Airborne Forces flag "56 DShB". History of the brigade (regiment) of the 56th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade

Volgograd region

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

Combat 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 dated 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 Vostryakovo, Vnukovo, Stupino) the 16th Guards Airborne Division was formed. The division had a staff of 12,000 people.

In August 1944, the division was redeployed to the city of Starye Dorogi, Mogilev region, and on August 9, 1944, it 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, and 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 front's main attack. The division, in cooperation with formations of the 4th Guards Army, broke through the enemy’s defenses north of the city of Székesfehérvár, reached the flank and rear of the main forces of the 6th SS Panzer Army, which had penetrated the defense of the front forces between lakes Velence and Lake Balaton. At the beginning of April, the division struck in a northwestern direction, bypassing Vienna and, in cooperation with the 6th Guards Tank Army, broke enemy resistance, advanced to the Danube and cut off the enemy’s retreat to the west. The division successfully fought in the city, which lasted 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 dated April 26, 1945, “for participation in the capture 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. Having come into contact with the enemy, on May 8 she crossed the border of Czechoslovakia and immediately captured the city of Znojmo.

On May 9, the division continued combat operations to pursue the enemy and successfully developed an offensive towards Retz and Pisek. The division marched, pursuing the enemy, and in 3 days fought 80-90 km. At 12.00 on May 11, 1945, the forward detachment of the division reached the Vltava River and, in the area of ​​​​the village of Oleshnya, met with troops of the American 5th Tank Army. Here the division's combat path 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 camped in the forests south of Budapest.

Based on Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No. 1154474ss of June 3, 1946 and the directive of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR No. org/2/247225 of June 7, 1946, by June 15, 1946, the 106th Guards Rifle Red Banner, Order of Kutuzov Division I was reformed to the 106th Guards Airborne Red Banner Order of Kutuzov Division.

Since July 1946, the division was stationed in 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 Parachute Regiment participated in military parades on Red Square in Moscow, took part in large military exercises and in 1955 landed near the city of Kutaisi (Transcaucasian Military District).

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

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

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

• the 351st Guards Airborne Regiment (the city of Efremov, Tula Region) was accepted into the 105th Guards Airborne Vienna Red Banner Division from the 106th Guards Airborne Division;
• The 105th Guards Airborne Division (without the 331st Guards Parachute Regiment) was redeployed to the Turkestan Military District in the city of Fergana, Uzbek SSR;
• The 351st Guards Parachute Regiment was 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 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 regiment's personnel at that time was 1,674 people.

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

What remained from the division in Fergana was the 345th Separate Guards Parachute Parachute Regiment of the Order of Suvorov, a much larger regiment (it was added howitzer artillery battalion) than the usual and the 115th separate military transport aviation squadron.

On the basis of the 351st Guards Parachute Regiment of the 105th Guards Airborne Division, by November 30, 1979, in the village of Azadbash (district of the city of Chirchik) of the Tashkent region of the Uzbek SSR, 56th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade (56th Airborne Brigade). At the time of its formation, the brigade's staff number was 2,833 people.

The rest of the division's personnel were sent to fill the gaps in other airborne formations and to supplement the newly formed separate air assault brigades.

To form a brigade, reserves liable for military service - the so-called “partisans” - were urgently mobilized from among the residents of the Central Asian republics and the south of the Kazakh SSR. They will subsequently make up 80% of the brigade’s personnel when troops enter the DRA.

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

“...formally the brigade is considered formed in Chirchik on the basis of the 351st Guards. pdp. However, de facto, its formation was carried out separately in four centers (Chirchik, Kapchagai, Fergana, Yolotan), and was brought together into a single whole just before the entry into Afghanistan in Termez. The brigade headquarters (or officer cadre), as formally its cadre, was apparently initially stationed in Chirchik...”

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

Participation in the Afghan War

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

From Termez 1st pdb and 2nd dshb by helicopter, and the rest in a convoy were redeployed 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 staff was introduced 56th Airborne Brigade. She was stationed in the city of Kunduz.

Since the transfer of the 2nd dshb As part of the 70th Omsbr, the brigade was actually a three-battalion regiment.

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

From 1982 to June 1988 56th Airborne Brigade stationed in the area of ​​Gardez, conducting combat operations throughout Afghanistan: Bagram, Mazar-i-Sharif, Khanabad, Panjshir, Logar, Alikhail (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 the standard airborne armored vehicles of the brigade (BMD-1 and BTR-D) were replaced with more protected armored vehicles with a long service life:

• BMP-2 D - for reconnaissance company, 2nd, 3rd And 4th battalions
• 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 fire 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, 1st 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. Paratroopers blocked the caravan routes from Pakistan in order to ensure the withdrawal of troops from the city of Ghazni.

Number of personnel 56th Guards odshbr on December 1, 1986 there were 2,452 people (261 officers, 109 warrant officers, 416 sergeants, 1,666 soldiers).

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

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

From 1989 to present

In 1990, the brigade was transferred to the Airborne Forces and reorganized into a separate Guards Airborne Brigade (Airborne Brigade). The brigade passed through “hot spots”: Afghanistan (12.1979-07.1988), Baku (12-19.01.1990 - 02.1990), Sumgait, 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 areas.” In accordance with it, the Airborne Forces began an operation 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 parachute regiment landed at 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.

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

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

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

On June 6, 1990, the 104th Parachute Regiment of the 76th Airborne Division, the 56th Airborne Brigade began landing at airfields in the cities of Fergana and Osh, and on June 8 - the 137th Parachute Regiment of the 106th airborne division in Frunze. Having made a march on the same day through the mountain passes of the border of the two republics, the paratroopers occupied Osh and Uzgen. The next day, the 387th separate parachute regiment and units 56th Airborne Brigade took control of the situation in the area of ​​​​the cities of Andijan and Jalal-Abad, occupied Kara-Suu, mountain roads and passes throughout the conflict territory.

In October 1992, in connection with the sovereignization of the republics of the former USSR, the brigade was redeployed to the temporary deployment point, the village of Zelenchukskaya, Karachay-Cherekessiya (the 4th parachute battalion of the brigade remained at the permanent deployment point in Iolotan (Turkmenistan), in order to protect the military camp, which was later transferred to the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan and renamed into a separate air assault battalion). The 56th Guards Airborne Brigade became three battalions. From there, in 1994, she marched to the place of permanent deployment in the village of Podgory near the city of Volgodonsk, Rostov region. The territory of the military camp was a former shift camp for 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 consolidated battalion and transfer it to Mozdok. The brigade's artillery division took part in the operation near Shatoy at the end of 1995 - beginning of 1996. A separate platoon of the AGS-17 brigade from March 1995 to September 1995 as part of the combined battalion of the 7th Guards. Airborne Division took part in the mining company in the Vedeno and Shatoi regions of Chechnya. For their courage and heroism, military personnel were awarded medals and orders. In October-November 1996, the combined battalion of the brigade was withdrawn from Chechnya. At the request of the Don Cossack Army, the brigade was given the honorary name Don Cossack.

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

In July 1998, by order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, in connection with the resumption of construction of the Rostov Nuclear Power Plant, the 56th Regiment began redeployment to the city of Kamyshin, Volgograd Region. The regiment was stationed in the buildings of the Kamyshinsky 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 consolidated regiment of the 20th Guards Motorized Rifle Division and was sent by 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 Regiment Regiment were the first to land on the section of 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 (place of temporary deployment - Khankala) until 2005.

Since May 1, 2009 56th Guards Air Assault Regiment became a brigade again. And from July 1, 2010, it switched to a new state and began to be called 56th Separate Guards Air Assault Order of the Patriotic War Don Cossack Brigade (lung) .

Reassignment of the brigade

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

“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 of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the Airborne Forces included three air assault brigades stationed in the cities of Ussuriysk, Ulan-Ude and Kamyshin, previously part of the Eastern and Southern Military Districts"

Preparation for Airborne Forces Day

During my entire service in Afghanistan, I had one penalty - a severe reprimand: “For tactless treatment of prisoners of war.”

In July 1982 - the company commander was on leave - I was for him, tomorrow there was a column, it was necessary to comb the nearby villages in front of it. ... In the distance we can see a village, we approach it, .... there are two handsome horses standing there, but there are no people, I give the command to search, after a couple of minutes we pull out two spirits from a niche in the mountain, shouting: “Dust, dust! [Friend], what a fucking dust, I rip one of his shirts off on his shoulder, and there is a mark from a butt, and then they found a weapon.

Let us finish it!

I have a weaker blow, I’m the only one with all the dope - in the melon [head]. And then I say to the platoon commander:

Take the horses, tie up the spirits, and report to the battalion via communications that you have arrived!

We are in good spirits for dinner, Eric meets me on the porch:

The battalion commander is angry, he immediately told him to come to him!

I think: “What is it? I brought weapons, took spirits - it seems there’s nothing to stick to.”

I come in and report.

Did you take perfume? Headquarters duty officer, bring the prisoners!

They put me in, and my jaw dropped, swollen, at least a double fracture. (the one on the left) ....

These are exactly the two spirits who were taken with the horses. >>

Lieutenant, this is the gang leader. If you don’t interrogate him, you’ll be punished, understand?

What kind of interrogation was that, he probably forgot his name, I agreed to the punishment. The horses were hobbled and sent to graze.

At two o'clock in the morning a messenger from the headquarters comes running:

The battalion commander is calling you!

Well, I think it’s probably an ambush again...

And the battalion commander [Major Ilchenko] has an officer sitting in the cockpit, both of them are already pretty tough,

They served together in the Union. And the conversation goes like this:

My officers can hit a nickel from a hundred meters.

And mine... they kill the spirit with one blow!

Gives me a mug of moonshine:

Don't be offended by the punishment. You all need to be fucked.

I don't think there's any smell of an ambush here. I showed that I could and went to bed.

At night, after an argument between the battalion commanders, after my blow, that “spirit” had no palpable pulse, no matter how much the duty officer at the headquarters poured water on him...

Sloppy - after receiving this same punishment from the battalion commander >>

And the second [old man] KHAD members [Afghan security officers] After interrogations, they shot me a couple of days later. And they knew how to interrogate, the SS was resting with Himmler.

..surrounded by "friends" [KHADovtsev].
These friends are exactly the ones who are our complete friends.
We were friends in the program... just like that. In short, our guys. >>
(photo and commentary by A. Tumakh)

At four o'clock there was an explosion behind a ditch in a minefield, the horse jumped over the stream and was blown up by a mine...

In the morning - a column, the battalion commander instructs:

Go to Kabul, sell your horse, before Airborne Forces Day you need to make some mash.

I tied him to the back of my armored personnel carrier. And let's go. After Mukhamedka we got caught in the crossfire...

We got through, no losses... In the desert in front of Kabul we stopped to rest:

Fucking old man! ...and where is the horse?

Comrade lieutenant, when we got out, everything was fine, but during the shelling, when the speed was increased, he ran for two kilometers, and then he was worn down on the asphalt, only traces remained.

Senior Lieutenant of the Airborne Forces
Alexander Kozlov

... [Art. Lieutenant Alexander] After things got worse, Kozlov took an armored personnel carrier with its crew and left to “prance” around Kabul. In one of the dukans I settled with the owner of the “Fenko” store [F-1 grenade]- he said, there were no small things. After the explosion they made the legs.

Early December 1982. The battalion commander received an order from the brigade to send four armored personnel carriers to collect awards for our battalion; Sasha left as the column leader [Kozlov].

Having reached the brigade and received awards, he stayed for a couple of hours in Gardez with his buddies in an anti-tank battery. Well, he made it worse with vodka, then moved it back. “I didn’t get it,” having passed the pass, he wanted another drink, stopped the column and ran to the dukan, where he was turned away. He carried out a "talashi control" - in our opinion, a "search", found BUR cartridges under the counter and with [sergeant] Oleg Samokhvalov and private Popov shot the dukan men. His mistake - he didn’t make control shots, one of the peasants turned out to be “under-shot”.

Before our eyes, the Ghazni infantry is robbing dukans without a twinge of conscience. They drive up backwards, break down the wall and take everything straight into the cars: candy, sugar, bales, fabrics...

The second platoon, when entering the safe, found a safe somewhere, and there were more than three “lemons” of afoshkas [Afghan]. ...

... [preempting investigators] flies in [to the officer's quarters] brigade commander ... The carpets are torn off the walls, the French tableware (they took it during the operation) from the left leg - to smithereens. Snatches PM [The Makarov pistol] and for tape recorders - only spare parts remained. Rugs, carpets, ... - “everything that was acquired by back-breaking labor” was doused with gasoline and set on fire ...

Our NS [chief of staff] Major Baryshnikov usually said the following:

Come on Larionov (commander of the artillery battery) or Komarov (commander of our mine battery), fuck off...not in this village!

Infantry, dismount! It's too late to collect galoshes and teapots!

In this village I was only in a few houses - intact ones... Everything else Valera Larionov and his artillery brethren have been “smoothing” for how long, I don’t even remember how long, all the unevenness is leveled...

Burn everything! To the vigorous hairdryer!

The whole harvest! Do not spare tracers!

God of war, cut everything to zero!

I get the go-ahead for flamethrowers. ... we enter the green zone and make a little Vietnamese with napalm and scorched earth tactics...

What is "free search"? This is when a reconnaissance strip is given, and do whatever you want there, and bring results.

Results of my group's operation. "Spirits" were dropped
into the ditch, there are about 20 of them. (July 1983). >>
(photo and commentary by A. Tumakh) airborne captain
Yuri Kostenko

Yeah, people have already been to this duval before me, who is it... the handwriting looks like a deputy battalion commander [captain Yu. Kostenko], even the dog was thrown into the well and the belt with the bucket was cut...

... "We had a blast" and took about a dozen prisoners. The group of Kostenko, the deputy battalion commander, met along the way, he was always the only one “working”, I reported to him the situation. He “advised” and showed how to “work” with the prisoners. After his independent “raids” more than one hundred peaceful farmers [peasants] joined the ranks of “spirits” with a corresponding attitude towards us. >>

Kostenko lost three friends in Afghanistan. And he vowed to take one hundred heads of spirits for each of them. ... He crushed captive spirits with caterpillars, taken on the spot with weapons, he tortured them with electric shock and killed them, he burned out caves with flamethrowers ... Then, under Kostenka, the scorched earth tactics before the passage of columns was not considered a crime, and the columns passed and their own We counted the number of killed as just a few... The oath was only about half fulfilled. >>

What was there, who was yelling?

Yes, they caught some cyclist, he said that he was either a doctor or a veterinarian. Captain Kostenko ordered him to finish quietly, well, they didn’t finish him off, he started screaming and started running... Then Borovsky finished off the spirit. >>

After one of the difficult operations, representatives of the NGO [special department] initiated against him [Yu. Kostenko] case of allegedly illegal actions. They called the plane and escorted me to Kabul in handcuffs. But there the matter quickly fell apart, because... all the witnesses who were with him during the operation did not confirm any illegal actions....

- are the bodies in the photo ours or not?
- Those who advance on their own two feet are ours... >>
(photo and commentary by A. Tumakh)
In the photograph I counted 39 corpses. (comment by S. Boyarkin)

They began to surround us, pressing us to the duct. We jumped into the house, and there the “spirits” woke up from the shooting and... fell asleep, now forever.

...I drove out of the greenery, and then from the embankment two “spirits” ran away from the road:
as taught, two short ones and “spirits” lie. >> (photo and commentary by A. Tumakh)
In fact, there are the corpses of three Afghans: two men and a woman (comment by S. Boyarkin)

- These did not have time to “sneak away” from the road. Photo "for a long...long memory"... >>
(photo and commentary by A. Tumakh)

The stalker instinct woke up, and in a couple of hours I took about a dozen “spirits”. They moored them, screwed them to the handrails of the [armored personnel carrier], and they rode up there all night.

... The “Zusman” [frost] was terrible all night, you climb up, you can’t stand it for more than 5-10 minutes, go back inside, but inside there’s just no wind, it’s just as cold. The armor makes it even colder...

When it was dawn, we approached some village, I looked at the “spirits” who had been traveling above with us all night, but they didn’t care.

The turntables... came and took away the "spirits".

When we arrived home, the special officer calls me:

Sasha, how many “spirits” did you put in the turntable?

I realized: something is not clean here. I say that I don’t remember, I didn’t count. ...

After about a month... visited Nikolaich's brother [to the helicopter pilot]. He told us that the turntable didn’t work at altitude, so we had to send the “spirits” home, because no one was counting them...

They bring a local gunner,... “They took off,.... Closer to the border, our “spirit” began to fuss, pointing at something below, pointing a finger at the glass at the blowers....

The helicopter pilot, without hesitation, enters the combat plane, and the other side repeats the same. They worked, the “spirit” calmed down. ... When we caught our breath and took positions, I asked Tajimon the translator: “Why was the spirit fussing?” After the translation, the whole group roared with laughter for half an hour: he showed the house in which he lived."

Senior Lieutenant Volodya Molchanov, he was nominated for Hero from our battalion in 1980... He hated Muslims, ... he threw “spirits” into the gorge, putting grenades in their pockets, they didn’t even reach the ground...

Captain Ivanov (deputy intelligence chief) extracted testimony from the prisoners together with a Tajik border guard. Moreover, in ways that are absolutely inadequate to the statutory ones. After his “shy” questions, rarely did anyone answer him in Russian...

During the morning inspection... I went to inspect the order in the cockpits. I open the nightstand, pull out the shelf, and there, in a plastic bag, is something incomprehensible. I shook it out and... my ear fell out. ... Parkhomenko then showed photographs with “spiritual” heads, torture and so on. Almost all the guys had this “evidence.”

One of the “material evidence” is a photograph of tortured and killed Afghans.

In Afghanistan, I did my job and tried to do it conscientiously and professionally. When people ask me what are the best years of your life, I always proudly answer - AFGHAN.

ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION

The 56th Guards Separate Order of the Patriotic War, first degree, Don Cossack Air 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 th Guards Rifle Regiments and the 38th Guards Airborne Vienna Corps, which became part of the 106th Guards Airborne Division.
The annual holiday of the brigade set the date for the formation of the 351st Guards Rifle Regiment - January 5, 1945.
In 1949, the 351st Guards Landing Airborne Regiment was renamed the 351st Guards Parachute Regiment.
In 1960, the 351st Guards Parachute Regiment was transferred from the 106th Guards Airborne Division to the 105th Guards Airborne Division.
In 1979, the 351st Guards Parachute 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, First Class, Don Cossack Airborne Brigade was re-formed into the 56th Guards Order of the Patriotic War, First Class, 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 degree, Don Cossack Air Assault Regiment was reorganized into the 56th Guards Separate Order of the Patriotic War, first degree, Don Cossack Air Assault Brigade.
On July 1, 2010, it was reorganized into the 56th Guards Separate Order of the Patriotic War, First Class, Don Cossack Airborne Assault Brigade (light).

II. PARTICIPATION IN CAMPAIGNS, BATTLES, 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 of the 3rd Ukrainian Front.
On March 30, 1945, pursuing retreating enemy units, 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 replaced by units of the 4th Guards Army and was sent to rest on the outskirts of Vienna.
On May 5, 1945, the regiment entered Czechoslovakia by forced march and participated in the encirclement and defeat of a significant group of Germans.
On May 11, 1945, the regiment reached the bank of the Vltava River (Czechoslovakia), where it met with American troops. The unit's combat path in the Great Patriotic War ended here.
During the fighting, the regiment killed 1,956, captured 633 enemy soldiers and officers, destroyed 26 tanks, 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 a new page in the military path of the formation: Soviet troops entered Afghanistan to provide military assistance to the Afghan government in the fight against rebel gangs.
On December 28, 1979, the 4th infantry battalion brigade as part of the 40th Army was introduced into Afghanistan with the task of guarding and defending the Salang pass and the Salang-Somali tunnel to ensure the advance of Soviet troops into the southern regions of Afghanistan.
In January 1980, the entire brigade was introduced into Afghanistan. It is stationed near the city of Kunduz, conducting combat operations throughout Afghanistan.

During the period from January 1980 to December 1981, about 3,000 rebels, 3 guns, 6 mortars, 12 vehicles, 44 pillboxes were destroyed during the fighting. More than 400 rebels were captured, more than 600 rifle units were captured.
From December 1 to December 5, 1981, the brigade was redeployed to the area of ​​the city of Gardez, from where it continued to conduct combat operations throughout Afghanistan.
During the period from January 1982 to June 1988, during the fighting, about 10,000 rebels, over 40 fortified areas and strong points, more than 200 guns, rocket launchers and mortars, 47 vehicles, 83 pillboxes, 208 warehouses with military equipment, 45 caravans. Over 1,000 rebels were captured, more than 1,200 small arms and grenade launchers, about 40 guns and mortars, 7 vehicles, 2 tanks, and 85 warehouses with military equipment were captured.
From June 12 to June 14, 1988, the brigade returned to its homeland after fulfilling its international duty.
For the successful completion of combat missions, many paratroopers were awarded government awards by the Soviet government and the leadership of the Republic of Afghanistan, and the commander of the parachute company of the guard, senior lieutenant Sergei Pavlovich Kozlov, was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
From July 1988 to December 1989, the brigade did not take part in campaigns, battles, or operations.
During 1990, the brigade carried out special tasks in a state of emergency: from January 12 to March 26 - to maintain order in the cities of Baku, Meghri, Lenkoran, 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 the 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 during combat missions, three servicemen of the unit were awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation:
squad commander of the reconnaissance company of the guard, Sergeant Vornovskoy Yuri Vasilievich (posthumously);
deputy commander of the parachute battalion of the guard, Major Alexander Leonidovich Cherepanov;
commander of the reconnaissance company of the guard, captain Sergei Vasilievich Petrov.
From November 2004 to the present, the regiment (brigade) has not taken part in campaigns, battles, or operations.

III. AWARDS AND HONORS

The name "Guards", previously assigned to the 351st Rifle Regiment, when it was reorganized into the 351st Landing Airborne Regiment, was retained for this regiment.
By order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces No. 034 of 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 of military discipline.
By a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated May 4, 1985, for great services in the armed defense of the Socialist Motherland, success in combat and political training, and in connection with the 40th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, the brigade was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree.
By order of the USSR Minister of Defense No. 0139 dated July 11, 1990, the brigade was awarded the Pennant of the USSR Minister of Defense for the courage and military valor shown in carrying out the tasks of the Soviet government and the USSR Minister of Defense.
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. DISLOCATION CHANGES

From January to March 1945 - metro station Starye Dorogi of the Belarusian SSR (Belarusian Military District).
From March to June 1945 - Pisek, Czechoslovakia.
From June 1945 to January 1946 - Budapest, Hungary.
From March to May 1946 – Teykovo (Obolsunovo camp), Ivanovo region (Moscow military district).
From May to October 1946 - camp Tesnitskoye, Tula Region (Moscow Military District).
From October 1946 to August 1960 - Efremov, Tula Region (Moscow Military District).
From August 1960 to December 1979 - Chirchik, Tashkent region, Uzbek SSR (Turkestan Military District).
From December 1979 to January 1980 - Kokaity airfield, Jarkurgan district, Surkhan-Darya region, Uzbek SSR (40th Army).
From January 1980 to December 1981 - Kunduz airfield, DRA (40th Army).
From December 1981 to June 1988 - Gardez, DRA (40th Army).
From June 1988 to October 1992 - the city of Yolotan, 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 - Volgodonsk, Rostov Region (Airborne Forces, North Caucasus Military District).
From August 1998 to the present - Kamyshin, Volgograd Region (North Caucasus Military District).

The main purpose of the light airborne assault brigade is a combined arms reserve. To increase mobility and speed of movement, the team has been completely re-equipped with automotive equipment. The main method of movement is the transfer of personnel and light weapons by air (helicopters), while equipment arrives under its own power. If there are a sufficient number of heavy-duty helicopters, it is also possible to transport equipment by air. In particular, this method of transportation was tested in 2008 during exercises at the Ashuluk training ground, when Mi-26s transported GAZ-66 vehicles and D-30 howitzers.
The issue of assigning helicopters to the brigade is being considered.
The main type of equipment is UAZ cars

In this case, model 315108 based on Hunter. The machines were delivered in August 2010

In "winter clothes"

The UAZ-3152 "Gussar" is also in service.

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

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

There were no complaints about patency

At the race track

205-horsepower Toyota engine under the hood

The engine is covered with such armor plates. In front there are armored blinds. The tank is also armored.

Inside view

The roof is very ascetic and shines with bare foam rubber

Airborne squad. According to the state, the vehicle must have 5 landing personnel and 1 driver

I have traveled several kilometers in the airborne squad 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 your back on your friend. Secondly, with my height of 180 cm, I either had to hunch over and bend down, or my head would end up being chased by the “turret”, and with a spinning machine gun this could lead to injuries. I think the legs of a machine gunner who will spin around will also be bad for the legs and balls of the landing force

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

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

The rear door has mounts for various equipment and weapons, but the first row of belts is right at the level of the seats and rests against them, so it’s completely unclear to me what can be placed there.

The side doors are equipped with folding windows, so in the summer you can ride with the breeze, and if you really want to, even fire

To replace unarmored UAZ vehicles, the brigade should be supplied with protected vehicles. If previously IVECO 65E19WM were planned for this, now it seems that the scales have tipped in favor of the domestic “Tigers”.

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

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

The car does not have engine armor, like the Hussar.

Inside view.

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

The tailgate folds down for landing

Step

The vehicle can accommodate 7 landing personnel and 1 driver. One of the paratroopers, due to the placement of the spare wheel in the cabin, sits in the direction of travel. There are no seat belts for paratroopers.
I suggest changing the seat upholstery right away, because... in the driver’s seat it simply wore out after two or three months of use (see in the view below)

This example does not have a machine gun turret installed, 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

There is no automatic wheel inflation

Side door

Let me remind you once again that the car underwent trial operation, the task of which was to identify shortcomings that 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 Scorpio hard-top vehicles is expected to be delivered to the brigade for trial operation. They couldn’t tell me what specific model it would be.

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

Staff vehicle based on KAMAZ-5350

With staff trailer for officers' rest

Internals of the headquarters module

Staff recreational trailer

To the left at the entrance is a washbasin

Technical assistance vehicle MTP-A2

Mechanical repair workshop MRM-MZR

In the foreground is an MTO-AM maintenance vehicle.

The legendary 56th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade is located in the city of Kamyshin, Volgograd Region. The military unit has two official addresses, among which are colloquial names: “red and gray roofs.” The names come from the color of the main barracks, where the soldiers of the 56th Airborne Battalion Division live.

Historical information

The formation arose back in 1943 and has a glorious history during the Patriotic War. The soldiers especially distinguished themselves during the liberation of Hungarian cities from the German invaders. Parts of the paratroopers took part in the famous crossing of the borders of Czechoslovakia.

The soldiers were indispensable in Afghanistan, fulfilling their international duty. They also provided assistance to infantrymen during battles in Chechnya. The permanent deployment to Kamyshin was carried out in 1998.

Interestingly, the base for forming the part is very impressive. On this site was located the famous KKVSKU - a military higher education institution where officers were trained. The university, unfortunately, was disbanded, and the personnel were transferred to the Togliatti and St. Petersburg institutes.

Part composition

After the Great Patriotic War, units were withdrawn from Hungary and were located near Budapest. Starting from 1946, the main location was the city of Tula, and the unit became part of the 38th Guards Airborne Vienna Corps. But already in 1953, the airborne army was completely disbanded.

The personnel were accepted into the 137th Guards Parachute Regiment, located in Ryazan. The soldiers took part in helping the residents of Tashkent after the earthquake, and were also a guarantor of security during civil unrest.

Only in 1997 was the 56th air assault brigade organized and redeployed to the city of Kamyshin. Since 2010, the unit has been named after the Order of Kutuzov and the Order of the Patriotic War.

Purpose of the part

The main purpose of the 56th airborne battalion in Kamyshin is to form a military reserve of trained paratroopers ready to land in the combat zone. By order of the Minister of Defense, to enhance mobility, some are transferred to automotive equipment.

Helicopters are expected to transport personnel; soldiers are deployed fully armed and equipped with parachutes. Military equipment moves under its own power. However, with the help of heavy-duty helicopters, it can be transferred from the air. To achieve this, exercises are regularly held with monthly field trips.

The last large-scale tests were carried out in 2008, when howitzers and GAZ vehicles were airlifted.

Glorious exploits of personnel

In 1999, soldiers on the Russian border with Georgia ensured the protection of Chechen lands. The paratroopers, having landed from the air, completely blocked the mountain passes and trails. The gangs were a complete fiasco in their attempts to bypass the fighters and strike from the Georgian side. Many soldiers were nominated for awards, and mainly the paratroopers prevented mass bloodshed on the border.

Three soldiers of the 56th Airborne Brigade were awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation for the heroism and courage shown during the military action.

Well-deserved awards

Over its glorious history, the unit has received many awards, both personnel and combined arms. Among the particularly important ones are:

1. Guards Battle Banner.
2. Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree.
3. Order of Kutuzov, 2nd degree.
4. Order of the Red Banner.
5. Gratitude of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

The unit's military personnel received many awards for their participation in the Chechen campaign and service in Afghanistan.

Service today

Today, the 56th Airborne Battalion is engaged in training soldiers undergoing military service, and they also undergo it here under contract. In addition to the excellent physical training that a paratrooper must have, personnel are also trained in other skills. For this purpose, trips to the training ground are regularly organized, where combat exercises are held in field conditions close to military ones.

During this time, the soldiers live in tents, provide food on their own, and with the help of daily rations during trips. According to the military personnel, the food is quite high in calories, varied and tasty. On holidays, fighters are treated to chocolate, pastries and even barbecue.

Most of the soldiers who served in Kamyshin are proud that they belong to the Airborne Forces. The 56th DSB trains paratroopers, so the mandatory program includes parachute jumping. This involves jumping from a helicopter and an airplane. Contract workers who complete the jumping program receive an additional payment to their salary.

Living conditions

Comfortable barracks are provided for accommodation. Recruits, undergoing the “young fighter course”, are separated from the “old-timers” in order to avoid possible conflicts. Then they are combined.

Soldiers are placed in cubicles that are designed for four. The shower is located directly in the block or on the floor. A bathroom is located in each cabin. The room is standard and has bunk beds, bedside tables, a wardrobe and a desk.

Meals are served in the dining room, where the cooks are civilian personnel. For the convenience of soldiers, there is a small store on the territory, however, according to reviews, the cost of products is slightly higher than in city retail outlets.

Information for parents of conscripts

When preparing parcels, remember that it is prohibited to put any medications inside. They will still be taken away during inspection. However, with a doctor's certificate, an inhaler is permitted. If vitamins are needed, they are handed over to the medical office, and the soldier receives them from the doctor.

The soldier may keep the phone if he does not abuse it. No one will take away a means of communication if they use it only in their free time. It is recommended to write messages to the soldier, and whenever possible, servicemen themselves call their relatives.

If, nevertheless, the phone is taken away, then it is issued on a day off once a week. If unauthorized use of a mobile phone is suspected, the serviceman is called by the commander, and the communication device is confiscated until the end of the proceedings.

Conscripts may go on leave only with their parents, in agreement with their commander. Legal wives can obtain permission. You won't be able to go out with a girl.

Oath

As in any unit, the 56th DSB conducts a ceremonial oath for recruits. For the convenience of relatives, the event is timed to coincide with the weekend, in the morning.

After taking the oath, you can get a leave of absence. If the recruit’s parents come from afar, you can negotiate with the commander about the weekend, up to Tuesday.

Part address

56 DShB in Kamyshin has a double address. The main unit of the Airborne Forces is located in the “gray roofs” on the street. Gorokhovskaya. For postal shipments, the address used is: Kamyshin-10, military unit 74507.

RCBZ units are located on the street. Petrovskaya. For postal items the following address is used: 403871 Volgograd region, Kamyshin-1, post restante.

Kamyshin is located between Volgograd and Saratov. There is no airport, trains run only from Moscow. It is easier to get to the city by bus. They run regularly from Volgograd and Saratov.

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

Characteristics

• 56 DShB

56th Airborne Brigade. History of appearance

Perhaps, before starting the story about this famous military unit, it’s first worth watching the video of the 56th Airborne Brigade from Kamyshin, filmed quite recently.

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

In essence, the elite of the Airborne Forces was recruited, dedicated to the cause of the party and ready to defend the Motherland until their 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 transported to the Moscow Military District. There the brigade joined the 16th Guards Airborne Division with 12,000 soldiers. To tell the truth, the division turned out to be very strong. Firstly, almost 100% of the officers had real combat experience.

Many were injured and were sent to the division after hospitalization. In addition, the majority of the rank and file were also “fired”, which significantly increased the combat readiness of the division. As for the technical equipment, it was also at its best.

In the 44th, the division moved to the Mogilev region, where it became part of the 38th Guards Airborne Command. A couple of months later, the corps became part of a separate airborne army. Later, the 351st Guards Rifle Regiment was created from the 7th Airborne Brigade. In 1945, the 351st Regiment as part of the 106th Guards Rifle Division moved to Hungary. An offensive was imminent in the Versheg - Budakeszi - Fat - Bichke area and the division was faced with the task of reaching the position.

In March 1945, the 351st Guards Rifle Regiment reached the Austro-Hungarian border. Later he participated in the Vienna and Paris offensive operations. 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 its current fighters have not disgraced.

After the war, the 106th division was relocated to Tula. Subsequently, there were several more transformations, until the 56th OGDShBr was formed in 1979.

56th Airborne Brigade. Afghanistan

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

56th Airborne Brigade. Kamyshin

After the war in Afghanistan, the brigade was transported to the Turkmen SSR, the city of Yolotan. Military unit 33079 became the home for the soldiers. After several “relocations,” the brigade finally established itself with a permanent place of service, where it remains to this day. This happened in 2000. A few years later, the brigade began to adapt to the contract form of service, which had a very positive effect on living conditions, training and other important aspects.

Brigade equipment

We will not consider all the technical equipment of the brigade. Let's focus only on one model UAZ-3152 "Gussar" produced in 2006. It has been in service with the brigade since 2010 and, I must say, it performs well.

The car has excellent cross-country ability (fuel consumption on off-road 23-25 ​​liters), 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 vehicle can accommodate 5 paratroopers + 1 driver. As for weapons, it is possible to install 1 of 3 options:

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

There is also a turret for the Cord in front.

The fleet also includes MTP-A2, MRM-MZ, MTO-AM, R-419MP and MRS-ARM.