Record of Direct-Line Negotiations with the Command of the Leningrad Front, 9 November 1941

Source: Tom 18

Source: Tom 18

Leningrad. At the apparatus: Zhdanov and Khozin.

Hello, Comrade Stalin. Reporting on the execution of your instructions. The following measures are being carried out:

1. We are forming three volunteer regiments from select personnel. Formation will be completed today by the end of the day, and by the morning of November 10, we hope to ferry them to the opposite bank of the Neva.

2. By reducing rear-area staffs, we are replenishing the remaining divisions on the left bank of the Neva.

3. We have found 40 medium and light tanks, which will be ferried to the left bank of the Neva during the night of November 9-10.

4. Today we heard the battle plan at the Military Council, as reported by the Military Council of the 8th Army. We ensured that the Military Council of the 8th Army understood how to organize the breakthrough operation, and the plan for the breakthrough operation was brought into accordance with Comrade Stalin's instructions.

5. The readiness date for the commencement of operations has been set at November 10-11. On the axis of the supporting attack by the 55th Army, work has also begun on creating a volunteer strike regiment. The immediate task set for the army is to clear the western bank of the Tosna River of the enemy; subsequently, having seized crossings over the Tosna River, to advance in the direction of Mga to link up with the 8th and 54th Armies. Taking into account the experience of past battles, instructions have been given on the organization and conduct of offensive operations against a dug-in enemy. In this matter, our troops have shown weakness, especially at the company, battalion, and regiment level. In accordance with this, instructions have been given on restructuring the work of the artillery.

Stalin: Halt the transmission. Tikhvin has been taken by the enemy. We are ascertaining the situation. If possible, we will reconnect with you by wire. This line runs through Tikhvin. That is all. Wait at the apparatus.

Zhdanov: Understood. We are waiting at the apparatus.

At the apparatus: Zhdanov and Khozin. Continuing the report. Instructions have been given on restructuring the work of the artillery in accordance with your directives. We have just learned from the 54th Army that the enemy has occupied Tikhvin, and on the Volkhov axis the enemy is 15-18 km from Volkhov. The commander of the 54th Army requests that we transfer one division from our forces to cover Volkhov, or withdraw one division from his own front. We consider it more expedient to withdraw a division from the 54th Army, as transferring from us is hampered by transport difficulties. That is all.

We request your instructions.

At the apparatus: Stalin. I apologize for the delay. To liquidate the enemy group, we have transferred Meretskov to the Tikhvin area with certain troop units from the 7th Army. We are also sending tanks there and one full-strength division. I think the 54th Army could limit itself to deploying one of its own divisions as a covering force for its rear. As you can see, the enemy wants to create a second ring of encirclement around Leningrad and to completely sever Leningrad's communications with the country. To delay further is dangerous. Hurry to create a large group of units, concentrate on a broad sector the full force of fire from your artillery, aviation, 120mm mortars, and rocket launchers, and punch a road to the east while there is still time. And the Tikhvin enemy group, I think, we will liquidate with our own forces. Can you not transport KVs across the Neva in a disassembled state, or else attach a large number of KV tanks to your Tosna group and have them advance along the enemy's rear on the southern bank of the Neva? That is all.

Zhdanov: Comrade Stalin! I report: we are putting your instructions into practice. We have reviewed the offensive plan and have created on the breakthrough sector, on a one-kilometer front, a fairly powerful artillery and mortar grouping of 600 guns and mortars, plus three batteries of rocket launchers. All aviation will also operate there. Transporting KV tanks across the Neva presents great difficulties and is a very time-consuming undertaking. We have already transferred one KV brigade to the 55th Army sector and will transfer another KV brigade there as well, and we are doing as you directed. We are forming one motorized regiment for these brigades. The task we have set for these brigades is: as soon as we seize the crossings over the Tosna River, to throw them into the enemy's rear toward Mga. That is all.

Comrade Stalin, we have a request. In view of the unreliability of the supply route across Lake Ladoga, we ask that you give us an additional 30 "Douglas" aircraft and 10 TB-3s for the export of military materials from Leningrad and the import of concentrates and other food supplies into Leningrad, as well as one fighter regiment to provide cover for their operations. We also request instructions on what to do with the 69 regimental guns we transferred on your orders. They are at Volkhov. That is all.

Stalin: We shall try to provide you with the "Douglas" planes and TB-3s, and let the 54th Army take charge of the 69 regimental guns for storage for the time being. That is all. Goodbye.

Zhdanov: That is all. Goodbye.

The Blockade of Leningrad in Documents of Declassified Archives. Pp. 65-67.

TsAMO RF. F. 96a. Op. 2011. D. 5. L. 156-159.