Airborne troops. History of the Russian landing Alekhine Roman Viktorovich
COMBAT USE: AFGHANISTAN
COMBAT USE: AFGHANISTAN
On April 1, 1980, the first Panjshir operation began against Ahmad Shah Massoud. It was attended by the 56th brigade (forces of the battalion of captain L. Khabarov) and the 345th guards of the brigade (forces of the battalion of major V. Tsyganov). The factor of surprise and unpreparedness of the Mujahideen for an open clash, as well as the bold and decisive actions of the battalions, played an important role in the success of this operation. During this operation, the commanders of both battalions were injured. Helicopters were used to evacuate the wounded. The 2nd pdb of the 345th regiment in this operation covered about 1000 kilometers in the mountains in 30 days. Based on the results of this operation, training manuals on operations in mountain conditions were written.
In August 1980, the 2nd pdb of the 345th regiment (commander - Major V. Manyuta) took part in a special operation to determine the damaging factors of aviation volume-detonating ammunition in the Panjshir Gorge.
The 6th and 4th companies were ambushed by Pakistani special forces, so the battalion's tasks were performed by the 5th company of senior lieutenant A. Bogatyrev. The company competently took a group of Pakistani special forces "black storks" in the amount of about 30 people into a fire bag and was able to destroy them without loss.
In July 1981, units of the 103rd Airborne Division took part in the operation to defeat the Mujahideen base in the Lurkokh mountain range.
In the summer of 1982, units of the 103rd Airborne Division take part in an operation in Panjshir against the armed formations of Ahmad Shah Massoud. Major General N. G. Ter-Grigoryants was in charge of the operation. The grouping of Soviet and Afghan government forces numbered 12,000 people.
In April 1983, paratroopers of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division and the 345th Guards Opposition Regiment took part in an operation in the Nijrab Gorge (Kapisa province). The operation was led by the deputy commander of the 40th Army, Major General L. Ye. Generalov. The operation involved 21 battalions, including 5 paratroopers.
On April 19, 1984, an operation began in the Panjshir Gorge against a large group of field commander Ahmad Shah Massoud. For the first time, the hostilities began with the landing of a large assault force, which cut off the path of retreat for the Mujahideen to the mountains. The landing force landed by helicopters on the mountain slopes, setting up posts that provided cover for the troops moving along the lowlands.
From May 3 to June 9, 1984, the 328th Guards Parachute Regiment of the 104th Guards Airborne Division was stationed in Afghanistan. The air airlift of the regiment was more like a large airborne exercise. After the transfer, the regiment took part in several combat operations, after which it returned to the point of permanent deployment. I am more than sure that these were large-scale exercises to test the combat readiness of the Airborne Forces located in the Soviet Union, while the paratroopers entered into a real combat clash with the enemy. Isn't it an exercise "as close as possible to combat"?
In October 1984, the 345th Guards of the ODP and the 56th Oshbr took part in the operation to seize and destroy the bases and warehouses of the Mujahideen in the area of the district center of Urgezi (Paktia province). Large quantities of weapons and ammunition were seized. The operation took place without losses for the Soviet troops.
In the summer of 1985, the 103rd Guards Airborne Division takes part in an operation in the province of Kunar. The fighting was notable for its scale and fierceness along the entire length of the gorge - from Jalalabad to Barikot (170 km). At the same time, a large-scale operation under the code name "Desert" is under way. According to the plan of the operation, on July 16, units of the 345th Guards Opposition Regiment unexpectedly for the enemy landed by helicopter in the Mikini Gorge, located in the northeastern part of Panjshir. Having initially stubbornly resisted the paratroopers, the Mujahideen fled under threat of encirclement. On the battlefield, they left weapons, ammunition, food and equipment. At the base of the Mujahideen, the paratroopers found an underground prison.
In April 1986, the 56th Brigade conducted a major operation in the area of the city of Khost. During the hostilities, 252 fortified firing positions of the Mujahideen were destroyed, 6,000 anti-tank and 12,000 anti-personnel mines were neutralized and destroyed, hundreds of missiles and rocket launchers, thousands of rocket and artillery shells were captured. According to combat reports, over 2,000 Mujahideen were killed during the hostilities.
In March 1987, the 38th separate airborne assault brigade arrives in Afghanistan, again as part of a large airborne exercise. After the arrival of the 38th Brigade, together with units of the 56th Brigade, it takes part in Operation Thunderstorm in the province of Ghazni. The paratroopers from Brest stayed in Afghanistan for no more than three months, after which they left for the point of permanent deployment, having completed several combat missions during their stay in the DRA.
Also in March 1987, three battalions of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division in the provinces of Kabul and Logar carried out Operation Circle. In April, the 103rd Guards Airborne Division also conducted Operation Spring with three battalions in Kabul province.
On 20 May 1987, seven airborne battalions in Logar, Paktia and Kabul provinces conduct a large-scale Operation Volley. This operation involves three battalions from the 103rd Guards Airborne Division, two battalions from the 56th Airborne Brigade and two battalions from the 345th Guards PDP. The next day in Kandahar province, two battalions of the 38th brigade conduct Operation South-87.
In November 1987, Operation Magistral began, with the goal of unblocking the city of Khost surrounded by rebels. In addition to the ground forces, the 103rd airborne division, the 56th airborne brigade and the 345th guards of the armed forces took part in it. Thanks to skillful and decisive actions, the paratroopers captured the Satykand pass and defeated a large base of the Mujahideen south of the pass. This played a decisive role in the defeat of the enemy and the capture of Khost. During this operation, the command of the 40th Army used a military trick - a false airborne assault was landed from a great height on areas where enemy air defense systems could be found. About fifty sandbags hung in the air on landing parachutes. The rebels opened fire on the "landing" from all barrels. As a result, aviation reconnaissance quickly and efficiently revealed the locations of most of the firing points.
On April 14, 1988, the Geneva agreements on Afghanistan between the USSR, the USA and Pakistan were signed. The USSR committed itself to the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan starting May 15, 1988.
On June 23, 1988, the 345th Guards OPDP takes part in hostilities in the Faizabad area. The column of the regiment, having overcome the Salang pass, made an 850-kilometer march and ensured a successful start of the combat operation. The operation took place with minimal losses of personnel and military equipment of the regiment. The enemy lost more than 180 people killed.
During January 21-24, 1989, the 103rd Guards Airborne Division was completely withdrawn from Afghanistan. And in February, the 345th Guards OPDP, commanded by Colonel V.A.Vostrotin (one of the few who was the first to enter Afghanistan and the last to leave Afghanistan), crossed the border of the USSR.
Only the 103rd Guards Airborne Division for the entire period of hostilities lost 907 people in Afghanistan, ten were missing. 16 people became Heroes of the Soviet Union. For the successful fulfillment of government assignments in 1980, the 103rd Guards Airborne Division was awarded the Order of Lenin.
The 345th Guards Rifle Regiment lost 386 people in the DRA, and eight more were missing.
For the entire period Afghan war 39,527 tactical airborne assault forces were landed - while 794,680 people were transported. These were mainly the landing of small groups. special purpose, but there were also large landings. In general, the airborne units in Afghanistan justified their mission.
In January 1980, the remaining units of the 56th brigade were sent to Afghanistan, and until December 1981 the brigade was deployed in Kunduz. By the end of 1981, the brigade was redeployed to Gardez, the second battalion in Kandahar, where it stayed until 1986, after arriving in that command area and units of the 22nd special brigade, the battalion left for Gardez, the third battalion departed to the area of the city of Baraki-barak. The brigade conducted active hostilities throughout its stay in Afghanistan, as a result of which it destroyed (according to official data) 13 thousand rebels. The brigade's losses amounted to about 400 people killed, and 15 were missing. The number of the brigade during its stay in the DRA did not exceed 2800 people. The strength of the two battalions, which are part of the motorized rifle brigades, was about 450 people.
Subdivisions of the brigade and battalions were often used for their "assault-assault" mission, landing by helicopters on mountain passes (or other hard-to-reach places), realizing the principle of "vertical coverage", which the fathers of the General Staff had so long pursued.
For the landing, the Mi-8t and Mi-6 helicopter regiments were used. Heavy Mi-6 machines were used only when the enemy's air defense counteraction was reduced to zero, because the loss of such a machine could result in a massive death of the landing force. If Mi-6s were involved in combat operations, then they went in the second echelon of the assault force and arrived in the landing area when the enemy's resistance had already been suppressed.
Large tactical landings were used during all Panjshir operations from 1982 to 1988, in 1985 in the Mazar-i-Sharif area, where GAZ-66, UAZ-469 vehicles, 120-mm mortars, D-30 howitzers and ammunition for them were delivered by helicopters.
Mi-6s were also used in the sensational operation in the Safed-Sanga area, when in 1982 an air assault battalion of the 66th Omsb Brigade, a battalion of the 56th brigade and the 459th special-purpose company landed in Iran to carry out a special mission. Upon returning from this operation, the Mi-6 was shot down, in which only the crew was. The commander of the crew, Major Ryzhkov, was able to land the emergency vehicle. The rebels tried to destroy the helicopter pilots, but the rescue service's Mi-8t hooked up managed to pick up the downed crew in time. The abandoned Mi-6 was shot by NURS from Mi-8t helicopters.
During the withdrawal of the OKSV from Afghanistan, the crews of four Mi-6 helicopters of the 280th helicopter regiment were involved in the delivery of the personnel of the garrisons of Ghazni, Gardez, Wagram and Jalalabad to Kabul, from where they were sent to the USSR. By that time, the transportation of people on the Mi-6 to OKSVA was prohibited (this blood-paid experience, however, did not benefit the Russian generals in the future - everyone remembers the death of 120 people in the Mi-26 helicopter shot down in Chechnya), but the commander of the Air Force 40- First Army Major General DS Romanyuk gave special permission for "demobilization" flights, ordering to supply each passenger with a parachute (and in Chechnya, this was completely ignored). They took 50 people on board, performed one or two round-trip flights per night, and in a month four helicopters took out about 7 thousand servicemen. Whatever one may say, this is also an "airborne" operation.
During the period of hostilities, the crews of almost all helicopter regiments of the USSR visited Afghanistan. The helicopter pilots gained "invaluable combat experience" at the cost of the loss of 333 rotorcraft and the corresponding number of crews.
In total, more than 700 tactical airborne assault forces were landed in Afghanistan with the involvement of units of the 56th brigade, while more than 40 thousand people were transported by helicopters. If we take the ratio of combat sorties of helicopters to their mission, then the distribution is as follows: 55% are for troop sorties, 25% for fire support of troops, 13% for special missions, and 7% for aerial reconnaissance.
The airborne assault units that took part in the Afghan war gave the country one Hero of the Soviet Union - Senior Lieutenant S. Kozlov from the 56th brigade.
After the end of hostilities in Afghanistan, the 56th Airborne Assault Brigade was withdrawn to Iolotan, from where it was later redeployed to the Volgograd Region. The airborne assault battalions of the 66th and 70th Omsb Brigade were disbanded after the withdrawal of formations to the Union due to the lack of need for them.
By the beginning of 1980, a limited contingent of Soviet troops had already been introduced to Afghanistan, the basis of which was the units and formations of the 40th Army and the Airborne Forces grouping: 5th Guards Msd, 108th Msd, 201st Msd, 103rd Guards Airborne Forces, 345th anti-tank brigade, 56th anti-tank brigade, 2nd anti-ballistic brigade, 353rd anti-tank brigade. As part of these formations, there were no special-purpose units. The command did not find a sphere of combat use for the special forces, since it was believed that the main task (the assault on Amin's palace) had already been completed, and everything else simply did not correspond to the combat mission of the special forces.
By the way, Colonel V.V.Kolesnik received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for organizing the combat use of the 154th separate special-purpose detachment, thus becoming the first Hero in the GRU special forces.
However, back in December 1979, in Chirchik, on the basis of the 15th brigade, under the leadership of Colonel A.P. Beregovoy, the 459th separate special-purpose company of 112 people was formed for the 40th army. Captain Rafis Rafakovich Latypov was appointed the company commander. In February 1980, the company was deployed to Afghanistan and stationed in Kabul until August 15, 1988, after which it was withdrawn to Samarkand.
Until April 1980, the company was engaged in inspection operations, flying throughout Afghanistan in helicopters, but in April the head of the GRU, Colonel-General Ivashutin, flew to the 40th Army, who ordered Latypov to conduct a purely "spetsnaz" exit, preparation for which took several days. The operation plan provided for a group to land in the Pakistani border area and conduct a reconnaissance of the area. In the evening, at the junction of daylight and dark, a Mi-8t helicopter attempted to disembark the group, which was unsuccessful. The helicopter in high altitude conditions simply could not land because of the fear that it would not be possible to take off later. The next evening, they still managed to land the group in a dry river bed 15 kilometers from the reconnaissance area. For three days the group circled around the village and eventually caught the eye of a local resident. A soldier from the main patrol shot a local, and a few hours later the group, pursued by a local self-defense squad, went to the landing site, from where it was evacuated by an arriving helicopter. The commander of the group, Lieutenant Somov, reported personally to Akhromeev about the results of this reconnaissance mission.
As a result of the successful assault on Amin's palace, the work of the 459th separate company of the special forces of the 40th army and in view of the prospect of a significant complication of the situation in Afghanistan, the chief of the GRU, General Ivashutin, on January 7, 1980, suggested that the chief of the General Staff consider the formation of the Transcaucasian and Central Asian military districts at March 1980 "to carry out special tasks in crisis situations on the territory of Afghanistan" one more "special squadron" of 677 people each.
It was planned to immediately introduce the 154th and two new detachments into Afghanistan and use them in order to fight the opponents of the existing regime during "special events", namely the elimination of the heads of anti-government groups, operations to seize caravans and weapons depots.
In March 1980, the 154th Special Operations Forces were re-staffed and reintroduced into Afghanistan. The place of permanent deployment of the 154th detachment is the settlement of Aybak in the Samangan province. The detachment was also armed with BTR-60pb and BMP-1. Major Igor Yurievich Stoderevsky was appointed the commander of the detachment. The task of the detachment from the first days of its stay in the DRA included the protection of the fuel pipeline, which ran from the border with the USSR to Puli-Khumri.
In January 1980, in the Central Asian Military District in Kapchagai, the forces and funds of the 22nd special brigade formed the 177th separate special-purpose detachment of the same composition as the 154th.
By February 29, 1980, in the Transcaucasian Military District in Lagodekhi, on the basis of the 12th special brigade, the 173rd separate special-purpose detachment was formed.
Both new detachments are mainly staffed by immigrants from the Central Asian and Transcaucasian republics.
The composition of the 173rd ooSpN in March 1980 was as follows:
Detachment management;
Separate communication group;
Anti-aircraft artillery group (four ZSU-23-4 "Shilka");
1st reconnaissance company on BMP-1 (9 BMP-1 and 1 BRM-1K);
2nd reconnaissance company on BMP-1 (9 BMP-1 and 1 BRM-1K);
3rd reconnaissance landing company on BMD-1 (10 BMD-1);
4th company AGS-17 (three fire platoons, three squads each - 18 AGS-17, 10 BTR-70);
5th company of special weapons (RPO "Rys" flamethrower group, mining group on the BTR-70);
6th company - transport.
But, despite the decisions made at the highest level, the introduction of the 173rd and 177th detachments into Afghanistan dragged on for a long time. Detachment 177 entered Afghanistan only a year and a half after the first detachment entered - in October 1981. Initially, the place of deployment was the settlement of Meimen in the province of Faryab. However, the 154th and 177th detachments, up to 1984, were mainly engaged in the protection of the pipeline, the mountain pass and ensuring the wiring of the columns. Only occasionally did the detachments conduct cautious ambushes on small groups of rebels in the immediate vicinity of their deployment sites, however, with more than modest results. In fact, at that time, special forces units were ordinary motorized rifle battalions. Moreover, the detachments had the classified names of the 1st (154th ooSpN) and 2nd (177th ooSpN) "separate motorized rifle battalions."
There is information that during this period reconnaissance groups of the 15th special brigade operated several times in Afghanistan, arriving in Afghanistan for only a few days to conduct one or two operations (probably to conduct exercises "as close as possible to combat", as was the case with 328th Airborne Regiment and 38th Airborne Assault Brigade).
In 1982, the 177th ooSpN was transferred to Ruhu (Panjshir), then, a few months later, to Gulbahar. Such frequent movements of the entire detachment with all the property and the entire economy could not but affect the effectiveness of its actions - there were simply no results.
In 1982, on the basis of the 24th brigade of the Trans-Baikal Military District at the Olovyannaya station, the 282nd separate special-purpose detachment is deployed, which is undergoing combat training for operations in mountainous desert areas, but for a number of different reasons (basically it was another exacerbation of the Soviet Chinese relations), this detachment was not sent to Afghanistan, but is reassigned to the 14th brigade with a transfer in 1987 to the city of Khabarovsk.
In the meantime, special forces were carrying out ordinary combat days in Afghanistan. In February-March 1983, the 154th Special Special Forces, with 300 people, together with the 395th MRR of the 201st MRD, took part in the destruction of the rebel base in the Mormole Gorge in the Mazar-i-Sharif area. The commandos cleared the area where the base was located, conducted reconnaissance, including reconnaissance in force. For 9 days of the operation, the detachment lost 18 people wounded, of which 12 people returned to duty.
On the night of January 14, 1984, on the Sorubi plateau near the Vaka village, a reconnaissance detachment of the 177th ooSpN was ambushed. As a result of a fierce battle, the losses of the reconnaissance detachment amounted to 14 killed and several wounded. The special forces in Afghanistan have never suffered such losses. In the spring of 1984, on the same plateau, the special forces group of the 154th ooSpN was almost completely destroyed.
In February 1984, during the crossing of the Kabul River by an armored group under the leadership of Captain Grigory Bykov (Grisha "Kunarsky"), two BTR-70s of the 154th ooSpN sank in a strong stream, killing 11 scouts. For this, the commander of the detachment, Major Portnyagin, was removed from his post, who was replaced by Captain Dementyev, sent from the 56th brigade. For several days they searched for the drowned scouts. The two bodies were found and returned by the rebels when asked to do so.
By 1984, the OKSV command realized that in order to reduce the combat activity of the opposition, it was necessary not to carry out military operations involving a huge mass of troops, but only to intercept the caravans with weapons that went to Afghanistan from Pakistan and Iran. To solve these problems, highly mobile and daring special forces units were best suited, especially since the 459th Special Forces Division had already proven itself on the positive side, performing tasks of this kind.
There was a plan to create a so-called "border zone" "Veil" along the Jalalabad - Ghazni - Kandahar line. With the help of this border zone, the command of the 40th Army planned to block about 200 caravan routes along which the rebels transported weapons and ammunition from Pakistan. To implement this plan, the number of special-purpose units in Afghanistan was not enough - there was a need for at least one more special-purpose detachment.
In the winter of 1984, the 177th ooSpN was transferred to Ghazni, after which the detachment no longer changed its place of deployment. In Ghazni, young officers - graduates of the RVVDKU and the intelligence faculties of the combined-arms schools - join the detachment. The combat capability of the detachment with the arrival of trained special forces officers increased significantly.
In 1984, the 154th Special Forces was transferred to Jalalabad to conduct hostilities corresponding to the implementation of the "Veil" plan.
As a result of long deliberations, it was nevertheless made a decision to enter into Afghanistan the 173rd OOSPN, which had been in readiness for commissioning for four years already. During all this time, the detachment practically transformed into an ordinary motorized rifle battalion, and just before sending it to Afghanistan, several officers - graduates of the RVVDKU - were included in the detachment.
By the directive of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces No. 312/2/021 of January 14, 1984, the 173rd ooSpN was sent to Afghanistan, where it entered on February 10, 1984. The place of his deployment was the city of Kandahar in the south of Afghanistan. The detachment received the name "3rd separate motorized rifle battalion" and the area of responsibility "South". To transfer combat experience, one reconnaissance group of the 459th separate company arrived in the detachment, with which the officers of the detachment went out on missions several times. In particular, the detachment was assisted by special forces officers Turuntaev and Ivanov, who had already recaptured in Afghanistan.
In May 1984, after gaining some combat experience, the structure of the 173rd ooSpN was reorganized. The 4th and 5th companies were disbanded, and the 4th groups of weapons were formed from the freed personnel in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd companies. In the 1st company, instead of the BMP-1, they put the BMP-2, and the 2nd and 3rd were transplanted from the BTR-60pb to the more unpretentious BTR-70. The mining group became separate. Later, in 1985, an engineer-sapper platoon was introduced to the detachment's staff, which, together with a mining group, formed the 4th company.
In the interests of special forces, the 897th separate company of reconnaissance and signaling equipment began to operate. Company squads were attached to special forces.
At the end of 1984, in the Mazari-Chin region in the Nangarhar province, two companies of the 154th Special Forces, which were personally led by the commander of the detachment, Major A.M.Dementyev, together with a detachment of the Pashtun tribe of Momand, waited two days in ambush for a caravan that left Pakistan. The scouts and Pashtuns allowed the caravan to be drawn into the entire depth of the ambush, after which they began to destroy it. A few hours later the caravan was completely packed. Among the rubble of the corpses of donkeys and horses, 220 killed rebels were found. Thanks to the surprise and competent organization of the ambush, the commandos had no losses.
The fact that the stake on special-purpose units was made correctly was confirmed by the results of the combat activities of the operating units. But the supply of weapons to the armed formations of the opposition from neighboring countries continued to grow at a rapid pace, and therefore the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces decided to introduce another special-purpose detachment into Afghanistan.
On September 15, 1984, the 668th Specialized Special Forces arrived in Bagram from the 9th brigade of the Kiev military district. This detachment no longer had a pronounced "Muslim" nationality and was formed mainly from the Slavs. If by this time the active detachments had their so-called zones of responsibility, then the 668th Special Operations Regiment (named the 4th separate motorized rifle battalion in order to maintain secrecy) was decided to remain in the operational reserve of the headquarters of the 40th Army and be used throughout Afghanistan upon the emergence of necessity. The detachment stayed in this position for six months, and only in March 1985, when the headquarters of the brigades were introduced to Afghanistan, the detachment was transferred to the 15th brigade and redeployed on March 6 to an area 11 kilometers northeast of the village of Baraki-Barak in the village of Sufla ...
The 668th ooSpN was stationed not far from the Barakinskaya "zelenka" on the slope of the mountain, together with a separate airborne assault battalion of the 56th oshbr, whose headquarters were in Gardez. The detachment was also given a battery of D-30 howitzers and a battery of multiple launch rocket systems "Grad". The personnel were accommodated in dugouts, which had a double or triple roll of logs and were additionally covered with armor plates. This was due to the fact that the rebels almost every night exposed the location of the detachment to rockets. The detachment blocked 98 mountain pack trails leading from Pakistan. The detachment did not have its own helicopters, so the groups worked at a distance of about 30 kilometers, and made overflights on helicopters that flew in from Ghazni.
In February 1985, KHAD managed, through its agents, to organize the arrival in a small village of the most influential opposition leader in the east of Afghanistan, Pishi, and several other field commanders, allegedly for negotiations. At night, a reconnaissance detachment of the 154th Specialized Special Forces entered the village, which in a short time in a night battle destroyed Pisha and 28 more influential field commanders, along with their guards. As a result of this daring operation for a whole month, the activities of the opposition in the east of Afghanistan were reduced to zero. The initiative in the battle was provided to the commandos by night vision devices, which the opposing side did not have.
At the end of 1984, the General Staff decides to send several more special forces to Afghanistan. Since the number of units for intelligence agency The 40th Army exceeded all conceivable limits, it was also decided to introduce brigade headquarters into Afghanistan, which would be engaged in the general leadership of the actions of subordinate detachments, and also to deploy a group at the army headquarters that would manage the activities of special forces. Subsequently, this group was codenamed "Ekran".
In the special-purpose brigades on the territory of the USSR, they began to form separate detachments specifically for Afghanistan:
In Olovyannaya (Transbaikalia) in 1984, on the basis of the 24th brigade of the Trans-Baikal Military District, the 281st separate special-purpose detachment was deployed, the detachment was not sent to Afghanistan;
In Maryina Gorka (Belarus), at the beginning of 1985, on the basis of the 5th special brigade of the Belarusian Military District, the 334th separate special-purpose detachment was formed, the commander of which was Major V. Ya. Terentyev. In March, the detachment was sent to the DRA and became part of the 15th brigade;
In Izyaslav (Ukraine), on the basis of the 8th special brigade of the Carpathian military district in February 1985, the 186th separate special-purpose detachment was formed, the commander of which was appointed Lieutenant Colonel K. K. Fedorov. The detachment was transferred to the 40th Army on March 31, 1985 and organizationally became part of the 22nd brigade. The place of deployment of the detachment was the settlement of Shahdzhoy;
In Chuchkovo, on the basis of the 16th brigade of the Moscow military district, the 370th separate special-purpose detachment was formed, the commander of which was Major I.M.Krot, the detachment became part of the 22nd brigade.
All detachments were formed according to a special "Afghan" state, according to which the detachment had 538 personnel (which is two times more than in the usual state).
According to the decisions made, on February 22, 1985, the commander of the 22nd special brigade of the Central Asian Military District, Colonel D.M. Gerasimov, received the task to send the brigade to Afghanistan and start performing the tasks as intended. In the place of permanent deployment of the brigade, the 525th separate special-purpose detachment remained, staffed according to peacetime states (it will soon be folded into a separate company). On the night of March 14-15, 1985, a column of the 22nd special brigade, as part of a brigade and a special radio communications detachment, crossed the border with Afghanistan through Kushka and on March 19, 1985 arrived in Lashkar Gah to the place of the parachute battalion, which was changing its deployment.
The 370th Special Operations Forces entered the DRA on the night of March 15-16 and soon arrived at the headquarters of the 22nd Brigade;
The 186th ooSpN entered the DRA on April 7, 1985 and on its own power through Kabul on April 16 arrived in Shahdzhoy.
The 22nd brigade also included the 173rd ooSpN.
In March 1985, the 15th brigade of the Turkestan Military District was also introduced to Afghanistan, led by Colonel V.M. Babushkin.
Together with the management of the 15th brigade, a detachment of special radio communications of the brigade and the 334th ooSpN were introduced to Afghanistan. The brigade's directorate and the special radio communications detachment were located in Jalalabad together with the 154th Special Police Force.
The 334th ooSpN was located in the village of Asadabad, in the province of Kunar. The location of the detachment was considered unfortunate. The detachment was subjected to mortar and rocket attacks from the rebels almost every night (as was the 668th detachment). The 15th brigade also included the 177th and 668th separate detachments.
Observing the secrecy regime, separate special-purpose detachments were named “separate motorized rifle battalions”, and special-purpose brigades - “separate motorized rifle brigades”. Also, these names were associated with the fact that the personnel of the detachments were planted on armored vehicles according to a special staff.
With the appearance of brigades in Afghanistan, the GRU special forces were assigned the following tasks:
Finding ways to transfer weapons and equipment for the rebels from Pakistan, Iran and China;
Search and destruction of enemy warehouses of weapons, ammunition and food;
Organization of ambushes and destruction of caravans;
Reconnaissance, transfer of information to the command about the rebel detachments, their movements, the capture of prisoners and their interrogation;
Elimination of rebel leaders and their instructors;
Special attention to identifying and capturing MANPADS from the enemy;
Destruction of hotbeds of resistance, especially in border areas.
By the summer of 1985, the GRU GSh special forces grouping on the territory of Afghanistan included seven separate special-purpose detachments, a separate special-purpose company, two special radio communications detachments and two special-purpose brigade headquarters, one detachment was in the stage of formation.
Management of the 15th brigade (1st brigade) military unit No. 71351 Jalalabad:
OSRS Jalalabad;
154th ooSpN (1st omsb) military unit nn. No. 35651 Jalalabad, candidate A. M. Dementyev;
334th ooSpN (5th omsb) military unit nn. No. 83506 Asadabad, candidate G.V. Bykov;
177th ooSpN (2nd omsb) military unit nn. No. 43151 Ghazni, Mr. A. M. Popovich;
668th ooSpN (4th Omsb) military unit nn. No. 44653 Souffla in the Baraki-Barak area, p / p-k MI Ryzhik.
Directorate of the 22nd special brigade (2nd omsbr) military unit No. 71521 Lashkargah;
Propaganda detachment;
OSRS Lashkargah;
173rd ooSpN (3rd Omsb) military unit nn. No. 96044 Kandahar, Dr. T.Ya. Mursalov;
370th ooSpN (6th omsb) military unit, para. No. 83428 Lashkargah, Mr. IM Mole;
186th ooSpN (7th Omsb) military unit, para. No. 54783 Shahdzhoy, Dr. AI Likhidchenko;
411-th ooSpN (8-th omsb) military unit nn. № 41527 Farahrud - was in the stage of formation.
And also companies:
459th OrSpN military unit No. No. 44633 (RU 40th OA), Kabul;
897th orRSA military unit, pp. No. 34777 (RU 40th OA), Kabul.
The subunits brought into Afghanistan almost immediately began to carry out combat missions.
On April 20, 1985, the companies of the 334th Special Forces detachment moved into the Maravara Gorge, with the task of combing the village of Sangam, in which the rebel reconnaissance post was supposedly located. It was assumed that no more than 10 people could be in this post, and therefore the task was considered more like a training one, which was reflected in the order.
The commander of the first company was Captain Nikolai Nesterovich Tsebruk (shortly before that, he, along with a part of the personnel, arrived in the 334th detachment from the 14th brigade of special forces of the Far East Military District). The 2nd and 3rd companies were supposed to support the 1st company in the event of an emergency. In addition, an armored group was nearby, ready to move immediately to help. At five o'clock in the morning on April 21, the lead patrol entered the village. It was followed by two groups of the first company. Soon, after a thorough examination of the village, it turned out that the rebels were not there. From the commander of the 334th detachment, an order was received to advance to the village of Darid, which was located a little further. There, the company disappeared from the field of view of the covering units, and almost immediately the head group of Lieutenant Nikolai Kuznetsov met two rebels, who began to leave towards the Netav village. Kuznetsov rushed after them and in the village ran into significant forces of rebels and soldiers of the Pakistani special forces "Black Stork". A fight ensued. Cebruk, hearing the shots, took four fighters and moved to the scene of the battle to help. The commander of the 3rd company saw how the rebels entered the 1st company from the rear, and tried to rectify the situation on their own, but, having met massive fire, he was forced to retreat to their former positions. The armored group called for help fell into a minefield and could not approach the battle site.
During the battle, Lieutenant Kuznetsov pulled the wounded warrant officer Igor Bakhmutov to safety and returned to his subordinates. In battle, he destroyed 12 rebels, but was wounded in the leg, surrounded and at the last moment, when the enemy came close to him, blew himself up with a grenade. His body could not be identified for a long time. Subsequently, Nikolai Anatolyevich Kuznetsov was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
The two groups of the first company fought in complete encirclement, seeing that no one could come to their aid. Several times the 3rd company tried to unblock, but each time it was forced to retreat, meeting the dense fire of the rebels.
Afghan rebels and Pakistani commandos competently took the company into a fire bag and proceeded to destroy it. Only a few scouts managed to break out of the encirclement. Warrant officer Igor Bakhmutov came out first with a torn jaw and an APS in his hand. It was not possible to get any information from him about what was happening. Then private Vladimir Turchin came out, who in battle was able to hide in a ditch and saw how his comrades were finished off by "spirits". He came with a ringless grenade clutched in his hand, which for a long time could not be pulled from his fingers clenched with fear. Subsequently, in 1991, on behalf of the permanent Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces, Turchin received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and underwent mental rehabilitation from the stress he had experienced for a long time. Currently works in the administration of the Moscow region.
Also, the commander of the second group, Lieutenant Kotenko, came out to the location of our troops. Subsequently, Kotenko was transferred from the active detachment to the headquarters of the 40th Army.
Seven surrounded scouts (Gavrash, Kukharchuk, Vakulyuk, Marchenko, Muzyka, Mustafin and Boychuk), preferring death to dushman captivity, blew themselves up with an OZM-72 mine. The company commander, Captain N.N. Tsebruk, also died from a bullet in the neck. Local residents helped the rebels to finish off the wounded commandos.
By the afternoon of April 21, the battle had ended. The 1st company suffered heavy losses - two reconnaissance groups were almost completely destroyed, a total of 26 people died. Three more people from the 334th detachment died within two days, when the mutilated bodies of the scouts were carried out from the battlefield under the fire of the rebels. Assistance in removing the bodies of the dead was provided by a company of the 154th detachment under the leadership of Captain Fierce. After this battle for a long time, the 334th detachment was actually incapable of combat. People were psychologically broken. They were waiting for another war, but the war was not the same as the films were made about it ...
On the night of September 20-21, 1985, RGSpN No. 333 of the 173rd OoSpN under the command of Senior Lieutenant Sergei Krivenko, after disembarking from helicopters, after an ambush on the Sherjanak-Kandahar road, destroyed a car and four American advisers traveling in it with guards. This later became clear from the captured documents of one of them - Charles Thornton. Soviet propaganda made the most of this case - articles appeared in central newspapers that the Americans were sending their military representatives to Afghanistan with all the ensuing consequences.
At the end of 1985, in order to close the Iranian border from the western side, involving the personnel of the 5th Guards Mechanized Infantry Division and the 70th Motorized Rifle Brigade, the 411th OoSpN was formed in Shindand, which was named the "8th Separate Motorized Rifle Battalion." Captain A.G. Fomin was appointed commander of the detachment. By the end of the year, the detachment was transferred to Farah, from where it began to work as intended.
At the end of January 1986, the 154th and 334th ooSpN, together with the battalion of the 66th Omsb Brigade, captured the fortified area "Goshta" for two days. Fire suppression was carried out by the D-30 battery of howitzers, the Grad battery and the 335th helicopter regiment. The losses of troops during the assault on the UR were two people killed (an infantryman and a helicopter gunner). As a result of the assault, a large number of weapons and ammunition were captured.
On March 19, 1986, a reconnaissance detachment of the 15th special brigade landed on helicopters in the afternoon at the rebel transfer point in the area of the settlement of Kulala. During the battle, the scouts under the command of the assistant chief of the operational department of the headquarters of the 15th special brigade, senior lieutenant Lukyanov Sergei Konstantinovich, destroyed 10 rebels who tried to fire from the spot to delay the advance of the special forces. In the battle, the special forces suffered losses - five scouts were killed: V. Kovalenko, P. Rozhnovsky, A. Kushnirov, V. Osipov, M. Mochernyuk.
On March 28, 1986, reconnaissance detachments of the 334th and 154th ooSpN crossed the Kunar River and captured the dominant heights in the Karera area. For an hour, the scouts, using night vision devices, studied and clarified the situation in the area of Mount Spinai, on which the rebels' base camp was located. Then they quickly carried out its capture, destroying the sentries from the silent weapons. Lukyanov, who took part in the operation, captured a prisoner who showed that there was another, larger base camp nearby. Thanks to this information, another camp was captured and destroyed. Soon, the scouts managed to imperceptibly approach the DShK firing position and capture it. On the morning of March 29, the rebels made desperate attempts to recapture the camp, but thanks to the skillful organization of the battle, all enemy attacks were repulsed. The scouts used ammunition captured from the rebel warehouses, and therefore "did not spare cartridges."
In the midst of the day, the Afghan army units covering the scouts abandoned their positions for no apparent reason and retreated. At 14 o'clock an order was received to withdraw. The retreat remained to cover the group of Senior Lieutenant Alexander Nikherev (he arrived in Afghanistan from the 14th brigade and will die six months later in the black mountains near Jalalabad). It turned out to be difficult to retreat - three DShKs were already aiming at the commandos, and the rebels approached almost closely. Lukyanov, the chief of staff of the 154th ooSpN Major Anatoly Pyatunin (three years later he died in a Tallinn hospital after amputation of both legs) and about twenty other scouts were wounded. Soon two Mi-8s arrived and took the wounded.
The work of helicopters was complicated by the proximity of the Pakistani border, which could have consequences, but the deputy commander of the 335th helicopter regiment, Yuri Ivanovich Vladykin, having received a request from one of the group commanders for help, threw it on the air, knowing that all his negotiations were being recorded and would then be listened to by the military prosecutor's office: "I understood the task, I can not work, I forbid to work, repeat my maneuvers ...!" Then he brought the helicopter into a dive and opened fire on the rebels. Under a flurry of helicopter fire, the rebels began to retreat.
Towards evening, from Pakistani territory, trucks with "commandos" began to pull up to Karera. The helicopter pilots went along the convoy and processed it with NURS. When the Pakistani Pumas arrived, the helicopter pilots did not touch them. "Cougars" began to land troops on the commanding heights. At night, helicopters covered the operation to carry out the wounded and killed. The next night, this operation was repeated: they were looking for lost scouts, as well as wounded and dead comrades.
In total, in the battle in the Karera area, the 154th ooSpN lost ten people killed (translator senior lieutenant Kh.D. Rozykov, junior sergeant M.N. Razlivaev, corporal S.V. Kosichkin, privates V.M. Veliky, A. V. Egorov, A. V. Podolyan, V. B. Einoris, V. V. Yakuta), two more (Moskvinov and Buza) disappeared without a trace, but later it was established that during the battle they were killed and the rebels captured their bodies were taken to Pakistan.
In 1986, the 173rd detachment conducted a series of effective raids on large base areas of the rebels: "Khadigar Mountains", "Wasaticignai", "Chinartu" and others. These areas were completely cleared of the rebels, the infrastructure was destroyed, and as a result opposition to the existing regime ceased to exist. During the seizure of the fortified base area “Vasaticignai”, Sergeant Valery Viktorovich Arsenov, during shelling, covered the commander of the 3rd company, Senior Lieutenant A. Kravchenko. For his feat, Sergeant Arsenov was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
The operation in the Chinartu fortified area was carried out without loss as a result of a well-planned and well-executed raid. The reconnaissance detachment of the 173rd ooSpN in helicopters landed directly on the fortified area, in which there were no more than 70 people. The whole operation took 8 hours. A large number of weapons and ammunition were captured and destroyed.
In July 1986, a reconnaissance group from the 22nd Brigade managed to capture 14 tons of raw opium, which the Mujahideen were transporting in eight vehicles from Pakistan. For this, local drug dealers sentenced the brigade commander, Colonel Gerasimov, to death.
In May 1987, the special forces carried out a very effective operation: on May 12, 1987, in the gorge in the Abchikan region, the inspection group No. 424, led by Lieutenant E. S. Baryshev from the 668th Special Forces Special Forces, discovered a large caravan of rebels during an overflight. The commander of the leading Mi-8mt helicopter, Captain Nikolai Maidanov, landed a special forces group at the entrance to the gorge, while the wingman Yuri Kuznetsov at the exit and the Mi-24 covering pair began to destroy the blocked caravan. The guards of the caravan tried to shoot down the spetsnaz barrier (a total of 17 scouts were landed, two of them were officers), but could not stand the helicopter fire and began to rush along the gorge. After some time, Maidanov brought another 22 people, headed by the detachment's deputy commander, Captain Vorobyov. An armored group came to the rescue from the detachment. The subgroup of Lieutenant Klimenko successfully captured the position of the DShK, which made it possible to control the dominant height. Together with the armored group commanded by Senior Lieutenant Savin, the artillery attached to the detachment approached: four D-30s and two Grad-V vehicles. Towards evening, two BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles entered the gorge to cover the actions of the search group. The inspection team was personally led by Captain Vorobyov. During the search, two scouts were injured. During the search, a large number of unloaded animals were found, and later discarded bales were also found. By the time dusk came, a second armored group with transport vehicles approached to remove trophies, but the head armored personnel carrier was blown up by a mine, and the convoy stopped. At night, the rebels attempted to recapture the cargo, but the scouts repulsed the attack. Three special forces were wounded in the battle. Due to the fact that it was already clear that the caravan was unusual, and there were no more forces in the detachment, the command of the 40th Army sent a company of the 56th detachment from Gardez to help the special forces. The company was stopped in the Abchikan area due to the fact that no signals of interaction had been worked out and there was a high probability of shelling its units. At night, the rebels once again tried to repulse the caravan, but again met with resistance and for some time fired mortars at their caravan. In the morning, a pair of Su-25s bombed areas where enemy reserves could presumably be deployed. In the morning they began to dismantle the slaughtered caravan. In total, it was captured (according to S.V. Kozlov): 16 Hunyan MANPADS (Strela-2m of Chinese production), PC launchers - 5 units, PC 9m22 m - 24 units, VO - 7 units, BM -82 - 1 unit PGI - 1 unit, DShK - 1 unit. SGM - 1 unit, AK - 2 units, one mine detector, 700 kg of medicines and a US-made encryption machine.
On the spot, it was destroyed: MANPADS - 1 unit, PC - 530 units, rounds to the VO - 570 units, PG-7 - 950 units, 82-mm mines - 410 units, 14.5-mm - 30,000 , 12.7 mm -61 400, 7.62 mm - 230,000, Claymore mines - 90 units, PMN mines - 170 units, hand grenades - 90, explosives - 340 kg, 700 kg of medicines, 193 camel, 62 mules, horses and donkeys, 47 rebels. This was probably the biggest result of the special forces in Afghanistan.
However, it still did not go without tragedies. On October 31, 1987, one of the groups of the 186th ooSpN, when intercepting a caravan with weapons, suffered heavy losses. Out of 20 people, I died, including the group commander, Senior Lieutenant Onischuk. The situation was as follows: on October 28, 1987, senior lieutenant Oleg Onischuk received an order to move to the area of the village of Duri and organize an ambush on a possible caravan route of the rebels. Onischuk was already considered an experienced group commander - he had already taken 10 caravans to his account. Onischuk's group set up an ambush and on the evening of October 30, from a distance of 700-800 meters, stopped the rebel car with small arms fire. The spirits tried to repulse the car, but the scouts pointed a pair of Mi-24s at the enemy, which scattered the "spirits".
TSB
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All photos and materials on the site are posted with the permission of the museum staff
in memory of the soldiers - internationalists "Shuravi"
and personally the director of the museum, Salmin Nikolai Anatolyevich.
Part history
56th Guards. separate air assault brigade
... The brigade was formed by 10/01/1979 according to the state number 35/901 (approved by the NGSH 9/11/1979) based on the 351st Guards. PDP of the disbanded 105th Guards airborne division in Chirchik (Uzbekistan).The former commander was appointed. 351st Guards. PDP Guards. NS/ p-k Bad A.P.(commanded the regiment since October 1976);The brigade became part of the ground forces and is subordinate to the commander of the TurkVO.
... The basis of the formation - the 4th airborne assault battalion is equipped with a l / s from three pdb of the 351st guards. PDP; 1st, 2nd, 3rd pdb - by conscripts in autumn 1979, reconnaissance company of the 351st guards. PDP, artillery division - l / s artillery regiment of the 105th divisions.
... The brigade consists of 4 battalions (3 pdb, dshb) and an ad, 7 separate companies (reconnaissance, autorot, engineer-sapper company, airborne support company, repair company, communications company, medrota), 2 separate batteries (ATGM battery, anti-aircraft rocket and artillery battery), 3 separate platoons - RHR, commandant and economic, orchestra.
Afghanistan
12/11/1979 - the brigade was brought to full combat readiness (according to oral telephone order com. TurkVO).
12.12.1979 - an order was received to relocate from the Soz-Su station to Dzharkurgan station, Termez district (with the exception of 2 battalions - the 3rd by helicopters from the Chirchik airfield to the site in the area of the settlement Sandykachi is 150 km from Mary, Turkmenistan, 1st pdb - at the Kokaydy airfield, Termez district).
12/18/1979 - the brigade (except for the 3rd battalion) concentrated in 13 km northeast of Kokayda.
12/27/1979 - 4th dshb crossed the state border with Afghanistan and took under the protection of the Salang pass on the Termez-Kabul highway.
12/28/1979 - 3rd Infantry Division was deployed by helicopters to Afghanistan and captured Rabati-Mirza pass on the Kushka-Herat highway.
13-14.1.1980 - by order of the com. TurkVO brigade crossed the border and concentrated near the Kunduz airfield.
January 1980 - the 3rd PDB was relocated to the Kandahar airfield; changed the numbering of the battalions of the 3rd pdb received No. 2 pdb, 2nd pdb-No. 3 pdb.
February 1980 - 4th Air Force Base was relocated to Charikar, Parwan Province.
By 1.3.1980 - the 2nd PDB was expelled from the brigade (from the l / s a dshb was formed 70th Guards. ombr: Kandahar airfield);
3rd Infantry Division was reorganized into DShB (armored vehicles were received in the 103rd Guards Airborne Division in Kabul and transferred to the brigade under its own power).
?. 1980 - 4th Air Force Base was relocated to PPD near the Kunduz airfield.
6/30/1980 - the brigade was assigned the field mail number - military unit p / p 44585.
?. 1981 - a logistics company (RMO) was formed on the basis of an autorot and service platoon.
1.-6.12.1982 - the brigade was redeployed to Gardez, Paktia province; 3rd dshb is stationed near n. Souffla of Logar province, on the Kabul-Gardez highway.
1984 - regular reconnaissance platoons were included in the battalions (directive of the General Staff from 11.11.1984 g.);
the brigade was awarded the Challenge Red Banner of the Military Council of the Ground Forces (order of the GKSV No. 034 dated 21.11.1984)
1985 - the ministry of battalion of the 3rd and 4th infantry brigades and the optabatr of the 1st infantry brigade were reorganized into sabatr (SO "Nona"), the brigade was rearmed on the BMP-2
4.5.1985 - by the decree of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces, the brigade was awarded the orderWorld War I degree No. 56324698.
10/23/1986 - the fourth battalion was added to the brigade (airborne assault): 4th Air Assault Battalion received No. 2 Air Assault Battalion, a newly formed battalion - No. 4 dshb.
Since December 1, 1986 - a new staff number 35/642 according to the directive of the headquarters of TurkVO No. 21/1/03182. The staff of the brigade is 261 officers, 109 warrant officers, 416 sergeants, 1666 soldier.
06/10/1988 - the beginning of the withdrawal of the main part of the brigade from Afghanistan.
12-14.6.1988 - brigade units crossed the border.
6/14/1988 - the brigade is stationed in the new PPD (Iolotan, Turkmenistan).
The commanders of the 56th Guards. odshbr (12.1979-5.1988):
1. P / p-k, p-k Plokhikh A.P. (12.1979-6.1981)
2. P / p-k Korpushkin M.A. (6.1981-4.1982 gg.)
3. P / p-k Sukhin V.A. (4.1982-4.1983)
4. P / p-k Chizhikov V.M. (4.1983-11.1985)
5. P / p-k Raevsky V.A. (11.1985-8.1987)
6. P / p-k Evnevich V.G. (8.1987-during withdrawal)
Combat operations (1980-1988)
1980 year
1.
January 1-12, 1980 Divisions 1, 2 pdb -
January 13-14, 1980 G. -
brigade (without 2nd, 4th battalions) deployed near Kunduz
4. January 26-28, 1980 3rd dshb, adn; Imamsahibpp, zrabotr
14. April 7-24, 1980 3rd dshb Akhtam Valley, Khanabad, Khojagar, Saraki Mamai 15. April 9-16, 1980 4th dshb Valley of the r. Panjshir
16. May 3-7, 1980 3rd dshb (without the 7th dshr and minbatr); Baghlanpp
28. August 27-30, 1980 3rd dshb (without 8th dshr),Modjar, Ortabulaki, Alefberdy, Guard 4th ydshb; 3rd abatr / adn, pp, isr
33. October 10-14, 1980 3rd dshb Imamsahib, Alchik, Khozarbach, Khojagar
38. pp Khoja Goltan
40. November 25, 1980 1st pdb, 4th dshb (without Gortapa 10th dshr and minbatr);
41. December 2-3, 1980 1st pdr / 1, 11th dshr / 4 Elevation 1028.0 (province?) 42. December 5, 1980 7th dshr / 3 Zardkamar
44. December 16-19, 1980 3rd dshb (without 8, 9th dshr)Madjar, Beshkapa, Ishkim, Shahravan, Basiz, Karaul11th dshr / 4, 2nd abatr / adn, ex. isr
1981 year
1. January 20-31, 1981 3, 4th dshb, adn; Imamsahib, Khojagar, Nanabad pp
2. 11-12 February 1981 1st pdb (without 1st pdr), 4th dshb (without minbatr); Aksalan, Yangarykh
3. February 17- 4th dshb Maimene, Tashkurgan March 14, 1981
7. March 22 - June 5, 1981 brigade (without 1st PDB and ADN); Lashkargah, Darveshak, Marja
12. August 19- 4th dshb Bagram, Dehi Kalan September 2, 1981
14. August 20, 1981 8th dshr / 3, 2nd dshr / 1, Kunduz, Sherkhan 1st abatr / adn
15. August 27- 2nd pdr / 1 Mazar Sharif September 6, 1981
17. August 31- 3rd pdr / 1, 9th dshr / 3 Ain Ul Majar September 1, 1981
23. October 23- 4th dshb Akcha, Mazar-i-Sharif, BalkhNovember 5, 1981
27. December 6, 1981 pp Baghlan December 1 - 5, 1981 g. - redeployment of the brigade under Gardez province Paktia
1982 year
1. April 14-25, 1982 4th dshb; Gundai and back) pp; ex. reabatr, vzv. isr
2. May 27 - June 4, 1982 4th dshb; Souffla, Kalaseyida, Gosharan, Kalamufti, Badash Kalay, Gaday Heil, Hayrabad (Gardez - Kabul - Ghazni route) pp, isr, 3rd abatr / adn, ex. reabatr, vzv. ZU-23-2
3. June 17-24, 1982 3, 4th dshb; Baraki, Muhammadaga-Wuluswali, Gomaran 3rd pdr / 1, pp, isr, reabatr, 2nd abatr / adn; ex. ZU-23-2
4. September 19-21, 1982 1st pdb; Gwareza, Melan, Sipahiheil 10th dshr / 4
5. September 20-25, 1982 4th dshb, Gardez, Naray, Alikheil, Gul Gundai (march to the Gul Gundai and back) pp, 2nd pdr / 1, 2nd abatr / adn ex. reabatr, vzv. ZU-23-2
6. October 4-15, 1982 1st pdb, 4th dshb; Muhammadaga-Wuluswali, Dehi Kalan, Hayrabad pp, 8th dshr / 3, isr, 2nd abatr / adn, reabatr
7. November 23-26, 1982 4th dshb; Matvarh, Neknamkala pp, 2nd abatr / adn; ex. ZU-23-2, isv
8. November 27-28, 1982 1st pdb; Ushmanheil, Wuluswali Saidkaram, Kosin ex. 2nd? abatr / adn, vzv. reabatr, vzv. ZU-23-2, isv
9. December 16-18, 1982 1st pdb, 3rd dshb (without Padhabi Shana, Dadoheil Maliheil 7th dshr); pp, 2nd abatr / adn; ex. reabatr, vzv. ZU-23-2
1983 year
1. January 12-22, 1983 3, 4th dshb; Barracks, pp, isr, 2nd pdr / 1, 3rd abatr / adn; southern outskirts of Kabul ex. reabatr, tv
2. February 27- 4th dshb; Gardez, Naray, Alikheil, Gul Gundai March 5, 1983 isv
3. March 28-30, 1983 3rd dshb (without company); Qutubheil, Dehi Manaka, Maliheil pp; ex. ? abatr / adn
4. May 16-17, 1983 3rd dshb (without company); Nyazi, Babus, Dadoheil, Shashkala, Safedsang pp, ex. reabatr, vzv. ? abatr / adn, isv, tv
5. June 2-3, 1983 3rd dshb (without company); Muhammadaga-Wulusvali, Kalashikha, Kalasayida pp; isv, tv
6. July 9-12, 1983 1st pdb, 4th dshb; On the escort route: Tera pass - Muhammadaga-Wuluswali) pp, isr, rs; tv
7. 8-11 August 1983 1st pdb (without company), Srakala, Karmashi, Zavu, Kospi, Bara Sidjanak 4th dshb (without company), adn (without battery); pp; ex. ZU-23-2, isv, tv
8. September 12-26, 1983 1st pdb, 4th dshb (without company); On the route: pp, 2nd abatr / adn; Gardez - Aliheilex. ZU-23-2, tv, isv
9. November 28- 3, 4th dshb; On the route: December 4, 1983 pp; Souffla - Muhammadaga-Wuluswaliisv, tv
1984 year
1. January 5-28, 1984 1st infantry battalion (without a company), 4th infantry battalion, adn (without battery); Urgun County zrabotr (without platoon), pp, rs, rmo, rdo, rem. company; ex. optabatr / 1?
2. February 13-19, 1984 1st pdb, 3rd dshb (without company), adn (without 2nd abatr); 15 km southeast Kabul 10th dshr / 4, pp, rmo, rem. company; ex. ZU-23-2
3. March 5-9, 1984 4th dshb (without company); Khilihan, Naray pp, 3rd abatr / adn, rmo, pc, rem. company; ex. ZU-23-2, command. ex.
4. May 27 - June 12, 1984 4th dshb; On the escort route: ex. minbatr / 1, isv, tv Naray - Aliheil
5. July 4-16, 1984 4th dshb (without company); Valley Zurmat, pp, 2nd abatr / adn; Zara Sharan isv, tv
6. July 27-29, 1984 4th dshb Combat landing in the area of height 3667 (province?)
7. 3 - 27 August 1984 1st pdb (without a company); Naray 3rd abatr / adn; ex. reabatr, isv, tv
8. August 11-16, 1984 3rd dshb; Logar Province 10th dshr / 4, 1st abatr / adn; tv
9. September 3-15, 1984 4th dshb; Dubandi 2nd abatr / adn, ex. reabatr, tv, command.
10. 23 September- 3, 4th dshb, adn; Dubandi, Pachalara, Kabul October 10, 1984 pp, isr, rs, rmo, rdo, rem. company;tv
11. October 20-31, 1984 1st pdb (without company), 4th dshb, Urgun valley adn (without battery); pp, isr, rs, rmo, rdo, rem. company
12. November 21-26, 1984 3, 4th dshb; Logar Province 1st abatr / adn, pp, isr, rs
13. December 7-24, 1984 1st pdb (without company), Naray, Alikheil, Harshatal 4th dshb, adn (without battery); pp, isr, rs, rmo, rdo, rem. company; tv, vzv. ZU-23-2, command. vzv., OPA
1985 year
2.February 13, 19853rd abatr / adn, rmo, rem. company;
3.4-18 March 19854th dshb; Urgun pp, 2nd abatr, / adn, sabatr / 1, pc, rmo, rdo, rem. company ex. reabatr, isv, zrv, tv, command. ex.
4.April 10-23, 19851st pdb; Naray 2nd abatr / adn, rs, rmo, rdo, rem. company; ex. reabatr, isv, tv, zrv, command. ex.
5.May 19-June 12, 19853, 4th dshb, Asadabad - Barikot adn (without battery); zrabatr, pp, isr, rmo, rem. company, rdo; tv, command. vzv., OPA
7.August 2, 1985 adn (without 2nd abatr); zrabatr, isr, pc, rmo, rdo, rem. company, honey. company; tv, command. vzv., OPA
9.September 3, 1985adn (without battery); pp, rs, rmo, rdo, rem. company, honey. company; tv, zrv, command. vzv., OPA
11 September 18, 19854th dshb (12.-18.9.);r-not Host isr, pc;command. ex.
12.September 23-October 5, 1985 1st pdb (without company), 4th dshb, adn (without 2nd abatr); 20 km south-west Kabul, Baraki pp, isr, rmo, rdo, rem.rota,honey. company; tv, zrv, command. ex.
13.November 19-December 11, 19851st pdb, 4th dshb, adn (without battery); Dukhana, Kandahar pp, isr, rs, rmo, rdo, honey. company, rem. company, zrabotr, optabatrcommand. vzv., OPA
14.23-31 December 1985 1st pdb (without company), 4th dshb Parwan province, Kapisa - Charikara green area (without company), 3rd dshb (without 2mouth), adn (without battery); pp, isr, rs, rmo, rdo, rem. company, honey. company; tv, zrv, command. vzv., OPA
1986 year
1. January 22- 1st pdb, adn (without battery); Naray February 2, 1986 rmo, rdo, rem. company, honey. company; orv / 4, tv, isv, zrv, command. vzv., OPA
2. March 4 - April 23, 1986 1st pdb, 4th dshb (without sabatr), adn (without 2 batteries); Host pc; command. ex.
3. May 12-24, 1986 1st pdb (without company), 4th dshb, adn (without 2 batteries); Naray city, Alikheil pp, part rs, rmo, rdo, rem. companies and honey. companies; ISV, ZRV, TV, VZV. ATGM, command. vzv., OPA
4. June 14-July 12 4th dshb; Kunduz province part of pc, isr; ex. RHZ
5. July 27 - August 2, 1986 4th dshb, adn (without 2 batteries); Wardak Province 1st pdr / 1, rem. company; ISV, TV, ZRV, Command VZV.
6. August 9-14, 1986 3, 4th dshb, adn; Logar Province pp, pc; orv / 1
7. September 5-12, 1986 2nd dshb, part of adn; Kabul province pp, isr; orv / 1, tv
8. September 28-October 14, 1986 1st pdb (without a company), 2nd dshb (without a company), adn; Naray city, Alikheil pp, rs, isr, rmo, rdo, rem. company; tv, command. vzv., VUNA, OPA
9. December 10-25, 1986 1st pdb (without a company), 2nd dshb (without a company); Logar Provinces, Ghazni pp, isr, rs, part of rmo and rem. companies, OPA
1987-88 year
1. 2-21 March 1987 1st PDB (without 1st PDD), Wardak Province, Paktika 2nd dshb (without 6th dshr), adn (without 1st abatr); pp, isr, rs, rmo, rdo, rem. company; tv, command. vzv., OPA
2. April 6-25, 1987 brigade - 1st pdb (without 1st pdr), 2nd dshb (without 4th dshr), adn (without 1st abatr); Nangarhar province - Melawa base and transshipment base Marulgad pp, isr, rs, rmo, rdo, rem. company; tv, command. ex.
3. May 21 - June 14, 1987 1st pdb (without 2nd pdr), 2nd dshb (without 4th dshr), adn (without 1st abatr); Chakmani, Aliheil, Bayanheil pp, isr, rs, rmo, rdo, rem. company, zrabotr; tv, command. ex.
4. June 25 - July 11, 1987 1st pdb (without 2nd pdr), 2nd dshb (without 5th dshr), adn (without 1st abatr); Base district Sanglah pp, isr, rs, rmo, rdo, zrabatr; ex. RHZ, command. ex.
5. July 17-28, 1987 1st pdb, 2nd dshb, adn (without 2 batteries); Along the route: Kabul - Ghazni - Shahjoy - Kalat - Kabul pp, isr, pc, rem. company; tv
6. September 1- 1st pdb, 2nd dshb; Paktia province October 12, 1987 pp, isr, pc, rem. company; tv, command. ex.
7. October 12-14, 1987 2nd dshb (without 6th dshr), 3rd dshb (without 7th dshr), 1st and 2nd abatr / adn; Logar Province ISR, RS, Rem. company, honey. company, zrabotr; ex. RHZ, OPA
8. December 16, 1987 - January 21, 1988 1st pdb (without 3rd dshr), 2nd dshb (without 4th dshr), adn (without 1, 4th abatr); Basic district of Srana; along the Gardez - Khost road: on the site Saidheil - Savaykotpp, pp, isr, rs, rmo, rem. company,orv / 3, 1 / 7th dshr; tv, zrv, vzv. RHZ, command. ex.
9. January 21-March 19, 1988 2nd dshb; Satekandav pass minbatr / 1; ex. reabatr, isv
10. March 10-25, 1988 2nd dsr, pp,? / 7th dshr; ? orv / 1, orv and grv / 3, isv, vzv. ? abatr / adn
11. April 3-30, 1988 1, 2nd pdr / 1, pp,? Abatr / adn; Escort on routes - to Khost, Alikheil, Ghazni orv / 1, orv / 2, vzv. minbatr / 1, isv
12. May 10-15, 1988 2nd dshb Aliheil May 15 - June 15 - preparation of the brigade for withdrawal
13. May 25-30, 1988 1st infantry battalion (without a company), 2nd infantry battalion (without a company), 3rd battalion brigade (without a company) Ghazni province
14. May 31, 1988 2nd pdr and orv / 1, Manaray 4th dshr / 2
The flag of the Airborne Forces 56th DShB is an unexpected gift for those who served in this unit. We will tell you in detail about the combat path of 56 DShB.
Characteristics
- 56 DShB
- Yolotan
- military unit 33079
VDV 56th DShB
Today we continue the story of the glorious formation of the Airborne Forces 56 DShB. In this review, we will analyze in more detail the period of the war in Afghanistan and the events of the 80s - 90s of the twentieth century.
Airborne Forces 56 DShB - legacy of 351 Guards. pdp
The 56th Brigade was formed by the beginning of October 1979 according to the state number 35/90 on the basis of the 351st Guards parachute regiment from the 105th Guards. airborne division, unexpectedly disbanded before the introduction of the Soviet contingent in Afghanistan.
The commander of the unit was the Guards. Lieutenant Colonel Plokhikh A.P., commander of the 351st Guards. PDP since the fall of 1976. Initially, the brigade became subordinate to the commander of the TurkVO
The 4th airborne assault battalion was manned by three battalions of the 351th Guards. airborne regiment. The majority were conscripts in the fall of 1979.
At the time of formation, the composition consists of 4 battalions (three airborne battalions and an airborne assault battalion) and an artillery battalion. Also, the brigade includes 7 separate companies (reconnaissance company 56 dshb, engineer-sapper company, autorot, repair company, communications company, airborne support company, medical company). Completed the acquisition of 56 DShB 2 separate batteries (anti-aircraft missile and artillery battery and ATGM battery) and 3 separate platoons - commandant and economic, RHR, orchestra platoon.
56 DShB: Salang, Kandahar, Gardez ...
On December 11, 1979, by verbal order of the commander of the TurkVO, the brigade goes into a state of full combat readiness. On December 12, redeployment to Jarkugan station begins. On the same day, 3 pdb is transferred by helicopters to the village of Sandykachi, and 1 pdb to the airfield 56 dshb Kokaydy.
On December 27, the 4th airborne assault battalion crosses the border and occupies the Salang Pass, the most important transit point on the Kabul-Termez highway.
On December 28, the 3rd paratrooper battalion was transferred by helicopters to the Rabati-Mirza pass and established control over the Herat-Kushka highway.
By mid-January 1980, brigade units are concentrated in the area of the Kunduz airfield. Also in 56 DShB the 2nd and 3rd pdb were renumbered. 3rd Battalion is redeployed to Kandahar.
In February, the 4th dshb is transferred to the Parvan province of Charikar. In March 1980, the 56th Airborne Brigade underwent changes: the 2nd pdb was transferred to the 70th Guards. a separate motorized rifle brigade, the 3rd infantry division is reorganized into an airborne assault battalion. Armored vehicles for the battalion were received in the 103rd Guards. VDD.
In December 1982, the Airborne Forces 56 DShB is redeployed to Gardez, with the exception of 3 DSB, sent to Logar province to control the Kabul-Gardez highway.
In 1984 the brigade is awarded the challenge red banner. The units also include regular reconnaissance platoons in addition to the 56th DShB reconnaissance company.
In 1985 the brigade receives new technique: BMP-2 and self-propelled guns "Nona". Mortar batteries are converted into self-propelled artillery batteries. In the same year, the 56th Airborne Brigade was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree.
In 1986, the brigade receives another airborne assault battalion.
On June 10, 1988, the withdrawal of the compound from the territory of Afghanistan begins. By mid-June, the new place of permanent deployment of 56 dshb is Yolotan in Turkmenistan.
Over the years spent in Afghanistan, the brigade covered itself with glory and earned a reputation as one of the best units in Airborne Forces... In 1980 alone, the brigade carried out 44 military operations.
In May 1943, the 7th Separate Guards Airborne Brigade was formed in the Moscow Military District. The staff of the brigade was 5800 people.
The brigade was recruited by privates and non-commissioned officers at the expense of carefully selected young people aged 18-20 years. They were physically developed youths devoted to the cause of the party and the homeland. This selection was far from random. After all, the paratroopers must be in constant readiness for difficult combat operations behind enemy lines, in isolation from their troops, for proactive, bold, daring and decisive actions.
Officers were also strictly individually selected - the best of the best, physically healthy, with high moral and fighting qualities.
A strong grouping of the Airborne Forces was on the 4th Ukrainian Front (4th, 6th and 7th Guards Airborne Brigade), which they wanted to use when liberating Crimea.
In December 1943, the 4th and 7th Guards Airborne Brigade were redeployed to the Moscow Military District.
January 15, 1944 in accordance with the order commander of the airborne forces Red Army No. 00100 of December 26, 1943 in the city of Stupino, Moscow region, on the basis of the 4th, 7th and 17th separate guards airborne brigades (the brigades were stationed in the cities of Vostryakovo, Vnukovo, Stupino) 16 1st Guards Airborne Division.
The division in the state had 12,000 people.
Parts of the division were mainly staffed with young people of 18-20 years old, fit for service in the Airborne Forces, Komsomol members and cadets-graduates of military schools, equipped with the latest weapons, equipment, including high-traffic vehicles. 90% of the officers of the division had combat experience of participation in battles, many of them came from hospitals after being treated for wounds.
As part of the division, a significant part of the personnel had experience in conducting combat operations behind enemy lines. Hundreds of paratroopers had state awards, and such soldiers as Lieutenant Colonel Gavrov, Majors Lyutov and Zhatko, Captain Orobets, Sergeant Major Grigoryan, Sergeant Ivanov and others were awarded medals "Partisan of the Great Patriotic War."
In August 1944, the division was redeployed to the town of Starye Dorogi, Mogilev Region, and on August 9, 1944, it became part of the newly formed 38th Guards Airborne Corps.
Despite the fact that the military towns where the division was located were badly destroyed, all the soldiers, 5 days after the unloading, proceeded to planned combat training.
In October 1944, the 38th Guards Airborne Corps became part of the newly formed Separate Guards Airborne Army.
On December 8, 1944, the army was reorganized into the 9th Guards Army. The corps became the Guards Rifle Corps.
By order of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief No. 0047 of 12/18/1944, the 16th Guards Airborne Division was reorganized into the 106th Guards Rifle Division of the 38th Guards Rifle Corps. The 4th Guards Airborne Brigade was reorganized into the 347th Guards Rifle Regiment, the 7th Guards Airborne Brigade - into the 351st Guards Rifle Regiment, the 17th Guards Airborne Brigade - into the 355th Guards Rifle Regiment.
The division consisted of:
347th Guards Rifle Regiment;
351st Guards Rifle Regiment;
356th Guards Rifle Regiment;
107th separate guards anti-aircraft artillery battalion;
193rd Separate Guards Signal Battalion;
123rd separate guards anti-tank division;
139th separate guards sapper battalion;
113th Separate Guards Reconnaissance Company;
117th separate guards chemical company;
234th separate guards medical battalion.
The 57th artillery brigade of three-regimental composition was introduced into the division:
205th Cannon Artillery Regiment;
28th Howitzer Artillery Regiment;
53rd mortar regiment.
At the end of 1944, a review of the readiness and coordination of the division's soldiers took place. The commander of the 9th Guards Army, Colonel-General V. Glagolev, praised the proven units.
In January 1945, the 38th Guards Division was redeployed by rail to Hungary and by February 26 concentrated east of Budapest in the area: Szolnok - Abony - Soyal - Teriel and at the beginning of March became part of the 3rd Ukrainian Front.
Until the beginning of March 1945, the soldiers of the division were intensively preparing to break through the heavily fortified enemy positions. In March 1945, the division received the task of reaching its initial positions for an offensive in the Versheg - Budakesi - Fat - Bichke area. The march took place in difficult conditions of spring thaw and only in the dark.
From March 13 to March 16, 1945, intensified reconnaissance of the enemy and the terrain in the direction of the offensive was carried out. A sniper movement developed among the personnel.
On March 16, 1945, having broken through the German defenses, the 351st regiment reached the Austro-Hungarian border.
In March-April 1945, the division took part in the Vienna operation, advancing in the direction of the front's main strike. The division, in cooperation with the formations of the 4th Guards Army, broke through the enemy's defenses north of the city of Szekesfehervar, went out to the flank and rear of the main forces of the 6th SS Panzer Army, which wedged into the defenses of the front forces between Lakes Velence and Balaton. In early April, the division struck in a northwestern direction bypassing Vienna and, in cooperation with the 6th Guards Tank Army, broke the enemy's resistance, advanced to the Danube and cut off the enemy's retreat to the west. The division fought successfully in the city, which continued until April 13.
By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of March 29, 1945, for participation in the defeat of eleven enemy divisions south-west of Budapest and the capture of Mor, the division was awarded the Order of Kutuzov, II degree.
For the breakthrough of the fortified line of defense and the capture of the city of More, the entire personnel received gratitude from the Supreme Commander.
By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated 04/26/1945 "for participation in the capture of Vienna" the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.
Since then, April 26 is considered the part's annual holiday.
During the Vienna operation, the division fought over 300 kilometers. On some days, the rate of its advance reached 25-30 kilometers per day.
From 5 to 11 May 1945, the division, as part of the troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, took part in the Prague offensive.
On May 5, the division was alerted and marched towards the Austro-Czechoslovak border. Coming into contact with the enemy, on May 8, she crossed the border of Czechoslovakia and captured the city of Znojmo on the move.
On May 9, the division continued fighting in pursuit of the enemy and successfully developed an offensive on Retz, Pisek. The division made a march in pursuit of the enemy, and in 3 days it covered 80-90 km with battles. At 12.00 on May 11, 1945, the forward detachment of the division went to the river. The Vltava and in the area of the village of Oleshnya met with the troops of the 5th American Tank Army. The division's combat path in the Great Patriotic War ended here.
During the period of hostilities, the soldiers of the division destroyed and captured 64 thousand enemy soldiers and officers, as well as a large number of tanks, self-propelled guns, vehicles and other equipment.
During the Great Patriotic War, many soldiers of the division were awarded orders and medals.
The division during the war years was commanded by: Guards Major General Kazankin (01.1944 - 10.11.1944), Guards Colonel, since 1945 Guards Major General K.N. Vindushev (from 10.11.1944).
At the end of hostilities, the division from Czechoslovakia returned to Hungary on its own. From May 1945 to January 1946, the division camped in the woods south of Budapest. Scheduled exercises in combat and political training were held, as well as gatherings of all subunit specialists, as well as gatherings of commanders of all levels.
On the basis of the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 1154474ss of 06/03/1946 and the directive of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR No.org / 2/247225 of 06/07/1946, by June 15, 1946, the 106th Guards Rifle Red Banner Order of Kutuzov was reorganized into 106th Guards Airborne Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Division.
Since July 1946, the division was stationed in the city of Tula. The division was part of the 38th Guards Airborne Corps Vienna (corps headquarters - Tula).
On December 3, 1947, the division was awarded the Guards Battle Banner.
In 1956, the corps was disbanded and the division became directly subordinate to the commander of the Airborne Forces.
Based on the directives of the General Staff of September 3, 1948 and January 21, 1949, the 106th Guards Airborne Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Division, as part of the 38th Guards Airborne Vienna Corps, became part of the Airborne Army.
In April 1953, the Airborne Army was disbanded.
Based on the directive of the General Staff of January 21, 1955, to April 25, 1955, the 106th Guards Airborne Division withdrew from the 38th Guards Airborne Corps Vienna, which was disbanded, and moved to a new state of three regimental composition with a cropped battalion in each airborne regiment.
From the disbanded 11th Guards Airborne Division, the 137th Guards Airborne Regiment was accepted into the 106th Guards Airborne Division. The point of deployment is the city of Ryazan.
The personnel of the 351st Guards Parachute Regiment participated in military parades on Red Square in Moscow, took part in large military exercises of the Ministry of Defense and in 1955 parachuted near the city of Kutaisi (Transcaucasian Military District).
In 1957, the regiment conducted demonstration exercises with landing for military delegations from Yugoslavia and India.
Based on the directives of the Minister of Defense of the USSR dated March 18, 1960 and the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces from June 7, 1960 to November 1, 1960:
the 351st Guards Airborne Regiment (the city of Efremov, Tula Region) was admitted to the 105th Guards Airborne Vienna Red Banner Division from the 106th Guards Airborne Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Division;
The 105th Guards Airborne Division (without the 331st Guards Parachute Regiment) was redeployed to the Turkestan Military District in the city of Fergana, Uzbek SSR. The 351st Guards Parachute Regiment was deployed in the city of Chirchik, Tashkent region.
In 1961, after the earthquake in Tashkent, the personnel of the 351st regiment assisted the residents of the city who suffered from the disaster, helped the local authorities maintain order.
In 1974, the 351st regiment landed in one of the regions of Central Asia and took part in the large-scale exercises of the TurkVO. As an advanced unit of the Airborne Forces of the Central Asian region of the country, the regiment participates in parades in the capital of Uzbekistan in Tashkent.
Based on the Directive of the General Staff from August 3, 1979 to December 1, 1979, the 105th Guards Airborne Vienna Red Banner Division was disbanded.
From the division, the 345th separate guards paratrooper of the Order of Suvorov remained in Fergana, a regiment of significantly larger composition than the usual and 115th separate military transport aviation squadron. The rest of the division's personnel turned to replenishment of the shortage in other airborne formations and to replenish the newly formed airborne assault brigades.
On the basis of the 351st Guards Parachute Regiment of the 105th Guards Airborne Assault of the Vienna Red Banner Division in Azadbash (Chirchik area) of the Tashkent Region of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the 56th Separate Guards Airborne Assault Brigade was formed.
On December 13, 1979, the brigade's units embarked on echelons and were redeployed to the city of Termez, Uzbek SSR.
In December 1979, the brigade was introduced to the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and became part of the 40th Combined Arms Army.
On the morning of December 25, 1979, the 4th battalion of the brigade was the first in the 40th Army units to enter Afghanistan to guard the Salang Pass.
From Termez, the 1st and 2nd battalions were redeployed by helicopters, and the rest in the column were redeployed to the city of Kunduz. The 4th battalion remained at the Salang Pass. Then the 2nd battalion was transferred from Kunduz to the city of Kandahar (it was there until 1986).
In January 1980, the entire brigade was brought in. She was stationed in the city of Kunduz. Since 1982, the brigade has been stationed in the city of Gardez.
The initial task of the brigade's units was to protect and defend the largest highway in the Salang Pass area, to ensure the advancement of Soviet troops in the central and southern regions of Afghanistan.
In January 1980, the entire brigade was brought in. It is deployed in the area of Kunduz.
From January 1980 to December 1981, the brigade destroyed more than 3,000 rebels, about 400 dushmans were taken prisoner, destroyed and a large number of weapons were captured.
From December 1981 to May 1988, the 56th Airborne Assault Brigade is deployed in the area of Gardez, conducting hostilities throughout Afghanistan: Bagram, Mazar-i-Sharif, Khanabad, Panjshir, Logar, Alikheil. During this period, about 10,000 insurgents from the detachments of bandit formations were destroyed, a large number of artillery systems and easel weapons were destroyed and captured. For the successful fulfillment of combat missions, many paratroopers were awarded government awards of the Soviet government and the leadership of the Republic of Afghanistan, and Senior Lieutenant S. Kozlov became a Hero of the Soviet Union.
In 1984, the brigade was awarded the Challenge Red Banner of the TurkVO for the successful performance of combat missions.
In 1986, the brigade was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree.
From December 16, 1987 to the end of January 1988, the brigade took part in Operation Magistral. In April 1988, the brigade took part in Operation Barrier. Paratroopers blocked caravan routes from Pakistan in order to ensure the withdrawal of troops from the city of Ghazni.
In May 1988, the brigade, after fulfilling its international duty, was withdrawn to the city of Yolotan of the Turkmen SSR.
Over the years of the Afghan war, over 400 soldiers died in the brigade, 15 people were missing.
Planned combat training has begun: an educational and material base is being improved and created, parachute jumps are being performed, and local residents are being assisted in harvesting.
At the end of 1989, the brigade was reorganized into a separate airborne brigade (airborne brigade).
The brigade passed through "hot spots": Afghanistan (12.1979-07.1988), Baku (12-19.01.1990 - 02.1990), Sumgait, Nakhichevan, Migri, Julfa, Osh, Fergana, Uzgen (06.06.1990), Chechnya (12.94-10.96, Grozny, Pervomaisky, Argun and from 09.1999).
On January 15, 1990, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, after a detailed study of the situation, adopted a decision "On declaring a state of emergency in the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region and some other regions." In accordance with it, the Airborne Forces began an operation that was carried out in two stages. At the first stage, in the period from 12 to 19 January, units of the 106th and 76th airborne divisions, the 56th and 38th airborne brigades and the 217th airborne regiment landed on airfields near Baku, and in Yerevan 98th Airborne Division. The 39th Airborne Brigade entered Nagorno-Karabakh... At this stage, reconnaissance was actively carried out, its data was analyzed, interaction, communication and control were organized. All units were assigned specific tasks and methods of their implementation, routes of movement were determined. The second stage began on the night of January 19-20 with the simultaneous sudden entry of airborne units from three sides into Baku.
Entering the city, the paratroopers "cut" it into pieces, isolated the main centers of resistance, unblocked military units and townships of military families, took under protection the main administrative and economic facilities. Promptly assessing the situation, finding out the tactics of the militants' actions, it was decided to deploy the fight against mobile detachments of militants and snipers. Mobile groups were created to capture them, which, acting prudently and professionally, “removed” and “cleared” the extremists house by house, region by region. Having found out the main places of concentration of the extremists' forces, their headquarters, warehouses and communication centers, the paratroopers from January 23 began operations to eliminate them. A large group of militants, weapons depots and a radio station were located in the seaport, and the headquarters of the PFA was based on the "Orudzhev" motor ship. The PFA leadership decided to burn the ships in the Baku bay, having previously blocked the ships of the military flotilla. On January 24, the paratroopers conducted an operation to free the ships from the militants.
Since January 23, Airborne Forces have begun operations to restore order in other parts of Azerbaijan. In the area of Lankaran, Priship and Jalilabad, they were carried out jointly with the border troops, who restored the state border.
In February 1990, the brigade returned to its place of permanent deployment.
From March to August 1990, brigade units maintained order in the cities of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
On June 6, 1990, the landing began at the airfields in the city. Fergana and Osh of the 104th airborne regiment of the 76th airborne division, the 56th airborne brigade, and on June 8 - the 137th airborne regiment of the 106th airborne division in Frunze. Having made a march on the same day through the mountain passes of the border of the two republics, the paratroopers occupied Osh and Uzgen. The next day, the 387th separate paratrooper regiment and units of the 56th airborne brigade took control of the situation in the area of the cities of Andijan, Jalil-Abad, occupied Kara-Suu, mountain roads and passes throughout the conflict.
At the first stage of the operation, the places of concentration of combat groups were localized, the warring parties were separated, and the paths of movement of mobile bandit groups were blocked. All economic, administrative and social facilities were taken under protection. At the same time, they had to put out fires, rescue hundreds of the wounded and even bury the dead. It got to the point that the paratroopers trained the traffic police on how to organize checkpoints on the roads, how to inspect cars, how to use weapons in the event of an attack, etc.
Organizational structure of the 56th Guards Airborne Brigade for 1990-91:
- brigade management
- three (1st, 2nd, 3rd) paratrooper (foot) battalions:
o three airborne companies (ATGM "Metis", 82-mm M, AGS-17, RPG-7D, GP-25, PK, AKS-74, RPKS-74)
o anti-tank battery (ATGM Fagot, SPG-9MD)
o mortar battery (82 mm M)
o platoons: anti-aircraft missile (Strela-3 / Igla), communications, support, first-aid post.
- howitzer artillery battalion:
o three howitzer batteries (122 mm G D-30)
o platoons: management, support.
- mortar battery (120 mm M)
- anti-aircraft missile and artillery battery (ZU-23, Strela-3 / Igla)
- anti-tank battery (ATGM "Fagot")
- anti-aircraft battery (23 mm ZU-23, Strela-2M MANPADS)
- reconnaissance company (UAZ-3151, PK, RPG-7D, GP-25, SBR-3)
- communications company
- engineer-sapper company
- airborne support company
- automobile company
- medical company
- repair company
- a logistics company
- company of radiochemical and biological protection
- platoon of directorate of the chief of artillery
- commandant platoon
- orchestra.
In 1992, in connection with the sovereignty of the republics of the former SSR, the brigade was relocated to the Stavropol Territory, from where it marched to the place of permanent deployment in the village of Podgory near the city of Volgodonsk, Rostov Region. The territory of the military camp was a former watch camp for the builders of the Rostov NPP, located 3 kilometers from the nuclear power plant.
In 1992, the brigade was awarded the MoD Challenge Pennant for successfully completing government assignments.
From December 1994 to August - October 1996, the combined battalion of the brigade fought in Chechnya.
On November 29, 1994, an order was sent to the brigade to form a consolidated battalion and transfer it to Mozdok. In November - December 1994, the process of dismissal and conscription was underway, the brigade was understaffed even in peacetime states.
The combined battalion of the brigade under its own power passed a 750-kilometer march and by December 1, 1994, concentrated at the Mozdok airfield.
From the middle of 1995, the 2ddr of the consolidated battalion was stationed in the village. Berkart-Yurt, 5 km away from the settlement. Argun, closer to st. Petropavlovskaya - 1 infantry brigade, ISR, headquarters of the combined battalion, platoon of the RChBZ, minbatr. In n. Argun was ptbatr and 3 brigade between 1st and 2nd.
The brigade's art division took part in the late 1995 - early 1996 operation at Shatoi.
In December 1995 - January 1996, the brigade was withdrawn from the Airborne Forces and reassigned to the command of the Red Banner North Caucasian Military District in accordance with the order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation No. 070 dated 26.12.1995 "On improving the leadership of troops (forces)". In March - April 1996, the brigade was finally transferred to the command of the North Caucasus Military District. Equipping the brigade with heavy weapons began. The equipment came from the city of Prokhladny, Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, from the 135th separate motorized rifle brigade being reorganized into a regiment.
From January 7 to January 21-22, 1996, a combined company (50 people, including 3 officers (2 KV and 1 KR - Guards Major Silchenko)) from the combined battalion of the brigade participated in the operation near the village of Pervomayskoye of the Republic of Dagestan.
In April-May 1996, the brigade received 9 BRDMs (1 pc. In 1, 2, 3 reconnaissance platoon, the rest in the reconnaissance company), from August 1 to September 1, 1996, the brigade received 21 MT-LB (in 1, 2, 3 battalions of 6 pcs., 2 pcs. In the ISR, 1 pc. In the RChBZ company).
In October-November 1996, the combined battalion of the brigade was withdrawn from Chechnya.
In 1997, the brigade was reorganized into the 56th Guards Airborne Assault Regiment, which became part of the 20th Guards Motorized Rifle Division.
In July 1998, by order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, in connection with the resumption of construction of the Rostov NPP, the regiment began redeployment to the city of Kamyshin, Volgograd Region. The regiment was housed in the buildings of the Kamyshin Higher Military-Construction Command-Engineering School, which was disbanded in 1998. By August 1, 1998, half of the units were relocated to a new location. One battalion of the regiment remained in the village of Podgory until the last car of the regiment left. 
On August 19, 1999, an airborne assault detachment from the regiment was sent to reinforce the consolidated regiment of the 20th Guards Motor Rifle Division and was sent to the Republic of Dagestan as a literal military echelon. On August 20, 1999, the dsho arrived in the city of Botlikh.
Later he took part in hostilities in the Republic of Dagestan and in the Chechen Republic.
The battalion tactical group of the regiment fought in the North Caucasus (the location of the city of Khankala).
In December 1999, units of the regiment and DShMG FPS covered the Chechen section of the Russian-Georgian border.
Paratroopers and border guards completely blocked roads and mountain trails in the area. Attempts by the bandit formations to bypass federal forces in order to strike at them from the Georgian side were unsuccessful.
For courage and heroism shown during the performance of combat missions from 1994 to 2000, 3 servicemen of the unit were awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation.
Victor CHIZHIKOV, Ryazan graduate airborne school... In the troops passed all positions from platoon commander to corps commander, To commander of the separate 56th airborne assault brigade in Afghanistan. Now he lives in Pskov. the site has already presented readers with him, which has become one of the most frank conversations not only about the Afghan war, but also about modern situations in the world. When we learned that Viktor Matveyevich recorded the most memorable cases even in Afghanistan, we decided to publish them. Wonderful literary language not devoid of humor, dynamic storytelling, and an interesting plot - we promise you it will be interesting for you.
I understand perfectly well that everything I write is of no literary interest to readers. But why then do “Afghans” and very young young people ask me to write about the Afghan war? Even in a dream I could not have dreamed that my story "Combat Brotherhood" was read at school to students in literature classes, and they were looking for the grave of a soldier from the story "Thank You Soldiers", as we once looked for a pond where Turgenevskaya Liza drowned? Maybe because the Afghan war is fraught with a huge store of information that can be successfully demanded today? Or is it because the children of their fathers who fought in Afghanistan want to see them as heroes and be proud of them?
Loyalty
From the notes of the commander of the 56th separate airborne assault brigade, made in Gardez, (Afghanistan) in 1985.
Four o'clock in the morning. A few minutes ago, I returned from a meeting with the commander of a large bandit formation, once a colonel of the Afghan army, who had gone over to the side of the dushmans at the beginning of the Saur revolution. It was only in his office that he felt that his left hand was still convulsively gripping the pistol grip ...
The Afghan colonel graduated from the special faculty of our Ryazan Higher Airborne School in the same year as me. Before studying in Ryazan, he served in the 3rd Army Corps in Gardez; knew well the situation in the southeast of Afghanistan, especially in the area bordering Pakistan. I asked the commander of our intelligence group to arrange for him to meet with me.
Since it was possible to expect everything, I thought out, as it seemed to me, everything to the smallest detail, I was ready for everything, but as it became clear later, I was almost powerless in the face of sophisticated oriental cunning. The scout saved the situation ... War has a special quality: it teaches very quickly. And if you do not want to study, then your life will be the price. Therefore, at the moment I realized that to live and fight in this eastern country with a Russian soul "for plowing", with a sincere desire to provide this poor people with international assistance, while justifying the death of soldiers and officers, this is the lot of complete idiots, to whom he has referred without any pity and myself. And it all started harmlessly simple.
The commander of the 40th Army, General Rodionov, croaked in a cold voice:
Take a couple, (helicopters, - ed.), and urgently fly to Kabul to meet with the Chief Military Adviser. He will assign you the task of capturing the commanding heights to ensure the exit of the Afghan army corps to the base area of the dushmans.
The deputy commander of the 40th Army was assigned to lead the operation. As usual, the usual work of planning combat operations began.
Throughout the summer, nomads drove herds of sheep through the passes from Pakistan to Gardez, Ghazni, Barakam, where they sold meat in the markets. And it so happened that by the beginning of the operation, the nomadic tribes had gathered high in the mountains in two small settlements located in very inaccessible terrain. They traveled this path for many years in a row. The money received from the sale of meat was packed into two huge sacks, guards were appointed and they got up to rest. They were to return to Pakistan in two days.
To hide the plan of the entire operation from the Afghans and prevent the leak of information, the deputy commander suggested that I capture the heights without fire damage, and suddenly and at the same time prevent the spooks from withdrawing weapons and ammunition from the base area before the main forces of the Afghan army corps approach. During the planning of the landing, both settlements where the nomads stayed turned out to be the only possible landing site for 30 helicopters at once. But we did not have any intelligence about the concentration of nomads there.
Having received a report from the commander of the Afghan corps on readiness for hostilities, the deputy commander postponed the start of the operation for three days. The movement in the corps stopped, and the officers went home. Only I knew about the true timing of the start of the operation in the brigade.
On the same night, in the first wave, two air assault battalions and the brigade headquarters moved to the airfield, took their places in helicopters and, at dawn, without providing a flight zone and fire destruction of the enemy at adjacent heights, went on a landing. The risk was great. But the element of surprise played a decisive role. As it turned out later from the story of the nomads themselves, seeing a suddenly approaching armada of helicopters, they quickly buried two bags of money in a drying stream, threw stones and rushed into the mountains, hoping to later return and take the money.
The operation lasted twelve days and was successfully completed. The Afghan military coped with the task, and the corps commander introduced me and two dozen officers of the brigade to the government awards of their country.
I didn't want to write anymore, and I abandoned my diary ...
Three days after returning from hostilities, Igor Sergeevich, adviser to the chairman of the provincial state security committee, came late in the evening. The Lieutenant Colonel, a resident of Dneprodzerzhinsk, wise with life experience, always gave invaluable information and, without exaggeration, one might say, saved the lives of hundreds of our soldiers and officers. He had a lot of friends in the brigade, especially Ukrainians.
A miserly tear could be seen in the corner of his eyes. It turns out that he flew away on vacation and carried a holy bottle of cognac - but it fell out of his sleeve and broke. I had to remind him that even when I flew to Gardez Najibullah (the future President of Afghanistan - ed.), then they could not find even a bottle of vodka in the entire province, and you, having such a value, did not report ... Okay, I'll help you out.
After 50 grams of alcohol he had drunk, he began to tell that yesterday nomads came to him, about thirty people. With a wild howl, they turned to him as chairman of the provincial state security committee, they say that during the operation, the soldiers found and stole two large bags of money that they raised from the sale of meat, a total of about four million Afghans. As far as he studied them, they are very cunning, but also honest. And the lieutenant colonel tells me:
I don't care whether you find the bags or not, but they swore that if they returned at least part of the money, they would never shoot a Soviet soldier.
The nomads had good reason to hate the brigade soldiers before. I knew that well. Several officers have already put party cards on the table for the fact that, with their ill-considered actions, they have turned against themselves almost all the nomadic tribes. And then a unique opportunity appeared to restore good relations with these people. They were out of the war, out of politics, they didn't want to kill anyone. Dirty, ragged cattle breeders.
The next day I invited them to the brigade. I listened to their explanations for a long time and attentively. He offered tea. Dull, they wandered into the city without any hope. And I went into the office. I had to put my thoughts in order.
On the table lay the calculation for the landing - this is the main document, I developed it personally. The fourth brigade chief of staff who arrived to replace: (one was killed, the second arrived with a bad leg and could not walk, the third went crazy - ed.) Lieutenant Colonel Leonid Khabarov was after being wounded near Salang, but again asked to go to Afghanistan - hearing nothing in his right ear, with a completely inoperative right hand. Well what could he develop. And the fact is that almost no one by this time wanted to fight. They wanted to serve, but not to fight. They were dismissed from the army in droves because they did not want to fight. The terrible but brutal truth of the Afghan war. I involuntarily remembered the 41st year. But we know how to fight!
After some deliberation, I came to the conclusion that sappers were among the first to land in order to conduct engineering reconnaissance of the area. Only they could see the freshly dug earth with their experienced eye. It is possible that in the process of searching for mines, a bag of money was found.
The shelling began. The shell exploded somewhere near the dining room. The windows of the windows flew out with a bounce ... The operative on duty literally flew in ... Then I will add.
The sappers who went to the landing and demining first, I found on the dog lover. The assistant to the head of the food warehouse, an Azerbaijani soldier, also walked there and looked for something. To my question: what are you looking for? - answered that one kangaroo was missing, just brought to the brigade by helicopter. Is the kangaroo big? "Yes, 16 kilograms." - Go and tell the ensign: if he does not find a kangaroo for these 16 kilograms, he will pay from his paycheck. “Comrade Lieutenant Colonel! I think this brute stole. He hid in the bushes in the morning. As the large helicopter sees - immediately to the warehouse. Steals every day. Killing is not enough ... ". - The huge dog, at which the soldier pointed his finger, growled in displeasure and snapped his fangs menacingly.
The instructor sergeant and his assistant slept peacefully. They were guarded by two dogs. One German shepherd - a dog of enormous growth named German, the rarest lazy and bummer, and a little mongrel, an ordinary tiny mongrel. She was picked up on the street in the Soviet Union and brought to the assembly point by a little boy. And who would have thought that with only one escort of the column, this mongrel would find 8 minutes. The dogs had just had a hearty meal with a stolen kangaroo, and the rest had been hidden in a haystack. In the search for mines, these two dogs have always worked together. The dog reluctantly growled something, but immediately, having received a lump of sugar, fell silent and began to snore. They were taught to look for mines by the smell of TNT, and besides them, the sappers had only a probe in their arsenal. People perfectly understood that their lives depended on these animals. Therefore, they took care of the dogs "like the apple of an eye." The sapper soldiers gave them the last piece of fresh meat, covered them with blankets, and put them on tanks next to the heaters.
Once, on the very crest of the pass, they missed an Italian anti-tank mine. But an experienced sapper found it with a probe. She stood with an anti-handling device, and a small bottle of gasoline was tied to her. The fuel fought off the smell of TNT. Disarming the mine, and putting it aside, the sappers moved on. The dog immediately ran up and sat down on the mine, lifting his muzzle up. Two sappers tried to steal him. It was not so. After all, for every mine found there was a reward. The dog rested against the ground with all its paws, showing its huge fangs. The soldiers watching this scene, as usual, gave advice, making fun of the sappers. The situation was defused by the chief of artillery, who was constantly next to me. He had a lump of sugar. Having received the treat, the dog, as if nothing had happened, yawned and trudged on.
He was in the brigade for the fifth year. From a lousy puppy he turned into a huge dog, the growth of a one-year-old calf. He traveled all over Afghanistan from Kunduz to Gardez. Hundreds of times he accompanied the columns. When trying to overtake him, he threw himself under the wheels of the car, trying with a loud bark and with all his appearance to show that it was impossible to go further. Six dogs paired with him were killed. His whole body was excised by fragments of mines and stones, part of his ear was cut off by a sharp fragment of an old anti-tank mine in a metal case. It was an extremely clever and extremely cunning dog. Sometimes it seemed to me that in front of me was not a dog, but a German soldier. He carried out any order of the engineer sergeant-sapper unquestioningly. He was not afraid of explosions, under the fire of snipers and mortars he did not leave the road without a command, crawled along with the sergeant, showing the discovered guided land mine so that he could cut the wires, hid with the sappers behind stones when the road was fired by snipers, ran for cover when the mine was torn down put on anti-handling.
This dog, a little puppy, as the soldier's rumor said, was bought in Germany, from an old German breeder who enjoys world renown among dog breeders, for a lot of money by our diplomat, a passionate dog lover. What can I say, the German Shepherd is the rightful pride of the Germans, a part of German culture, known all over the world. The diplomat brought the puppy to Moscow in a perfectly legal way. Reasoning soberly, I realized that in old age no one will need it, and the dog will die with him, but he will never betray his master, and he will not find a better guard and protector. I bought a small dacha in the suburbs and lived like that.
The twelve-year-old daughter of a diplomat with the romantic name Katarina, having heard from a biology teacher's story in class at school, how dogs save the lives of our soldiers in the war in Afghanistan, made a far from childish decision for herself. After waiting for the father to leave for another business trip, and the mother was summoned to the hospital for an urgent operation, she grabbed the puppy, and no matter how hard it resisted, dragged it to the nearest police station. There, with tears in her eyes, she asked to send the dog to Afghanistan. The elderly captain on duty, imbued with pity for the child, only asked her to write a receipt that she voluntarily hand over the dog and leave her address. Coming out of the department, this little thief wiped away her linden tears, and an hour later the puppy was in a dog's receiver on the outskirts of Moscow, in a section where dogs were taught to look for mines by the smell of TNT.
The next day, another batch of dogs was taken away on a special flight. The instructors, without further ado, in order to fulfill the plan, put the puppy in the cage, writing in the accompanying note that the dog had not completed a full course of training, although in fact he had not studied for a single day. In Kabul, after reading the accompanying letter, the infantry guys immediately sent the half-educated dog away from sin - to air assault brigade to Kunduz.
The sapper sergeant, twice wounded, awarded two government awards, including the Order of the Red Star, doted on his pet. The dog turned out to be exceptionally capable of learning. In addition, the dog often stole and dragged everything to the dog owner. This brute made theft and begging her second profession.
Early one morning, when there was no fighting and no convoy escort, the German began to listen. Then he jumped off and trotted to the airfield. There he hid in the bushes. Soon a couple of helicopters appeared, accompanied by four combatants. It was Marshal of the Soviet Union Sokolov and a group of generals and officers accompanying him. While things were unloading from the helicopters, the German crawled to the briefcases, quickly smelled the smell of food in one of them, grabbed the briefcase by the handle and in the blink of an eye dragged him into the bushes. The colonel, who was carrying special food to the marshal, who was slightly dizzy from the flight, said that he apparently forgot his briefcase in Kabul.
Everything that he managed to steal during the day, the German carried at night to the dog owner, conscientiously shared with the mongrel, hid the rest in a small stack of hay prepared by the sappers for bedding. He knew all the outposts and, I am sure, that he knew better than the ensign that he was in the food warehouse, which, fortunately for dogs, was not far from the dog owner.
Hiding his briefcase, he immediately rushed to the brigade headquarters. Moreover, he did it quite deliberately. He perfectly understood that now everyone would go to the brigade. And there he always lay down on the pedestal where the blown-up combat vehicle stood, and carefully watched the entrance to the brigade headquarters. The fact is that the brigade had problems with smoking. And his sergeant was smoking. And he easily taught the Germans to beg for cigarettes and cigarettes from everyone who smoked, regardless of any titles.
As soon as the first general to go out to smoke lit a match to light a cigarette, the German approached him, sat down beside him and obsequiously looked the petitioner in the eye. And if he did not receive anything, and the pack could not be stolen, then he closed the entrance and did not let him back. The operative, as a rule, yelled like someone in distress to take the dog away. “Throw her a cigarette and he will let you through. A smoker would take out a pack, throw one, and sometimes two or three cigarettes in their hearts and get a pass.
But most of all this bummer loved the music of the military band. Every Monday there was a general formation of the brigade and one hour of drill training. It was impossible to hold him back by any means. He went out to the formation together with the sapper company as on a holiday. He sat behind the company commander. He knew by heart the whole ritual of the meeting, ran alongside the company during the solemn march. As it turned out later, the sapper sergeant, nurturing his plans, taught him to put his paw to his head while performing the anthem of the Soviet Union. Nobody knew about this, since the Anthem was performed extremely rarely, and no one saw the dog like that.
After two years of commanding the brigade, a decision was made at the very top to award the unit with an order. The event, frankly speaking, is extraordinary. There are a lot of foreign correspondents in the compound except ours. And there are two Bulgarians among them. I later presented one with a gun, and the other with a saber. What then I severely regretted.
A member of the military council of the district flew in to present the order. Having carefully thought out the whole rewarding ritual, I strictly ordered all the dogs to be tied up, and the Germans put on a chain. The sappers did not find the chain, so they tied the dog to the nylon strand from the pilot chute, which had been brought from Fergana.
The brigade was built in two lines, due to the small size of the parade ground, and by chance the sapper company stood exactly in front of the tribune. The German, hearing the first chords of the oncoming march, with his powerful fangs, like a blade of grass, cut the strand and ran to the parade ground with a piece of it, the cattle came from the rear so that no one could see or drive him away, and sat down behind the commander of the sapper company. It seemed, well, nothing foreshadowed trouble. The order was attached to the banner of the brigade and everyone rose to the podium. According to the ritual, I made a response speech, thanked the Party and the Government for their care, which caused genuine delight among the member of the Military Council, who with the same enthusiasm "cut down" the stars from three, before me, brigade commanders and chiefs of political departments. A year ago, at the military council, I clearly remarked to me: we will refrain from "sawing" for now, perhaps something will work out of you.
The speeches ended and the orchestra thundered the anthem. Everyone put their hand to the headdress. The dozing German instantly woke up, pushed the officer standing next to the company commander with a powerful push, stood next to him on his hind legs, stretched out to his full height, put his front paw to his head, lowered the second at the seams, raised his muzzle up and rolled his eyes graciously. The dangling part of the rope somehow resembled a tie, which was impossible to describe further.
The member of the Military Council immediately lost the ability to speak, his jaw clenched, and he convulsively swallowed air. The party adviser, who every year arranges for us a holiday on Lenin's birthday, constantly took off and put on his glasses, he had a nervous tic. The commander of the Afghan corps held on to his stomach with laughter. The hymn is over. The German yawned sweetly and sat down in his seat. I kept thinking: at best I will command a battalion in Magadan ...
This time I didn’t have time to finish the chapter again. We'll have to wait with the notes.
You will learn about the fate of Nemets and other heroes of the notes of the former brigade commander Viktor Chizhikov a little later. Consider this a theatrical pause, which will give you a breath and a little comprehension of what is happening. The ending will be very exciting, we assure you.
Read the continuation of the story
Afghan photos from the personal archive of Viktor Chizhikov