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In Volzhsk, from the second half of December 1941 to April 1942, the formation of the 107th separate rifle brigade took place.
It included: four separate rifle battalions, two artillery divisions, a military division, a mortar battalion and separate units of reconnaissance, machine gunners, communications, engineering, medical and automotive services.
The units were staffed with regular privates and sergeants who arrived from Western and Eastern Siberia, as well as military personnel called up from the reserves from the Gorky and Sverdlovsk regions, the Mari and Chuvash Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republics. The command and political staff were represented by officers who arrived from the active army and called up from the reserves, and graduates of military schools.
Colonel was appointed commander Peter Efimovich Kuzmin. At that time he had good military training and extensive experience. Born on June 15, 1900 in the Tambov region. In 1912 he graduated from 5 classes of the parochial school. And in 1918 he voluntarily joined the Red Army, where he actively fought on the fronts of the civil war against Denikin, the White Poles and gangs in the Gomel region. Later he completed courses - machine gun, command staff and higher school. And after civilian service he served in various command and staff positions. As a commander of a rifle regiment, he participated in the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940. The regiment repeatedly distinguished itself in battle, especially when breaking through the heavily fortified Mannerheim line.
There were few public buildings in the city, so problems arose with the deployment of military units. The soldiers were moved into the apartments of local residents and housed at the Mari Pulp and Paper Mill. Meals for the personnel were also organized there.
At the beginning of February 1942, when the 107th separate rifle brigade was fully staffed, intense days of combat and political preparation began. Marshal of the Soviet Union K.E. Voroshilov personally checked the readiness of the brigade and concluded that it was ready to carry out combat missions.
On May 1, at 9 o’clock, the units lined up in the city square, near the Marbumkombinat House of Culture. The entire population of the city took to the streets to accompany the soldiers to the front. After a solemn march, to the music of a brass band, they went to the station and boarded the railway trains. On May 5, the brigade arrived at the Bryansk Front, where it received a baptism of fire.
Feats of volunteers
Hundreds of men, women and teenagers turned to the draft board of the military registration and enlistment office, asking to be enlisted in the brigade.
So, at the urgent request, Komsomol member Kolya Romashenkov, a 9th grade student at school No. 6 in our city, was enrolled in the scout company. At the front, he took part in many reconnaissance operations, went behind the front line to take “tongues”.
Nikolai repeatedly showed courage and courage, and was repeatedly awarded with government awards.
And on May 2, 1943, in a battle on Malaya Zemlya, he died from a mortal wound. For his exploits, the Military Council of the 18th Army awarded N. Romashenkov the Order of the Patriotic War.
Among the volunteers in Volzhsk there were many girls who had a medical education. One day a girl came to the political department and addressed the commissar:
- Comrade Commissar, take me to the brigade, I want to go to the front!
Kabanov looked at her and asked:
- What will you do at the front?
- How old are you?
- Soon it will be 16.
- That's it, Zhenya,- said the commissioner, - You are still very young, it’s too early to go to the front, people at least 18 years old are conscripted into the army. Yes, probably even your mother won’t let you go.
Zhenya got upset and left the office. And the next day she came again, and not alone, but with her mother. Looks at her and says:
- Mom, tell the commissar that you are letting me go to the front!
The mother, wiping away tears, turned to the commissioner with the words:
- As soon as Zhenya found out about your brigade, she kept saying that she would go to the front. No matter how much I persuade, no matter how much I say that no one will take such a girl, she stands her ground. Let him go with you.
This is how Zhenya Pavlova was enlisted as a medical instructor in the rifle company of the first battalion. She fought bravely. She always appeared where the wounded needed help.
At the end of 1943, during heavy shelling on Malaya Zemlya, an enemy mine cut short the life of a brave Volga girl who never lived to reach adulthood. For her courage and bravery, for carrying the wounded from the battlefield, Zhenya was awarded two of the most respected soldier medals “For Courage”.
Defense of Tuapse
Until October 1942, the 107th brigade fought near Bryansk. In a short time, they established themselves as a cohesive military unit, capable of fulfilling any order from the Fatherland. While conducting defensive battles, they took part in three offensive operations and destroyed hundreds of enemy soldiers, officers, and military equipment. For their heroism and courage, many soldiers were awarded orders and medals of the Soviet Union.
This historic building no longer exists
On the morning of January 16, 1943, Colonel Pyotr Efimovich Kuzmin, while moving to a new observation post, was struck by a fragment of an enemy mine. His military achievements were highly appreciated by his homeland; he was repeatedly awarded with government awards. Thus, by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated April 11, 1940, he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for the exemplary performance of combat missions of the command in the fight against the Finnish White Guards and the valor and courage shown. In 1941 - the Order of the Red Star. June 6, 1943 - posthumously awarded the Order of Suvorov, II degree. His name is immortalized in the name of Volzhsk street.
On Malaya Zemlya
In a geographical sense, Malaya Zemlya does not exist. This is a rocky piece of land near Novorossiysk, pressed against the water. Its length along the front was 6 kilometers, depth - 4.5.
By the beginning of 1943, the entire left bank was under the control of the enemy, who controlled the movement of our fleet from above. It was urgent to deprive him of this advantage. A decision was made to land paratroopers and capture the outskirts of Novorossiysk. And when the Soviet soldiers occupied the bridgehead, the Nazis struck continuously, raining down a huge number of shells and bombs. It is estimated that there were 1,250 kg of this deadly metal for each defender of Malaya Zemlya.
The April battles of 1943 became the most difficult and brutal. From early morning, heavy artillery began to fire, and at the same time planes appeared in the sky. They came in waves of 40-60 cars. Following the high-speed bombers were dive bombers, then attack aircraft. This went on for hours. Then attacks by tanks and infantry began. This was repeated several times a day. The German command sent more and more forces to the front line.
The earth was burning, stones were smoking, metal was melting, concrete was collapsing, but our defenders did not retreat. And on the night of September 9-10, reinforcements arrived from the mainland. A decisive battle took place, which lasted six days and nights...
The great confrontation ended with the victory of the Red Army. On September 16, Moscow saluted the valiant warriors of the North Caucasus Front and the Black Sea Fleet, which included soldiers of the 107th Rifle Brigade.
* * *
The war continued. The brigade personnel fought near Anapa.
Its soldiers fought victoriously to carry the Guards banner to Berlin and Prague. For the successful completion of combat missions of the command in battles with the Nazi invaders, the division was given the honorary name Berdichevskaya, it was awarded the Order of B. Khmelnitsky, II degree. And the Supreme Commander-in-Chief announced 14 thanks to the personnel. Over 10 thousand soldiers received government awards, 8 people were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Commissioner of the 107th Infantry Brigade V.V. Kabanov lived to see Victory Day. He ended the war as head of the political department of the 117th division. Vasily Vladimirovich was awarded two Orders of Lenin, two Orders of the Red Banner, three Orders of the Patriotic War, 1st degree, the Order of the Red Star, and medals.
In honor of the 30th anniversary of the Victory over Nazi Germany, a square was laid out, in the center of which a stele was erected depicting the brigade’s battle path. By the decision of the executive committee of the Volga City Council dated April 15, 1980, Severnaya Street was renamed into the street of the 107th Rifle Brigade.
This is its brief history, the heroic path and the military glory of the warriors.
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RAMENTSY 107 RIFLE BRIGADE
Bychkov Ivan Grigorievich, born in 1917 from Boyarkino.
Gubanov Sergey Egorovich, born in 1904 from Ramenskoye.
Denisov Ivan Yakovlevich, born in 1908 from Kuznetsovo.
Zubkov Ivan Mikhailovich, born in 1906 from Biserovo.
Kuznetsov Vasily Ivanovich, born in 1908 from Ramenskoye.
From the Book of Memory of the Moscow Region, vol. 22- I:
There is no information about Bychkov and Gubanov.
All of them served in the 107th separate rifle brigade, and their military fate ended in October 1942.
The brigade was formed in Volzhsk in December 1941. It includedfour separate rifle battalions, two artillery divisions, a mortar division, a mortar battalion and separate units of reconnaissance, machine gunners, communications, engineering, medical and automotive services.
Colonel Pyotr Efimovich Kuzmin was appointed commander. At that time he had good military training and extensive experience. Vasily Vladimirovich Kabanov became Commissioner.
I don’t think that our fellow countrymen have served in the brigade since its formation, because... it was staffed mainly by parts of the Far East and Siberia, with conscripts from some rear areas. Perhaps they arrived there in September 1942, if they served in the Moscow police, when there were 1,700 people. from its composition the brigade was replenished.
But, nevertheless, it is most likely that they will arrive with reinforcements, when the brigade has been fighting on the Bryansk Front since May 8, especially since in the summer it lost an entire battalion - the fourth. It was formed and trained separately from the main forces of the brigade and went to the front on June 24. On July 1, at one of the stations near Voronezh, a train containing about 500 battalion soldiers came under brutal bombing. Everything was burning, and wagons with ammunition exploded on neighboring tracks. All that was left of the train was the mangled skeletons of the carriages and 35-40 miraculously surviving battalion soldiers. Out of 500! All of them were sent to other units, and in the brigade the 4th battalion had to be re-formed.
Three of the Ramens later fought in this battalion - the squad leader, Sergeant Denisov, and the Red Army machine gunners Gubanov and Zubkov. Red Army soldier, rifleman Bychkov fought in the 2nd battalion, and Red Army soldier, machine gunner Kuznetsov - in a separate battalion of machine gunners.
In the fall of 1942, the 107th Brigade (except for the 1st Battalion) was transferred to the 18th Army of the Black Sea Group of Forces of the Transcaucasian Front and took part in the Tuapse defensive operation.
The further path of the brigade was described in his memoirs by its former commissar V.V. Kabanov.
The 107th separate rifle brigade received an order: by the morning of October 11, take up defense in the area of height 388.3, Goytkhsky pass, height 396.8, in order to prevent the enemy from entering the valley of the Pshish River, to the railway and highway. It is only 30 km northeast of Tuapse.
The 4th battalion had to defend the area of height 396.8.
The 3rd battalion with a mortar battalion and two artillery battalion batteries - the Ostrovskaya gap area, heights 388.3, 352 and firmly hold the road junction three kilometers south of Shaumyan.
The 2nd battalion will defend the Goytkh pass at the line of heights 363.7, 384, and the battalion of machine gunners will defend Mount Turkey.
There was little time to prepare a defensive line. The enemy continued the offensive, pushing back the units of the advanced units, which were retreating in small groups through the brigade's battle formations. On the same day, October 11, the 3rd and 4th battalions, which took up defensive positions in the first echelon of the brigade, took on the advancing Nazi units. The enemy subjected our defense to furious attacks (in some areas he attacked up to eight to nine times), but achieved no success.
The Germans were rushing to Tuapse, to the Black Sea. They brought up fresh units and artillery, continuously attacked, bombed both the brigade's combat formations and its rear. All defense areas were riddled with craters, but the brigade stood. Fierce fighting took place on both banks of the Pshish River.
The 4th Battalion not only defended itself, but also successfully attacked. With two companies he crossed Pshish to height 618.7, which had steep wooded slopes. The Germans immediately tried to throw our fighters over the river, but all their attempts were unsuccessful. It came down to hand-to-hand combat, but in them, traditionally, ours were stronger.
To improve the position, the brigade commander ordered the 4th battalion to capture the dominant height of 618.7. On October 16, a reinforced company of machine gunners, supported by artillery and mortars, attacked the heights three times, but to no avail. Only towards the end of the day the assault group broke into the German trenches, where they held out until dawn the next day. Having suffered significant losses from enemy mortars and artillery, on October 17 the assault group received an order to leave the heights.
Sergeant Denisov was also in this assault group. He died on October 17 at that altitude - 618.7, as recorded in the report about the irretrievable losses of the brigade.
According to the report, on October 19, machine gunner Kuznetsov went missing. Perhaps this happened in the area of Mount Turkey, which was defended by a separate battalion of machine gunners, or maybe in another place, because. his companies were used to reinforce other battalions in the most important areas. This location is not indicated in the brigade's report. Kuznetsov could have died, he could have been captured, but no documents about his fate were found.
On October 21, the enemy struck a strong blow in the area of the brigade’s right neighbor and, having pushed him back, began to bypass the defense area of the 4th battalion. The next day the situation worsened even more. The enemy reached the rear of the brigade, creating a threat of encirclement. The telephone connection between headquarters and the 4th Infantry Battalion was interrupted. Battalion commander Captain A.V. Kaminsky and his deputy for political affairs, Captain A.D. Kabanov, gathered everyone who was nearby: messengers, signalmen, cooks, sleds, lightly wounded soldiers, and created a group of them to cover the flank. Led by paramedic Golovko, armed with machine guns, they entered the battle. From morning until four o'clock in the afternoon, a small group held back the enemy. Neither fighter flinched.
The units covering the right flank of the brigade delayed the enemy’s advance in the direction of the Goytkh Pass, but the danger of his reaching Mount Turkey did not pass, because The Germans continued to spread towards the Semashkho Pass. The 107th Brigade was reinforced by one battalion of the 8th Guards Rifle Brigade, and by October 29, the enemy advancing on the pass was defeated. In these battles in the area of height 396.8, two more of our fellow countrymen were killed: on October 27 - Ivan Zubkov, and on October 28 - Sergei Gubanov.
On October 29, the 107th Brigade received an order to cease active operations in the direction of Goytkh, firmly hold the occupied lines, and, together with the 119th Rifle Brigade and the 8th Guards Brigade, eliminate the enemy in the Procheva gully.
The task was entrusted to the 2nd battalion of the brigade. Previously, the brigade commander sent a reconnaissance group consisting of a reconnaissance platoon of three sappers, two crews of light machine guns and a group of signalmen.
Under the cover of darkness, the scouts went to the southern outskirts of the village of Shaumyan, where they discovered a concentration of Nazis. The scouts dispersed, creating the appearance of large forces, and opened fire from three directions. In confusion and suffering losses, the Germans fled. Having received a message about the successes of the reconnaissance group, the battalion commander, Major F.V. Burenko, sent rifle companies around Height 388 with access to the Procheva gully. Despite the darkness, the personnel acted decisively. Procheva Beam was cleared of the enemy.
In this battle, on October 29, Ivan Bychkov died. According to the report of irretrievable losses, like Zubkov and Gubanov, they were in the area of height 396.8.
During the fighting near Tuapse - from October 10, 1942 to January 15, 1943 - the 107th Brigade carried out the order of the commander of the Black Sea Group of Forces, its battalions did not retreat a single step and stopped the advance of the Germans along the highway to Tuapse. With access to the sea, the Germans planned to cut off our Novorossiysk group. Did not work out.
So where are the remains of our fallen? There is no information about this in the Book of Memory.
During such intense battles over a fairly long period of time, characterized by attacks and counterattacks on both sides, it is not possible to talk about the exact burial place of the fallen, unless the grave was named. Most likely, after the war, the names of the burials were put on the lists of irretrievable losses, which is why they are listed in two graves at the same time, and search engines raise the remains of those who fell in different places every year.
The names of the burials are marked on the gravestones:Bychkov Ivan Grigorievich - st. Goytkh, Gubanov Sergey Egorovich - h. Ostrovskaya Shchel and st. Goytkh, Zubkov Ivan Mikhailovich - village Goytkh and village Ostrovskaya Shchel (recorded as Zubov, IO, year of birth and date of death coincide), Denisov Ivan Yakovlevich - village Fanagoriyskoye.
If both the places of death (heights 396.8 and 618.7), and the Ostrovskaya Shchel village, and Art. Goytkh are located in close proximity, then the village of Fanagoriyskoye is more than 30 km from these places in a straight line, excluding mountainous terrain. How could Denisov end up there? South of Phanagoriysky in the Ponadwisla district there is a large burial place of those who died from wounds, and one could assume that Denisov was wounded and sent there to the hospital, but this is impossible and inexplicable. Send a seriously wounded person through the mountains, off-road, along the front line? Despite the fact that in the area of operations of the 107th brigade, there were field hospitals in the village of Ostrovskaya Shchel, the villages of Shaumyan and Indyuk. On the gravestone in Fanagoriysky there is neither the year of birth, Denisov, nor the place of death, only the rank - sergeant, and the date of death - 10/17/42. Perhaps this is another Denisov, but nowhere have I found such another sergeant. Apparently, this is another post-war mistake, and the remains of our fellow countryman rest on height 618.7.
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107th Brigade Street
Monument-stella in honor of the 107th Infantry Brigade
Until October 1942, the 107th brigade fought near Bryansk. In a short time, they established themselves as a cohesive military unit, capable of fulfilling any order from the Fatherland. While conducting defensive battles, they took part in three offensive operations and destroyed hundreds of enemy soldiers, officers, and military equipment. For their heroism and courage, many soldiers were awarded orders and medals of the Soviet Union.
The war continued. The brigade personnel fought near Anapa.
After the Taman Peninsula was liberated by order of the Headquarters of the Main Command of the USSR Armed Forces, the 117th Guards Rifle Division was formed on the basis of three separate brigades - the 107th, 81st and 8th. Its soldiers fought victoriously to carry the Guards banner to Berlin and Prague. For the successful completion of combat missions of the command in battles with the Nazi invaders, the division was given the honorary name Berdichevskaya, it was awarded the Order of B. Khmelnitsky, II degree. And the Supreme Commander-in-Chief announced 14 thanks to the personnel. Over 10 thousand soldiers received government awards, 8 people were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Commissioner of the 107th Infantry Brigade
After retiring, he did a lot of work on military-patriotic education of young people. Provided invaluable assistance in the creation of museums of military glory of the 107th separate rifle brigade in Novorossiysk, Moscow, Berdichev, Volzhsk. The colonel died on March 23, 1987 in Moscow. A street in our city in the Mashinostroitel microdistrict is named after him.
In honor of the 30th anniversary of the Victory over Nazi Germany, a square was laid out, in the center of which a stele was erected depicting the brigade’s battle path. By the decision of the executive committee of the Volga City Council dated April 15, 1980, Severnaya Street was renamed into the street of the 107th Rifle Brigade.
This is its brief history, the heroic path and the military glory of the warriors.
Stela 107 of the Special Rifle Brigade is another landmark of the city. Stela of the 107th Special Rifle Brigade. On August 13, 1974, the executive committee of the Volga City Council of Workers' Deputies of the Mari Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic decided to build a boulevard in honor of the memory of those killed in the 107th brigade.
The structure of the monument is made of reinforced concrete and consists of two parts.
At a height of 80−90 cm from the pedestal, the stele was originally framed by a metal belt 80 cm high with an inscription. Currently, a belt is attached to a metal frame.
The top of the Stela on the north side is decorated with the sign of the 107th brigade and the 18th army. Against the background of a five-pointed relief star there are images of a hammer and sickle - symbols of the Soviet state.
On a straight wall, on a large red star, the battle route of the 107th Infantry Brigade is depicted.
11 “B” class, school No. 4, Volzhsk
Team 11 "B" class.
11 "B"
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On December 15, 1941, 5 people from Gorky, future battalion commanders and commissars, arrived in Volzhsk. The formation of the 107th separate rifle brigade began.
The creation of these brigades in the second half of 1941 and early 1942 was a temporary measure to speed up the replenishment of the active army with trained reserves. Each rifle brigade included 3 rifle battalions, artillery and mortar divisions, a company of machine gunners, and combat and logistics support units. Three different states of the rifle brigade operated simultaneously, with personnel ranging from 4,356 to 6,000 people.
In April 1942, the People's Commissariat of Defense introduced a new staff of a rifle brigade with four rifle battalions, a battalion of machine gunners, an artillery battalion and a company of anti-tank rifles.
In mid-December 1941, Vasily Vladimirovich Kabanov was assigned to the brigade and soon arrived in Volzhsk.
V.V. Kabanov - brigade commissar
In January 1942, Colonel Pyotr Efimovich Kuzmin was appointed commander of the 107th separate rifle brigade.
P.E. Kuzmin - brigade commander
On December 30, 1941, a meeting of the district committee bureau was held, to which the heads of enterprises and institutions of the city of Volzhsk and the region were invited. The question of helping the brigade in its formation was discussed.
Food and cultural services for personnel were provided. School No. 5 has done a lot. With the help of teachers and students, it was put in exemplary order, and a classroom was equipped for training of personnel. The brigade headquarters was located in the building of the Pioneer House in the old park.
The Pioneer House, where the brigade headquarters was located from December 1941 to April 1942
By the end of January 1942, the brigade was fully staffed with command staff and political workers. The privates and sergeants arrived mainly from the Far Eastern garrisons, replenished from the reserves of the Gorky and Sverdlovsk regions, from the Mari and Chuvash republics.
Hundreds of men, women and even teenagers turned to the draft board of the military registration and enlistment office with a request to enlist them in the brigade.
A considerable part of the replenishment consisted of volunteers from the Mari Republic.
Among them were our Volga residents.
Signalman Grigory Suslov
Young milling machine operator Grigory Suslov. As part of the brigade, and then the 117th Guards Rifle Division, he went through a glorious battle path, awarded two Orders of the Red Star, the medal “For Courage” and other military awards.
At the insistent request, 9th grade Komsomol student Kolya Romashenkov was enlisted in the reconnaissance company.
Nikolay Romashenkov - intelligence officer
Andrei Bakaev arrived as a seventeen-year-old boy.
Andrey Bakaev - signalman
He fought in a communications company, in a rifle company of the 1st battalion, and distinguished himself in battles on the Bryansk Front, on the Marukh Pass, and on Malaya Zemlya. Was wounded twice. He was awarded the medal “For Courage”, the Order of the Red Star and the Order of the Patriotic War, II degree.
Among the volunteers was Nikolai Lazarev, who was not yet 18 years old at that time.
Kolya Lazarev - signalman
He distinguished himself on the Bryansk Front. He was wounded and awarded several government awards.
Volunteers and conscripts of the republic Aleksey Sukhov, Ivan Sidorkin, Sergey fought skillfully. Kalabushkin and others.
Lev Lipets left as part of the 4th battalion.
Lev Lipets
There were many girls among the volunteers.
Kapitolina Anoshkina,
Kapitolina Anoshkina with friend Vera Hurtina
Anna Blokhnina,
Anna Blokhnina (Samoletova)
Love Caucasian,
Love Caucasian
Vera Osipova,
Vera Osipova (Aktuganova)
those who had a medical education were enrolled in the unit as nurses. Later they were awarded government awards.
Schoolgirl Zhenya Pavlova was enlisted as a medical instructor in the rifle company of the 1st battalion.
Zhenya Pavlova - medical instructor
She fought courageously and was awarded the Order of the Red Star and the medal “For Courage.” She died on June 19, 1943 and was buried on Mount Myskhako.
At the beginning of February 1942, the brigade was fully equipped. Loading into the trains took place on May 1 after the city meeting.
The rally began at 9 o'clock at the MBK House of Culture.
House of Culture of the Mari Paper Mill, photo from 1935
The entire local population came out to see the soldiers off to the front. The meeting was opened by the first secretary of the district party committee, who expressed confidence that the 107th separate rifle brigade, formed on Mari soil, would honor the order of the Motherland. Chairman of the factory committee P.N. spoke on behalf of the workers. Abinyakov. He assured that home front workers will spare no effort to provide the front with everything necessary. The brigade was presented with a banner with which it marched to the Victory.
Banner of the 107th separate rifle brigade
After a solemn march, parts of the brigade moved to the station to the music of a brass band and incessant applause. The soldiers perceived the warm farewell of the townspeople as a military order from the Motherland.
At the beginning of May 1942, the 107th Brigade was transferred to the 61st Army of the Bryansk Front.
On July 7, in this area, the 1st Infantry Battalion fought in order to reach a new position. During it, a more advantageous defensive line was captured.
On the battlefield, courageous medical workers were able to provide timely assistance to all the wounded. Medical instructor Zhenya Pavlova and military paramedic Nadya Zemlyanova were the first of the brigade’s medical workers to receive government awards.
During the period of fighting on the Bryansk Front - from May 5 to August 8, 1942, the rifle brigade, conducting defensive battles, participated in three offensive operations, destroyed hundreds of soldiers and officers and a lot of enemy military equipment. For their heroism and courage, more than a hundred soldiers of the brigade were awarded orders and medals of the Soviet Union.
In August 1942, the 107th Rifle Brigade was transferred to the Caucasus. On September 3, it concentrated in the Sukhumi region and became part of the 46th Army of the Transcaucasian Front.
The situation was difficult. On September 4, the commander of the 46th Army, Major General K.N. Leselidze ordered one of the brigade’s rifle battalions to be sent to the Marukh Pass with the task of stopping the enemy’s advance and, together with other units, destroying him. Take up defense on the Black Sea coast from Krasny Mayak to Sukhumi. Be prepared to repel an amphibious landing.
The 1st Rifle Battalion, having equipped itself, made a march through the mountains of the Main Caucasus Range and arrived at the Marukh Pass.
For more than a month, the battalion, together with other units, fought stubborn battles with superior enemy forces at the Marukh Pass. But the enemy was stopped.
Having completed the assigned task, the battalion returned to the brigade, which was fighting northeast of Tuapse.
In September 1942, the 107th separate rifle brigade was transferred to the 18th Army, which fought in the Tuapse direction.
Map of the Battle of Tuapse, October 1942.
During the fighting near Tuapse - from October 10, 1942 to January 1943 - the 107th brigade carried out the order of the commander of the Black Sea group and stopped the enemy’s advance along the highway to Tuapse. Without retreating even one step, she inflicted heavy losses on the enemy in manpower and equipment.
By the end of October 1942, the enemy reached the rear of the brigade. There was a threat of encirclement. Telephone communication with the 4th Infantry Battalion was interrupted. Everyone who could hold a weapon held back the enemy.
The signalman, Volzhan resident, Nikolai Lazarev, distinguished himself in battle. The signalmen were given the task of establishing communications with a company of machine gunners and a reconnaissance company. With comrade Nikolai Fomin, N. Lazarev, taking reels of cable and telephone sets, ran and crawled towards the intended place.
The enemy opened heavy mortar fire, and the telephone cable was cut in several places. Fomin took up the elimination, Lazarev continued to move towards the indicated point. Telephone communication was restored, but a few minutes later it was interrupted again. Lazarev went to the line, but was seriously wounded. After recovery he was sent to another unit. After the war he returned to Volzhsk and worked at the Marbum Combine.
As a result of the enemy reaching the approaches to Shaumyan, a gap formed between the 383rd and 328th rifle divisions. There was a threat of the enemy exiting through the Ostrovskaya Gap onto the Tuapse highway.
Before the commander of the newly arrived 107th Infantry Brigade, Colonel P.E. Kuzmin was given the task: to cover this direction and stop the advance of the Nazis. The brigade commander quickly moved rifle battalions to the road junction near Ostrovskaya Gap. Fierce fighting did not stop for several days. German bombers almost continuously attacked the battle formations of the 107th Infantry Brigade. Enemy infantry, supported by strong artillery and mortar fire, tried again and again to break through to the Tuapse highway, but each time rolled back to their original position, leaving dead and wounded on the battlefield.
The brigade, formed from Siberians, already had experience of fighting in the mountains at the Marukh Pass as part of the 46th Army. These were mostly young soldiers and sergeants, conscripts of 1939. About 1,700 envoys of the Moscow police joined the brigade in early October. 580 communists and 1,560 Komsomol members cemented the ranks of the soldiers of the 107th Infantry Brigade.
In the battles for the village of Shaumyan, scout N. Romashenkov, secretary of the Komsomol organization of the company, distinguished himself.
The defense occupied by the 107th brigade northeast of Tuapse became insurmountable for the enemy.
On January 15, 1943, the brigade, together with other formations of the 18th Army, went on the offensive.
On January 16, brigade commander P.E. was hit by an enemy mine. Kuzmin. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of June 6, 1943, for the exemplary fulfillment of command assignments, for skillful leadership of troops and the courage and bravery shown by P.E. Kuzmin was posthumously awarded the Order of Suvorov, second degree.
At the end of January 1943, the brigade was transferred to the Gelendzhik area. Objective: to capture Mount Myskhako, then advance on Glebovka and cut the Novorossiysk-Anapa road.
On the night of February 10, 1943, artillery, mortars and ammunition were transferred to the bridgehead. In the following nights, the transfer of artillery and mortars continued, the landing of the 107th Infantry Brigade... The brigades, having landed on the shore, immediately entered into the struggle to expand the bridgehead.
On April 17, heavy bloody battles broke out in the defense zones of the 8th Guards, 51st and right flank of the 107th Rifle Brigade. Here the enemy delivered the main blow. He sought at any cost to break through along the road Fedotovka - the state farm "Myskhako" along the ravine of the Bezymyanny Stream ("Valley of Death").
There was a struggle for every meter of land. The 107th Infantry Brigade repelled more than 16 enemy attacks during the day.
Nikolai Romashenkov wrote a letter to his mother Anastasia Mikhailovna in Volzhsk in April 1943: “ Dear Mom! I was accepted as a candidate member of the party, and the head of the political department of the brigade said that he recommended me as secretary of the Komsomol organization of the battalion... I have been in reconnaissance many times and I believe: our guys are friendly, they will not leave you in trouble».
This was Nikolai's last letter. On May 2, 1943, in a battle on Malaya Zemlya, Nikolai died from a mortal wound. In the last minutes of his life, bleeding, he turned to his fellow countrywoman Zhenya Pavlova: “ Zhenya, after the Victory you will return to Volzhsk, tell your sister, mother and father that I gave my life for my beloved Motherland».
For his exploits in battle, Nikolai Romashenkov was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, second degree, posthumously.
Malaya Zemlya, 1943
A difficult task fell to the lot of the signalmen. Among them was our fellow countryman Gregory. Suslov. One day, during the battle, the connection once again stopped. Suslov took the telephone set, a coil of wire, and said to his friend: “You know, Vanya, this is the 28th hit on the wire. The Fritz will not stop, but there will still be a connection.” Despite the explosions of shells and mines, both set off on another risky voyage.
The 107th Separate Rifle Brigade fought on Malaya Zemlya for 7 months. During this time, she destroyed several thousand enemy soldiers, a large number of guns and mortars, and vehicles with ammunition. More than two thousand soldiers of the brigade were awarded government awards.
The Novorossiysk-Taman offensive operation, which ended on October 9, 1943, was the final stage of the battle for the Caucasus.
On the same day, a directive came on the formation of the 117th Guards Rifle Division, which consisted of 3 brigades: the 8th Guards, 81st Marine Brigade and the 107th Separate Rifle Division. Commander - Colonel L.V. Kosonogov, deputy commander for political affairs and head of the division’s political department - V.V. Kabanov, division chief of staff - Lieutenant Colonel V.G. Prudnik.
After the liberation of the Taman Peninsula, the troops of the North Caucasus Front began preparations for the battles for the liberation of Crimea.
By mid-December, the 18th Army was redeployed to Right Bank Ukraine and became part of the 1st Ukrainian Front.
The troops fought heavy defensive battles in the area of the Dnieper and Southern Bug. It was necessary to hold the defense, and then, during a counterattack, enter the Zhitomir-Berdichev direction. At dawn on January 1, 1944, the Zhitomir-Berdichev highway was intercepted. On January 5, 1944, after stubborn and fierce battles, Berdichev was liberated.
Having liberated Berdichev, units of the 117th Guards Division continued their offensive.
On January 6, 1944, the order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the USSR I.V. Stalin: “For the successful military operations during the liberation of the city of Berdichev from the Nazi invaders and the courage and bravery shown, the 117th Guards Rifle Division was given the name BERDICHESVSKAYA, and gratitude was expressed to the personnel.”
In mid-March 1944, the division was withdrawn from the battle and received orders to march to the Ternopil area. For 22 days and 22 nights, from March 27 to April 16, there were stubborn battles for Ternopil, which ended in the complete destruction of the enemy.
During the Lvov-Sandomierz operation of the 13th Army, the 117th Army, together with its formations, fought more than 500 km, liberating over 100 settlements from the enemy.
From the Sandomierz bridgehead, the 1st Ukrainian Front attacked Breslau, and then forward to Berlin!
For the 117th Guards Berdichev Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky Rifle Division, May 11 was the last day of the war.
In Czechoslovakia, a memorial plaque was installed on the square in Plasy:
"SQUARE OF CZECHOSLOVAK-SOVIET FRIENDSHIP.
Through the efforts of citizens of the city of Plasi, a memorial plaque was erected at the site where the 117th Guards Division ended its combat journey in 1945."
By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated May 26, 1945, the 117th Guards Rifle Division was awarded the Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, II degree, for breaking through enemy defenses on the Neisse River.
