'Stalag' 1944

A raid on a combat outpost

(US National Archives)

The fifth issue of Information for the Infantry (Nachrichten für die Infanterie), which rolled off the press in January of 1945, contained a detailed description of a raid against a combat outpost. The article did not mention where, or when, the raid took place. It did, however, provide clues that suggest that the enterprise occurred in the winter of 1944, just east of the Belorussian city of Orsha, in a place where the German 78th Assault Division faced the Soviet 220th Rifle Division.

The following translation errs on the side of readability. Likewise, for the sake of clarity, the illustrations exclude a lot of information provided in the maps provided with the original article.

‘Stalag’

A Raid against a Heavily Fortified Enemy Combat Outpost

(From the After Action Reports of an Assault Division)

a) Seize the enemy combat outpost called ‘Stalag’ after a concentrated fire strike (Feuerschlag) by all support weapons.

b) Capture prisoners in order to clarify our image of the enemy

c) Annihilate the garrison [of the outpost], along with its weapons, fighting positions, and shelters

d) Withdraw, under the covering fire of supporting weapons, after completion of the mission

The location of the combat outpost (red oval), the Soviet main line of resistance (red), the German main line of resistance (blue), and the village of Yuriev (black)

Available Support

Two battalions of light (10.5^cm) field howitzers [24 howitzers]

One battalion of heavy (15^cm ) field howitzers [12 howitzers]

One battalion of 10^cm heavy guns [12 guns]

One company of heavy (12^cm) mortars [12 mortars]

Heavy weapons of the assault regiment [infantry guns, mortars, machine guns]

Use aerial photographs and round-the-clock observation with the aid of binoculars to create a detailed picture of the location of the break-in.

Improve this understanding through reconnaissance patrols and information provided by prisoners.

Confirm that the combat outpost is, indeed, occupied and strongly defended.

At the same time, reconnoiter favorable avenues of approach, barbed wire obstacles, mine fields, and a possible attack position (Sturmausgangstellung).