Guard beginning. Guard
The Guard (translated from Italian as “security, protection”) has existed since the times when humanity began to wage war. Of the athletes awarded with honorary wreaths at folk games, the strongest and most resilient young men were recruited in ancient Sparta. A selected privileged part of the troops existed in Ancient Greece (sacred squad), in Ancient Persia (“corps of immortals”), in Ancient Rome (Praetorians). And everywhere during military operations they performed the most complex and responsible tasks.
In Russia, the Guard (Life Guards) was created by Peter I from amusing troops as part of the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments, which officially received the name Guards in 1700. The prefix “life” (from the German “body”) in the names of the first and all subsequent Russian guards units and formations until 1917 meant: the unit has as its chief a member of the Imperial House.
The Russian Guard received its first baptism of fire in the Northern War of 1700 - 1721. On the morning of November 19, 1700, in the Battle of Narva, Swedish troops attacked Russian regiments that had no combat experience and forced them to retreat to the bridge over the Narva River. But the bridge collapsed, and the troops lost the crossing. The Life Guards Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky regiments, operating on the flanks of the army, formed a wall in front of the advancing Swedes and for three hours, suffering losses, repelled their attacks. Thanks to the courage and dedication of the guards, part of the army was saved. For this feat, the officers of the regiments were awarded a badge with the inscription “1700 November 19.” After this battle, Peter I ordered the guards to wear red stockings instead of green ones as a sign that they were fighting at the crossing knee-deep in blood.
Later, guards regiments took part in other victorious battles. In 1702, Noteburg (Oreshek) was taken by the guards; the following year the Swedes were defeated by Russian guards near the village of Kalinkina, in; 1704 - near Narva. The guards also distinguished themselves near Poltava in 1709.
Along with its active participation in hostilities, the Guard, before the formation of military educational institutions, was in fact the only school for the training and education of officers. Nobles served here as ordinary soldiers, who later received the rank of officer. Subsequently they were sent to various regiments. Peter I himself also wore the Preobrazhensky uniform - soldier, bombardier, officer, depending on his ascent up the ladder of military ranks. The closest comrades of Peter I - Menshikov, Bruce, and a certain person - also emerged from the ranks of the first guards regiments.
But not only those who went through combat school in the regimental ranks could call themselves guardsmen. There was such a reward in Russia for special merits: the sovereign awarded the honorary rank of lieutenant colonel of the Preobrazhensky regiment to distinguished generals of high rank, while he himself was listed as a colonel in this regiment. Such an award, for example, was awarded to A.V. Izmail in 1790 for the capture of the fortress. Suvorov.
Until 1722, the guard did not have any advantages in rank. However, after the approval of the Table of Ranks, officers of the guards regiments received seniority of two ranks compared to the army.
The guards, enjoying the special trust of the highest persons and most influential persons in the state, represented a serious political force.
During the reign of Paul I, the number of guards increased significantly. Life Guards Artillery and Jaeger battalions were formed, as well as regiments: Life Guards Hussar, Life Guards Cossack and Cavalry Guards. Of the lower ranks incapable of field service, they formed a garrison battalion of the Life Guards.
In 1813, the Young Guard was established alongside the Old Guard. This name was originally assigned to two grenadier and one cuirassier regiments for military distinction in the Patriotic War of 1812. The officers of these regiments had an advantage in one rank over the army. In 1829, the Finnish Rifle Battalion was assigned to the Young Guard. Soon he, like the Grenadier and Pavlovsky regiments of the Life Guards, was granted the rights of the Old Guard for his differences in the war with Poland.
In subsequent years, the number of guards units continued to increase. By the beginning of the 20th century, the Russian Life Guards consisted of 12 infantry, 4 rifle and 13 cavalry regiments, 3 artillery brigades, an engineer battalion, a naval crew and several ships. Guardsmen took direct part in almost all military events of the Russian State. With their perseverance and courage they earned fame not only in their Fatherland.
The Guard troops especially distinguished themselves during the Russian-Turkish War of 1877 - 1878. When Plevna was captured, the first assaults were unsuccessful. The Russian army was forced to switch to a systematic siege. To completely blockade this strategically important city, it was necessary to capture a number of settlements. This task was assigned to the Guards Corps. The Second Guards Division, the Guards Rifle Brigade and the Guards Sapper Battalion attacked Gorny Dubnyak, while the First Guards Division and the Guards Cavalry covered the attack from Plevna. 30 soldiers of the Finnish regiment managed to break into the small redoubt and held it until reinforcements arrived. Then a company of the Rifle Guards Regiment rushed to occupy the Turkish fortifications in front of the ditch, covering the enemy’s large redoubt, and at dusk captured them in a bayonet attack. The guards continued to heroically fight for the liberation of the Bulgarian people from centuries-old Turkish slavery, showing examples of bravery and bravery. So, in December 1877, the guards rangers, covering the passage through the mountains, lost 511 people in battles in just two weeks, but did not retreat a single step.
The First World War became a serious test for the Russian Guard, which the Guardsmen withstood with honor. Here is what the famous military historian Anton Kersnovsky wrote about them: “The exploits of the guard in past wars were surpassed by their grandfathers in the world war. Tarnavka, Krasnostav and Tresten eclipsed not only Gorny Dubnyak, Warsaw and Varna, but also surpassed even Frynland, Borodino and Kulm...” Thus, in severe trials, the military traditions of the Russian guard were born.
Since the creation of the guard, the military uniform of the guards has been a symbol of honor, dignity, discipline, and the expression “uniform honor” was identical to the concept of “honor earned on the battlefield.” The guardsmen, the only ones in the Russian army, were granted not only red stockings, but also white piping. It was considered the property of sailors and reminded the guards infantry of their valiant participation in the naval battles of Peter I. In memory of the Narva Victoria, officers of the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments wore special plaques.
The guards sacredly cherished the honor of their regiment and its ancient traditions. The name of the regiment appeared on the battle flag and was a subject of special pride for all personnel, and the assignment of a name to it in memory of military merits was considered an outstanding event. The first duty of every guardsman was to protect the shield. that military banner of the regiment. These and other glorious traditions of the Russian guard were continued by the Soviet and Russian guards.
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Russian Guard. History of the formation and traditions of the Russian Guard
The Russian Guard is the color and pride of the Russian Armed Forces, the personification of indestructible military power, mass heroism and military valor. Its military traditions serve soldiers as an example of loyalty to military duty and the Fatherland.
History and traditions of the Imperial Guard
“Guard” translated from Italian means security, guards, selected privileged part of the troops. It arose with the emergence of slave states, when special guards (bodyguards) appeared under monarchs and military leaders. For example, in Ancient Greece it was called a “sacred detachment”, in Ancient Persia it was a 10,000-strong corps of “immortals”, in the army of Alexander the Great it was a 6,000-strong corps, which included heavy infantry (gyraspists) and heavy cavalry (hetaerae). In ancient Rome, Gaius Marius had a cohort of praetorians.
In the Middle Ages, special detachments of selected warriors existed in many armies. The commanders of Byzantium, Charlemagne, Genghis Khan and others had them.
The term "guard" first appeared in the 12th century in Lombardy (Italy). Initially, it designated a selected military detachment guarding the state banner. With the creation of standing armies, the guard was divided into palace (to protect the monarch) and military (elite units of the army). It existed in almost all European countries - France, Italy, Prussia, England and others.
The Russian Guard (Russian Imperial Life Guard) existed from 1721 to March 1917. It was created by Peter I in 1696-1700 on the basis of the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky “amusing” regiments. The Russian Guard received its baptism of fire in the Battle of Narva in 1700, where it saved the Russian army from complete destruction. For this feat, the officers of the regiments were awarded a badge with the inscription “1700 November 19.” Peter I ordered the guards to wear red stockings instead of green ones as a sign that they fought knee-deep in blood.
In the 18th century, the Russian Guard participated in all wars of the Russian Empire. The Guards regiments trained officers for the entire army and were staffed almost exclusively by nobles, for whom military service was mandatory. From the mid-30s of the 18th century, the rank and file of the guard began to be replenished with recruits from the tax-paying classes, and after the release of the manifesto on freedom for the nobility in 1762, this method became the main one. The social composition of the guard provided it with great political influence. The support of the guard predetermined the success of all palace coups of that time. As an elite part of the Russian army, the guard enjoyed great privileges. For example, according to the Table of Ranks of 1722, guard officers had seniority over army officers of two ranks. With the formation of the Young Guard in 1813, its officers received seniority of one rank. This order existed until the end of the 19th century, when Alexander III curtailed the privileges of the guard.
In the 19th century, the guard participated in full force in all the wars that Russia waged with Napoleon. She especially distinguished herself in the battles of Austerlitz (1805) and Borodino (1812), in the battles of Kulm (1813) and Gorny Dubnyak (1877).
At the beginning of the 20th century, individual units of the guard took part in the Chinese Campaign (1900) and the Russian-Japanese War (1904 -1905). During the First World War (1914 - 1918), the Guard troops successfully operated in the Battle of Galicia, Warsaw-Ivangorod, and certain operations in Lodz. In the summer of 1916, as part of the Special Army, the guard took part in the Brusilov breakthrough.
During the First World War, significant changes occurred in the organization of the Guard. Due to serious losses in personnel, representatives of the peasantry and working class began to be called upon to replenish it. The soldier masses of the guard bore the hardships of war along with the entire Russian army and ceased to be a stronghold of tsarism. This seriously affected the political mood among the guards. As a result, after the victory of the February Revolution of 1917 and the abdication of the tsar, the guard did not even make an attempt to intervene in the course of events. The Provisional Government retained it, abolishing the prefix “lab” and the name “Imperial”. After the conclusion of the Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty in 1918 and the demobilization of the old tsarist army, the guard was disbanded.
During the revolution of 1917, the Red Guard appeared in many large cities of Russia. It was staffed by voluntary workers on a territorial basis (by factories) and was the main force of the Land of Soviets. On the basis of the Red Guard detachments, at the beginning of 1918, the first units and formations of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army were formed, many of whose fighters and commanders later became; prominent Soviet military leaders. After the introduction of compulsory military service on July 10, 1918, the Red Guard was gradually abolished as a form of organization of the armed forces.
The military uniform of the guards has always been a symbol of honor, dignity, discipline, and the expression “uniform honor” was identical to the concept of “honor earned on the battlefield.” After all, they, the guardsmen, were the only ones in the Russian army who were granted not only red stockings, but also white piping. It was considered the property of sailors and reminded the guards infantry of their valiant participation in the naval battles of Peter I. In memory of the Narva Victoria of 1704, officers of the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments wore special plaques.
It should be noted that when new types of weapons were introduced into the army, they first entered the guard. So, during the Russian-Turkish war of 1877 -1878. The guards regiments were already armed with the improved Berdan rifle No. 2, while the army units were armed with older rifles.
The guards sacredly cherished the honor of their regiment and its ancient traditions. The name of the regiment appeared on the battle banner and was a source of special pride for all personnel. The assignment of a name to a regiment in memory of military merits was considered an outstanding event. The first duty of every guardsman was to protect the military banner of the regiment. These and other glorious traditions of the Russian Guard were continued by the Soviet Guard.
History and traditions of the Soviet and Russian Guards
The Soviet Guard was not born in a thunder of fireworks and honors. The first guards formations arose during the Battle of Smolensk in 1941 - at a time of mortal danger for the Fatherland, at the most difficult, most difficult stage of the Great Patriotic War, when our army, in unfavorable conditions for itself, stubbornly, at the cost of incredible efforts and great sacrifices, held back a sudden, treacherous, a gradually prepared enemy invasion. There, near Yelnya, as a result of a counterattack by the Western and Reserve Fronts, a large enemy group was defeated for the first time, and the city was liberated.
On September 18, 1941, the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR issued order No. 308, which noted the special military valor of the 100th, 127th, 153rd and 161st rifle divisions, which showed mass heroism, examples of courage, bravery in the battles for the Motherland, discipline, organization, high military skill of the personnel. By this order, the formations that distinguished themselves, commanded respectively by Major General I.N. Russiyanov, Colonels A.Z. Akimenko, N.A. Gagen, P.F. Moskvitin, were renamed the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Guards Rifle Divisions. At the same time, by decision of the Supreme Command Headquarters, the formation of guards mortar units began.
One of the first in the Red Army on November 18, 1941, the legendary 316th Rifle Division under the command of Major General Ivan Vasilyevich Panfilov received the title of 8th Guards, which courageously fought against the Nazi invaders on the outskirts of Moscow in the Volokolamsk direction. 28 Panfilov heroes accomplished an unprecedented feat at the Dubosekovo crossing, stopping the advance of 50 enemy tanks. And the words of political instructor V.G. Klochkova: “Russia is great, but there is nowhere to retreat - Moscow is behind us!” have become synonymous with courage, heroism and resilience.
The Soviet Guard irresistibly grew stronger and matured in all branches of the Armed Forces and branches of the military. The name “Guards” was given to units, ships, formations and associations that distinguished themselves in the battles of the Great Patriotic War, as well as those newly formed in special states. During the four years of the Great Patriotic War, 11 combined arms and 6 tank armies, dozens of rifle, cavalry, tank, mechanized, aviation corps, divisions and individual units, and 18 warships were awarded the honorary title of “Guards”.
The Guard of the Great Patriotic War is a galaxy of heroes whose names will never fade. Among them is Yuri Vasilyevich Smirnov, a junior commander of the Red Army, who performed a heroic feat as part of the 77th Guards Rifle Regiment of the 26th Guards Rifle Division, and is forever included in his lists. On the night of June 24, 1944, while part of a tank landing force breaking through enemy defenses in the Orsha direction in the battle for the village of Shalashino, he was captured by the enemy, seriously wounded. During interrogation, despite cruel torture, the courageous warrior did not reveal military secrets to the enemy. The embittered Nazis crucified him on the wall of the dugout, and stabbed his body with bayonets. For his courage, loyalty to soldier's duty, military oath and heroism, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
The guardsmen were full holders of the Order of Glory, Heroes of the Soviet Union, Guard Senior Lieutenant Ivan Grigoryevich Drachenko and Guard Sergeant Major Pavel Khristoforovich Dubinda. I.G. Drachenko, a talented air attack fighter, named Air Admiral Nelson after the loss of one eye, fought as part of the 140th Guards Assault Aviation Regiment of the 8th Guards Assault Aviation Division. P.H. Dubinda fought after escaping from captivity, first as a squad commander, then as a platoon commander of the 293rd Guards Rifle Regiment of the 96th Guards Rifle Division on the 1st and 3rd Belorussian Fronts.
All of them revived and increased the best military traditions of the Russian Guard. In the military exploits of their ancestors, our guards set high examples of perseverance and fearlessness, loyalty to their people. For successful actions, many guards units (ships), formations, associations were repeatedly noted in the orders of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, were awarded state awards, and were given honorary titles for the capture of cities and crossing of rivers.
In May 1942, the “Guard” badge was established for military personnel of the Guards units. In the Navy, until 1943, it was a rectangular plate (gold-plated for commanding officers and silver-plated for privates) with an orange moire ribbon with black longitudinal stripes. Sailors and foremen of guard ships wore a moire ribbon on their caps. For all military personnel of guards units, ships and formations, distinctive military ranks were established, which were formed by adding the word “guard” before the corresponding military rank; they were given an increased salary.
On June 11, 1943, a model of the Guards Red Banner was established, which became the unit’s combat insignia. The Regulations on the Guards Red Banners stated: “The Guards Red Banner obliges all personnel of the Guards armies and corps to be a model for all other units and formations of the Red Army.” The ceremony for presenting the Guards Banners included a new tradition - the oath of personnel to the Guards Banner. Without knowing fear, the guards fought heroically under their banners.
The creation of the Soviet Guard became one of the important events in the field of military development. It played a huge role in strengthening the combat capability of the army and navy. Guards regiments, ships, divisions, corps and armies inflicted crushing blows on the enemy, serving as an example of selfless devotion to the Motherland, unshakable will to win, perseverance and perseverance. The Soviet Guard was sent to the most difficult sectors of the front and carried out combat missions with honor everywhere. No wonder they said during the war: “Where the guard advances, the enemy cannot resist. Where the guard is defending, the enemy cannot penetrate.”
People of high duty - such were the front-line guards. Those who are entrusted to serve in the guard today strive to be like this. With their military labor, they continue the glorious traditions of previous generations of guardsmen and make a worthy contribution to strengthening the power of the Russian Armed Forces.
In peacetime, military units and formations are not converted into guards units. In order to preserve military traditions, the guards ranks of units, ships, formations and formations during reorganization are transferred to new military units with direct succession in personnel.
Thus, in October 1986, the Order-Bearing Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment, in which Hero of the Soviet Union Senior Lieutenant N.M. served as a company commander, returned to his homeland, having exemplarily fulfilled his international duty in Afghanistan. Akramov. During the Great Patriotic War, soldiers of the regiment as part of the famous 13th Guards Rifle Division, commanded by General A.I. Rodimtsev fought to the death in Stalingrad, participated in the Battle of Kursk, the crossing of the Dnieper, distinguished themselves during the liberation of the Polish city of Czestochowa and celebrated Victory Day in Prague.
The children and grandchildren of front-line soldiers had the opportunity to provide international assistance to the Afghan people. The military work of the young guards was not easy. During their stay in the Republic of Afghanistan, soldiers of the regiment, guarding columns transporting fuel and food to cities and villages, removed and destroyed more than two thousand Dushman mines and landmines. Many soldiers, sergeants and officers of the unit were awarded Soviet and Afghan orders and medals.
The guardsmen showed examples of courage and heroism while performing their international duty in Afghanistan. At a critical moment, they consciously sacrificed themselves to save the subordinates entrusted to them. So, saving the lives of the company soldiers, guard senior sergeant Alexander Grigorievich Mironenko and two of his subordinates entered into battle with the dushmans. The moment came when the cartridges ran out. Twice wounded, Alexander lay with a grenade in his hand behind a stone. He waited for the dushmans to come closer. With the last grenade he blew himself up and his enemies. For this feat, accomplished on February 29, 1980, the deputy platoon commander of the reconnaissance company of the Guards Parachute Regiment A.G. Mironenko was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. He is forever included in the lists of the guards military unit.
Will we ever forget about the feat of our contemporaries - the 6th company of the 104th Guards Parachute Regiment near Ulus-Kert? He is inscribed with a golden line in the modern history of the Russian Armed Forces, in the centuries-old chronicle of its guard.
In the battles for the freedom and independence of the Motherland, guards combat traditions have developed, which for decades have been helping commanders raise courageous and skillful fighters, and the Guard of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is the successor and continuer of the combat traditions of their predecessors.
Guards units and ships are genuine laboratories of combat experience: creative daring, a tireless search for new combat techniques, and the effective use of weapons - this is what always distinguishes the guardsmen. Serving under the banners of the Russian Guard is both a high honor and a great responsibility.
The traditions of the Russian Guard, its unfading glory are the inheritance and heritage of every soldier, all our units and ships. To serve in the Guards today means to have the highest combat qualifications and to masterfully use equipment and weapons. The covenant of the front-line guardsmen - to keep their gunpowder dry, to be ready to go into battle at any moment and heroically fight for the freedom and independence of the Fatherland - should be the main one for the current defenders of the Fatherland.
When preparing for the lesson, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the materials on this topic that were published on the pages of the “Landmark” in past years, and prepare a selection of literature. The lesson will be much more interesting if it is held in a museum or military glory room of the unit, and veteran guardsmen are invited to speak.
In the opening speech, it is necessary to emphasize the important role of the guard throughout the military history of Russia, the significance of its contribution to the country's defense capability.
When considering issues, it is necessary to dwell in detail on the main stages of the development and formation of the Russian Guard, its military traditions from the times of Peter the Great to the present day.
The presentation of the material will be richer and more complete by displaying the distinctive “Guard” badges for military personnel of the Ground Forces and
Navy, photographs with samples of military uniforms of guards units, showing fragments of feature films and documentaries telling about the courage and heroism of the guardsmen who multiplied the military traditions of the Russian Guard.
1. Military encyclopedia. In 8 volumes. T. 2. M., 1994. - P. 366 - 368.
2. Vasiliev N. Born in battle. M., 1966.
3. Kuzmichev A. Soviet Guard. M., 1969.
4. Sinkelev A., Samosvat D. History of the formation of the Russian Guard // Landmark. - 2008 - No. 5.
Lieutenant colonel
Dmitry SAMOSVAT
Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences Lieutenant Colonel
Alexey KURSHEV
The Day of the Russian Guard was established on December 22, 2000 by decree of President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin No. 2032 “On the establishment of the Day of the Russian Guard” in connection with the tricentenary of the Russian Guard in order to revive and develop domestic military traditions and increase the authority of military service.
Guards regiments, brigades, divisions, crews and battalions are the pride of the Russian Armed Forces, a model for the entire army and navy. A guardsman is a brave warrior with an indomitable fighting spirit and an indestructible will to win.
The emergence and development of the Guard
The Russian Guard was created by Peter I in 1700, and it received its baptism of fire at the beginning of the Northern War, in the Battle of Narva on November 19, 1700. Then Peter's Guard distinguished itself in 1702 and 1704, as well as near Poltava in 1709.
Before the advent of military educational institutions, the guard was the only school for officer cadres. But not only those who underwent this combat training were called guardsmen: for special merits, distinguished generals received the honorary title of lieutenant colonel of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. Thanks to the special trust of the most influential persons of the state, the guards were a significant political force. According to the Table of Ranks, its officers had an advantage over the army by two ranks.
During the reign of Paul I, the number of the guard increased significantly: five new battalions were formed. Then in 1813, along with the Old Guard, the Young Guard was formed - a cuirassier and two grenadier regiments, which distinguished themselves in the War of 1812. Subsequently, the number of the guard continued to grow. At the beginning of the 20th century, it included 12 infantry, 13 cavalry and 4 rifle regiments, 3 artillery brigades, a naval crew and a sapper battalion.
Guardsmen were involved in almost all wars in which Russia took part. Since the formation of the guard, its military uniform has been considered a symbol of honor and discipline. Every detail of this uniform was reminiscent of the victories won, and the regiments received their names in memory of military merits and were proudly worn on military banners, the protection of which was the primary duty of every guardsman.
The Soviet and current Russian Guard became a worthy successor to the traditions of the Russian Guard.
Russian and Soviet Guards
The Soviet Guard was created during the Great Patriotic War. Four motorized rifle divisions that distinguished themselves during the Smolensk battle near Yelnya, September 18, 1941, were called guards for their military exploits. At the same time, the Supreme Command Headquarters decided to organize guards mortar units.
The Guard of the Great Patriotic War are heroes whose names will never be forgotten: V.S. Petrov, A.I. Pokryshkin, I.N. Kozhedub, A.P. Maresyev, A.M. Sailors. Finding examples of fearlessness, perseverance and loyalty to the Motherland in the famous exploits of their ancestors, they multiplied the military merits of previous generations of guardsmen.
During the years of the Great Patriotic War, more than 4.5 thousand units, formations, associations and ships received the Guards name and special Guards banners. In May 1942, a badge was introduced for military personnel of the guards units.
Classes with young recruits in the 4th Guards Mechanized Corps on the eve of the Belgrade operation. In the background is a T-34-85 tank. Romanian-Yugoslav border
Soldiers of the 13th Guards Rifle Division in Stalingrad during rest hours
The command and technical personnel of the 20th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment at the Yak-9 fighter. Summer 1945. Third from left in the third row is the regiment commander, Hero of the Soviet Union, Lieutenant Colonel P.S. Kutakhov
After the end of the war, the Soviet Guard maintained the historical traditions of the Russian Guard. In peacetime, the formations were not transformed into guards, but with continuity in personnel, this rank was transferred to new military formations to preserve traditions. Guards formations and units, as a rule, were located at the forefront in border districts and groups of troops, and ships and divisions that performed especially recognized feats were located in the capitals of the union republics or in large cities. Each recruit who began serving in the Guards unit received the “Guard” badge and took an oath that he would not disgrace the memory of his fathers and grandfathers.
At the end of the 20th - beginning of the 21st century, the guard is still faithful to its laws, developed and consolidated by past generations of guardsmen. The modern guard has retained the previous awards and honorary titles. Its further development is professionalization, new principles of manning, improvement of the organizational structure, equipping with the most modern types of military equipment and weapons. Much attention is paid to combat training, and the life of military personnel is being improved. Patriotism, ideological conviction and loyalty to the oath are traits that are inherent in every guardsman.
The great glory of the Guard is the inheritance and heritage of all of Russia. To be a guardsman today means to have the highest combat qualifications, masterfully wield
“...In order to revive and develop domestic military traditions, increase the prestige of military service and in connection with the 300th anniversary of the Russian Guard, I decree:
From the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin
Military service has always been the most honorable and respected in Rus'. And this is no coincidence, because throughout the thousand-year history of the Russian state, our ancestors constantly had to defend the independence and integrity of their country with arms in hand.
A special place among the armed defenders of the Motherland has always been occupied by battle heroes who, without sparing their lives, defended the freedom and independence of the Fatherland. The Russian Guard was created from such people. Without exaggeration, we can say that over the more than three hundred year history of their existence, the guards have written the most memorable pages in the military chronicle of the Russian state.
The guard was traditionally called a selected, privileged, better trained and equipped part of the troops. The word “guard” is based on an ancient Gothic root, which means “to guard, defend, protect.” This was the core of the army, armed detachments that were directly attached to the monarch, often serving as his personal guard.
The Guard in Russia was established at the beginning of the reign of Peter I from the “amusing” Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments. The first mention of Russian guards units is given in the historical chronicle of the Russian army in connection with the military campaigns of Peter’s troops near Azov and Narva. In the archives of the Semenovsky regiment there is information that already in 1698 it was called the Semenov Life Guards. In 1700, during the Narva “embarrassment,” two guards regiments held back the onslaught of the Swedes for three hours, for which the chief officers of these regiments were awarded a special silver insignia (the oldest in Russia) with the inscription: “1700, November 19.”
During the reign of Peter I, the guard was replenished mainly by nobles. Officers enjoyed privileges and had seniority of two ranks compared to the army. Only after significant combat losses in the guards units began to be allowed to accept recruits and transfer military personnel from other units for replenishment.
Recruits to the Tsar's Guard were selected based on their appearance: to the Preobrazhensky Regiment - the tallest and fair-haired, to the Semenovsky Regiment - blondes, to the Izmailovsky Regiment - brunettes, to the Life Rangers - lightly built with any hair color. So the soldiers of the Life Guards of the Moscow Regiment were red-haired, the Grenadier Regiment had brunettes, and the Pavlovsky Regiment had red hair and snub noses.
Since the end of the 18th century in Russia, banners began to serve as a sign of a guards regiment (previously they were considered a military accessory). From that time on, the guards banner became a symbol of military honor, valor and glory. History has preserved many examples of heroic deeds under the Guards banners.
The first naval unit of the Russian Imperial Guard - the Guards Crew - was officially formed in 1810 by decree of Emperor Alexander I. The most worthy sailors and officers were selected from the fleet, such a transfer was made as a reward for distinction by personal order of the emperor. In fact, even under Peter I, the first court rowing team was formed, which was subsequently transformed with an increase in status and the addition of new functions into the Guards crew.
In the battles of the Patriotic War of 1812, the guardsmen covered themselves with unfading glory, setting an example of true service to the Fatherland. Inscribed in blood in the military history of the Fatherland is the feat of self-sacrifice of the cavalry guards at the Battle of Austerlitz on November 20, 1805, when they went to certain death, saving the bleeding Semyonovsky and Preobrazhensky regiments from the significantly superior forces of the French cavalry that fell upon them. The Marine Guards crew as part of the ground forces also participated in the most significant battles: for Smolensk, near Borodino, near Dresden and Leipzig. In the historical Battle of Borodino on August 26, 1812, near the walls of Moscow, the sailors-guards destroyed the regiment of General Delson's division and with their artillery crushed the soldiers of the French marshals Davout, Ney, Junot and Murat's cavalry.
The first ship of the Russian Guards crew was the 74-gun sailing battleship Azov, commanded by Captain 1st Rank M.P. Lazarev, a future famous naval commander. On October 8, 1827, in the famous Battle of Navarino of the combined fleet of Russia, England and France against the Turkish-Egyptian fleet, fighting simultaneously with five Turkish ships, the Azov destroyed four, and the fifth, an 80-gun battleship under the flag of the commander of the enemy fleet, forced him to run aground. In this battle, Azov officers especially distinguished themselves: Lieutenant P.S. Nakhimov, midshipman V.A. Kornilov and midshipman V.I. Istomin. The highest award for successful military operations in this battle was awarded to “Azov”. At the end of the Crimean War, all crews of the Black Sea Fleet (from the 29th to the 45th) were awarded St. George banner flags with the inscription: “For the defense of Sevastopol from September 13, 1854 to August 27, 1855.”
This is how military glory was created and the traditions of the Russian Guard were laid.
It was quite natural that the Russian Guard, which ceased to exist in 1918, was revived again during the terrible years of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.
In fierce battles, the soldiers and commanders of the Red Army demonstrated to the whole world their love for their Fatherland, their people, and loyalty to the military oath. On the battlefield, they gained combat experience and thwarted the intentions of the invaders. Thus, during the Battle of Smolensk, which unfolded in mid-July 1941 in the Western strategic direction, Soviet troops forced the enemy to go on the defensive for almost two months and delayed his advance towards Moscow. This was the first strategic success of the Soviet Armed Forces. It was here, in the battles on the outskirts of Moscow, near Yelnya, in 1941 that the pride of the Army - the guard - received its rebirth. In the harsh time of repelling fascist aggression, the need arose to revive the time-tested, glorious tradition of the Russian army - the creation of shock units from the most skillful and courageous fighters, who were an example for all soldiers and a support for the command. The Soviet Guard was sent to the most difficult sectors of the front and carried out combat missions with honor everywhere. No wonder they said during the war: “Where the guard advances, the enemy cannot resist. Where the guard is defending, the enemy cannot penetrate.”
In September 1941, the concept of “guards unit” was introduced into the Red Army. On May 21, 1942, the “Guard” badge was established for servicemen of the guards units, and for the naval guards - a rectangular plate with an orange moire ribbon with black longitudinal stripes. At the same time, guards military ranks were introduced into the active army.
The first ships received the rank of guards on April 3, 1942. By Order No. 72 of the People's Commissar of the Navy, Admiral Nikolai Kuznetsov, four submarines of the Northern Fleet became guards: the D-3 "Krasnogvardeets", the submarine "K-22", "M-171" and "M-174". The first guards ships from the Red Banner Baltic Fleet were the destroyer Stoiky, the minelayer Marti, and the minesweeper Gafel. And the largest and most powerful warship of the Black Sea Fleet - the cruiser "Red Caucasus" - was awarded the Guards rank. For the decisive contribution to the heroic defense of Sevastopol, by Order of the NK Navy No. 138 of June 18, 1942, the 1st separate artillery division of the Coastal Defense of the Black Sea Fleet, which at that time included the 30th and 35th armored turret batteries, was awarded the guards rank. On the walls of the 30th battery, which died in an unequal battle, enemy soldiers wrote “... the strongest fortress in the world.” The reward, deserved at the high price of courage and self-sacrifice of the soldiers, did not always find the heroes. According to the memoirs of the last defender of the 14th coastal battery of the 2nd separate artillery division of the Coastal Defense of the Main Base of the Black Sea Fleet - gunner of gun No. 3, sailor Teslenko G.I. - in the last days of June 1942, the 14th sniper coastal battery was nominated for the rank of Guards, but the idea was apparently lost in the fire of burning Sevastopol.
With over four thousand units in its ranks by the end of the war, the guard was a powerful vanguard of the USSR Armed Forces.
Already 76 years separate us from those September days of 1941, when the first guards divisions appeared in the Red Army.
In the post-war years, the Soviet guard continued the glorious traditions of previous generations of guards. And although in peacetime the formations were not converted into guards, in order to preserve military traditions, the guards ranks of units, ships, formations and formations were transferred to new military units and formations during the reorganization with direct succession in personnel. Thus, the Kantemirovskaya tank division was created on the basis of the famous 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Corps. She retained her honorary title and was given the corps guards banner. The same thing happened with the 5th Guards Mechanized Division, whose soldiers subsequently fulfilled their military duty in Afghanistan with dignity.
Guards units and formations were located primarily at the forefront in groups of forces and border districts, and divisions, whose exploits received special recognition, were stationed in large cities and capitals of the union republics. A recruit soldier, coming to serve in a guards unit, with great pride accepted the “Guard” badge from the hands of the commander and vowed not to disgrace the memory of his fathers and grandfathers.
The guardsmen who had to participate in various local wars and conflicts outside the borders of our Motherland also remained worthy of the memory of their predecessors. Thus, in February - October 1950, to repel Kuomintang air raids on the cities of the People's Republic of China, in accordance with the agreement between the USSR and the PRC of February 14, 1950, the Group of Soviet Air Defense Forces operated. The Group, along with other units, included the 29th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment and the 1st Guards Anti-Aircraft Searchlight Regiment. Guard pilots also had to participate in the Korean War of 1950-1953. The missile guards demonstrated their best qualities in July - October 1962, when during Operation Anadyr, in difficult climatic conditions, a group of troops was created in Cuba capable of preventing a possible invasion of the US armed forces on the island.
The Guard of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was the successor and continuer of the military traditions of its predecessors. Guards Motorized Rifle Taman, Guards Tank Kantemirovskaya, 20th Guards Motorized Rifle Carpathian-Berlin Divisions; guard formations of the Airborne Forces; Guards Stalingrad-Korsun Motorized Rifle Regiment... These names still awaken the memory, inspire and oblige.
The current generation of guardsmen worthily continues the centuries-old traditions of selfless service to the Motherland and loyalty to the oath.
This was clearly demonstrated during the counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus. The feat of the Pskov hero-paratroopers is akin to the feats of the cavalry guards in the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805 and the Panfilov heroes in the winter of 1941. On March 1, 2000, in the Argun Gorge, the 6th parachute company of the 104th Guards Parachute Regiment of the 76th Air Force The airborne division took on a fierce battle with many times superior forces of mercenary fighters. The paratroopers did not flinch, did not retreat, fulfilled their military duty to the end, at the cost of their lives they blocked the enemy’s path, showing courage, bravery and heroism. Heirs to the military glory gained by their predecessors under the walls of Narva, near Borodino, at the Shipkinsky Pass and at Dubosekovo, they could not do otherwise: the guard does not surrender and does not retreat. From August 10 to August 23, 2008, the Guards missile cruiser “Moskva”, as part of a naval formation of heterogeneous forces, took part in supporting the peacekeeping operation “Peace Enforcement”, being in the eastern part of the Black Sea. As the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Moskva actively participates in the fleet’s combat training and combat services in various parts of the World Ocean. Both paratroopers and sailors today fulfilled their military duty with honor and did not disgrace their guards rank.
Times and people change, the names of military units change, but traditions remain unchanged. The inextricable unity of the past, present and future has been and remains one of the main sources of strength and valor of the Russian army.
Exactly 75 years ago, on August 30, 1941, the Elninsk offensive operation began. During it, Red Army troops liberated the city of Yelnya and eliminated the ledge that threatened the Western and Reserve fronts. In these battles, the Soviet Guard was born - the four divisions that took part in the battle were awarded this title.
Fierce enemy resistance
On August 30, at 7.30 am, the positions of the German troops were clouded with explosions from exploding shells, including rockets. 30 minutes later, immediately after the end of the artillery barrage, the Soviet infantry went on the attack.
The 24th Army of General Konstantin Rakutin advanced from the south, north and east. It was supposed to cut down the Yelninsky ledge and then divide it in half. Despite the powerful shelling of enemy trenches and trenches, in which all 800 barrels of army artillery participated, the offensive was initially difficult to develop.
The enemy resisted fiercely and in some places launched counterattacks. The Germans understood perfectly well what the success of the Soviet offensive threatened them with, and did not want to be surrounded. Therefore, until September, the successes of Rakutin’s rifle divisions were modest - they managed to advance no more than 2 kilometers into the depths of the German defense.
The tip of the German ram has become dull
Fighting in this area began in mid-July 1941, when Army Group Center, ramming the troops of the Western Front, rushed to the east. After Yelnya, a small regional town in the Smolensk region, was taken, the Germans tried to continue their further offensive. However, 18 kilometers east of the settlement they occupied, they came across strong defenses of Soviet troops and stopped.
The ramming edge of General Heinz Guderian's 2nd Panzer Group in the form of the 10th Panzer Division had become dull. For the first time since the beginning of the war, the Germans had to go on the defensive in the main, Moscow direction. The Elninsky ledge was formed, which went deep into the positions of the Red Army and threatened it with a new offensive.
Realizing this, the command of the Red Army ordered the immediate destruction of the enemy bridgehead. The task was entrusted to the newly formed Reserve Front under the command of Army General Georgy Zhukov. For Georgy Konstantinovich, the battles for Yelnya became the first independent operation after the post of Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army.
In the traditions of the First World War
However, the Germans did not sleep, having managed in a fairly short time to transform the occupied territory into a fortified area - with a carefully thought-out system of trenches for infantry, trenches for tanks and assault guns, as well as positions for guns and howitzers.
As a result, the Yelninsky bridgehead turned out to be a tough nut to crack for the 24th Army. The battles of late July - mid-August 1941 were fierce and at times reminiscent of the trench warfare of the First World War.
Soldiers and commanders learned to beat the enemy. And not only them. 39-year-old Major General Rakutin also learned to command. Konstantin Ivanovich, despite his experience of participating in the civil and Soviet-Finnish wars, was a border guard and before the start of the Great Patriotic War had no experience of commanding a combined arms army.
Secretly prepare a decisive offensive
Recalling these battles, Zhukov admitted that the fire system of the German defense was not fully identified. As a result, Soviet artillerymen and mortarmen often fired not at real, but at perceived enemy firing points. This led to the failure of friendly infantry attacks over and over again.
After consulting with Rakutin and his commanders of the military branches, Zhukov decided to postpone the new offensive for 10-12 days. During this time, it was necessary to thoroughly study the enemy’s front line, bring up two or three fresh divisions and artillery, and provide the troops with ammunition and fuel and lubricants.
To prevent the Germans from suspecting anything, it was decided to exhaust them with constant artillery, mortar, machine gun and small arms fire. In the meantime, prepare the operation secretly, regrouping troops in the right directions.
Guderian's last reserve
The assault on the approaches to Yelnya pursued several goals. First, bring back the occupied city. Secondly, on the scale of the Battle of Smolensk, prevent Guderian’s troops from finally closing the encirclement ring around the 16th Army and the 20th Army, the general leadership of which was carried out by General Pavel Kurochkin.
German tank crews were forced to repel fierce attacks by Soviet troops in the Elninsky direction, where even Guderian’s last reserve, the company guarding his command post, was thrown into battle.
Heavy losses suffered by the subordinates of the German general forced him to demand from the higher command the withdrawal of his troops.
We were talking about the 10th Panzer Division, units of the “Reich” and “Greater Germany”, which were part of the 46th Corps. However, the command of Army Group Center rejected his request.
German castling
As a result, the task force of General Konstantin Rokossovsky managed to release the encircled units of the 16th and 20th armies.
The situation for Guderian changed only towards the end of August 1941. Then the 2nd Tank Group was redirected from Moscow
directions to Kiev, in order, together with the 1st Panzer Group of General Ewald von Kleist, to close a pincer around the Soviet Southwestern Front.
As a result of the German castling, before the new decisive offensive of the 24th Army, key positions on the Yelninsky ledge were occupied by the infantry divisions of the 20th Army Corps. The Soviet troops also had rifle divisions as their main strength. Aviation on both sides was almost not used, since it was involved in other directions.
Five commanders of one army
This time the offensive of the Reserve Front was carried out by the forces of two armies. Rakutinskaya continued to attack the ill-fated ledge, but to the south of it, on Roslavl, the 43rd Army was advancing.
The latter was chronically unlucky with commanders. During the period from August to September 1941, five generals were replaced in this post. This leapfrog was explained by the fact that some army commanders were transferred to more difficult sections of the Soviet-German front, while others were removed due to dissatisfaction with the successes of the formation.
During the Elninsky offensive operation, the 43rd Army did not prove itself. Its troops moved forward with difficulty, and some divisions were surrounded and almost completely destroyed, such as the 109th Tank or 145th Rifle.
Surrounding the enemy
Things were much more successful with the 24th Army. On September 3, 1941, it resumed its offensive and, with attacks from the south and north, sharply narrowed the corridor through which the Yelninsky ledge was supplied.
The commander of the 20th Corps, General Friedrich Materna, was an experienced warrior. He fought in the First World War, went through the Polish 1939 and French campaigns of 1940. He was awarded the highest order of the Third Reich - the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The general immediately realized that his troops were in danger of being surrounded, and gave the order to withdraw.
Covered by strong barriers, the Germans began to retreat from the suddenly dangerous territory. On September 5, the 100th Rifle Division of General Ivan Russiyanov bypassed Yelnya from the north, and the 19th Division under the command of General Yakov Kotelnikov began an assault on the city itself.
Birth of the Soviet Guard
On September 6, Yelnya was liberated, and by the end of September 8, the Yelnya ledge finally ceased to exist. The losses of Soviet troops in killed, wounded, captured and missing amounted to more than 30 thousand people. The Germans lost about 10 thousand soldiers and officers.
10 days later, on September 18, 1941, by decision of the Supreme High Command Headquarters, two rifle divisions that distinguished themselves in battles in the Elninsky direction were awarded the title of Guards. These were the first formations of the Red Army to be awarded this high title.
The country's leadership highly appreciated the results of the Elninsky operation, which, at the height of a powerful German offensive on all fronts, became the first symptom of the future victory of the Soviet Union.
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