Kononův kříž

Konon's cross


This interesting cross and the equally interesting destinies of the Cossacks deserve attention. Perhaps first who actually was Major Ivan Nikitič KONONOV?



Let me describe from current Russian sources what this is all about.


It was on the 18th. August 1941, when in the area of Mogilev, in the rear of the Army Group Mitte (Army Group Center) at the command post of General Infantry Count von Schenckendorff discovered a Soviet officer, prisoner or parliamentarian. We do not know the name of this officer, but this Red Army soldier handed over a letter to the commander of the 436th Regiment of the 155th Red Army Rifle Division, Major Konov. The whole letter was actually an offer to cooperate, supported by the transition of the entire unit to the side of the German army, the de facto enemy and aggressor. The basic condition of this offer was different from simple defection, it was a requirement that Maj. Kononov and his soldiers could fight against Bolshevism, and therefore against the Red Army.


Major Kononov was a Don Cossack and his unit was soldiers from the Don area, ie Cossacks who were oppressed and decimated by the Soviet power and destroyed ancient Cossack traditions and privileges.


Mjr. Konanov, 38, a graduate of the Military Academy, a member of the Communist Party of the USSR since 1927, personally took part in heavy fighting in the war against Finland, where he received the Order of the Red Star and the Order of the Red Banner for his bravery.


The German army command agreed to the conditions and so 22. August, most of the regiment with weapons passed to the enemy and the soldiers were temporarily placed in an internment camp, which was built in the former armory in Osinovka.


On the recommendation of General Count von Schencekendorff, Konov was allowed to build a cavalry Cossack unit in the strength of a regiment, which was used to protect German rear facilities, railways, bridges and roads. Konovov and his Cossacks performed the task with maximum commitment and excellent results.


Combat results and exemplary performance of combat missions The German command convinced that such a unit has its place in the field army. Of course also on 28. October 1941 was born cavalry regiment number 600 under the command of then Lieutenant Colonel Konovov. Many of us know it under the German name:


5. DON-KOSAKEN-REITER REGIMENT


This special unit is reinforced by an infantry battalion. Until 1943, the Don Cossacks defended the area entrusted to Konov, the steppe areas of Russia and Ukraine. The staff of the unit organized and secured the retreat and its own retreat on its own, but also ensured the evacuation of Cossack families, the elderly and children. The Germans certainly did not like that. The solution, however, was that such a strengthened unit was renamed the Corps, Kononov was promoted to the rank of colonel and the soldiers and their families were moved to the Balkans, where they face a hard fight with Yugoslav guerrillas, including Orthodox Serbs. This struggle was fought cruelly and without mercy on both sides.


In 1945 (perhaps March) a Cossack assembly was convened in the village of Kerovitica, where Lieutenant General von Panwitz was elected Ataman of all Cossacks, and at the same time Colonel Kononov was appointed Chief of Staff of the Corps.


At the beginning of April, the corps, as a higher military unit, became part of General Vlasov's army (ROA) and Col. Kononov is appointed by Vlasov to the rank of general with the position of corps commander after the expected surrender of Germany.


Kononov 1. May he leaves for Bohemia to solve the difficult situation of the church. The Cossacks, meanwhile, broke through to the Austrian border. Corps Commander, General Pannwitz on 9. May 1945 in the area of Lavamüd arranged for the transfer of the unit to the territory under administration 11. British Armored Division. Pannwitz believed that the surrender would be honorable, as the corps had never fought against Western Allied troops.


The soldiers and their families, their property, were moved to the area of Klagenfurt, the soldiers and their families moved freely around. The situation is changing rapidly 27.May 1945, the soldiers are transferred to the POW camp in Weitensfeld, and it soon became clear that by international agreement they would be assigned to military representatives of the Red Army and transferred to POW camps in the USSR (which was practically equivalent to the death penalty).
It is also a fact that the British commander allowed a number of Cossacks and especially women and children to escape from the transport.
German officers were allowed to escape from the camp, across the Alps to Germany. General Pannwitz refused to leave his troops, was arrested in Indensburg and transported to the Soviet Union.


The Moscow Truth in its issue of 17. January 1947 published a report that the Supreme Soviet of the USSR had discussed these cases of traitors to the Russian people, as well as General Pannwitz for armed struggle against the USSR and terrorist activity. They were all convicted and hanged. Cossack women are in "gulags" and children are handed over to children's homes.


The fate of gen. Konovova is unknown to no one. There are several versions, perhaps he was discovered in 1946 in a prison camp in Canada, where he and others were extradited to the USSR and executed.
According to the version, which is alive, especially in present-day Russia, he was in Canada, but he was released and lived in Canada until his death.



DESCRIPTION OF DECORATION:


A cross that has white enamel surfaces with a red enamel stripe at the edge. The cross is placed on a shield and between the arms of the cross are two crossed Cossack riding sabers.


On the white enamelled arms is a divided inscription:


5/KONONOV/28.X.1941


On the central medallion is a black enamel swastika in a white box with a red border. The original cross was made of spare metal. On the back of the cross is a screw with a nut to attach to the uniform.


The original cross is an extremely rare thing, it does not logically appear in our collections. On the contrary, there are many different new models that are also offered in variants. Everything is made to deceive collectors. Picture of Col. Konovova is not yet available.


Literature:


Ch. Ailsby: Hitler's renegades
J. Nimmergut: Germany - Catalog of Orders and Honoraries of 1800- 1945

Kononov, Ivan Nikitich in the photo from the times of fights against the Red army. Resume is here - forum.valka.cz







Source: www.politforums.ru.