Rocket Launcher Regiment 51 Part 2 - Nebelwerfer - BT70 Tank - Minsk - 17th PzD - 18th PzD - 7th PzD

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This is a photo of new Rocket launcher crewmen being sworn in. For Nebelwerfer Regiment 51, the beginning of the German invasion of Soviet Russia was somewhat uneventful. In part two of this private footage series, we’ll see their advance towards and then entering of the city Minsk. We’ll also watch newsreel footage showing armor advancing on the city from the south.

Before we start with the new material, I’ve noticed an interesting detail from part one…or maybe it’s inconsequential. In one of the last scenes we saw a destroyed Russian BT70 that was the for-runner to the T-34 and considered the Soviet “break-through” tank. Although relatively lightly armored, it was reasonably well armed for its time and, with its tracks removed and traveling on a good road, it could travel at a speed of 60 kmh which was impressive.

Since there were few high quality roads in Russia appropriate for this kind of tank some believe that it had been developed for travel on Western European roads. That this is further evidence that the Soviets were planning an offense. If Stalin had pulled the trigger first, how might that have changed the dynamics of the war? Could that have led to a second Tannenberg? Nazi Germany tried to portray itself as a bastion of western civilization. Could a surprise attack by the Russians have changed the narrative of the war? Let me know what you think in the comment section.

Just before entering the Lithuanian city Vilna, Regiment 51 war ordered to changed direction towards the South East to take part in the attack on Minsk with the intention of cut off the Russian army under the command of Timoschenkov. The advance encountered limited resistance and was often completely uncontested so they pushed on as quickly as possible. The movement was un-orderly leading to traffic jams which gave the soldiers a much needed opportunity to sleep. They passed through the fully burnt out city of Maladzyecnha.

In the mean time, after taking the city of Grodno, armored divisions from Army Group Center push forwards towards Minsk. In this sector much heavier combat took place. Eventually two entire Soviet armies that were concentrated around Bialystok were eventually surrounded and destroyed.

Something I find particularly annoying is when documentaries use stock film footage that doesn’t match the content being introduced. Honest mistakes can happen but sometimes the taking of shortcuts is ridiculously obvious showing Russian tanks when describing German panzers. This is newsreel footage is from late June of 1941 showing German armor advancing towards Minsk.

On June 29, Regiment 51 finally catches up with the 20th Panzer Div. on the Moscow highway outside of Minsk. The last order are received from General Stumpf and the attack on the city from the north is launched.

This is an original situational map of German units on the Eastern front from June 29th. We’re looking specifically at the units involved in and around Minsk and can see the 20. PzD has attacked from the north. Regiment 51 followed them in.

The panzers break through the well prepared defensive positions and lead elements are able to quickly penetrate the city itself however rings of Soviet anti-tank guns, mines, and tanks however do significant damage to the German armor.

Arriving at the command headquarters of the Red Army in the city center a military procession was quickly organized for the divisional leadership. Tanks that were meant to go south to help stabilize sector and support the 18th PzD entrance from that direction mistakenly took part in the military parade. This left the largely burnt out suburbs vulnerable, allowing the Soviets time to regroup and led to heavy urban warfare that probably could have been avoided.