Ukrainian partisans? & 1st summary execution 6.41, hand grenade close combat training - 71st ID Pt 4

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In this video we’ll follow Heinz’s diary entries for June 23 the second day of Barbarossa as his unit continues advancing into the Ukraine as part of Army Group South. On this fateful day he would bear witness to an event which would turn out to be only a premonition of the horrors to come. In addition to his diary entries, I’ll use related rare film footage and situational maps to tie it all together. At the end of the video I’ll show footage from a close combat training film covering the use of hand grenades so stick around, it’s worth it.

Here is the dedication that Heinz wrote in his diary. This diary I also wrote for my son. He should understand, that war is not something great and heroic, but rather is dirty and reprehensible.

In the official war diary for the German High Command this is the entry for June 23, 1941 for Army Group South.

June 23 confirmed the expected strength and grouping of the enemy in the border region. The ensuing combat was both intense and heroic. It has however been confirmed that enemy motorized units are being brought up from the Shitomir area traveling over Luck. On June 23, the Army Group succeeded in forcing tactical breakthroughs at multiple locations along the border area.

Advancing on the 71st ID left flank was the 1st Gebirgsjäger or Mountain division. This elite Wehrmacht division was made up primarily of Bavarians and Austrians. Directly in front of the 71st was the powerful Soviet 1st Tank division. These two formations would collide on June 24th which will be covered in Part 5 of this series.

Monday June 23, 1941
Being able to sleep in isn’t possible. At 300 hrs we are woken by a messenger and us two radiomen are told to go with him to 1st Battalion. Thank god that today it won’t be necessary for us to cary our heavy radios. They will be carried by an accompanying truck. We make good progress walking in small groups on quality roads. Today the weather is also beautiful and if we didn’t know better we’d think that we were on some kind of pleasant outing. In front of the first houses of each village stand women and children that give us milk, eggs and even schnapps. They are Ukrainians and they welcome us wholeheartedly. But soon enough we are in for an unpleasant surprise. Again at the entrance of a village, women are waiting with refreshments but as soon as we get to the village center we begin taking fire from many of the houses. By the time our machine guns are in position to counter the gunfire, we have already taken a number of casualties. We quickly manage to disarm 6 men that are dressed as civilians who were doing the shooting. The youngest is only 16-years old and the oldest about 70. Two of them plead for their lives and the others stare on resolutely. The group is brought to stand in front of a wall and they are summarily executed, by firing squad.

We continue on and after a while again come under enemy fire, but this time it is coming from a large Soviet formation positioned in front of us. The staff occupies a farm house. As we enter bullets can be seen ricocheting off the front outer wall. The intensity of fire increases as the enemy begins using mortars and machine guns so we move back to a nearby ravine which offers better cover. In the ravine are already about 50 farmers with their cattle also taking cover. We dig in but still take considerable casualties. Using binoculars I am able to view the entire area well. At the foot of a forested area across from us I can see Russians moving in and out of view. Not until dusk does the firing and movement die down. From a well I fill my canteen and I’m so thirsty that I drink it down in one go. We sleep in a barn, in hay.

On this map we can see the progress made by the three regiments of the 71st Infantry Division on June 22. And here we see their progress for the 23rd as they moved in for the assault on strategically important city Niemirow.

And now, here is more of that close combat training film. When training for close combat with weapons the carefully controlled throw should be mastered for all combat situations. Every throw must be carefully aimed. To improve aim target circles are used. All preparations for the grenade throw should be done while remaining protected. Unscrew the grenade casing. Get ready to leap…go, double time! Lean far back, rotate your shoulders, and throw with your stronger arm powerfully. Then, take a few steps forwards to get closer to the enemy. And then protect yourself completely. When throwing while you are running the rifle and grenade are carried in the left hand. Each throw should be practiced with both the ball and stick grenades. The right hand clenches the stick. The release pin is held between the index and middle fingers and it’s pulled out.