Flag of the 56th Airborne Brigade. The difference between the DShB and the Airborne Forces: their history and composition of the 56th Guards in a separate airborne assault brigade of the Airborne Forces

Flag "56 Airborne Brigade" (Kamyshin). An excellent memory for those who served with the 56th brigade in Afghanistan and served in peacetime.

Characteristics

• 56 DShB

56 Airborne Brigade. History of appearance

Perhaps, before starting a story about this famous military unit, for starters, you should watch a video of the 56th airborne brigade from Kamyshin, filmed recently.

It is customary to begin the history of the glorious 56th since the time of the Great Patriotic War. Then, in June 1943, the 7th Guards Airborne Brigade was created. In fairness, it should be noted that the best of the best entered it. The command carefully selected the fighters to create a brigade not only in terms of physical, but also in terms of ideological and patriotic parameters.

In essence, it took airborne elite devoted to the cause of the party and ready to defend the motherland to the last breath. Given the realities of the 43rd, another soldier simply would not have been suitable for the tasks assigned to the 7th brigade. As for the officers, they were selected even more carefully.

For some time the brigade was on the 4th Ukrainian Front. But in December of the same year, she was transferred to the Moscow Military District. There the brigade joined the 16th Guards Airborne Forces numbering 12,000 fighters. In truth, the division turned out to be very strong. Firstly, almost 100% of the officers had real combat experience.

Many were wounded and were sent to the division after the hospital. In addition, most of the rank and file were also "fired", which significantly increased the combat readiness of the division. As for technical and technical equipment, it was also on top.

In the 44th, the division moved to the Mogilev region, where it became part of the 38th Guards Airborne Forces. A couple of months later, the corps entered a separate VD army. Later, the 351st Guards rifle regiment. In 1945, the 351st regiment as part of the 106th Guards rifle division moved to Hungary. There was an offensive in the area of ​​Versheg - Budakessi - Fat - Bichke and the division was faced with the task of reaching positions.

In March, the 45th 351st Guards Rifle Regiment reached the Austro-Hungarian border. Later he participated in the Vienna, as well as the Paris offensive operation. And these are far from the only major battles where the 351st took part. As you can see, the 56th brigade has a glorious past, which has not been put to shame by its current fighters.

After the war, the 106th division was relocated to Tula. Subsequently, there were several more transformations, until the 56th OGDSh Brigade was formed in the 79th year.

56 Airborne Brigade. Afghanistan

In December of the same 79th year, the 56th brigade was sent to Afghanistan. Initial tasks: guarding the road in the Salang area, ensuring the movement of troops deep into Afghanistan. For all the time of participation in the conflict, the brigade took part in many operations, for which the fighters were repeatedly assigned to various awards. It is worth noting that Afghanistan was not the only hot spot visited by the fighters of the 56th. There was also Chechnya, Nagorno-Karabakh and much more.

56 Airborne Brigade. Kamyshin

After the war in Afghanistan, the brigade was transferred to the Turkmen SSR, the city of Yolotan. Military unit 33079 became the home for the fighters. After several “resettlements”, the brigade finally established itself with a permanent place of service, where it has been arriving to this day. It happened in 2000. A few years later, the brigade began to reorganize under the contract form of service, which had a very positive effect on living conditions, training and other important aspects.

brigade technique

We will not consider all the technical and technical equipment of the brigade. Let's dwell on only one model UAZ-3152 "Hussar" 2006 release. The brigade has been in service since 2010 and, I must say, it shows itself well.

The car has excellent cross-country ability (off-road fuel consumption 23-25l), as well as good fighting qualities. The car is equipped with a powerful Toyota engine (205 hp). The engine is covered on all sides with armored sheets. The gas tank is also reinforced with armor. The car can accommodate 5 paratroopers + 1 driver. As for weapons, it is possible to install 1 of 3 options:

• PKP "Pecheneg";
• 6P50 "Kord";
• AGS-17.

Ahead there is also a turret for "Kord".

Also in the fleet there are MTP-A2, MRM-MZ, MTO-AM, R-419MP and MRS-ARM.

ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION

56th Guards Separate Order Patriotic War First degree Don Cossack Airborne Assault Brigade originates from the 351st Guards Landing Airborne Regiment, formed from June 3 to July 28, 1946 on the basis of units of the 351st and 355th Guards Rifle Regiments and included in the 106th Guards airborne division 38 Guards Airborne Corps of Vienna.
The annual holiday of the brigade set the date of the formation of the 351st Guards Rifle Regiment - January 5, 1945.
In 1949, the 351st Guards Airborne Regiment was renamed the 351st Guards Airborne Regiment.
In 1960, the 351st Guards Airborne Regiment was transferred from the 106th Guards Airborne Division to the 105th Guards Airborne Division.
In 1979, the 351st Guards Airborne Regiment was reorganized into the 56th Guards Separate air assault brigade.
In 1989, the 56th Guards Separate Order of the Patriotic War First Class Airborne Assault Brigade was reorganized into the 56th Guards Separate Order of the Patriotic War First Class Airborne Brigade.
In 1997, the 56th Guards Separate Order of the Patriotic War of the first degree, the Don Cossack Airborne Brigade, was re-reformed into the 56th Guards Order of the Patriotic War of the First Degree, the Don Cossack air assault regiment, which became part of the 20th Guards Motorized Rifle Division.
In 2009, the 56th Guards Order of the Patriotic War, First Class, the Don Cossack Airborne Assault Regiment, was reorganized into the 56th Guards Separate Order of the Patriotic War, First Class, the Don Cossack Airborne Assault Brigade.
On July 1, 2010, it was reorganized into the 56th Guards Separate Order of the Patriotic War of the first degree, the Don Cossack Airborne Assault Brigade (light).

II. PARTICIPATION IN CAMPAIGNS, BATTLE, OPERATIONS

From February 20 to 25, 1945, the 351st Guards Rifle Regiment as part of the 106th Guards Rifle Division of the 38th Guards Rifle Corps was transferred to Hungary, where it fought as part of the 9th guards army 3rd Ukrainian front.
March 30, 1945, pursuing the retreating units of the enemy, the regiment crossed the Austro-Hungarian border. Acting on the left flank of the corps, in cooperation with other parts of the corps, he captured several cities and took part in the battles to capture the capital of Austria, the city of Vienna.
On April 23, 1945, the regiment was relieved by units of the 4th Guards Army and taken to rest on the outskirts of the city of Vienna.
On May 5, 1945, the regiment entered the territory of Czechoslovakia with a forced march and participated in the encirclement and defeat of a significant group of Germans.
On May 11, 1945, the regiment went to the banks of the Vltava River (Czechoslovakia), where it met with American troops. Here the combat path of the unit in the Great Patriotic War ended.
During the fighting, the regiment killed 1956, captured 633 enemy soldiers and officers, destroyed 26, 255 self-propelled guns and guns of various calibers, 11 armored personnel carriers, 1 aircraft and 18 enemy vehicles. 10 tanks, 16 self-propelled guns and guns of various calibers, 3 aircraft, 4 armored personnel carriers, 115 vehicles, 37 warehouses with military equipment were captured.
From June 1945 to November 1979, the regiment (brigade) did not take part in campaigns, battles, or operations.
1979 opened new page in combat way formations: Soviet troops entered Afghanistan to provide military assistance to the Afghan government in the fight against rebel gangs.
December 28, 1979 4th dshb brigade As part of the 40th Army, he was introduced into the territory of Afghanistan with the task of guarding and defending the Salang Pass and the Salange-Somalia tunnel to ensure the advance of Soviet troops into the southern regions of Afghanistan.
In January 1980, the entire brigade was introduced into the territory of Afghanistan. It is deployed in the area of ​​the city of Kunduz, leading fighting throughout Afghanistan.
During the period from January 1980 to December 1981, about 3000 rebels, 3 guns, 6 mortars, 12 cars, 44 pillboxes were destroyed during the fighting. More than 400 rebels were captured, more than 600 infantry units were captured.
From December 1 to December 5, 1981, the brigade was relocated to the area of ​​the city of Gardez, from where it continued to conduct military operations throughout Afghanistan.
During the period from January 1982 to June 1988, about 10,000 rebels, over 40 fortified areas and strongholds, more than 200 guns, rocket launchers and mortars, 47 vehicles, 83 pillboxes, 208 warehouses with military equipment, were destroyed during the hostilities, 45 caravans. Over 1000 rebels captured, over 1200 units captured small arms and grenade launchers, about 40 guns and mortars, 7 cars, 2 tanks, 85 warehouses with military equipment.
From June 12 to June 14, 1988, the brigade, after fulfilling its international duty, returned to its homeland.
For the successful completion of combat missions, many paratroopers were awarded government awards from the Soviet government and the leadership of the Republic of Afghanistan, and the commander of the paratrooper company of the guard, Senior Lieutenant Sergey Pavlovich Kozlov, was awarded the title of Hero Soviet Union.
From July 1988 to December 1989, the brigade did not take part in campaigns, battles, or operations.
During 1990, the brigade performed special tasks in the conditions state of emergency: from January 12 to March 26 - to maintain order in the cities of Baku, Meghri, Lankaran, Kurdamir of the Azerbaijan SSR; from June 5 to August 21 - to maintain order in the city of Uzgen, Kirghiz SSR.
From September 1990 to November 1994, the brigade did not take part in campaigns, battles, or operations.
From December 11, 1994 to October 25, 1996, the battalion tactical group of the brigade carried out combat missions to restore constitutional order in Chechen Republic.
From November 1996 to July 1999, the brigade (regiment) did not take part in campaigns, battles, or operations.
From August 1999 to June 2000, the regiment, and from June 2000 to November 2004, the battalion tactical group of the regiment carried out combat missions during the counter-terrorist operation in the Chechen Republic.
For courage and heroism shown in the performance of combat missions, three servicemen of the unit were awarded the title of Hero Russian Federation:
part-commander reconnaissance company Guards Sergeant Yury Vornovskoy (posthumously);
Deputy Commander of the Airborne Battalion of the Guards, Major Cherepanov Alexander Leonidovich;
the commander of the reconnaissance company of the guard, Captain Petrov Sergey Vasilievich.
From November 2004 to the present, the regiment (brigade) has not taken part in campaigns, battles, or operations.

III. AWARDS AND DIFFERENCES

The name "Guards", previously assigned to the 351st rifle regiment, when it was reorganized into the 351st landing airborne regiment, it was also retained for this regiment.
By order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces No. 034 dated November 21, 1984, the brigade was awarded the challenge Red Banner of the Military Council of the Ground Forces for high results in combat and political training and strengthening military discipline.
By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of May 4, 1985, for great merits in the armed defense of the Socialist Motherland, successes in combat and political training, and in connection with the 40th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, the brigade was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, I degree.
By order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR No. 0139 of July 11, 1990 for courage and military prowess shown in the performance of tasks of the Soviet government and the Minister of Defense of the USSR, the brigade was awarded the Pennant of the Minister of Defense of the USSR.
By Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 353-17 of April 22, 1994, the brigade was given the name Don Cossack.

IV. DISPOCATION CHANGES

From January to March 1945 - metro Starye Dorogi of the Byelorussian SSR (Belarusian Military District).
From March to June 1945 - Pisek, Czechoslovakia.
From June 1945 to January 1946 - Budapest, Hungary.
From March to May 1946 - the city of Teikovo (Obolsunovo camp) of the Ivanovo Region (Moscow Military District).
From May to October 1946 - camp Tesnitskoe Tula region(Moscow military district).
From October 1946 to August 1960 - the city of Efremov, Tula Region (Moscow Military District).
From August 1960 to December 1979 - the city of Chirchik, Tashkent region of the Uzbek SSR (Turkestan military district).
From December 1979 to January 1980 - the Kokaity airfield of the Jarkurgan district of the Surkhan-Darya region of the Uzbek SSR (40th army).
From January 1980 to December 1981 - Kunduz airfield, DRA (40th Army).
From December 1981 to June 1988 - the city of Gardez, DRA (40th Army).
From June 1988 to October 1992 - the city of Iolotan, Mary region of the Turkmen SSR (Turkestan military district, Airborne Forces).
From October 1992 to June 1993 - art. Zelenchukskaya, Karachay-Cherkessia (VDV).
From June 1993 to August 1998 - the city of Volgodonsk, Rostov Region (VDV, North Caucasian Military District).
From August 1998 to the present - Kamyshin Volgograd region(North Caucasian Military District).

The main purpose of the light assault brigade is the combined arms reserve. To increase mobility and speed of movement, the brigade has been completely re-equipped with vehicles. The main method of movement is the transfer of personnel and light weapons by air (helicopters), while equipment arrives under its own power. In the presence of a sufficient number of heavy helicopters, the transfer of equipment by air is also possible. In particular, this method of transportation was practiced in 2008 during exercises at the Ashuluk training ground, when GAZ-66 vehicles and D-30 howitzers were transferred to Mi-26s.
The issue of giving helicopters to the brigade is being worked out.
The main type of equipment - UAZ cars

In this case - model 315108 based on Hunter. Machines delivered in August 2010

In "winter clothes"

UAZ-3152 "Hussar" is also in service.

This car was produced in 2006, in the 56th brigade since the winter of 2010 (before that it was operated in the 22nd special forces brigade)

On asphalt, the car eats 18 liters of 92nd gasoline per 100 km, off-road - 23-25 ​​liters

There were no complaints about the permeability

At the autodrome

205-horse Toyota engine under the hood

The engine is covered with such armor plates. Front - armored blinds. The tank is also armored.

Inside view

The roof is very ascetic and shines with bare foam

Landing squad. According to the state, there should be 5 troops and 1 driver in the car

I traveled several kilometers in the troop compartment of the Hussar and have great sympathy for the soldiers whose vehicle it is. Firstly, because of the machine gunner’s platform, one or two paratroopers have to sit like this

You can sit sideways in the direction of travel, but then you need to lean with your back on a friend. Secondly, with my height of 180 cm, I either had to hunch over and bend down, or my head turned out to be in pursuit of the "tower", and in the presence of a spinning machine gun, this is fraught with injuries. I think from the legs of the machine gunner, who will spin around, the legs and eggs of the landing will also not be good

Thirdly, of course, there is a stove in the car, but in reality it warms only the people sitting in front (driver, commander), the rest are quite cool. Not least because of the doors in motion noticeably blowing. The gaps between the awning and the roof are also a good source of drafts, and in the dry season - dust.
Fourthly, we remember that in addition to people in the car, it is necessary to transport their property, i.e. 6 duffel bags, entrenching tool, tent, etc.

It is possible to install three types of weapons - an automatic grenade launcher of the AGS-17 type, a 6P50 "Kord" machine gun or a PKP "Pecheneg" machine gun
In the foreground is the turret under the Kord. Sections for machine gun boxes are provided under the seats

Mounts for various equipment and weapons are provided on the back door, but the first row of belts falls just at the level of the seats and rests against them, so it’s completely incomprehensible to me what can be placed there.

The side doors are equipped with folding windows, so that in the summer you can ride with a breeze, and if you wish, you can fire

To replace unarmored UAZ vehicles, protected vehicles should be supplied to the brigade. If earlier IVECO 65E19WM was planned for this, now it seems that the scales have tipped in favor of domestic "Tigers".

In 2011, the brigade underwent experimental military operation of 10 Scorpio-LSHA vehicles of the Zashchita corporation

The car is 40 cm wider than a regular UAZ, it has an independent suspension. It eats 13 liters of diesel fuel per 100 km on asphalt and about 17 liters off-road. The driver on a 5-point scale rated the cross-country ability as a solid four. He especially noted that it goes very smoothly on the road, especially when the troops are sitting behind, it does not fly on potholes like an UAZ.

Engine armor, like the "Hussar", the car does not have

Inside view.

At the commander's seat there is an opportunity to install a radio station in front, etc. equipment, there is an analogue of a table lamp. If necessary, the frame, together with the windshield, leans back onto the hood and you can fire directly in the direction of travel

For landing, the tailgate leans back

Step

The vehicle can accommodate 7 troops and 1 driver. One of the paratroopers, due to the placement of a spare wheel in the cabin, sits in the direction of travel. Seat belts for paratroopers are not provided.
I suggest changing the upholstery of the seats right away, because. in the driver's seat, after two or three months of operation, it simply rubbed off (see the view below)

This instance of the machine-gun turret is not installed, there is only a shoulder strap for it. I don’t quite understand what the machine gunner will stand on, either on the reclining back of his seat (will there be supports from below?), Or will there be a separate platform, but this is again a wild inconvenience for the rest of the paratroopers

Inside view on video

No automatic tire inflation

Side door

Let me remind you once again that the car was undergoing trial operation, the task of which was to identify shortcomings, which would then be corrected. One of the main problems is the awning: cool in winter and dusty in summer. At the beginning of this year, the next batch of Scorpion hard-top vehicles is expected to be delivered to the brigade for trial operation. What specific model it will be, they could not tell me.

Almost all of the brigade's vehicles are new, received in 2009-2010.
KAMAZ-5350 with a set of additional protection

Staff vehicle based on KAMAZ-5350

With staff trailer for officers' rest

The interior of the headquarters module

Camp trailer for recreation

On the left side of the entrance is a washbasin.

Technical assistance vehicle MTP-A2

Repair and mechanical workshop MRM-MZR

Car in the foreground Maintenance MTO-AM

Battle path during the Great Patriotic War

On the 4th Ukrainian Front A strong grouping of the Airborne Forces was deployed as part of the 4th, 6th and 7th Guards Airborne Brigades. It was planned to be used during the liberation of the Crimea.

In December 1943, the 4th and 7th Guards Airborne Brigades were redeployed to Moscow Military District.

January 15, 1944 in accordance with the order Commander of the Airborne Forces Red Army No. 00100 dated 12/26/1943 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) was formed 16th Guards Airborne Division. There were 12,000 people in the state division.

In August 1944, the division was redeployed to the city of Starye Dorogi. Mogilev region and on August 9, 1944 became part of the newly formed 38th Guards Airborne Corps. 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 9th Guards Army, the 38th Guards Airborne Corps became the Guards Rifle Corps.

by order Headquarters of the Supreme Commander No. 0047 dated December 18, 1944. The 16th Guards Airborne Division was reorganized into 106th Guards Rifle Division 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, and the 17th Guards Airborne Brigade into the 355th Guards Airborne Brigade. 1st Guards Rifle Regiment.

The 106th Guards Rifle Division included:

• 347th Guards Rifle Regiment;

• 351st Guards Rifle Regiment;

• 356th Guards Rifle Regiment;

• 107th Separate Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion;

• 193rd Separate Guards Communications 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 regiments was also introduced into the division:

• 205th cannon artillery regiment;

• 28th howitzer artillery regiment;

• 53rd mortar regiment.

In January 1945, the division, as part of the 38th Guards Rifle Corps, relocated along railway to Hungary, by February 26 concentrated east of the city of Budapest in the area: Szolnok - Abon - Soyal - Teriel and in early March became part of 3rd Ukrainian Front.

March 16, 1945, breaking through the German defenses, 351st Guards Rifle Regiment went to the Austro-Hungarian border.

In March-April 1945, the division participated in Vienna operation, advancing in the direction of the main blow of the front. The division, in cooperation with formations of the 4th Guards Army, broke through the enemy defenses north of the city of Szekesfehervar, went to the flank and rear of the main forces 6th SS Panzer Army, wedged into the defense of the front troops between the lakes Velence and Balaton. In early April, the division struck in a northwestern direction around 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 successfully fought in the city, which continued until April 13.

Decree Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR from 03/29/1945 for participation in the defeat of eleven enemy divisions southwest of Budapest and the capture of the city of Mor, the division was awarded Order of Kutuzov II degree.

For breaking through the fortified defense line and capturing the city of More, all personnel received gratitude Supreme Commander.

By the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 04/26/1945 "for participation in the capture of the city of Vienna" the division was awarded Order of the Red Banner. Since then, April 26 has been considered the unit's annual holiday.

During Vienna operation The division fought more than 300 kilometers. On some days, the rate of its advance reached 25-30 kilometers per day.

From May 5 to May 11, 1945, the division as part of the troops 2nd Ukrainian Front took part in Prague offensive operation.

On May 5, the division was alerted and marched to 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 combat operations in pursuit of the enemy and successfully developed the offensive on Retz, Pisek. The division made a march, pursuing the enemy, and in 3 days fought 80-90 km. At 12.00 on May 11, 1945, the advance detachment of the division reached the Vltava River and met with the troops of the American army near the village of Oleshnya. 5th Panzer Army. Here the combat path of the division in the Great Patriotic War ended.

History 1945-1979

At the end of hostilities, the division from Czechoslovakia returned to Hungary under its own power. From May 1945 to January 1946 the division was encamped in the woods south of Budapest.

On the basis of the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 1154474ss dated June 3, 1946 and the directive General Staff Armed Forces of the USSR No. org / 2 / 247225 dated 06/07/1946 by June 15, 1946, the 106th Guards Red Banner Rifle Division, Order of Kutuzov, was reorganized into 106th Guards Airborne Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Division.

From July 1946, the division was stationed in the city of Tula. The division was part of the 38th Guards Airborne Vienna Corps (corps headquarters - Tula).

Based on the directives of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of September 3, 1948 and January 21, 1949 106th Guards Airborne Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Division As part of the 38th Guards Airborne Corps of Vienna, it became part of the Airborne Army.

In April 1953, the airborne army was disbanded.

On the basis of the directive of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces dated January 21, 1955, by April 25, 1955, the 106th Guards Airborne Division withdrew from the 38th Guards Airborne Vienna Corps, which was disbanded, and moved to a new staff of three regimental composition with a cropped battalion (incomplete) in each parachute regiment.

From the disbanded 11th Guards Airborne Division part 106th Guards Airborne Division was accepted 137th Guards Airborne Regiment. The point of deployment is the city of Ryazan.

The personnel participated in military parades on Red Square in Moscow, took part in large exercises of the Ministry of Defense and in 1955 landed near the city of Kutaisi (Transcaucasian Military District).

AT In 1956, the 38th Guards Airborne Viennese Corps was disbanded and the division became directly subordinate to the commander of the Airborne Forces.

AT In 1957, the regiment conducted demonstration exercises with landing for the military delegations of Yugoslavia and India.

Based on the directives of the Minister of Defense of the USSR of March 18, 1960 and the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces of June 7, 1960 to November 1, 1960:

• to composition from composition 106th Guards Airborne Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Division was accepted 351st Guards Airborne Regiment(city of Efremov, Tula region);

• (without the 331st Guards Airborne Regiment) was relocated to Turkestan military district to the city of Fergana, Uzbek SSR;

• The 351st Guards Airborne Regiment was stationed in the city of Chirchik Tashkent region.

In 1961 after earthquakes in Tashkent personnel of the 351st Guards Parachute Regiment assisted the residents of the city affected by the disaster, helped the local authorities in maintaining order.

In 1974 351st Guards Parachute Regiment landing in one of the regions Central Asia and participates in large-scale TurkVO exercises. Being the cutting edge part of the Airborne Forces Central Asian region of the country, the regiment participates in parades in the capital of Uzbekistan in Tashkent.

Based on the directive of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of August 3, 1979 to December 1, 1979 105th Guards Airborne Division was disbanded.

From the division remained in the city of Fergana 345th Separate Guards Airborne Order of Suvorov Regiment much larger composition (to it was added howitzer artillery battalion) than normal and 115th Separate Military Transport Aviation Squadron. The rest of the personnel of the division turned to replenish the shortfall in other airborne formations and to resupply the newly formed airborne assault brigades.

On the base 351st Guards Airborne Regiment 105th Guards Airborne Vienna Red Banner Division in the village of Azadbash (district of the city of Chirchik) Tashkent region Uzbek SSR was formed 56th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade.

To form a brigade, they were urgently mobilized military reserve- the so-called "partisans" - from among the inhabitants of the Central Asian republics and the south of the Kazakh SSR. They will subsequently make up 80% of the personnel of the brigade when troops enter the DRA.

The formation of brigade units was simultaneously carried out in 4 mobilization points and completed in Termez:

Wars, stories, facts.:

“... Formally, the brigade is considered to be formed in Chirchik on the basis of the 351st Guards PDP. However, de facto, its formation was carried out separately in four centers (Chirchik, Kapchagay, Ferghana, Iolotan), and brought together into a single whole just before entering Afghanistan in Termez. The headquarters of the brigade (or officer cadre), as formally its cadre, apparently was originally stationed in Chirchik ... "

On December 13, 1979, units of the brigade plunged into trains and were redeployed to the city of Termez, Uzbek SSR.

Participation in the Afghan war

In December 1979, the brigade was put into Democratic Republic Afghanistan and joined the 40th Combined Arms Army.

On the morning of December 25, 1979, he was the first to be transported to the territory of the DRA 781st separate reconnaissance battalion 108 msd. He followed him 4th air assault battalion (4th dshb) 56th Guards ODSHBR, who was tasked with protecting the Salang pass.

From Termez 1st pdb and 2nd dshb by helicopters, and the rest in the convoy - were relocated to the city of Kunduz. 4th dshb stayed at the Salang Pass. Then from Kunduz 2nd dshb was transferred to the city of Kandahar, where he became part of the newly formed 70th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade.

In January 1980, the entire composition was introduced 56th Guards Brigade. She was stationed in the city of Kunduz.

Since the transfer of the 2nd dshb in the 70th Ogmsbr, the brigade was actually a regiment of three battalions.

The initial task of the brigade units was to guard and defend the largest highway in the Salang Pass area, to ensure the advance of Soviet troops into the central and southern regions of Afghanistan.

From 1982 to June 1988 56th Guards. ODSHBR deployed in the region of the city of Gardez, conducting military operations throughout Afghanistan: Bagram, Mazar-i-Sharif, Khanabad, Panjshir, Logar, Aliheil (Paktia). In 1984, the brigade was awarded the challenge Red Banner of the TurkVO for the successful completion of combat missions.

By order of 1985, in the middle of 1986, all standard airborne armored vehicles of the brigade (BMD-1 and BTR-D) were replaced with more protected armored vehicles with a large motor resource:

• BMP-2D - for reconnaissance company, 2nd, 3rd and 4th battalion

• BTR-70 - for 2nd and 3rd parachute companies 1st battalion (at 1st pdr remained BRDM-2).

Also a feature of the brigade was an increased staff artillery division, which did not consist of 3 firing batteries, as was customary for units stationed on the territory of the USSR, but of 5.

On May 4, 1985, by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the brigade was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, I degree, No. 56324698.

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. The paratroopers blocked the caravan routes from Pakistan in order to ensure the withdrawal of troops from the city of Ghazni.

Staffing strength 56th Guards ODSHBR on December 1, 1986, it was 2452 people (261 officers, 109 ensigns, 416 sergeants, 1666 soldiers).

After fulfilling the international duty, on June 12-14, 1988, the brigade was withdrawn to the city of Yolotan, Turkmen SSR.

BRDM-2 in the brigade there were only 3 units. as part of the reconnaissance. However, another BRDM-2 was in the chemical platoon and 2 more. in the OPA (propaganda and agitation detachment).

1989 to present

In 1990, the brigade was reorganized into a separate airborne brigade (OVDBR). The brigade passed "hot spots": Afghanistan (12.1979-07.1988), Baku (12-19.01.1990 - 02.1990), Sumgayit, Nakhichevan, Meghri, Julfa, Osh, Fergana, Uzgen (06.06.1990), Chechnya (12.94-10.96, Grozny, Pervomaisky, Argun and since 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 the operation, which was carried out in two stages. At the first stage, from January 12 to 19, units of the 106th and 76th airborne divisions, the 56th and 38th airborne brigades and 217th Airborne Regiment(for more details, see the article Black January), and in Yerevan - 98th Guards Airborne Division. 39th separate air assault brigade entered into Nagorno-Karabakh.

From January 23 airborne units began operations to restore order in other parts of Azerbaijan. In the area of ​​Lankaran, Priship and Jalilabad they were carried out jointly with border troops who restored the state border.

In February 1990, the brigade returned to the place of permanent deployment.

From March to August 1990, units of the brigade maintained order in the cities of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

On June 6, 1990, the landing at the airfields in the cities of Ferghana and Osh of the 104th parachute regiment of the 76th airborne division, 56th airborne brigade, and on June 8 - 137th Airborne Regiment 106th Airborne Division in the city of 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 387th Separate Airborne Regiment and divisions 56th Airborne Brigade took control of the situation in the area of ​​the cities of Andijan, Jalal-Abad, occupied Kara-Suu, mountain roads and passes throughout the conflict.

In October 1992, in connection with the sovereignization of the republics of the former Soviet Socialist Republic, the brigade was redeployed to the village of Zelenchukskaya in Karachay-Cherekessia. From where it marched to the place of permanent deployment in the village of Podgori near the city of Volgodonsk, Rostov Region. The territory of the military camp was a former shift camp of the builders of the Rostov nuclear power plant, located 3 kilometers from the nuclear power plant.

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 combined battalion and transfer it to Mozdok. The artillery division of the brigade took part in late 1995 - early 1996 in the operation near Shatoi. A separate platoon of the AGS-17 brigade from March 1995 to September 1995, as part of the consolidated battalion of the 7th Guards Airborne Division, took part in a mining company in the Vedeno and Shatoi districts of Chechnya. For their courage and heroism, the servicemen were awarded medals and orders. In October-November 1996, the combined battalion of the brigade was withdrawn from Chechnya.

In 1997, the brigade was reorganized into 56th Guards Air Assault Red Banner Order of Kutuzov and World War II Regiment, which is included in the .

In July 1998, by order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, in connection with the resumption of the construction of the Rostov NPP, the regiment began redeployment to the city of Kamyshin, Volgograd Region. The regiment was stationed in the buildings of the Kamyshin Higher Military Construction Command and Engineering School, which was disbanded in 1998.

On August 19, 1999, an air assault detachment from the regiment was sent to reinforce the combined regiment 20th Guards Motor Rifle Division and was sent by a letter military echelon to the Republic of Dagestan. On August 20, 1999, the air assault detachment arrived in the village of Botlikh. Later he took part in hostilities in the Republic of Dagestan and the Chechen Republic. The battalion tactical group of the regiment fought in the North Caucasus (the place of deployment is Khankala).

In December 1999, units of the regiment and the DShMG FPS covered the Chechen section of the Russian-Georgian border.

From May 1, 2009 56th Guards Air Assault Regiment became a brigade again. And from July 1, 2010, she moved to a new state and became known as the 56th separate guards airborne assault brigade of the Red Banner, Orders of Kutuzov and the Patriotic War (light).

Brigade reassignment

In connection with the reform of the Airborne Forces, all airborne assault formations were withdrawn from the Ground Forces and subordinated to the Directorate of the Airborne Forces under the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation:

“In accordance with Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 776 dated October 11, 2013 and the directive of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the Airborne Troops included three airborne assault brigades stationed in the cities of Ussuriysk, Ulan-Ude and Kamyshin, formerly part of the Eastern and Southern military districts "

— Business Newspaper "Vzglyad"

From the indicated date, the 56th Guards. ODSHBr is part of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation.

Brigade battle banner

Between September 1979 and autumn 2013, as battle banner used battle banner 351st Guards Airborne Regiment 105th Guards Vienna Airborne Division on which it was based.
During this period, the fourth renaming of the part took place:

1. in 1979 to the 56th Separate Guards Airborne Assault Red Banner Brigade, Orders of Kutuzov and World War II

1. in 1990 to the 56th Separate Guards Airborne Red Banner Brigade, Orders of Kutuzov and World War II.

1. in 1997 in the 56th Guards Airborne Assault Red Banner, Orders of Kutuzov and the Patriotic War Regiment

1. in 2010 again in the 56th separate guards airborne assault brigade of the Red Banner, orders of Kutuzov and World War II.

Commanders of the 56th Separate Guards Airborne Assault Red Banner Brigade, Orders of Kutuzov and World War II

• Bad, Alexander Petrovich- 1980-1981, commander 351st Guards PDP since October 1976

• Karpushkin, Mikhail Alexandrovich - 1981-1982

• Sukhin, Viktor Arsentievich - 1982-1983

• Chizhikov, Victor Matveevich - 1983-1985

• Raevsky, Vitaly Anatolievich - 1985-1987

• Evnevich, Valery Gennadievich - 1987-1990

• Sotnik, Alexander Alekseevich - 1990-1995

• Mishanin, Sergey Valentinovich - 1995-1996

• Stepanenko Rustam Alievich - 1996-1997

• Timofeev, Igor Borisovich

• Lebedev, Alexander Vitalievich - 2012-2014

• Valitov, Alexander Khusainovich- August 2014-present

Personnel of the 56th Guards. ODSHBR

• Leonid Vasilyevich Khabarov- commander 4th Air Assault Battalion from the moment the brigade was formed until April 1980. Chief of staff brigade from October 1984 to September 1985.

• Evnevich, Valery Gennadievich Chief of staff brigades 1986-1987, and since 1987 - brigade commander.

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56th Separate Guards Airborne Assault Order of the Patriotic War Don Cossack Brigade (56th Army Brigade) - military formation of the Airborne Forces of Russia. The formation's birthday is June 11, 1943, when the 7th and 17th Guards Airborne Brigades were formed.

Battle path during the Great Patriotic War

On January 15, 1944, in accordance with the order of the commander of the Airborne Forces of the 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 city of Stupino). Vostryakovo, Vnukovo, Stupino) the 16th Guards Airborne Division was formed. There were 12,000 people in the state division.

In August 1944, the division was relocated to the city of Starye Dorogi, Mogilev Region, and on August 9, 1944, became part of the newly formed 38th Guards Airborne Corps. 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 38th Guards Airborne Corps became the Guards Rifle Corps.

On March 16, 1945, having broken through the German defenses, the 351st Guards Rifle Regiment reached the Austro-Hungarian border.

In March-April 1945, the division took part in the Vienna operation, advancing in the direction of the main attack of the front. The division, in cooperation with the formations of the 4th Guards Army, broke through the enemy defenses north of the city of Szekesfehervar, went to the flank and rear of the main forces of the 6th Panzer Army SS, wedged into the defense of the front troops between the lakes Velence and Balaton. In early April, the division struck in a northwestern direction around 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 successfully fought in the city, which continued until April 13.

For breaking through the fortified defense line and capturing the city of Mor, all personnel received the gratitude of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of 04/26/1945 "for participation in the capture of the city of Vienna", the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. Since then, April 26 has been considered the unit's annual holiday.

On May 5, the division was alerted and marched to 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 combat operations in pursuit of the enemy and successfully developed the offensive on Retz, Pisek. The division made a march, pursuing the enemy, and in 3 days fought 80-90 km. At 12.00 on May 11, 1945, the division's advance detachment reached the Vltava River and met with the troops of the American 5th Tank Army near the village of Oleshnya. Here the combat path of the division in the Great Patriotic War ended.

History 1945-1979

At the end of hostilities, the division from Czechoslovakia returned to Hungary under its own power. From May 1945 to January 1946 the division was encamped in the woods south of Budapest.

Based on 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 Red Banner Rifle Division, Order of Kutuzov, was reorganized to the 106th Guards Airborne Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Division.

From July 1946, the division was stationed in the city of Tula. The division was part of the 38th Guards Airborne Vienna Corps (corps headquarters - Tula).

Based on the directives of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces 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.

The personnel of the 351st Guards Airborne Regiment participated in military parades on Red Square in Moscow, took part in large exercises of the Defense Ministry and in 1955 parachuted near the city of Kutaisi (Transcaucasian Military District).

In 1956, the 38th Guards Airborne Corps of Vienna was disbanded and the division became directly subordinate to the commander of the Airborne Forces.

In 1957, the regiment conducted demonstration exercises with landing for the military delegations of Yugoslavia and India.

Based on the directives of the Minister of Defense of the USSR of March 18, 1960 and the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces of June 7, 1960 to November 1, 1960:

• the 351st Guards Airborne Regiment (Efremov, Tula Region) was accepted into the 105th Guards Airborne Division of the Vienna Red Banner Division from the 106th Guards Airborne Division;
• The 105th Guards Airborne Division (without the 331st Guards Airborne Regiment) was redeployed to the Turkestan military district in the city of Ferghana, Uzbek SSR;
• The 351st Guards Airborne Regiment was stationed in the city of Chirchik, Tashkent region.

In 1974, the 351st regiment parachuted into one of the regions of Central Asia and participated in the large-scale TurkVO exercises. Being the advanced part of the Airborne Forces of the Central Asian region of the country, the regiment participates in parades in the capital of Uzbekistan in Tashkent.

In 1977, the BMD-1 and BTR-D entered service with the 351st Regiment. The personnel of the regiment at that time - 1674 people.

Based on the directive of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of August 3, 1979, by December 1, 1979, the 105th Guards Airborne Division was disbanded.

From the division remained in the city of Fergana the 345th separate Guards parachute landing regiment of the order of Suvorov of a much larger composition (it was added howitzer artillery battalion) than the usual and the 115th separate military transport aviation squadron.

On the basis of the 351st Guards Airborne Regiment of the 105th Guards Airborne Division, by November 30, 1979, in the village of Azadbash (area of ​​the city of Chirchik) of the Tashkent region of the Uzbek SSR, a 56th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade (56th odshbr). At the time of formation, the staffing of the brigade was 2,833 people.

The rest of the personnel of the division turned to replenish the shortfall in other airborne formations and to resupply the newly formed separate air assault brigades.

For the formation of the brigade, conscripted reserves - the so-called "partisans" - from among the inhabitants of the Central Asian republics and the south of the Kazakh SSR were urgently mobilized. They will subsequently make up 80% of the personnel of the brigade when troops enter the DRA.

The formation of brigade units was simultaneously carried out in 4 mobilization points and completed in Termez:

“...formally, the brigade is considered to be formed in Chirchik on the basis of the 351st Guards. pdp. However, de facto, its formation was carried out separately in four centers (Chirchik, Kapchagay, Ferghana, Iolotan), and brought together into a single whole just before entering Afghanistan in Termez. The headquarters of the brigade (or officer cadre), as formally its cadre, apparently was originally stationed in Chirchik ... "

On December 13, 1979, units of the brigade plunged into trains and were redeployed to the city of Termez, Uzbek SSR.

Participation in the Afghan war

In December 1979, the brigade was introduced to the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and became part of the 40th Combined Arms Army.

From Termez 1st pdb and 2nd dshb by helicopters, and the rest in the convoy - were relocated to the city of Kunduz. 4th dshb stayed at the Salang Pass. Then from Kunduz 2nd dshb was transferred to the city of Kandahar, where he became part of the newly formed 70th Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade.

In January 1980, the entire composition was introduced 56th odshbr. She was stationed in the city of Kunduz.

Since the transfer of the 2nd dshb in the 70th brigade, the brigade was actually a regiment of three battalions.

The initial task of the brigade units was to guard and defend the largest highway in the Salang Pass area, to ensure the advance of Soviet troops into the central and southern regions of Afghanistan.

From 1982 to June 1988 56th odshbr deployed in the region of the city of Gardez, conducting military operations throughout Afghanistan: Bagram, Mazar-i-Sharif, Khanabad, Panjshir, Logar, Aliheil (Paktia). In 1984, the brigade was awarded the challenge Red Banner of the TurkVO for the successful completion of combat missions.

By order of 1985, in mid-1986, all standard airborne armored vehicles of the brigade (BMD-1 and BTR-D) were replaced with more protected armored vehicles with a large motor resource:

• BMP-2 D - for reconnaissance company, 2nd, 3rd and 4th battalion
• BTR-70 - for 2nd and 3rd Airborne Company 1st battalion (at 1st pdr remained BRDM-2).

Also a feature of the brigade was the increased staff of the artillery battalion, which consisted not of 3 firing batteries, as was customary for units stationed on the territory of the USSR, but of 5.

On May 4, 1985, by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the brigade was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, I degree, No. 56324698.

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. The paratroopers blocked the caravan routes from Pakistan in order to ensure the withdrawal of troops from the city of Ghazni.

Staffing strength 56th Guards odshbr on December 1, 1986, it was 2452 people (261 officers, 109 ensigns, 416 sergeants, 1666 soldiers).

After fulfilling the international duty, on June 12-14, 1988, the brigade was withdrawn to the city of Yolotan, Turkmen SSR.

BRDM-2 in the brigade there were only 3 units. as part of the reconnaissance. However, another BRDM-2 was in the chemical platoon and 2 more. in the OPA (propaganda and agitation detachment).

1989 to present

In 1990, the brigade was transferred to composition of the Airborne Forces and reorganized into a separate Guards Airborne (OVDBR). The brigade passed "hot spots": Afghanistan (12.1979-07.1988), Baku (12-19.01.1990 - 02.1990), Sumgayit, Nakhichevan, Meghri, Julfa, Osh, Fergana, Uzgen (06.06.1990), Chechnya (12.94-10.96, Grozny, Pervomaisky, Argun and from 09.1999 - 2005).

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 the operation, which was carried out in two stages. At the first stage, from January 12 to 19, units of the 106th and 76th airborne divisions, the 56th and 38th airborne brigades and the 217th airborne regiment landed on airfields near Baku (for more details, see . article Black January), and in Yerevan - the 98th Guards Airborne Division. The 39th separate air assault brigade entered Nagorno-Karabakh.

On January 23, airborne units began operations to restore order in other parts of Azerbaijan. In the area of ​​Lankaran, Prship and Jalilabad, they were carried out jointly with the border troops, who restored the state border.

In February 1990, the brigade returned to the place of permanent deployment in the city of Yolotan.

From March to August 1990, units of the brigade maintained order in the cities of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

On June 6, 1990, the landing at airfields in the cities of Fergana and Osh of the 104th parachute regiment of the 76th airborne division, the 56th airborne brigade began, and on June 8 - the 137th parachute regiment of the 106th airborne division in the city of 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 airborne regiment and units 56th Airborne Brigade took control of the situation in the area of ​​the cities of Andijan, Jalal-Abad, occupied Kara-Suu, mountain roads and passes throughout the conflict.

In October 1992, in connection with the sovereignization of the republics former USSR the brigade was relocated to the temporary deployment point of the Zelenchukskaya village of Karachay-Cherekessia (the 4th paratrooper battalion of the brigade remained at the permanent deployment point of the city of Yolotan (Turkmenistan), in order to protect the military camp, was later transferred to the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan and renamed into a separate airborne assault battalion). 56 Guards Ovdbr became three battalions. From there, in 1994, she marched to the place of permanent deployment in the village of Podgori near the city of Volgodonsk, Rostov Region. The territory of the military camp was a former shift camp of the builders of the Rostov NPP, located 3 kilometers from the nuclear power plant.

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 combined battalion and transfer it to Mozdok. The artillery battalion of the brigade took part in late 1995 - early 1996 in the operation near Shatoi. A separate platoon of the AGS-17 brigade from March 1995 to September 1995 as part of the combined battalion of the 7th Guards. VDD took part in a mining company in the Vedeno and Shatoi districts of Chechnya. For their courage and heroism, the servicemen were awarded medals and orders. In October-November 1996, the combined battalion of the brigade was withdrawn from Chechnya. At the request of Donskoy Cossack army The brigade was given the honorary name of the Don Cossack.

In 1997, the brigade was reorganized into 56th Guards Airborne Assault, Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class, Don Cossack Regiment, which is included in the .

In July 1998, by order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, in connection with the resumption of the construction of the Rostov NPP, the 56th regiment began redeployment to the city of Kamyshin, Volgograd Region. The regiment was stationed in the buildings of the Kamyshin Higher Military Construction Command and Engineering School, which was disbanded in 1998.

On August 19, 1999, an air assault detachment from the regiment was sent to reinforce the combined regiment of the 20th Guards Motor Rifle Division and was sent by a letter military echelon to the Republic of Dagestan. On August 20, 1999, the air assault detachment arrived in the village of Botlikh. Later he took part in hostilities in the Republic of Dagestan and the Chechen Republic.

In December 1999, units of the 56th Guards Airborne Infantry Regiment were the first to land on the Russian-Georgian border and subsequently covered the Chechen section of the border with the FPS DShMG.

The battalion tactical group of the regiment fought in the North Caucasus (the place of temporary deployment - the settlement of Khankala) until 2005.

From May 1, 2009 56th Guards Air Assault Regiment became a brigade again. And from July 1, 2010, she moved to a new state and became known as 56th Separate Guards Airborne Assault Order of the Patriotic War of the Don Cossack brigade (light) .

Brigade reassignment

In connection with the reform of the Airborne Forces, all airborne assault formations were withdrawn from the Ground Forces and subordinated to the Directorate of the Airborne Forces under the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation:

“In accordance with Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 776 of October 11, 2013 and the directive of the Chief of the General Staff armed forces Russian Federation, the Airborne Forces included three airborne assault brigades stationed in the cities of Ussuriysk, Ulan-Ude and Kamyshin, formerly part of the Eastern and Southern military districts "

Viktor CHIZHIKOV, graduate of Ryazan airborne school. In the army, he passed all positions from the platoon commander to the corps commander, to commander of a separate 56th airborne assault brigade in Afghanistan. Now lives in Pskov. the site has already introduced readers to it, which has become one of the most frank conversations not only about the Afghan war, but also about current situations in the world. When we learned that Viktor Matveyevich recorded the most memorable cases even in Afghanistan, we decided to publish them without fail. Beautiful literary language not devoid of humor, dynamic narrative, and interesting story We promise you will be interested.

I understand perfectly well that everything I write is of no literary interest to readers. But why then "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 lessons, and they were looking for the grave of a soldier from the story “Thank you soldier”, how once we were looking for a pond where Turgenevskaya Lisa drowned herself? Maybe because the Afghan war is fraught with a huge store of information that can be successfully claimed today? Or because the children of 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 air 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 gang, once a colonel in the Afghan army, who had gone over to the side of the dushmans at the beginning of the Saur Revolution. Only in the office I felt that my left hand was still convulsively squeezing the pistol handle ...

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 our group leader undercover intelligence arrange a meeting with me.

Since everything could be expected, he thought through, as it seemed to me, everything to the smallest detail, he was ready for everything, but as it later became clear, he turned out to be almost powerless before the sophisticated oriental treachery. The situation was saved by a scout ... The war has special quality: She learns very quickly. And if you don't want to learn, then your life will be the price. Therefore, at the moment I saw that to live and fight in this eastern country with a Russian soul “to plow up”, 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 blockheads, to which he attributed himself without any pity. 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 set you the task of capturing the dominant heights to ensure the exit of the Afghan army corps to the base area of ​​dushmans.

The operation was entrusted to the deputy commander of the 40th Army. As usual, the usual work of planning military operations began.

All summer nomads drove herds of sheep through the passes from Pakistan to Gardez, Ghazni, Baraks, 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 x, located in a very inaccessible area. They have been doing this for many years. The money from the sale of meat was put into two huge bags, guards were appointed and they went to rest. They were to return to Pakistan two days later.

In order to hide the plan of the entire operation from the Afghans and to prevent the leakage of information, the deputy commander suggested that I capture the heights without fire damage, suddenly and at the same time prevent the dushmans from withdrawing weapons and ammunition from the base area before the main forces of the Afghan army corps approached. In the course of landing planning, both settlements where the nomads stopped 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 combat operations, the deputy commander postponed the start of the operation for three days. Movement in the corps ceased, 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, two air assault battalions and the headquarters of the brigade advanced to the airfield in the first wave, took their places in helicopters and, at dawn, without providing a flight path and fire damage to 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, when they saw a suddenly approaching armada of helicopters, they quickly buried two bags of money in a drying stream, threw stones at them and rushed into the mountains in the hope of returning later and taking the money.

The operation lasted twelve days and was successfully completed. The Afghan military coped with the task, and the corps commander presented 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 the diary ...

Three days after returning from hostilities, late in the evening, the adviser to the chairman of the state security committee of the province, Igor Sergeevich, came. A lieutenant colonel wise with life experience, a resident of Dneprodzerzhinsk always provided invaluable information and, without exaggeration, one can say that he saved the lives of hundreds of our soldiers and officers. He had a lot of friends in the brigade, especially Ukrainians.

A stingy tear was visible in the corner of his eyes. It turns out that he was flying away on vacation and was carrying a sacred 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 ( future President Afghanistan - ed.), they couldn’t even find a bottle of vodka in the whole province, and you, having such a value, didn’t inform ... They grieved. Okay, I'll save you.

After drinking 50 grams of alcohol, he began to tell that nomads came to him yesterday, 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 got from selling meat, a total of about four million afghani. As far as he studied them, they are very cunning, but also honest. And the lieutenant colonel says to me:

I don't care if you find the bags or not, but they swore that if they were given at least some of the money back, they would never shoot a Soviet soldier.

The nomads had good reason to hate the soldiers of the brigade before. I knew it well. Several officers have already put party cards on the table for the fact that, with their ill-considered actions, almost all the nomadic tribes have been turned against themselves. And then there was a unique opportunity to restore good relations with these people. They were out of war, out of politics, they didn't want to kill anyone. Dirty, rag-clad herdsmen.

The next day I invited them to the brigade. I listened carefully to their explanations. Offered tea. Downcast, without any hope, they wandered into the city. And I went into the office. I had to put my thoughts in order.

On the table lay the calculation for landing - this main document, I personally developed it. The fourth chief of staff of the brigade, who arrived as a replacement: (one was killed, the second arrived with a sore leg and could not walk, the third went crazy - ed.) Lieutenant Colonel Leonid Khabarov was wounded near Salang, but again asked to go to Afghanistan - not hearing anything in his right ear, with a completely inoperative right hand. Well, what could he design? And the fact is that by this time almost no one wanted to fight. They wanted to serve, but to fight - by no means. They left the army en masse because they did not want to fight. Terrible but brutal truth afghan war. I involuntarily remembered the 41st year. But we know how to fight!

After some thought, I came to the conclusion that the sappers were among the first to land in order to conduct an engineering reconnaissance of the area. Only they, with their experienced eye, could notice the freshly dug earth. 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 glass of the windows flew out with a rattle ... The operational duty officer literally flew in ... I'll add it later.

I found the sappers, who were the first to land and clear mines, on a dog walker. The assistant to the head of the food warehouse, an Azerbaijani soldier, was walking around and looking for something. My question is 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 pay. "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel! I think this bastard stole. He hid in the bushes in the morning. As the big helicopter sees - immediately to the warehouse. Steals every day. Kill a little ... ". - The huge dog, at which the soldier pointed with his finger, growled with displeasure and snapped his fangs menacingly.

The drill sergeant and his assistant were sleeping peacefully. They were guarded by two dogs. One German Shepherd - a dog of enormous growth named German, the rarest lazy and idler, and a little mongrel, an ordinary tiny mongrel. She was picked up on the street in the Union and brought to collection point 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 eaten a hearty meal of a stolen kangaroo and hid the rest in a haystack. In search of mines, these two dogs have always worked together. The dog reluctantly growled something, but then, having received a piece of sugar, he 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 were well aware that their lives depended on these animals. Therefore, they took care of the dogs "like the apple of an eye." Soldiers-sappers gave them the last piece of fresh meat, covered them with blankets, put them on tanks next to the heaters.

Once, on the very crest of the pass, they missed a mine, an Italian anti-tank one. But an experienced sapper discovered it with a probe. She stood with an anti-removable element, besides, a small bottle of gasoline was tied to her. The fuel got rid of the smell of TNT. Having neutralized the mine, and putting it on the side of the road, the sappers moved on. The dog immediately ran up and sat on a mine, raising his muzzle up. Two sappers tried to pull him off. It wasn't there. After all, for each found mine was supposed to encourage. The dog rested on the ground with all its paws, baring its huge fangs. The soldiers watching this scene, as usual, gave advice, joking with the sappers. The situation was defused by the chief of artillery, who was constantly next to me. He had a piece of sugar. Having received a 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 male, growing to a one-year-old calf. He traveled all over Afghanistan from Kunduz to Gardez. Accompanied the columns hundreds of times. When trying to overtake him, he threw himself under the wheels of the car, trying to show with a loud bark and his whole appearance that it was impossible to go further. Six dogs paired with him died. His whole body was cut with 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 intelligent and exceptionally cunning dog. Sometimes it seemed to me that in front of me was not a male, but German soldier. He carried out any order of the instructor sergeant-sapper unquestioningly. He was not afraid of explosions, under fire from snipers and mortars, without a command, he did not leave the road, crawled with the sergeant, showing the detected controlled mine so that he could cut the wires, hid with the sappers behind the stones when the road was shelled by snipers, ran for cover when they plucked a mine set to unrecoverable.

This dog, a small puppy, as the soldier's rumor said, was bought in Germany, from an old German breeder, who is world famous among dog breeders, for a lot of money, our diplomat, a passionate lover of dogs. What can I say, the German Shepherd is the legitimate pride of the Germans, part of the German culture, known throughout the world. The diplomat brought the puppy to Moscow in a completely legal way. Soberly reasoning, he realized that in old age no one would need him, and the dog would die with him, but he would never betray his master, and he could not find a better watchman 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 in class at school from the story of a biology teacher how dogs save the lives of our soldiers in the war in Afghanistan, made a far from childish decision for herself. After waiting for her father to go on another business trip and her mother to be called to the hospital for an emergency operation, she grabbed the puppy, and no matter how he resisted, she dragged her to the nearest police station. There, with tears in her eyes, she asked to send the dog to Afghanistan. Imbued with pity for the child, the elderly captain on duty in the department only asked her to write a receipt that she voluntarily handed over the dog and leave her address. Leaving the department, this little thief wiped away her lime tears, and an hour later the puppy was in a dog shelter on the outskirts of Moscow, in a section where dogs were taught to search for mines by the smell of TNT.

The next day, another batch of dogs was taken away by a special flight. The instructors, without further ado, in order to fulfill the plan, put the puppy in a cage, writing in the accompanying note that the dog did not pass full course learning even though he didn't actually study for a single day. In Kabul, after reading the accompanying, the infantry guys immediately sent the half-educated dog away from sin - to the air assault brigade in Kunduz.

The sergeant-sapper, twice wounded, awarded two government awards, including the Order of the Red Star, doted on his pet. The dog proved to be exceptionally capable of learning. In addition, the dog often stole and dragged everything to the dog owner. This beast made theft and begging his second profession.

Once early in the morning, when there was no fighting and escort columns, the German began to listen. Then he took off and trotted to the airfield. There he hid in the bushes. Soon a couple of helicopters appeared, accompanied by four combat helicopters. It was Marshal of the Soviet Union Sokolov and a group of generals and officers who accompanied him. While things were being unloaded from the helicopters, Nemets crawled up 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 it into the bushes. The colonel who was delivering special meals to the marshal, slightly stupefied from the flight, said he must have left his briefcase in Kabul.

Everything that he managed to steal during the day, the German transferred to the dog owner at night, conscientiously shared with the mongrel, and hid the rest in a small stack of hay prepared by sappers for bedding. He knew all the outposts and, I am sure, he knew better than the ensign that he was in a food warehouse, which, fortunately for the dog, was not far from the dog owner.

Hiding the briefcase, he immediately rushed to the headquarters of the brigade. Moreover, he did it quite consciously. 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 smoked. And he easily taught the German to beg for cigarettes and cigarettes from everyone who smoked, of course, regardless of any titles.

As soon as the first general who came out to smoke lit a match to light a cigarette, the Nemets approached him, sat down next to him and obsequiously looked the petitioner in the eye. And if he didn’t receive anything, and the pack couldn’t be stolen, then he closed the entrance with himself and didn’t let him back. The operative, as a rule, yelled, as if in distress, to remove the dog. “Toss her a cigarette and he will let you through. A smoker would pull out a pack, throw one, and sometimes two or three cigarettes in his hearts, and get a pass.

But most of all, this lazy man loved the music of a military band. Every Monday was general construction brigade and one hour of drill training. No force could hold him back. He went out to the formation together with the sapper company as if on a holiday. Sit behind the company commander. He knew by heart the whole ritual of the meeting, ran next to the company during the passage of a solemn march. As it turned out later, the sergeant-sapper, hatching his plans, taught him to put his paw to his head when singing the anthem of the Soviet Union. No one knew about this, since the Hymn was performed extremely rarely, and no one had ever seen a dog like that.

After two years of command of the brigade, a decision was made at the very top to award the formation with an order. The event, frankly speaking, is extraordinary. The mass of foreign correspondents in connection except ours. And among them are two Bulgarians. One, I subsequently gave a gun, and the second - a saber. Which he later deeply regretted.

A member of the military council of the district flew in to present the order. Having carefully thought through the whole ritual of rewarding, I strictly and strictly ordered all dogs to be tied, and the German to be put on a chain. The sappers did not find the chain, so they tied the dog to a nylon strand from a pilot chute, 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 podium. The German, having heard the first chords of the oncoming march, with powerful fangs, like a blade of grass, cut the strand and ran to the parade ground with a piece of it, the cattle came in from the rear so that no one would see him and drive him away, and sat down behind the commander of the engineer company. It seemed that nothing foreshadowed trouble. The order was attached to the banner of the brigade and everyone went up to the podium. According to the ritual, I made a return 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 of three brigade commanders and heads of political departments before me. A year ago, at the military council, he unequivocally remarked to me: for the time being, we will refrain from “sawing”, perhaps something will come of you.

The speeches ended, and the orchestra struck up the anthem. Everyone put their hand on the headgear. The dozing German immediately woke up, with a powerful push pushed the officer standing next to the company commander, stood next to him on his hind legs, stretched out to his full height, put his front paw to his head, lowered the other at the seams, raised his muzzle up and rolled his eyes graciously. The hanging part of the rope was somewhat reminiscent of a tie. It was impossible to describe what happened next.

The member of the War Council immediately lost the power of speech, his jaw clenched, and he convulsively swallowed air. The party adviser, who every year arranges a holiday for us on Lenin's birthday, constantly took off and put on his glasses, he had a nervous tic. The commander of the Afghan corps was holding his stomach from laughter. The anthem is over. The German yawned sweetly and sat down in his seat. I kept thinking: at best, I will command a battalion in Magadan...

I didn't have time to finish the chapter this time. We'll have to wait for the records.

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 break that will give you a breather and a little understanding 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