08.08. 1941 Soviet aircraft bombed Berlin. Hitler didn't believe it
“Destroyed Russian aviation” broke through to the capital of the Reich: the Germans let them in - they fired at their
In July 1941, the Fuhrer of the Nazi Air Force Hermann Goering reported to Hitler that Russian military aviation had been completely destroyed. Only after this victorious argument was the decision made to begin aerial bombing of Moscow.
Two years before the British
On July 22, the first fascist planes broke through to the capital of our Motherland. And on the night of August 7-8, 1941, Berlin was already shaken by the explosions of powerful air bombs. The next morning, German radio stations broadcast an attempt by 150 British planes to break through to Berlin, and German newspapers reported: “British aircraft bombed Berlin. There are killed and wounded. 6 British planes shot down." To this the British replied: “The German message about the bombing of Berlin is interesting and mysterious, since on August 7-8, British aircraft did not rise from their airfields due to unfavorable weather conditions.” Only then did German intelligence report: Soviet bombers had broken through to Berlin.
Hitler didn't believe it at first. He believed that such a raid could only be carried out by the British, who had the most modern aircraft stationed within reach of Berlin. However, a joint Anglo-American air raid on the capital of the Reich will only be carried out on August 17, 1943!
How did our pilots manage to cross the whole of Europe and successfully bomb Berlin two years earlier?
For a long time there was a legend that it was Stalin, in response to the German bombing of Moscow, who ordered air strikes on Berlin at all costs. But the documents indicate otherwise. The fact is that our planes at that time could “reach” the fascist capital only from the Baltic islands of Ezel (the current island of Saaremaa, Estonia.
Thoughts of the People's Commissar of the Navy
The archives of the Navy preserved the encryption of the then People's Commissar of the Navy N.G. Kuznetsova: “Defend Ezel under all conditions. June 29, 1941. Kuznetsov."
This means that already a week after the start of the Great Patriotic War, Admiral Kuznetsov had the idea of bombing Berlin in his head.
From the memoirs of N.G. Kuznetsova: “At the beginning of August the question arose: is it possible to respond to the fascist air raids with our raid on Berlin? Having calculated the possibilities, we were convinced that, at the limit of physical strength and material resources, our planes could fly to Berlin and return to one of the airfields of the Moonsund archipelago. The operation is risky and responsible. It was reported to Stalin, and after considering all the calculations, he allowed this operation to be carried out.”
On the evening of August 7, 1941, 13 heavily loaded DB-3fs (with forced engines) took off from the Cahul airfield on the island of Ezel and headed for Berlin. The air operation was commanded by Colonel Evgeniy Nikolaevich Preobrazhensky, who also headed the flagship group. The second group was led by Captain V.A. Grechishnikov, the third by Captain A.Ya. Efremov, one of the best specialists of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet, Captain P.I. Khokhlov, was the navigator of the flagship crew.
1 - Bomber DB-3f (Il-4), 2 - Colonel Preobrazhensky E.N., 3 - Captain Efremov A.Ya, 4 - People's Commissar of the Navy N.G. Kuznetsov
On the approaches to Berlin, the Germans considered our planes to be their own, which had gone astray. They did not open fire, they suggested landing at one of the nearest airfields. Hypnotized by Goebbels's propaganda about the defeat of Soviet aviation, the observation posts on duty came to their senses only when Soviet bombs began exploding on the streets of Berlin.
There was real confusion. Taking advantage of this, our planes, freed from the deadly load, set off on a reverse course. In that historic flight, on the night of August 7-8, 1941, five aircraft of the 1st mine-torpedo air regiment, led by its commander E.N., flew over Berlin. Preobrazhensky. The rest bombed the German port city of Stettin.
Along the way we fought off I-16
Supreme Commander-in-Chief I.V. Stalin said so to the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy N.G. Kuznetsov: “Your naval pilots deserve the greatest praise. They were the first to pave the way to Berlin by air. This fact is of historical significance.”
It is amazing that the most complex operation was carried out without losses. True, the plane under the command of Alexander Kurban was fired upon twice by Soviet air defense and crashed over our territory.
Airship navigator G.P. Molchanov recalled the flight this way:
“Let's take off! I note the time - 20:30. We go with a gradual increase in the given height to 6500m. The planes were supposed to follow the route: the island of Rügen - the confluence of the Warta River with the Oder River and then straight to Berlin. Soon followed by a report from the gunner of the turret installation: “On the right side, much higher, two I-16 fighters are diving at our plane.” Did our fighters really not recognize their own? The commander gives the order: when attacking, return fire. Our task is too important. The fighters fired from long range and left. The rest of our ships passed abeam Tallinn without encountering fighters.
On the territory of Germany, rivers, lakes, settlements and unobscured cities are clearly visible, as if in peacetime. I'm taking the ship to the BC. Just a few minutes to the goal. Below us is a DAIR OF FASCISM! I'm launching bombs! The pulses of the separating FAB-500 are counted like a heartbeat. The ship is turning right, the explosions of our bombs are visible. Berlin has already woken up. A huge number of powerful anti-aircraft searchlights are working. Barrage fire from ZA and MZA, but fortunately for us the gaps are below the echelons of our bombers. It is clear that the enemy’s air defense did not guess our altitude and concentrated all the fire at approximately 4500-5000 meters altitude.
During the turn, after the island of Rügen, the 4th engine failed. The plane began to shake. Without changing the echelon we go on three engines. We are descending. In the right turn you can see the shore of the bay, but what is it? Anti-aircraft fire tracks are visible from the sea (apparently from a submarine) and from the shore, we immediately leave with a climb.
Two more engines died. Neither I nor anyone else on the crew could see how the plane fell, because... by the time two more engines failed, the altitude was less than 100 m. At random, by some miracle, Sasha Kurban managed to land the plane on its belly. The crew was unharmed, apart from some minor bumps and bruises. All twelve, as best they could, climbed out of the plane, grouping around the ship’s commander. With little effort we made it to the nearest village, from where we gave the regiment commander a telephone message: “The task was completed; upon returning, as a result of the failure of 3 engines, we suffered an accident. The crew is unharmed, I’m awaiting instructions.”
On August 13, 1941, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, Colonel E.N. Preobrazhensky, captains V.A. Grechishnikov, A.Ya. Efremov, P.I. Khokhlov, M.N. Plotkin were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. 67 people were awarded orders and medals.
Legendary Baltic Fleet
It must be said that it was no coincidence that the pilots of the Baltic Fleet found themselves at the peak of combat success in those difficult days. The fleet command managed to preserve not only ships, but also aviation. She was active from the first day of the war. Fighters covered bases, as well as ships stationed in roadsteads or going out on combat operations at sea.
Over Kronstadt, Tallinn, Hanko, over the airfields at which enemy bombers were aimed, heated skirmishes broke out in the air every now and then. The Baltic pilots fought bravely. Already in the first days of the war, naval aviation bombed Memel, Danzig, Gdynia and other ports used by the enemy.
On June 23, attacks began on the airfields and ports of Finland, which opposed the Soviet Union on the side of Nazi Germany. Turku, Kotka, and Tampere were attacked by our aircraft. Red Banner Baltic Fleet planes laid mines near enemy bases to make it difficult for their ships to go to sea, and attacked convoys.
The success of the actions of the Baltic Fleet aviation is confirmed by the Germans themselves.
Here is what the magazine “Marine Rundschau” wrote in 1962: “Soviet naval aviation, after the first weeks of some uncertainty in the situation, achieved almost undeniable air supremacy over the sea. Its planes carried out up to 17 air attacks per day. The number of aircraft participating in each raid reached 25. The raids were distinguished by their systematic and persistent actions.”
The commander of the 5th German minesweeper flotilla reported in his report in July 1941 that, despite intense anti-aircraft fire, the Russians conducted targeted bombing, and that some of the bombs were dropped from a dive. He also pointed out that the use of fragmentation bombs of hitherto unknown force caused large losses in personnel. At the end of the report it was reported that if convoys were escorted and minesweeping in the Gulf of Riga was carried out without fighter cover, then heavy losses should be expected.
The report of the commander of the 1st flotilla of torpedo boats dated July 4, 1941 about the absolute dominance of the Russians in the air and “the great danger to which ships crossing without cover are exposed” was of the same nature.
The fighting spirit of the Baltic people was such that the very idea of bombing Berlin arose among ordinary pilots at the end of June 1941. The news of this initiative reached Kuznetsov and resulted in a specific unprecedented operation.
From the memoirs of N.G. Kuznetsova: “The first raid was followed by others. But conditions became more difficult. Now the enemy met our planes with fierce fire as soon as they crossed the coastline, and a complex air defense system operated around Berlin. Each time we had to develop special tactics. The high altitude still helped. Above 7 thousand meters, our bombers were no longer so afraid of night fighters with special powerful headlights, and anti-aircraft fire was no longer so terrible.
Hitler's headquarters demanded that its command "liquidate the naval and air bases on the islands of Dago and Ezel, and, first of all, the airfields from which raids on Berlin are carried out." We had to strengthen the defense of airfields. Almost all the islands' anti-aircraft weapons and modest fighter forces were redeployed there.
The raids on Berlin were repeated more than once. The last one was on September 5th. When we had to leave Tallinn, flights from the islands became impossible. In just ten raids on Berlin, 311 bombs were dropped and 32 fires were recorded.”
Repost: http://svpressa.ru/war/article/10301/
On the night of August 8, 1941, a detachment of bombers from the aviation of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet (KBF) made the first raid on Berlin during the Great Patriotic War.
Air strikes on the capital of Nazi Germany were a response to the bombing of Moscow and had a great military-political and psychological effect.
On the night of July 21–22, 1941, more than 220 bombers of fascist aviation launched the first raid on Moscow. On the approaches to the capital, they were met by a dense air defense barrier using balloons, barrage fire and night fighters; the planes broke through alone. The first raid killed 130 people. There were 1,166 fires in the city, with 36 fires occurring at military facilities. Most of the bombs exploded in the Krasnopresnensky and Leningradsky districts of the city.
In the following days and months, enemy air raids continued with increasing intensity. Air battles became more and more stubborn and prolonged.
The idea of sending torpedo bombers on a retaliatory raid on Berlin was expressed at the end of July by the commander of Navy aviation, Lieutenant General Semyon Zhavoronkov.
It was assumed that the DB-3F aircraft ("long-range bomber") available in the Baltic would be able to reach Berlin and return, taking off from the westernmost point not occupied by the enemy - the island of Ezel (Saaremaa, Estonia). On July 26, the People's Commissar of the Navy, Admiral Nikolai Kuznetsov, reported the proposal to Stalin.
Since March 1942, the aircraft began to be officially named Il-4.
It was an all-metal twin-engine monoplane with a service ceiling of 9,700 meters and a flight range of 3,300 kilometers with a bomb load of one ton. The crew of four had three machine guns for defense. The DB-3F did not have an autopilot, radio altimeter, gyroscopic instruments or deicers.
In early August 1941, a group of Soviet pilots under the leadership of Colonel Evgeniy Preobrazhensky relocated to the Cahul airfield on the island of Ezel, which by that time was actually in the rear of the Wehrmacht.
On the night of August 5, five aircraft made a test flight in the vicinity of Berlin in order to clarify the route and practically determine the bomb load, while one aircraft was lost.
On August 7 at 21.00 a group of 15 DB-3F bombers in three groups took off from the airfield. The route passed over the Baltic Sea out of sight of the shore, the temperature outside reached minus 35-40 °C. Three hours later the planes reached the northern border of Germany. When flying over its territory, Soviet bombers were repeatedly detected from German observation posts, but they were mistaken for their own, and the German air defense did not open fire.
Bombs were dropped on well-lit Berlin and its suburbs in the areas of the stadium, the new industrial quarter, the train station and the telegraph office. After the Soviet planes dropped their bombs, heavy fire was opened on them. All aircraft successfully returned to base.
The strike on Berlin came as a complete surprise to the German leadership, which the next day attributed it to the British, but they publicly reported that on August 7-8, British aircraft did not fly over Berlin.
In total, until September 4 inclusive, the 1st Mine and Torpedo Aviation Regiment carried out 10 raids on Berlin.
33 bombers flew directly to the city, dropping a total of 36 tons of bombs and 34 containers of leaflets and newspapers.
During the operation, the regiment lost, according to various sources, 17 or 18 aircraft and six, seven or eight full crews, with two aircraft and one crew killed at the airfield while trying to take off, respectively, with a 1000-kg and two 500-kg bombs on an external sling.
It is also known that on the night of August 10, 1941, a raid on Berlin was carried out by the forces of the still just being formed 81st long-range bomber air division of the Red Army Air Force on the latest TB-7 aircraft (a four-engine “heavy bomber” designed by Vladimir Petlyakov) and Er-2 (a twin-engine bomber designs by Vladimir Ermolaev).
According to the plan, 26 bombers were allocated for the raid, but due to haste, malfunctions and two accidents at the airfield near Leningrad, only seven (according to some sources, six) TB-7s and three Er-2s went to Berlin. Only six vehicles were able to bomb the target; only one TB-7 and one Er-2 returned to Pushkino. Most of the group's aircraft were shot down or damaged by fire from Soviet anti-aircraft weapons and air defense aircraft. The raid was prepared in secret, there was no coordination with ground forces and the Red Banner Baltic Fleet, and besides, fighter pilots saw new types of bombers for the first time. The commander of the 81st Long-Range Bomber Air Division, the famous pilot Mikhail Vodopyanov, who himself was shot down over enemy territory and took a long time to reach his own, was removed from his post, although he received gratitude and retained the right to fly. Three pilots were awarded the Order of the Red Banner (one posthumously), two navigators were awarded the Order of the Red Star.
The material was prepared based on information from open sources
For some reason, it has become customary to believe that at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War the Red Army suffered exclusively defeats. This flawed, rotten stereotype turns to dust if we remember the bombing of Berlin in August-September 1941. Even Hitler, looking at the burning capital then, could not believe his eyes. Indeed, in the summer of 1941, Germany was choking with delight at the victorious march of its soldiers across Russian soil.
In July 1941, the Fuhrer of the Nazi Air Force Hermann Goering reported to Hitler that Russian military aviation had been completely destroyed. Only after this victorious argument was the decision made to begin aerial bombing of Moscow.
Meanwhile, in the head of Admiral Kuznetsov, the idea was lit up to pull the Germans down so that the dreams and reality of each of them would be filled with a nightmare, so that a piece of sausage would not get into their throats, so that the Germans would think: “Who are they, these Russians, and what are they capable of?” Well, soon Wehrmacht officers will indeed write in their diaries: “Russians are not people. They are made of iron."
So, on July 26, 1941, Kuznetsov’s proposal to bomb Berlin came to Joseph Stalin’s desk. Crazy? Undoubtedly! From the front line to the capital of the Reich is a thousand kilometers. Nevertheless, Stalin smiles contentedly and the very next day orders the 1st mine-torpedo aviation regiment of the 8th air brigade of the Baltic Fleet Air Force to carry out a bomb attack on Berlin.
On July 30, General Zhavoronkov arrives at the indicated air regiment and barely has time to talk about the order of the Headquarters, when the regiment commander, Yevgeny Preobrazhensky, discourages him by placing on the table ready-made calculations, a list of crews and a map of the intended route. Amazing! In those hellish days, the pilots, anticipating the order, thought with the same mind as Admiral Kuznetsov.
All that remains is to begin the task. But it’s easy to say... All the conditions were against flying. Firstly, the huge distance. A minute error in the route threatened to affect the fuel supply in the most fatal way. Secondly, takeoff was possible only from the territory of the Baltic states, from the Cahul airfield on the island of Saarema, where there was a short strip of dirt quite suitable for fighters, but not for heavy bombers. And thirdly, we had to fly at an altitude of 7 thousand meters with an outside temperature of minus 45-50 degrees Celsius. Deadly cold for an eight hour flight. Calculations showed that TB-7 with M-40F diesel engines with a bomb load of 4000 kg (of which 2000 kg on an external sling) could fly to Berlin and return back. 12 TB-7 and 28 Er-2 were selected to carry out the flights, which flew to the airfield on August 10. Here, after a more careful selection, 10 TB-7 and 16 Er-2 were left. In the evening of the same day, the planes took off heading for Berlin.
"...They are made of iron." Exactly. August 7 at 21:00 DB-3F aircraft took off at intervals of 15 minutes. Three flights of five bombers each. The first link was headed by the regiment commander Preobrazhensky. In the sky, the planes lined up in a diamond formation and headed towards Germany.
At first, the route involved flying over the sea past the island of Rügen (Slavic Ruyan or Buyan, glorified by Pushkin). Then there was a turn to the southern port city of Stettin, and only after that a direct route to Berlin opened.
Eight hours in an oxygen mask and in the cold, which froze the cockpit windows and headset glasses. A whole day of intensive preparation is behind us. Total: superhuman loads, never experienced by anyone before.
The group finds itself over German territory... The Germans contact it via radio and offer to land at the nearest airport. They believe that these are the brave knights of the Luftwaffe who have lost their course. It doesn't even occur to them that it could be an enemy. Therefore, when they do not receive an answer, they calm down. They don’t answer, they say, so be it. It will be on their conscience.
Ten planes are forced to drop bombs on Stettin, on its port facilities. The fuel is running out and there is no need to take any risks. However, the five remaining DB-3Fs reach Berlin.
Trams and cars move below. Train stations and military airfields are illuminated. The windows in the houses are on fire. No blackout! The Germans are convinced of their invulnerability.
Five aircraft drop 250-kilogram FAB-100 bombs on military-industrial facilities located in the very center of the city. Berlin is plunged into pitch darkness, torn apart by flashes of fire. Panic begins on the streets. But it's too late. Radio operator Vasily Krotenko is already transmitting: “My place is Berlin! The task was completed. We are returning to base."
Only after 35 minutes do the Germans realize that they have been bombed from the air. Searchlight beams rush into the sky and anti-aircraft guns open fire. However, the fire is fired at random. The shells explode in vain at an altitude of 4500-5000 meters. Well, it can’t be that the bombers are flying higher! These are not gods!
The sun rose over mutilated Berlin, and the Germans still did not understand who bombed them. Newspapers came out with ridiculous headlines: “British aircraft bombed Berlin. There are killed and wounded. 6 British planes shot down." Confused like children, the fascists decided to lie in accordance with Goebbels’ precepts: “The more brazen the lie, the more they believe in it.” However, the British were also confused, hastening to declare that they had no spirit over Germany.
It was then that the Blitzkrieg singers admitted that the raid was carried out by Soviet aces. Shame fell on the head of the Ministry of Propaganda, and the hearts of the entire German nation sank. What else can we expect from Russian “subhumans”?
And there was something to wait for. Soviet aviation continued its flights. Until September 4, 86 of them were carried out. From 33 aircraft, 36 tons of high-explosive and incendiary bombs fell on Berlin. This is not counting shells stuffed with propaganda leaflets, and 37 planes that bombed other German cities.
Hitler howled like a wounded animal. On September 5, he sent countless forces of the North group to smash the Cahul airfield to smithereens. However, Berlin had already stopped lighting the lights at night, and every German had an animal fear of the darkness of their native Aryan sky.
The first group under the command of Colonel Preobrazhensky all returned, with the exception of the plane, which did not have enough fuel. It was controlled by Lieutenant Dashkovsky. On August 13, 1941, five pilots who bombed Berlin received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and 2 thousand rubles each. The rest of the pilots were also awarded and received bonuses. On August 19, 1941, another order of the People’s Commissar “On the procedure for awarding Air Force pilots for good combat work” was signed.
It said: “To establish a monetary reward for fighter pilots for each shot down enemy aircraft in air combat in the amount of 1,000 rubles. In long-range bomber and heavy bomber aviation, for each successful bombing, members of the crew receive a cash reward in the amount of 500 rubles each. When operating against the political center (capital) of the enemy, for each bombing, each crew member receives a monetary reward in the amount of 2,000 rubles.”
After this, Preobrazhensky’s group bombed the capital of the Reich 9 more times. The last one was on September 5th. When we had to leave Tallinn, flights from the islands became impossible. In just ten raids on Berlin, 311 bombs were dropped and 32 fires were recorded."
From the memoirs of the airship navigator G.P. Molchanov about the flight:
“Let's take off! I note the time - 20:30. We go with a gradual climb to a given altitude up to 6500 m. The planes were supposed to follow the route: the island of Rügen - the confluence of the Warta River with the Oder River and then straight to Berlin. Soon followed by a report from the gunner of the turret installation: “On the right side, much higher, two I-16 fighters are diving at our plane.” Did our fighters really not recognize their own? The commander gives the order: when attacking, return fire. Our task is too important. The fighters fired from long range and left. The rest of our ships passed abeam Tallinn without encountering fighters.
On the territory of Germany, rivers, lakes, settlements and unobscured cities are clearly visible, as if in peacetime. I'm taking the ship to the BC. Just a few minutes to the goal. Below us is a DAIR OF FASCISM! I'm launching bombs! The pulses of the separating FAB-500 are counted like a heartbeat. The ship is turning right, the explosions of our bombs are visible. Berlin has already woken up. A huge number of powerful anti-aircraft searchlights are working. Barrage fire from ZA and MZA, but fortunately for us the gaps are below the echelons of our bombers. It is clear that the enemy’s air defense did not guess our altitude and concentrated all the fire at approximately 4500-5000 meters altitude.
In the spread, after Fr. Rügen, the 4th engine failed. The plane began to shake. Without changing the echelon we go on three engines. We are descending. In the right turn you can see the shore of the bay, but what is it? Anti-aircraft fire tracks are visible from the sea (apparently from a submarine) and from the shore, we immediately leave with a climb.
Two more engines died. Neither I nor anyone else on the crew could see how the plane fell, because... by the time two more engines failed, the altitude was less than 100 m. At random, by some miracle, Sasha Kurban managed to land the plane on its belly. The crew was unharmed, apart from some minor bumps and bruises. All twelve, as best they could, climbed out of the plane, grouping around the ship’s commander. With little effort we made it to the nearest village, from where we gave the regiment commander a telephone message: “The task was completed; upon returning, as a result of the failure of 3 engines, we suffered an accident. The crew is unharmed, I’m awaiting instructions.”
Unfortunately, there were casualties and emergency landings, which were caused by attacks by friendly I-16 fighters (the mission was secret and they did not recognize the silhouettes of their bombers), as well as damage from fire from anti-aircraft batteries of the Nazis and their own. Below are some details:
During takeoff, Molodchy's Er-2 blew its landing gear off the drainage at the edge of the airfield.
On Major Egorov’s TB-7, immediately after taking off from the ground, two right M-40F diesel engines failed, and the plane crashed. After this, Zhigarev P.F. stopped the departure of the remaining planes. As a result, 7 TB-7 and 3 Er-2 were sent to Berlin.
The plane of M.V. Vodopyanov, while climbing, was attacked by I-16 fighters, but reached the target and bombed Berlin. After this, it came under German anti-aircraft fire and was damaged, and was forced to land on German-occupied Estonian territory in the Jõhvi area. The second pilot in the crew was Estonian E.K. Pusep, born in Siberia, so only he communicated with the local population, and the rest of the crew did not come into contact with the local residents. Two days later the crew returned to their own.
On the plane of Lieutenant V.D. Vidny, the left outer engine caught fire over German territory. The crew managed to put out the fire, but the plane continued to fly with a loss of altitude. Having not reached Berlin 370 km, the crew dropped bombs and set off on a return course. After another M-40F failed, the plane made an emergency landing at the airfield in Obukhov.
On the TB-7 captain A.N. Tyagunin, one of the engines failed on the way back. In addition, over the Baltic coast the plane was fired upon by its own anti-aircraft gunners. The car crashed during landing.
The Er-2 of Lieutenant B.A. Kubyshko was shot down by an I-16 fighter on the way back. The crew escaped by parachute.
Er-2 captain A.G. Stepanov went missing.
On the TB-7 of Major M. Ugryumov, the engines failed several times at high altitudes. The crew bombed Berlin, used up all the fuel and made an emergency landing in Torzhok.
TB-7 of Senior Lieutenant Panfilov A.I. over German territory came under anti-aircraft fire and received significant damage. The crew dropped bombs, but on the way back, two M-40Fs failed. During a forced landing on Finnish territory, five people died, and the rest were captured by the Finns while trying to cross the front line.
TB-7 of Major A. A. Kurban, having bombed Berlin, was damaged by anti-aircraft fire and crashed during an emergency landing in the Ropsha area.
Of the 10 vehicles that went to Berlin, only six reached the target and bombed. Only two cars returned to Pushkin. After this flight, Vodopyanov was removed from the post of division commander, and Colonel A.E. Golovanov was appointed in his place. After his removal from office, brigade commander M.V. Vodopyanov did not leave the division, continuing to serve as a simple commander of the TB-7 crew, first in 432- m long-range bomber aviation regiment, then after its renaming - into the 746th long-range aviation regiment
From the memoirs of N.G. Kuznetsova: “The first raid was followed by others. But conditions became more difficult. Now the enemy met our planes with fierce fire as soon as they crossed the coastline, and a complex air defense system operated around Berlin. Each time we had to develop special tactics. The high altitude still helped. Above 7 thousand meters, our bombers were no longer so afraid of night fighters with special powerful headlights, and anti-aircraft fire was no longer so terrible.
Hitler's headquarters demanded that its command “liquidate the naval and air bases on the islands of Dago and Ezel, and, first of all, the airfields from which raids on Berlin are carried out.” We had to strengthen the defense of airfields. Almost all the islands' anti-aircraft weapons and modest fighter forces were redeployed there.
In total, following the results of daring and skillful raids on the fascist lair in August-September, 13 people were awarded the Order of Lenin, 55 people were awarded the Order of the Red Banner and the Red Star. In September, 5 more people became Heroes of the Soviet Union, many received orders and medals.
Berlin bombing
In July 1941, the Fuhrer of the Nazi Air Force Hermann Goering reported to Hitler that Russian military aviation had been completely destroyed. Only after this victorious argument was the decision made to begin aerial bombing of Moscow.
Two years before the British
On July 22, the first fascist planes broke through to the capital of our Motherland. And on the night of August 7-8, 1941, Berlin was already shaken by the explosions of powerful air bombs. The next morning, German radio stations broadcast an attempt by 150 British planes to break through to Berlin, and German newspapers reported: “British aircraft bombed Berlin. There are killed and wounded. 6 British planes shot down." To this the British replied: “The German message about the bombing of Berlin is interesting and mysterious, since on August 7-8, British aircraft did not rise from their airfields due to unfavorable weather conditions.” Only then did German intelligence report: Soviet bombers had broken through to Berlin.
Hitler didn't believe it at first. He believed that such a raid could only be carried out by the British, who had the most modern aircraft stationed within reach of Berlin. However, a joint Anglo-American air raid on the capital of the Reich will only be carried out on August 17, 1943!
How did our pilots manage to cross the whole of Europe and successfully bomb Berlin two years earlier?
For a long time there was a legend that it was Stalin, in response to the German bombing of Moscow, who ordered air strikes on Berlin at all costs. But the documents indicate otherwise. The fact is that our planes at that time could “reach” the fascist capital only from the Baltic islands of Ezel and Dago.
Thoughts of the People's Commissar of the Navy
The archives of the Navy preserved the encryption of the then People's Commissar of the Navy N.G. Kuznetsova: “Defend Ezel and Dago under all conditions. June 29, 1941. Kuznetsov."
This means that already a week after the start of the Great Patriotic War, Admiral Kuznetsov had the idea of bombing Berlin in his head.
From the memoirs of N.G. Kuznetsova: “At the beginning of August the question arose: is it possible to respond to the fascist air raids with our raid on Berlin? Having calculated the possibilities, we were convinced that, at the limit of physical strength and material resources, our planes could fly to Berlin and return to one of the airfields of the Moonsund archipelago. The operation is risky and responsible. It was reported to Stalin, and after considering all the calculations, he allowed this operation to be carried out.”
On the evening of August 7, 1941, 13 heavily loaded DB-3fs (with forced engines) took off from the Cahul airfield on the island of Ezel and headed for Berlin. The air operation was commanded by Colonel Evgeniy Nikolaevich Preobrazhensky, who also headed the flagship group. The second group was led by Captain V.A. Grechishnikov, the third by Captain A.Ya. Efremov, one of the KBF specialists, Captain P.I. Khokhlov, was the navigator of the flagship crew.
1 - Bomber DB-3f (Il-4), 2 - Colonel Preobrazhensky E.N., 3 - Captain Efremov A.Ya, 4 - People's Commissar of the Navy N.G. Kuznetsov
On the approaches to Berlin, the Germans considered our planes to be their own, which had gone astray. They did not open fire, they suggested landing at one of the nearest airfields. Hypnotized by Goebbels's propaganda about the defeat of Soviet aviation, the observation posts on duty came to their senses only when Soviet bombs began exploding on the streets of Berlin.
There was real confusion. Taking advantage of this, our planes, freed from the deadly load, set off on a reverse course. In that historic flight, on the night of August 7-8, 1941, five aircraft of the 1st mine-torpedo air regiment, led by its commander E.N., flew over Berlin. Preobrazhensky. The rest bombed the German port city of Stettin.
Along the way we fought off I-16
Supreme Commander-in-Chief I.V. Stalin said so to the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy N.G. Kuznetsov: “Your naval pilots deserve the greatest praise. They were the first to pave the way to Berlin by air. This fact is of historical significance.”
It is amazing that the most complex operation was carried out without losses. True, the plane under the command of Alexander Kurban was fired upon twice by Soviet air defense and crashed over our territory.
Airship navigator G.P. Molchanov recalled the flight this way:
“Let's take off! I note the time - 20:30. We go with a gradual increase in the given height to 6500m. The planes were supposed to follow the route: the island of Rügen - the confluence of the Warta River with the Oder River and then straight to Berlin. Soon followed by a report from the gunner of the turret installation: “On the right side, much higher, two I-16 fighters are diving at our plane.” Did our fighters really not recognize their own? The commander gives the order: when attacking, return fire. Our task is too important. The fighters fired from long range and left. The rest of our ships passed abeam Tallinn without encountering fighters.
On the territory of Germany, rivers, lakes, settlements and unobscured cities are clearly visible, as if in peacetime. I'm taking the ship to the BC. Just a few minutes to the goal. Below us is a DAIR OF FASCISM! I'm launching bombs! The pulses of the separating FAB-500 are counted like a heartbeat. The ship is turning right, the explosions of our bombs are visible. Berlin has already woken up. A huge number of powerful anti-aircraft searchlights are working. Barrage fire from ZA and MZA, but fortunately for us the gaps are below the echelons of our bombers. It is clear that the enemy’s air defense did not guess our altitude and concentrated all the fire at approximately 4500-5000 meters altitude.
In the spread, after Fr. Rügen, the 4th engine failed. The plane began to shake. Without changing the echelon we go on three engines. We are descending. In the right turn you can see the shore of the bay, but what is it? From the sea (apparently from a submarine) and from the shore, anti-aircraft fire tracks are visible, immediately gaining altitude.
Two more engines died. Neither I nor anyone else on the crew could see how the plane fell, because... by the time two more engines failed, the altitude was less than 100 m. At random, by some miracle, Sasha Kurban managed to land the plane on its belly. The crew was unharmed, apart from some minor bumps and bruises. All twelve, as best they could, climbed out of the plane, grouping around the ship’s commander. With little effort we made it to the nearest village, from where we gave the regiment commander a telephone message: “The task was completed; upon returning, as a result of the failure of 3 engines, we suffered an accident. The crew is unharmed, I’m awaiting instructions.”
On August 13, 1941, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, Colonel E.N. Preobrazhensky, captains V.A. Grechishnikov, A.Ya. Efremov, P.I. Khokhlov, M.N. Plotkin were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. 67 people were awarded orders and medals.
Legendary Baltic Fleet
It must be said that it was no coincidence that the pilots of the Baltic Fleet found themselves at the peak of combat success in those difficult days. The fleet command managed to preserve not only ships, but also aviation. It operated from the first day of the war. Fighters covered bases, as well as ships stationed in roadsteads or going out on combat operations at sea.
Over Kronstadt, Tallinn, Hanko, over the airfields at which enemy bombers were aimed, heated skirmishes broke out in the air every now and then. The Baltic pilots fought bravely. Already in the first days of the war, naval aviation bombed Memel, Danzig, Gdynia and other ports used by the enemy.
On June 23, attacks began on the airfields and ports of Finland, which opposed the Soviet Union on the side of Nazi Germany. Turku, Kotka, and Tampere were attacked by our aircraft. Red Banner Baltic Fleet planes laid mines near enemy bases to make it difficult for their ships to go to sea, and attacked convoys.
The success of the Baltic Fleet aviation is confirmed by the Germans themselves.
Here is what the magazine “Marine Rundschau” wrote in 1962: “Soviet naval aviation, after the first weeks of some uncertainty in the situation, achieved almost undeniable air supremacy over the sea. Its planes carried out up to 17 air attacks per day. The number of aircraft participating in each raid reached 25. The raids were distinguished by their systematic and persistent actions.”
The commander of the 5th German minesweeper flotilla reported in his report in July 1941 that, despite intense anti-aircraft fire, the Russians conducted targeted bombing, and that some of the bombs were dropped from a dive. He also pointed out that the use of fragmentation bombs of hitherto unknown force caused large losses in personnel. At the end of the report it was reported that if convoys were escorted and minesweeping in the Gulf of Riga was carried out without fighter cover, then heavy losses should be expected.
The report of the commander of the 1st flotilla of torpedo boats dated July 4, 1941 about the absolute dominance of the Russians in the air and “the great danger to which ships crossing without cover are exposed” was of the same nature.
The fighting spirit of the Baltic people was such that the very idea of bombing Berlin arose among ordinary pilots at the end of June 1941. The news of this initiative reached Kuznetsov and resulted in a specific unprecedented operation.
From the memoirs of N.G. Kuznetsova: “The first raid was followed by others. But conditions became more difficult. Now the enemy met our planes with fierce fire as soon as they crossed the coastline, and a complex air defense system operated around Berlin. Each time we had to develop special tactics. The high altitude still helped. Above 7 thousand meters, our bombers were no longer so afraid of night fighters with special powerful headlights, and anti-aircraft fire was no longer so terrible.
Hitler's headquarters demanded that its command "liquidate the naval and air bases on the islands of Dago and Ezel, and, first of all, the airfields from which raids on Berlin are carried out." We had to strengthen the airfields. Almost all the islands' anti-aircraft weapons and modest fighter forces were redeployed there.
The raids on Berlin were repeated more than once. The last one was on September 5th. When we had to leave Tallinn, flights from the islands became impossible. In just ten raids on Berlin, 311 bombs were dropped and 32 fires were recorded.”
Colonel E. Preobrazhensky and flagship navigator P. Khokhlov
TTD DB-3F
Specifications
- Crew: 3 persons (
The summer of 1941 was bitter for the Soviet Union. Hitler's armies rapidly advanced to the East, the Red Army abandoned one city after another, the losses in manpower and equipment were enormous.
On July 22, 1941, exactly a month after the start of the war, German aircraft carried out their first raid on Moscow. From that day on, such attacks became regular.
The bomber aircraft of the Third Reich failed to destroy the capital. Moscow's air defense system turned out to be very effective and reduced the effectiveness of German air strikes to a minimum. The Germans, breaking through to the city, suffered very heavy losses.
However, the start of the bombing of Moscow had a serious psychological effect. This fact did not give courage to either the Red Army soldiers or the civilian population.
A retaliatory action was required that would show that the Soviet Union was also capable of inflicting painful blows on the enemy. But how to respond if the Germans are moving further and further?
Propaganda poster from the war. Photo: www.globallookpress.com
Island of strategic importance
Four days after the first bombing of Moscow, an appointment with Stalin came People's Commissar of the USSR Navy Admiral Nikolai Kuznetsov. The People's Commissar presented the plan developed Commander of Navy Aviation General Semyon Zhavoronkov. This plan included the bombing of Berlin.
In the first days of the war, General Zhavoronkov considered plans for possible air strikes on German ports. Analyzing the options, he realized that bomber aircraft could “reach” Berlin.
The task was extremely difficult - by the end of July, Soviet troops abandoned Lithuania and Latvia, and with difficulty retained part of Estonia.
The island of Ezel (Saaremaa), the westernmost point of land, from where the Nazis were unable to dislodge the Red Army at that time, also remained under the control of Soviet troops. There was a Cahul airfield on Ezel, which could have been prepared for an attack on Berlin.
Stalin approved the plan proposed by the Navy. 1st mine-torpedo aviation regiment of the 8th air brigade of the Baltic Fleet Air Force under the command of Colonel Evgeny Preobrazhensky The order was given to carry out a bomb attack on Berlin and its military-industrial facilities. General command of the operation was entrusted to General Zhavoronkov.
Advanced task
Preparations took place in the strictest secrecy. The 15 best crews were selected from the regiment to form the strike group.
On August 3, 1941, a caravan of ships approached the island of Ezel, which brought everything necessary to retrofit the airfield. On August 4, aircraft of the strike group arrived at the Cahul airfield.
The task was very difficult. The bombers had to spend about eight hours in the air. In order not to reveal themselves, complete radio silence was established on the air. The flight was supposed to take place at an altitude of 7000 meters, at a temperature of minus 40 and a lack of oxygen. For the latter reason, the pilots had to wear oxygen masks at all times.
The flight range was also limited by the carrying capacity - no more than one 500-kilogram bomb or two 250-kilogram bombs.
On the night of August 6, five planes of the group made a reconnaissance flight to Berlin. It was established that the well-equipped air defense of the capital of the Third Reich is located in a ring around the city within a radius of 100 km.
It was not easy to break through, but the Soviet pilots had the effect of surprise on their side - no one expected their appearance in the skies of Germany. Luftwaffe head Hermann Goering assured that not a single Soviet bomb would fall on Berlin, and the main Nazi propagandist Dr. Goebbels assured that the Soviet Air Force no longer exists.
German air defense exercises. Photo: www.globallookpress.com
“My place is Berlin”
At 21:00 on August 7, a group of 15 DB-3 bombers under the command of Colonel Preobrazhensky took off from the Cahul airfield. In addition to high-explosive bombs, the bombers were also equipped with “propaganda bombs” filled with leaflets. These leaflets were supposed to show the Germans exactly who carried out the attack.
The Germans saw planes heading towards Berlin. In the Stettin area, German searchlights even suggested landing at the nearest airfield with their light. The ground services of the Third Reich were sure that their own planes were above them, returning from a mission.
When the first group of bombers approached Berlin, they clearly did not expect an attack. There is no blackout, the city is brightly lit, and this helped the Soviet pilots in carrying out strikes. They began to turn off the lights in Berlin only when the first bomb explosions were heard.
Some of the planes of Preobrazhensky’s group struck not at the city itself, but at its outskirts.
Hitler's air defense came to life. The bombers fought their way back through the explosions of enemy shells. Breaking radio silence, group commander Yevgeny Preobrazhensky ordered a message to headquarters: “My place is Berlin. I've done the work. I'm coming back." Whatever happens upon return, the Motherland must know that the attack on the capital of the Reich took place.
German air defense. Photo: www.globallookpress.com
“The report about the bombing of Berlin is interesting and mysterious”
By 4 a.m. on August 8, 14 of the group's 15 aircraft had returned to base. One DB-3 crashed on the approach to the Cahul airfield.
On August 8, Berlin radio reported: “On the night of August 7-8, large forces of British aviation, in the amount of 150 aircraft, tried to bomb our capital... Of the 15 aircraft that broke through to the city, 9 were shot down, soon they will be put on public display.”
In response, the BBC reported: “The German message about the bombing of Berlin is interesting and mysterious, since on August 7-8 British aircraft did not fly over Berlin.”
The dispute was put to rest by a message from the Sovinformburo about the successful Soviet air raid on Berlin.
This really made an impression on everyone - the Soviet people, the Germans, and even the Allies. It turned out that the USSR was not broken by the first setbacks and was capable of striking the Reich in the very heart.
The consequences of night air raids on Berlin in 1941. Photo: www.globallookpress.com
Failure of Divisional Commander Vodopyanov
Air strikes on Berlin continued until September 5. Each time they became more and more difficult, losses grew - the enemy, who already knew where the threat was coming from, used air defense to the maximum. And sometimes, when returning, Soviet bombers came under “friendly fire” from their own anti-aircraft gunners.
On the night of August 10-11, the latest Pe-8 bombers from the 81st Bomber Air Division, commanded by a participant in the rescue of the Chelyuskinites, joined the strikes on Berlin. Hero of the Soviet Union Mikhail Vodopyanov.
However, the operation was not the most successful. Due to the crash of one of the planes during takeoff, instead of 26 planned aircraft, only 10 went to Berlin. Six managed to reach the target, and only two managed to return to base. Vodopyanov, who commanded the operation, was shot down over the occupied territory of Estonia upon his return, made an emergency landing, and spent two days getting out with his crew. Fortunately, the Germans failed to capture the famous Hero of the Soviet Union. After his return, Vodopyanov was removed from his post as division commander and continued the war as an ordinary pilot.
Awards and prizes
In total, in 1941, Soviet aviation carried out 9 raids on Berlin, dropping 21 tons of bombs on it and causing 32 fires in the city. The planes that failed to reach the main target carried out bombing attacks on other German cities. During the operation, 17 aircraft and 7 crews were lost.
Hitler was furious and demanded the immediate capture of the island of Saaremaa, from which the attacks were being carried out. On August 28, Tallinn fell, which made it impossible to further supply the air group at the Cahul airfield. Soviet bombers returned to their permanent bases. The battles for the island of Saaremaa continued throughout September, and only on October 3 were the remnants of Soviet units evacuated from there.
For the bombing of Berlin, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to 10 air raid participants, 13 people were awarded the Order of Lenin, 55 were awarded the Order of the Red Banner and the Red Star.
In addition, each crew member for the attack on Berlin was entitled to a cash bonus of 2,000 rubles, which is four times higher than the standard bonus for long-range bomber crew members for a successful mission.
