103 airborne division. Participation in major military exercises
Flag of the Airborne Forces 103rd Guards airborne division-a tribute to the traditions of the 103rd Airborne Division Vitebsk. Prompt delivery across the Russian Federation and Belarus.
Characteristics
- 103 Guards. VDD
- 103 Guards. VDD
- Vitebsk
- military unit 07197
Perhaps, in the 80s and early 90s, there was no other such division in the Armed Forces, which would be talked about so much and revered. "Voenpro" also pays tribute to the history of the 103rd Airborne Division Vitebsk and dedicates a large series of articles to the illustrious unit. Today we will talk about the main stages of the war in Afghanistan for the division and the period when the 103rd Guards. Vitebsk Airborne Forces became part of the Armed Forces of Belarus.
From the palace of Amin through the "Magistral" and "Thunderstorm"
Vitebsk paratroopers were destined to enter the land of Afghanistan in the forefront. On December 25-26, personnel and equipment of the division arrive at the Kabul airfield. By the beginning of January, in general, the concentration Soviet contingent in Afghanistan - three regiments of the 103rd Guards. divisions Airborne Major General Ryabchenko (350, 357 and 317 parachute regiments), 345 opdp lieutenant colonel Serdyukov and 56th odshbr lieutenant colonel Plokhikh.
We have already written in detail about the assault on Amin's palace, so let's pay attention to other connection operations. An important victory over the Mujahideen was won by the paratroopers of the 103rd Vitebsk division in the Lurkokh mountain range in July 1981.
In the summer of 1982, realizing the importance of transit routes passing through the Pandsher Gorge, the command of the Soviet contingent conducts a large-scale operation. The main burden fell on the shoulders of the paratroopers and, as a result of the battles, the army of Ahmad Shah Massoud was pushed into the mountains.
In the spring and summer of 1983, units of the division were involved in extremely fierce battles in the Pechdar Gorge. In June 1985, the paratroopers of the 103rd Airborne Division (Vitebsk) were fighting on a broad front against the Mujahideen of the Kunar province. Particularly stubborn battles were fought in the Jelolabad area.
In April 1986, in the Khosta area, the division inflicted enormous damage on the enemy in terms of manpower and military equipment and weapons. During the fighting, more than two thousand Mujahideen were destroyed, training camps and weapons depots were captured.
March 1987 was remembered for Operation Circle in the provinces of Logar and Kabul. Also, units of the 103rd Airborne Division (Vitebsk) provided support to the 38th Airborne Brigade and the 56th Brigade in the implementation of Operation Thunderstorm in Ghazni. April of the same year, the division's paratroopers spent executing the plan of operation "Spring".
In May, together with battalions 345 OPDP and 56 ODSHBR, the division conducts a large-scale operation "Volley". The end of 1987 - the beginning of 1988 - the operation "Magistral", which became one of the most significant victories of the Soviet troops in Afghanistan. The successful capture of the Satykandov pass and the complete defeat of the base of the Mujahideen ensured the destruction of the enemy in the Khost region and the capture of this key city.
Until the very end of the war, the Vitebsk paratroopers showed themselves to be excellent warriors, solving tasks that seemed impossible. Departing for Afghanistan in December 1979, the paratroopers returned to Belarus only in the spring of 1989. Heroes of the 103rd Vitebsk Airborne Forces, such as Major Soluyanov, who always reached the goal with the lowest possible losses, became Heroes Soviet Union. The division itself began to rightfully be considered one of the most combat-ready in the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union.
Vitebsk 103 airborne brigade - after the reforms
The division that remained in the Republic of Belarus after the collapse of the USSR became the foundation on which the Mobile Troops of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus were built (now renamed the Special Operations Forces). In 2002, the 217th brigade of the Armed Forces of Belarus received the Battle Banner and letters of 103rd Guards. division of the Airborne Forces, and with it takes over the name - 103 separate mobile brigade. Unfortunately, probably in 2014 Vitebsk 103 airborne brigade leave his place of deployment and move from Vitebsk to another garrison. But as of July, the brigade's RPM is still in the city on the Dvina.
FIRST BLOOD.
SIGNAL "STORM-333",
OPERATION "BAIKAL-79"
December 25, 1979 has come, a sad historical date - from
right point in the history of the Afghan war. On this day, according to di-
directive of the Minister of Defense, Soviet units and formations of the 40th Army
began to cross the state border of the USSR and the DRA. Motorized rifle-
military divisions entered Afghanistan in two streams. Through Termez
(a city in the south of Uzbekistan, a port on the Amu Darya) The 108th MSD was moving towards
Pakistani border (Puli-Khumri and Kunduz), and the 5th MSD through Kushka
(Turkmenistan, the southernmost point of the USSR) in the direction of Herat, Shin-
dand. those. to the Iranian border.
The first commander of the 40th Army, Colonel General, recalls
Yu.V. Tukharinov: “The general plan was to ensure that two mar-
shrutami: Termez - Hairatan - Puli - Khumri - Kabul - Ghazni and Kushka
- Herat - Shindand - Kandahar enter the territory of the DRA and thus
encircle the most vital centers of the republic with a ring.
Parts were supposed to be placed in them by garrisons and thereby
create conditions for ensuring the life of Afghanistan.
However, just before the start of commissioning, the plan underwent some
changes. I received an order to send the first
division not to Kabul, but to Kunduz. Entering the second division - from Kushkin-
direction - was carried out somewhat later. grouping
Airborne Forces (103rd Airborne Forces in full force, as well as the third battalion and other
units of the 345th regiment) by landing should have been de-
Sanitize at the airfields of Kabul and Bagram.
Recall that on the eve of the general entry of Soviet troops on December 25
in Bagram, on the "Soviet" territory, there were already the first (former Osh) and second
swarm battalions of the 345th Airborne Regiment. Here, from December 14, stayed and
management of the unit, headed by the commander of the regiment of the guard, lieutenant colonel
com N.I. Serdyukov. This contingent of paratroopers was to
provide with; m the main forces of the Airborne Forces grouping - parts of the 103rd Airborne Forces and
units of the 345th GPDP, which until December 25 remained in
Union. On the night of December 24-25, 1979 in Bagram, the landing gear
the artillery battalion, as well as platoons and subunits, landed
provision of the 345th regiment. From December 25, the 345th regiment (without the third ba-
talion, which landed at the Kabul airfield) begins
providing reception; ma personnel and military equipment of regiments and sub-
divisions of the 103rd Vitebsk Guards Airborne Division
zii.
The landing in Bagram of paratroopers of the 357th regiment and separate sub-
divisions of the Vitebsk Airborne Division was an impressive
picture in terms of scale and organization. Here's how to-
the officer of the 357th regiment, Vladimir Shulga, remembered this moment: “In Bagh-
frame landed at night. Quickly, accurately, without delay. Five
IL-76 came in for landing at an interval of three minutes, between aircraft;
there, they immediately unloaded the equipment and immediately left to take off; t. In five-
ten minutes later the next group landed. Sun; it was calculated
thought out, well thought out. Landing, takeoff; t, landing again. The rumble of turbines, pro-
heavy r; in motors, the clang of iron. The technique began to warm up yet; in
plane; tah. In winter, the mercury column in Afghanistan fell at night
down to minus forty. Despite the fact that IL-76 was heated in order to avoid
reap unforeseen hesitation, the engines warmed up ahead of time.
Not only soldiers, but also officers of the 103rd Vitebsk division,
having entered Bagram, they did not know that this large air base was already
their colleagues, paratroopers from the 345th Ferghana Regiment, are living. Lead;m
an excerpt from their memoirs of the guard colonel Yuri Ivanovich Dvu-
Groshev, who at the end of December 1979 commanded a group
103rd Airborne Division, which landed in Bagram (before the entry of troops into the DRA, Yu.I.
Dvugroshev was the deputy commander of the Vitebsk division
Airborne Forces for Air Defense. Enjoyed the location
V.F. Margelov. At the beginning of the Afghan war, he was the first military commander
commandant of Kabul, was in the DRA for 27 months): “When unloading
the last plane; she was coming to an end, appeared on the field
vehicles moving towards us with headlights on. Knowing that
nearby is the tank unit of the Afghan army, several people
received a command to prepare with a grenade; you. They were stopped by a group of
grip. To everyone's surprise, a paratrooper from
battalion - Major O.G. Empty of the 345th parachute regiment,
who brought drinking water in a GAZ-66 car. Landing ba-
the talion of the 345th parachute regiment was sent to Afghanistan
camp at the request of the Afghan government under the guise of technical
aviation services at the Bagram airfield, where the council-
sky plane; you and helicopter; you. Of course, we were not aware of this
known (highlighted by us - D.S.). The unloading of the group was completed
on quickly, without incident and fire impact. Got a question:
where and how to stay? On the car that we stopped, I add
rallied to battalion command. Upon returning to the battalion, I
took command of the entire group. In not; included the 357th RAP,
engineer battalion, anti-aircraft division, repair battalion, medical
Qing battalion, reconnaissance company, auto company. The situation remained
quite clear. I made a decision - to take all-round defense
on the outskirts of the airfield…”
By morning, the Vitebsk paratroopers coped with the task.
The positions were prepared, despite the fact that the guards came
I had a hard time poking around in the rocky ground in the dark. With the dawn before
soldiers of the 103rd Airborne Division opened an outlandish panorama of the mountains
noah country. Near the position of the grouping there was a route along which
a swarm of mixed-tonnage cars passed by. Many cars remain
poured in, and soon here, at the positions of the paratroopers, a
a large concentration of ordinary Afghans. According to the testimony of our
Vidtsev, the Afghan citizens were friendly towards the Shuravi,
and many even greeted our warriors with raised hands.
However, one circumstance clouded the mood of the paratroopers.
Not far from our position on the hill was an anti-aircraft battery.
nyh calculations; Comrade of the Afghan army. The barrels of Afghan anti-aircraft guns are menacing
looked at the Soviet landing. It was noticeable that the Afghan soldiers
dates are set unfriendly, their calculation; you were in full combat
readiness, their anti-aircraft guns could at any moment start a crushing
fire on our positions. However, this did not happen. Shooting at
Bagram airbase will begin in a day, at the same time, alas, the first
victims.
So, at the end of the day on December 25, 1979, there were two
airborne groupings: the 345th regiment under the command of the guards of the lieutenant regiments
nick N.I. Serdyukov, as well as the 357th regiment of the 103rd airborne division with separate
units of the same Vitebsk division, which he commanded
Guard Lieutenant Colonel Yu.A. Dvugroshev. Chief paratrooper, general
N.N. Guskov, commander of the Task Force of the Airborne Forces in Afghanistan,
was already in Kabul, where he was already a day later with little pre-
it was necessary to lead the operation to capture the paratroopers of the main
official military and other facilities.
Thus, in Bagram at the same moment there was no one-man
nickname to which these two groups of the Airborne Forces were subordinate.
Meanwhile, as history will show, in a day (December 27,
birthday of V.F. Margelov according to the old style) Fergana and vi-
Tebsk paratroopers will have to jointly storm the military and
technical facilities at this powerful Afghan air base.
Obviously, on December 26, Deputy Commander of the Airborne Forces combat
preparation, Lieutenant General V. Kostyl; in gave the order to enter
345th regiment as part of the grouping of the 103rd Airborne Forces, which was led by Yu.I.
Dvugroshev. Now that the landing units in Bagram were supposed to
represent one grouping with one e; temporary commander,
Naturally, the question arose about the organization of interaction. Before
of all, it was necessary to work out the system of the negotiation table and
code signals. According to the memoirs of Yu.I. Dvugrosheva, re-
the speaking table consisted of six consecutive signals:
1. - "Storm-333" - started hostilities;
2. - "Zaryo-555" - went to the object;
3. - "Hurricane" - completed the task;
4. - "Calm-888" - I complete the task;
5. - "Storm-777" - I'm fighting.
6. - "Silence-999" - no resistance
So, in just a day, the soldiers of the united group of the Airborne Forces
it was necessary to capture a complex of objects and buildings that were located
were administered by the Afghan military administration. In case of resistance
resistance of the Afghan side (primarily anti-aircraft gunners), the Soviet de-
Santa was inevitably doomed to irretrievable losses. Therefore, co-
command of the Airborne Forces group and decided to try the tactics of a peaceful
exhortations. However, the difficulty was that the removal of the President
Afghanistan H. Amin from power yet; did not happen (this event happens
reads every other day, December 27), and among the Afghan military in Bagram
were his loyal followers, especially among the officers. Re-
negotiation process with the Afghan side, it was decided to entrust the council
military advisers who, being by agreement; nnosti in Afghanistan
Ghanaian units in Bagram were known to personnel,
especially to Afghan officers. Military advisers worked hard
in general, effective. They urged the Afghans not to cooperate
resistance Soviet troops in the event of a change of power (Amin) and
progress towards the leadership of the country by progressive forces. Exhortations to continue
pressed for a whole day, and at 16-00 hours on December 27, the command of the group
feasts in the ZKP reported that almost all Afghan military units
They gave assurances not to oppose the Shuravi. Exception-
he was calculated; you are an anti-aircraft battery, the gun barrels of which
still were deployed in the direction of the Soviet troops.
Meanwhile, the transfer of parts of the Airborne Forces, the Vitebsk air division
hu is already over by now. As you know, the last liner
with a Soviet landing on board landed on Afghan soil at 14
hours 30 minutes December 27. Now the entire general grouping of the Airborne Forces (103rd
VDD and 345th GO RAP) was assembled and was waiting for an order to act.
The time "H" was about to come, the fate of the unexpected war was to
wives was to come true.
The head of the guard group, Lieutenant Colonel Yu.I. Dvugroshev
calls to the ZKP the command staff of all units and divisions of the Airborne Forces
in Bagram, who, to one degree or another, were to participate in
storming military facilities at the Bagram air base. According to the order,
capture groups with the onset of darkness should have secretly approached
ti to the designated objects and wait for the signal "Storm-333", after
obtaining which to seize the facility and disarm the Afghan military
employees.
The paratroopers of the 345th regiment were obviously given the most
responsible and dangerous task. They had to take positions
anti-aircraft division, under the gun of which was the airfield. How
already noted, the barrels of anti-aircraft installations were deployed on
positions of the paratroopers. The Ferghana paratroopers also had to capture
to build military barracks and a number of other facilities. According to the
the minds of the now living veterans of the 345th regiment, participating
in those events, among these objects were the headquarters of the garrison of the Afghan
units in Bagram, bomb depot, four;
m;tny easel installations (KPVT).
The Afghan anti-aircraft division could be a tough nut to crack.
During the assault on this object, paratroopers armed with small arms
with tomatic weapons, could, of course, have suffered heavy losses.
Therefore, it was decided to strengthen the capture groups from the 345th regiment with two
antiaircraft batteries. This anti-aircraft division (guard commander
lieutenant colonel V.P. Savitsky) was ordered to open fire on the roof
sham buildings, in case the Afghan side prefers;
leniya.
And now the hour "H" has come. It happened at 7:30 pm. At this very time in
Operation "Baikal-79" began in Kabul, in which the 103rd
airborne division, as well as two units of the 345th regiment, namely the 9th
Company and reconnaissance. Paratroopers together with special forces
The KGB was to seize the most important military, government facilities
projects, remove Kh. Amin from power, paralyze forces, true evil
dey. Amin's place was to be taken by Babrak Karmal, who was
creature of the Soviet leadership. At this point, the future president
Afghanistan was in Bagram under the protection of our paratroopers and
special forces. Being in fear, Karmal ("Kolka Beavers", as his
called our soldiers in Bagram) meekly awaited his fate.
In Bagram, the operation to seize objects began at the same
cop, as in Kabul.
So, how did events take place at this huge air base?
coming from Kabul 60 km to the north? The reader will obviously agree
that it would be better to give the floor to direct witnesses and
participants in the events of December 27, 1979 in Bagram, who in the historical
In the literature, they are conventionally referred to as Operation Storm-333. AT
we have at our disposal the most valuable historical source - memoirs
Guard Lieutenant Colonel Yu.I. Dvugroshev, who, as already noted
it turned out that at that moment he commanded a united group of the Airborne Forces in
Bagram. So I put down my pen for a while and give the floor
Yuri Ivanovich: “At 19:30. the ZAS phone rang.
I was immediately invited to the apparatus. Called from Operational Group
Airborne. E; led by Deputy Commander Lieutenant General
N.N. Guskov, who led the transfer of the 103rd Airborne Division and the 345th Civil Defense
RAP, and also directly controlled all available forces in
Afghanistan during the overthrow of the Amin regime. was
task force in Kabul. The expected
signal "Storm-333", which was immediately reported to the troops.
While waiting for a report from the units on the receipt of the signal and its implementation
froze ... Communication with all parts and groups ceased to exist
wail at the same time. The main thing in a combat situation is the loss of connection
zi. A “frost” passed through my body from the thought that control was lost.
nie. Why, why and what is the reason, I did not know. Gave the command urgently
check all kinds of communication. Time passed slowly. In a few
minutes of general silence, the connection worked fine. Why was the connection
interrupted, remains a mystery to me to this day.
The airfield immediately came to life. The shooting merged into a single chatter and
hum. It became almost light from the tracer bursts. It was not clear
why there was such an organized shooting. After all, the assurances
The foreign advisers were persuasive. The first to open fire was a single
with heavy shots, the T-54 tank, located closest to the ZKP. Re-
before me appeared a strong physique major Yegorov, deputy
commander of the anti-aircraft division for weapons, with a grenade; volume and
asked permission to suppress it. Fortunately, the tank fell silent and
never fired another shot. The first report was received
from the aircraft parking capture group; Comrade MIG-21 and the barracks, where he placed
Xia l;tno-technical composition. Lightning Throw Capture Group
took over the parking lot. L;tchiki, having received an order to take off; t, hurried to the sa-
they say, there, but it was too late. Having met the paratroopers, they are without a shot
lov retreated to the barracks, took up defensive positions, ready to hang up. Command-
the director of the anti-aircraft battery, senior lieutenant V.A. Getalov before the assault
the barracks fired several bursts of anti-aircraft guns (ZU-23)
local shells on the roof of the building. Instantly appeared white
flag. The battery broke into the barracks without firing, disarmed 84 people.
lovek l;tno-technical composition. The battery commander decided
all of them should be placed in a boiler room under heavy guard. Operation
passed without casualties on both sides.
When capturing the barracks, where the personnel of the Afghan
anti-aircraft artillery division, there was a complication. When
the capture group broke into the barracks, then the nerves of the division commander
could not stand it, and their promise not to resist did not
restrained. As soon as the first paratrooper passed him, he grabbed a pis-
aircraft and shot him in the back. Good still; that sun; cost only
wound.
A hot battle flared up in the hangars for aircraft; comrade and for command
(dispatching) point. They did not want a peaceful outcome and continued to
resistance calculation; you DShK. Anti-aircraft battery of large caliber, which
paradise kept the paratroopers and the ZKP at gunpoint, although she was ready,
did not even have time to load the guns.
Forty minutes later the battle began to subside. I started getting reports
that all objects are blocked, the control tower and the air
the core is ready to receive; mu aircraft; comrade. to the medical battalion, which
was deployed to receive; ma and assist the wounded, received
three persons. There were no dead from our side in Bagram (emphasis added)
but by us - D.S.). Large-caliber machine guns; you and single machine gunners
ki continued to fire.
At the ZKP, the ZAS phone rang sharply (secret automatic
sky connection). I was immediately invited to the apparatus. As soon as I took the pipes
ku, I heard a female voice that warned me about what was happening to me
the Minister of Defense will speak. Naturally, I was surprised; By-
heard calm voice. The first thing I heard was the question: “How
situation?" I reported that the task was completed, no one was killed. In reply
“Thank you” sounded, and the machine fell silent.
The phone rang sharply again. This time the deputy called.
commander of the Airborne Forces for combat training, Lieutenant General V. Kos-
rear; in which he transmitted the order: “In Bagram, one 345th RAP remains.
357th RAP, all special units and ZKP in thirty minutes to depart for the city
genus Kabul. Upon arrival at the place receive tasks. I tried to explain
tell him that I can’t leave in thirty minutes, because I’m going;
arrow. He asked permission to enter in an hour. In response, I heard a sharp
scolding and threatening to go to trial. With this request, I had to
go to the head of the operation, Lieutenant General N.N. Guskov.
After listening to me carefully, he allowed the entire group to leave.
in one hour. I called all the unit commanders to the command post and
started setting tasks. As soon as he turned on the flashlight and illuminated
took a map, opened fire. Luckily no one was hurt. Everyone had to
urgently move and take cover behind the combat vehicles. Check out
from Bagram, the convoy was fired several times by single machine gunners
ki but sun; there were no casualties. Having made the march, all the troops arrived at
city of Kabul to the airfield. We were met by representatives of the operational
groups…”
Recall that the main forces were concentrated in Bagram
345th regiment, namely: the first (former "Osh" PDB of the 111th PDP) and
second battalion, artillery battalion and command of the regiment led by
Guard Colonel N.I. Serdyukov. The third battalion under the command
by the command of the guard captain A.M. Aliyev on the night of December 25, 1979
was landed by landing method at the Kabul airfield.
Kabul the capital seemed
The landing force is ready.
BMD roared, and everyone took
For an automatic. The order to the fighters was read.
The main forces of the 103rd Vitebsk division also began to arrive here.
airborne forces (350th RAP and 317th RAP), which on the evening of December 27 was
already in Kabul and participated in the Baikal-79 operation,
capturing 17 major government facilities, including
and the Taj Beck presidential palace, which housed Hafizullah
Amine. The third battalion of the 345th regiment, as well as the first and second PDb
in Bagram, it was necessary to capture objects at the Kabul airfield
immediately after receiving the signal "Storm-333". This historical sign
the cash was received at the airport at 2030 hours already at t;
me days. Captain Aliyev's paratroopers tasked with capturing the indicated
objects at the Kabul airfield were completed quite quickly. AT 21
hour the airfield was at the mercy of the winged guards.
The reconnaissance of the 345th regiment was destined to participate on December 27 in
operation "Baikal-79". The plan for this operation was the result of a collective
active work of the Ministry of Defense and the KGB of the USSR. Among its
Botchikov was also a representative of the Airborne Forces, Guards Colonel A.V. Kukushkin,
Chief airborne intelligence. (After graduating from military school in
1943 fought on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War. There were two
wait wounded. Participated in the Berlin operation. From 1948 to 1951
studied at the Military Academy. Frunze, then served in the Far
East in the 37th Guards Airborne Corps. In 1968
participated in the operation to send troops to Czechoslovakia. Under V.F.
Margelov was the head of intelligence of the Airborne Forces. In December 1979 - Jan-
ware 1980s - Chief of Staff of the Operational Group of the Airborne Forces in Afghanistan
nystan. Participated in the planning and organization of the commissioning of parts
Airborne Forces in the DRA. He served in the Armed Forces for 43 years, 34 of them in the Airborne Forces).
According to the plan of operation "Baikal-79" by the combined forces of the Soviet
grouping (about 10 thousand people), consisting of the Airborne Forces (103rd Airborne Forces,
units of the 345th GO PDP), special groups of the KGB ("Thunder"), KUOS ("Ze-
nit"), a company of border guards and special forces of the GRU General Staff ("Muslim" ba-
talion), it was necessary to capture 17 most important objects of state
nogo and military significance. Among these objects were radio and television
center. The capture of these buildings was entrusted to the scouts of the 345th regiment.
It is no coincidence that this task was entrusted to a reconnaissance company, which
commanded by senior lieutenant A.V. Popov. This elite sub-
division of the Fergana regiment was necessary at any cost to capture
radio and television center; after all, Babrak Karmal, who by the end of the day 27
December was destined to become the new president of the DRA, it was
drink with an appeal to the citizens of Afghanistan.
More; December 21, 1979 Alexander Popov's reconnaissance for four
r;x BMD is relocated to Kabul. The company was reinforced by a branch
anti-aircraft gunners (ZU-23), and the capture group included several fighters from
special forces "Zenith" under the command of Major Anatoly
Ryabinin.
Before the start of the operation to capture these objects, there was no time left.
how many days. During this time, it was necessary to make reconnaissance. Not-
it was necessary to calculate the options for the exit of the capture group to the object
there, to study the defense system and the location of fire weapons and armor
non-technicians. The leaders of the group coped with this task, the plan was
the grip of the radio and television center was drawn up on the eve of the hour "H". essence
the plan was as follows. The external territory of objects
wounded a tank company (eleven tanks and several BMP-1s). Fighters
reconnaissance companies were supposed to suddenly break into the territory, cut off
fire crews from combat vehicles, thus not giving the Afghan
tankers to return fire. The focus was on surprise
for the paratroopers had only four "beemdashki". After liquidation
the outer belt of protection by paratroopers of reconnaissance officers -
Zenit soldiers break into the building of the radio and television center and, having suppressed
resistance of the internal guards, seize objects and take them
under defense. The difficulty was that during the assault on the internal
it was necessary at all costs not to damage them
radio and television equipment and electrical communications; after all, almost
immediately after the overthrow of Amin and the capture of the most important objects in Kabul
on the radio with an appeal to the population of Afghanistan was supposed to
drink the new leader of Afghanistan and the PDPA Babrak Karmal. Plan
received approval from the leadership of the Task Force of the Airborne Forces in Kabul.
Colonel A.V. Kukushkin put the reconnaissance company of the 345th regiment, respectively
challenging task.
The start of the general operation in Kabul "Baikal-79" was scheduled for
19 hours 30 minutes. 15-20 minutes before the hour "H" reconnaissance
she began to covertly advance towards the objects, preparing for the assault. Exactly in
the scheduled time, the operation started. As planned, once
paratroopers from two directions (from the side of the US Embassy
and a communication center) broke into the external territory of the radio and television center
quite suddenly, they acted boldly and boldly, in Margelov's way.
From anti-tank grenades; Comrade guards almost immediately knocked out three
tank and one infantry fighting vehicle. This destroyed Afghan armored vehicle
should burn until early morning, shaking the atmosphere with explosions
shells exploding in the ammunition rack. Sun; happened so unexpectedly
Afghans, that their will and fighting spirit were paralyzed, on the resistance
these people were incapable of doing so. Ready to fire three infantry fighting vehicles, seven
tanks (apart from the wrecked ones) did not open fire on the paratroopers. De-
lo was done. Zenit officers quickly rushed into
building and stormed it. Some Afghan citizens
technical staff of the radio and television center, as is clear from some
sources, thanks Soviet soldiers for liberation from the yoke
Amin." One fact should be noted. Objects stormed by reconnaissance
company and Zenit, were not far from the American embassy
stva. During this skirmish, which began suddenly,
the air was so shaking from explosions and shots that the embassy workers
the United States were subjected to panic horror when they saw queues from the
piercing bullets; diplomatic workers began to hide under the
ly and beds, someone from fear managed to hide in the basement
research institutes. Soon on the radio, the newly elected president of the DRA, Babrak Karmal
delivered an address to the Afghan people.
During this almost fleeting battle (just over half an hour)
The Veteran side did not suffer irretrievable losses. From reconnaissance
four fighters received censure, one of them was heavy; loe (in the legs). In a group
Zenit soldiers were not wounded. Among the Afghans, seven warriors were
killed. The entire contingent of guarding the facility (a little over 100 people) was
n; n.
The operation was thus successfully carried out. Command-
reconnaissance director Senior Lieutenant Alexander Popov and his deputies
Tel Loktev were awarded the Order of the Red Star. Combat
hail was awarded to several fighters of this unit. Through
day after the end of the general operation "Baikal-79" reconnaissance was
returned to the Bagram air base, where almost the entire 345th was stationed
regiment GO PDP.
As already noted, general plan operation "Baikal-79" was
the mastery by storm of the 17 most significant states is envisaged
military and military installations in Kabul. The main idea of this operation is
tion was to physically remove Amin from the helm
power and prevent the faithful of this damned president from
forces to maintain the regime. Therefore, according to the plan of operation "Baikal-
79", provided for a separate and most important operation for
the capture of the Taj Beck presidential palace and the physical liquidation of Ami-
on the. This operation, codenamed "Agate", was supposed to
be carried out by the KGB and the GRU MO, namely: two groups
officer special forces - "Thunder" and "Zenith", as well as the so-called. "Muslim-
skim" battalion ("musbat"). All of these divisions were
subordinated to the guard colonel G.I. Boyarinov (the only official
Tser, who already had combat experience in conducting special operations). Advice-
It was decided by the military leadership in Kabul to strengthen the "musbat"
elite airborne unit from the 345th regiment. The choice fell on
9th company of senior lieutenant Valery Vostrotin. Recall that this
the company was on the soil of Afghanistan the first of the Fer-
Ghanaian regiment (December 1, 1979). On the morning of December 26, by order
regiment commander N.I. Serdyukov 9th company V.A. Vostrotin, as well as a platoon of vocational schools
under the command of the guard captain Azhislamov and lieutenant A.
Sevostyanov were sent to Kabul, to the Dar-ul-Aman building. Ro-
they were ordered to reinforce the "Muslim" battalion. About the upcoming
The paratroopers did not know about the next assault. In the premises of this facility,
The “Muslim” battalion (520 people) was located right there, which
officially had to protect the person of Amin. For paratroopers
location took two rooms on the second floor of this building.
Here, the guards were dressed in the uniform of soldiers of the Afghan army, as
and a Musbat soldier. Some paratroopers with a large stature
it turned out to be problematic to change into a foreign form. V.A. Vostrotin
recalls: “The personnel of the company settled down in one room.
The officers are in another. We were given an Afghan uniform and ordered to
dress up a soldier. The form was mostly small, and I have the most
the little soldier was 1 meter 78 cm tall. But that's okay - change your clothes.
Together with us, the KGB officers were also dressed.”
So, the assault group under the leadership of Colonel
G.I. Boyarinov had to perform an almost impossible task -
small forces to capture the presidential palace of Amin, which in
In those conditions, it was an impregnable object for the Shuravi. This
the palace was built yet; in the 30s. 20th century by German architects
was located on a 20-meter hill on the outskirts of Kabul and was surrounded;
strong walls. The palace had a strong defense system, approaches
mines were mined to him, from the side of Kabul the only
vein serpentine road. According to the plan of operation "Agat", the
a new role in the capture of the Taj Beck was assigned to the special groups "Thunder" (24
people, head Major M. Romanov) and Zenit (30 people, head
tel major Ya. Sem;nov), who, breaking into the palace building,
should have eliminated Amin. "Muslim" battalion (154
oo SpN) blocks the 1st and 3rd tank battalions of the Afghans, guarding
guarding the presidential palace, enabling the main assault
group to break through to the Taj Beck and capture the object.
It is December 27, 1979 - the moment of the start of the general operation
"Baikal-79". On this historic day, assault units
grouping tasks were set several times. It is known that commanders
units were assembled three times to set tasks: the first
broadcasting - at 14.00, the second - at 15.00 and the third - at 18.15. On the last
(third) meeting, the start time of the operation was scheduled for
19.00.
The commander of the 9th company of the 345th GO RAP received from Major General
Yu.I. Drozdov combat mission to block and neutralize the 2nd
Afghan motorized rifle battalion. Vostrotintsy should have
go to the line indicated by him (battalion parade ground) and fire; m from all
weapons (including with guns and bullets; comrade of their BMD) to suppress resistance
the movement of the 2nd battalion, blocking it.
At the beginning of the eighth hour in the evening, the 9th company on "beemdash" arrived
was built in a common column, taking a place behind the Musbat armored personnel carriers. AT
half past seven, the column moved to the designated lines. When
a string of BMD approached the Taj Beck Palace, the paratroopers opened
fire on the windows of the second and third floors of the facility. This action was
provided for the task. However, the fire on the palace fighters
The 9th company could only be led with automatic weapons, since before
a rampart passed through the palace, which did not allow firing at the Taj
Beck from smoothbore guns with BMD. In just a few minutes 9-
I company went to the location of the 2nd Afghan battalion. Paratroopers
started to complete the task.
Here is how Valery Aleksandrovich himself describes this military action
Vostrotin: “Having advanced to the parade ground of the 2nd battalion, we turned around
into the chain and opened fire from all barrels at the barracks. By us opened
fire from the rear. We left the battalion headquarters in the rear. From it they led
fire on us. We have losses. Private Kalmagambetov died.
Private Baryshnikov was wounded. I ordered my deputy to
suppress fire from the battalion headquarters. 1st Platoon deployed to the side
headquarters and opened fire on him. After a while the fire from there
subsided, and the Afghans who were there, led by the battalion commander
surrendered to us. The battalion commander offered to go to the ba-
talon and agree on a ceasefire and the surrender of the battalion. I'm with-
said. Reported to Kholbaev. That one is swearing at me. Promised to give
me before the tribunal. I ordered my deputy to return the command
ra battalion. He managed to catch up with him and bring him back. By morning, resistance
the laziness subsided. Those who did not run away, we captured and drove into
pit next to the battalion headquarters. One platoon moved to
horn from Darm-ul-Aman.
After some time, paratroopers came out to meet them - 3 BMD
and a platoon from the artillery division (3 D-30 guns) from the 350th regiment of the 103rd division.
I went out to meet them and introduced myself. They were commanded by a senior
lieutenant Soldatenko, with whom we studied together in Ryazan
school. He started to check if I'm really who I am
I give out: I began to ask questions who was the company commander at the school and
etc. When he recognized me, he drove closer. We talk a little with him
Riley. Neither he nor I disclosed their tasks. After talking to me, he
turned his group around and they drove back. Over time
Kholbaev got in touch and warned that tanks were coming towards us.”
It should be recognized, perhaps, that daring and effective actions
actions of paratroopers of the 9th company at the turn of the 2nd Afghan battalion were
whether else; due to the powerful fire support of the famous "Shi-
lok", ZSU-23 (23-mm quadruple anti-aircraft gun on a common self-
running base). Several "Shilok" during the assault led a frantic
shooting at the Taj Beck, as well as at the BMP of the 3rd Afghan motorized rifle
companies. Possessing a very high rate of fire (2 thousand shots)
catch per minute from one barrel), "Shilki" turned out to be a formidable weapon,
bringing fear and awe to the Afghan fighters. Two other such
thread self-propelled installations with their hurricane fire; m faithfully support
lived the 9th company, neutralizing the 2nd Afghan battalion.
With the suppression of the resistance of the 2nd Afghan battalion, participation
The 9th company of Vostrotin in the special operation "Agat" did not end. Nearly
immediately the paratroopers had to participate in more; one combat action.
Commander - "Musbat" Major H.T. Kholbaev handed over to Vostrotin
walkie-talkies that columns of Afghan tanks are moving towards the Taj Beck. How later do you
it was clear that this tank battalion was the only unit
Kabul garrison, who decided to come to the aid of Amin. Vale-
riy Alexandrovich Vostrotin recalls: “We put forward; d
ATGMs and began to wait. After a while, 3 columns appeared
tanks. By the number of tanks, we determined what was moving towards us
tank battalion. As they approached, we shot several
to tanks from ATGMs, one T-55 tank and one BRDM tried to go into
towards the General Staff Palace, but we caught up with them and stopped them. There is
and the battalion commander. Meanwhile, the crews of the remaining tanks
kov also surrendered. We put them all with the rest of the prisoners in a cauldron.
van. When the situation calmed down a little, I went to the Taj Beck and
reported on the completion of the task. Drozdov thanked me and said,
that will represent me for the Hero of the Soviet Union. After doc-
Lada I returned to the company. After a while, trucks arrived.
tires into which we loaded the prisoners. Our dead and wounded
we loaded into our machines, which were supposed to accompany
prisoners in position. I went with them."
Special operation "Agat" to remove Hafizullah Amin from power
was successfully completed in less than one hour. During the assault
of the Taj Beck Palace by the officers of "Thunder", "Zenith" and "Muslim"
battalion President Amin was killed; Two people were also killed in the shootout.
his minor son. The President's young daughter,
fired from a pistol during the assault, was wounded in the legs; e; and other
Some of Amin's relatives were imprisoned in the political prison of Pulichar-
hee). By nine o'clock in the evening, the general operation "Baikal-79" was in
overall completed. As planned, the most important state
objects in Kabul and Bagram were in the hands of the Soviet troops and special
naz. At 8:45 pm, the newly-minted president of the DRA, Babrak Kar-
Mal made an appeal to the people of Afghanistan (or rather, according to
Diocommunications reproduced Karmal's address, recorded
in advance on a tape recorder; nku).
For the success of Operation Baikal-79, carried out on December 27
1979 in Kabul and Bagram, paratroopers of the 345th GO RAP and 103rd Airborne Division
paid with irretrievable losses. The first blood was shed,
were the first dead. According to the list of soldiers of the 345th Airborne Regiment,
who died on Afghan soil from 1979 to 1989, on the day when
the signal "Storm-333" sounded, 8 guardsmen said goodbye to their lives -
paratroopers; in the indicated list of 412 names, these first died
Our warriors are numbered: 71, 89, 137, 143, 266, 280, 305, 396.
Here are their names:
1. guard corporal, art. ATGM operator Golovnya Oleg Pavlo-
HIV - December 27, 1979;
2. guard Lance Sergeant, squad leader of the Twins
Alexey Sergeevich - December 27, 1979, Bagram air base;
3. guard corporal, grenade shooter; tchik Kalmagombetov
Amangeldy Shamshitovich - December 27, 1979, President-
the Taj Beck Palace;
4. Guards Private Kashkin Valery Yurievich - December 27
1979;
5. private guard, shooter Ochkin Vladimir Ivanovich - 27 de-
December 1979, Bagram Air Base;
6. private guard, driver Vladimir Povoroznyuk
Vasilyevich - December 27, 1979;
7. private guard, anti-aircraft gunner Savoskin Vladimir Va-
silevich - December 27, 1979;
8. private guard, Art. radio operator Shelestov Mikhail
Vasilyevich - December 27, 1979
Blessed memory to them!
1179th artillery regiment;
62nd separate tank battalion (from 1985 to 1989);
742nd separate battalion communications;
105th separate anti-aircraft missile division;
130th Guards Separate Engineer Battalion;
1388th separate battalion of material support;
115th Guards Separate Medical and Sanitary Battalion;
During the conduct of hostilities on the territory of the Republic of Afghanistan, the irretrievable losses of the division amounted to 907 people. Among the dead were 96 officers, 12 ensigns, 184 sergeants and 615 ordinary paratroopers. Missing in the division - 10 people.
In a critical situation, the paratroopers showed true examples of courage, heroism and courage. They climbed up sheer cliffs Afghan mountains to defeat the Mujahideen groups sent from Pakistan, covered the approaches to Kabul, served in the hot sands of Puli-Khumri, fought fierce battles with opposition troops in Kandahar province under hot winds, saved Afghan children, the elderly, and women from hunger and disease.
During this period, more than 11,000 internationalist soldiers who served in the division were awarded orders and medals. Of these: the Order of Lenin - 16 people, the Order of the Red Banner - 138 people, the Order of the Red Star - 3277 people, the medal "For Courage" - 3891 people, the medal "For Military Merit" - 2902 people.
On the Battle Banner of the formation, the Order of Lenin was added to the Orders of the Red Banner and Kutuzov II degree in 1980.
The pride of the paratroopers was the feats and military service of fellow soldiers awarded the high title of Hero of the Soviet Union: guards senior sergeants N. Chepik and A. Mironenko (1980) posthumously; Guards Sergeant A. I. Israfilov (1981) posthumously; Major General A. Slyusar and Guard Major A. Soluyanov (1983); guard corporal A. Koryavin (1985) posthumously; Guard Senior Lieutenant V. Zadorozhny (1986) posthumously; Major General P. Grachev (1988) - these names will forever remain in the history of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division. People in the Vitebsk region also remember those fellow Belarusians who did not return because of the Hindu Kush. In the regional center, five streets are named after Leonid Belitsky, Oleg Tuvalsky, Alexander Danilenkov, Anatoly Mavrin and Stanislav Gurinov.
From Afghanistan, the 103rd Guards Airborne Division returned to its permanent deployment in Vitebsk on February 15, 1989. For almost ten years, faithful to their duty, internationalist warriors in difficult geographical and climatic conditions, sometimes in critical situations, showed true examples of courage, heroism and courage.
Matheun, A. Vitebsk Airborne Division / A. Mateyun. - Vitebsk, 1995. - 61 p.
LITERATURE
1. Eckel, L.[about the military correspondent of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division Grigory Vasilievich Sokolovsky] / L. Ekel // Vitebsk Vedomosti. - 1995. - 27 Oct. - p. 6.
2. Kataev, G. N.[about the sergeant of the 357th Airborne Regiment of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division Alexander Vladimirovich Zaitsev] / G. N. Kataev [ Electronic resource]. - 2011. - Access mode: http://www.e-reading.co.uk/book.php?book=1008120 . — Date of access: 21.10.13.
3. Kuzminich, T.[about the head of communications of the 103rd airborne division] / T. Kuzminich // Vitsebsk workers. - 1995. - 17th. - S. 2.
4. Kucherova, L.[about the head of the special department of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division] / L. Kucherova // Military counterintelligence of Belarus: Fates, tragedies, victories ... / V. N. Nadtachaev; Fig.: V. A. Lyakhor; photo: A. V. Strekh, V. N. Nadtachaev. - Minsk: Cavalier, 2008. - S. 280-293.
5. Kucherova, L.[about the officer military counterintelligence 103rd Guards Airborne Division Vladimir Shulge] / L. Kucherova // Army. - 2003. - No. 3. - S. 30-37.
6. Kucherova, L.[about the commander of the 357th Airborne Regiment of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division Lyutsian Stanislavovich Surint] / L. Kucherova // Proza.ru [Electronic resource]. — Access mode: http://www.proza.ru/2012/01/13/1107. — Date of access: 12/24/13.
[about the deputy commander for the rear of the 130th separate engineer-sapper battalion as part of the 103rd airborne division Vladimir Ivanovich Tyras] / V. Senkov // Vіtsbichy = Vitbichi. - 2011. - 15 lit. - S. 2.
12. Senkov, V.[about the platoon commander of the 317th Airborne Regiment of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division Grigory Nikolayevich Titarenko] / V. Senkov // Vіtsbichy = Vitbichi. - 2013. - 1 Aug. - p. 3.
13. Senkov, V.[about the head of the special department of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division Viktor Aleksandrovich Sheiko-Koshuba] / V. Senkov // Evening Vitebsk. - 2008. - July 10. - S. III.
14. Skachkov A./ A. Skachkov; A. Mateyun talked // Guardsman. - 1995. - 20 Jan. - S. 1.
15. Solonets, G./ G. Solonets, V. Epishin // For the glory of the Motherland. - 2003. - February 15. - S. 2.
103rd Separate Guards Airborne Brigade- mobile brigade armed forces RB. Refers to the branch of the special operations forces of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus. Year of formation - 1944 (as a division), 1993 - as a separate mobile brigade. Stationed on Frunze Avenue. The main task of the brigade is the training of units of the special operations forces of the Republic of Belarus.
History of the brigade
In August 1944, from the units and formations that arrived from the active army, as well as from the newly formed ones, three guards airborne corps were created as part of the airborne troops - the 37th, 38th and 39th, which in October of the same year were consolidated into the Separate Guards Airborne Army. It included nine guards airborne divisions - the 13th, 98th and 99th (37th VDK), 11th, 12th and 16th (38th VDK), 8th, 14th and 100th (39th VDK). But in this form, the army did not last long. In December 1944, it was decided to send airborne troops into battle in the most important sector as rifle divisions. The reorganization of the Airborne Forces began according to the states of rifle divisions. As a result, the combined arms 9th guards army as part of three buildings (37th, 38th and 39th). Corps and divisions began to be called rifle, some divisions received new numbers.
On the basis of the order of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command No. 0047 dated 12/18/1944 and the order of the commander of the 37th Guards Rifle Svir Corps No. 0073 dated December 28, 1944, the 103rd Guards Airborne Division is formed on the basis of the 13th Guards Airborne Division rifle division.
On June 3, 1946, the 103rd Guards Rifle Division was reorganized into the 103rd Guards Red Banner Order of Kutuzov 2nd Class Airborne Division. Since 1946, the division has been stationed in Vitebsk.
In 1968, the 103rd Airborne Division took part in Operation Danube during the invasion of Czechoslovakia.
The division participated in the war in Afghanistan from the first (December 25, 1979) to the last (February 15, 1989) day.
In 1993, on the basis of the division's administration, the administration of the Mobile Forces of the Republic of Belarus was created. On the basis of the 317th infantry brigade - the 317th separate mobile brigade On the basis of the 350th infantry brigade - the 350th separate mobile brigade On the basis of the 357th infantry brigade - the 357th separate training mobile battalion. Artillery regiment - disbanded
In 1995, the Mobile Forces Directorate was transferred to the ground forces. In the same year, the 357th oumobb was disbanded.
In 2002, the 350th omobbr and the mobile forces department were disbanded. At the end of 2002, the banner of the 103rd airborne division was handed over to the 317th separate mobile brigade. From that moment on, it became known as the 103rd separate mobile brigade.
Until the end of 2010, on the basis of the training ground of the 103rd guards separate mobile brigade "Losvido" training center training of special operations forces. This center will ensure the implementation of measures to improve the special training of military personnel, the coordination of units of the SOF of the Armed Forces.
The Losvido training ground of military unit 52287 is located near the village of Mashkino of the Zaronovsky village council. Within a radius of 5 kilometers settlements, - Big Losvido, Savchenki, Pancakes, Zaronovo, Poloniki, Ivanovo.
August 2, 2016 103rd Separate Guards Mobile Brigade was renamed to 103rd Separate Guards Airborne Brigade.
Aviation scenes from the cult film for paratroopers "In the Zone of Special Attention" (1977) were filmed in Vitebsk at the military airfield Vitebsk-Severny, the 3rd Guards Military Transport Aviation Division, based in Vitebsk in 1947-1996.
Gallery
Paratroopers at the airfield in Zhurzhevo. Frame from the film "In the zone of special attention" (1977)
Paratroopers at the airfield in Zhurzhevo. Frame from the film "In the zone of special attention" (1977)
Memorial to fallen soldiers in Afghanistan on the territory of the 103 mobile brigade.
Belarus Belarus
(abbr. 103rd Guards. vdd) - a unit that was part of the Airborne Troops of the Armed Forces of the USSR and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus.
History of formation
The Great Patriotic War
The division was formed in 1946 as a result of the reorganization of the 103rd Guards. rifle division.
On December 18, 1944, on the basis of the order of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, the 103rd Guards Rifle Division began to form on the basis of the 13th Guards Airborne Division.
The formation of the division took place in the city of Bykhov, Mogilev region of the Byelorussian SSR. The division arrived here from its former location - the city of Teikovo, Ivanovo region of the RSFSR. Almost all of the division's officers had significant combat experience. Many of them landed behind German lines in September 1943 as part of the 3rd Guards airborne brigade, providing our troops with the crossing of the Dnieper.
By the beginning of January 1945, units of the division were fully equipped with personnel, weapons, military equipment (January 1, 1945 is considered to be the birthday of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division).
Participated in hostilities in the area of Lake Balaton during the Vienna offensive operation.
On May 1, the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of April 26, 1945 on awarding the division with the Orders of the Red Banner and Kutuzov of the 2nd degree was read to the personnel. 317th and 324th Guards rifle regiments divisions were awarded the orders of Alexander Nevsky, and 322nd Guards Rifle Regiment- Order of Kutuzov 2nd degree.
On May 12, units of the division entered the Czechoslovak city of Trebon, in the vicinity of which they camped, starting planned combat training. On this, the participation of the division in the battles against fascism was completed. During the entire period of hostilities, the division destroyed more than 10 thousand Nazis, captured about 6 thousand soldiers and officers.
For their heroism, 3521 servicemen of the division were awarded orders and medals, and five guardsmen were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
post-war period
By May 9, 1945, the division concentrated near the city of Szeged (Hungary), where it remained until the end of the year. By February 10, 1946, she arrived at the place of her new deployment in the Seltsy camp in the Ryazan region.
On June 3, 1946, in accordance with the decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the division was reorganized into 103rd Guards Red Banner Order of Kutuzov 2nd Class Airborne and had the following composition:
- Divisional Command and Headquarters
- 317th Guards Order of Alexander Nevsky Airborne Regiment
- 322nd Guards Order of Kutuzov Airborne Regiment
- 39th Guards Red Banner Order of Suvorov 2nd Class Airborne Regiment
- 15th Guards Artillery Regiment
- 116th separate guards anti-tank artillery battalion
- 105th Separate Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion
- 572nd Separate Kielce Red Banner Self-Propelled Division
- separate guards training battalion
- 130th separate engineer battalion
- 112th separate guards reconnaissance company
- 13th Separate Guards Signal Company
- 274th transport autorote
- 245th field bakery
- 6th separate company amphibious support
- 175th separate medical and sanitary company
On August 5, 1946, the personnel began combat training according to the plan of the airborne troops. Soon the division was redeployed to the city of Polotsk.
In 1955-1956, the 114th Guards Vienna Red Banner Airborne Division was disbanded, which was stationed near the Borovukha station of the Polotsk region. Two of its regiments - the 350th Guards Red Banner Order of Suvorov 3rd Class Parachute Regiment and the 357th Guards Red Banner Order of Suvorov 3rd Class Parachute Regiment - became part of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division. The 322nd Guards Order of Kutuzov 2nd Class Airborne Regiment and the 39th Guards Red Banner Order of Suvorov 2nd Class Airborne Regiment, which had previously been part of the 103rd Airborne Division, were also disbanded.
In accordance with the directive of the General Staff of January 21, 1955 No. org / 2/462396, in order to improve the organization of airborne troops by April 25, 1955, in the 103rd Guards. VDD left 2 regiments. The 322nd Guards was disbanded. pdp.
In connection with the translation Guards Airborne Divisions to a new organizational structure and an increase in their numbers were formed as part of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division:
- 133rd separate anti-tank artillery battalion (numbering 165 people) - one of the battalions of the 1185th artillery regiment of the 11th Guards Airborne Division was used. The point of deployment is the city of Vitebsk.
- 50th separate aeronautical detachment (numbering 73 people) - aeronautical units of the regiments of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division were used. The point of deployment is the city of Vitebsk.
On March 4, 1955, the Directive General Staff, about numbering ordering military units. According to it, on April 30, 1955, the serial number of 572nd separate self-propelled artillery battalion 103rd Guards. vdd on 62nd.
December 29, 1958 on the basis of the order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR No. 0228 7 individual military transport aviation squadrons (ovtae) An-2 VTA aircraft (100 people each) were transferred to the Airborne Forces. According to this order, on January 6, 1959, by the Directive of the Commander of the Airborne Forces in the 103rd Guards. vdd transferred 210th Separate Military Transport Aviation Squadron (210th ovtae) .
From August 21 to October 20, 1968, the 103rd Guards. The airborne division, by order of the government, was on the territory of Czechoslovakia and participated in the armed suppression of the Prague Spring.
Participation in major military exercises
103rd Guards. VDD participated in the following major exercises:
Participation in the Afghan war
Combat activities of the division
On December 25, 1979, units of the division crossed the Soviet-Afghan border by air and became part of the Limited Contingent of Soviet Troops in Afghanistan.
Throughout the entire period of stay on Afghan soil, the division took an active part in military operations of various scales.
For the successful completion of the assigned combat missions in the Republic of Afghanistan, the 103rd division was awarded the highest state award of the USSR - the Order of Lenin.
The first combat mission assigned to the 103rd division was Operation Baikal-79 to capture important facilities in Kabul. The operation plan provided for the capture of 17 key facilities in the Afghan capital. Among them are the buildings of ministries, headquarters, a prison for political prisoners, a radio center and a television center, a post office and a telegraph. At the same time, it was planned to block the headquarters, military units and formations of the Armed Forces of the DRA located in the Afghan capital by paratroopers and units of the 108th motorized rifle division arriving in Kabul.
Parts of the division were among the last to leave Afghanistan. February 7, 1989 crossed the State border of the USSR: 317th Guards Airborne Regiment - February 5, Division Command, 357th Guards Airborne Regiment and 1179th Artillery Regiment. The 350th Guards Airborne Regiment was withdrawn on February 12, 1989.
The grouping under the command of the guard Lieutenant Colonel V. M. Voitko, which was based on a reinforced 3rd Airborne Battalion 357th regiment (guard commander Major Boltikov V.V.), from the end of January to February 14, she was guarding the Kabul airport.
At the beginning of March 1989, the entire personnel of the division returned to their former location in the Byelorussian SSR.
Awards for participation in the Afghan war
During afghan war 11 thousand officers, ensigns, soldiers and sergeants who served in the division were awarded orders and medals:
On the battle banner of the division, the Order of Lenin was added to the orders of the Red Banner and Kutuzov 2nd degree in 1980.
Heroes of the Soviet Union of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division
For courage and heroism shown in providing international assistance to the Republic of Afghanistan, by Decrees of the Presidium Supreme Soviet USSR, the following servicemen of the 103rd Guards were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. vdd:
- Chepik Nikolai Petrovich (Russian). Site "Heroes country".
- Mironenko Alexander Grigorievich (Russian). Site "Heroes country".- April 28, 1980 (posthumously)
- Israfilov Abas Islamovich (Russian). Site "Heroes country".- December 26, 1990 (posthumously)
- Slyusar Albert Evdokimovich (Russian). Site "Heroes country".- November 15, 1983
- Soluyanov Alexander Petrovich (Russian). Site "Heroes country".- November 23, 1984
- Koryavin Alexander Vladimirovich (Russian). Site "Heroes country".
- Zadorozhny Vladimir Vladimirovich (Russian). Site "Heroes country".- October 25, 1985 (posthumously)
- Grachev, Pavel Sergeevich (Russian). Site "Heroes country".- May 5, 1988
Composition of the 103rd Guards. vdd
- Division management
- 317th Guards Airborne Regiment
- 357th Guards Airborne Regiment
- 1179th Guards Red Banner Artillery Regiment
- 62nd separate tank battalion
- 742nd Separate Guards Communications Battalion
- 105th Separate Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion
- 20th separate repair battalion
- 130th Separate Guards Engineer Battalion
- 1388th Separate Logistics Battalion
- 175th separate medical battalion
- 80th Separate Guards Reconnaissance Company
Note :
- Due to the need to strengthen parts of the division 62nd separate self-propelled artillery battalion which was armed with obsolete self-propelled artillery mounts ASU-85, in 1985 it was reorganized into 62nd separate tank battalion and received the T-55AM tanks. With the withdrawal of troops, this military unit was disbanded.
- Since 1982, in the line regiments of the division, all BMD-1s have been replaced with more protected and powerful weapons BMP-2s, which have a large motor resource
- As unnecessary, all regiments were disbanded airborne support companies
- The 609th separate airborne support battalion was not sent to Afghanistan in December 1979
Division in the period after the withdrawal from Afghanistan and before the collapse of the USSR
Business trip to Transcaucasia
In January 1990, due to the difficult situation in the Transcaucasus, they were reassigned from the Soviet army to the Border Troops of the KGB of the USSR 103rd Guards Airborne Division and the 75th motorized rifle division. In the combat mission, the indicated formations were assigned to strengthen the detachments border troops guarding the state border of the USSR with Iran and Turkey. The formations were subordinated to the KGB PV of the USSR from January 4, 1990 to August 28, 1991. .
At the same time, from the 103rd Guards. vdd were excluded 1179th artillery regiment of the division, 609th Separate Airborne Support Battalion and 105th Separate Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion.
It should be noted that the reassignment of the division to another department caused ambiguous assessments in the leadership of the Armed Forces of the USSR:
I must say that the 103rd division is one of the most honored in airborne troops. It has a glorious history dating back to the times of the Great Patriotic War. Never and nowhere did the division drop its dignity even in the post-war period. Glorious fighting traditions steadfastly lived in it. This is probably why in December 1979 the division c. among the first to enter Afghanistan and among the last to leave it in February 1989. The officers and soldiers of the division clearly fulfilled their duty to the Motherland. During these nine years, the division fought almost continuously. Hundreds and thousands of its servicemen were awarded government awards, more than ten people were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, including generals: A. E. Slyusar, P. S. Grachev, Lieutenant Colonel A. N. Siluyanov. It was a normal, cool airborne division, which does not put a finger in its mouth. At the end of the war in Afghanistan, the division returned to its native Vitebsk, in fact, to nothing. In almost ten years, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge. The barracks housing stock was transferred to other parts. The landfills were looted and seriously dilapidated. The division was met on its native side by a picture reminiscent, in the apt expression of General D.S. Sukhorukov, "an old village cemetery with rickety crosses." An impenetrable wall of social problems stood before the division (just out of combat). There were "smart heads" who, using the growing tension in society, proposed a non-standard move - to transfer the division to the State Security Committee. No division - no problem. And ... they handed it over, creating a situation where the division was no longer "VED", but also not "KGB". That is, no one needs it at all. "You ate two rabbits, I ate none, but on average one each." Combat officers have been turned into clowns. Green caps, green shoulder straps, blue vests, symbols on caps, shoulder straps and chest - paratrooper. Among the people, such a wild mixture of forms was aptly dubbed the “conductor”.