Russian battle cry

[Cwalk]

Been waiting for a chance to use this

 

[Bluehawk]

Blocking detachments could be from any formation not necessarily NKVD. If they were politically reliable then they would be used.
Blocking detachments were there to "encourage" any unit placed in front of them in the line. Deserters would be shot regardless who they ran into.

I garauntee Nemtsov will never see this, but if he ever does, I'd like to bring a document to his attention concerning blocking detachments on the Stalingrad and Don Fronts, as reported internally within the NKVD hierarchy.

http://battle.volgadmin.ru/Documents/NKVD/11.aspx

The majority of reported captured deserters or unauthorized retreating units were returned to their location, or folded into other units. Imprisonment and executions are still reported among the statistics though.