In point No 3 h) of the order of OKW from 21.09.1939, 8.00 PM, we can read:
"Russians have offered us an armed help against Polish regular forces and insurgents"
Source: National Archives of USA. T. 319. r. 477. kl. 8067998-999
Paragraph 5. of the "Top-secret protocol of establishments between people's komissar of defence of the USSR and representatives of the German High Command" (protocol created between 16:20 on 20 IX and 4:00 on 21 IX):
"If German representatives are asking the Red Army command for help in destroying Polish military units or bands [...], Red Army command (leaders of marching columns) in accordance to the need, will give at the disposal [of the Germans], forces necessary to destroy obstacles located along the route of German units."
The protocol was signed from the German side by: Generalleutnant Kostring, Oberst Aschenbrenner, Oberstleutnant in General Headquarters Krebs. From the Soviet side it was signed by Kliment Voroshilov and Boris Shaposhnikov.
Also Russian historian Natalia Lebiedieva in her article which was published in "Nowa Gazieta" wrote:
"I'm going to recall one of examples of aid given to units of Wehrmacht by the Red Army. On 23 September Soviet command received information, that in the area west from Hrubieszow major Polish forces [Front Północny] were gathering. Germans wanted to attack them with tanks [2. Pz.Div.]. 'They [Germans] propose us - the commander of Russian division, Ivanov, reported - to take part in joint annihilation of that group'. As the result [of this proposal] the Soviet 8th Rifle Corps was directed towards Hrubieszow, where it started to fight against the Polish units."
The Soviet cooperation with German forces during that battle (the battle of Tomaszow Lubelski) adopted even more advanced forms than just fighting against the same Polish units in the same period of time. Namely - even direct cooperation on the battlefield, fighting side by side, took place. On 25th of September the Germans sent request to the Soviets for sending them some units to the area of Krasnobrod, which had been recaptured by Polish forces on the previous day. As the result strong elements of the 44th Rifle Divsion were sent there and attached to German units. They conducted a joint military operation in the area of Krasnobrod and Rudki between 25 and 27 September.
I could find info on that only in Russian sources (asking for Russian help might be shameful for the Germans).
Source: RGWA, 35084-1-24, k. 57
Soviet participation in the battle of Tomaszow Lubelski (2nd largest battle after Bzura) was considerable:
22.09.1939:
On that day frontal units of the 8th Rifle Corps were on their positions along the Bug river (on the eastern bank of the river) near Sokal. Rear units of the Corps were still more to the east, in the area of Wlodzimierz Wolynski.
23.09.1939:
On 23 September the Germans sent their messengers to the HQ of the Soviet 6. Army (located in Lwow) with request to help them in combats against Polish forces in the area west of Hrubieszow (Tomaszow - Zamosc - Krasnobrod) by attacking their rears from the east. Soviet command decided to send their 8th Rifle Corps (44th, 81st and 14th Rifle Divisions) to the area west from Hrubieszow in order to check what the situation was like and to join the battle against the Polish forces if necessary. Yet on the same day forces of the 8th Rifle Corps crossed the Bug river (not without resistance of Polish forces) along the line Hrubieszow - Sokal, encountering Polish resistance in this area. For example the reconnaissance battalion of 81st Rifle Division encountered fierce Polish resistance in the area Strzyzow - Hrubieszow. Combats against Soviet units and Ukrainian sabotage also took place near the village Sahryn (near Hrubieszow) and near Turkowice in the area of Tyszowce (in this last combat Polish 44th Inf.Rgt. from 13th Infantry Brigade suffered some losses). On 23.09.1939 Soviet forces also entered the Zamojszczyzna region. On that day and during the following days many combats and skirmishes against Soviet forces took place in this region, including combats of Rogalin near Horodlo (23 IX), Tyszowce (24 - 25 IX), Grabowiec (25 IX), Frampol, Komarow (24 - 25 IX), Niemirowek near Tarnawatka (25 IX), Mietkie near Mircze, Lubycza Krolewska and in many other places. After these combats Soviet soldiers and volunteers from Ukrainian militia collaborating with them (so called "red armbands") commited many crimes on Polish soldiers and officers, policemen, priests and civilian authorities.
24.09.1939:
In the morning on 24 September the Soviet 2nd Cavalry Corps, 10th Tank Brigade and 99th Rifle Division were informed about the difficult situation of German forces in the area west from Hrubieszow, about the presence of strong Polish forces in the area of Zamosc - Tomaszow - Hrubieszow, which counterattacked the Germans near Tomaszow and about the already beginned operations of the Soviet 8th Rifle Corps against these Polish forces in the area west from the river Bug. At the same time the 2nd Cavalry Corps received an order to support the 8th Rifle Corps in its operation and to reach the line Turinka - Dobrosin until 16:00 on 24 September with protruding units in Lipnik, Magierow and Wiszynka Wielka. The 2nd Cavalry Corps was also ordered to send reconnaissance units towards Krystynopol - Belzec and Uhnow. In case of encountering major enemy forces - attack and capture them. The 2nd Cavalry Corps was ordered as well to block the withdrawal route of Polish units towards the area south from the line Lwow - Kamionka Strumilowa (so towards the Hungarian border).
On the same day heavy combats of divisions of 8th Rifle Corps against the Poles were in progress in the area around Hrubieszow and along the road to Krasnystaw and Chelm. After two hours of heavy combats Soviet units captured Hrubieszow. The battle of Husynne took place (Polish forces involved: 14th uhlan regiment., mounted police squadron, chemical battalion). In the area Trzeszczany - Hrubieszow - Terebin Soviet rifle divisions (81st and 44th) captured the town of Komarow in combats against elements of the decimated Polish 10th Inf.Div. under command of gen. Dindorf-Ankowicz. They captured some POWs and commited a war crime, murdering 17 of them (including 3 officers).
Soviet 36th Tank Brigade was moving along the line Nowosiolki - Kolo - Ubrodowice and fought several combats during the day, reporting capturing 10 Polish officers, 150 soldiers and 2 artillery tractors.
25.09.1939:
Combats of divisions of the 8th Rifle Corps in the area of Hrubieszow and towards Krasnystaw and Chelm were still in progress. 81st Rifle Division was involved in heavy combats against Polish units in the area of Grabowiec, Danczypol and Niemirowek. Near Grabowiec Soviet soldiers reported capturing 1,000 prisoners (including some from the 27th uhlan regiment and from the ad hoc formed in Kowel cavalry squadron under command of ppor. rez. Antoni Chorazy). In Grabowiec itself Soviet soldiers captured a Polish field hospital, in which there were at least several dozens of wounded and several doctors. After capturing the hospital Soviet soldiers murdered 3 doctors and 2 wounded NCOs. Further 37 wounded Polish soldiers were taken by the Soviets to the nearby village Grabowiec Gora and there murdered with use of bayonets. Also several captured officers were murdered in Grabowiec Gora. In Niemirowek Soviet units captured some prisoners too - after that at least 14 captured NCOs were murdered. On 25.09.1939 Soviet forces seized the city of Zamosc and other Soviet units entered Tomaszow Lubelski advancing from the direction of Belzec. Before capturing Tomaszow, they were involved in a several hours long battle against the Polish 2nd Kaniowscy Sapper Regiment near Tyszowce. Soviet forces suffered heavy losses in combats near Tyszowce and in revenge murdered several dozens Polish prisoners of war after the battle - including major J. Eborowicz who was executed after being sentenced to death (for putting up resistance?) in a parody of a court trail.
44th Rifle Division was involved in combats in several places on that day. One Separated Group was fighting in the area of Zubowice and Tomaszow, reporting capturing around 1500 POWs in these combats and suffering some casualties. Another Separated Group was attacking - in cooperation with German units - the forces of Polish generals Kruszewski and Przedrzymirski, involved in heavy combats (especially 39th Infantry Division) near the recaptured Krasnobrod. As the result of this joint German-Soviet operation (which lasted for 3 days - 25 - 27 September), Krasnobrod was recaptured and then the joint German-Soviet attack towards Rudki was carried out. Under the pressure of Soviet and German forces, units of generals Kruszewski and Przedrzymirski agreed to surrender to the Germans after they accepted their request of passing through their lines to the west (in order to detach from the Soviet forces attacking from the east and to avoid the Soviet captivity). Both generals surrendered on 27 September (as written below) but many of their units refused to surrender and continued combats. Finally the last Separated Group of the 44th Rifle Division - comprised of divisional tank battalion and divisional reconnaissance battalion - was forced to detach from the main forces of the division during the day because it received an urgent request for help from the 36th Tank Brigade which encountered heavy Polish resistance near Chelm Lubelski and found itself in a dangerous situation.
36th Tank Brigade - having 196 operational tanks (T-26) and 23 armoured cars - since the early morning on 25 September was attacking with battalion columns towards Krasnystaw and Chelm Lubelski, encountering strong resistance and destroying many Polish groups on its way. At the outskirts of Chelm Lubelski units of the brigade were halted by strong Polish forces (which refused to lay down arms) and found themselves in a very dangerous situation. Elements of the brigade which were involved in disarming Polish units inside the city, were suddenly attacked and cut off by other Polish units which rebelled against their officers who ordered them to lay down arms and refused to do so. The remaining units of the brigade were forced to retreat from the outskirts of the city and heavy combats started in nearby forests. Commander of the brigade decided to encircle the town and once again attack it with 2 tank battalions and one reconnaissance battalion, but the attack failed. He had to call for urgent help of tank battalions and reconnaissance battalions of two rifle divisions - 44th and 87th - in order to resolve the situation.
14th Cavalry Division from 2nd Cavalry Corps was conducting mopping up and reconnaissance operations in the area of Rawa Ruska and then on the direction of Zamosc, this way blocking the possibility of breaking through towards the Hungarian border of Polish units fighting in the area of Hrubieszow. Units of the division captured Komarow.
From the Diary of Combat Actions of the Ukrainian Front in period 3 September - 12 October; 25 IX:
On 25 September 8th Rifle Corps reported capturing 2500 POWs, 50 cars and one ammo depot in a forest. According to testimonies of POWs in the area 15 km to the south-west from Hrubieszow there were around 10,000 Polish soldiers from different units, including 4th, 11th and 7th uhlan regiments, 28th light artillery regiment. While in the area Sokal - Krystynopol - Rawa Ruska there were "remnants" of Polish divisions: 33, 41, 2 and cavalry brigades: MBK, NBK.
26.09.1939:
Elements of 81st and 44th Rifle Divisions reached the line Krasnystaw - railway station Zawada just 10 - 12 kilometres from Zamosc. The city of Zamosc had been captured by Soviet units yet on the previous day. On 26 September in the evening reconnaissance units of 81st and 44th Rifle Divisions entered Zamosc from the direction of Szczebrzeszyn and then stopped their advance near the city railway station. On 25 and 26 September combats against Polish forces were fought, among other places, in the area of Izbica, Mietkie near Mircze and in the area of Golab.
On 26.09.1939 last combats in the area of Chelm Lubelski came to an end. According to Soviet sources they disarmed 8,000 Polish soldiers near Chelm, captured 7,000 rifles, 1,250 pistols, 10 field guns (other source says 6), 14 cars and 1,500 horses (other source says 1,000). During combats for Chelm 36th Tank Brigade (without battalions from 87th and 44th Rifle Divisions) lost a dozen or so tanks knocked out and 2 officers KIA (number of KIA NCOs and men and numbers of WIA and MIA were not reported). Some Polish soldiers who participated in the defence of Chelm managed to retreat towards Krasnystaw (where they fought against Soviet units during the following days).
From the Diary of Combat Actions of the Ukrainian Front in period 3 September - 12 October; 26 IX:
"5th Army - 15 Rifle Corps (45 and 87 Rifle Div.), 8 RC (44, 81, 14 RD), 27 RC (three RDs from the Belarusian SOW), 36th Tank Brigade, 38th Tank Brigade, 135, 305 and 330 artillery regiments of the High Command Reserve.
Since the morning on 26.09. units of the front were continuing to carry out the order of the people's defence komissar No 156. The Northern Group - 36th Tank Brigade together with fast units of 15th Rifle Corps captured Chelm. As the result it captured 8 thousands prisoners, 6 guns and 1 thousand horses. Enemy cavalry is concentrating in the forest 15 - 20 km to the east from Krasnystaw. In the night from 26.09. to 27.09. forces of the Front will remain on their positions. For 27 September a rest is planned for 5th Army because rear units of the army did not come and did not concentrate. Divisional evacuation points are not concentrated; system of stationary supplies is not complete. Heavy exhaustion of combat units is visible. On 25 and 26 IX units of 5th Army captured 15,000 prisoners and 60 cars.
Two Polish cavalry regiments refused to surrender and retreated to the forests 15-20 km south-west from Krasnystaw. According to unchecked information remnants of Polish 1st, 5th and 41st divisions are concentrating in the area Laszczow - Uhnow - Belz."
27.09.1939:
Soviet forces captured Zwierzyniec and Jozefow. Combats near Krasnobrod were coming to an end (see above). Polish forces near Krasnobrod, being under the pressure of Russian units from the east and German-Russian (elements of 44th Rifle Division) units from the west and south decided to surrender to the Germans after they accepted their request of letting them to pass through the German lines to the west in order to detach from the Soviets.
From the Diary of Combat Actions of the Ukrainian Front in period 3 September - 12 October; 27 IX:
"On 26.09.1939 Poles were withdrawing, putting up resistance and surrendering. In the region of Hrubieszow POWs from 2nd, 7th and 13th divisions [maybe from spare units of these divisions] were reported. In the region of Brzezino, Mietkie, Holubie 1000 prisoners from 5th Infantry Division were captured, in the area south of Golebie more than 1500 prisoners from the motorized brigade belonging to the army of general Wisniowiecki M. [no such motorized brigade and no general existed]. According to testimonies of a prisoner this army had been disrupted by the Germans near Chelm Lubelski. According to the reconnaissance data there is around one Polish regiment in Chelm Lubelski.
Advancing towards the west, units of the front continued mopping up the area from remnants of the Polish Army. [...] In the area of Niemirow HQ of the army of gen. Pierechowsiki was captured [no such general existed]. His army consisted of 6,000 men, 12 tanks and 18 tankettes; on 20 - 21 IX it fought against the Germans near Rawa Ruska.
12th Army, continuing its advance towards the west, was fighting against enemy units: cavalry brigade "Baranowicze" (25, 26, 27 uhlan regiments and 9 horse rifle regiment) and remnants of cavalry brigade "Rowne", which tried to withdraw towards Mosciska. As the result of our firm actions enemy cavalry was encircled in the area Krukienice, Bolanowice, Towarnia, Koniow and destroyed by our 34th and 32nd Cavalry Brigades. 100 prisoners and 5 guns were captured. Losses of 34th Cavalry Brigade: 13 WIA including seriously WIA regimental commander comrade Diegtiarov. Enemy Anti-Tank fire destroyed one tank and one armoured car. Until the end of the day 4th Cavalry Corps reached the line: Hussakow, Nowe Miasto, Chyrow. [...] As the result of combats in the region of Krukienice around 5 enemy cavalry regiments were disrupted. 1000 soldiers, 15 guns, 20 MGs and 3 armoured cars were captured. [...] To the west from Sadkowice Polish cavalry fights against our units. According to testimonies of a prisoner in the forest north from Rajtarowice enemy concentrated: 25, 26, 27 uhlan regiments, 9th horse rifle regiment and one battalion of horse artillery. [...] In the region of Mosciska, Medyka our units disrupted 25 and 26 uhlan regiments from Nowogrodzka Cavalry Brigade. Remnants retreated towards Przemysl in order to break through to Romania. Parts of the cavalry group of general Anders were remnants of 25, 26, 27 uhlan regiments from Nowogrodzka BK, 21 uhlan regiment and 3 horse rifle regiment from Wolynska BK and elements of 11 uhlan regiment and 1 chasseur regiment."
28.09.1939:
Soviet forces capturde Bilgoraj and entered to Lubaczow (17th Rifle Corps). Combats against Polish forces near Moszczenica took place. 24th Tank Brigade reached the town of Cieszanow.
From the Diary of Combat Actions of the Ukrainian Front in period 3 September - 12 October; 28 IX:
"Around 16:25 Air Force has discovered enemy forces of around 1 infantry regiment and one cavalry regiment in the area 25 km north-west from Wlodawa. Bridges near Wlodawa and Slawatycze had been blown up and are burning. Along the roads from Frampol towards Bilgoraj movement of large amounts of supply columns visible. The enemy, not putting up organized resistance, is withdrawing in small groups in the north-western and south-western directions.
38th Tank Brigade - in the area of Krasnik and has got 20 operational AFVs, all other require repairs."
29.09.1939:
From the Diary of Combat Actions of the Ukrainian Front in period 3 September - 12 October; 29 IX:
"Conducting an investigation in order to find out explanation how could it happen, that the 2nd Rifle Division, advancing towards Chelm, fell into an organized ambush of enemy forces, was ordered."
Soviet and German officers planning joint operations against the Polish Army in the HQ of a Soviet Corps:
at Cheezy the Whiz... dunce.
