Battle of Stalingrad 51st Guards Division. Tula airborne flag

History of the 51st Guards Airborne Regiment

On the territory of military unit 33842, which is located in the city of Tula, the village of Gorelki, today the 51st Guards Airborne Red Banner Order of the Suvorov III degree regiment named after Dmitry Donskoy, which is part of the 106th Guards Airborne Division, is deployed. Parts of the 106th Airborne Division are located today, in addition to Tula, in Ryazan and Narofominsk. This airborne division is one of the oldest in the country, back in January 1944, on the basis of the 4th, 7th and 17th separate airborne brigades in the city of Stupino, the 16th airborne division was formed, on December 18, 1944, the 106th guards rifle division was formed on its basis.

It is from her that the legendary airborne division in Tula takes its roots.

In February 1945, this military unit was transferred to Budapest, where the personnel took part in offensive operations of the Great Patriotic War. During the fighting, the soldiers and officers of the division, as well as the fighters of some other landing units, showed their best side - the forces of the division captured the cities of Mor, Papa, Reb-Chelikh, Arkahati, Rebtsesemere and others. As a result of the operation, during which the Soviet troops occupied the city of Mor, the 106th division was awarded the Order of Suvorov, III degree, and for the capture of the Pope, all personnel received gratitude from the Supreme High Command. 106th Airborne Division took the most effective part in the capture of Vienna, for which it also received gratitude. The Second World War for the paratroopers ended on May 11, 1945, when on the river. Vlatva held a meeting with the Allied troops.

As a result of the Second World War, 7401 soldiers were awarded various government awards, and three servicemen of the unit were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union - this is foreman N.S. Rybakov, Senior Lieutenant V.P. Selishchev (both posthumously) and V.T. Polyakov. Lieutenant Vasily Polyakov earned a hero star as part of the Sandomierz-Silesian operation, when, while holding the captured bridgehead behind enemy lines, he completely destroyed one enemy tank and knocked out two. Such glorious predecessors were among the modern fighters of the Airborne Forces unit in Tula.

Tula paratroopers in the post-war period

In the spring of 1946, all the airborne units included in the division were transferred to the territory of the USSR in Tula, and in the summer of the same year the unit was reorganized into the 106th Guards Airborne Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Division, by that time already fully functioning within the framework of the Airborne Forces program. In December 1947, the Guards banner was awarded to the 106th GV VDD.

As already mentioned, it was formed on the basis of three separate brigades, the 4th ODVB was then renamed the 347th Guards Rifle Regiment. By decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, on the basis of the 3rd battalion of this regiment, the 51st Guards RAP was formed, this happened in September 1948. September 28 and today is the day of military unit 33842 in Tula. The Guards banner was awarded to the regiment in March 1949.

The next two decades, the 106th division took part in most of the major airborne exercises. As part of the Dnepr-67 exercises, the first experimental airborne assault brigade was created on the basis of units of 51 RAP, thus, the Tula paratroopers also participated in the creation of a new powerful military force of the USSR - the DSB.

According to the results of field exercises, the parachute regiment was twice awarded with the pennant of the Minister of Defense "For military prowess" in 1974 and 1982. The mass production of the BMD-1 airborne combat vehicle, which began in 1968, became a new milestone in the development of the Airborne Forces. Finally, the troops could parachute along with heavy equipment. For the first time, work with the BMD-1 was carried out precisely on the basis of 51 RAPs in Tula.

Parts of the 106th Guards Airborne Division in the hot spots of the 80s-90s

Since 1988, formations of the 106th Guards Airborne Division participated in operations to restore constitutional order in the republics of Transcaucasia, it all started with Nagorno-Karabakh, where at the end of November 88th the confrontation between Azerbaijanis and Armenians escalated - the outbreak of skirmishes and the genocide of the civilian population were then suppressed only by the introduction troops. The following year, 1989, is remembered by the soldiers of the 106th division, first of all, by the April events in Tbilisi, where they participated in the suppression of the nationalist opposition.

In 1990, the Tula paratroopers took part in the settlement of the conflict in Fergana, known as the "Osh Massacre". About 30 thousand people then took part in the Uzbek-Kyrgyz conflict. About 1,200 Kyrgyz and 10,000 Uzbeks died in June 90, and only the intervention of the Soviet Airborne Forces prevented the clashes from escalating into large-scale hostilities. A little earlier, in January of the same year, fighters of the 106th Airborne Division, along with fighters from other airborne units, participated in the suppression of the Azerbaijani opposition forces in Baku.

The operation to restore constitutional order began on the night of January 20. The then commander of the division, General Alexander Lebed, recalling the events of Black January, said that the landing plane of the Tula paratroopers was met by armed detachments of the local population, who barricaded the airfield. True, the fighters of the airborne unit from Tula in blue berets quickly solved the problem - a very entertaining story about this can be read in the memoirs of the late A. Lebed.

In Baku itself, the resistance was much more serious, suffice it to say that from the beginning of the conflict until February 11, about 50 Soviet soldiers died there, the losses of the extremists amounted to 140 people. The movement of the 106th Airborne Forces column was accompanied, according to the testimony of the same A. Lebed, by a continuous flurry of fire. In general, there are still disputes about the expediency of those operations in the Transcaucasus, in Baku, for example, in addition to the separatists, many civilians died, but the Russian paratroopers first of all carried out the order of the command, and did it honestly and selflessly, as the landing force says no one but us .

The famous events of August 1991 did not bypass the fighters of the Tula Airborne Division, which is not surprising, given, perhaps, the excessive politicization of the then division commander. The paratroopers of the 106th Guards Airborne Division under the command of A. Lebed were responsible for guarding the building of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR (“White House”) and personally for B.N. Yeltsin, being in close proximity to the latter at the time of the famous treatment from the tank turret.

In 1992, the Ossetian-Ingush conflict took place, from October 31 to November 1, 1992, units of the 106th Airborne Forces were alerted, a consolidated regiment was formed in Ryazan and transferred to Beslan. By the forces of the Russian landing, the armed confrontation was stopped by November 4, however, for another month, the fighters of the Airborne Forces from Tula were on the territory of Ossetia with a peacekeeping mission.

In the same year, a group of Russian paratroopers from the Tula 51st Airborne Regiment, consisting of 27 people, carried out an unprecedented operation in Kabul. The paratroopers were tasked with evacuating the personnel of the Russian Embassy and foreign diplomatic missions from the capital of Afghanistan. On August 28, 1992, under massive shelling, our soldiers managed to organize the boarding of transport aircraft and the evacuation of diplomats and their families.

After that, for another day, 27 Russian paratroopers successfully repulsed the attacks of the significantly superior forces of the Mujahideen - only the next day they were rescued from there. It was one of the first military operations, the participants of which were awarded the title of "Hero of Russia" - pilots E.A. Zelenov and A.S. Kopyrkin, as well as senior sergeant 51 RAP 106 VD S.A. Arefiev.

During the evacuation, one of the planes with passengers caught fire, the soldiers of the Tula Airborne Forces evacuated people from the burning plane to the spare. However, in the process of evacuating passengers, the company commander, senior lieutenant I. Matvienko was wounded by shrapnel, lost consciousness and remained on the plane. Sergey Arefiev without hesitation jumped into the burning car, miraculously found the commander in the smoke and carried him outside. For this feat, the senior sergeant of the airborne troops was awarded the title "Hero of Russia" by presidential decree of January 15, 1993.

It is impossible not to mention that the combined detachment of the 106th airborne division, as part of the UN peacekeeping forces, took part in the peacekeeping operation to resolve the Serb-Croatian conflict. It was the first military contingent of the armed forces of the Russian Federation in the UN.

51 Airborne Regiment in the Chechen Wars

The Tula paratroopers entered the First Chechen War on November 27, 1994, and until April 1995 fought fierce battles with the separatists. As part of the 51 RAP 106 VDD, Captain Sergei Gromov, a counterintelligence officer, an FSB officer who worked in the division, served. According to his colleagues, Gromov was one of the most skillful and courageous officers in our group of troops in Chechnya.

On February 5, 1995, the command planned an operation to seize the bridgehead by the forces of detachment 51 of the RAP, during this operation the captain was killed by a sniper shot. S.S. Gromov was posthumously awarded the title "Hero of Russia" for the courage and courage shown during the hostilities, this happened on February 27 of the same year.

The second Chechen one began for 51 RAPs in 1999 and until 2003 the formations of the regiment participated in the counter-terrorist operation. In September 1999, the personnel arrived at the border of Chechnya and Dagestan, in the conflict zone, among the landing was the deputy platoon commander senior sergeant Denis Zuev, at the personal request of a fighter of the 51st regiment of the 106th airborne division was included in the reconnaissance platoon, which advanced to the village of Novogroznenskoye on the morning of November 28. The group was discovered and pressed to the ground by heavy fire from the bandits.

Denis Zuev crawled around the enemy firing points from the flank and with the help of two grenades destroyed a machine-gun firing point. Then, breaking into the stronghold, he destroyed several more militants, seized a machine gun and opened fire on the enemy. The paratrooper did it all on his own, the confusion and panic of the separatists allowed the reconnaissance platoon to withdraw without loss. However, the senior sergeant of the airborne troops who remained on the territory of the enemy was shot at point-blank range by the militants who came to their senses.

In 2000, Guards Sergeant D.S. Zuev was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Russia. Today, a monument to the hero has been erected on the territory of military unit 33842. His feat will forever remain not only in the hearts and memory of all those who wear the blue beret - Russian paratroopers, but also in the hearts and memory of all Russian citizens.

On April 23, 2000, 3 kilometers southeast of the village of Serzhen-Yurt, an attack occurred on a convoy of the 51st airborne regiment, returning with a cargo of fuel and lubricants to the base. A large group of militants led by Arab mercenaries Abu Jafar and Abu al-Walid attacked the paratroopers, during the battle the regiment suffered significant losses - 16 people - however, despite the careful preparation of the ambush, the attack of the bandits was repulsed, they were forced to retreat.

The result of a two-hour battle could have been much more deplorable if it were not for the actions of Senior Lieutenant of the Airborne Forces Dmitry Pilyugin, who skillfully and selflessly fought and coordinated the actions of his subordinates. Guards lieutenant was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage - one of the main military awards of the Russian Federation.

In general, the personnel of the 106th Guards Airborne Forces showed their best during the campaign - almost every soldier received a government award, 10 paratroopers were awarded the title Hero of Russia.

51st regiment of Tula paratroopers in peacetime

Since February 2006, the 51st regiment of the 106th Airborne Division, in accordance with the personal decree of the President of the Russian Federation V. Putin, bears the honorary title of "Dmitry Donskoy". The press service of the president said that this was an award for massive "heroism and courage, fortitude and courage shown by the personnel of the regiment in combat operations to protect the Fatherland and state interests in armed conflicts, and taking into account his merits in peacetime." Also in the new millennium, regimental chevrons were officially introduced, which is a rarity for military formations of this size.

During the reform of the Airborne Forces in 2008, the 106th Guards Airborne Forces was on the verge of being disbanded, but the command came to its senses in time and everything remained in place. Today, the Tula military unit of the Airborne Forces is one of the demonstrative and well-equipped ones, so everyone who wants to serve in the landing should strive for the Airborne Division in Tula.

Our online store Voentorg "Voenpro" strives to pay attention not only to goods that are in constant demand, but also to products that can become especially valuable for someone in particular. You will not be able to buy a blue beret from us, only Russian paratroopers can wear it, but we have flags and souvenirs of any military branches, but in addition, we offer our customers a collection of unique flags to order. Including there is an opportunity to buy the flag of the Tula Airborne Forces at h 33842 - the home of the 51st parachute regiment.

The basis for this banner was the unofficial flag of the Airborne Forces, the so-called "demobilization" - with a white dome near the parachute and a red star in the center. Such a basis was not chosen by chance - in the upper right corner of the flag you can see the inscription "DMB 29.06.12".

If you or someone close and dear to you served in the landing force, wore a blue beret and "went to demobilization" in June 2012, then such a flag will not only be a great gift for February 23 or Airborne Forces Day, but also a memory for life . In the upper left corner is the name of the airborne unit of the Airborne Forces. The entire Lower part is occupied by the famous motto of the airborne troops - “No one but us. For the airborne forces!" - such a gift will be appreciated by all Russian paratroopers.

05.10.1922 - 10.03.1960

On October 5, 1922, the brigade was renamed the Armenian Rifle Division. In October 1931, the division was reorganized again and received the name "Armenian Mountain Rifle Division" - it included four rifle regiments, an artillery regiment and a separate cavalry squadron.

In 1935, the division was named after Marshal of the Soviet Union K.V. Voroshilov, and on May 29, 1936, for the successes achieved and in connection with the 15th anniversary, the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

On July 1, 1936, the division became known as the “76th Armenian Order of the Red Banner Mountain Rifle named after. K.V. Voroshilov Division ", and from July 16, 1940 -" 76th Red Banner Mountain Rifle Division named after. K.E. Voroshilov division.

The Great Patriotic War caught the division on the southern borders of the USSR with Iran on the Araks River. On August 25, 1941, together with other units of the Red Army, the division, having forced Araks river, entered into Iranian territory and after completing the task, she returned to Armenia.

In September 1941, the division was sent to the Southwestern Front, and on September 27, 1941 near Kochubeevka, Poltava region parts of the division entered the battle with the German troops. Heavy defensive battles went on for 20 days. It was the division's baptism of fire. Next were the fights at the borders of the rivers Northern Donets, Oskol, Don. On February 2, 1942, the division became part of the 21st Army of the Southwestern Front and was reorganized according to the staff of a rifle division.

In July 1942, the Battle of Stalingrad began. By combat order of the headquarters of the 21st Army, the division receives the task of leaving on the border of the Don River for further actions to seize a bridgehead on its right bank. For four months, the division as part of the 21st Army fought defensive battles northwest of Stalingrad. It is here for the courage shown, steadfastness, courage, heroism of personnel in heavy defensive battles and for the conquest of a bridgehead on the right bank of the Don River the division, by order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR No. 375 of 11/23/1942, was transformed into the 51st Guards Division. The guards banner of the division was awarded on January 5, 1943.

The division participated in breaking through the defensive lines of the German troops northwest of Stalingrad, the first of the units of the 21st Army broke into the city and on January 26, 1943, joined with units of the 13th division of M.A. Rodimtsev. Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 19, 1943 for successful actions in the defeat of the Nazi troops near Stalingrad The division is awarded the Order of Lenin.

After Stalingrad, the division as part of the 23rd Guards Rifle Corps of the 6th Guards Army from July 5 to August 23, 1943 took part in the Battle of Kursk, in the liberation of the cities of Kursk, Belgorod, Kharkov.

From October 1943 until the beginning of January 1944, the division as part of the 2nd Baltic Front took up defense northwest of Nevel, and then took part in the defeat of the enemy's Nevelsk grouping.

Since June 23, 1944, the division as part of the 1st Baltic Front participated in the Belarusian offensive operation "Bagration", having covered a path of 250 km with continuous battles, forcing four water barriers, including twice the Western Dvina River.

During the operation "Bagration" our troops closed the ring of resistance around the Vitebsk group of Germans and on July 4, 1944 liberated Polotsk. July 23, 1944 Order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR No. 204, for successful battles from June 22 to July 5, 1944, the division was given the honorary name "Vitebsk", and its three regiments were named "Polotsk".

In the summer of 1944, the division did not leave the fighting, liberating the Baltic states, pursuing the enemy along the line Polotsk-Turmantas, Ionishkis-Trishkiai, Bene-Priekule.

In October 1944 the division northwest of Siauliai broke through the heavily fortified defenses of the enemy and advanced more than 90 km in 5 days, including destroying up to 100 enemy soldiers and officers, destroyed and captured tanks - 32, rifles and machine guns - 759, machine guns - 125 and many other property. For the successful autumn battles of 1944, the 156th and 158th rifle regiments were awarded the Orders of Kutuzov III degree and the Red Banner.

In further battles, October 1944 - May 1945, the division carried out a series of offensive battles to destroy the encircled Courland enemy grouping, in the Priekule area: Elkuzeme, north of mz. Varma, mz. Remte.

X. Garni 10/27/1944
X. Imants 30-31.10.1944
X. Leinieki 10/27/1944
plmz. Jaunveyty 01/15/1945
X. Jaunzemy 02/03/1945

X. Drinkers 10/27/1944

plmz. Jaunveyty 01/15/1945

X. Warte 10/16/1944
plmz. Gulbene 27-29.10.1944
X. Idriti 10/27/1944
X. Krievini 10/23/1944
X. Pumpishi 10/16/1944
X. Sealy 10/28/1944

PERSONNEL

Total: 119

Ordinary composition:

machine gunner No. 1 of the 3rd SB of the 158th Guards Rifle Regiment

1907 - 25.03.1945

guards Corporal Vinogradov Georgy Borisovich
guards Corporal Volkov Grigory Timofeevich, shooter of the 158th Guards Rifle Regiment 1923 - 10/27/1944
guards Art. Sergeant Volodin Mikhail Ivanovich, squad leader of the 156th GSP 1914 - 02/04/1945
guards Corporal Voloshin Mikhail Vasilyevich, commander of the rifle squad of the 158th GSP 1926 - 10/27/1944
guards Art. Sergeant Voronovsky Alexey Ivanovich, gun commander of the 122nd GAP 1911 - 02/02/1945
guards Art. Sergeant Vyshlov Vasily Semenovich, gun commander of the 156th GSP 1907 - 10/27/1944
guards Corporal Gavrikov Vasily Alekseevich
guards Red Army soldier Grigorets Nikolai Vasilyevich, shooter of the 156th Guards Rifle Regiment 1925 - 02/02/1945
guards red Army soldier Guyda Mikhail Kuzmich, shooter of the 122nd GAP 1909 - 10/16/1944
guards red Army soldier Divin Fedor Gerasimovich
guards red Army soldier Dolinets Mikhail Danilovich, shooter of the 158th Guards Rifle Regiment 1924 - 02/03/1945
guards Sergeant Dotsenko Fedor Prokofievich, squad leader of the 156th GSP 1926 - 02/02/1945
guards red Army soldier Elkaev Hotambay
guards foreman Emelyanov Nikolai Alexandrovich, commander of the intelligence department of the 122nd GAP 1923 - 10/28/1944
guards red Army soldier Zabulika Fedor Konstantinovich, shooter of the 158th Guards Rifle Regiment 1920 - 02/03/1945
guards red Army soldier Zakruzhnitsky Alexander Nikitovich, machine gunner of the 158th GSP 1925 - 10/27/1944
guards Sergeant Ivanov Dmitry Grigorievich, scout of the 122nd GAP 1918 - 10/25/1944
guards red Army soldier Ignatiev Sidor Ignatievich, shooter of the 156th GSP 1905 - 10/28/1944
guards ml. Sergeant Igoshin Viktor Nikolaevich
guards red Army soldier Ilyesh Gavriil Ivanovich, shooter of the 156th Guards Rifle Regiment 1922 - 02/02/1945
guards Art. Sergeant Kalabsky Julius Petrovich, commander of the rifle squad of the 156th GSP 1925 - 10/28/1944
guards Art. Sergeant Kaporin Vladimir Yakovlevich, squad leader of the 158th Guards Rifle Regiment? - 10/27/1944
guards red Army soldier Katana Petr Nikolaevich, shooter of the 156th Guards Rifle Regiment 1924 - 02/04/1945
guards red Army soldier Alexey Petrovich Kafarsky, shooter of the 158th GSP 1915 - 02/03/1945
guards red Army soldier Knyazev Andrey Semenovich, shooter of the 156th Guards Rifle Regiment 1922 - 10/27/1944
guards Art. Sergeant Kovalkov Ivan Akimovich, commander of the department of the 154th GSP 1925 - 01/15/1945
guards red Army soldier Kovalchuk Grigory Semenovich, shooter of the 156th GSP 1899 - 02/02/1945
guards red Army soldier Kodryants Georgy Konstantinovich, shooter of the 158th Guards Rifle Regiment 1923 - 02/03/1945
guards corporal Kozlov Sergey Vasilyevich, shooter of the 156th Guards Rifle Regiment 1926 - 10/29/1944
guards red Army soldier Koldashin Oman, shooter of the 158th GSP 1919 - 10/27/1944
guards red Army soldier Kostyuk Dmitry Filippovich, shooter of the 158th GSP 1926 - 02/03/1945
guards Art. Sergeant Kudashov Zarif Khusainovich, commander of a machine gun crew of the 156th GSP 1917 - 02/02/1945
guards ml. Sergeant Kurbanov Akhat, shooter of the 158th Guards Rifle Regiment 1925 - 02/02/1945
guards Red Army soldier Kulikov Ivan Gavrilovich, shooter of the 156th GSP 1906 - 10/27/1944
guards red Army soldier Kuratkin Philip Paramonovich
guards red Army soldier Kushev Alexander Evdokimovich, shooter of the 122nd GAP 1926 - 10/23/1944
guards ml. Sergeant Larionov Ivan Andreevich, shooter of the 158th GSP 1904 - 02/03/1945
guards Art. Sergeant Levin Vasily Matveyevich, squad leader of the 158th GSP 1911 - 02/02/1945
guards red Army soldier Fedor Nikolaevich Litvinov, shooter of the 156th GSP 1907 - 10/29/1944
guards red Army soldier Lubchuk Nikolai Emelyanovich, shooter of the 158th Guards Rifle Regiment 1926 - 10/27/1944
guards red Army soldier Lunev Vladimir Yakovlevich, machine gunner of the 156th GSP 1925 - 10/28/1944
guards Sergeant Lyashchenko Ivan Petrovich, commander of the rifle squad of the 156th GSP 1924 - 10/29/1944
guards red Army soldier Maksimov Semyon Evseevich, shooter of the 156th GSP 1904 - 02/06/1945
guards Red Army soldier Little Dmitry Dmitrievich, shooter of the 158th GSP 1908 - 02/03/1945
guards red Army soldier Markovich Nikolai Fedorovich, shooter of the 158th GSP 1915 - 02/02/1945
guards red Army soldier Semyon Konstantinovich Marutkov, shooter of the 158th Guards Rifle Regiment 1924 - 10/16/1944
guards Sergeant Makhimbaev Mammadil, gunner of the 122nd GAP 1924 - 10/23/1944
guards red Army soldier Matsuganov Philip Timofeevich, shooter of the 156th GSP 1901 - 10/30/1944
guards red Army soldier Mokhnatov Ivan Semenovich, shooter of the 158th Guards Rifle Regiment 1922 - 02/02/1945
guards red Army soldier Muratov Alexander Dmitrievich, shooter of the 158th Guards Rifle Regiment 1926 - 02/02/1945
guards red Army soldier Nedugov Yakov Zotovich, machine gunner of the 156th GSP 1904 - 02/05/1945
guards Sergeant Nikolenko Mikhail Ivanovich, squad leader of the 158th GSP 1925 - 02/02/1945
guards Art. Sergeant Ozhogin Petr Alekseevich, commander of the rifle squad of the 158th GSP 1915 - 10/27/1944
guards foreman Pankov Vladimir Gavrilovich, foreman of a rifle company of the 158th GSP 1910 - 10/27/1944
guards Corporal Akim Filippovich Panchenko, shooter of the 156th GSP 1905 - 02/02/1945
guards red Army soldier Pereverzev Andrey Ignatievich, shooter of the 158th GSP 1918 - 02/03/1945
guards red Army soldier Pilipenko Anatoly Aleksandrovich, scout of the 158th GSP 1922 - 02/02/1945
guards foreman Podogov Evgeny Vasilyevich, squad leader of the 156th GSP 1918 - 02/04/1945
guards red Army soldier Popov Mikhail Stepanovich, shooter of the 156th Guards Rifle Regiment 1926 - 10/27/1944
guards Corporal Postal Konstantin Prokofievich, shooter of the 156th Guards Rifle Regiment, born in 1924
guards Corporal Pramkulov Turgun, shooter of the 156th GSP 1904 - 10/27/1944
guards red Army soldier Prosvirov Konstantin Vasilyevich, shooter of the 154th GSP 1909 - 02/02/1945
guards red Army soldier Ptashnik Vladimir Martynovich, shooter of the 156th Guards Rifle Regiment 1926 - 02/04/1945
guards red Army soldier Puga Sergey Georgievich, shooter of the 156th Guards Rifle Regiment 1920 - 02/02/1945
guards Sergeant Pudovkin Vasily Danilovich, squad leader of the 156th Guards Rifle Regiment 1921 - 02/02/1945

Transformed from 76 Rifle Division (I) 11/23/42
The new numbering of the units of the division was assigned on 11/27/42.

154th, 156th and 158th Guards Rifle Regiment,
122nd Guards Artillery Regiment,
60th Guards separate anti-tank battalion,
68th Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battery (until 20.4.43),
52nd Guards Reconnaissance Company,
59th Guards Sapper Battalion,
78th Guards Separate Communications Battalion,
563 (62) medical battalion,
53 Guards separate company of chemical protection,
611 (55) motor transport company,
639 (57) field bakery,
644 (48) divisional veterinary infirmary,
206 field post station,
232 field cash desk of the State Bank.

Combat period
23.11.42-2.2.43
15.2.43-30.9.43
15.10.43-9.5.45

51st Guards Vitebsk Order of Lenin Red Banner Rifle Division. K.E. Voroshilov is one of the oldest formations of the Red Army, created on the initiative of V. I. Lenin on December 6, 1920 (although at that time it was called the 76th Infantry Division). From its first days it has been fighting for the establishment of Soviet power in Transcaucasia.

76th Order of the Red Banner of the Mountain Rifle Division. K. E. Voroshilov (76th Rifle Division) (later the 51st Order of Lenin and the Red Banner of the Guards Rifle Division (51st Guards Rifle Division)) was formed on the territory of the Azerbaijan SSR on the basis of the so-called Armenian regiment. The regiment was formed from Baku workers and was essentially international. The staffing of the division was mixed and, in the end, the name “Armenian” was officially removed on July 16, 1940, as it did not reflect the real national composition of the unit formed in Azerbaijan and consisting mainly of Azerbaijanis. In June 1936, the division received the name of the 76th Mountain Rifle Division.

During these years, two marshals received their first hardening in its ranks - Marshal of the Soviet Union Ivan Khristoforovich Bagramyan and Chief Marshal of the Armored Forces Amazasp Khachaturovich Babajanyan. In 1935, for the successes achieved, the division was named after Marshal Kliment Efremovich Voroshilov, and in 1936 it was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. From the first days of the fight against the fascist invaders, the personnel showed steadfastness, courage, heroism, participating in the defense of our southern borders, the Battles of Stalingrad and Kursk, the Bagration operation, the defeat of the Courland enemy grouping in the Baltic - such is the combat path of the division.

On August 25, 1941, the division crossed the border with Iran and after 5–6 hours of foot crossing entered Tabriz. A month later, when the Wehrmacht broke through the front on the Dnieper, the division was transferred through Baku to the Donbass. As part of the division, the 137th and 207th rifle regiments. The division became part of the 21st Army of the Southwestern Front (the army also included the 227th, 8th, 293rd, 297th and 301st Rifle Divisions and the 10th Tank Brigade). Parts of the division marched to the area of Novyagi, Merefa, Kolomak and further Iskrovka, Chutovo, Poltava region. In the area of the state farm. Atarbekov managed to stop the advance of the Germans in the direction of the Poltava-Kharkov railway with a counterattack. However, having concentrated new forces, the Wehrmacht formations again went on the offensive. The 76th Mountain Rifle Division, fighting heavy defensive battles, retreated to the Volochansk, Bely Kolodets, Sovetskaya, Proletarskaya, Gnilushka line. Here it was possible to take up a strong defense and hold the line in the positional struggle with the Germans.

From May 12, 1942, the Division took part in the unsuccessful offensive of the troops of the South-Western Front in the Kharkov direction.

On June 30, as a result of the offensive of the 6th German Army near Volochansk, the 21st Army was cut into two parts. The army divisions were forced to fight their way across the Oskol River.

On July 12, 1942, the 76th Division, as part of the 21st Army, entered the newly created Stalingrad Front. The first commander of the 76th Rifle Division was Colonel V.A. Penkovsky, who at the beginning of August 1942 was transferred to the Chief of Staff of the 21st Army. Lieutenant Colonel B. D. Shevchenko commanded the division for a short time, and from August 14, Colonel N. T. Tavartkiladze was ordered to command the division.

In the autumn of 1942, even before the start of the general offensive of the Soviet troops near Stalingrad, the 76th division was located on the left bank of the Don opposite the village of Kletskaya. The preparation of the counteroffensive of the Soviet troops required the capture of bridgeheads on the right bank of the river. The new commander of the 21st Army, Major General I. M. Chistyakov, set a combat mission for N. T. Tavartkiladze - to capture the village. On October 23, the 76th, in cooperation with the 278th division, after artillery preparation, went on the offensive and after stubborn street fighting on October 25 they captured Kletskaya and entrenched themselves on the heights adjacent to it. Thus, a bridgehead on the right bank of the Don was created and, in stubborn battles, retained and expanded. In the battles for Kletskaya, the units commanded by the commanders Mutallimov, Sadikhov, Akhundov, Mamedov, Alibekov, Aslanov especially distinguished themselves. In the village, the headquarters of the 13th infantry division of the Wehrmacht and more than 180 enemy soldiers and officers were captured.

In the significant November days of the Battle of Stalingrad, the 76th division, as part of the Southwestern Front, entered the strike force of its army to break through enemy positions in its direction. The division acted harmoniously and courageously in all sectors of the offensive.

On November 23, 1942, for the stamina, courage and heroism shown in battles with the Nazi invaders, by order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR No. 375, the 76th Rifle Division was transformed into the 51st Guards Rifle Division. It was the first guards division of the 21st Army. At the end of the month, its commander N. T. Tavarkiladze received the rank of major general.

The soldiers and commanders of the 51st Guards were among the first to break into Stalingrad from the west. The division participated in the encirclement and capture of a major stronghold of the Wehrmacht near Stalingrad - Dmitrievka. During the operation, Colonel-General of the Wehrmacht, the commander of the 8th Army Corps, the Fuhrer's favorite, who received the rank of field marshal after the capture of Paulus, Walter Geitz, was captured.

On November 27, the main forces of the army crossed to the left bank of the Don in the Kalach region and launched an offensive in an easterly direction, but already as part of the Don Front. It turned out to be impossible to maintain the initial pace of the offensive, since many parts of the army were transferred near Kotelnikovo, where it was necessary to stop the troops of Field Marshal Manstein. The remaining divisions were given the task of systematically and maximally conducting active operations, preventing the regrouping of German troops in their directions.

On January 10, 1943, Operation Ring began. The 51st Guards Division was advancing in the direction of the village of Karpovka. After taking this stronghold, the pursuit of the enemy began. On the 12th, several tanks of the division broke through to the Pitomnik, where the German airfield and hospitals were located, and caused a lot of commotion in the enemy camp. On January 15, the 51st Division, together with the 252nd Division, liberated Pitomnik.

On January 22, 1943, the final stage of the operation for the final defeat of the encircled enemy group began. The 21st Army was to advance in the direction of Gumrak, the village of Red October. To meet them from the city was to advance the 62nd Army. But the advance was very difficult - the German soldiers fought with the desperation of a hunted beast. On January 25, the 51st division with other parts of the army captured the village of Gumrak, where the Nazis kept a camp of Soviet prisoners of war. Of these, battalions were formed and sent to army divisions.

On the night of January 26, the commander of the Don Front, K.K. Rokossovsky, gave the order to break through to Mamaev Kurgan and complete the dismemberment of the remnants of the encircled German troops. On the morning of this day, to the music of the orchestra, the soldiers of the 51st division went on the attack and, together with units of the 121st tank brigade and the 52nd division, on the slopes of the mound, joined the units of the 13th guards and 284th rifle divisions of the 62nd army - military , as well as with it, the historical tasks were completed.

On April 22, 1943, the 21st Army was reorganized into the 6th Guards Army for outstanding service in defeating the enemy near Stalingrad.

During the Battle of Kursk, units of the 51st Guards Division took up defensive positions in the Oboyan area. With the start of the German offensive on July 5, for the next three days, a continuous battle went on at the division's defense lines. On the evening of July 8, formations of the 6th Guards Army withdrew to the second line of defense and finally exhausted the enemy, stopping his advance. At the end of the Battle of Kursk, the division as part of the 6th Guards Army continued its offensive in the Belgorod-Kharkov direction.

In September 1943, the division was deployed as part of the army near Leningrad and, as part of the 2nd Baltic Front, broke through the German defenses northeast of Nevel.

In February 1944, the division as part of the army was transferred to the 1st Baltic Front.

On June 22, 1944, the division takes part in the destruction of the enemy's Vitebsk grouping and the liberation of the cities of Vitebsk and Polotsk. The division was given the honorary title of Vitebsk. The 154th, 156th and 158th regiments of the division were given the name Polotsk.

From August 1 to the end of September 1944, the division as part of the army fought heavy defensive-offensive battles on the lines 65 km southwest of Daugavpils.

In early October 1944, the division took part in the offensive in the Memel direction. As a result of a successful operation on the Courland Peninsula, up to 40 divisions of Army Group North were surrounded. The encircled grouping was renamed by the command of the Wehrmacht into Army Group Kurland. Stubborn and fierce battles with the Courland grouping of the enemy continued until its surrender on May 8, 1945. Here, in the Baltic states, the 51st Guards Rifle Division ended the war, having covered 12,000 km with battles in four years.

32 Heroes of the Soviet Union were brought up in the division, among them: Arendarenko I.I., Kovtunov G.N., Lapata N.I., Lutsevich A.F., Sushkov F.T., Stempkovskaya E.K., Toguzov K. T., Uglovsky M.N., Falin D.K. and others. 9 soldiers became full holders of the Orders of Glory. The heroic deeds of the guardsmen Aitykov I., Belova M. N., Vlasova A. A., Grigoryeva A. I., Gutchenko P. L., Dosova K., Kabribova M. N., Kochar R. ., Krasilnikova A. I., Korneeva P. A., Pechersky G. N., Startseva A. P., Tavartkiladze N. T., Khandzhyana A. G., Khachatryana A. M., Khochelava K. M., Skins P. G. and many others.

Nikolai Tarielovich Tavartkiladze was assigned to the 51st Guards Division in August 1942. Then Colonel Tavartkiladze was only 36 years old. Under his command, the 51st Guards Division wrote many glorious pages in the history of the Battle of Stalingrad.

There are many documents about the military affairs of the division in the archives of Lyceum No. 7. The Dzerzhinsky district included the name of N. Tavartkiladze in the Book of Honor.

The Battle of Stalingrad occupies an important place in the biography of the general. But his activities are not limited to this battle. The corps he commanded in 1943 liberated Belgorod. Then the liberation of Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Austria. He heroically smashes the Nazis in their own lair - Germany and ends the war in Dresden.

The homeland highly appreciated the merits of Major General N. Tavartkiladze. He was awarded the Order of Lenin, three Orders of the Red Banner, Orders of Suvorov II degree, Red Star and many medals. Among his awards is the American Distinguished Service Cross.

From the memoirs of the head of the political department of the 6th Guards Army, Colonel V.I. KASYANENKO

51st GUARDS VITEBSK ORDER OF LENIN Red Banner Rifle them. K.E. VOROSHILOV DIVISION

The combat path of the 51st Guards Vitebsk Order of Lenin of the Red Banner Rifle named after. K.E. Voroshilov's division began with the proclamation of Soviet power in Armenia, where in December 1920, an Armenian rifle brigade was formed on the basis of a separate Armenian regiment. In April 1921, a separate artillery battalion was formed as part of the brigade, which later became the backbone of the future artillery regiment, the historical traditions of which were inherited by the 344th missile regiment of the Strategic Missile Forces.

On October 5, 1922, the brigade was renamed the Armenian Rifle Division. The first division commander, Colonel A.P. Melik-Shakhnazarov.

In its ranks, two marshals received their first hardening - Marshal of the Soviet Union I.Kh. Bagramyan and Chief Marshal of the Armored Forces A.Kh. Babajanyan.

In October 1931, the division was reorganized again and received the name "Armenian Mountain Rifle Division". It included four rifle regiments, an artillery regiment and a separate cavalry squadron.

The Great Patriotic War found the division guarding the southern borders of the USSR with Iran on the Araks River. On August 25, 1941, together with other units of the Red Army, the division, having crossed the Araks River, entered Iranian territory and, after completing the assigned task, returned to Armenia.

In September 1941, the division was sent to the Southwestern Front, and on September 27, 1941, in the Kochubeevka area of the Poltava region, parts of the division entered into battle with German troops. Heavy defensive battles went on for 20 days. It was the division's baptism of fire. Further there were battles on the borders of the rivers Northern Donets, Oskol, Don. On February 2, 1942, the division (division commander Colonel G.G. Voronin) became part of the 21st Army of the South-Western Front and was reorganized according to the state of the rifle division.

In July 1942, the Battle of Stalingrad began. By combat order of the headquarters of the 21st Army, the division receives the task of reaching the line of the Don River for further actions to seize a bridgehead on its right bank. The division was commanded by Colonel V.A. Penkovsky. For four months, the division as part of the 21st Army fought defensive battles northwest of Stalingrad. It was here that for the courage, steadfastness, courage, heroism of the personnel in heavy defensive battles and for the conquest of a bridgehead on the right bank of the Don River, the division was transformed into the 51st Guards Division by order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR No. 375 of 11/23/1942. The guards banner of the division (division commander Major General I.T. Tavartkiladze) was awarded on January 5, 1943.

The division participated in breaking through the defensive lines of the German troops northwest of Stalingrad, the first of the units of the 21st Army to break into the city and on January 26, 1943, joined with units of the 13th division of M.A. Rodimtsev. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 19, 1943, the division was awarded the Order of Lenin for successful operations in the defeat of the Nazi troops near Stalingrad. Among the thousands of names on Mamaev Kurgan, the names of the heroes of the division are carved - Pokalchuk, Gutchenko, Pechersky.

After Stalingrad, the division as part of the 6th Guards Army (former 21st Army) from July 5 to August 23, 1943 took part in the Battle of Kursk, in the liberation of the cities of Kursk, Belgorod, Kharkov. For exploits in the Battle of Kursk Bulge, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of September 29, 1943, in the division, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was given to Guards. foreman A. Vlasov, guards. major M. Uglovsky, guards. junior sergeant A. Startsev.

From October 1943 until the beginning of January 1944, the division as part of the 2nd Baltic Front took up defenses northwest of the city of Nevel, and then took part in the defeat of the Nevelsk enemy grouping.

Since June 23, 1944, the division as part of the 1st Baltic Front participated in the Belorussian offensive operation "Bagration", having covered a distance of 250 km with continuous battles, forcing four water barriers, including twice the Western Dvina River. For the battles for crossing the Western Dvina, 15 guardsmen of the division were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of 22.7.1944.

During Operation Bagration, our troops closed the ring of resistance around the Vitebsk group of Germans and on July 4, 1944, liberated the city of Polotsk. For successful battles from June 22 to July 5, 1944, the division was given the name "Vitebsk", and three of its regiments (154, 156 and 158) were given the name "Polotsk" (Order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR No. ).

In the summer of 1944, the division did not withdraw from the fighting, liberating the Baltic states, pursuing the enemy along the Polotsk-Turmantas, Ionishkis-Trishkiai, and Bene-Priekule lines. For the successful autumn battles of 1944, the 156th and 158th rifle regiments were awarded the orders of Kutuzov 3rd degree and the Red Banner.

The last period of the Great Patriotic War passed for the division in heavy battles to destroy the encircled Courland enemy grouping. Together with the troops of the 1st Baltic Front, the division made the famous throw to the shores of the Baltic Sea, where it ended the Great Patriotic War.

During the period of hostilities in the division, 32 people received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, 12 people became full holders of the Orders of Glory, 19114 people were awarded orders and medals of the USSR.

In the late 1950s, the 51st Guards (already mechanized) division was stationed in the Baltic:

tank and artillery regiments - in the village. Paplak of the Latvian SSR;

two cropped mechanized regiments and a tank battalion - in the city of Priekule, Latvian SSR;

mechanized regiment - in the city of Ventspils, Latvian SSR.

The division headquarters was located in Liepaja, Latvian SSR.

On March 10, 1960, in accordance with the directive of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR, the 51st Guards Mechanized Division began to disband. The main personnel were transferred to the staffing of the Strategic Missile Forces. On the basis of the 138th Guards Red Banner Artillery Regiment, the 344th Missile Regiment of the 29th Missile Division was formed.

On May 9, 1965, by order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR No. 55, the Hero of the Soviet Union guard senior sergeant Lutsevich was forever enlisted in the lists of the 344th missile regiment (Priekule), and the Hero of the Soviet Union guard senior sergeant A.I. Krasilnikov.

Natives of the 51st Guards Division were: the commander of the Jelgava missile regiment, Colonel B.I. Mineev (former tank regiment commander);

Deputy Commander of the Jelgava Missile Regiment Lieutenant Colonel V.P. Danilchenko (former deputy commander of a tank regiment B.I. Mineeva, future commander of the Dobele missile regiment);

Deputy Commander of the Priekulsky Regiment for Political Affairs, Major S.S. Samoilenko (former deputy commander of a tank regiment for political affairs, future commander of the Priekul missile regiment).

Street named after the 51st Guards Division

The 51st Guards Rifle Division (76th Rifle Division) has traveled a long, difficult and glorious path along the roads of war. She contributed to the overall victory over the enemy, including in the battle of Stalingrad.

In the November days of the Battle of Stalingrad, the 76th division, as part of the Southwestern Front, entered the strike force of its army to break through enemy positions in its direction. The division acted harmoniously and courageously in all sectors of the offensive. On November 23, 1942, for the stamina, courage and heroism shown in the battles against the Nazi invaders, the 76th Rifle Division was transformed into the 51st Guards Rifle Division. It was the first guards division of the 21st Army.

On January 10, 1943, Operation Ring began. The 51st Guards Division was advancing in the direction of the village of Karpovka. After taking this stronghold, the pursuit of the enemy began. On the 12th, several tanks of the division broke through to the Pitomnik, where the German airfield and hospitals were located, and caused a lot of commotion in the enemy camp. On January 15, the 51st Division, together with the 252nd Division, liberated Pitomnik.

On January 22, 1943, the final stage of the operation for the final defeat of the encircled enemy group began. The 21st Army was to advance in the direction of Gumrak, the village of Red October. To meet them from the city was to advance the 62nd Army. But the advance was very difficult - the German soldiers fought with the desperation of a hunted beast. On January 25, the 51st division with other parts of the army captured the village of Gumrak, where the Nazis kept a camp of Soviet prisoners of war. Of these, battalions were formed and sent to army divisions.

On the night of January 26, the commander of the Don Front K.K. Rokossovsky gave the order to break through to Mamaev Kurgan and complete the dismemberment of the remnants of the encircled German troops. On the morning of that day, to the music of the orchestra, the soldiers of the 51st division went on the attack and, together with units of the 121st tank brigade and the 52nd division, on the slopes of the mound, joined with units of the 13th guards and 284th rifle divisions of the 62nd army. The division completed its task.

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Street named after the 51st Guards Division

The 51st Guards Rifle Division (76th Rifle Division) has traveled a long, difficult and glorious path along the roads of war. She contributed to the overall victory over the enemy, including in the battle of Stalingrad.

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