Rapid Brigade

At the center Minister of Defence of the Slovak Republic (1939-44), General of 1st Class Ferdinand Čatloš (Captain of Czechoslovak legions in the Russia, returned home Sept. 12, 1920), next in the left Commander of 2nd Division 22.06.1941-12.08.1941 General of 2nd Class Augustín Malár (Lieutenant of Czechoslovak legions in Italy, returned home on Sept. 1918) *18.07.1894 Reitern †DD.MM.1945 in the Concentration Camp Flossenbürg.

On 25.06.1941 at 17.00 started the Rapid Group (except the I/11st Motorized artillery section (been earmarked to support the 454th Reinsurance Division Wehrmacht) and II/6nd Motorized Infantry Battalion) attack against the USSR crossings across river San in the village of Temeszów. Dislocation of the Fast Group 26.06.1941-27.06.1941 in the Sanok.

Departure tribal units of the 1st Infantry Division (commander Colonel artillery Jozef Turanec, chief of staff Lt. colonel GS. Alojz Ballay) 28.06.1941 from Trenčín to the field through Medzilaborce to the Sambor and Chyrow.  Among them were the 20th Infantry Regiment units (145). Pictured in the foreground military staff car Praga AV. 

Army Commander, Captain Czechoslovak legions in Russia as commander of the battalion until 1920, General 1st Class Ferdinand Čatloš Defence Minister of the Slovak Republic (1939-45), on the tank Skoda Lt. 35, Sambor in the 1941.  On the date 18.03.1939 Slovak army took over the assets of the Czechoslovak military administration in Slovakia 52 light tanks Skoda Lt. 35. Chief of Staff Rapid Group: 22.06.1941-07.07.1941 Brezány, Koloman (Lt. colonel GST). Dislocation of the Rapid Brigade  07.07.1941-10.07.1941 in the Sambor.

Motorized parts of 1st Cavalry Speh Troop 1st JPO and Bicycle squadron were operating warrant No 4 dated 05.07.1941 commander of the army General Ferdinand Čatloš sent from Felstyn to Sambor and made available to the Fast Brigade Commander. The units were ordered to report at Sambor at MASS brigade on 06.07.1941 at 8.00 pm. Subsequently under the operational command No 4 combined with motorized parts 2nd JPO original tribal military unit. Lieutenant cavalry res. Aladár Ondrejkovič 11th Dragon Regiment, which remains under the rules of mobilization 1st  JPO.

Terrain military trucks Praga RV with light howitzers Skoda 100 mm vz. 30 (as of 03/18/1939 the Slovak army took over the assets of the  Czechoslovak military administration of 32).   

The early hygiene of soldiers in the rail transport of the Slovak army to the Eastern Front through the occupied Poland. 

 Vinnica Railway Station. Slovak military transport in western Ukraine in August 1941.    

Slovak soldiers of Fast Brigade in Poland - Soviet border in the summer of the 1941.

In the battle of Lipovec was deployed in the lineup slovak Fast Brigade 11th Artillery Regiment military off-road truck Praga RV with light howitzers 100 mm Skoda model 30 and tractors Skoda MTH have been transported trailer (On the date 18.03.1939 Slovak army took over the assets of the Czechoslovak military administration in Slovakia 17 chassis for light transport crawler tractor).    

Vinnytsia, in the year 1941 German army headquarters (before and after the occupation - the House of the Red Army. On 10.07.1941-16.07.1941 Fast Brigade was deployed in Vinnitsa. On 10 July 1941 the Fast Brigade incorporated into the assembly 49. Mountain Corps General Ludwig von Kubler. He ordered her to move to Vinnytsia prepare for combat deployment towards Ilinca and Lipovec.

Slovak tanks Praga Lt 38. Their crews did not avoid the loss of life and technology in the first battles with an experienced opponent 44th Mountain Rifle Division of the Soviet Army. According to their direct participant Lt. Colonel tank Aladár II. Ondrejkovič (as the commander of the automobile column forcibly broke under artillery fire shells useky communications) had the main share of the Commander of the Rapid Brigade Colonel GS Rudolf Pilfousek with his crew.

Due to the lack of research into the direction of the commander (Colonel Gen. Staff Rudolf Pilfousek) and his staff (Mjr. cavalry Julius Nosko) suffered a rapid brigade July 22, 1941 at Lipovec great loss of team and technology. Irrevocably destroyed five light tanks, one armored car OA vz.30 and damaged seven tanks. Most tanks and trucks were destroyed by the artillery fire of the Soviet Army. In the assembly of the Rapid Brigade were units of the Regiment assault chariots in Martin - Staff Company, two companies of light tanks Skoda Lt 35, Praga Lt 38, Praga Lt 40, one platoon of Tatra OA vz.30 armored vehicles and three companies anti-tank guns KPÚV vz.37 ( Skoda A 4).                     

Tough opponents. The commander of the Soviet 44th Mountain Rifle Division Major General Semyon Akimovič Tkachenko, who led the July 22, 1941 in the struggle unsuccessfully Fast Brigade Colonel GS. Rudolf Pilfousek.

The Lipovec in the 22. July 1941. Artillery fire of Soviet 44th Mountain Rifle Division Major General Semyon Akimovič Tkačenko destroyed staff car Praga AV.

Soviet self-loading rifle Tokarev SVT-40 rifle Mosin vz 1891/30 which used soldiers of the Soviet 44th Mountain Rifle Division in position when Lipovec so. Fox hole. Both weapons (especially Tokarev SVT-40 and the Mosin sniper design in 1891/30) were used and sought likes to not only soldats of the Fast Division, but also the Wehrmacht. In July 1942 in the arsenal he had already included 1st Czechoslovakian Independent Field Battalion in the USSR, commander Colonel Ludvik Svoboda with whom the author met in the year 1962 in the Vidnava in VDO.

The column of military lorries Praga AV of the Slovakian Fast Brigade and Soviet soldiers, escorted by soldiers squadron of cycling and motorized troops of the 1st JPO detached from 1st Infantry Division, commander Colonel artillery Jozef Turanec and assigned to the Fast Brigade, commander Colonel GST Rudolf Pilfousek. 

In the battle of Lipovec killed 68 soldiers, 7 officers, 158 soldiers were injured and nine officers. Of the 50 prisoners were 27 soldiers managed to escape and return to the units 4 while attempting to escape were killed and 18 soldiers and one officer remained a captive. The ratio of the number of dead and wounded officers to the total of evidence that its soldiers have resulted directly in combat (this situation is characterized by the whole Slovak army until 1944, including the fighting in the SNP). Loss of Soviet 44th Mountain Rifle Division were estimated at 700 dead and 1,000 wounded. Slovak soldiers captured more than 150 soldiers and one officer.

Bed Department of 11th Field Hospital of the Slovak Army on the Eastern Front in Investigation of Patients by Physicians.  

Tatra T85 tanker. Report of the commander II/20th Motorized Infantry Battalion Major infantry Ján Š. dated august 26th 1941 demonstrates the unpopularity Fast Brigade commander Colonel GS. Rudolf Pilfousek not only in the Slovak army. Major infantry Ján Š. reported that the Oberst der Wehrmacht was concerned person Colonel GST. Rudolf Pilfousek so doing difficulty in dispensing gasoline vehicle of the PAK commander Lieutenant cavalry reserve Aladár Ondrejkovič (145).               

Notes: July 21 had 1941 Fast Brigade had 5 Skoda MTH crawler tractors, 445 trucks, 10 ambulances, four tank trucks, 197 cars and 90 motorcycles; Cargo motorcade 315 ; Ondrejkovičová born Šumichrast ; Katarina Ondrejkovič born Malár *1926 †1992 ; JUDr. Milan Mičura Malár Magdin 1921-1997 ; Magdalena Fábry born Vojčeková 1908-1996 ; Magdalena Mičurová born Sohlmannová ; Anna Ondrejkovičová born Sivák *1944 †2001; Cargo motorcade 315 ; Field Chaplain from Rapid Group First lieutenant spiritual service Rudolf Dilong ;  

Sources: (145) The War diary of Colonel artillery Jozef Turanec 20.06.-19.09.1941 s 67 ; Retired Lt. Colonel tank Aladár II. Ondrejkovič ; Retired General Karol Schwarz ; VHA Bratislava ;