It is amazing that the Times has such extensive coverage on the very morning of the attack on Russia.
The Germans are about to find out that the Soviets have some very good tanks as this account from one Soviet offier:
"The Germans started bombing the column...A shell from a German anti-tank gun bounced off the tank's heavy armour...Gudz, who was the tank's gunner as well as its commander, fired a single shot in return and the gun was destroyed. He and his platoon went on to knock out five German tanks, three armoured personnel carriers and several cars...After lunch the Germans attacked again. Gudz knocked out three more tanks. His driver Galkin rammed another German tank, dislodging its caterpillar track and forcing it into a ditch. the fields were covered with burned-out tanks and dead Germans." - Report on junior Soviet officer Lieutenant Pavel Gudz commanding 5 KV-1s and 2 T-34s on the first day of war with Germany.
Panzer Group 3 also noted that the resistance was more tenacious than expected:
"Where the enemy appears he fights tenaciously and courageously to the death. Defectors and those seeking to surrender were not reported from any position. The struggle, as a result, will be harder than those in Poland and the Western campaign" - Panzer Group 3 War Diary.
From the Kremlin Minister of Foreign Affairs Molotov makes a radio announcement of the German invasion, but is still unwilling to believe that total war had begun. But this will not prevent Stalin from issuing Directive No. 3 which ordered a general counter offensive against the Germans.
NKO Directive No. 3NKO Directive No. 3 to the Military Councils of the Northwestern, Western, Southwestern and Southern Fronts.
Concerning Force Missions on 23-26 June
2115 hours 22 June 19411. Delivering main attacks from the Suvalki salient to Olita and from the Zamost'e region to the Vladimir-Volynskii and Radzekhov front and secondary attacks along the Til'sit, Shauliai and Sedlits, Volkovysk axes, during the course of 22 June the enemy has achieved considerable success while suffering great losses.
In the remaining sector of the stat border with Germany and on the entire state border with Rumania, the enemy attacks have been beaten off with heavy losses to him.2. I assign the forces [the following] immediate mission for 23-24 June:
a) Encircle and destroy the enemy's Suvalki grouping by concentric, concentrated attacks by the Northwestern and Western Fronts and capture the Suvalki region by day's end of 24 June.
b) Encircle and destroy the enemy grouping attacking in the direction of Vladimir-Volynskii and Brody by powerful concentric attacks by mechanized corps, all southwestern Front aircraft and other forces of the 5th and 6th Armies. Capture the Lublin region by day's end on 24 June.3. I ORDER:
a) The Norther Front's armies to continue to protect the state borders firmly. The left boundary - as exists.
b) While firmly holding on to the coast of the Baltic Sea, the Northwestern Front's armies will deliver a powerful counter stroke from the Kaunas region against the flanks and rear of the enemy's Suvalki grouping, destroy it in cooperation with the Western Front and capture the Suvalki region by day's end on 24 June.
The left boundary - as exists.
c) While containing the enemy on the Warsaw axis, the Western Front's armies will deliver a powerful counterstroke with a force of no fewer than two mechanized corps and frontal aviation against the flank and rear of the enemy's Suvalki grouping, destroy it in cooperation with the Northwestern Front and capture the Suvalki reion by day's end on 24 June.
The left boundary - as exists.
d) While holding firmly to the border with Hungary, the Southwestern Front's armies will encircle and destroy the enemy grouping advancing on the Vladimir-Volynskii, Krystypol' front with concentric attacks in the general direction of Lublin with the 5th and 6th Armies, no fewer than five mechanized corps and all of the front's aviation, and capture the Lublin region by day's end on 24 June. Cover yourself reliably along the Krakov axis.
e) The Southern Front's armies will prevent an enemy invasion of our territory. In the event the enemy attacks along the Chernovtsy axis or forces the Prut and Danube Rivers, destroy him by powerful flank attacks by ground forces in cooperation with aviation; concentrate two mechanized corps in the Kishinev region and the forests northwest of Kishinev on the night of 23 June.4. I authorize crossing of the borders along the front from the Baltic Sea to the state border with Hungary and operations without regard for the borders.
5. The Aviation of the High Command:
a) Support the Northwestern Front with one flight from the 1st Long-range Aviation Corps and the Western Front with one flight from the 3rd Long-range Aviation Corps while they are fulfilling their missions of destroying the enemy's Suvalki grouping.
b) Assign the 18th Long-range Aviation Corps to the Southwestern Front and support the Southwestern Front with one flight from the 2nd Long-range Aviation Corps while it is fulfilling its mission of destroying the enemy's Lublin grouping; and
c) Leave the 4th Long-range Aviation corps at my disposal in the readiness to assist the Southwestern Front and, wioth part of its forces, the Black Sea Fleet.The People's Commissar of Defense.
Marshal of the Soviet Union TimoshenkoMember of the Main Military Council
MalenkovChief of the Red Army General Staff
Army General ZhukovSent at 2115 hours 22 June 1941
Along with this directive the Supreme Soviet drafts most of its reservists born between 1905 and 1918 into the Red Army.
btt. must read day