"Leningrad People's Militia" Topic

"I've previously looked into the effectiveness of the Leningrad People's Militia units hurriedly raised in the summer of 1941. The popular narrative is that they were composed of semi-unarmed expendable "volunteers" sent into the meat grinder to stall the Germans, but the documents tell a different story. Aleksey Isayev confirmed my suspicions.

"Based on surviving documents that can be accessed today, the Leningrad militia was armed to the teeth, specifically the Leningrad militia of 1941 that moved out to the Luga line and the Guards divisions that fought closer to Leningrad proper. They were armed well according to the TO&E and had mortars above that, which were produced in Leningrad and were naturally issued in droves to their militia. In addition, they were given improvised Izhora armoured cars. Ordinary trucks were equipped with armour, they didn't have turrets, but they had armour to protect from shells, splinters, and bullets and they had machine guns. These were very predatory looking cars and periodically you can see them in eBay photos, the Germans took photos of them when they knocked them out, sadly there are few photos from our side…"
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Amicalement
Armand

Yes, the Leningrad militia fought even better than many regular units of the Red Army.
As for weapons, then in Leningrad it is one of the most powerful centers of Soviet military industry and the base of the Soviet Baltic Fleet. There were enough stocks of weapons and production facilities for its manufacture.

So they looked improvised armored cars made specially at the factories of the city for the Leningrad militia.

To equip these vehicles, weapons from damaged tanks and aircraft were used, as well as a number of repaired 45 mm anti-tank guns.

Thanks!.

Amicalement
Armand

And it is articles like this and contributions from Tango and Cuprum2 (as well as many others) that keeps me coming back here.

Well done gentleman and thanks for the photos Cuprum2!

A votre service mon ami!. (smile)

Amicalement
Amrand

Neat !

Glad you like it too my good friend!.

Amicalement
Armand