TsAMO. Fund 111 s. Op. 1. D. Historical form.
111 RD was formed on the basis of the former 29 RD in July - August 1940. Arkhangelsk VO, the place of deployment during the formation of the city of Vologda 17.03.42. By order No. 76 of the People's Commissar of Defense, Comrade Stalin, the division was reorganized into the 24th Guards Rifle Division.
Arriving at the front on 01.07.41. to the Ostrov area of \u200b\u200bthe Leningrad region, part of the division 07/03/41. entered into battle with the Nazi troops advancing from Kaunas through Pskov, Luga to Leningrad. The enemy threw in this direction two tank and five motorized infantry divisions, which were supported by aviation. 04.07.41 With a decisive counterattack, units of the division threw the enemy back 10 km to the west, the city of Ostrov passed from hand to hand several times. After heavy battles from 03.07. on 08.07.41 in the areas of Ostrov, Palkino, Dulovka, Nikolaevo, during which up to 1,500 enemy soldiers and officers were destroyed, 40 tanks were knocked out and destroyed, the division withdrew in battles across the river. Velikaya Pskov to Luga and 20.07.41. took up the defense of the south-west. Meadows. The advancing enemy units were stopped here. All the efforts of the Germans to overturn the Luga defense and break through to Leningrad were unsuccessful. 07/29/41 with a bold counterattack, the 468th Corps defeated the SS reconnaissance battalion of the main comm. German army. More than 100 enemy soldiers and officers were killed.
In mid-August, the enemy, having thrown more than 10 tank and infantry divisions against the Luga defense, tried to break through it and was again stopped. Especially distinguished himself in these defensive battles 561 ap. Major Kuznetsov. Marshal Soviet Union, comrade Voroshilov, by special order, noted the resilience of the Luga defense units and expressed gratitude to all EU personnel. Not having success in the Luga direction, the enemy with strong blows from the Kengisep and Pskov directions, went Krasnogvardeysk (near Leningrad) and Novgorod and Chudovo, placing the Luga defense units in a semi-encirclement, in this regard, by order of 41 sc on 08/20/41. left the defense of the city of Luga and fought heavy battles with the advancing enemy in the area of \u200b\u200bSorochkino, Yaschera and military storage. "Red Lighthouse"
2.09.41g. when the ammunition ran out and contact with Shtakor 41 was lost, the division began to break out of the enemy's encirclement, which by that time had closed its ring.
Having destroyed its materiel, the division in three separate columns reached the western bank of the river by the beginning of October. Volkhov in the Myasnoy Bor area along which the front line passed. Having contacted the Red Army units on the east bank through scout 468 infantry regiment junior lieutenant. Oplesnina, units of the division overturned the enemy garrisons in Starye and Novye Bystritsy, Yamno and crossed the Volkhov. On the night of October 5, the headquarters of the division and the communications battalion crossed with battle. Thanks to the heroic and selfless actions of junior lieutenant Oplesnin, the division managed to retain most of its personnel when leaving the encirclement.
11/12/41 after being replenished with personnel and equipped with materiel, the division again entered the battle in the Malaya Vishera area (Leningrad region), acting as part of the 52nd Army. During November 11-12, units of the division blocked and defeated the heavily fortified points of the enemy Glutino, Veretie, Glad, and liberated up to 20 settlements. 20.11.41g. the city and the Malaya Vishera railway station were liberated. In the battles for Malaya Vishera, the enemy suffered up to 1200 killed and wounded. Particularly fierce battles were for the Veretie stronghold covering the Gornetsno-Glad road, which is one of the enemy's communications with his Tikhvin group. After the liquidation of this strong point, part of the division, the 468th rifle regiment made an approach to the enemy's rear and intercepted the road of st. Ridges - Chudovo near the station. Dubtsy, thus completely cutting off the garrisons of the enemy Gorneshko and the Ridge from their rear. This operation ensured the rapid defeat of these garrisons.
During these battles, the 422nd infantry regiment and the 215th artillery regiment of the enemy were completely defeated. The enemy suffered losses of up to 2,500 killed and wounded. Destroyed: 1 tanks, 6 guns, Art. pool. 21, motor vehicles 2.
Trophies were taken: 12 guns, 15 radios and receivers, 18 machine guns, 14 mortars, 3 cars, 11 motorcycles, shells and mines up to 5000. 26 enemy soldiers were captured.
During the second half of January, the division fought in the Gruzino-Chudovo area, but was unsuccessful.
On 20.01.42, having passed into the operational subordination of the 2nd Shock Army, the division received the task of destroying a large enemy stronghold Lyubino-Pole - Mostki. On the highway Chudovo - Novgorod following the order of the division on 23.01.42. blocked the strong point and 12.02.42g. mastered it.
At the same time, the enemy lost about 250 soldiers and officers out of the 300 people who made up the garrison. The division captured large trophies: 14 guns, 10 mortars, 6 anti-aircraft machine guns, 13 heavy machine guns, 24 cars, 3 cars, 12 tractors, 9 tanks (wrecked), 70 mines.
The success of this operation was ensured by a carefully developed plan for an artillery offensive and its precise implementation. The artillery offensive was carried out on 10 and 11.02.42. forces of the artillery regiment.
The division's losses amounted to 110 killed and wounded. The liquidation of the Lyubino - Pole - Mostki stronghold expanded the breakthrough in the enemy's defense carried out by units of the 2nd Shock Army in the Myasnoy Bor area.
Fulfilling the order of the 59th Army Headquarters, on entering the rear of the enemy, encircling his large stronghold - Chudovo, the division in the second half of February fought to eliminate separate nodes of resistance in the forests west of Spasskaya Polist, Chudovsky district.
02/19/42 the division again became part of the 59th Army. Cutting the main communication of the enemy feeding his stronghold Spasskaya Polist, parts of the division overcoming the enemy's resistance and repelling his counterattacks. continued to deepen into the territory occupied by him.
02.03.42 the second communication of the enemy was cut, the road Sennaya Kerest - Glushitsa, and divisions of the division reached the Karpovo 2 area, which is 7 km. southwest of Chudovo. However, due to the stretching of its own communications, which were continuously exposed to enemy counterattacks and requiring large forces to protect them, the division could not advance further. At the same time, the enemy, having introduced into battle a significant amount of equipment and manpower, entered the communications of the 2nd Shock Army in the Myasnoy Bor area. In this regard, the division received an order from the operational group of the 59th Army Headquarters, to withdraw its units from Karpovo 2, and to take an active defense up to the Sennaya Kerest-Glushitsa road.
The enemy is operating with tanks 03/20/42. knocked down our guard on the Sennaya-Kerest-Glushitsa road and cut off from the rear the 532th joint venture located north-west of Glushitsa. Regiment until 04.24.42. fought heavy battles surrounded and left the ring on the orders of Stadiv. 05/27/42 by order of the task force of the 59th Army Headquarters, units of the division concentrated in the area of \u200b\u200belevation. 37.8 (west of Spasskaya Polist), having the task of breaking through the enemy's defenses and connecting with units of the 59th Army operating from the east
Conducting offensive battles in this sector for a month and a half in the difficult conditions of a swampy forest area, the division was not successful and suffered heavy losses. For the period from 15.02. until 15.05.42 The actions of the units destroyed: 1 tank, 2 guns, 28 RP, 12 heavy machine guns, 21 mortars, 6 enemy soldiers were taken prisoner.
Own losses during this time amounted to 4000 people. killed and wounded.
From 20.05. on 07.07.42 the division was on vacation and was engaged in combat training in the Bol region. Knits of the Malovishersky area.
From 08.06. until 21.07.42 by order of the Commander of the Leningrad Front, the division replaced the 374th rifle division in defense in the Spasskaya Polist region (on the east side).
From 22.07.42. the division, having surrendered its line of 378th rifle division, left in the area of \u200b\u200bBol. Knits for combat training.
08/07/42 by order of the Volkhov Front, the division plunged into echelons at station. Ridges and 11.08.42. arrived in the area of \u200b\u200bVolkovo, the Volkhov front of the Leningrad region, where she continued her combat training.
Extracts from the archive were made personally by Oksana Korneva. If you wish to copy, be sure to read and execute.
111th Line Infantry Regiment.
(111e Régiment d "Infanterie de Ligne)
With the history of this regiment "lucky", it was specially written by Doctor of Historical Sciences. Popov A.I. in his article, which is called: 111th linear regiment in the Russian campaign // "Emperor", 2005, №8. However, I could not find this source in the public domain, so short description the regiment's histories will have to be compiled primarily from French data.
The regiment's motto, since 1805: "À moi, soldatsdu 111e!" (To me, soldiers of the 111th!)
The refrain of the regimental song: "The 111th knows no fear. He has strong legs and a very kind heart."
The regiment was formed partly from the natives of Piedmont (this part of Italy was part of France in 1802-1814), so you can sometimes see the name "111th Piedmont Regiment". Indeed, the regiment numbered about 450 people. of Italian descent, among the officers there were many Italians (from of four battalion chiefs, there are three of them - Richeri, Greziana and Bastiani, the second major is Guido Montillo).
Commander: Colonel Gabriel Juillet.
Senior Officer: Second Major Guido Antoine Frederic Marie Montiglio.
1st Battalion: Battalion Chief Richery.
2nd Battalion: Battalion Chief of Gresiana.
3rd Battalion: Chief of Battalion Bastiani.
4th Battalion: Chief of the Delithier Battalion.
6th battalion.
Regimental artillery company - 4 three-pound guns.
In total: 5 battalions, 4 guns.
Personnel according to French data - 85 officers and 3762 lower ranks.
In domestic literature: 101 officers and 3,570 lower ranks.
(see K. Vlasov Schedule of the Great Army at the beginning of the Russian campaign of 1812)
The regiment took part in all the main battles of the Russian campaign: Mogilev, Smolensk, Vyazma, Borodino, Mozhaisk, Maloyaroslavets, Krasnoe.
The regiment commander Gabriel Juillet led the 111th regiment on September 7, 1811 - exactly one year before the Battle of Borodino, being an experienced military leader at the age of 47, a participant in many Napoleonic wars and battles. He began serving in the army as a soldier in 1792, and in 1804 became a Knight of the Legion of Honor. The trip to Russia was his last.
The regiment of 5 battalions began its journey on foot to death in the vastness of Russia on March 2, 1812 from Rostock, where he spent time in military exercises. On the way to East Prussia on 24 April, Division General Kompana inspected the 111th Regiment and praised it for its "fine uniform and neat uniformity." Already on May 15, the review took place again, this time by Marshal Davout himself. The Marshal expressed his displeasure with the regiment commander Juillet for some of his subordinates who talk a lot about politics. Davout sternly remarked that "the army wants to have not diplomats, but officers."
In June 1812, the regiment reached the Neman through Königsberg and on June 24 crossed the river over the built bridges to the territory of the Russian Empire near Kovno. His path ran to Vilno, which the soldiers and officers liked very much for its trade and manners, and on July 10 the regiment entered Minsk. On July 19, the 111th regiment took part in the battle near Mogilev, on August 17 it stormed Smolensk, on August 29, it occupied Vyazma with battles.
On September 5, a regiment as part of the Kompan infantry division (25th, 57th and 64th line regiments) began the assault on the Shevardinsky redoubt - its most famous and bloody battle, described in detail by many different war participants and historians.
It was already dark when the French, once again intending to seize the redoubt, moved on it two infantry columns of the 111th regiment. Moving in the dark along the eastern outskirts of the village of Shevardino, the regiment was suddenly attacked by Russian cavalry - these were the Little Russian and Glukhovsky cuirassier regiments, as well as the dragoon brigade of Major General ID Panchulidzev, which included the Kharkov and Chernigov regiments.
This episode of the battle can be seen in the picture, where Russian cavalrymen attack the French battery of the 111th regiment.
Averyanov. The attack of the Little Russian cuirassier regiment at Shevardino.
An eyewitness to the battle for the redoubt, Captain Senior Adjutant Louis Gardier wrote in his memoirs that Russian cuirassiers appeared in the twilight, whom the French at first took for their Saxon cuirassiers in their uniforms and later realized themselves. The Russian horsemen took the 111th regiment by surprise and "chopped up everyone who just fell under their attack." "15 officers and about a thousand men and our artillery fell victim to this unfortunate mistake," writes Gardieu.
During a cavalry attack near the Shevardinsky redoubt on September 5, the 111th French linear regiment suffered heavy losses (they mistakenly write somewhere that it was "completely destroyed"). Figures of losses of the 111th line regiment in the appendix to the regimental report: killed - 4 officers and 82 soldiers; wounded - 15 officers and 540 soldiers, prisoners - 33 soldiers, missing - 138 people; 35 horses were killed (of which the horses of the colonel and the major). Out of four dead officers 111th regiment three died from wounds received in this battle. These losses are significantly greater than those of the other three line regiments of the Kompan division. The total losses of the division at Shevardino are estimated by Russian historians at about 2 thousand people.
According to the memoirs of the senior sergeant of the 111th line regiment Vossen, his regiment lost 300 people in this battle, including the battalion chief with his adjutant, a major and 12 company officers; "All the regimental artillery with people and the train were killed."
The story of the battery captured from the French entered domestic and foreign literature. French materials clearly indicate that these were three guns of the 111th line regiment. “The Russian cuirassiers and dragoons of the Kharkov and Chernigov regiments attacked the 111th line regiment, which was moving in two columns to the Russian positions along the eastern outskirts of Shevardino village. Only a small handful of riflemen were able to escape. Colonel Juillet shouted: "Regiment, line up in squares!" No sooner had the battalions of the regiment assembled in squares, and began to retreat, when the dragoons cut into the front ranks of the 1st battalion and inflicted heavy damage on it. The artillery company of the regiment, moving at some distance, was completely defenseless in front of the dragoons that emerged from the darkness. The gunners were scattered and chopped up, and three guns were captured and taken away. But misfortunes continued to haunt the 111th linear. Having hardly repulsed the attack of the dragoons, the regiment found itself under fire from some of its infantry units (it is possible that it was the regiment of Joseph Napoleon), which in the dark mistook it for the Russians. Then the regimental adjutant (adjudant-major) Wriston rushed to the shooting regiment at a gallop and explained his mistake. More than the 111th regiment was not attacked by dragoons thanks to the successful actions of the Joseph-Napoleon regiment, which was part of Friant's 2nd division. "
A day later, on September 7, a general battle of Borodino... On this day, the regiment lost 1 officer and 38 soldiers killed, 6 officers and 270 soldiers wounded. A horse was killed under the regiment commander, but he himself remained unharmed. The regiment's modest losses on this day are explained by the fact that after a heavy battle the day before for Shevardino, it was placed mainly on the guard of artillery batteries.
After the battle, the regiment consisted of 53 officers and 1651 lower ranks, who were housed in apartments in Mozhaisk and Moscow.
On September 19, the regiment, along with the entire army, left Moscow and began to retreat from Russia. On November 3, the 111th regiment took part in the battle near Vyazma, where the regiment commander Juillet was seriously wounded by a bullet in the left forearm, but continued to command the regiment. Already near Vyazma, the regiment was actually defeated: 30 officers and about 500 soldiers were out of action. The surviving, dirty and hungry soldiers reached Orsha on November 24. Here, according to the recollections of Louis Gardier, the carts of the regimental commander were plundered, and two servants were killed. The wounded colonel was accompanied by Gardier and the second major, Guido Montillo. Moreover, a saddle from a horse and all kitchen utensils were stolen from Gardier.
On the evening of November 27, the pitiful remnants of the regiment approached the crossing of the Berezina, which took several hours. The crowd pressed without discipline, and one soldier stuck a bayonet into Gardieu's horse to clear his way across the bridge. The frost reached at least 24 degrees. According to Gardieu, the French army in its assorted rags and rags was like a masquerade ball, "if all these rags were not so disgusting."
In Vilna, he discovered that everything there had been plundered by starving soldiers who ceased to obey the newly arrived officers who were trying to distribute the surviving soldiers to their military units. In Vilna, on December 10, Colonel Juillet died of his wounds. By this time, 75 officers were missing in the regiment. The surviving soldiers crossed the Neman near Sredniki, a small town on the right bank. The population of East Prussia greeted the French extremely unfriendly. In the city of Thorn (Torun), a company of 150 people joined the remnants of the regiment. which was left in the garrison of this city.
A brief history of the formation and combat path
111 Guards, Belotserkovsky,
orders of Lenin, Kutuzov and Suvorov
howitzer artillery regiment
reserve of the High Command.
In the harsh days of February 1942, a group of young commanders who had just graduated from the 3rd Leningrad and Ryazan artillery schools arrived at the Cherepovets city military registration and enlistment office with the order “To command 875”.
The next day, upon the return of the military commissar from the headquarters of the Arkhangelsk military district, it became known that the 875th howitzer artillery regiment of the reserve of the High Command would be formed near the village of Torovo. On the evening of the same day, the first soldiers and junior commanders who arrived from Vologda settled in the forest near the village of Torovo in dugouts with two-tier bunks of 1000 people each. The very next day they began training in combat and political training, although there was no base for this. There was no time to sway. It was necessary to quickly prepare for battles, the enemy did not wait. Craftsmen made wooden cannons, telephones, and even gun panoramas. The regiment's personnel was staffed by 25% of the command personnel that had already taken part in the battles, and by 75% - after the reduced officer courses and schools. 50% of the privates and sergeants were those who arrived from hospitals and left the encirclement, and 50% were untrained older men of the Vologda region. Did anyone in the cold February days think that here, in Torovo, the future glorified guards regiment was being formed!
Major Nestor Danilovich was appointed commander of the regiment.
Classes went on day and night. At the end of March, the regiment received materiel, small arms, and in May - Studebaker tractors. They practiced direct fire at tanks. Tanks were replacing moving models. In early July, at an inspection conducted by the commander of the artillery headquarters of the Arkhangelsk Military District, it was concluded that the regiment was ready to carry out combat missions.
In the summer of 1942, the Germans reached the Don and captured Voronezh. On July 27, the regiment was alerted and sent in two echelons to the Voronezh front.
The regiment's combat path began. Here, near the ancient Russian city of Voronezh, 875 GAP RGK received its first baptism of fire.
Then there was the Middle Don, from where the regiment began to move to the West.
A big and joyful event for the entire personnel of the regiment was the Decree of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of March 7, 1943 on the assignment of the 875 GAP RGK to the Guards rank. The regiment was renamed 111 Guards GAP RGK. Why were the warriors so proud? Because honorary title "Guards" was awarded only to the best, best military units for courage, mass heroism, and high military skill. The soldiers of the regiment were awarded with the "Guard" badges. There was even such a quatrain:
I fight like a hero in battle
I will give everything for the native land!
Shines on my chest
The badge of the guardsman is golden!
Guards 111 GAP RGK justified its rank. Fighting courageously, the regiment marched west. The Battle of Kursk, the heaviest encircled battles in the Veprin area, the crossing of the Dnieper, the battle for the Right-Bank Ukraine, the liberation of the city of Belaya Tserkov, the defeat of the Korsun-Shevchenko grouping - these are the stages of the regiment's path through the territory of the Soviet Union.
In July 1944, 111 GAP reached the state border of the Soviet Union with Poland. Our Army entered there as a liberating army. The Poles, who suffered under the yoke of the Nazis, warmly greeted the Soviet soldiers. With the battles, the regiment moved through the territory of Poland, the Nazis offered desperate resistance. By the evening of January 20, 1944, units of the 13th Army, including 111 GAP, captured the last Polish city and entered German territory. More than 200 km with the hardest battles, the regiment passed through Germany before the historic meeting with the allied American troops on the Elbe River. It was a solemn meeting. The regiment soldiers put on all their orders and medals, new uniforms.
Already on May 5, 1945, the regiment moved to the aid of the working people of Prague, the capital of Czechoslovakia.
On May 8, the regiment held a rally in a field near a village in honor of the Victory Day of the Soviet Army and the Soviet people over Nazi Germany. It was an indescribable celebration. All soldiers, sergeants and officers were excited and, with the permission of the regimental commander, made a powerful salute. After that, the regiment moved to Prague.
Officially Great Patriotic War ended on May 9, but the 111th Guards regiment still had to fight the resisting fascists. Only in September 1945, the regiment returned to its homeland and was stationed in the city of Slauta.
PIONEERS OF THE AFGHAN WAR.
Osh Airborne Battalion
A person who is in the slightest degree familiar with the history of the Afghan war,
probably the impression was that the first Soviet paratroopers
the kami who entered Afghan soil were the soldiers of the 345th regiment
Airborne Forces. However, this is not quite true. In fact, the pioneers were not
Leningrad war in the DRA were paratroopers from the 111th regiment, included
dwelled until the fall of 1979 in the 105th Fergana Airborne Division.
To be fair, let's talk about it little known fact under-
more timid.
First - short story the 111th Guards parachute itself
airborne regiment. This regiment entered; l in the 105th division not in
moment e; formation in December 1944 in Belarus, and already know
much later, in the era of Khrushch; va. Mid 50s of the last century
characterized by reforms in the Soviet Army. Reducing pure
The airborne forces were negligible. However, the compounds and parts are
vetsky landing underwent a new structuring. Some
airborne divisions were disbanded, their regiments began to replenish other
formations of winged infantry. In 1955, the 11th
guards airborne division, and the 111th regiment of this former
now the compound was included; n in the 105th Guards Air
airborne division. The location of the 111th regiment of the 105th airborne division is
The city of Osh was located in Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist
Republic). Osh is one of the ancient cities Central Asia; first
references to him in historical sources date back to the 9th century A.D.
Through this place, which since ancient times was the center of sericulture, when
then there was a trade route from Central Asia to China, as well as to India.
Part Russian Empire he entered; l in 1876 after the conquest of Co-
Kandish Khanate. During Soviet times, Osh began to turn into an Indian
strial city of the Kirghiz SSR. Lightweight and
food industry. In 1978, 165 thousand people lived in the city.
dexterous. Osh, located in the southern foothills of the Altai ridge, along
both banks of the Akbura River, located 120 km east of Fergana,
the location of the 345th regiment of the 105th airborne division.
In the second half of the 60s and 70s. XX century, during the leadership
airborne forces by General Vasily Filippovich Margelov, 111th
the regiment was in good standing with the Soviet command. Thanks to
strict and well; strict traditions of the 105th Fergana division in the 111th regiment
combat, fire and physical
training. Almost every year, the Osh regiment took part in large
niyah of the Central Asian Military District. Moreover, sometimes the teachings have
whether the character is bilateral, i.e. other regiments of 105-
1st division. For example, in 1968, such a two-sided teaching with a landing
in the mountainous desert area was carried out with the participation
111th and 345th regiments of the 105th airborne division. 1970 was a jubilee year for the Soviet
sky airborne forces. The winged guard celebrated their own; fortieth anniversary. Not by chance
then in the USSR, large exercises were conducted under the code name
eat "Vostok-70". In these exercises, which were led by Marshal Council-
Union, Deputy Defense Minister Kirill Sem; Novich Moskalenko,
the 111th Airborne Regiment participated. It is noteworthy that this regiment received
the highest, excellent mark, which gave reason to consider this combat
part of one of the best in the Soviet assault force. Should
also add that to get an excellent mark on an exercise of such
not all units and formations of the Airborne Forces succeeded, the advice
military leadership at that time approached the assessment of combat
Our troops are strictly, sometimes very strict. There were times when our
paratroopers undeservedly received for actions in exercises even
satisfactory marks. For example, in 1978 the 103rd Vitebsk district
the vision received a "three", and this assessment was obviously biased
noah (this story is discussed in more detail in the second book of our three
logia, dedicated to the Vitebsk division).
It seems that this state of affairs has developed due to the subjective,
the human factor, due to complex, strained relations of deputy
nister of defense Marshal S.L. Sokolov and airborne commander general
la V.F. Margelova.
Throughout the 70s, the 111th regiment of the 105th airborne division confidently held
shaft reputation as one of the finest regiments of the Winged Guard. In 1973 in
300 km from the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Frunze, large exercises were held
with the participation of the troops of the Central Asian Military District, where
the commander of the district, General of the Army Nikolai Grigorievich
Lyaschenko. The 111th regiment also participated in these exercises, which was
the task was to capture a conditional enemy object - a separate
missile division tank division... Performing the assigned task
nenie, Osh paratroopers landed on several areas at once
landing dock, which made it possible to reach the environment of the object and its
"Destruction". The guards acted as they were taught: boldly and decisively
really. It is natural that the 111th regiment received for its actions in training
nyah assessment "excellent". The chief examiner was the commander
District N.G. Lyashchenko, who expressed gratitude to the paratroopers for
their professionalism.
111th Guards Parachute Regiment has become solid
a school for young officers, sergeants and privates who are
investigation made a career in the field of service in the Soviet landing
those. An example is the military fate of Colonel General Os-
Walds Mikolovich Pikauskas, who in the 80s. was authoritative
a high-ranking airborne officer. Pikauskas began his career
a sleek career in the 111th regiment; in 1964 he served as a private in
this military unit. He subsequently graduated with a gold medal and
Ryazan Airborne Military School with honors. He continued his service at 7
1st Guards airborne division (Kaunas). In the 70s,
chaired at the Military Academy. M.V. Frunze. For several years OM Pi-
Kauskas commanded the 108th Guards Parachute Regiment.
With this commander, the regiment's collective achieved excellent performance
on combat training and other criteria. Truly O.M. Picauskas
was a worthy representative of the airborne school, commander
Airborne Forces Vasily Filippovich Margelov. Oswalds Mikolovich was, with
on the one hand, a strict, very demanding commander, and on the other
goy - a tactful and intelligent person, never use
who used obscene language and swear words. Ideas fighting brotherhood, you-
moved yet; V.F. Margelov in the 60s, Pikauskas successfully implemented
he was in the airborne forces that he had a chance to command. He is also co-
commanded the 98th Airborne Division, which becomes the best
em the winged guard in the 80s. In 1995, the first deputy team
blowing airborne forces OM Pikauskas, before he was 50 years old, died as a result
tate serious illness. The winged guard really carried
major loss.
In the book “History Russian Airborne Forces"Yes; there is the following historical
the assessment of this paratrooper commander: “In the airborne troops
he was one of the most beloved generals. Oswalds Mikolovich
didn’t take much to teach people who were performing difficult combat missions,
it is possible only by personal example. Besides being extremely honest,
a keen sense of justice, he was characterized by calmness,
innovation, tact, the rare ability not to raise your voice to
rank; nnykh. He was a natural born teacher ...
People whose memory is alive are not considered dead; t in our
hearts whose names we can be proud of. They are alive while they are
Our memory is dying as we make the third toast for them. Never
forgotten in Airborne Forces name of the real paratrooper
and a courageous person - Colonel General Oswalds Mikolo-
Vicha Pikauskas ".
1979 was a fateful year not only for the 105th Guards
airborne division. At the beginning of this year, the Soviet leadership
dstvo banished Iron Man on a honorary pension. With yang-
Varya Vasily Filippovich becomes Inspector of the General Inspector
speeches of the USSR Ministry of Defense. The new commander of the Airborne Forces was
appointed General Sukhorukov, a military leader, of course, worthy and
experienced, devoted to ideology in the Soviet Airborne Forces, but lacking;
the mathematical mark that his predecessor had. Epoch
Margelova ended. In a few months, the
thorium of the 105th Fergana division as such. This is an elite compound
The Airborne Forces will be involved in the reformist upheavals that
was initiated by the Ministry of Defense with the aim of creating a force
response district subordination - airborne assault brigades.
351st regiment of the 105th airborne division and will become the base for the creation of one of these
bastard - 56th. This unit, like the 345th regiment (which will be considered
separate), will take part in an undeclared war from the very beginning.
But I’m right; I’m going to the 111th regiment of the Fergana division. By mid 1979
this year airborne unitstationed in the Kyrgyz city of Osh,
still had a fairly high rating of combat training.
The regiment's personnel were sufficiently well prepared for combat
actions in mountainous desert areas. This is a historical fact. AND
it is the soldiers of this regiment who will be destined to be the first to enter the
the then peaceful and friendly Afghan land.
The decision to send one battalion of the 111th Guards to Afghanistan
sky parachute regiment was accepted by the Soviet
on June 28, 1979. The background of this decision is as follows.
On June 14, at the House of Peoples in Kabul, Prime Minister of the DRA Khafi
Zulla Amin (who after a few months, having removed from power
President Taraki, will become the ruler of Afghanistan) through the Soviet
representative of Gorelov appealed to the Soviet government with an obvious
a rare request for military assistance to the DRA ruling
the communist regime. In a personal conversation with L.N. Gorelov des-
the pot prime minister said, in part: “We are completely unsure of people
of the peoples guarding the House. I am asking you to
reported to their management about helping us by sending
DRA to guard the government in the House of Peoples and Bagram airfields
and Shindand Soviet crews on tanks and infantry fighting vehicles. "
June 16, 1979 L.N. Gorelov from Kabul reported on this appeal
nii to Moscow. According to the data posted on the Internet (V.I. Ab-
lazov), already on June 24, 1979, i.e. a few days before the adoption of the official
a special decision in the Kremlin, Defense Minister Marshal D.F. Ustinov
ordered to allocate a battalion of paratroopers from the 105th Airborne Division
to be sent to Afghanistan "for the protection of equipment and personnel;
tailor aviation in Bagram and possible evacuation support
veterinarians in an extreme situation. "
On June 27, the decision regarding H. Amin's request was made in
Moscow "Kremlin; vskie elders". In the book of the luminary of the history of Afghan-
war of Alexander Lyakhovsky "The Tragedy and Valor of Afgan"
there is a previously classified document extracted by the author from the Archives
President of the Russian Federation. The note of the Central Committee of the CPSU about this fact, in particular, says
it read: “To ensure the protection and defense of the Soviet air squadron
li to the Bagram airfield to send to the DRA, with the consent of the Afghan
hand, paratrooper battalion in uniform (overalls)
under the guise of aviation technical personnel ”. In the same document
it was considered expedient to send to Kabul for protection
Soviet embassy special KGB detachment of 125-150 people under
the kind of staff of our embassy. This "Note"
was signed by the main persons of the state: A. Gromyko (Minister
Foreign Affairs), Y. Andropov (KGB), D. Ustinov (Minister of Defense),
B. Ponomar; c (head of the International Department of the CPSU Central Committee).
The next day, June 28, 1979, the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee approved
the suggestions set out in the "Memorandum" aimed at strengthening
the development of the Soviet presence in Afghanistan, the situation in which with
every day; m became sun; more tense;
So the Kremlin has made its choice. It was decided to send to Bug
ram one battalion of Soviet paratroopers. defense Department
orders to send a battalion of the 111th regiment of the 105th Fergana to the DRA
sky guards airborne division. Already in June 1979
General Staff Soviet army decided to disband the 105th
airborne divisions. On July 3, Lieutenant General N.N. Guskov (head
liquidation commission) summoned the commander of the 1st battalion 111-
1st Regiment of the 105th Airborne Forces-Guards Lieutenant Colonel V.I. Lomakin and put
his next task: “Fly under the guise of technical specialists,
all officers with sergeants' shoulder straps, so as not to reveal the structure
battalion. No ties to the district and the Airborne Forces - they flew in from the USSR.
The first and foremost is the protection of the airfield. Let everything be around; burns and ru-
sits, but an airplane; at the same time you have to take off and land. Equip-
come; you yourself, all the materials - from the Union. Products are still on
30 days, in the future - to buy at the bazaar. You will receive money
locals - Afghans. To guide officers in general terms now,
soldiers and sergeants - at the airfield, before boarding the plane; Already
since the end of June, the personnel of this regiment was in a state of increasing
high combat readiness. Came on July 7, 1979 - a historic mo-
cop when the 1st battalion of the 111th GPDP was airlifted to
Afghan land, at Bagram airbase. In the above book, Alek-
Sandra Lyakhovsky says that the 1st battalion of the Osh regiment under the
mandate of the guard lieutenant colonel V.I. Lomakin was sent to
DRA on July 7 in full force on three; x military transport aircraft
tah. Obviously, this is not entirely true. According to the memories of some
currently living veterans - participants in those events, the transfer
1st battalion in Bagram was carried out in several visits. Morning 7
July, the 1st company of the 1st company flew to Afghanistan from the Fergana airfield
battalion, and the rest of the companies departed to the DRA on the night of July 8. Personal
the composition of the "Osh" battalion was informed in the air that their
ruled in Afghanistan. More; in Fergana, the fighters and commanders of this
battalion was ordered to remove the entire landing
symbols and standard insignia (buttonholes and chevrons of the Airborne Forces, tel-
nice and berets). On the shoulder straps of the officers were fixed;
zhanty stripes. The commander of the "Osh" battalion V.I. Lomakin wore
shoulder straps of the foreman. The sergeant's staff had red
(field) stripes. Thus, the Osh paratroopers were
lyricated for technical specialists of the Air Force.
So, in early July 1979, paratroopers of the "Osh" battalion 111-
First, the GPA found themselves on the ground in Afghanistan. Soviet soldiers were
in a completely unfamiliar and outlandish setting, as if in a different
historical dimension. For them, here in Bagram sun; it was unusual
but: climate, relief, people ... It cannot be said that the mood of the soldiers
was depressed. There was no reason for this, because none of them
could have assumed that in a few months they and the whole Council-
the sky army will be, by an incomprehensible will of fate, involved in a terrible and
undeclared war with an incomprehensible and savage people. And then, in July,
our warriors will experience only one real suffering. From
Afghan heat, at first, all the guards really tormented
were thirsty. But, as you know, a person gets used to everything. Already in
This prosaic problem was not so urgent.
Meanwhile everyday life in Bagram was slowly getting better.
Barracks, a canteen were installed, and other household
army facilities. Army life began to take its course. Co-
Of course, this life had its own specifics. A full-fledged combat and fire
There could be no new preparation in the new conditions. And the official
the status of the Osh paratroopers at this airbase did not allow them to be identified
belonging to the Airborne Forces. After all, these healthy and brave guys in a combination
were, in the army slang of those times; n, "plywood",
junior air force service personnel.
Our soldiers were not the only combat contingent on the bug-
Ram air base. There were also soldiers of the Afghan
army, namely the officers and soldiers of the Afghan Air Force, as well as the staff
composition of powerful anti-aircraft (anti-aircraft) installations. Relatively
relations between the "shuravi" ("Soviet") and the Afghan military in those
the months leading up to the war were quite friendly and
living quarters. After all, the "shuravi" have been friends of the Afghani for many, many years.
sky people. Soviet people in Afghan society (with the exception of
religious fanatics) were treated with due respect and
reverence. And there was, of course, why.
Before the start of the autumn season, probably the main occupation of personal
the composition of the battalion was engineering, fortification work.
The airfield in Bagram at that time was, in general, a Soviet military
base, de facto. Military personnel flew here almost constantly from the Union.
transport and other aircraft; you are with loads, and not only. To avoid
to protect this base from possible attacks, it was decided to encircle Bug-
Ramsky airfield with a system of trenches and other simple earthen structures
weapons. So they plowed in the sweat of their brows, languishing from the Bagram heat on-
shi guards, digging trenches and cursing very well; flowing, similar to the
cop land. Of course, there was a lot of free time, but while away
it was not easy. The area of \u200b\u200bmovement was limited to the air
zoey Bagram. Although at that relatively peaceful time, the rank and file
Osh battalion commanders sometimes allowed to get out of the
business of the airfield, for small purchases. Our warriors were then
surprised by one paradox. In this poorest and wildest mountainous country
in the markets and in storage facilities, they freely sold scarce for those years
consumer goods (jeans, sneakers, other fashionable in the world of bars-
lo, branded cassette recorders, etc.). In our Soviet
Union, these wonderful and very desirable things are a common man, a "scoop",
could acquire, as they say, "from under the counter" from black marketeers and specialists
kulants at exorbitant prices. Therefore, our soldiers, fascinated by these
cabbage soup, of course, wanted to buy something with their modest salary, something
would, demobilized, take these things to the Union. Especially this pro
the problem was relevant for those fighters who had to go to dem-
linen at the end of 1979. We tried to save something for demobilization and
those soldiers who were supposed to be demobilized in 1980
There is one characteristic photograph in the photo album of our book,
which depicts several young carefree people in
fashionable clothes: jeans, body shirts, glasses. These are my fellow countrymen from Ster-
litamaka: Mikhail Permyakov, Anatoly Makarov, Sergey Krylov. Everything
they are from the "Osh" battalion. The moment they were photographed in
Bagram (apparently the end of the summer of 1979), the guys, alas, did not know
what test fate is preparing for them. There are smiles on their faces, and in their heads
probably thoughts of a peaceful and calm demobilization in 1980, but already
ro the gears of relentless doom will draw these first Afghans into
the meat grinder of an undeclared and damned war. These guys are already at the beginning
next year they will participate in the first battles with the rebels.
Mikhail Permyakov ("Gray") will die in battle in August 1980, not
reaching demobilization quite a bit. This guy's parents still
alive. When I was at their house two years ago, I remembered the photo port-
ret "Gray", which stood on the sideboard. Our views then met
lingered. Anatoly Makarov will also participate in the first battles
collisions. But fate will have mercy on him. He safely ver-
go home and after almost 30 years will give me an inter-
view, share memories, provide rare photos, which
will be included in the book's photo album. Sergey Krylov, as far as I am
I know I was a cook in a battalion; the breath of war did not burn him for an hour
then, but he had to shoot too. He, too, will leave;
dim, and I will be destined to meet him and drink vodka.
It was from him that I first heard about the "Osh" battalion, which
first entered Afghan soil six months before the start of the war. how
and Misha Permyakov, he is no longer on earth, he died for two years
butt from a heart attack. Therefore, a poem dedicated to him
I didn't manage to convey ...
Until December 1979, the personnel of the "Osh" battalion continued
He continued to peacefully stay in Bagram, carrying out the usual garrison service.
Dembel counted the days before returning to the Union, soldiers of other
the wows also thought that their stay in the DRA would soon end, and they
return to Soviet soil. The measured pace of service of our de-
santnikov was violated in September. The battalion was alerted and
issued ammunition. The soldiers built on the takeoff
shili that they were to fly to Kabul. This was due to a change in ver-
the main power in the Afghan government. October 8, 1979 President
DRA and PDPA leader N. Taraki was killed (strangled by pillows) by
by order of the Chief of the Guard of the Prime Minister H. Amin. 10 october
it was officially announced that Taraki died of a short
and severe illness. Came to power in Afghanistan; l H. Amin, villain
Afghan history and main instigator coming war... That's why in
Those October days, the "Osh" battalion was alerted. Murder
President N. Taraki was, on the one hand, an unexpected fact
for the highest Soviet military advisers in Afghanistan, and this is a waste
a geological event could have unpredictable consequences -
mi. But on the same day the paratroopers were given a retreat. The question arises:
why a battalion of armed paratroopers, who should already
were to fly to Kabul to protect N. Taraki, did they hang up? The reason for
was that the plane; you with the Soviet landing party on board did not
had the opportunity to take off, because our liners were aimed
the vents of Afghan anti-aircraft guns, which could at any moment
start spewing deadly fire. The fact is that H. Amin, who
ry at that moment was already actually the ruler of Afghanistan, gave
the corresponding order to the troops of the Afghan garrison in Bag-
frame. According to such a competent researcher as Alek-
Sandr Lyakhovsky, Afghan anti-aircraft gunners were tasked with
shoot any plane; t regardless of whether it takes off or
lands. The next day in Bagram it became known that the new
H. Amin became the president of Afghanistan.
On October 7, 1979, a serious emergency occurred at the Bagram airbase.
As a result of the accident, an officer of the special department, captain
tan Chepurnoy. In books on the history of the Afghan war, this case is mentioned
just passing by. How did this Soviet officer die
specialist? According to the official version, the death of this man was
came as a result of careless handling of a pistol in
strange production. According to unverified reports, Captain Chepur-
Noah was outside the Bagram air base. After talking with
With Bacchus, he began to twist and examine the pistol and accidentally
prod; l fatal shot. Such a ridiculous death. Body coffin
deceased soviet officer was already ready to be sent to the Union for
airplane; those when representatives of the Afghan military administration
demanded to open the "cargo 200". Such an insulting action af-
Ghanaian authorities explained domestic politics new president
ta-satrap of Hafizullah Amin, who, having come to power, began immediately
harsh persecution of their political enemies and opponents.
He considered the main enemies of the so-called. "Gang of four; x" members of the Politbue-
ro PDPA, supporters of the murdered N. Taraki: Sarvari - chief
security services, Vatanjar - Minister of Internal Affairs, Mazdur-
Yar - Minister of Border Affairs, Gulyabzai - Minister of Communications. By order
Amina, all flights at Afghan airfields were subject to inspection,
h; m all suspicious cargo, boxes were subject to opening. Blood
the greedy DRA president feared that his main enemies would be able to escape
from pursuit. The procedure for sending "cargo 200" from Kabul to the Union
led by Lieutenant General Nikolai Guskov, deputy command
blowing airborne forces. Despite his protest, Afghans are entirely; they opened the coffin
with Chepurny's body and, making sure that the deceased is in the box
Soviet officer, gave the go-ahead for break-in; vol.
There is another, unofficial version of the death of Captain Che-
bad. E; source - the opinions of living veterans of "osh-
sky "battalion. According to this version, Chepurnoy was in a com-
panties with Air Force officers. During this feast, a quarrel broke out between
du Chepurny and one of the officers (V.I. Lomakin?). Shooting began
ba, and the special officer was killed.
The next day, the commander of the "Osh" battalion of the guards
Kovnik Vasily Iosifovich Lomakin was fired from the ranks of the Soviet
Army. Formally, he violated the command order not to leave the
the position of the battalion (departure to Kabul to the communications center was allowed; n
once a week). The command of the Airborne Forces, of course, tried somehow
soften the situation in which, alas, the well-deserved underground
the winged guard. Thanks to the intercession of the leadership of the Airborne Forces,
IN AND. Lomakin has not lost his pension rights.
It should be noted that Captain Chepurnoy was not the only one
perished from among the Soviet military personnel on af-
Ghanaian soil in the pre-war period, i.e. until the end of December 1979
Due to an absurd accident, somewhere in the early fall of 1979, died
Private "Osh" battalion Ibragimov. The source of this information
tion is not a printed archival document, but oral information,
which the author of this book received from one veteran of the "Osh"
talion. According to this version, it was like this. Not only an ordinary co-
becoming the "Osh" battalion, but officers once every 1.5-2 weeks received
the opportunity to visit the capital city of Kabul. It is clear that important
for young officers, the purpose of such a "cult trip" was to purchase
fashionable goods, consumer goods. By car, a group of officers,
Tykh in civilian clothes, she went to the capital of the DRA in an organized manner.
At the same time, officers left the standard weapons (pistols) at the "base" in
the location of the battalion. Only the elder had pistols with him
groups of departing officers.
During one of these trips to Kabul, an accident happened.
stie. One of the officers, disguised as "civilian", left the duty
nomom on the company his pistol, which was removed from the safety. By-
apparently, the duty officer, dabbling with weapons, and fired a shot in a row
vogo Ibragimov. This fighter who was originally from. Kalinin (now
- Tver), died.
Reviews
Dmitry, you are great! For many years now I have endured the idea of \u200b\u200bwriting a book about the scouts of the 111th Osh GV RAP, who were in the first company (non-staff unofficial reconnaissance company of the regiment) of the 1st battalion. It was they, the scouts of the 1st company on two An-12s, landed at the Bagram airfield early in the morning (it was still dark) on July 8, 1979, then 12 AN-12 aircraft began to land 10-20 minutes later. This was the 1st battalion of the 111th Osh Regiment of the 105th Vienna (Fergana) Guards Airborne Division. The unofficial non-staff reconnaissance company at that time was the best reconnaissance company among all the intelligence units of the 105th Guards Airborne Forces. Since 1976, when Captain Vladimir Manyuta became the company commander, the palm of the best scouts among the intelligence units of the 105th Airborne Forces was not inferior to anyone. She was indeed the best among the best in the division and in all the USSR Airborne Forces. Until 1976, the best among the intelligence units was the 100th separate reconnaissance company. Who in those days served not only in the named reconnaissance company, but also in the motto, heard about a 7-day march through the desert with one flask of water for 7 days and 3 cans of stew with porridge for each. The rest was to be obtained in the desert. At the end of the 6-7 day of the end of the campaign, the paratroopers ate snakes, spiders, camel thorns. Water was secretly obtained from local shepherds, random travelers, geologists and from drivers of accidentally hitting cars. The paratroopers of the 100th reconnaissance company with valor and honor, who lost 10-12 kg and slender like cypress trees, arrived at the destination at a given time and time.
For some reason, you do not write anything about the regiment commander of the 111th Osh GV SDA of the 105th GV VDD. It was Lieutenant Colonel Shvets Nikolai Aleksandrovich (he is now 72 years old, lives in Ukraine, Chernigov), a legendary man in the USSR Airborne Forces, it was not for nothing that the paratroopers later nicknamed him "Cap" or "our father". Shvets Nikolai Alexandrovich is a real officer, corresponding to the mission and spirit of the Airborne Forces (Uncle Vasya's Troops). He is a student of the general of the army, Hero of the Soviet Union, participant of the Second World War, twice commander of the USSR Airborne Forces - Vasily Filippovich Margelov. Colonel Shvets N.A. twice, once with Lieutenant Colonel V.I. Lomakin, he was on the territory of Afghanistan. The first time in early April, the second time in mid-May. To be continued...
Dear Dmitry, would you like to be a co-author in our book? You and I? I have a lot of witnesses of that time who were directly involved in these events and photographs.
The daily audience of the Proza.ru portal is about 100 thousand visitors, who in total view more than half a million pages according to the traffic counter, which is located to the right of this text. Each column contains two numbers: the number of views and the number of visitors.
A rifle brigade was formed on the basis of the 50th.
399, 468 and 532 infantry regiments,
286th artillery regiment,
267 separate anti-tank battalion,
146 reconnaissance company,
181 sapper battalion,
223 separate communications battalion (157 separate company communication),
120th medical and sanitary battalion,
19 separate company of chemical protection,
189 motor transport company,
490 field bakery,
1005 divisional veterinary infirmary,
1608 field post station,
1652 field cash desk of the State Bank.
Combat period
17.7.42-29.9.43
26.10.43-15.9.44
30.10.44-11.5.45
111th rifle division was formed on the basis of the 50th separate rifle brigade in the town of Bezhitsa, Kalinin region from April 26 to July 16, 1942.
In the month of July 1942, in preparation for a broad offensive on the Kalinin Front, the division arrived in full force at the battle site. The division consisted of: Directorate of the 111th Rifle Division, 399, 468, 532 Rifle Regiments, 286th Artillery Regiment, a separate training regiment, 267 separate machine gun battalion, 267 separate anti-tank division, 369 separate anti-aircraft artillery battery, NAD, 146th separate reconnaissance company, 181st separate sapper battalion, 223rd separate communications battalion, 19th separate company of chemical protection, 189th separate autotransportation company, 490th field bakery, 120th separate medical battalion, 1005th veterinary infirmary.
... Having destroyed the enemy bridgehead on the eastern bank of the Volga, in the area of \u200b\u200bthe city of Rzhava, as a result of heavy prolonged battles, the 111th division in October 1942 was withdrawn from the battle and transferred to the area of \u200b\u200bthe city of Belev, Oryol region. The heavily thinned division under the command of Colonel Khoteevna was in the second echelon of the army and began to recruit personnel and to engage in combat and political training. At the same time, work was going on to equip the 2nd army defense line.
After the restoration of combat effectiveness in December 1942, the division was transferred to the Voronezh front, where it took part in breaking through the German defense in the middle reaches of the Don.
In January-February 1943, a division of 3 tank army Lieutenant General Rybalko fought fierce battles for the villages and farms of the Rivne region: Ivanovka, Nagolnaya, Rzhevka, Aydar.
On February 4, 1943, the division was transferred to the subordination of the commander of the 12th tank corps, Lieutenant General of the tank forces Zinkevich.
By this time, soldiers and officers had destroyed 8375 invaders, destroyed and captured 184 armored vehicles and tanks, 85 guns of various calibers, 6 aircraft, 119 mortars, 259 machine guns, 460 vehicles, 1950 rifles, 720 horses. The forces of the division liberated 300 settlements.
On March 2, 1943, the 111th division received an order and withdrew from the battle, and on March 14 it was assigned to the reserve Voronezh front and is deployed in the area of \u200b\u200bthe city of Novy Oskol.
On March 28, 1943, according to the order of the headquarters of the Voronezh Front, the 111th Infantry Division became part of the 69th Army, and on April 8 it takes up defenses and defends the strip that passed in the Bolsheteritsky region.
Later, the division occupied the line from the x. Petrovka, Bulanovka and to the village of Belyanka. The forces of the personnel of the division and the local population are equipping the front edge in the area of \u200b\u200bheights 196, 7 on the western outskirts of the village of Osinovka, Bolshetroitsy (on the western mountainous outskirts of the fir garden), Ch-Dibrovka, 1Tseplyaevo, Russkoe.
In the order on the headquarters of the 111th division No. 001 dated April 3, 1943, it was noted that the enemy, having entered the line of the Seversky Donets River, carried out defensive work along the entire front and pulled up units from the depths. In this regard, the division was ordered to withdraw from the occupied line and by 7 o'clock in the morning on April 5 to occupy and prepare a defense in the area with. White Well.
Already on April 3, units of the division at 12 o'clock in the morning withdrew from their positions and by 7 o'clock in the morning on April 5 began to build defensive lines: the 399th rifle regiment - in the village. Berezovka; The 468th Rifle Regiment left the villages of Nemtsev, Zhurbinka, Pervomayskoye and by 9 am on April 4 settled down for a day in the village. Bershakovo, and then at 10 o'clock in the evening he spoke and by 7 am on April 5 arrived and began defensive work in the village of Ch-Dibrovka.
The 532th regiment set out from the area x. Badgers and by 7 am on April 5, concentrated and began defensive work in the village. White Well. The 286th artillery regiment also arrived here and proceeded to equip its positions.
On April 8, the order is again received: the 399th regiment to equip the leading edge at the 1-Strelitz line. Berezovo on the Nezhegolek River.
The 468th regiment equipped the leading edge at the Novoselovka line (eastern outskirts of Bolshetroitsa) and through the Shemraevka farm to x. Korzhov.
Other units received orders at the highest point in the area, in the village. Bulanovka, create a knot of resistance.
Thus, in anticipation of the enemy's offensive, the 111th division lived its full-blooded life. Every day from the number of arrivals he was replenished with fresh manpower, equipment. Everyone expected a new offensive by our troops.
... And on July 5, 1943, at the very beginning Battle of Kursk, the division marched in the direction of Volchansk. During the day we covered a distance of 45 kilometers. The 399th Rifle Regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Kuleshov on July 7 with a march entered a fierce battle with a well-prepared superior enemy... In cooperation with the soldiers of the 468th Infantry Regiment, with the support of army artillery soviet troops overturned a strong enemy and went to the eastern bank of the Seversky Donets River in the direction of Belgorod.
Developing the offensive, the regiments of the 111th Infantry Division took up defensive positions in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Old City, for which they received 1 commendation from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union, Marshal I.V.
The 399 infantry regiment, being on the defensive, fought off furious enemy counterattacks every day until July 31, 1943. At 23 o'clock in the morning, the 399th regiment began to force the Seversky Donets River in order to create a bridgehead on the western bank of the river. At midnight one of the battalions managed to cross the river and reach the railway station. But the enemy concentrated new forces and went over to violent counterattacks. The battalion was forced to retreat to the previous line. On August 4, an advanced detachment as part of a rifle company, under heavy fire from the Nazis, crossed the river in the region north-east of Belgorod and managed to create a bridgehead.
At 3 o'clock in the morning on August 5, 1943, the 399th regiment, under cover of artillery preparation, burst into the city of Belgorod and by the end of the day, in cooperation with other units, completely cleared the city of Belgorod. The soldiers of the regiment again received thanks to Stalin I.V.
Having liberated Belgorod, the 111th division, pursuing the enemy, reached the outskirts of Kharkov. In a fierce battle, the following were liberated: the village of Bolshaya Danilovka, the Shevchenko farm manager.
Having exhausted the main forces of the enemy, the 399th, 468th and other parts of the division at midnight on August 22, 1943 went on the offensive and in the morning of August 23 broke into Kharkov. By the end of the day, in cooperation with other units in street battles, they completely cleared the city of invaders.
A huge role was played by the soldiers of the 181st Separate Sapper Battalion, who, risking their lives every minute, built bridges under enemy fire, provided vehicle crossings, removed minefields, ensuring the successful advance of divisional units. Thus, the 111th Infantry Division from 1 to last day Battle of Kursk fought in our area. After fierce battles, from September 28 to October 26, 1943, the division was withdrawn from combat and was located in the village of Aleksandrovka and other villages of the Kharkov region in the reserve of the Headquarters of the High Command.
On October 28, the 111th division was again on the march and on November 25, 1943, concentrated in the area of \u200b\u200bthe city of Pyatikhatka. After the defeat of the enemy in the city, soldiers and officers took part in the liberation of the city of Alexandria. For the bravery and courage of the personnel of the division, the name of the Alexandria Red Banner Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky was awarded.
On July 20, 1944, the 111th Infantry Division is transferred to Romania. For the participation of the Jassy-Kishinev operation of the division, thanks again to I.V. Stalin.
The 111th Infantry Division of the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky completed its combat path in Czechoslovakia. The division suffered significant losses. 6105 soldiers and officers died heroically. However, the division covered itself for courage with unfading glory.