BAMBERG

ˈBamberg

Code name for the punitive operation of Nazi invaders against the partisan detachments of the Garrison under F. I. Pawlowski (see in the article Partisan Brigade 123, Akciabrski, 25th Anniversary of the BSSR) and the civilian population in Glusk, Kapatkievichy, Akciabrski, and Parychy rajons of Paliessie Voblasc, Liuban Rajon of Minsk Voblasc and Babrujsk Rajon of Magiliow Voblasc on March 20 — April 4, 1942 during the Great Patriotic War.

It was conducted by three infantry regiments and an artillery one, two independent police battalions, a cavalry squadron, and air squadron of the 51st Bomber Air Squadron ‘Edelweiss’.

On March 20, the punitive forces returned to their initial positions and began a complete blockade of the Akciabrski-Liuban Partisan Zone.

The enemy launched a concentrated combing offensive in the direction of Rudabielka — Karpilawka on March 31.

From the side of Glusk urban settlement to the southeast through the village of Zubarevichy (Glusk Rajon) towards the village of Voziemlia (Akciabrski Rajon), the 420th Landwehr Battalion which in the villages of Rastaw, Ratmiraw and at the Ratmiravichy railway station (Akciabrski Rajon) executed and hanged 68 inhabitants was moving.

On the opposite side, northwest of the villages of Savichy, Kolki, Luchycy, Kashevichy (Kapatkievichy Rajon), the 102nd Slovak Regiment, with the support of the 315th Police Battalion, clearing defence of small partisan detachments (battles 2 km north of the village of Bubnawka, to the south-east of the village of Parechcha, in the area of Karpilawka village, Akciabrski Rajon), compelled the Kashevichy — Glusk road and the Kashevichy — Rabkor railway section. During the offensive, the punitive forces executed 606 and ‘presumably killed another 2 thousand people during combing and pacification’.

From west to east from Liuban urban settlement through the villages of Jaminsk, Sialiec, Zagallie (Liuban Rajon), and Zabalaccie (Akciabrski Rajon) in the direction of Karpilawka village, the 747th Regiment of the 707th Division of the Wehrmacht, reinforced by the 102nd Cavalry Squadron, was moving. On the first day, the Hitlerites executed and hanged about 300 Soviet citizens, including women, children, and soldiers of the Red Army who did not escape the encirclement.

From the side of Parychy urban settlement and Paliessie village (Parychy Rajon) in the western direction, the 727th Infantry Regiment which passed through the villages of Gamza, Siakierychy, Viazhny (Parychy Rajon), Ramanishchy, Zaaziershchyna to Voziemlia (Akciabrski Rajon) and railway and executed more than 730 Soviet citizens conducted combing and punitive-robbery actions.

In total, during the Bamberg operation, the Nazis executed, hanged and burned alive about 5.6 thousand inhabitants; burned more than 3.6 thousand residential buildings; captured more than 3 thousand heads of livestock, about 200 tons of grain and fodder.

Almost 80 communities suffered at the hands of punitive forces, including the villages of Bulkaw (40 people were killed), Zaliessie (21 people), Karpilawka, Rudabielka and Rudnia (more than 2 thousand people), Kavali (720 people), Kuryn (506 people), Lawstyki (more than 300 people), Voziemlia (38 people), Parechcha (66 people), Pierakallie, Pratasy (23 people), Sielishcha, Smuga and the Rabkor station (56 people) of Akciabrski Rajon; Kapatkievichy urban settlement (23 people), Hvojnia village (1,419 people) of Kapatkievichy Rajon, etc.

During the battles with the invaders, the detachments under M. P. Bumazhkow, V. T. Shantar, A. G. Balakhonaw and some others broke through the blockade and redeployed to other areas. The detachments that remained in the area of the Bamberg operation and held their positions formed the 123rd Akciabrski Partisan Brigade in May 1942.