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{{Short description|Anti-Soviet military operation in Siberia}}{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
'''GULAG Operation''' was a planned ] military operation in which German troops were to open a second front in ], by liberating and conscripting prisoners of the ] ] system.
{{Infobox military operation
|partof = ]
|image = File:Vorkuta.jpg
|caption = A punishment cell block in one of the subcamps of ]. The GULAG Operation planned to liberate prisoners from camps like Vorkutlag in the Komi ASSR and recruit them for anti-Soviet guerrilla warfare.
|type = Guerrilla warfare
|location = ]
|planned = Mid-1942
|planned_by = ]
|commanded_by = {{illm|Ivan Georgievich Bessonov|ru|Бессонов, Иван Георгиевич}}<br/>]
|objective = Instigate a guerrilla war in Siberia against Soviet authorities
|date = {{start and end dates|1943|06|02|1943|06|09|df=y}}
|outcome = Operational failure
* ] detects guerrillas
* Bessonov and Meandrov executed following end of war
|casualties = 4 (2 in June 1943, Bessonov and Meandrov after end of war)
}}
The '''GULAG Operation''' was a ] military operation in which German and Soviet anti-communist troops were to create an anti-Soviet ] in ] during World War II by liberating and recruiting prisoners of the ] ] system. Despite ambitious plans, only a small group of former Soviet POWs was airlifted to the ] in June 1943. Members of the group were captured or killed days after landing.


==Ambitious plans==
{{WWII-stub}}
The plan was designed in mid-1942 by ] in the ] POW camp, primarily by an ] officer, Brigade Commander {{illm|Ivan Georgievich Bessonov|ru|Бессонов, Иван Георгиевич}},<ref name=parish2004>{{cite book |first=Michael |last=Parrish |title=Sacrifice of the Generals: Soviet Senior Officer Losses, 1939-1953 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2004 |isbn=0-8108-5009-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3mtxloeK994C&pg=PA44 |page=44}}</ref><ref name=parish1996>{{cite book| first=Michael |last=Parrish |title=The Lesser Terror: Soviet State Security, 1939-1953 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |year=1996 |isbn=0-275-95113-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NDgv5ognePgC&pg=PA160 |page=160}}</ref> and a ] officer, Colonel ].<ref name=Melenberg>{{Cite journal|last=Melenberg |first=Aleksandr |url=https://www.novayagazeta.ru/articles/2004/03/01/22844-desant-na-gulag |script-title=ru:ДЕСАНТ НА ГУЛАГ |language=ru |date=1 March 2004 |journal=] }}</ref> The plan, part of the German efforts to create anti-communist resistance behind the Soviet lines, called for a naval and air invasion of Siberia by allied German and anti-Soviet Red Army forces, targeting the GULAG penal system camps, recruiting more anti-Soviet forces from the prisoners, and thus opening a second front in the war between Nazi Germany and Soviet Union.<ref name=parish2004/><ref name=parish1996/><ref name=Melenberg/>

The plan called for the creation of insurgent activity in the extensive region from the ] to the ] and from the extreme north to the ]. The region of the planned actions was divided into three operational zones: Northern (right shore of the flow of northern Dvina), central (near the ]) and eastern (from the ] to the Yenisey).<ref name=Melenberg/> Landing force members had to seize the GULAGS, free and arm the prisoners and deportees and move with them in the general direction of the south.<ref name=parish2004/><ref name=parish1996/>

==Implementation and aftermath==
The plan, part of the larger ], was analysed and tentatively approved by the ] (RSHA) and steps were taken towards implementing it.<ref name=parish2004/> About 150 ] were conscripted into the units that were to be used in the operation: two assault groups of 50–55 people each, the group of the radio operators consisting of 20–25 people and the support (medical) female group of 20 people.<ref name=Melenberg/>

On 2 June 1943, the first group of 12 former Soviet POWs, trained by the Germans and dressed in ] uniforms, were airdropped in the ]. On 9 June, the group was however detected (two killed, rest taken prisoner) by real NKVD troops.<ref name=parish2004/><ref name=parish1996/><ref name=Melenberg/>

Soon after this failure, the Germans decided to abandon the operation. The anti-communist group that Bessonov founded in the ] was disbanded, and he himself was transferred to the ].<ref name=parish2004/><ref name=Melenberg/> Some of Bessonov's organisation members were employed in other German anti-Soviet operations, without any notable successes. Bessonov and Meandrov survived the war to be executed by the Soviet authorities after being transferred to their custody.<ref name=parish1996/><ref name=Melenberg/>

==See also==
* ]
** Other Axis-affiliated anti-communist guerrillas:
*** ]
*** ]
*** ]
*** ]
*** ]
* ]
* ], a communist-led World War II resistance movement

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
*
*{{ru icon}}
*{{in lang|ru}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Gulag Operation}}
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Latest revision as of 02:12, 14 December 2024

Anti-Soviet military operation in Siberia
GULAG Operation
Part of Operation Zeppelin
A punishment cell block in one of the subcamps of Vorkutlag. The GULAG Operation planned to liberate prisoners from camps like Vorkutlag in the Komi ASSR and recruit them for anti-Soviet guerrilla warfare.
TypeGuerrilla warfare
LocationKomi ASSR
PlannedMid-1942
Planned bySoviet POWs in German captivity
Commanded byIvan Georgievich Bessonov [ru]
Mikhael Meandrov
ObjectiveInstigate a guerrilla war in Siberia against Soviet authorities
Date2–9 June 1943 (1943-06-02 – 1943-06-09)
OutcomeOperational failure
  • NKVD detects guerrillas
  • Bessonov and Meandrov executed following end of war
Casualties4 (2 in June 1943, Bessonov and Meandrov after end of war)

The GULAG Operation was a German military operation in which German and Soviet anti-communist troops were to create an anti-Soviet resistance movement in Siberia during World War II by liberating and recruiting prisoners of the Soviet GULAG system. Despite ambitious plans, only a small group of former Soviet POWs was airlifted to the Komi Republic in June 1943. Members of the group were captured or killed days after landing.

Ambitious plans

The plan was designed in mid-1942 by Soviet POWs in German captivity in the Hammelburg POW camp, primarily by an NKVD officer, Brigade Commander Ivan Georgievich Bessonov [ru], and a Red Army officer, Colonel Mikhael Meandrov. The plan, part of the German efforts to create anti-communist resistance behind the Soviet lines, called for a naval and air invasion of Siberia by allied German and anti-Soviet Red Army forces, targeting the GULAG penal system camps, recruiting more anti-Soviet forces from the prisoners, and thus opening a second front in the war between Nazi Germany and Soviet Union.

The plan called for the creation of insurgent activity in the extensive region from the Northern Dvina River to the Yenisey and from the extreme north to the Trans-Siberian Railway. The region of the planned actions was divided into three operational zones: Northern (right shore of the flow of northern Dvina), central (near the Pechora River) and eastern (from the Ob River to the Yenisey). Landing force members had to seize the GULAGS, free and arm the prisoners and deportees and move with them in the general direction of the south.

Implementation and aftermath

The plan, part of the larger Operation Zeppelin, was analysed and tentatively approved by the Reich Security Head Office (RSHA) and steps were taken towards implementing it. About 150 Soviet POWs were conscripted into the units that were to be used in the operation: two assault groups of 50–55 people each, the group of the radio operators consisting of 20–25 people and the support (medical) female group of 20 people.

On 2 June 1943, the first group of 12 former Soviet POWs, trained by the Germans and dressed in NKVD uniforms, were airdropped in the Komi Republic. On 9 June, the group was however detected (two killed, rest taken prisoner) by real NKVD troops.

Soon after this failure, the Germans decided to abandon the operation. The anti-communist group that Bessonov founded in the POW camp was disbanded, and he himself was transferred to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. Some of Bessonov's organisation members were employed in other German anti-Soviet operations, without any notable successes. Bessonov and Meandrov survived the war to be executed by the Soviet authorities after being transferred to their custody.

See also

References

  1. ^ Parrish, Michael (2004). Sacrifice of the Generals: Soviet Senior Officer Losses, 1939-1953. Scarecrow Press. p. 44. ISBN 0-8108-5009-5.
  2. ^ Parrish, Michael (1996). The Lesser Terror: Soviet State Security, 1939-1953. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 160. ISBN 0-275-95113-8.
  3. ^ Melenberg, Aleksandr (1 March 2004). ДЕСАНТ НА ГУЛАГ. Novaya Gazeta (in Russian).

External links

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