I noticed that the thinking of those who served and those who did not serve is absolutely different, which those who served pay attention to, those who escaped “hardships and hardships” will never pay attention to.

A brief educational program on the history of the 31st Airborne Forces, for those who asked:

In October 1948, instead of the 104th Guards Airborne Division, which had left the ranks, the 337th Guards Landing Airborne Regiment was formed on the basis of the 3rd Infantry Battalion of the 346th Guards Airborne Regiment.

In accordance with the order of the Minister of the Armed Forces of the USSR dated December 31, 1948, in 1949, the Airborne Forces were reorganized into the Airborne Army (VDA, military unit 96885).

In March 1949, on the basis of the order of the Minister of the Armed Forces of the USSR dated December 31, 1948 No. 0048, the General Staff directive dated January 29, 1949 No. org/2/108506 and the directive of the Commander of the Airborne Army dated February 18, 1949 No. 1466128-s 337 The 1st Guards Landing Airborne Regiment of the 104th Guards Airborne Division was reorganized into the 337th Guards Parachute Regiment.

The 11th Ordo (military unit 54157) of the 104th Guards Airborne Division was disbanded.

By order of the Minister of the Armed Forces of the USSR No. 0016 of September 27, 1949, Unit Day was established for the 104th Guards Airborne Division on January 1, 1945 (the end date of the formation of the division).

On April 18, 1953, in accordance with the resolution of the Council of Ministers and the order of the USSR Ministry of Defense, the Directorate of the Airborne Army was reorganized into the Directorate of the Airborne Forces Commander.

Based on the General Staff Directive of September 12, 1953 No. 12/573241 and the order of the commander of the Airborne Forces of September 19, 1953 No. 1051760, by November 15, 1953, the airborne divisions were transferred to new states:

The 14th Guards Ors was reorganized into the 729th Guards Obs of the 104th Guards Airborne Division;

The 113th Guards Orr 104th Guards Airborne Division was disbanded.

The 180th medsanr was reorganized into the 180th medsanb of the 104th Guards Airborne Division.

The 17th separate aeronautical detachment of the 104th Guards Airborne Division was disbanded and air traffic control units were created.

The 117th separate guards fighter anti-tank artillery division of the 104th guards airborne division was disbanded.

Based on the directive of the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces dated June 7, 1960 No. osh/1/290219 and the directive of the Commander of the Airborne Forces dated June 7, 1960 No. 446982, from August 15, 1960, units of the 104th Guards Airborne Division transferred to new states.

The 80th Parachute Regiment (military unit 20729) was accepted from the 7th Guards Airborne Division, replacing the transferred 97th Guards Parachute Regiment (Alytus, Lithuanian SSR).

The 135th separate aeronautical detachment was disbanded; one aeronautical unit was formed on its base, which was transferred to the 116th separate military transport aviation squadron.

The divisional automobile school was also disbanded.

After reorganization in the period from July to September 1960, the 104th Guards Airborne Division in its entirety was redeployed to the territory of the ZakVO:

department (Kirovabad city, Azerbaijan SSR, staff No. 35/20);

80th Parachute Regiment (Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, staff No. 35/21);

328th Guards Parachute Regiment (Kirovabad, Azerbaijan SSR, state No. 35/21);

337th Guards Parachute Regiment (Kutaisi, Georgian SSR, state No. 35/21);

75th separate self-propelled artillery division (Kirovabad, Azerbaijan SSR, staff No. 35/22);

226th separate guards artillery division (military unit 93717, Shamkhor, Azerbaijan SSR, staff No. 35/23);

103rd separate guards anti-aircraft artillery division (Kirovabad, Azerbaijan SSR, staff No. 35/24);

99th separate guards battery of guided anti-tank rocket launchers (military unit 32452, Shamkhor, Azerbaijan SSR, staff No. 35/25);

729th separate guards communications battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaijan SSR, state No. 35/26);

132nd separate guards engineer battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaijan SSR, state No. 35/27);

116th separate military transport aviation squadron (Kirovabad, Azerbaijan SSR, staff No. 35/28);

180th separate medical battalion (Kirovabad, Azerbaijan SSR);

305th separate motor transport company (Kirovabad, Azerbaijan SSR, state No. 35/30);

120th automobile repair shop (Shamkhor, Azerbaijan SSR, staff No. 35/31);

282nd field mechanized bakery (Kirovabad, Azerbaijan SSR, staff No. 35/32);

divisional united warehouses (Kirovabad, Azerbaijan SSR, state No. 35/33).

By April 27, 1962, on the basis of the directive of the General Staff of the Ground Forces No. osh/2/300529 of March 22, 1962, the directive of the Airborne Forces commander No. 471437 of April 5, 1962, the Airborne Forces switched to new states:

The 226th separate guards artillery division of the 104th guards airborne division was reorganized into the 1180th guards artillery regiment.

The 99th separate battery of anti-tank installations was disbanded and merged into the artillery regiment as a line one.

The 156th separate detachment of heavy airborne equipment was formed (military unit 86795).

By September 1, 1993, by order of the President of the Russian Federation and Directive of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation No. 314/3/0162 of February 2, 1993, the 104th Guards Airborne Division was redeployed from the city of Ganja to the city of Ulyanovsk.

In accordance with the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation, the division was located on the territory of the former 26th Directorate of Military Construction Units.

328th Guards Reconnaissance Regiment, 337th Guards Reconnaissance Regiment, 180th Medical Infantry Division and other units in the Zavolzhsky district of Ulyanovsk, Ulyanovsk region,
1180th Guards Regiment in the village of Polivno,
103rd Guards Regiment in the village of Mirny,
132nd Guards Infantry Division in the village of Tetyushskoye,
116th Airborne Aviation Unit to the Bely Klyuch airfield.

By directive of the Airborne Forces headquarters No. 568/3/012 of January 5, 1994, the 180th medb of the 104th Guards Airborne Division was reorganized into the 3998th Airborne Forces (a).

The 2002 appendix to the instructions of the Chief of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces No. 314/12/0710 approved the list of airborne units and formations that took part in hostilities in the zone of armed conflict in the Chechen Republic.
By December 1, 1995, by directive of the First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation No. 314/2/0700 dated October 9, 1995, Airborne Forces Headquarters No. 568/3/0566, the 110th ORR of the 104th Guards Airborne Division was reorganized into the 166th Orb.

By Directive of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation of September 24, 1996 No. 314/2/0555 of the Airborne Forces, the 166th orb of the 104th Guards Airborne Division was reorganized into the N-orbit.

By directive of the 1st Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation No. 314/2/0800 of December 15, 1997, Airborne Forces Headquarters No. 568/3/0106 of February 12, 1998, by May 1, 1998, the 104th Guards Airborne Order of Kutuzov Division was reorganized into The 31st Separate Guards Airborne Order of Kutuzov Brigade (while the departments of the 328th Guards Parachute Regiment, the 337th Guards Parachute Order of Alexander Nevsky Regiment, and the 1180th Guards Artillery Regiment were disbanded).

But the battle banners of the units remained. The battalions in the brigade did not receive regalia.

To preserve the military traditions of the disbanded units and the memory of their military merits, awards and honorary titles were given:

the Order of Alexander Nevsky of the 337th Guards Division - in the 119th Guards Division of the 106th Guards Airborne Division (on paper this was done, but in reality the order remained in the 91st Division).

The brigade included:

control of the 31st Separate Guards Air Assault Order of Kutuzov Brigade (military unit 73612, Ulyanovsk):

54th separate air assault battalion (military unit 85954);

91st separate air assault battalion (military unit 85955);

116th separate parachute battalion (military unit 83788);

99th separate guards artillery division (military unit 85956, Polivno village, Ulyanovsk region);

anti-aircraft missile and artillery battery;

422nd courier-postal communication station (military unit 62327).

From the article you will learn a detailed history of the 337th Airborne Regiment of the 104th Airborne Forces. This flag is for all the Wild Division paratroopers!

Characteristics

• 337 PDP
• 337 Guards RAP
• Ganja

Flag of the Airborne Forces 337 Guards Parachute Regiment

Absolutely all formations of the Airborne Forces are distinguished not only by the highest combat training and self-confidence, but also by the continuity of traditions. Numerous reforms in the Armed Forces changed the deployment of airborne formations, affiliation with a particular division and the names of regiments and brigades. Today we will talk about the history of the 337th airborne division as part of the 104th Airborne Division in Ulyanovsk and Kirovabad.

Regiment as part of the "Wild Division"

The 104th Airborne Division, otherwise known as the Wild Division, was formed in 1944. Units of the formation, including the 337th airborne division of the 104th airborne division, were stationed in the Transcaucasian Military District. The Azerbaijani cities of Shamkhor and Ganja (formerly Kirovabad) became home to guards paratroopers for many years.

The specific features of the terrain in this region of Azerbaijan contributed to the fact that the 337th Airborne Regiment, as well as other units of the division, were trained in conditions of maximum autonomy and adaptability to combat in regions with mountain-desert landscapes. At the same time, the unofficial nickname “wild” was assigned to the division, as well as the scorpion as a symbol and emblem of the paratrooper unit.

It is curious that the famous politician Sergei Mironov served in the 337th airborne division of the 104th airborne division in Kirovabad. By the way, those interested can find his extensive memoirs about his years of service in the 3rd company (early 70s).

337 Airborne Regiment in Ulyanovsk

The collapse of the Soviet Union became a serious test for the Armed Forces. In those years, plans arose in someone’s head for a widespread reduction in the Airborne Forces. Fortunately, most of the airborne forces remained in service.

However, in 1993, 337 PDPs were redeployed from independent Azerbaijan to Russia. Ulyanovsk became the new location for the regiment. Units of the regiment as part of the division's combined formations took part in peacekeeping missions in Abkhazia and Yugoslavia, and also took part in hostilities in the Chechen Republic. We have already written about these events in detail in one of the previous materials.

In 1998, the next stage of reform of the Airborne Forces took place. The 104th Airborne Division is disbanded and on its basis the 31st Guards Separate Airborne Brigade is created. As for the 337th RPD, the 91st Guards Separate Airborne Battalion and the 116th OPDB are being created in its place. The unit's banner, awards and historical records of the 337th Airborne Regiment were transferred to the 91st ODDB, which is considered the successor to this formation of airborne troops.

Several years ago, the 31st brigade received the name air assault. And at the moment, 91 Guards. OPDB continues combat training as part of this formation. For some time, the brigade’s personnel were replenished only by contract soldiers, but now conscripts are again being called up to the 31st Guards. ODSBr.

CAUCASIAN EPIC

Fragment from the book "The Winged Guard in the Nightmare of the Afghan War"

February 11, 1989 was not only the date of withdrawal of the 345th Civil Defense
PDP from Afghanistan to the Union, but also the starting point of a new and completed
a decisive period in the history of this famous airborne regiment. In this use
historical day 2nd battalion, regimental reconnaissance and 3rd howitzer battalion
tarya under the command of the deputy commander of the guard regiment under
Colonel Yu.M. Lapshina (Yuri Mikhailovich - author of the published
"Afghan Diary" published in 2004, covering the history of the regiment
at the final period of the Afghan war) were transferred to
BTA plane to the Azerbaijani city of Kirovabad, where, as indicated,
elk, the 104th Airborne Division was deployed. Thus, the 345th
The regiment was included in the Kirovabad Guards Airborne Forces
division, which at that time was commanded by Major General Sorokin.
The question arises: why was the 345th regiment immediately redeployed to
Azerbaijan, and not to Uzbekistan, to Fergana? More; Let us remind you once again that
The 105th Airborne Division was disbanded on the eve of the entry of the Soviet
troops to Afghanistan. Decision about e; reconstruction was accepted only in
1990, when the 345th regiment was already part of the 104th Airborne Forces and was enlisted
operated in Transcaucasia to carry out special government functions
tasks. After preparatory work, the 105th Airborne Division was again formed
incorporated in 1991, but did not last long. After the crash of Co-
of the Soviet Union, this Airborne Forces unit was “inherited” to
composition of the armed forces of sovereign Uzbekistan.
Since February 1989, the 345th GPDP (received a new military no-
military unit 93613) was located near the railway station of the city of Kirovoba-
yes (Ganja). But only the regiment personnel began combat support.
cooking, as already in the spring of 1989 he was involved in not
government assignments typical de jure for the Airborne Forces. On the edge
80–90s, in the last years of the existence of the USSR, Transcaucasia became
is the epicenter of the so-called “hot spots” in space are dying
cabbage soup, once a great Soviet power. Guardsmen of the 345th Regiment
had to participate in the process of stabilizing the situation in all
three Transcaucasian Soviet Union Republics - Azerbaijan,
Armenia and Georgia. In Azerbaijan itself, where he began to be stationed
345th Regiment, the situation was very tense. The Armenian-
Azerbaijani military conflict over Karabakh. It was restless
and on the Iran-Azerbaijan border, which was no longer held
only border guards, but also paratroopers, in particular, guardsmen of the 350th
regiment of the Vitebsk 103rd Airborne Division (not every reader is probably aware
line that at the indicated time units of the 103rd Airborne Division were transferred
under the jurisdiction of the KGB of the USSR, i.e. for about two years they were de jure considered...
border troops).
At the beginning of April 1989, units of the 104th Airborne Division were involved in
neutralization of an anti-government rally in Tbilisi. More; from 4
April in Tbilisi under the leadership of the leaders of the national movement
Zviad Gamsakhurdia, Irakli Tsereteli an open-ended rally broke out,
anti-Soviet in its nature. Two days later, the rally participants
began to proclaim slogans: “Down with Russian imperialism!”, “USSR-
prison of nations!”, “Down with Soviet power!” and so on. April 8 after
overthrow of the long march, the soldiers of the 345th regiment (440 people) entered
Georgian capital, taking up defensive positions near the House of Government
government At this time in Tbilisi, in addition to the paratroopers (345th GPDP,
328th GPDP, 21st separate airborne assault brigade), there were also other units: 4th motorized rifle-
regiment of the Dzerzhinsky division (650 people), Perm and Voronezh
Riot police (160 people), cadets of the Gorky Higher School of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR
(450 people)
By the evening of April 8, the atmosphere in the center of Tbilisi became tense
limit. At the building of the Council of Ministers of the GSSR, a large number of
crowd of thousands of demonstrators, barricades appeared on the avenue
Rustaveli. The tragic outcome occurred early in the morning of April 9, 1989
d. After unsuccessful exhortations from the command with a request to de-
the monstrants dispersed, the troops were given the order to begin displacing
participants of the rally to Republic Square. Paratroopers, armed,
like other military units, sapper blades and rubber
with sticks, they moved through the barricades towards the demonstrators. Pro-
there was a clash between the parties. Demonstrators used weapons against soldiers
whether edged weapons, chains, rods, bottles, stones. Soon in 15 minutes
the meeting was dispersed. During these tragic events, according to
According to official information, 17 demonstrators were crushed to death.
We are in a crowd, 268 people are injured. From the Soviet troops
172 people were wounded. Among them were paratroopers. TO
At the end of April, the situation in Tbilisi stabilized for a while, and
the troops returned to their place of permanent deployment. We returned to Kiro-
wobad and paratroopers of the 104th Airborne Division. This is how the tragedy of April 9 ended
1989, in which guardsmen 345-
th regiment. In sovereign Georgia in memory of those tragic events in
Tbilisi date April 9 is celebrated as the day of national unity,
civil harmony and memory of those who died for Georgia.
In 1990, the internal situation in Azerbaijan continued to
remain tense. Centrifugal political forces contribute to
led to an increase in destabilization in this republic. Paratroopers like
elite units have been repeatedly involved as a peacekeeping force
in Azerbaijan. At the very beginning of 1990, the personal
the composition of the 345th regiment began to carry out the order of the commander
Airborne Forces, demanding to carry out a multi-kilometre military demonstration
meter march through the territory of Azerbaijan and Armenia along the route:
Kirovobad–Kazakh–Aboyan–Nakhichevan–Alin–Shusha–Stepanakert–Mir
Bashir–Yevlakh–Kirovobad. The task was successfully completed
filled with paratroopers, all driver mechanics of the 345th GRDP were awarded
received government awards.
At the end of 1991 he stopped his; historical existence of Co-
Vetsky Union. Soviet republics of Transcaucasia (Armenia, Azerbaijan-
Jan, Georgia) overnight turned into sovereign states.
However, the acquisition of independence by these countries did not mean a decision
tion of long-standing internal ethnopolitical problems. "Hot spots" in
Transcaucasia continued to exist, military confrontation between
the peoples of this region for independence continued in the 90s.XX
century.
An example of this is the Georgian-Abkhaz armed conflict
1992–1993 By the will of Stalin in 1931, Abkhazia, which occupied the north
the western part of Transcaucasia, was reassigned to the Georgian
Soviet Socialist Republic in the status of an autonomous republic
public within Georgia. The national pride of the Abkhazians was
very affected. It is characteristic that in the second half of the 20th century. repeatedly
but (in 1957, 1967,1978) there were mass protests by Abkhaz-
of the population demanding the separation of Abkhazia from the Georgian
SSR. At the end of the era of perestroika, when the process of sovereignty of the Union
nious and some autonomous republics of the USSR began to quickly gain
pace, the Georgian-Abkhazian issue has sharply escalated. In March 1989
a gathering of thousands of Abkhaz people took place, demanding
Abkhazia's secession from Georgia. In the middle of summer 1989 in Abkhazia
in the capital of Sukhumi there was a violent clash between Abkhazians
and the Georgians, who turned into victims, shed blood. In 1992, after
After Georgia gained independence, the Abkhazians again began to fight
boo for your sovereignty. The Georgian-Abkhaz conflict from this moment
begins to take on the character of an armed confrontation. Beginning
there was a war. Russia volunteered to separate the warring parties.
this. Our country was interested in maintaining a peaceful situation
in Abkhazia for the reason that at that time in this part of Transcaucasia,
has long been a prestigious resort destination for Soviet
people, there were many citizens of the Russian Federation. Now they
there was danger and they had to be evacuated.
On August 17, 1992, the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation made a
phenomenon: “In connection with the current situation in Abkhazia and the creation
a real threat to Russian citizens who were there on vacation,
among which as a result of the clashes taking place in Sukhumi
there were casualties (2 killed and wounded), the Russian government, by agreement,
communication with the leadership of Georgia took urgent measures... To ensure
security and evacuation of Russian citizens, as well as to strengthen
protection of Russian troops stationed in this area
A parachute regiment has been sent to Abkhazia..."
More; On August 16, the 345th Civil Defense Division was alerted and promptly
transferred to the airfield of the Black Sea resort of Gudauta. While
The regiment was commanded by Guard Colonel Evgeny Dmitrievich D;min.
At the same time, the 901st OPDB under the command of the Guards landed in Sukhumi.
diy of Lieutenant Colonel V. Krasovsky. The entire Airborne Forces group in Abkhazia
was led by the Operational Group headed by Major General A. Sigut-
kin.
The appearance of paratroopers in troubled Abkhazia allowed the growth
for Siyan resort-goers to return safely to their homeland; by the end of August
in 1992, more than 4 thousand people left this “hot spot”. Gvar-
the paratroopers were to remain in Abkhazia until 1998.
fulfilling the role of peacemakers, i.e. to be a force dividing warring
sides. The 345th Airborne Regiment took under guard the airfield in Gudauta, seis-
mic laboratory in the village. Lower Escher, as well as a number of other military
ny objects. Peacekeeping paratroopers legitimately earned respect for
attitude on the part of the local population, who perceived our
warriors as their protectors. Unfortunately, among the personnel
The 345th Regiment also had casualties.
Late in the evening of March 27, 1993, to the seismic station in the village.
The militants brought down artillery and mine fire from Nizhniye Esher.
At that moment, the station was guarded by paratroopers of the 7th Parachute
companies. As a result of the shelling, the communication line was damaged, which means
Communication with the Airborne Forces Operational Group in Gudauta was lost. Position
Guard Senior Sergeant Vitaly saved him with his heroic action
Wolf (born July 14, 1972 in the village of Malinovsky, Zavyalovsky district
Altai region. He graduated from high school in Yarovoye. Called up for
military service in the fall of 1990. After six months of service in the 44th
airborne training division in Gaizhunai was sent to the 345th GPDP in Ki-
rovobad. Since August 1992, as commander of the communications department 3-
The regiment's th battalion served in Abkhazia. Since the end of 1992 he continued
service as a super-enlisted sergeant). Under mine fire
The paratrooper rushed to repair communication lines. Being already hard
wounded by shrapnel in the head, he managed to restore contact with the 7th company
Gudauta. The helicopter arrived; you suppressed the fire support
high enemy positions. The hero sergeant died without regaining consciousness.
By decree of the President of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin dated July 26, 1993, for courage-
in and heroism shown in the performance of military duty, guard
senior sergeant of long-term service Wolf Vitaly Alexander-
Rovich was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation. IN
in the same year, Vitaly Wolf Street appeared in Yarovoye.
After the end of the next phase of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict,
in the fall of 1993, the 345th (at that time essentially a separate) military regiment
sh;l to the 7th Guards Airborne Division, which in
Soviet era was stationed in Lithuania (Kaunas), and then was
brought to Russian territory. The regiment continued to remain
Abkhazian land until the end of the 90s. XX century, still fulfilling the peace
creative mission in this region of Transcaucasia.
In May 1994, Georgia and Abkhazia finally signed
a ceasefire agreement was signed. Consequently, there was a non-
the need to create official collective forces to support
desire for peace, law and order in the region. And such a decision was
adopted by the Government of the Russian Federation in June 1994. A logical consequence
This decision was the formation of the so-called. 50th military base, which
The 345th regiment entered.

As a peacekeeping military unit, the 345th Regiment remained in
Abkhazia until the spring of 1998. It was then that events occurred that
determined the end of the glorious history of this regiment. At the specified
time begins the next disbandment of the Russian army,
accompanied by the reform of some military units, in
including elite ones with rich combat experience.
Unfortunately, the victim of these not entirely thought-out army
The 345th Russian Airborne Regiment also underwent reforms. according to the order of the minister
Defense of the Russian Federation April 30, 1998, the famous winged guard regiment
was disbanded. On its basis, the so-called 10th separate
parachute regiment of the Russian peacekeeping forces. Battle Banner
the no longer existing 345th Civil Defense Division was transferred by order to the Central
minesweeper museum of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
The reader will definitely have a question: why is this significant
Was this regiment disbanded? It's really difficult to answer.
But. This problem can also be the subject of a separate historical
sky research. Indeed: which of the military and politicians
first put forward the idea of ​​​​disbanding the 345th Civil Defense Division and what
did the forces lobby the military department for this project? Was this
the idea is due to bureaucratic stupidity or conscious betrayal
the leadership of our airborne forces? Someday we will get the answer.
The 10th OPDP did not last long. In 1999, during the
secret of the commander of the Russian Airborne Forces, Colonel General Georgy Shpak Mini-
The Ministry of Defense and the General Staff authorized the return of combat
banner of the 345th regiment to its successor. Presentation of this combat
The banner of the 10th RDP took place in July 1999. But very soon
the 10th Regiment itself ceased to exist.
Due to the termination of the peacekeeping force's mandate
Russian government in the zone of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict
ordered the withdrawal of the 10th regiment to Russian territory, where it was
disbanded The battle banner of the 345th Airborne Regiment now rests in
Central Museum of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. And will be
it will be kept in this military sanctuary forever, reminding posterity
about the glorious history of the 345th regiment of our winged guard, which
by the will of the lords of metahistory it was destined for more than 9 years to find
to live in the nightmare of the Afghan war, honorably preserving and strengthening
the best traditions of the Soviet landing and the spirit of the military guards brother-
stva.

The flag of the Airborne Forces 328 PDP 104 Airborne Division will remind everyone who has ever had the honor of serving in the 328 Airborne Regiment that there are no former paratroopers.

Characteristics

• 328 RAP
• 328 Guards RAP
• Ganja
• military unit 93626

Flag of the Airborne Forces 328 Guards Parachute Regiment

The 328th Airborne Regiment belongs to the first generation of these elite guards formations, born in the fire of the battles of the Great Patriotic War. Every paratrooper who had the honor of serving in the 328th Guards Paratroopers Division can be proud of this fact. On the other hand, this imposes additional responsibility. A guardsman cannot afford even a momentary weakness when performing a combat mission in the interests of the Motherland, protecting his loved ones and peace on our land.

Perhaps it’s worth starting the story about this famous unit by watching a video of the 328th Airborne Division of the 104th Airborne Division. Here is a short video with rare footage from the Geran training ground near Kirovabad.

And here is a video edited by one of the regiment's paratroopers.

328 RPD in the battles of World War II

In May 1943, the 1st separate airborne brigade was created in the Moscow region with a staff strength of about 6,000 people. In September 1943, it was planned to land the brigade on the Kanevsky site, however, the landing did not take place for various reasons.

Until the end of 1943, the 1st Airborne Brigade fought as part of the 1st Baltic Front, where it joined the 8th Airborne Corps together with the 2nd and 11th Airborne Brigades. In December 1943, these three airborne brigades formed the 11th Guards Airborne Division.

In August 1944, 11th Guards. The Airborne Division is part of the 38th Guards Airborne Corps. In December 1944, the 11th Airborne Division was reorganized into the 104th Guards. rifle division on the territory of the Belarusian SSR.

During the last reorganization, the former 1st Guards. The airborne brigade is renamed the 328th Guards. rifle regiment But already in September of the same year, 1944, 104th Guards. The SD again becomes an airborne division, and the rifle regiments become airborne brigades with the return of the previous numbering.

Until the end of the war, the organization and names of formations of the 104th Guards. the divisions did not change. As for the 1st Airborne Brigade, it successfully fought as part of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts in Hungary, Austria and Czechoslovakia.

Having ended the Great Patriotic War in the Prague area, the 1st Airborne Brigade, which was the predecessor of the 328th Airborne Division of the 104th Airborne Division, was based in Hungary until 1946. In the winter of 1946, the division was redeployed to the Leningrad area.

328 Airborne Regiment as part of the 104 Airborne Division in Ganja (Kirovabad)

When transferred to the Soviet Union, the 1st Airborne Brigade again received the name 328th Guards Parachute Regiment (328 airborne regiment). The initial location is the city of Kingisepp in the Leningrad region.

From 1947 to 1960, the 104th Guards Airborne Division, and with it the 328th Airborne Division, were based in the Pskov region in the city of Ostrov.

In 1960, the 328th Airborne Regiment was transferred to Azerbaijan to the city of Kirovabad (now Ganja).

As for the events that took place during the war in Afghanistan, according to documents, the 328th PDP did not participate in hostilities as part of a limited contingent of Soviet troops. However, there are a number of oral testimonies from regiment officers stating that they took part in the Afghan War in the spring of 1984.

328 traffic police station 104 airborne division in Ulyanovsk

After the collapse of the USSR, the regiment and division were relocated from Ganja to Ulyanovsk, where a new stage in the life of the formation began.

On May 1, 1998, the 104th Airborne Division was reorganized into the 31st separate airborne brigade with the transfer of historical records, awards and combat banners.

Twice the regiment takes part in operations of federal forces in the North Caucasus - in Chechnya (1994-1995), as well as in Dagestan and Chechnya (1999-2001). We have already written about these events in more detail.

At the moment, the successor to the 328th Guards Regiment of the 104th Airborne Division is the 54th OPDB, to which all the regalia of the glorious 328th Airborne Regiment have been transferred. Now the 54th separate parachute battalion is engaged in combat training in peacetime, but is always ready to defend Russia, like the formations whose awards and banners it carries.

Guards Air Assault Red Banner Regiment 104, Airborne Division, in other words, military unit 32515, is stationed in the village of Cherekha, not far from Pskov. The unit carries out combat missions, destroys and captures the enemy from the air, deprives him of ground weapons, cover, and destroys his defenses. This regiment also acts as a rapid reaction force.

Story

The regiment was formed in January 1948 as part of units of the 76th, 104th and 346th Guards Airborne Divisions. For excellent combat training in 1976, the regiment became Red Banner, and from 1979 to 1989 all personnel and officers fought in Afghanistan. In February 1978, the regiment mastered new weapons and was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for its valiant use. From 1994 to 1995, the Red Banner Regiment 104 (Airborne Division) was part of the 76th Division, and therefore actively participated in the First Chechen War, and in 1999 and 2009 it carried out an anti-terrorist mission in the North Caucasus.

At the beginning of 2003, the regiment was partially transferred to a contract basis, at the same time the reconstruction of military unit 32515 began. Regiment 104, Airborne Division, received reconstructed old and built new living quarters and facilities on its territory, thanks to this work the living and material conditions of service have become much better. The barracks took on a cubicle appearance with hallways, showers and closets for personal belongings, a gym and a rest room. Both officers and soldiers of Regiment 104 (Airborne Division) eat in a common canteen located separately. The food is the same for everyone, they eat together. Civilians work in the canteen, cleaning the territory and barracks.

Preparation

All fighters of such a famous unit as the Pskov Airborne Division, especially the 104th regiment, devote a lot of time to landing and general physical training at any time of the year. Mandatory activities for the landing force: improving camouflage skills, forcing fire and water obstacles and, of course, parachute jumping. First, training takes place using an airborne complex on the territory of a military unit, then it is the turn of a five-meter tower. If everything is learned correctly, then the fighters, in groups of ten people, make three jumps from airplanes: first from the AN, then from the IL.

Hazing and hazing have never occurred in this unit. Now this would not be possible, if only because recruits, old-timers and contract soldiers live separately and are each extremely busy with their own work. The Pskov Airborne Division, 104th Regiment, recruits take the oath on Saturdays at ten in the morning; rarely, due to circumstances beyond the control of the commanders, it can be moved back or forward an hour. After taking the oath, military personnel receive leave until 20.00. By the way, on holidays, fighters also receive leave. On the Monday following the taking of the oath, the command distributes new soldiers to companies.

Relatives

Of course, parents, relatives and friends miss and worry about the health and pastime of those who are just starting their military service. The command warns loved ones that their beloved sons, grandchildren, brothers and best friends, having enlisted in Regiment 104 (Pskov Airborne Division), cannot be constantly in touch.

Mobile phones are allowed to be used only one hour before lights out; the rest of the time, the commander keeps the gadgets with him and gives them to the soldier only as a last resort, and after he checks in a special log. Field exercises in the unit take place year-round, regardless of the weather, sometimes trips last up to two months. The fighters are famous for their military training, and without constant exercises the 104th Regiment of the 76th Airborne Division (Pskov) would not have gained such fame.

Helpful information

First of March

The whole country remembered the day of the great feat of the soldiers of the sixth company of the second battalion of the one hundred and fourth parachute regiment of the seventy-sixth Pskov Airborne Division. Year 2000. Since the beginning of February, the largest group of militants after the fall of Grozny retreated to the Shatoi region, where they were blocked. After air and artillery preparation, the battle for Shata followed. The militants nevertheless broke through in two large groups: Ruslan Gelayev to the northwest to the village of Komsomolskoye, and Khattab to the northeast through Ulus-Kert, where the main battle took place.

The federal troops consisted of one company of regiment 104 (Airborne Division) - the 6th company, which died heroically, commanded by Guard Lieutenant Colonel Mark Nikolaevich Evtyukhin, fifteen soldiers from the 4th company of the same regiment under the command of Guard Major Alexander Vasilyevich Dostavalov and the 1st company of the first battalion of that the same regiment under the command of Guard Major Sergei Ivanovich Baran. There were more than two and a half thousand militants: the groups of Idris, Abu Walid, Shamil Basayev and Khattab.

Mount Isty-Kord

On February 28, the commander of the 104th regiment, Colonel Sergei Yuryevich Melentyev, who briefly outlived his sixth company, ordered the occupation of the Isty-Kord heights, which dominated the area. The sixth company, led by Major Sergei Georgievich Molodov, moved out immediately and managed to occupy only height 776, four and a half kilometers from the designated mountain, where twelve reconnaissance paratroopers were sent.

The height designated by the commander was occupied by Chechen militants, with whom the reconnaissance team entered into battle, retreating to the main forces left behind. Commander Molodov entered the battle and was mortally wounded; on the same day, February 29, he died. Took command

The Brotherhood of War

But just four hours ago, Shatoy fell under the attack of federal troops. The militants furiously broke through the ring, not looking at the losses. Here they were met by the sixth company. Only the first and second platoons fought, since the third was destroyed by militants on the slope. By the end of the day, the company's losses amounted to a third of the total number of personnel. Thirty-one people - the number of paratroopers who died in the first hours of the battle when they were densely surrounded by the enemy.

By morning, soldiers from the fourth company, led by Alexander Vasilyevich Dostavalov, broke through to them. He violated the order, leaving well-fortified lines at a nearby height, took only fifteen soldiers with him and came to the rescue. Comrades from the first company of the first battalion also rushed to their aid. They crossed the Abazulgol River, were ambushed there and entrenched themselves on the bank. Only on March 3rd the first company was able to break through to the position. All this time the fighting continued everywhere.

Argun Gorge

The night of March 1, 2000 claimed the lives of eighty-four paratroopers who never missed the Chechen bandits. The death of the sixth company is the heaviest and largest in the Second Chechen War. In Cheryokha, at home, at the native checkpoint, this date is remembered by a stone on which is carved: “From here the sixth company went into immortality.” The last words of Lieutenant Colonel Evtyukhin were heard by the whole world: “I call fire on myself!” When the militants went to break through the avalanche, it was 6.50 in the morning. The bandits didn’t even shoot: why waste bullets on twenty-six wounded paratroopers if there were more than three hundred selected militants.

But hand-to-hand combat still broke out, although the forces were unequal. The guards did their duty. Everyone who could still hold a weapon, and even those who could not, entered the fray. Twenty-seven dead enemies fell for each of the half-dead paratroopers who remained there. The bandits lost 457 of their best fighters, but were unable to break through either to Selmentauzen or further to Vedeno, after which the road to Dagestan was practically open. All roadblocks have been lifted by high order.

Khattab may not have been lying when he said on the radio that he bought the passage for five hundred thousand dollars, but it didn’t work out. They attacked the company in waves, like a dushman. Knowing the terrain well, the militants approached closely. And then bayonets, butts and just fists were used. For twenty hours the Pskov paratroopers held the heights.

Only six remained alive. The two were saved by the commander, who covered their jump from the cliff with machine gun fire. The bandits mistook the rest of the survivors for dead, but they were alive and after some time crawled out to the location of their troops. Company of heroes: twenty-two warriors posthumously became Heroes of Russia. Streets in many cities of the country, even in Grozny, were named after eighty-four paratroopers.

104th Airborne Division (Ulyanovsk)

This formation of the USSR Airborne Forces existed until 1998 as the 104th Guards Airborne Division, founded in 1944. In June 2015, the Russian Ministry of Defense decides to recreate the famous military unit. The composition of the 104th Airborne Division is three regiments based on the 31st Ulyanovsk Airborne Brigade, which are located in Orenburg, Engels and Ulyanovsk.

Glory to the Airborne Forces

Airborne troops date back to August 1930, and this is the only branch of the military in the country where every single division is guards. Each of them gained its own glory in battle. Ancient Pskov is rightfully proud of its oldest military unit - the 76th Guards Red Banner Airborne Division, which heroically proved itself in all the wars in which it participated. The tragic death of the brave, courageous, persistent sixth company of the 104th regiment will never be forgotten not only in the country, but also in the world.

Ulyanovsk has its own historical pride: the personnel of the 104th Guards Airborne Division stationed there took part in the battles in Chechnya and Abkhazia, and were part of the UN peacekeepers in Yugoslavia. And every resident of the city knows that the military equipment with the scorpion on board is the 104th Guards Airborne Division named after Kutuzov, converted from the Airborne Forces brigade.