U198SQN305
4 Feb 2015
Genealogy / Questions regarding my Polish father's call up into the Soviet Army in 1941 [4]
My late father was studying mechanical engineering at the Lwow Polytechnic in 1939 and was called up into the Soviet army when he was 21. He later joined the Anders Army and then went to England and flew Mosquito bombers in 1944 over Normandy. In his Polish Air Force records the first records appears as "ROSJA.627". I am trying to find out more about his service in the Soviet army.
Using this only piece of information I found the following, but it may be incorrect. I think the 627th Rifle Regiment (I) was part of the 162nd Rifle Division, 25th Rifle Corps, 19th Army of the North Caucasus Military District. The 19th Army was encircled, together with the 16th and 20th Armies, at the Battle of Smolensk on the 27.7.1941 but broke out a few days later. Also at the Battle of Moscow the 162nd Rifle Division is stated as being under the 30th Army - On October 10th this division was in a 'pocket' which the 9th (German) Army never managed to wipe out. It broke out of its encirclement late in October, but too badly depleted to be rebuilt, and the division was officially disbanded in early December. This tallies with many stories he told me, but no other information is available.
So if anyone can help with the Soviet side of things I would be very grateful.
Also more generally, what was life like between the Soviet occupation between 17.9.1939 and 22.6.1941 (Barbarosa)?
Would the Polytechnic still have held classes?
I am trying to figure out what happened in those missing years as I am writing my family history.
Thanks in advance.
My late father was studying mechanical engineering at the Lwow Polytechnic in 1939 and was called up into the Soviet army when he was 21. He later joined the Anders Army and then went to England and flew Mosquito bombers in 1944 over Normandy. In his Polish Air Force records the first records appears as "ROSJA.627". I am trying to find out more about his service in the Soviet army.
Using this only piece of information I found the following, but it may be incorrect. I think the 627th Rifle Regiment (I) was part of the 162nd Rifle Division, 25th Rifle Corps, 19th Army of the North Caucasus Military District. The 19th Army was encircled, together with the 16th and 20th Armies, at the Battle of Smolensk on the 27.7.1941 but broke out a few days later. Also at the Battle of Moscow the 162nd Rifle Division is stated as being under the 30th Army - On October 10th this division was in a 'pocket' which the 9th (German) Army never managed to wipe out. It broke out of its encirclement late in October, but too badly depleted to be rebuilt, and the division was officially disbanded in early December. This tallies with many stories he told me, but no other information is available.
So if anyone can help with the Soviet side of things I would be very grateful.
Also more generally, what was life like between the Soviet occupation between 17.9.1939 and 22.6.1941 (Barbarosa)?
Would the Polytechnic still have held classes?
I am trying to figure out what happened in those missing years as I am writing my family history.
Thanks in advance.