War Over The Steppes

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

(2) The suicide of VVS Gen-major Ivan Kopets on 23 June, 1941 (the day after A-Tag) because reporting bad news was going to result in joining group 1.

This is not true, in fact according offical military archive the day of death of Ivan Kopetz was not 23 June 1941. This data is also strange because in most materials/ Soviet time's memories/ was given the evning of 22 June 1941 see memories of gen. Zaharov the commander of fighter division.

Next in fact the day of his death was one month later on 23 July (23.07.) 1941 - such information is written in official military archive.

His wife did not know nothing about the death of his husband during her stay in Minsk in June 1941, later she was arrested in July 1941 in Moscow, where she went to looking for him.

regards,
mw

[Mirek Wawrzynski]

Ad. Major General Chernykh (Czernych)


General Chernych was not killed because of the second wave of purges in the Red Army, but the reason for his death was his escape with the whole division's commander staff from the battlefield in Białystok - he abandoned his four fighters and one bomber regiments from the 9th SAD on 22/23 June 1941.

Escape from the battlefield is cowardice, often a death sentence.

Because of the purges died, among other, gen. Ionov (commadner of avaition in Baltic Special Miliatry District/ North-West Front), gen Ptuchin (commander of avaition in Kiev Special Mititary District - South-West Front).

Reagards
mw

PS.
Second way of pruges in VVS RKKA had began in May 1941 and lasted up to July 1941.

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Hello Mirek,

Originally Posted by Mirek Wawrzynski

(2) The suicide of VVS Gen-major Ivan Kopets on 23 June, 1941 ... in fact according offical military archive the day of death of Ivan Kopetz was not 23 June 1941. ... the day of his death was one month later on 23 July (23.07.) 1941 - such information is written in official military archive.

Mikhail Timin (I'm sure you have read his studies) told me that Kopets certainly shot himself before 17:30 22 June, most probably about 17:00.

Documents which you can see on OBD or Pamyat Naroda websites with dates 23.Jul or even 25.Jul were written after a long time and are incorrect.

Best regards,
Andrey