On December 20, 1943, the 13th Guards Airborne Division (1st formation) was formed. The basis for the creation was the 18th, 19th and 20th Guards Airborne Brigades.

By order of the People's Commissar of Defense No. 003 dated January 19, 1944, the 13th Guards Airborne Division was reorganized as the 98th Guards Rifle Division (98th Guards Rifle Division) on May 3, 1944 with the entry into the new 37th Guards Rifle Division corps.

The 37th Guards Rifle Corps was sent to the Karelian Front, where it became part of the 7th Army. The task of the corps was to defeat the Svir-Petrozavodsk grouping of German troops during the Svir-Petrozavodsk offensive operation. For the exemplary performance of the assigned combat missions during the crossing of the Svir River, the corps and all three divisions in its composition received the honorary name "Svir".

At the end of hostilities in Karelia, the division was transferred to the southern wing of the Soviet-German front, where it participated in the liberation of Hungary, Austria and Czechoslovakia.

On October 4, 1944, the State Defense Committee issued a decree No. 6650ss from “On the introduction of airborne troops Red Army and their subordination to the Commander of the ADD. For more efficient management airborne troops Red Army, all of them were consolidated into the Separate Guards Airborne Army (OGVDA). The OGVDA Directorate was formed on the basis of the 7th Army Directorate. During the formation of the corps, the 98th Guards Rifle Division was again reorganized into an airborne division. Since the 13th airborne division (2nd formation) was formed on July 7, 1944, the serial number for the airborne formation based on the 98th Guards Rifle Division was left from the rifle division. The 98th Guards Airborne Division (98th Guards Airborne Division) included three airborne brigades created on the basis of rifle regiments. At the same time, the serial numbers of the brigades were taken the same as those of the brigades that served as the basis for the creation of the 13th Guards Airborne Division (1st formation):

• 18th Guards vdbr (2nd formation) - formed on the basis of the 296th Guards. cn;
• 19th Guards vdbr (2nd formation) - formed on the basis of the 299th Guards. cn;
• 20th Guards vdbr (2nd formation) - formed on the basis of the 302nd Guards. cn.

On December 8, 1944, an order was issued to reorganize the OGVDA by February 15, 1945 into the 9th Guards Army. During the reorganization of the 98th Guards. the airborne division became the eponymous guards rifle division in the same composition as it was in the 37th guards rifle corps in January 1944.

In February 1945, in full force, the 9th Guards Army was sent to the active army and performed tasks in cooperation with other troops to liberate the city of Vienna.

By the end of the war, the full name of the compound was 98th Guards Svirskaya Red Banner Rifle Division .

post-war period

From May 1945 to January 1946, the division was stationed in the city of Kisteleg in Hungary.

In early 1946, the 98th Guards Rifle Division was redeployed from Austria to the city of Murom. Later, the division was redeployed to the Far East.

On June 14, 1946, by order No. 0051 of the commander of the airborne troops, the 98th Guards Rifle Division was reorganized into the 98th Guards Airborne Division as part of the 37th Guards Airborne Corps. Since the newly created airborne divisions were of two regiments, the 302nd Guards Rifle Regiment was disbanded in the 98th Guards Rifle Division.

By October 1948, instead of the regiments that had left the airborne divisions, new guards parachute regiments were formed to form new divisions. So in the 98th Guards. the 192nd Guards Airborne Regiment was created, which was soon disbanded.

By the beginning of 1949, the 98th Guards. sd stationed in with. Pokrovka, Ussuri Region, Primorsky Military District, included: 296th and 299th Guards Airborne Regiments, 17th Guards Artillery Regiment.

In 1951, the directorate of the 37th Guards Airborne Corps was relocated to the Trans-Baikal-Amur Military District in the settlement. Kuibyshevka-Vostochnaya (now the city of Belogorsk, Amur Region). Together with the corps, the 98th Guards was redeployed. vdd.

January 6, 1959 in the 98th Guards. vdd was transferred 243rd Separate Military Transport Aviation Squadron from 10 An-2 aircraft.

By Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 362-233ss of March 17, 1956 and directive of the Minister of Defense of the USSR No. org / 3/39479 of April 4, 1956, the 37th Guards Airborne Corps was disbanded. Together with the corps, the 99th Guards Airborne Division was disbanded, whose 300th Guards Airborne Regiment (based in the city of Svobodny, Amur Region) was transferred to the 98th Guards. VDD instead of the previously disbanded 192nd Guards. pdp. Also in the 98th Guards. airborne division from the 99th Guards. The Airborne Division was transferred to the 74th Guards Artillery Regiment (based in Shimanovsk, Amur Region) to replace the previously disbanded 17th Guards Artillery Regiment.

In November 1960, on the basis of the directives of the Minister of Defense of the USSR of March 18, 1960 and the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces of June 7, 1960, the 74th Guards Artillery Regiment of the 98th Guards. The Airborne Division was reorganized into the 812th Separate Guards Artillery Battalion. Subsequently, the division was again deployed to the 1065th Guards Artillery Regiment.

On February 27, 1968, for success in combat and political training and in connection with the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Armed Forces of the USSR, the division was awarded the Order of Kutuzov, 2nd degree.

July 14, 1969 by Directive General Staff The USSR Armed Forces, in connection with the aggravation of the situation in the Middle East, began the redeployment of the 98th Guards. airborne division from the city of Belogorsk, Amur Region, to the city of Bolgrad, Odessa Region (division headquarters and headquarters, 217th and 299th Guards Airborne Regiment, units and subdivisions of support and maintenance), the village of Vesyoliy Kut, Odessa Region (1065th Guards Ap) Ukrainian SSR, and the 300th Guards. PDP to the city of Chisinau, Moldavian SSR. Parts of the division were stationed in the military camps of the 48th Motorized Rifle Ropshinsky Red Banner Division named after M. I. Kalinin, which in 1968 was redeployed to Czechoslovakia, to the troops of the Central Guard Command.

On July 21, 1969, by order of the commander of the Far Eastern Military District, the passing Red Banner of the District Military Council, which was awarded to the 98th Guards Airborne Division, was transferred to it for eternal storage.

In June 1971, the 98th Guards. the airborne division participated in the exercises "South" and landed in one of the regions of the Crimea.

November 13, 1973 in the 98th Guards. Airborne Forces carried out the landing of the BMD-1 on the P-7 parachute platform from the An-12 aircraft, together with the crew of Sergeant A. I. Savchenko and Senior Sergeant V. V. Kotlo, who were inside the combat vehicle.

In 1986, the 68th separate anti-tank artillery battalion of the 98th Guards. The airborne division became part of the 1065th Guards Artillery Regiment as a linear division.

On November 5, 1987, by order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR, the division, as the best formation in the Airborne Forces, was given the honorary name "named after the 70th anniversary of the Great October Revolution" based on the results of combat and political training.

In 1989, the 98th Guards Airborne Svirskaya Red Banner, Order of Kutuzov Division had the following composition:

• Division Directorate - Bolgrad
• 217th Guards Airborne Order of Kutuzov III degree regiment (military unit 42246) - Bolgrad;
• 299th Kutuzov Guards Airborne Regiment III degree (military unit 52432) - Bolgrad;
• 300th Guards Airborne Regiment (military unit 40390) - Chisinau;
• 1065th Guards Artillery Regiment (military unit 31539) - c. Merry Kut;
• 215th separate guards reconnaissance company (military unit 03391) - Bolgrad;
• 100th separate anti-aircraft missile and artillery division (military unit 73512) - Bolgrad;
• 112th separate engineer-sapper battalion - Bolgrad;
• 674th Separate Guards Communications Battalion (military unit 89592) - Bolgrad;
• 15th separate repair and restoration battalion - Bolgrad;
• 1683rd separate battalion of material support - Bolgrad;
• 613th separate airborne support battalion - Bolgrad;
• 176th separate medical battalion - Bolgrad;
• 728th courier-postal communication station (military unit 36477) - Bolgrad;
• 243rd separate military transport aviation squadron (military unit 68226) - Bolgrad;
• the division's training ground - the village of Tarutino.

During the operation to restore constitutional order on the territory of the Azerbaijan SSR in the autumn of 1989, an Il-76 aircraft with servicemen of the 98th Guards. vdd. 48 servicemen and 9 crew members were killed.

Section of the division after the collapse of the USSR

In May 1993, the division was split between Ukraine, Russia and Moldova. Russia withdrew the headquarters of the division with a banner and awards, the 299th Guards. PDP, most of the 217th Guards. PDP with the banner of the regiment, most of the 1065th artillery regiment with the banner and some parts of the divisional set. Part of the 217th Guards departed to Ukraine. PDP and part of the 1065th artillery regiment, which was stationed in the village of Vesyoliy Kut. went to Moldova military equipment 300th Airborne Regiment. The personnel of the 300th Guards. The PDP was transferred to the city of Abakan and on its basis the 100th separate airborne brigade was formed.

Division in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

In 1993, on the basis of the 217th Guards. PDP 98th Guards. airborne division and 331st guards. pdp Georgian-Ossetian conflict.

On August 24, 2014, ten servicemen of the 331st Airborne Regiment of the contract 98th Guards Airborne Division of the Airborne Forces of the Armed Forces Russian Federation were detained by the Ukrainian military on the territory of Ukraine near the village of Zerkalnoye in the Donetsk region (20 km from the border with Russia) and handed over to the SBU. The detainees were dressed in Russian-style military uniforms without insignia. According to the paratroopers, during the night march they did not move along the road, but over rough terrain and fell behind their column. The fact that they broke away from other participants in the exercises and crossed the state border, the paratroopers learned only when they saw a tank with the Ukrainian flag. They did not show resistance during the arrest, they had no combat missions, their weapons were not loaded.

A source from several news agencies at once in the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that “the indicated servicemen did indeed participate in patrolling a section of the Russian-Ukrainian border, they crossed it, probably by accident, in an unequipped, unmarked area. There was no resistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the arrest.” Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on the fact of the detention of Russian military personnel on the territory of Ukraine in a similar vein and also noted that similar cases had previously happened with Ukrainian servicemen, and also hoped that "there will be no problems with this." After some negotiations, the paratroopers were returned to their homeland. There was no international response to this incident.

As of January 2015, plans are known to recreate the 299th regiment (earlier in 1998, the 299th and 217th regiments were consolidated into one - the 217th pdp) in the Yaroslavl region

On September 22, 1941, units of the division replaced the defenders and went on the offensive at dawn. In these battles, the paratroopers showed courage and bravery.

On November 20, 1941, the division was redeployed to Novorossiysk to participate in the Feodosia landing operation - the first strategic joint offensive operation of the troops of the Transcaucasian Front and the forces of the Black Sea Fleet in the coastal direction. As a result of 9 days of hostilities, the Kerch Peninsula was cleared of the enemy and support was provided to the besieged Sevastopol.

On January 10, 1943, the division, as part of the troops of the Stalingrad Front, took part in the final part of the Battle of Stalingrad - Operation "Ring" in order to destroy the encircled enemy. By order of the NKO of the USSR dated March 1, 1943 No. 107, the 157th Rifle Division was transformed into the 76th Guards Rifle Division (Guards Rifle Division) for the courage and heroism of the personnel shown during the Battle of Stalingrad.

On September 8, 1943, the division set out from the Orel region near Chernigov. For three days of continuous offensive, she advanced 70 km and at dawn on September 20 approached the village of Tovstoles, three kilometers northeast of Chernigov, and then captured the city and continued the offensive to the west.

On July 17, 1944, the division as part of the 1st Belorussian Front launched an offensive northwest of Kovel. On July 26, troops advancing from the north and south united 20-25 km west of Brest, surrounding the enemy grouping. For reaching the State Border of the USSR and the liberation of Brest, the 76th Guards. sd was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

On January 25, 1945, as part of the 2nd Belorussian Front, units and subunits of the division blocked the exit from the city of Torun, a powerful stronghold on the Vistula, and then destroyed the 32,000th enemy group defending the city.

On March 23, 1945, the division captured the city of Tsoppot by storm, went to the Baltic Sea and turned to the south. By the morning of March 25, as part of the corps, the guards captured the city of Oliva and advanced on Danzig. On March 30, the liquidation of the Danzig group was completed.

On April 24, the division concentrated in the Kortenhaten area, 20 km south of Stettin. At dawn on April 26, the formation crossed the Rondov Canal on a wide front and, breaking through the enemy’s defensive line, cleared the city of Preclav from the Nazis by the end of the day.

On May 2, the division captured the city of Güstrow, and on May 3, the cities of Karow and Buttsov. The advance detachment went to the Baltic Sea and, on the outskirts of the city of Wismar, met with units of the airborne division of the Allied expeditionary army. On this, the 76th Guards. sd completed military operations against the Nazi troops and began to carry out patrol service on the coast.

The commander of the Vostok grouping, Major General Nikolai Viktorovich Staskov: “I had no more than two days to organize hostilities, and this was with a heterogeneous mass that had just been sent from the district. We could not, for example, really count on the support of artillery, because that most of the artillery crews were untrained and had never even fired. So I, and most of the other commanders, understood what we would face. "1

From the description of the assault plan: "On December 30, 1994, an order was received and large-scale maps and plans were received to prepare units for the assault. These plans were published back in 1983, but in ten years Grozny has grown and changed, new roads and streets have appeared in large numbers , bridges, residential buildings, often unmarked even on a large-scale map.
The 129th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment and the 133rd Guards Separate Tank Battalion were tasked with capturing the eastern regions of Grozny, bounded by the river, on December 31, 1994. Sunzha - the area of ​​​​Prospect them. Lenin, and go to Minutka Square.
The 1st tank company of the 133rd Guards Separate Tank Battalion (commander Captain S. Kachkovsky) was attached to the 1st Motorized Rifle Battalion of the 129th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment (commander Major Yu. Saulyak). The 2nd motorized rifle battalion of the 129th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment, Major S. Goncharuk, was attached to the 2nd Tank Company of the 133rd Guards Separate Tank Battalion (commander Lieutenant S. Kisel). To assist the young commander in managing the unit in battle On December 28, 1994, the commander of the tank battalion, Lieutenant Colonel I. Turchenyuk, instructed the chief of staff of a separate tank battalion, Captain S. Kurnosenko, who, before the battle, occupied the position of gunner-operator in the T-80BV tank (board No. Kissel. The 3rd tank company of the 133rd guards separate tank battalion of captain V. Voblikov was a reserve, following the 2nd motorized rifle battalion of the 129th guards motorized rifle regiment. One tank platoon from the 3rd tank company remained with the 2nd motorized rifle company to control the Argun-Grozny road.
The movement was planned to be carried out in two assault columns along parallel routes, the paratrooper battalion of the 98th Guards Airborne Division, closing the columns along the route to the BMD-1, was supposed to set up roadblocks, ensuring the protection of the route to supply the assault units of the 129th Guards Motorized Rifle Division regiment and the 133rd Guards Separate Tank Battalion. It was not planned to introduce the artillery battalion of the 129th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment on 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled guns into Grozny.

Senior Lieutenant of one of the reconnaissance units of the 98th Airborne Division (or 45th OrpSpN of the Airborne Forces): “On the night of December 30-31, the task was set to storm Grozny. Our unit was ordered to advance as part of a column, covering its command with two armored personnel carriers - in front and behind. We didn’t know what exactly: how we were going to storm, from what lines, who was opposing us in Grozny.When I approached one of the senior officers of the group [commander of the 98th Airborne Division, Lieutenant Colonel Sergey Alekseevich Koblov] and asked: "What is our task?" - then he, an aged colonel, averted his eyes and said: “Die.” - “Can you explain what the essence of this problem is - to die?” - “You see, starley, I really tell you that our task is to die. Because we depict the main blow of the entire grouping of Russian troops. We must show the enemy that it is from the east that the federal troops will take Grozny. "I knew: there are two more directions for strikes - from the north, northwest. The eastern column, according to the plan of the command, was supposed to enter Grozny, portray a strike, cover the maximum territory with available forces and means, move inside Grozny, and then leave the city. "3

Advance to the city

Commander of the Vostok grouping, Major General N.V. Staskov: "Initially, we were ordered to move to Minutka Square<...>, and we had to go through the tunnel, and it was like climbing into a mousetrap. So I went off-road with tanks and artillery.<...>We were faced with the task of delivering a secondary strike aimed at diverting the main forces of the enemy. "4

From the description of the advance: “On December 31, 1994, according to the memoirs of the commanders of tank companies, before entering the city, the command of the 129th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment built columns of two assault groups. insufficient attention was paid in time, which subsequently led to inconsistency in actions and confusion in the fire action of the militants.
Around 11:00 it was announced that there would be no helicopter support due to bad weather. She was not there on January 1, 1995 either. Then the helicopters began to fly, although the weather on December 31, January 1 and 2 was almost the same, overcast with low overcast.

At 11:00 a.m., the Vostok group advanced in two columns from the direction of the Khankala airfield to Grozny. The main strike force was the 129th Guards Motor Rifle Regiment (commander Colonel A. Borisov) and the 133rd Guards Separate Tank Battalion (commander Lieutenant Colonel I. Turchenyuk).
The column included T-80B, T-80BV, five ZSU-23-4M. the rearguard consisted of a paratrooper battalion of the 98th Guards Airborne Division on BMD-1 (about 10 vehicles).
At the entrance to the city on the outskirts of Khankala, mines blew up: tank No. 521 from the 1st tank company and one tank of the 2nd tank company. The advance of the columns to Grozny was carried out along the Grozny-Argun road to the suburbs, where, at the fork in the roads from Grozny to Khankala and Argun, the column, turning to the north, began to go around the suburbs along the road leading to the street. Ioanisiani."5

Passing the bridge

From the description of the advance: "The assault groups of the 129th Guards Motor Rifle Regiment, the 133rd Guards Separate Tank Battalion and the parachute battalion of the 98th Guards Parachute Regiment [Airborne], bypassing the suburbs, went to a new automobile bridge over the railway tracks, located between the marshalling railway tracks of the Khankala station on one side and the area of ​​​​Mikhail Kolbus Street, which runs parallel to the railway on the other side. on the bridge to the paratrooper battalion. "6

A senior lieutenant of one of the reconnaissance units of the 98th Airborne Forces (or 45th OrpSpN of the Airborne Forces), who was walking with a column of 2nd Motorized Rifle Regiment 129th Motorized Rifle Regiment: "We passed the military camp, and losses began. Because the column was a long snake. No combat cover - security on the right and left "Helicopters passed over us from time to time. The column consisted of: in front of several tanks, armored personnel carriers, command and staff vehicles, the rest of the equipment. The column consisted only of units of the Ministry of Defense - neither internal troops, nor the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Mostly infantry, artillerymen, tankers. We , reconnaissance paratroopers, in the middle of the column. Closing it, there was a company of paratroopers on the BMD-2. When approaching the bridge, they began to shoot at us from heavy machine guns, militant snipers worked clearly. Our eyes appeared: the first tank was moving along the bridge, and it was being fired upon somewhere from seven, eight directions. In the crossroads. Lucky for the first tank. Passed. So every unit passed through the bridge: whether it was a tank or an infantry fighting vehicle. Manpower is always on the armor, no one was sitting inside. The column went across the bridge, bearing losses. After all, ten to twelve people on each armor cannot do without losses. The column lost two BTEERs, a tank and a bag were blown up. We, the scouts, were more or less successful: only two were wounded. Only a separate company of paratroopers did not pass the bridge, which we found out only later. Communication practically did not work. I had audibility only between my two BTEers and the Ural, and a weak, constantly interrupted contact with the column. The connection was a complete mess. For the most part, no one had any idea who was talking to whom. Only call signs are on the air, reports are only about "two hundredth" and "three hundredth" - how many were killed and wounded. "7

Cutting off a part of the pdb 98 vdd near the bridge

Only a part of the 98th airborne infantry division, including the battalion headquarters, crossed the bridge.

From the description of the battle: “Having passed the dachas, we crossed the bridge. Having met motorized riflemen who had lagged behind their own and stalled armored personnel carriers along the way, Chaliapin, pushing him with his car, continued to move.<...>Having traveled about a hundred meters, we saw another armored personnel carrier of motorized riflemen and infantry hiding behind it, which they hit from the windows of nearby houses. Having supported the infantry with fire from guns and machine guns, the paratroopers entered the battle. In the first seconds, tracers flying in and out of houses through the triplex somewhat resembled a shooting game in slot machines. Until bullets rattled against the armor at all ...
Having missed the first cars, the militants opened fire on the convoy. Everything around was burning, torn and shot. From the left, a “spiritual” tank entered the column, but the deputy battalion commander, captain Sergei Ant, somehow miraculously managed to knock it out of his “penny”. The BMD-1 cannon, in theory, did not take tank armor, but the "box" began to smoke, and "spirits" fell out of it. In the midst of the battle, communication was lost, but Chaliapin realized from the unfolding bemdash that the column that had fallen under the crossfire had received a command to retreat. The cars moving in the middle of the column were burning one after another. Here is the wrecked car of the battalion commander, here are the scouts. Here from the "border" "darlings" set fire to self-propelled guns. As soon as the crew jumped out of the burning car, the second grenade finally tore apart the Nona. Picking up people along the way from wrecked cars, Chaliapin's BMD now brought up the rear of the column.
Then Chaliapin learns that the paratroopers and infantrymen from the wrecked vehicles, led by their battalion commander, will gather under the bridge and try to leave the city with dachas. Their retreat will be covered to the last by Major Viktor Omelkov and his friend, Infantry Lieutenant Alexander Mikhailov, who are firing back. From Sanka, he learns about the last minutes of the battalion "political officer" Omelkov. Shooting back, both officers will be wounded. The moving Omelkov will be finished off, while Mikhailov, kicking with his foot, will be taken for dead. Twice - the paratroopers do not abandon their own - then went to Grozny in search of a battalion commander with the rest of the dismounted soldiers. Those with the wounded on their hands, having made their way through the dachas, still managed to get out of the encirclement. "8

Deputy com. 98 Airborne Forces Colonel Alexander Ivanovich Lentsov: "I often remember New Year's Eve 1995. And I remember with a sense of shame for the Fatherland. Night. Absolute hell. Tanks are burning. We carry out the dead, wounded. And Russia forgot about us, sent to die, and it is not clear What. The sounds of Moscow fun are heard on the radio. There is a traditional New Year's program, champagne flows like a river. Congratulations sound: "Happy New Year!". "With new happiness!" I can’t choose otherwise) bestial attitude towards the army ... "9

The part of the column that did not cross the bridge also began to retreat.

From the description of the battle: “Thus, the paratroopers were cut off from the 129th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment and retreated in battle in different directions towards Khankala. of the combined paratrooper battalion of the 98th Guards Airborne Division, a little more than a company returned to their original positions.
According to the commander of the 3rd platoon of the 2nd motorized rifle company of the 1st motorized rifle battalion of the 129th guards motorized rifle regiment, senior lieutenant S. Sukhorukov, at the position of the 2nd motorized rifle company (the 2nd motorized rifle company did not enter the city, blocking roads Argun-Grozny) at about 18-19 hours on the way from Grozny, a platoon jumped out on three BMD-1s (Volgograd paratroopers of the paratrooper battalion of the 98th paratrooper regiment [VDD], apparently cut off from the column of the main forces at the entrance to Grozny ) and mistaking motorized riflemen for militants, opened fire from cannons and machine guns on the positions of the 2nd motorized rifle company. The motorized riflemen returned fire, as they thought, at the militants. As a result of fire from ATGM, RPG, KPVT, BTR-70, one BMD was hit and burned down (the last in the convoy, the other two slipped further), eight paratroopers died, two were wounded. In the 2nd motorized rifle company, one person was killed and one wounded. "10

Column 337 pdp

The commander of the 104th airborne division, Major General Vadim Ivanovich Orlov, refused to send his units into Grozny. By "12:50, 104th airborne division is located on the eastern outskirts of the city along the railway."11 Nevertheless, a consolidated column of 337th airborne troops under the command of Lieutenant Albert Alekseevich Chirikov advanced to the bridge to provide assistance.

From the description of the battle: "Already at 5 o'clock two tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles, "zushki"<...>and two armored personnel carriers under the wounded moved literally by touch, the headlights were not turned on due to blackout. "12

From the description of the battle: "The task of the" Ulyanovsk "was to pick up and evacuate to the rear the wounded, if such were found, and the bodies of the dead. It gets dark early in Chechnya. They advanced without headlights and conventional signals, there were no identification marks. Khankala was burning ahead, and not far from the city, on the bridge, they had to take up all-round defense. In this situation, two "Ivanovo" motorized riflemen nailed to them. [Commander of the PDR 337 pdp] Chirikov called them to him, and they said that no one knew from whom the order had come to stop the column on the bridge Then the fire suddenly fell on them.The soldiers barely had time to jump under the bridge, and then wandered along the road all night until they met their own.
“I told them: you know the area and it will be easier for you to reconnoiter the situation. But they are some kind of plague ... “Comrade senior lieutenant, they ask, let's not go. We just got out of the meat grinder. "We had to explain, to convince that we had to go, all of a sudden one of their comrades was still alive and they had to be pulled out. Somehow they agreed. I singled out an officer [commander of the pdv 337 pdp] from ours, and departed. Forty minutes later, the group returned - they reported that no one was found alive. We had to advance over the bridge. A sad picture opened up to our eyes on the spot: the equipment was broken, there were no wounded, only the bodies of [at least three] killed, which we took away.
I look at the clock: 00:00 - New Year came - 1995!"
Soon the "Ulyanovites" received an order to hold the defense until the morning. The paratroopers did not know the terrain, and the maps they received were old - so no one knew what would be around when dawn came. Therefore, they decided to return, about which Chirikov reported to the marching headquarters - the command approved. When the unit returned to base without casualties, the officers considered it a holiday."13

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

1 Staskov N. There was a deception // Newspaper. 2004. December 13. (http://www.gzt.ru/world/2004/12/13/112333.html)
2 Belogrud V. Tanks in the battles for Grozny. Part 1 // Front illustration. 2007. No. 9. pp. 25-27.
3 Noskov V. Confession of an officer // Stories about Chechen war. M., 2004. S. 141. ( http://www.sibogni.ru/archive/9/150/)
4 Staskov N. There was a deception // Newspaper. 2004. December 13. (http://www.gzt.ru/world/2004/12/13/112333.html)
5 Belogrud V. Tanks in the battles for Grozny. Part 1 // Front illustration. 2007. No. 9. pp. 28-30.
6 Belogrud V. Tanks in the battles for Grozny. Part 1 // Front illustration. 2007. No. 9. S. 30.
7 Noskov V. Confession of an officer // Stories about the Chechen war. M., 2004. S. 141-143. (http://www.sibogni.ru/archive/9/150/)
8 Rashchepkin K. And you and I, brother, from the landing // Red Star. 2004. June 18. (http://www.redstar.ru/2004/06/18_06/2_01.html)
9 Baranets V. The Lost Army. M., 1998. S. 245.
10 Belogrud V. Tanks in the battles for Grozny. Part 1 // Front illustration. 2007. No. 9. pp. 30-32.
11 Antipov A. Lev Rokhlin. The Life and Death of a General. M., 1998. S. 133.
12 Sizova E. Legal adviser with the soul of a paratrooper // Guards of Russia. 2003. No. 9. November. (http://www.rsva.ru/rus_guard/2003-11/chirikov.shtml)
13 Bal O., Drop M. Stars light up on the earth // Red Star. 2003. March 22. (

In January 1944, on the basis of the 13th Guards Airborne Division (VDD), the formation of the 98th Guards Rifle Division (SD) began. The command and rank and file was selected from cadets of military schools, sailors of the Pacific Fleet, the Amur Flotilla and personnel of training units.

On May 3, 1944, the division was awarded the battle flag. May 3rd is considered the annual feast of conjunction. In June 1944, the formation in full force was sent to the Karelian Front, where, as part of the 37th Guards Rifle Corps, it participated in the Svir-Petrozavodsk offensive operation.

On July 2, 1944, by order of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, for the courage and bravery shown during the crossing of the Svir River and the capture of the bridgehead, the division was awarded the title of Guards Svirskaya. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, 17 soldiers of the unit were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for the exemplary performance of combat missions of the command on the front against the German invaders.

After the Svir-Petrozavodsk operation, the division, as part of the 37th Airborne Corps of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, took part in the battles to liberate Hungary, Austria and Czechoslovakia. On April 26, 1945, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for the exemplary performance of command assignments in battles with the German invaders during the capture of the cities of Papa, Devecher, Sombalet (Sombathely), Kapuvar, Keseg and the valor and courage shown at the same time.

On May 1, the guardsmen successfully completed the task of the command to defeat the Nazi troops on the territory of Austria. On May 10, 1945, at 17:00, the forward units of the division joined with the allied American forces in the area of ​​Pilzen and Hradec-Kralev in Czechoslovakia.

For distinction in military operations during the Great Patriotic War 11,539 soldiers, sergeants and officers were awarded orders and medals, 19 people were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

From May 1945 to January 1946, the division was located in the city of Kishteleg (Hungary). At the beginning of 1946, the formation was relocated to the city of Murom, Moscow Military District, and in July 1946, to the village of Pokrovka, Molotovsky District, Primorsky Military District.

In accordance with the decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR of June 3, 1946, the division was reorganized according to the states of the Airborne Forces and renamed the 98th Guards Airborne Svir Red Banner Division.

On June 1, 1951, parts of the division were redeployed to the city of Belogorsk, Amur Region (Far Eastern Military District). On February 22, 1968, "for the great merits shown in the battles for the defense of the Soviet Motherland, success in combat training and in connection with the 50th anniversary of the Soviet Army and Navy" by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the division was awarded the Order of Kutuzov 2nd degree .

On July 21, 1969, by order of the commander of the troops of the Far Eastern Military District (FEMD), the passing Red Banner of the Military Council of the Far East Military District, which was awarded to the 98th Guards Airborne Division, was transferred to it for eternal storage.

In 1969, units and divisions of the division were relocated to the cities of Bolgrad and Chisinau of the Odessa Military District. The school of courage and military training for the division was participation in the major exercises "South", "Spring-72", "Crimea-73", "Efir-74", "Spring-75", "Shield-79", "Shield-82 "," Summer-90 ".

On November 5, 1987, by order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR, the division, as the best formation in the Airborne Forces, was given the honorary name “named after the 70th anniversary of the Great October Revolution” based on the results of combat and political training. Only three formations in the Armed Forces of the USSR were awarded this honorary title.

In the late 80s - early 90s of the last century, the personnel of the division carried out special tasks for the government in the republics of Transcaucasia and Central Asia. On July 11, 1990, the division was awarded the pennant of the Minister of Defense of the USSR "For courage and military prowess." Many officers and ensigns of the formation participated in the fighting in Afghanistan.

In May 1993, the division was redeployed to Ivanovo, and in the same year the 331st Guards Airborne Regiment became part of the division. From December 13, 1994 to February 20, 1995, 477 servicemen of the division as part of a consolidated battalion took part in establishing constitutional order on the territory of the Chechen Republic. 455 people were awarded orders and medals, three servicemen were awarded the title of Hero of Russia.

In January 1996, on the basis of the division, a separate airborne brigade of the Peacekeeping Forces of the Russian Federation was formed, which carried out a peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since July 1998, the combined battalion of the division has been carrying out peacekeeping missions in the zone of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict.

In May-June 1999, a combined battalion of the 98th Guards Airborne Division was formed and sent to Kosovo (Yugoslavia) to carry out a peacekeeping mission, based on the 2nd Airborne Battalion of the 331st Airborne Regiment. The formation of the battalion took place in a short time, taking into account the situation in the Balkans.

From September 1999 to March 2000, the combined regimental tactical group, formed on the basis of the 331st Guards Airborne Regiment, took part in combat missions as part of the Joint Group of Troops (Forces) during the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus. For courage and heroism shown in the fight against bandit formations, more than 800 servicemen of the division were awarded state awards, and Guards Colonel Nikolai Mayorov, Guards Lieutenant Colonel Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, and Guards Lieutenant Roman Shchetnev were awarded the title of Hero of Russia.

In August 2008, the personnel of the division successfully took part in the operation to force Georgia to peace in the South Ossetian direction.

On May 3, 2009, the 98th Guards Airborne Svirskaya Red Banner Order of Kutuzov 2nd degree division celebrated its anniversary - the 65th anniversary of its formation.

217th Guards Order of Kutuzov III Degree Airborne Regiment.
98th Guards Airborne Svir Red Banner Order of Kutuzov 2nd Class Airborne Division.
20 years ago, the territory and buildings belonged to the school of engineering troops (Military unit 58116).
The history of the Guards Svir formation begins in the midst of the battles of the Great Patriotic War. At this time, on the basis of separate guards airborne brigades, a formation was formed.
The command-political and rank-and-file staff was selected from cadets of military schools, sailors of the Pacific Fleet, the Amur Flotilla and cadets of training units.
Almost all soldiers and sergeants underwent six months of training under the airborne troops program and had 8-10 training jumps from LI-2, TB-3 aircraft and balloons. 95% of the personnel were communists and Komsomol members.
After the formation, intensive combat training began. Classes were held in the field for 12-14 hours. Particular attention was paid to forced marches, forced marches (25-50 kilometers).
A lot of time was devoted to learning the skills of active reconnaissance, forcing water barriers and actions in mountainous and wooded areas, as part of sabotage groups, as well as interactions with tanks and artillery.
In order to get as close as possible to combat conditions, shooting was practiced over the heads of their troops and in the intervals between them, the personnel were "run in" by tanks. During the initial period of combat training alone, 3 battalion and 1 regimental exercises with live firing were conducted.
The main discipline in the unit was considered airborne training, which tempered the will, developed courage, perseverance in overcoming difficulties. The entire process of training and education of paratroopers was aimed at preparing personnel for conducting combat operations behind enemy lines.
On May 3, 1944, in the city of Dmitrov, the Commander of the Moscow Military District handed over the Guards Banner to the commander of the guard formation, Colonel Vindushev K.M. 7 separate army.
June 21 - 24, 1944. Svirsko-Petrozavodskaya landing operation.
Svir-Petrozavodsk landing operation 98 and 99 Guards airborne divisions received the task of forcing the river. Svir and seize bridgeheads on the other side. The enemy for three years was fixed on the right bank of the Svir. The paratroopers were faced with the task of forcing the river, breaking through and destroying the echeloned defense zone.
The commander of the 300th Guards Airborne Regiment of the Guard, Colonel DANILOV M.O. it was decided during the artillery preparation to throw a false landing on the river, and to focus on it the attention of the artillery and mortar batteries that survived after the artillery preparation, to detect them and destroy them with artillery and aviation fire.
On June 21, 1944, at 8:00 am, Soviet aircraft appeared in the sky over the Svir, which brought down thousands of shells and bombs on the fortified area. At 8.40 am, a volley of 1,600 guns and mortars, jet "Katyushas" began artillery preparation, which lasted three and a half hours.
Under her cover, 12 brave paratroopers (Komsomol members: YUNOSOV, TIKHONOV, PAVLOV, MYTAREV, ZAZHIGIN, POPOV, PANKOV, MARKELOV, BARYSHEV, BEKBOSUNOV, MALYSHEV, NEMCHIKOV) began a demonstration crossing of the Svir.
The Nazis did not immediately notice that the forcing had begun. The enemy began to conduct rifle and machine-gun fire at the paratroopers from firing points, which survived when they reached the middle of the river.
Around 12 daredevils who were pushing rafts with models of soldiers, machine guns in front of them, bullets whistled, the water boiled from exploding shells and mines. The enemy believed in the beginning of the crossing of the Svir by the main forces, artillery and mortar batteries, which were in shelters, began to work.
With a flurry of fire, Soviet artillery suppressed the remnants of the enemy, which opened the way for the offensive for our troops. During the offensive, the formation crossed the water lines of the rivers: Svir, Inema, Megrega, Tyapotka, Vidlitsa, and others, fought 236 kilometers of heavily fortified enemy positions.
By order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief No. * 174 of July 2, 1944, the formations and units that distinguished themselves in battles with the Nazi invaders while crossing the Svir River and breaking through the enemy’s heavily fortified positions were given the honorary name "Svirsky"
By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of July 21, 1944, 1 officer, 7 sergeants and 9 Red Army soldiers were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
In the period from March 17, 1945, the division captured the heavily fortified Madyaralmash area, until the end of March 18, 1945, the cities of Guttamashi and the city of Bograch. In the future, the division liberated the cities from the German invaders: Varpolot, Veszprem, Devecher, Sarvar (Hungary), defeated parts of the 2nd Hungarian Panzer Division, 3rd SS Panzer Division "Adolf Hitler".
March 30, 1945, breaking through the fortified line of the Austro-Hungarian border, captured the city of Rehnitz. Until the end of April 25, 1945, with heavy fighting in a mountainous wooded area, she captured the cities of Woldeg and the city of Tulberg. At 17.00 on May 10, 1945, parts of the division joined with American troops on the Vitva River near the town of Strokovitsa (Czechoslovakia).
On April 26, 1945, the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for the exemplary performance of command tasks in battles with the Nazi invaders during the capture of the cities of Papa and Devecher and the heroism and courage shown at the same time.
For the exemplary performance of the tasks of the Soviet command in 1944-1945. the division received 7 thanks from the Supreme Commander of the Red Army. September 25, 1948 in the village of Galenki, Molostovsky district, Primorsky Territory, deputy regiment commander, lieutenant colonel TIRVA O.V. the formation of the military unit 11389 - 217th Guards Airborne Regiment began.
The unit was formed on the basis of the 2nd Guards Airborne Battalion of the 296th Guards Airborne Order of Kutuzov III - regiment degree, 263rd Guards Airborne Svir Red Banner Division.
The personnel of this battalion during the Great Patriotic War showed heroism, courage and combat skill, fought to the death in the most decisive battles of the Great Patriotic War.
On October 1, 1948, the 217th pdp completed its formation and order No. 1 was issued. This day began to be celebrated as Part Day.
The regiment became part of the 13th airborne division of the Order of Kutuzov II degree, the 37th guards Svir airborne corps.
On February 20, 1948, the Red Banner of the Guards was awarded to the regiment. In peacetime, the regiment's paratroopers improved their fighting qualities in annual exercises.
In 1965, for tactical exercises with the practical landing of personnel on Sakhalin Island, the regiment received a commendation from the USSR Ministry of Defense.
The regiment was commanded by Major MARKELOV GENNADY VASILIEVICH.
On February 22, 1968, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, for the significant merits shown during the defense of the Motherland, successes in combat and political training, the division was awarded the Order of Kutuzov, 2nd degree.
From July 25 to August 11, 1969, units of the unit were relocated to the city of Bolgrad. With the advent new technology the improvement of combat training continues. For the exercises "South-7" and "Desna-7" by order of the USSR Ministry of Defense, gratitude was announced to the personnel.
And in 1973, when a mass release of BM on the PRS was made, among the representatives of other units there were soldiers of the 217th regiment: guards. Sergeant SNICHENKO and Guards. corporal KOTL. For military skill and courage shown during the experimental landing, these servicemen were awarded the Order of the Red Star by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
Also, the personnel of the regiment took part in the "Shield-82" exercise in Bulgaria, for which the regiment, one of the first in the Airborne Forces, was awarded the second pennant of the USSR Ministry of Defense "For Courage and Military Valor". Then the regiment took part in the exercises "Soyuz-84". The motherland highly appreciated the merits and successes of the paratroopers.
The personnel received:
orders of the "Red Banner" - 16 people;
orders of the "Red Star" - 164 people;
orders "For personal courage" - 53 people (48 posthumously);
medals "For Courage" - 6 people;
medals "For military valor" - 253 people;
medals "For Military Merit" - 309 people. The morale-combat qualities were most clearly manifested during the stay of the guards-paratroopers in the Republic of Afghanistan. The school of courage and heroism in the period from 1979 to 1989 was attended by 119 officers and ensigns of the regiment.
Together with the solution of the tasks of combat and political training, the 217th Guards Airborne Regiment carried out government tasks on the territory of the Armenian and Azerbaijan SSR.
In the period from March 23, 1988 to March 16, 1990, the regiment spent 174 days in the regions of Transcaucasia:
from March 23 to March 29, 1988 - Oktembryan, Armenian SSR;
from June 21 to August 2, 1988 - Stepanakert;
from September 21 to November 16, 1988 - Yerevan;
from May 24 to August 25, 1988 - Yerevan;
from October 3 to October 18, 1989 and from January 16, 1990 to March 16, 1990 - Baku.
In 1990, the 217th Guards Airborne Regiment was awarded the third pennant of the Minister of Defense of the USSR "For courage and military prowess".
As a result of the collapse of the USSR, the 98th Guards Airborne Division and the 217th Guards Airborne Regiment were divided between Ukraine and Russia.
In the period from April 23 to May 3, 1993, the 217th Guards Airborne Svirsky Order of Kutuzov III degree regiment as part of the 98th Guards Airborne Division departed for the city of Ivanovo of the Russian Federation.
55% of materiel, the battle flag and the Order of Kutuzov III - degree were transferred to the 217th Guards Airborne Regiment.