Battle of Smorgon-Krewo

[robert_sfl]

Hello all,

does anyone have details about the battle of Smorgon-Krewo? This was (from German viewpoint) a defensive action. Evidently the Emperor himself was so impressed by the performance of Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 2 in that battle that he granted them the right to bear his Name in July 1917:

"Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment König Wilhelm II. Nr. 2"

This is quite an honor for a Landwehr regiment, but I have not been able to find out more yet.

(Source: Hartwig Busche, Formationsgeschichte der deutschen Infanterie im Ersten Weltkrieg)

[crapouillot]

Hello all,

does anyone have details about the battle of Smorgon-Krewo? This was (from German viewpoint) a defensive action. Evidently the Emperor himself was so impressed by the performance of Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 2 in that battle that he granted them the right to bear his Name in July 1917:

"Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment König Wilhelm II. Nr. 2"

This is quite an honor for a Landwehr regiment, but I have not been able to find out more yet.

(Source: Hartwig Busche, Formationsgeschichte der deutschen Infanterie im Ersten Weltkrieg)

With a web-translator, maybe it can help :

http://militera.lib.ru/h/barsukov_ez2/46.html

maps :

http://militera.lib.ru/h/barsukov_ez2/s81.gif

http://militera.lib.ru/h/barsukov_ez2/s82.gif

[robert_sfl]

Thanks for the links, I will give it a try!

[John Gilinsky]

You can also venture into the Eastern Russian, Ukrainian or Belaruss Internet sites - check under fortifications, forts for extant today field fortifications mainly German but also even some Russian that date from 1916 - 1917. People in Belarus are actively finding such battlefield archaeological sites and recording and documenting them.

John

Toronto

[tvn]

PDF document by link below contains some photos (old and modern) related to Smorgon region and WWI:

http://www.fortressby.com/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_details&gid=33&Itemid=43

Note: document is in Russian!

[John Gilinsky]

Bogdanov, Vladimir "Po Spedam Pervoi Mirovoi Voinie V Belarusi. Smorgonskii Raion. Photoalbom" Minsk: Gol'phstrim 2007 64 pages ISBN: 978 - 985 - 90018 - 2 - 6 This is a great booklet packed with both contemporary and modern photos very much in the before and after battle type genre. It is highly recommended for this "quiet sector."

John

Toronto

[MattyBoy]

Hi,

I know it's been a while since the last posting, but I recently saw an aerial photo of Krewo on ebay and I thought it might be of interest to you.

The photo was taken on 02nd August 1917 by Fliegerabteilung A 229.

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Luftaufnahme-des-Fl-A-A-229-1-Weltkrieg-vom-2-8-1917-v-Krewo-/191458835986?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=qM5i49%252FOrRbEU9%252FPl%252FXB1uI16NE%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

Regards,

Matt.

[PBI]

I was in Minsk in February and plenty of WW2 German Munitions being discovered in the building works being undertaken in and around the city centre.