Soviet paradrops 1941

[Strela]

In Glantz's 'The Soviet Airborne Experience' he mentions that there was no significant airborne drops before the aforementioned January drop.

Glantz clarifies with the comment 'In summary, during the opening months of the war, actual airborne operations were limited to occasional diversionary airdrops, as elite Soviet airborne troops fought as infantrymen'.

Taken from the same source there were three air drops during the Winter counteroffensive - all were included in M'42.

The first is on the 2/3/4 January as mentioned with two units landing NW & SW of Medyn (the red square in each shot represents the paradrop target hex);









The second was the attempt to take the airfield near Znamenka on Jan 18th. This was a critical operation because the German front was collapsing and any sizable force at Znamenka would cut both supplies and a key retreat route. The first drop was relatively close to the field;






The second drop was well to the south and included glider borne troops;






The third drop was the largest of the winter operations and included all of 8th Airborne Brigade being dropped near Vyazma. With insufficient lift the drop was spread over four days and ultimately mopped up. Many of these airborne troops went on to join the growing partisan bands east of Smolensk;






David