NextArmy Group North sent a special force which captured the bridges atDaugavpils and consolidated with8th Panzer Division. As the fighting intensified elements of 21st Mechanized Corps broke into the Northern suburbs of the town, with fierce house-to-house fighting. After failing to clearDaugavpils further fighting and attacks by theLuftwaffe succeeded in wearing down its forces during next two days to the extent that by 29 June it had only seven operational tanks, 74 artillery pieces and slightly more than 4,000 men left and was exhausted as a fighting force. On 30 June theSoviet Air Force put in an all out effort which resulted in the loss of 43 aircraft (27DB-3s andSBs for only fourBf 109s) but did not succeed in destroying the principal river crossings over theDaugava River but did succeed in destroying some pontoon bridges.[3][4]b After continuing a fighting retreat through the Baltic states in July, but in remnants the 21st Mechanized Corps was disbanded in August 1941.[5]c
a On 22 June 1941 21st Mechanized Corps consisted of 98 tanks including SovietKv-1s,T-26,Bt 7,T-34s models, plus 130 artillery guns.
b On 11 July 1941 Col P Poluboiarov, Northwestern Front armoured directorate reported that the 21st Mechanized Corps had been committed initially in large formations without cooperation from Artillery and Air Support. It had only '25Kv-1s, 10T-26s, 4Bt 7s and 2T-34s remaining and 'is no longer a mechanized formation. Its motorized infantry are most often simple infantry reinforced by a few tanks.
c On 23 July 1941Major General Lelyushenko reported that the 21st Mechanized Corps had suffered 6,284 casualties, or 60% of its combat strength during the first month of combat.
Soviet Union corps