Viktor Nikolaevich Leonov

21.11.1916 — 7.10.2003

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union, commander of the legendary 181st reconnaissance and sabotage detachment of naval reconnaissance officers of the Northern Fleet, a powerful, intelligent, handsome man ...

It so happened that the name of Viktor Nikolaevich Leonov is rarely mentioned. Apparently, this is the fate of the scout - the better he masters his skills, the less is known about him. At the same time, perhaps none of the eminent military leaders conducted such daring military operations as this man, who returned from the war in the modest rank of lieutenant commander, but with two gold stars of the Hero of the Soviet Union on his chest.

In the harsh conditions of the Arctic, the Leonov detachment not only provided reconnaissance and sabotage activities in the rear of the Nazis, but also protected the main transport artery of the Second World War. At the same time, in the battles and campaigns under his command, the detachment lost only a few people! This is a unique experience of saving people during the fighting, people of incredible combat skills, invincible in hand-to-hand combat. What is worth, for example, the operation of the Leonov detachment at Cape Krestovy, when, after the assault on a strategically important fortified area and a two-day battle in defense, the detachment still managed to win in an unequal battle. Then ten scouts were killed on Krestovoi, and this was the largest numerical loss of the detachment for the entire time of the fighting. Leonov himself recalls this with sorrow in one of his books: “Captive huntsmen are walking by. Enemies see ten dead Soviet intelligence officers, and they remember how many of their own were buried ... The rangers tear off caps from their heads, press their hands to their hips and march past the grave with a marching step.

Leonov devoted most of his life to the special forces. He dreamed that every fleet of Russia would have detachments like the 181st. That is why after the war, Viktor Nikolayevich actively participated in the creation of the Soviet special forces.

Having retired as a result of the reduction of the army as part of the "Khrushchev" reform, he is engaged in educational activities through the "Knowledge" society. In those years, Leonov did everything possible to pass on his combat and life experience to the younger generation: he traveled a lot around the country, met with schoolchildren and students, lectured, wrote books. He, like no one else, knew the price of losing comrades-in-arms, understood what confusion and cowardice cost in a combat situation ... That is why he tried to teach young people courage, stamina, endurance. Viktor Nikolaevich spoke without embellishment about the war, about how to fight. From his books and books about him, one can understand how a young guy, a former fitter from Moscow, becomes a thunderstorm of the Nazis in the Arctic and Japanese militarists in the Far East, "the personal enemy of the Fuhrer" and a world legend of reconnaissance and landing operations.

In one of his books, Viktor Nikolayevich asks the question, WHAT allowed the scouts of the 181st detachment to fight in a way that no one fought - on the verge of human capabilities and even beyond? His answer is simple - love for the Motherland, patriotism and self-sacrifice made the scouts of his detachment fighters of a special kind. Fortitude, high moral and volitional qualities make a person special not only in war, but also in everyday life, everything else can be learned. And Viktor Nikolaevich undoubtedly possessed fortitude. Here is just one example that characterizes him as a person: even at the very beginning of the war, he interrogated captured Germans in Russian, and they understood him perfectly!

Video about Twice Hero V.N. Leonov look at our website:

total views - 2165 Viktor Nikolaevich Leonov.

Northern Fleet
I know that today is not November 5, but wanting to save information about the legendary naval intelligence officer, twice Hero of the Soviet Union Viktor Nikolayevich Leonov, I publish the text found here - http://www.b-port.com/info/smi/nsz/?issue =3385&article=63667..
And more information will follow. They didn’t report about his death anywhere, didn’t show plots, didn’t talk about his and his friends’ exploits in the lessons .... Only by trying to pass on to our children what can still be preserved, we will perpetuate their memory! Eternal Glory to the Heroes!!!

Naval intelligence elite: always and everywhere

Edition "On guard of the Arctic"

Issue N 88 of November 3, 2007

It is no coincidence that the bat has become the unofficial emblem of the special-purpose intelligence units of the Russian Armed Forces. After all, the special forces solve the specific tasks assigned to them mainly under the cover of night, remaining invisible and inaudible to prying eyes and ears. Little is known about their work to the general public, and the special forces themselves do not really advertise their belonging to the elite of the army and navy.

Nevertheless, the concept of "special forces" leaves few people indifferent. It merged the longed-for dream of many guys preparing for military service and confident that it was their lot to commit a heroic deed, and the object of good envy of those who did not fall into such a unit. And yet - the awe and fear of the enemy in front of people who silently, like shadows, appear out of nowhere.

When a conversation comes about them, the imagination of the uninitiated draws almost epic knights or some sort of "tough" supermen guys, armed to the teeth. Although outwardly the special forces do not stand out much from ordinary military personnel, in reality there are differences. The main one is excellent professional and physical training, the ability to think outside the box, predict the actions of the enemy, and do many things that ordinary mortals simply cannot do. And also - loyalty to military duty and military fraternity, high morale, selfless courage and confidence in victory.

Each of their steps is clearly calibrated and pre-planned. And before they do it in a real combat situation, they have to shed a lot of sweat in training, so as not to lose a single drop of their blood later.

Polar Fox Squad

The formation of such units was dictated by the real situation in a specific combat situation. The need to covertly solve important tasks in the territory occupied by the enemy, in his deep rear, with small forces, with the least losses, obtaining valuable information for command, destroying manpower and destroying enemy communications. In the Northern Fleet, the ancestor and prototype of the current special forces was the reconnaissance and sabotage detachment of the headquarters of the Northern Fleet, which became famous for its daring raids, formed in the first months of World War II.

The skill of his fighters grew from campaign to campaign. With each new raid, sometimes at the cost of the lives of comrades, invaluable experience was gained and accumulated. And also - intense training, colossal physical exertion, which not everyone could endure. But those who passed this tough selection could feel confident behind enemy lines.

In 2005, the Moscow publishing house "Tsentrizdat" published the book "Face to Face (Military Chronicles of the Special Forces Detachment of the Northern Fleet. 1941-1945)". Its author and, in fact, the main character is the legendary naval intelligence officer, twice Hero of the Soviet Union Viktor Nikolaevich Leonov. During the Great Patriotic War, the reconnaissance and sabotage detachment of the headquarters of the Northern Fleet under his command made daring raids deep behind enemy lines, terrifying the mountain rangers - selected Nazi thugs who called Leonov's scouts "black devils", and their commander - the Polar Fox.

In his memoirs "Face to Face" and "Lessons of Courage from Viktor Leonov," he tells about the formation of a naval intelligence detachment, its military path, the strength of the spirit of brother-in-arms, their dedication and ability to come out victorious in a fight with the enemy.

Who is he, this man who became a legend during his lifetime?

Viktor Leonov was drafted into the Navy in 1937. After graduating from the training detachment of the Northern Fleet, he served as a minder on a submarine.

At the beginning of World War II, he was transferred to the newly formed reconnaissance and sabotage detachment of the headquarters of the Federation Council, where in two years he went from an ordinary intelligence officer to a commander.

In 1944, for the courage and heroism shown in battles against the well-trained Nazi mountain rangers, for the actions of the detachment during the operation to liberate Petsamo (Pechenga) and the northeastern regions of Norway from the Nazi invaders, Viktor Leonov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union .

Senior Lieutenant Leonov was awarded the second Gold Star medal on September 14, 1945 for the successful actions of a separate reconnaissance detachment of the Pacific Fleet under his command during the landing on the east coast of North Korea.

Leonov School

Abroad, Leonov is called "the coryphaeus of the Soviet naval commandos." There, military professionals passionately study the experience of the Polar Fox detachment and try to use it for their special forces. And these are not empty words. The textbooks of the military academies of the world included a daring operation in 1945 in Korea, where his detachment, numbering only 140 people, captured several thousand Japanese soldiers and officers.

In the Arctic, during all the campaigns and battles in which Leonov's scouts took part, the detachment lost only nine people. And this is also a unique experience of saving people. People of the highest military training, invincible in hand-to-hand combat. He was a creative warrior, a brilliant organizing commander, skillfully used the strong qualities of each of his scouts.

It is appropriate to note that Viktor Nikolayevich and his associates created their own hand-to-hand combat complex, which, in comparison with the currently fashionable martial arts systems, according to some experts, remains unsurpassed.

It was a training complex, both combat and physical, and psychological. And besides, it was a way of educating the spirit.

Viktor Nikolaevich describes his work in rather modest terms. But it suffices to refer to examples of the combat activities of the naval reconnaissance officers of the Northern Fleet to see how well they were prepared for the tasks.

The reconnaissance group of the Leonov detachment of three fighters, parachuted onto the Norwegian peninsula of Varanger in the rear of the Germans, for nine months, constantly avoiding persecution, not entering settlements, spending the night under the snow, successfully reported reliable information about all the observed flights of enemy aircraft and the movement of ships . This feat, as well as the feat of the fighter Ivan Lysenko, accomplished during the operation at Cape Krestovoy, without a doubt, are among the most striking episodes of the Great Patriotic War in the Arctic. Why not an example for the current special forces? ..

Here is what Viktor Leonov writes about this in his memoirs: "Laplanders" had great hopes for their strongholds, among which a powerful stronghold equipped with artillery mounts at Cape Krestovoi stood out in particular.

And at that time we moved to the Rybachy Peninsula and already took a fancy to the hill, which in its contours resembled a stronghold on Cape Krestovoy.

For about two weeks we "stormed" this hill at night, interacting with three groups commanded by me, lieutenants Zmeev and Guzenkov. In conditions as close as possible to combat reality, we trained scouts in camouflage, surveillance and warning. They trained people in hand-to-hand combat, climbing, walking in azimuth. All classes were carried out at night, practicing surprise ambushes and checking every scout on patrol.

Victor Leonov can rightly be called the ideologist and inspirer of the creation of modern naval special forces. After the war, he was engaged in the study and generalization of the combat experience of reconnaissance and sabotage detachments, similar to those he commanded during the war years. He did a lot to ensure that such units, disbanded after the end of hostilities, reappeared in the fleets and districts. After all, scouts also need to be taught. During the hostilities, people without experience will die, as was the case in the first months of the Great Patriotic War in the reconnaissance and sabotage detachment of the headquarters of the Northern Fleet.

Know your maneuver

Thanks to Leonov and his associates, our Armed Forces have in their composition reconnaissance units for special purposes, the personnel of which, remaining unknown to others, proved to be excellent soldiers in the Afghan war, in the course of counter-terrorist operations in the North Caucasus.

And now the special forces are doing their almost always inconspicuous, but very necessary work, saving society from all kinds of scumbags, terrorist militants and the like.

In the Northern Fleet, the traditions of their predecessors, renowned naval intelligence officers, are sacredly honored and multiplied. Their experience is the basis of today's combat training of the Severomors.

One of those commanders who devoted many years of his service to the training of naval special forces, now Rear Admiral of the Reserve Gennady Zakharov, recalls how his subordinates were trained. One of its main elements is training on the withdrawal of a reconnaissance group behind enemy lines.

Much attention was paid to the ability of reconnaissance divers to covertly exit through the torpedo tubes of submarines into the territory occupied by the enemy. It is clear that combat training in the conditions of the Far North is associated primarily with difficult climatic conditions. Various exercises were aimed at studying the physical capabilities of personnel in a difficult environment. Groups learned to survive at low temperatures, the condition of a person who has been in severe frost for a long time was studied. Long trips were made on the snow-covered tundra on skis. The skills of going out to the rocky areas of the polar coast were practiced.

Often, during the exercises, without any mountain equipment, using only sapper shovels to carve steps, the special forces had to overcome icy, almost sheer climbs, the height of which sometimes exceeded a hundred meters.

I sought from my subordinates, - recalls Gennady Zakharov, - a thorough knowledge of "my maneuver" and the ability to act in the most difficult conditions, which subsequently saved human lives more than once ...

All this has become the fundamental principle of the combat training of the current North Sea scouts. They confirmed their fidelity to spetsnaz traditions once again last summer at the competitions of special forces groups of districts and fleets in tactical and special training, which are held once every two years.

Test of strength

Despite the rather formal name, nothing more interesting and exciting can be found in everyday army life. Competitions are held according to a program that includes all stages of the actions of a reconnaissance and sabotage group abandoned behind enemy lines.

The war in Chechnya made some adjustments to the organization of these competitions. For example, if in the past the special forces were looking for the command posts of the troops of the enemy group or the launch pads of the enemy's missile systems on an area of ​​​​260 square kilometers, now the target of the scouts is the bases of terrorist militants.

In addition, the delivery of standards for mountain training has been introduced. It should be noted that winning such "Olympic Games" of special forces is no easier than completing the task in a real reconnaissance raid.

Looking ahead, I would like to say that the Severomorians passed the test of strength and won the overall second place in these competitions among the units and subunits of the special forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. And such a high result was achieved by our comrades for the first time, although before that they had participated in these competitions many times.

A certain difficulty for naval scouts was that their training was dominated by the maritime component, and the competitions were held according to a program closer to "land" reconnaissance groups. To the credit of the Severomorians, it should be noted that the Northern Fleet was not represented by a combined team of special forces, but by a full-time group commanded by a graduate of a military institute in 2006, Senior Lieutenant Evgeny Malyavin. In the winter period of training, she achieved the best results in combat training. Therefore, it was decided to take this unit as the basis of the team.

The team included true professionals - midshipmen and foremen serving under the contract. The average age of its members is 29 years. The competition program is very serious, and its development requires high physical and moral-psychological preparation of both the entire group and each individual soldier.

The first stage of preparation for the competition was carried out, as usual, at their base, then the marine scouts went to the training ground, where all the action was supposed to unfold. Here the northerners were in for an unpleasant surprise - very hot weather. Acclimatization and adaptation to local conditions had to be done during training. But no negative factors could interfere with the mood of the Severomorians for a worthy performance.

The eve of the main stage of the competition was a check of the readiness of the reconnaissance group for the task. The scouts demonstrated their theoretical knowledge, the ability to properly fit equipment, organize and maintain radio communications, adjust artillery fire, and much more. Here, midshipman Oleg Arbuzov and foreman 1st article Dmitry Mikhailovsky showed off their preparation better than others. After the "theory" the real "leaps" were launched. It was here that the intensity of passions reached its climax.

A very important element is the parachute drop of reconnaissance groups behind enemy lines. After all, you can land on a bare field, in a forest or on a swampy meadow, and after that you need to gather at the point indicated on the map and find the cargo. A scout jumps with equipment that is sometimes equal to his own weight. And this, for ordinary people, an incredible burden must be carried along a thirty-kilometer route.

Thirty is ideally on the map, but in fact, sometimes you have to stomp all fifty with a heavy backpack on your back and full weapons on your shoulders. At the same time, in the course of the action, one has to constantly solve rather complex intelligence tasks and transmit encryption to the "center".

Then a few more kilometers through unfamiliar terrain without a map, only along the indicated azimuths, and then a water barrier, which again has to be overcome with all the equipment, observing complete secrecy. Immediately after this, you need to go in search of an object hidden in a huge area. After such torment, one must still be able to competently "comb" hundreds of square kilometers. Only a few hours were allotted for the whole group, and this is akin to looking for a needle in a haystack.

And that's not all. It is necessary to carry out a fire raid on an enemy object, organize an ambush, take a prisoner and interrogate him in his native language, equip and disguise a hidden place of daylight, overcome a minefield and mine the object ourselves. And, perhaps, the most difficult thing is a ten-kilometer forced march with combat gear. This is after the scouts have more than a hundred kilometers behind their backs, covered (mind you, not on a walk) through the forest and marsh bumps, more than once falling under the rain, after the back and legs, one might say, turned into one big abrasion.

But sea scouts showed all their abilities on land as well. The landing of the North Sea carried out, as they say, without comment. It was good preparation. Among colleagues, Senior Lieutenant Yevgeny Malyavin and Warrant Officer Andrey Kazakevich most distinguished themselves in this.

Of course, the naval special forces had no equal in overcoming the water obstacles. All members of the group do it with high professionalism; and once again confirmed their skills with clear and confident actions, senior midshipmen Denis Sobolevsky and Vladimir Nikolaev. Representatives of the Northern Fleet also coped successfully with the tasks of conducting searches and moving in azimuths. At these stages, midshipmen Maxim Merkuchev and Ilya Simonenko rightfully became the leaders.

It was no less difficult to overcome the minefield, that is, to make a passage in the mine-explosive barrier for the entire group, to demonstrate their engineering training. Here, too, everything went off without a hitch. And first of all, thanks to the skill of senior midshipman Denis Sobolevsky and midshipman Maxim Polukhin. The last one deserves a special mention.

He began his service in the special forces of the Airborne Forces, went through the school of military operations in the Chechen Republic, performing tasks to destroy gangs. After being transferred to the reserve, he returned home and was called up under a contract to the special forces unit of the Northern Fleet. Awarded the Order of Courage. Recognized as the best grenade launcher in the group. There are no unhit targets in his shooting.

The ambush and the capture of a prisoner by naval scouts were also carried out "without noise and dust." Here senior midshipman Vladimir Nikolaev and midshipman Andrei Kazakevich demonstrated their skills. The organization of the day, in turn, was held at a high level. The Severomorians settled secretly, skillfully disguising their place of residence. And this is a considerable merit of senior midshipman Denis Sobolevsky and midshipman Oleg Arbuzov. Midshipman Denis Sultanov proved to be an excellent sniper.

The Severomors demonstrated high endurance and fortitude by making a forced march. The group commander, Senior Lieutenant Evgeny Malyavin, as expected, was a leader and inspired his subordinates by his example. Midshipman Denis Sultanov demonstrated the will to win. He did everything in his power not to let his comrades down.

The Severomorsk men confirmed by their work that, as in the days of the campaigns of the detachment of Viktor Leonov, the naval reconnaissance officers of the Northern Fleet of our days always and everywhere remain true to their motto: "One for all, and all for one." This became the key to their victories. This helped to win a prize at serious and prestigious competitions for special forces.

Alexander BONDAR.

This phrase was the motto Viktor Nikolaevich Leonov. Whatever he undertook, he did everything with full dedication and great diligence. Thanks to this motto, Viktor Nikolaevich never deviated from the set goal - to bring as much benefit to the Motherland as possible.

Viktor Nikolaevich Born November 21, 1916 in a working-class family. Having in his arsenal, since his youth, perseverance, will, penetrating and sharp, sometimes even too much, character, achieved a lot in his life. Successful military service in naval intelligence, receiving the rank of lieutenant commander and recognition as a hero of the Great Patriotic War. Twice. He received his first award on November 5, 1944, and the second on September 14, 1945. Agree, not everyone repeated such a great feat, proving their love for their homeland with an interval of less than a year.

But all this did not fall on him from the sky or turned up by a lucky chance. It's all about the desire to achieve more and the word that he once gave himself in his youth: whatever he has to do, he will do it well, giving all the heat of his heart. With this attitude, he came to Moscow and got a job at a factory.

In 1937 Viktor Nikolaevich Leonov are drafted into the army. At his own request, he is assigned to the fleet and assigned to a submarine. Ever since childhood Leonov dreamed of the sea. But some time after the illness, he was redistributed to a floating workshop. All this separated him from his dream, but this did not prevent him from changing his principle, because no matter what, everything needs to be done well.

In a new place Leonov conscientiously served and observed discipline, which won the respect of his comrades in the service. In his free time, he began to write poetry and, of course, at first he did not tell anyone about them. But over time, he showed a few of his closest friends. They then advised him to send them to the newspaper. The poems were published and it inexpressibly pleased and encouraged Leonova. Therefore, he decides to graduate from the Literary Institute after the service. But the coming war will drastically change fate Viktor Nikolaevich Leonov.

Looking ahead a little, I would like to note that, despite all the difficulties and hardships that had to endure Leonov during the Great Patriotic War, he does not lose his literary talent, and in 1956 his book will be published "Face to face" , and in 1973 - "Get ready for action today" .

In 1941, with the start of the war Leonov he immediately decided for himself that he wanted to go to the front and with great difficulty, breaking through the refusals of doctors, he ended up in the 181st reconnaissance detachment of the Northern Fleet. Leonov with his detachment makes about 50 successful combat operations behind enemy lines.

Leonov He was very demanding not only to his colleagues, but also to himself. He believed that work behind enemy lines is an invaluable work that requires great endurance, patience, the ability to quickly and accurately assess the situation, and instantly make important decisions. Leonov had a very valuable quality - influence on his comrades with a firm word. This was reinforced by personal example in any actions in any situation.

The main task of the scouts was not only to collect valuable information and deliver unexpected strikes behind enemy lines, but also to disappear suddenly and without a trace from the enemy’s visibility zone. Naval reconnaissance detachment led by Leonova the enemy was afraid more than anything in the world and even nicknamed all the guys "black devils".

One day when Leonov was not yet the commander of the detachment, they received a task not quite of their format. The essence of the task was that instead of acting secretly, it was necessary to attract as much attention as possible and act defiantly. Taking the blow on themselves, they made it possible for a large landing force to land. During this operation Leonov showed boundless heroism, courage and resourcefulness.

The operation was successful and in 1943 in December Leonov appointed commander of the 181st reconnaissance detachment of the Northern Fleet, and in 1944 he was awarded the military rank of "lieutenant".

An interesting fact is that after the appointment Leonova commander of the reconnaissance detachment, not a single soldier was enrolled in it without the consent of Leonova. He wanted to select only the best fighters in his squad, personally talking with everyone.

Detachment delivered by ships to the deep rear of the enemy Leonova could wade through marshy and icy areas for weeks. They could even overcome seemingly impassable areas where even animals had never set foot. All this is due to physical training, psychological hardening and military skills.

In respite between raids, the scouts were engaged in not quite ordinary things, given the front-line situation. They did exercises with kettlebells, competed in jumping and running, practiced fighting techniques. If the terrain allowed, then even climbing skills were practiced. Such a non-standard approach allowed the reconnaissance detachment Leonova perform any tasks and induce fear and panic on enemies.

Having finished with the enemy on the northern front, a detachment of scouts, by that time already a Hero of the Soviet Union, Lieutenant Commander Viktor Nikolaevich Leonov was transferred to the east, to Korea, to be freed from the Japanese invaders.

The detachment was transferred to the Korean port of Seishin, the combat situation there was very difficult. The Japanese had a huge numerical superiority. But the experience gained in the north did not give the detachment Leonova, lose this fight. The Japanese fired back and held the defense with dignity, and it was impossible to break them by continuing to conduct a remote battle. Then Leonov decided that it was necessary to approach the enemy and engage in close combat. Under fierce fire Leonov with his comrades moved towards the enemy. Gradually, they approached them so much that they were separated by only about twenty meters. This produced unbearable psychological pressure on the Japanese soldiers and bayonet and hand-to-hand combat they lost.

For this feat Leonov was awarded another "Gold Star". Twice Hero of the Soviet Union.

When the war ended continued military service in his beloved Northern Fleet and in the Central Office of the Navy of the USSR, and also enters the Higher Naval School. In 1952 Leonov already awarded the military rank of captain of the 2nd rank. On top of all of the above, he completed two courses at the Naval Academy and since July 1956 - in the reserve.

Courage and determination are the key to success Viktor Nikolaevich Leonov. Remembering my very first fight Viktor Nikolaevich says that then his rifle failed, and he did not have time to attach a bayonet to it. At that moment, a German officer ran towards him, followed by a dozen or two soldiers. Then he simply rushed at the officer, before that he thought that he would have time to get the officer and destroy him, and the soldiers would already tear him to pieces. At that moment, the officer stopped and froze, seeing, and, as it were, reading in his eyes Leonova all his thoughts. The officer drew conclusions and took to his heels. Seeing their fleeing officer, the soldiers, trying to keep up with him, followed his example.

In this example Leonov explains the main law of hand-to-hand combat: “Of two opponents going towards each other, one will definitely chicken out”.

Trained his squad Leonov in Spartan style, not sparing their wards. Every day there were races on skis up to 70 kilometers. Walking halfway, they drank a mug of hot chocolate and rested for only 10 minutes. Then they moved back. Of course, hand-to-hand martial arts were also practiced. The main feature of his teaching method was the element of working out the fight between the armed and the unarmed. What was special here was that a combat rifle with a real bayonet was used. This, in turn, sometimes caused discontent and fears for the health of the soldiers from the authorities. Leonov explained this by the fact that he trains people only as it will be in battle.

Leonov said: “We had a lot of holy people in Rus', miracle heroes. I was brought up on their example and I tell you: do not forget these traditions, take care of them and increase them! The dream of a feat, of distinguishing yourself, is the dream of every person. But in order to implement it, you must first of all be able to manage yourself. Must have an iron will. How to bring her up? There are no special exercises for this ... The basis of everything is patriotism. Anyone who is indifferent to the fate of the Motherland will not do anything! Of course, knowledge and skills are necessary. And faith in comrades who must also believe in you. When these qualities are brought up, then the will will appear, as it were, by itself ... And if there is a will, the path to glory, the path to a feat is open to you ... "

It turns out that in order to become a real hero, you need to love your homeland, develop in yourself such qualities as: courage, determination. Maintain a clean and sane mind in all situations and conditions, because, as he said : "Everything needs to be done well".

Leonov Viktor Nikolaevich

Marine Scout

First tests

We met the war beyond the sixty-ninth parallel, in one of the naval bases of the Northern Fleet.

The first day of the war… The white caps and peakless caps, so familiar to the eyes of the residents of the port city, disappeared almost instantly. Summer is in full swing, the sun, which is desired by the northerners, shines all day and night, as it should be in these latitudes, and a light southern breeze promises stable weather. We are not happy with this weather. The meteorological reports say: "visibility is clear," and enemy air reconnaissance aircraft fly over the base, to Murmansk and back. White covers of headdresses on a dark background of granite of berths and pavements can unmask us sailors. Therefore, they were ordered to be removed.

Quite a bit of time has passed, and the tedious howling of sirens seems already familiar and the usual - the endless clatter of hammers in the workshop where we work. Me and Sasha Senchuk were transferred there from a submarine. We were told: "You know locksmithing and turning, we are sending you to a combat post." So we changed our sailor's uniforms for dark blue overalls and stood at the workbenches.

An order is an order. We obey him, although he does not fit in with our idea of ​​what a combat post is, especially now, in the days of war. I am silent, Sasha Senchuk cannot be silent, and besides me, he has no one to express his offense to. After a long tiring day at work, we go to bed right here in the workshop. Sasha can't sleep.

No, you still say it! He shakes me by the shoulders. - Tell me, Victor, why does the working class take up arms, and we were assigned to workbenches? Special mission, you say? Order? Yes?..

I remain silent, and he shouts angrily in my ear:

Drykhnesh, damn it!

Sasha walks from corner to corner, and I know that he will stir me up more than once and will offer various plans for returning to the submarine or, at worst, leaving for the marines.

As soon as I thought about it, Sasha ran up to me, pulled me off the workbench with a sharp jerk.

In Sasha's eyes - a joyful gleam and adamant determination of a man who defies fate. At such moments, Senchuk seems handsome and strong, although he is unprepossessing in appearance: thin, narrow and bony in the shoulders, and his swarthy, oblong face under a mop of tar-black hair is densely covered with dots of blackheads.

Idea! - Sasha shouts again and immediately sets out his plan, which, as far as I, half-asleep, can still understand, is to escape from the "combat post" to the front, to the Marine Corps brigade.

Let's say we volunteer! We will be forgiven...

I agree to everything, if only he would leave me alone and let me sleep for at least an hour.

Morning comes, and Sasha, carried away by his work, furiously hits the polished head of the chisel with a hammer, saws, drills, striking everyone with his energy. He must have forgotten about yesterday's "idea", as he urges me to quickly finish the repair of the submarine - then we will immediately be returned to the crew. It is impossible to argue with Sasha, but I want to believe him, although the work in the studio is increasing every day.

The head of the workshop dryly promised: "You will be replaced in due time." We would probably have been patient and waiting, “if the news had not excited us: friends from the submarine, three Nikolai and Alexei, ran into the workshop and said that a special detachment of naval reconnaissance officers was being created to operate behind enemy lines. They, as excellent athletes, have already been enlisted in the reconnaissance squad.

Missed! - Sasha reproached me angrily, as if I were guilty of something. - You're an expert skier and a famous yacht racing champion, - he stepped on me, but then he turned abruptly and bombarded his friends with questions: - Where is the detachment? Who to contact? Who to submit a report to?

Sasha grimaced in annoyance when the electrician Kolya Damanov stepped forward, Kolya-one, as we called him. He stuttered, and yet he was talkative:

S-sasha-sha! Don't boil! The headquarters knows that Victor and you are good s-athletes-shifts. And we'll tell you about us to senior lieutenant Lebedev from the intelligence department. The only bad thing is that you have to s-change the naval uniform to the infantry. Lebedev s-said: there must be a sailor's soul under an infantryman's tunic. And the soul of the r-raz-spy. Here! - pointedly finished Kolya-one.

I can’t say anything about the intelligence officer’s soul, I must admit that I was surprised that three Nikolaev - Damanov, Losev and Ryabov, whom I taught to ski and throw grenades, were enrolled in the intelligence detachment, but they forgot about me. I looked inquiringly at the foreman of the first article, Alexei Radyshevtsev, with whom I often challenged the championship in various competitions. Alexei smiled reassuringly.

The detachment is just being formed... Everything will be all right. It turned out that a representative of the fleet headquarters went to Murmansk to select a group of Komsomol members for the detachment. Another group will be sent by the Lesgaft Leningrad Institute of Physical Education, and the main part of the scouts will be recruited from sailors.

The people will be selected one by one, which is n-necessary! - put on airs the future naval intelligence officer Kolya Damanov. “Hitler’s elite units are operating against us here. Mountain rangers. Let's give the Jaegers some heat...

Friends once again promised to take care of us and left. We looked forward to the evening when it would be possible to write a report to a member of the Military Council of the Northern Fleet.

If it were possible to convey the feelings that overwhelm you on a piece of paper! Write in such a way that, after reading this leaflet, the rear admiral would say: “Send senior sailor Viktor Leonov, the third year of service, to the naval intelligence detachment!” I can't write like this...

“I ask you to second me to the reconnaissance detachment of the fleet headquarters” ... And that’s it? To this and sign? How does the Rear Admiral find out about my desire and vocation to serve in intelligence? I wrote about that too, but then I crossed out the last lines, tore up the report and started writing a new one. It is not for me to judge the vocation, and it sounds immodest. Sasha and I are obsessed with an ardent desire to become sea scouts. But desire is not a calling!

Then I remembered how, while still a schoolboy, I got it into my head that I was called to become a poet. After reading a poem by a seventh grader about snipe hunting in the school wall newspaper, I decided that I could write better. I came home, sat down at the table and composed a poem for so long that my father, who was not used to seeing me diligently studying, asked:

Vitya, what are you so passionate about?

I showed my father the beginning of the poem. The father smiled patronizingly, but, having understood what was written, he began to frown. Finally, slowly and very inexpressively, he read the first lines aloud:

Once I was a praying mantis
I believed in god and king.
Now I'm a pioneer
A fighter for the labor society!

What are you?! he asked me sternly. - When were you a praying mantis for a communist father? And the king in your head is a book ... What kind of verse is this if there is no truth in it? You read a lot, but you write clumsily ...

Leonov Viktor Nikolaevich

Twice Hero of the Soviet Union (1944, 1945), captain 2nd rank.

In 1931 he graduated from an incomplete secondary school, then worked as a mechanic at the Caliber plant in Moscow. In the Navy since 1937. After training in the S.M. Kirov served on the Shch-402 submarine of the Northern Fleet, and then in the floating workshops of the coastal base of the Northern Fleet submarine brigade.

Member of the Great Patriotic War. In the very first days of the war, he voluntarily joined the SF reconnaissance detachment and carried out combat missions of the command, constantly showing courage and bravery. He was wounded three times, but did not leave the battlefield.

In 1942 V.N. Leonov joined the ranks of the CPSU (b). In December of the same year, he was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. He was appointed deputy commander of the detachment for political affairs, and in December 1943 - commander of the 181st special reconnaissance detachment of the Northern Fleet. In 1943–1944 detachment under the command of V.N. Leonov made about 50 military exits behind enemy lines. In October 1944, a detachment of scouts V.N. Leonov took an active part in the Petsamo-Kirkenes operation. Together with another detachment, scouts V.N. After a fierce battle, Leonov was forced to capitulate the Nazi garrison of the 150-mm coastal battery at Cape Krestovy. About 60 Nazis were taken prisoner, led by the battery commander. The successful actions of the scouts created favorable conditions for the landing of troops in the village of Liinakhamari. For the exemplary performance of combat missions of the command behind enemy lines, the steadfastness, courage and heroism shown in the fight against the fascist invaders by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of November 5, 1944, Lieutenant V.N. Leonov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

In May 1945, a group of reconnaissance detachments under the command of V.N. Leonov was transferred from the north to the Pacific Fleet. She became part of the 140th reconnaissance detachment. During the war with imperialist Japan, a reconnaissance detachment under the command of V.N. Leonov ensured the landing of landing troops in the ports of Korea. On August 17, 1945, the detachment of V.N. Leonova landed first in the port of Tenzan (Wonsan) and captured it. In the period from August 19 to 25, 1945, scouts under the command of V.N. Leonov was disarmed and taken prisoner by about 2.5 thousand soldiers and 200 officers of the Japanese army, and a lot of military equipment was captured. For heroism, courage, skillful leadership of the actions of the detachment by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of September 14, 1945, Senior Lieutenant V.N. Leonov was awarded the second Gold Star medal, and the 140th reconnaissance detachment of the Pacific Fleet was transformed into a guards detachment. For participation in hostilities V.N. Leonov was also awarded two Orders of the Red Banner, the Orders of Alexander Nevsky, the Red Star, and the medal "For Courage".

After the Great Patriotic War, V.N. Leonov continued to serve in the Navy. Since February 1946 - a student of parallel classes of the Caspian Higher Naval School. From September to November 1950 V.N. Leonov was at the disposal of the 2nd Main Directorate of the Naval General Staff, from November 1950 to August 1951 he was a senior officer in the 2nd Direction of the 3rd Directorate of the 2nd Main Directorate of the Naval General Staff.

In 1953 V.N. Leonov served as a senior officer of the 3rd Division, then as a senior officer of the 3rd Direction of the 2nd Division of the Main Headquarters of the Navy. Documents stored in the Central Naval Archive testify that from December 12, 1953 to July 18, 1956, V.N. Leonov was a student of the Naval Academy named after K.E. Voroshilov.

In 1956, by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Captain 2nd Rank Viktor Nikolayevich Leonov was transferred to the reserve. He is the author of the memoirs "Face to Face" (1957), "Get Ready for a Feat Today" (1973), "Lessons of Courage" (1975).

Battle path of the Soviet Navy. 4th ed., rev. and additional M., 1988, p. 565.
Heroes of the Soviet Union. T. 1. M., 1987, p. 862.
Heroes of the Soviet Union Navy. 1937–1945 M., 1977, p. eight.
Biographical marine dictionary. SPb., 2000, p. 232.
Word. 1995. No. 1.
Heroes of the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945. Rec. bibliography decree. M.: Book, 1981, p. 85.