Battle of Dubno Konstantin Rokossovsky

georgi zhukov (middle) , konstantin rokossovsky (right), greeting bernard montgomery (back camera) @ brandenburg gate, berlin, germany, 12 jul 1945

when nazi germany attacked soviet union in june 1941 rokossovsky serving commander of 9th mechanized corps 35th , 20th tank divisions, , 131st motorized division under command.

he engaged in tank battles raged around lutsk-dubno-brody triangle, known battle of brody — soviet counter-attack significant soviet tank operation of stages of operation barbarossa.

the battle involved large scale attack involving 5 mechanized corps aimed @ penetrating german line in direction of lublin based on plan developed before hostilities commenced. orders attack zhukov met little enthusiasm southwestern front staff wanted maintain defensive posture. nonetheless attack proceeded. operation met numerous difficulties in mobilization, coordination, communication, transportation , execution scored initial successes, parried quick action of von rundstedt s army group south in ukraine , ended in destruction of of participating soviet forces.

upon receiving orders rokossovsky, divisions stationed far rear of frontier, had commandeer trucks local reserve carry munitions, , mount of infantry on tanks while rest forced walk, splitting forces. consequence, forces behind schedule , advanced guard able meet 26 june jump off , , entered fray piecemeal. orders move forward , take positions around lutsk north of town of dubno in co-ordination 19th mechanized corps under n. v. feklenko, , attack south-west, while mechanized corps of 6th army attacked northward brody meet them, intent of cutting off advance of 11th panzer division east of dubno.

on 25 june, rokossosky s 131st motorized infantry driven out of position @ lutsk 14th panzer division, 35th , 20th tank divisions able cobble advance forces cut lutsk-dubno road, though full force had not yet arrived on battlefield. on same day elements of 19th mechanized corps, operating east out of rovno had succeeded in temporarily driving rearguard of 11th panzer division dubno cutting off advance units. in response 13th panzer division attacked south lutsk next day clearing rokossovsky s forces road , allowing german infantry recapture dubno, while drove off 19th mechanized , captured rovno in rokossovsky s rear.

as german resistance stiffened, mikhail kirponos commander of southwestern front issued instructions cease offensive operations countermanded superior chief of general staff g.k. zhukov visiting headquarters. zhukov insisted counter-attack continue against counterarguments. result, rokossovsky s command bombarded conflicting orders. according lieutenant-general d.i. rjabyshev, rokossovsky expressed no ambivalence proposed counteroffensive , refused direct order, ending dispute between zhukov , kirponos:

we had once again received order counterattack. however, enemy outnumbered such degree, took on personal responsibility of ordering halt counteroffensive , meet enemy in prepared defences. — konstantin rokossovsky

because of this, rjabyshev s 8th mechanized, had scored successes operating out of brody, in effect continuing attack south expectation of support rokossovsky, had stood down forces, , did not arrive north. neither aware of fact, because there no available direct communication between individual corps, example of how endemic communication problems helped foil soviet efforts.

throughout next days rokossovsky s forces put considerable pressure on germans @ lutsk , tried recapture rovno in rear, while stopping advance of 14th panzer ambushing them 85mm anti-tank guns @ close range effect. observed in memoirs terrain off road wooded , swampy, keeping german advance road. artillery regiment of 20th tank division deployed newly issued 85mm guns cover road , direct fire repulsed advancing panzers.

the battles around lutsk, dubno , brody fought 8th, 9th , 19th mechanized corps notable among soviet operations in day of barbarossa because southwestern front able organize active operations, unlike sectors of front german assault met operational paralysis, , bought time reorganize defense along line of old polish border.

sporadic attempts made close widening gap between soviet 5th , 6th armies, germans advanced on kiev, soviet tank forces fraction of former strength. july 7, rokossovsky s 9th mechanized corps had been reduced 64 tanks, out of original compliment of 316.