cross into Russia to operate in the rear, One of which was 2 Brandenburgers in Russian staff uniforms, with orders from Stavka to authorise the transfer of all mil documents to them, which was a success. By 22 June there were 150 Abwehr/ Brandenburger teams, 3 to 10 men in each, in side Russia waiting to implement their orders, the one we are interested in , “Advance from tip of Suwalki through Augustow to Grodno securing all road and rail bridges”, the blowing up of the rail is to stop its use by the SU as the Germans expect to replace the gauge and not to be using it, and is incidental to the main purpose of securing the bridges. Kurowoski has first hand accounts of the mission, from survivors, including not having the righ pass word and a fire fight to secure one bridge, 2 men wounded in friendly fire as the Germans come to the bridge and they still in Russian uniforms.
< Message edited by Hanny -- 3/25/2021 7:28:26 AM >
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To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
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