Film Review: Anthropoid

Anthropoid Film Review

In late 1941, Czech soldiers parachuted into occupied Czechoslovakia and prepared to assassinate Rheinhard Heydrich one of the highest-ranking officials in the Nazi regime. A recent British-Czech film, Antrhopoid, has brought this event to the silver screen with surprising historical accuracy. Reader beware, spoilers follow.

                On the morning of May 27, 1942, Rheinhard Heydrich was riding in the passenger seat of his black Mercedes convertible as his driver, SS-Obersharfsfuhrer Johannes Klein, drove him through the streets of Prague, in occupied Czechoslovakia. As the vehicle approached a sharp turn along Kirchmayer street, a man stepped in front of the vehicle holding a British-made Sten submachine gun. This was Josef Gabcik, a Czech military officer who had trained with the British SOE before returning to his homeland. Gabcik attempted to fire his weapon at Heydrich; the weapon jammed. As Klein stomped on the brakes and Heydrich stepped from the car with his pistol unholstered and aimed at Gabcik, a second Czech officer, Jan Kubis, threw a grenade at Heydrich’s car. The grenade exploded, sending fragments tearing through the car and wounding both Heydrich and Klein. Both Germans nonetheless returned fire, causing the Czechs to flee- Klein pursued Gabcik until Gabcik wounded him twice with a pistol. Both Czechs were able to evade their pursuers. Meanwhile, Heydrich had collapsed next to the car. Suffering from numerous internal injuries, Heyrdich was rushed to a hospital. A week later, after several operations, Heydrich lapsed into a coma, likely brought on by sepsis. He died early the next morning, June 4, 1942. Heyrdich, an SS-Obergruppenfuhrer who was the head of Germany’s security services and was the acting Reichsprotecktor of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, was the highest-ranking Nazi official to be assassinated during the war.[1] While the event has been featured in past films, a new film, simply titled Anthropoid, has sought to bring an accurate interpretation of the assassination to modern audiences.

Reinhard Heydrich was one of the highest-ranking officials in the Nazi Hierarchy. Responsible in part for the creation the Final Solution (the extermination of Jews in concentration camps), Heydrich arrived in Prague in September 1941 as Deputy Reich Protector of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. One of the most feared and hated of the Nazis, he would be the highest-ranking member of the regime to be killed.

The remnants of Heydrich's car following the assassination. The damage caused by the grenade blast is evident- pieces of the car as well as grenade shrapnel were propelled into the interior and into Heydrich. 

                Anthropoid was directed by Sean Ellis, a British director whose best-known efforts include the short film Cashback and the crime film Metro Manila. Produced on the relatively low budget of $9 million, the most notable star of the film is Cillian Murphy, known his roles in films such as Batman Begins, 28 Days Later, and Inception, who portrays Josef Gabcik.  Additionally, Irish actor Jamie Dornan plays Jan Kubis and Czech actress Anna Geislerova plays Lenka Fafkova, another member of the resistance. Thanks to the preservation of numerous areas in Prague, Ellis was able to film Anthropoid in many city districts and locales that in large part have not changed since the events of the film in 1941-1942.[2]

Cillian Murphy, on the left, and Jamie Dornan, on the right, played Czech soldiers Josef Gabcik and Jan Kubis respectively.

Josef Gabcik, pictured prior to jumping into occupied Czechoslovakia.

Jan Kubis, also pictured before jumping into occupied Czechoslovakia.

                The real-life Operation Anthropoid was set in motion on December 28, 1941, when several parachutists, including Gabcik and Kubis, jumped from a RAF Halifax bomber and landed near the village of Nehvidzy to the east of Prague.[3] Equipped with small arms and several grenades and small explosives,  the team explored several possible methods of assassinating Heydrich for several months, none of which turned out to be practical. However, in April 1942, Heydrich moved his quarters from Prague Castle to a Chateau in Panenske Brezany, which meant that his driver would have to alter his route to Heydrich’s office. The sharp corner was chosen by the resistance as their ambush point, and on May 27, 1942, they carried out their attempt on Heydrich’s life.  Later that day, a civil state of emergency was declared, and posters began to circulate in Prague demanding that the perpetrators for the act be caught. The assassins hid successfully for several days, occasionally moving to more secure locations. The seven men eventually ended up taking refuge in the Orthodox Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius.[4] Unfortunately, Karel Curda, a member of the group who was captured by the Gestapo not long after the group attempted to kill Heydrich, betrayed the names and contacts of the group to the Germans for a bounty. The Gestapo subsequently tortured several members of the Moravec family, who had sheltered the parachutists for months before they moved to the church. After obtaining the group’s location, on June 18, 1942 several reserve units were ordered to secure the area surrounding the church, then take it by force. A firefight between several Czechs on guard and the Germans ensued and lasted for fourteen hours before they were finally overwhelmed and either killed or committed suicide to prevent from being captured. The remaining Czechs, hidden in the church’s crypt, were discovered and committed suicide after exhausting their ammunition. The seven Czech soldiers had killed fourteen German soldiers and wounded numerous others before they were finally killed.[5] The Germans, not satisfied with the deaths of all of those involved in the plot, carried out reprisals on numerous Czech towns, including most famously the town of Lidice, whose population of 1200 was either killed or deported, and the town completely razed to the ground.[6] Ultimately, 13,000 Czechs were arrested and 5,000 killed as reprisal for the death of Heydrich.[7]

The Germans used equipment from the Prague fire department to pump tear gas into the church's crypt in an attempt to force the last group of Czechs out.

The aftermath of the reprisal killings in the village of Lidice, near Prague. The entire village was killed or deported, and all structures razed to the ground. (image source: Getty Images)

The exterior of the church as it appears today. Still pockmarked with bullet holes, a memorial is in place on the exterior of the church as a reminder of the last stand of the assassins.

                While many contemporary films at times take quite liberal use of artistic license when portraying historical events, this is most certainly not the case with Anthropoid. Zdenek Spitalnik, a member of Prague’s Military History Institute, functioned as a historical advisor on the film.[8] His involvement, coupled with the producer’s and director’s apparent desires to adhere closely to the actual events, are plainly evident. The end result is very true to the actual events of the assassination attempt. While not every detail can possibly be covered in a two hour film, Anthropoid has succeeded in provided an accurate representation of the operation. Prior to seeing the film, I must confess that I had not previously heard of it. I was pleasantly surprised with this European film, and would recommend this well-crafted historical thriller to those looking for a refreshing historical film.

Sources

1.       "Anthropoid (2016)." History vs. Hollywood. CTF Media, 2016. Web. 3 Oct. 2016.

2.       "Anthropoid (2016)." IMDb. IMDb.com, 2016. Web. 03 Oct. 2016.

3.       Rothman, Lily. "Anthropoid Historical Adviser on Why the True Story Matters."Time. Time, 12 Aug. 2016. Web. 03 Oct. 2016.

4.       Lisciotto, Carmelo. "The Killing of Reinhard Heydrich! Http://www.HolocaustResearchProject.org." The Killing of Reinhard Heydrich! Http://www.HolocaustResearchProject.org. H.E.A.R.T., 2013. Web. 03 Oct. 2016.

[1] http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/nazioccupation/heydrichkilling.html

[2] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4190530/?ref_=rvi_tt

[3] http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/nazioccupation/heydrichkilling.html

[4] http://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/anthropoid/ 10/3/16

[5] http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/nazioccupation/heydrichkilling.html

[6] http://time.com/4439069/operation-anthropoid-historical-adviser/

[7] http://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/anthropoid/ 10/3/16

[8] http://time.com/4439069/operation-anthropoid-historical-adviser/

Tools of War: The Il-2 Shturmovik

During the Second World War, the Western Allies chose to place a focus on heavy strategic bombers. The Soviet Union chose to pursue a different path, placing an emphasis on attack aircraft. The Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik became not only the most prolific example of this type of aircraft, it became the most widely produced aircraft in history.

By Seth Marshall

            While both the United States Army Air Corps and Royal Air Force pursued the design and production of heavy bombers during the interwar period with the intention of launching strategic bombing campaigns with the outbreak of war, the Soviet Air Force (VVS) concentrated on tactical aircraft instead. The VVS’ interest in a low-flying anti-tank aircraft was prevalent through the 1930s and manifested itself with the work by Soviet design bureaus. A precursor to the Il-2 was the R-5Sh Shturmovik, a biplane aircraft designed by Nikolai Polikarpov in the 1920s. Originally, the aircraft was to be a reconnaissance aircraft and light bomber, but it was converted to a ground attack version with the addition a forward-firing machine gun, twin machine guns mounted in the observer position, and four obliquely-firing machine guns, and wing racks that could hold up to 500kg of bombs.[1] Though the aircraft served in the Spanish Civil War and during the border skirmishes against the Japanese in Mongolia, it was underpowered and lacked the endurance to loiter over the battlefield.

            In 1938, the VVS issued another request for an anti-tank aircraft to its design bureaus. Two design teams submitted design proposals. The first, led by Sergei Vladimirovich Ilyushin fro mthe Soviet Central Design Burea, proposed a two-seat aircraft designated “TsKB-55” or “CKB-55.” Earlier VVS tactical aircraft had been limited in performance by the weight of armor plating added to the airframe. Illyushin got around this problem by constructing the airframe itself from steel armor. Illyushin’s aircraft first flew on October 2, 1939. The aircraft encountered some problems at first, the most critical of which was the powerplant. The original engine was a supercharged-AM-35 V-12 engine providing 1,370 HP. It was determined that the supercharger was unnecessary, as the aircraft was intended for low-level tactical use, and it was deleted. The engine was replaced with the AM-38 engine, which provided 1,680 HP.[2] Additionally, the rear seat position and section of the fuselage was removed to reduce weight. Armor on the aircraft was concentrated around the engine and cockpit. The aircraft was fitted with four internal bomb bays which could each hold a 100kg bomb, and could also carry bombs externally. The aircraft was also armed with two 7.62mm ShKAS machine guns and two 20mm ShVAK cannons, which were fitted in the wings.[3]The aircraft was redesignated the TsKB-57. Trials with the newly modified aircraft began in October 1940. The design changes greatly improved the performance of the aircraft.

A competing team under Pavel Sukhoi also designed a two-seat aircraft to meet the needs of the VVS, powered by a radial M-71 engine, known as the Su-6.[4] This aircraft was not ready for trails as early as the Il-2, thanks in part to large numbers of the engine not being available. The first prototype was completed in early 1941. In March, flight testing began- the Su-6 surpassed the Il-2’s performance in airspeed, rate of climb, and take off and landing. However, the aircraft was not armed with cannon and did not possess the ability to carry rockets. With the start of the war, progress was further delayed on this aircraft when the engine reached the end of its life expectancy. Flight testing continued with a second prototype during 1942-1943, but again engine production difficulties delayed putting the aircraft into production. Finally, the Sukhoi team installed an AM-42 inline engine, which degraded the performance of the aircraft. Additionally, Illyushin had at that time began the introduction of the Il-10, which surpassed the Su-6 in nearly all aspects. As a result, the Su-6 was finally cancelled in 1944.[5]

The Sukhoi Su-6, competitor to the Il-2. The initial version had superior performance to the Ilyushin design, but problems with development and production of the M-71 engine meant that the Il-2 went into production instead of the Su-6.

            As the Su-6 lagged behind in flight testing, the Il-2 was put into production. The first production Il-2 was completed at the Zavod No. 18 factory at Voronezh. As the first dedicated attack aircraft, or Shturmovik (literally, “ground attack plane”), within the VVS, the Il-2 was to begin replacing aging biplanes such as the Polikarpov I-15bis and I-153.

“The Il-2 was central to the VVS RKKA’s rearmament plans, with 11 attack aviation regiments scheduled to be equipped with Shturmoviks within five frontline military districts by the end of 1941. Six other regiments deployed further from the front, and in the far eastern regions of the USSR, were to convert to the Il-2 by mid-1942. In addition, eight short-range bomber regiments were to also have re-equipped with the type by early 1942.”[6]

Despite these ambitious plans, by the time of the German invasion on June 22, 1941, only 249 Il-2s had been built, with only 70 of these actually in service, and only 20 of those in the areas that were in contact with the Germans. Those units that were equipped with Il-2s did not have the training or personnel to effectively utilize their new aircraft. [7]

The original Il-2 was a single-seat design that had omitted the rear-gunner position in order to save weight- ultimately this would cost the lives of many pilots.

A single-seater Il-2, painted in whitewash to blend into the snow-covered landscape. This aircraft has been equipped with skis to make it more suitable to the crude runways that would have been coated in ice and snow.

            The invasion added a sense of urgency to production, even though flight testing continued. While only 249 Shturmoviks had been produced before the outbreak of war, during the rest of the year, 1,293 more were built.[8] As Shturmovik units entered combat, strengths and weaknesses of the Illyushin design were revealed. Early Shturmovik units took heavy losses when engaged by Luftwaffe fighters- the deletion of the rear gunner position during the flight testing phase left the relatively slow-flying Il-2 quite vulnerable to attacks from the rear. As a result, early in the war Il-2s on average survived only nine missions.[9] The losses were curtailed with the addition of a rear gunner armed with a 12.7mm machine gun. Additionally, the 20mm wing-mounted cannons, which had been found lacking in serious stopping power, were replaced with two 23mm VYa cannon. The Shturmovik’s engine was also upgraded with the AM-38F, which provided 1,750 HP. Finally, the aircraft’s armor was increased from 700kg to 950kg. Following these modifications, the Il-2 was redesignated the Il-2M3. This model would become the most produced Shturmovik of the war.[10]

The redesigned Shturmovik, designated as the Il-2M3. The most notable improvement was the addition of a rear gunner.

The rear gunner's position- the 12.7mm gun offered an increased chance of survival for the Il-2, though many gunners were killed in their relatively exposed position.

            As 1941 progressed, Il-2 production struggled to meet the demands of the VVS. Frustrated with the sluggish pace of construction, Josef Stalin sent an infamous message to two plant managers:

“You have let down our country and our Red Army. You have not manufactured Il-2s until now. The Il-2 aircraft are necessary for our Red Army now, like air, like bread. Shenkman produces one Il-2 a day and Tretiakov build one or two MiG-3s daily. It is a mockery of our country and the Red Army. I ask you not to try the government’s patience, and demand that you manufacture more Il-2s. I warn you for the last time.”[11]

Eventually, no doubt partially motivated by Stalin’s forboding letter, Il-2 factories began churning out new aircraft. By 1943, one third of Soviet-built combat aircraft were Il-2s.[12] When production of the Il-2 ceased in November 1944, over 36,000 had been built, making it the most prolific combat aircraft in history.[13]

A group of Il-2 pilots discuss the results of a mission after landing.

            It comes as no surprise that a tactical aircraft built in such large numbers saw very extensive combat service during the war. Il-2s were frequently called upon to attack German columns and soften up positions. When the Soviets launched Operation Neptune, the counter-attack which would cut off the Sixth Army in Stalingrad, Shturmoviks flew some 1,000 sorties from November 19-23, despite the blizzard conditions. When the weather cleared on the 24th, the Shturmoviks increased their operational tempo, flying over 6,000 sorties from November 24-December 1st.[14] During the Battle of Kursk in July 1943, Shturmoviks claimed large numbers of vehicles destroyed.

“Il-2s destroyed 70 tanks of the 9th Panzer Division in a mere 20 minutes, inflicted losses of 2,000 men and 270 tanks in two hours of attack on the 3rd Panzer Division, and effectively destroyed the 17th Panzer Division in four hours of strikes, smashing 240 vehicles out of their total of almost 300.”[15]

These claims are difficult to substantiate- other Air Forces found in post-battle studies that very little short of a direct bomb or rocket hit could destroy a tank. Some scholars have argued that, of the 32,500 tracked German AFVs destroyed on the Eastern Front, only about 7% were actually destroyed by Soviet aircraft.[16] It is much more likely that the true impact of the Il-2 was felt in attacks on soft-skinned vehicles, which are easily destroyed by machine guns and cannons. The destruction of trucks and tankers would limit supply of material to frontline units as well as reduce their mobility by depriving them of their fuel lifeline. Additionally, the Il-2 would have been a dangerous weapon against German infantry, who knew the aircraft by names such as “Iron Gustav”, “Betonvogel” (concrete bird), or “Butcher.”[17]

A group of Il-2M3s lined up at an airfield.

A group of Il-2M3 pilots prepare for a mission. The shrouds over the engine are intended to keep the engines warm during the extreme temperatures of the Russian winter. Without the shrouds, the engines would seize and refuse to start.

            As the war went on, several changes were made both to the Il-2 itself as well as the tactics used with the aircraft. In early 1943, a variant of the Il-2M3 was produced with the 23mm cannon replaced with two 37mm NS-37; the recoil caused by the cannons however affected the aircraft’s handling. Later, the Il-2M3 was outfitted be able to carry 192 PTAB anti-tank bomblets, small hollow-charge explosives designed to be dropped over large groups of armor. Perhaps most incredible was the installation of a DAG-10 grenade launcher, which was intended to fire grenades suspended by drogue chutes- the intention was that the grenades would float into the path of pursuing fighters.[18] Additionally, after some time, Il-2 units developed tactics that played to their aircraft’s strengths. Shturmoviks, with their takeoff weight of 5 tons, only were not overly quick or maneuverable aircraft.[19] In order to minimize their exposure to ground fire, Il-2s would frequently fly at altitudes as low as 10 meters (32 feet) in groups of 8-12 aircraft. This particular tactic was used against soft-skinned vehicles such as trucks, light vehicles, and infantry. Dive-bombing was a preferred tactic against hardened targets such as well-prepared defenses. Against armor, two tactics were developed. When armor was deployed in a column formation, Shturmoviks would fly in a weaving motion about 100-150m (320-480 feet) above the column, dropping PTAB bomblets as they went. When armor was deployed in an offensive formation, Il-2 pilots executed a maneuver known as the “Circle of Death”- a formation of the attack aircraft would fly towards the flank of the German armor formation. Individual aircraft would break off from the formation to make a shallow diving attack on the tanks- the aircraft would then circle around to make another attack. The aircraft would continue to make circling attacks until ammunition had been exhausted.[20] As earlier stated, these attacks likely did not actually destroy much armor. However, it is likely that they at least caused some disruption and chaos amongst the attacking tanks, even breaking up some attacks entirely. Additionally, ground attack units would at times send pilots forward to the front lines to serve as forward observers, communicating with the aircraft overhead.[21]

A group of Il-2M3s fly low above a devastated city.

A group of Il-2s make a diving attack with their 23mm cannon.

            Whatever the success the VVS experienced with these attacks, they paid dearly for their gains in both aircrew and aircraft. During the Il-2s production run from 1941-1944, of the 36,163 aircraft built, some 26,600 were lost- approximately half of those losses were as a result of combat.[22] One pilot, Yurii Khukhrikov, recalled that the unit he was assigned to, the 1st Squadron of the 566th Ground Attack Aviation Regiment, lost 105 pilots and 50 gunners during the course of the war. Of the 28 individuals with whom he joined his unit in 1944, 15 were killed.[23] While a large number of aircraft were destroyed, many were able to withstand serious damage and return to their base, thanks to their armor. Khukhrikov recalls several close calls:

“We got hit a couple of times. A shell hit a wing on the twenty-eighth sortie. We it back miraculously- the hole was about a meter in size. If a bullet hits, the smell of burned metal can be felt. I smelled it. Turned my head- there it was, a hole. But I was lucky- the shock wave and fragments went to the gunner. His legs were mangled. Communications were disrupted. We landed in Wittenberg. I taxied, turned off the engine, jumped out onto the wing- the gunner, Viktor Shakhaev, Siberian, born in 1926, was just lying there. Guys ran to us, pulled him out. Barely saved his legs. But it turned out that I was also hit. A fragment scratched the back of my head. Where did it manage to penetrate? They wanted to put me in a hospital, but I refused. War ended for me in Wittenberg. I had flown 84 sorties.”[24]

Other pilots echoed similar sentiments. V.S. Frolov’s aircraft was severely damaged by anti-aircraft fire on one mission:

“I was unconscious for a moment, then felt a jet of cold air burst into the cockpit. Opening my eyes, I pulled the control stick and level out from a dive just above the tree tops. I shot a glance back and saw an enormous hole in the wing root and the fuselage… There was no response from the gunner.”[25]

Frolov managed to get his aircraft back to his base, where he crash-landed. The aircraft broke up when it impacted a small building. Though wounded, Frolov survived the crash- his gunner was found dead.

A pilot poses with his damaged Il-2 following a mission. In this instance, flak has damaged the elevator.

This Il-2M3 has made a wheels-up landing following severe flak damage to the vertical stabilizer. Note the crude whitewash pattern applied over the aircraft's camoflauge. Whitewash was generally applied in the field with whatever materials were on hand- it frequently wore off after a few weeks. 

An in-flight picture taken during a Shturmovik attack on German vehicles- the arrow indicates an attacking Il-2 ahead of the camera aircraft.

Another in-flight picture taken during a Shturmovik attack, this time the target of the attack appears to be a German motor pool or headquarters.

            In 1943, the Ilyushin design team made the decision to essentially redesign the Il-2 based on the wartime lessons. The end result became known as the Il-10. Roughly similar in appearance to the Il-2, the Il-10 was constructed entirely of metal, unlike the Il-2, which had some parts made from wood and fabric. Additionally, the rear gunner’s position was altered to include a powered turret armed with a single 20mm cannon. Il-10s gradually began to replace Il-2s from 1944 onwards. By the time production of the Il-10 had ceased in 1954, over 6,000 had been produced.[26] Following the end of the Second World War, the Il-10 served with numerous Eastern Bloc countries. During the Korean War, a number served with the short-lived Korean People’s Air Force, which was quickly destroyed by the US Air Force, whose jets and piston-engine fighters overwhelmed the outnumbered and outmoded North Koreans. Eventually, the aircraft was finally phased out as a trainer.

A North Korean Air Force Il-10 sits in the ruins of a destroyed hangar at Kimpo airfield.

            The Il-2 Shturmovik remains one of the definitive combat aircraft of the Second World War. Certainly the most prolific aircraft built during the war, the Shturmovik became iconic for its role as a tactical support aircraft, in the same vein as the Republic P-47, the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka, and the Hawker Typhoon. While it is entirely probable that many of its pilot’s claims against German armor was highly inflated at times, the aircraft’s ability to provide close air support, break up attacks, and degrade the Germans’ ability to supply their front lines. Curiously, despite the amount of resources that the VVS invested in both developing and employing the Il-2 and the Il-10, following the retirement of the Il-2 and Il-10 from frontline service in the mid-1950s, the VVS did not develop another purpose-built attack aircraft. Instead, the VVS turned to fighter bombers to take over the role. It would not be until the mid-1970s that another attack aircraft was developed. This time it was the Sukhoi firm who successfully developed the new aircraft- the Su-25 (NATO reporting name “Frogfoot”), an aircraft rivaled in capability and armament only by the USAF’s Fairchild A-10 “Thunderbolt II”. Today, the legacy of the Il-2 is preserved through numerous static examples in museums, and one remaining in flying condition in the United States.

Sources

1.    Matveyev, Vadim. "The Ilyushin Il-2: Unflinching Air Support in the Thick of Battle." Russia Beyond The Headline., 06 Oct. 2014. Web. 13 June 2016

2.    Rastrenin, O. V., and A. Yurgenson. II-2 Shturmovik Guard Units of World War 2. Oxford: Osprey, 2008. Print

3.    Rickard, J. "Polikarpov R-5." Historyofwar.org., 21 Apr. 2011. Web. 7 June 2016.

4.    ILYUSHIN II-2M3 SHTURMOVIK." Flying Heritage Collection., 2016. Web. 07 June 2016

5.    Wilkinson, Stephan. "Shturmovik Rebuilt Under Radar | HistoryNet."HistoryNet. World History Group, 19 Jan. 2012. Web. 13 June 2016.

6.    Goebel, Greg. "The Il-2 Shturmovik." The Il-2 Shturmovik., 01 Sept. 2014. Web. 13 June 2016

7.    Khukhrikov, Yurii. "Yurii Khukhrikov." - Я Помню. Герои Великой Отечественной войны. Участники ВОВ. Книга памяти. Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communication, 27 Sept. 2010. Web. 13 June 2016

8.    Ashkey, Nigel. "COMBAT AIRCRAFT VERSUS ARMOUR IN WWII."Operation Barbarossa. DesignsenseWeb, 2014. Web. 07 June 2016.

9.    "Sukhoi Su-6." Sukhoi. Sukhoi Company, 2016. Web. 14 June 2016.

10.  Wetterhan, Ralph. "Kursk." Air & Space Magazine. Smithsonian Institution, May 2015. Web. 20 June 2016.

[1] Matveyev, Vadim. "The Ilyushin Il-2: Unflinching Air Support in the Thick of Battle." Russia Beyond The Headline., 06 Oct. 2014. Web. 13 June 2016

[2] Goebel, Greg. "The Il-2 Shturmovik." The Il-2 Shturmovik., 01 Sept. 2014. Web. 13 June 2016

[3] Goebel, Greg. "The Il-2 Shturmovik." The Il-2 Shturmovik., 01 Sept. 2014. Web. 13 June 2016

[4] Goebel, Greg. "The Il-2 Shturmovik." The Il-2 Shturmovik., 01 Sept. 2014. Web. 13 June 2016

[5] "Sukhoi Su-6." Sukhoi. Sukhoi Company, 2016. Web. 14 June 2016.

[6] Rastrenin, O. V., and A. Yurgenson. II-2 Shturmovik Guard Units of World War 2. Oxford: Osprey, 2008. Print

[7] Rastrenin, O. V., and A. Yurgenson. II-2 Shturmovik Guard Units of World War 2. Oxford: Osprey, 2008. Print

[8] Rastrenin, O. V., and A. Yurgenson. II-2 Shturmovik Guard Units of World War 2. Oxford: Osprey, 2008. Print

[9] Matveyev, Vadim. "The Ilyushin Il-2: Unflinching Air Support in the Thick of Battle." Russia Beyond The Headline., 06 Oct. 2014. Web. 13 June 2016

[10] Goebel, Greg. "The Il-2 Shturmovik." The Il-2 Shturmovik., 01 Sept. 2014. Web. 13 June 2016

[11] Goebel, Greg. "The Il-2 Shturmovik." The Il-2 Shturmovik., 01 Sept. 2014. Web. 13 June 2016

[12] Rastrenin, O. V., and A. Yurgenson. II-2 Shturmovik Guard Units of World War 2. Oxford: Osprey, 2008. Print

[13] Goebel, Greg. "The Il-2 Shturmovik." The Il-2 Shturmovik., 01 Sept. 2014. Web. 13 June 2016

[14] Goebel, Greg. "The Il-2 Shturmovik." The Il-2 Shturmovik., 01 Sept. 2014. Web. 13 June 2016

[15] Goebel, Greg. "The Il-2 Shturmovik." The Il-2 Shturmovik., 01 Sept. 2014. Web. 13 June 2016

[16] Ashkey, Nigel. "COMBAT AIRCRAFT VERSUS ARMOUR IN WWII."Operation Barbarossa. DesignsenseWeb, 2014. Web. 07 June 2016

[17] Matveyev, Vadim. "The Ilyushin Il-2: Unflinching Air Support in the Thick of Battle." Russia Beyond The Headline., 06 Oct. 2014. Web. 13 June 2016

[18] Ashkey, Nigel. "COMBAT AIRCRAFT VERSUS ARMOUR IN WWII."Operation Barbarossa. DesignsenseWeb, 2014. Web. 07 June 2016

[19] Matveyev, Vadim. "The Ilyushin Il-2: Unflinching Air Support in the Thick of Battle." Russia Beyond The Headline., 06 Oct. 2014. Web. 13 June 2016

[20] Goebel, Greg. "The Il-2 Shturmovik." The Il-2 Shturmovik., 01 Sept. 2014. Web. 13 June 2016

[21] Khukhrikov, Yurii. "Yurii Khukhrikov." - Я Помню. Герои Великой Отечественной войны. Участники ВОВ. Книга памяти. Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communication, 27 Sept. 2010. Web. 13 June 2016

[22] Matveyev, Vadim. "The Ilyushin Il-2: Unflinching Air Support in the Thick of Battle." Russia Beyond The Headline., 06 Oct. 2014. Web. 13 June 2016

[23] Khukhrikov, Yurii. "Yurii Khukhrikov." - Я Помню. Герои Великой Отечественной войны. Участники ВОВ. Книга памяти. Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communication, 27 Sept. 2010. Web. 13 June 2016

[24] Khukhrikov, Yurii. "Yurii Khukhrikov." - Я Помню. Герои Великой Отечественной войны. Участники ВОВ. Книга памяти. Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communication, 27 Sept. 2010. Web. 13 June 2016

[25] Wetterhan, Ralph. "Kursk." Air & Space Magazine. Smithsonian Institution, May 2015. Web. 20 June 2016.

[26] Goebel, Greg. "The Il-2 Shturmovik." The Il-2 Shturmovik., 01 Sept. 2014. Web. 13 June 2016

Battlefield Visit: Osan

In the summer of 1950, the United States entered the Korean conflict undermanned and unprepared. Just north of the town of Osan, a cobbled-together force encountered the invading North Korean forces for the first time. Today, that battlefield has changed significantly from the farmland of the 1950s.

By Seth Marshall

            On June 25, 1950, the North Korean People’s Army (KPA) crossed the 38th Parallel into South Korea. Some 135,000 KPA troops supported by hundreds of ex-Soviet T-34/85 tanks quickly overwhelmed the South Korean army, which was not trained or equipped to counter so many armored vehicles.[1] After North Koreans ignored the call from the UN to pull back across the 38th Parallel, the United States began to organize a military response in order to push the communist forces back to the north.

Since the last American occupying forces had left South Korea some time before, the first American units that were sent to Korea were taken from occupying forces in Japan. The first group of occupation forces to be sent over were taken from the 24th Infantry Division. The coalition was commanded by LTC Charles B. Smith, who was previously the commander of 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Task Force Smith, as the force became known, was composed of B & C companies, two understrength infantry companies from 1st Battalion. Additionally, half of HHC (the Battalion Headquarters Company), a communications section, a recoilless rifle section, and two mortar platoons accompanied the infantry forces.[2] Task Force Smith’s heavy weaponry included two 75mm recoilless rifles taken from the Heavy Weapons Company of 2nd Battalion[3], two 4.2” mortars, six 2.36” bazookas, and four 60mm mortars. In total Task Force Smith was composed of 406 enlisted men and officers, only 1/6 of whom had previously seen combat.[4]

On July 1st, TF Smith departed Japan with orders from the commanding officer of the 24th Infantry Division, Major General William Dean to block the road Pusan as far north as possible. After landing at Pusan, the task force traveled north until reaching Taejon. At Taejon, the American units disembarked. LTC Dean moved ahead with other staff personnel to scout terrain that would be most suitable to defending against the North Koreans. Three miles north of Osan, he found a series of hills through which ran the only road capable of supporting tanks. Smith returned to the task force and continued to move north. Meanwhile, as TF Smith continued to move north, it was mistakenly attacked by six Royal Australian Air Force P-51s.[5] On July 4th, TF Smith was joined at Pyeongtaek by A Battery of the 52nd Field Artillery Battalion. Composed of 6 x 105mm howitzers, A Battery was as unprepared for combating the North Koreans as were the infantry- the artillerymen had only 13 HEAT (High Explosive Anti Tank) rounds to use against the T-34s. After the addition of the artillery battery, TF Smith now numbered 540 enlisted men and officers.

Elements of TF Smith arrive at Taejon on July 2nd. Source: www.nj.gov

During the night of July 4th, TF Smith moved north towards the chosen defensive positions north of Osan. During the night, one of the trucks towing a howitzer became lost and separated from the rest of the task force- it did not join back up in time for the battle. After arriving at the chosen position at 0300 on July 5th, Smith began having his forces prepare their positions.[6] Most of B & C Companies were positioned on the larger hill to the east of the road, while one platoon was emplaced on the hill on the opposite hill. Bazooka teams and recoilless rifles were placed within range of the road to fire on advancing communist armor. Smith placed his mortars on the opposite slope, with light mortars closer towards the crest of the ridgeline and heavier mortars further down the slope. Meanwhile, the commander of the artillery battery placed his four of his remaining howitzers 2,000 yards to the south of the ridge for indirect fire, while the fifth gun was placed 1,000 yards to the south and sighted on the saddle between the two hills where the road ran. All of the HEAT rounds were sent with this gun, as it was tasked with direct fire on tanks.[7] The task force’s trucks were concealed further to the south to preserve them should retreat become necessary.

TF Smith's positions and the North Korean advance. Source: www.koreanwar.net

As dawn rose on the 5th, rain that had begun earlier continued to fall, defeating any hope of friendly air support. Smith ordered registration fires to be carried out to prepare his artillery and mortars for indirect support. Finally, at 0700, movement was detected on the opposite end of the valley. Not long after, eight T-34/85s of the 107th Tank Regiment of the 105th Armor Division began to approach the American positions from the north. At 0816, the first US shots of the war were fired when the tanks had reached 2000 yards distance from the American positions. The artillery, using High Explosive (HE) rounds, had no effect on the tanks. At 700 yards distance, the 75mm recoilless rifles opened fire, scoring several direct hits, but not stopping the tanks in the slightest. The bazookas opened fire soon after, again having no appreciable effect on the T-34s. It wasn’t until the direct fire howitzer opened fire on the first group of tanks with HEAT rounds that two tanks were knocked out. However, the single gun was unable to stop the tide of armor- only one other tank was knocked out. By 1015, thirty-three tanks, equivalent to over a battalion of armor, had passed through the hills that the Americans were defending, killing or wounding twenty US personnel. At 1100, three more tanks appeared supported by infantry from the 16th and 18th Infantry Regiments, 4th Infantry Division. It took an hour for the infantry to make its approach. US forces opened fire at a range of 1000 yards, though they did so without the benefit of the artillery, since communication lines with the artillery battery had been lost. The North Koreans moved to 300 yards from the American positions before opening fire. Despite the American fire, the North Koreans pressed their attack and began to roll up the US flank and inflict more casualties on the defenders.

A Bazooka team in action against North Korean armor. The 2.36" bazooka, ineffective during World War II against German armor, was found to be equally ineffective against the Soviet-built T-34 with its sloped armor. 

At 1630, Smith decided that his position was becoming untenable. He had wanted his troops to retrograde in a leapfrogging motion, with one platoon covering the retreat of another with covering fire. Unfortunately, the poorly-trained troops began to panic and retreat in disorder. It was at this point that TF Smith had most of its casualties inflicted. His force in disarray, Smith linked up with the artillery battery, whose gunners then spiked their weapons before retreating with the rest of the task force. Only 185 men made it back to where the trucks had been concealed. Captain Richard Dashmer later brought another 65 men in. Stragglers continued to make their way back to friendly positions for days afterwards. In the end, the battle, which had been a disastrous encounter for the overly-confident and ill-prepared Americans, cost US forces over 150 killed, wounded or missing. The North Koreans suffered an estimated 42 killed, 84 wounded, and three or four tanks destroyed. [8]

A pair of T-34/85s knocked out after the Battle of Osan. Arguably the greatest tank design of World War II, the T-34/85 was simple, featured sloping armor providing adequate protection, and an 85mm main gun that was very effective against other tanks. Source: Life Magazine.

The Battle of Osan was indicative of the state of US forces at the time. Gutted following the end of the Second World War, the US military had been reduced to a shell of its former self, both in terms of the equipment available and in terms of the quality of personnel that composed its ranks. Consequently, the first month of combat in Korea did not go well for UN forces. Pushed down the length of the peninsula, US forces were unable to halt the advance of the North Koreans until falling back to the Nakdong River.

TF Smith's position as it looked at the time of the Korean War. Source: www.koreanwar.net

The Osan-Suwon road, which runs through the middle of the position that TF Smith occupied on July 5, 1950, as it appears today. The terrain has drastically changed from vast farmlands to a built-up urban area. Source: author.

The originally monument to TF Smith built in 1959 by the 24th Infantry Division. This monument is situated on the crest of the western-most hill, where one rifle platoon was emplaced during the battle. Source: author. 

The current monument to the Battle of Osan, unveiled in 1982 by the South Korean government. This monument is on the opposite side of the road of the original monument, at the base of the hill where most of TF Smith was dug in. Source: author.

The Battle of Osan Memorial Hall, a $33M project which opened in 2013 and is located adjacent to the newer monument. Source: author.

Today, the site of the battle has changed considerably. I visited the site in February of this year. At the time of the battle, the hills where the Americans took up defensive positions were surrounded by rural farmland. At that time, Osan was a relatively small town. Today, Osan and the surrounding area have become considerably built up. Now a city of over 200,000, Osan’s downtown area is located to the south of the battlefield. To the north, numerous high-rise apartment buildings have occupied the valley. The road through Osan remains in roughly the same position that it was six decades ago, though it has been extensively modernized since then. Today, two memorials stand at the site of the battle. The first, positioned on the west side of the ride on the smaller hill was erected by the 24th Infantry Division in 1959. The second, positioned directly across the road at the base of the larger hill, was unveiled in 1982. Additionally, in 2013, the city of Osan opened a $33M memorial hall next to the monument, featuring videos, displays and pictures from the battle.[9] The battlefield has changed so much that at times it is difficult to believe that there was a time when the valley was still farmlands and tanks rolled through the saddle between the hills. The monument stands as a reminder of that time, encouraging passer-bys to remember those trying first months of the Korean War.

Sources

1.      Tucker, Spencer. "Task Force Smith." Task Force Smith. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2016

2.      USA. United States Army. Combat Developments Command. Dynamics of Fire and Maneuver. By -. ._. Vol. III. N.p.: n.p., 1969. Print.

3.      "BATTLE AT OSAN-TASK FORCE SMITH." The Korean War. Thekoreanwar.net, n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2016.

[1] http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/28/world/asia/korean-war-fast-facts/

[2] http://www.nj.gov/military/korea/factsheets/tfsmith.html

[3] http://www.thekoreanwar.net/battle-at-osan-task-force-smith-revisited.php

[4] http://www.nj.gov/military/korea/factsheets/tfsmith.html

[5] http://www.thekoreanwar.net/battle-at-osan-task-force-smith-revisited.php

[6] http://www.nj.gov/military/korea/factsheets/tfsmith.html

[7] http://www.koreanwar-educator.org/topics/reports/after_action/battle_of_osan_5_jul_1950_extract_1969.pdf

[8] http://www.nj.gov/military/korea/factsheets/tfsmith.html

[9] http://www.army.mil/article/101672/Osan_opens_memorial_hall_to_honor_Task_Force_Smith/