Author Looking for Kovel 1944 Photos

[Doug Nash]

Hello -
Remy Spezzano and I are putting together a book about the siege of Kovel from March to May 1944 and are looking for quality photos. This little-known battle, that began with a Soviet encirclement of some German security troops located on the strategic Brest-Litovsk lateral railway hub in the town of Kovel, quickly morphed into a classic relief operation, where German mobile forces (including elements of the Wiking Division) carried out a grueling weeks-long advance to fight their way into "Fortress Kovel" and rescue the thousands of men trapped therein and once again open the rail line for traffic. Many of you have seen the photos of the brand-new Panthers of II./SS-Pz.Rgt. 5 fighting their way into the village, as well as those of General Gille who was flown in to command the fortress. However, what we are looking for at RZM are quality PK, war correspondent, or press photos depicting elements of both encircled and relieving forces, from both the Waffen-SS and Heer. If you have any photos that fit this discription, please send me a PM - should we use your photos, you will recieve full credit in the acknowledgements.
Best regards,
Douglas E. Nash
Author, "Hell's Gate: The Battle of the Cherkassy Pocket" and "Victory was Beyond Their Grasp."

[Mark Mac]

Doug,

Could you list some units that are of particular interest/involved in the battle?

Thanks,

Mark

[Doug Nash]

German Units at Kovel 1944

Mark,
Here you go - this is a pretty extensive list.


Regards,
Doug

Encircled Forces (as of 15.3.44)

Festung Kowel (Obergruppenfuehrer der Waffen-SS Herbert Otto Gille)
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1. Gruppe (Oberst von Bissing):
Btl. von Stock (431 men)
Btl. Fester (397)
II./SS-Kav.Rgt. 17 (877)
Landes-Schtz.Btl. 637 (246)
Landes-Schtz.Btl. 476 (263)
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2. Gruppe (Oberstlt. der Schutzpolizei Herbert Golz)
Pi.Btl. 662 (150)
I./Sicherungs.Rgt. 177 (294)
II./SS-Pol.Rgt. 17 (304)
3./Pi.Btl. 50 and portions of Eisenbahn Pio.Rgt. 5 (382)
Btl. Tenner (267)
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Leichte Art. Abt. 426 (1 Battery)
Leichte Flak Abt. 854 (2 Batteries)
Eisenbahn Panzerzug 10 (60)
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Total Ground Troops: 3,671 (5,000 troops in all, including support units)
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AOK 2 (2^nd Army) Generaloberst Walter Weiss
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XXXXII.AK (General der Infanterie Franz Mattenklott)
5.SS-Pz.Div. “Wiking” (-) aka Kgr. Richter
Kgr. “Westland”
Kgr. “Germania” (Dorr)
SS-Pz.Rgt. 5 (Mühlenkamp)
II./SS-Pz.Rgt. 5 (Paetsch)
III./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. “Germania” (Hack)

131.ID (Generalmajor Weber)
Gren.Rgt. 431
Gren.Rgt. 434
7. Hungarian Inf.Div. (Major General Imre Vitez Kisoczi Kalman)
3^rd (or 34^th) Infantry Regiment
7^th Artillery Regiment
StuG Brig. 190 (Mattenklott says 904.StuG.Brig)
1.Ski-Brig
Ski-Rgt. 1
Ski-Rgt. 2
Sturm-Btl. AOK 2
Nachr.Abt. 442



VIII.AK (All the forces above when it relieves XXXXII.AK on 3.4.44, but Mattenklott stays on until the VIII.AK Corps commander can return from other duties)
Later arrival: 9^th Hungarian Inf.Div.
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LVI. Pz.Korps (General der Infanterie Hossbach)
4. Pz.Div. (Generalleutnant von Saucken)
Pz.Gren.Rgt. 12
Pz.Gren.Rgt. 33
Pz.Rgt. 35
Pz.Jg.Abt. 49
5. Pz.Div. (Generalmajor Decker)
Pz.Gren.Rgt. 13
Pz.Gren.Rgt. 14
Pz.Rgt. 31
Pz.Art.Rgt. 116
5. Jg.Div. (Generalleutnant Thumm)
Jaeg.Rgt. 56
Jaeg.Rgt. 75
253.ID (Generalleutnant Becker)
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Kampfgeschwader 53 (Oberstleutnant Antrup)
Flugplatz Ulez
Flugplatz Deblin-Irena
ARKO 125

[Larry deZeng]

Kampfgeschwader 53 (Oberstleutnant Antrup)
Flugplatz Deblin-Ulez
Flugplatz Deblin-Irena

Doug -

I., II. u. III./KG 53 flew bomb- and container-dropping missions over Festung Kovel, operating from the two airfields listed. So the three got listed for their support. None was ever physically in the Festung, AFAIK.

Larry