How the Urals created a tank corps that beat the Nazis from Kursk to Prague
11 March in Russia celebrates the Day of the people's feat of the formation of the Ural Volunteer Tank Corps during the Great Patriotic War.
This memorable date, marking the feat of the Soviet people during the war years, appeared on the calendar in 2012, when the governor of the Sverdlovsk region issued a decree, where the first item reads: “Establish the significant date of the Sverdlovsk region“ Day of the people's feat ”for the formation of the Ural Volunteer Tank Corps Years of World War II "and celebrate it annually on March 11."
Historical The event, which served as the basis for the establishment of the holiday, took place in 1943. Ural volunteer tank the case was formed in 1943 and is equipped weapons and equipment made by workers of the Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk and Molotov regions (now the Perm Territory) with free labor over the plan and for voluntary contributions. When forming (February), the connection was called - the Special Ural Volunteer Tank Corps named after IV Stalin, from March 11 the 30 of the Urals Volunteer Tank Corps. Thus, 11 March 2013, the Urals Volunteer Tank Corps turned 70 years. In connection with this, a holiday was established.
The Ural armored corps is famous for the fact that 3356 Finnish knives (“black knives”) were specially produced in Zlatoust. Tankers received knives HP-40 - "Army Knife 1940 model of the year." The knives looked different from the standard ones: their handles were made of black ebonite, the metal on the sheath was blued. Such knives were previously included in the equipment of paratroopers and scouts, in some units they were presented only for special services. These are short blades with black handles, which were in the arsenal of our tankers, became legendary and instilled fear and respect in their enemies. “Schwarzmesser Panzer-Division,” which translates as “Black Knife Tank Division,” is what German intelligence called the Urals Corps at Kursk in the summer of 1943.
The nickname given to them by the Nazis was taken by the Ural tankers with pride. In 1943, Ivan Ovchinin, who later died in the battles for the liberation of Hungary, wrote a song that became the unofficial hymn of the Black Knife Division. There were such lines in it:
Fascists whisper in fear to each other,
Huddling in the dark dugouts:
Tankmen appeared from the Urals -
Division of black knives.
Selfless fighters squads,
You can't kill their courage.
Oh, do not like fascist bastards
Our Ural steel black knife!
Tank T-34-85 29 of the Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 10 of the Urals Guards Volunteer Tank Corps in Prague Square
From the history of the corps
The Ural Volunteer Tank Corps is the only tank connection in the world completely created with funds voluntarily collected by residents of three regions: Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk and Molotov. The state has not spent a single ruble on arming and equipping this corps. All combat vehicles were built by Ural workers overtime after the end of the main working day.
The idea to make a gift to the front - to create the Ural armored corps - was born in 1942 of the year. It originated in the factory teams of the Ural tank builders and was picked up by the entire working class of the Urals in the days when our country was under the impression of the decisive and victorious Battle of Stalingrad. The Urals, who at that time were producing the bulk of the tanks and self-propelled guns, were rightfully proud of the victory on the Volga, where the armored troops displayed the irresistible striking force of the Red Army. It became clear to all: the success of the upcoming battles, the final victory over Nazi Germany largely depend on the number of our magnificent combat vehicles combined into large tank formations. The workers of the Soviet Union’s support region decided to make the front-line soldiers another unique gift - the volunteer tank corps.
16 January 1943 of the year in the newspaper "Ural worker" appeared a note "Tank Corps over the Plan." It spoke of the commitment of the largest groups of tank builders of the Urals to produce in the first quarter over the plan as many tanks and self-propelled guns as required by the hull, simultaneously having trained drivers from their own volunteer workers. A slogan was born in the workshops of the factories: “We will make superplanned tanks and self-propelled guns and lead them into battle.” The party committees of the three oblasts addressed a letter to Stalin in which they stated: “... Expressing the noble patriotic desire of the Urals, we ask for permission to form a special volunteer Ural tank corps ... We commit ourselves to select the best of the best in the Urals tank corps the people of the Urals - the Communists, Komsomol members, non-party Bolsheviks. We pledge to fully equip the volunteer tank corps of the Urals with the best military equipment: tanks, airplanes, guns, mortars, ammunition - produced in excess of the production program. ” Joseph Stalin approved the idea, and the work began to boil.
Everybody responded to the cry thrown by tank builders of Uralmash, who deducted part of their salaries for the construction of tanks. Schoolchildren collected scrap metal to send it to the furnace for remelting. Ural families, who themselves did not have enough money, gave their last savings. As a result, residents of the Sverdlovsk region alone managed to collect 58 million rubles. Not only were combat vehicles built for public money, but the necessary weapons and uniforms were bought out from the state, literally everything. In January, 1943 was recruited volunteers to the Ural Corps. By March, more than 110 thousand applications had been filed - 12 times more than necessary.
Volunteers represented the best part of the workers' teams, among them were many skilled workers, specialists, production managers, communists and Komsomol members. It is clear that it was impossible to release all volunteers to the front, as this would damage the production, the whole country. Therefore, made a tough selection. Party committees, factory committees, special commissions often selected one of the 15 – 20 worthy candidates, with the condition that the team should recommend someone to replace the one leaving for the front. Selected candidates were reviewed and approved at work meetings. Only 9660 people could go to the front. In total, 536 of them had the experience of fighting, the rest took up arms for the first time.
The corps, the 197-I tank tank brigade, the 88 th separate reconnaissance motorcycle battalion, the 565 th medical platoon, the 1621 th self-propelled artillery regiment, the 248 th division of jet-fighters (“Katyush” ), 390 th communications battalion, as well as units of the 30 th motorized rifle brigade (brigade control, one motorized rifle battalion, reconnaissance company, control company, mortar platoon, medical and sanitary platoon). On the territory of the Molotov (Perm) region were formed: 243-I tank tank brigade, 299-th mortar regiment, 3-th battalion of 30-th motorized rifle brigade, 267-I repair base. In the Chelyabinsk region were formed: 244-I tank brigade, 266-I repair base, 743-th sapper battalion, 64-th separate armored battalion, 36-I company for fuel and lubricants, engineering and mortar company, motor company and unit X-NUMX. brigades (30 th motorized rifle battalion, a company of anti-tank guns, a trucking company and a company of technical support for the brigade).
Thus, the 30 tank corps was formed in a surprisingly short time. By order of the People’s Commissar of Defense against 11 in March 1943, he was given the name - 30 of the Ural Volunteer Tank Corps.
The first commander of the corps was George S. Rodin (1897-1976). Georgy Rodin had a great combat experience: he began serving in the Russian Imperial Army in 1916, reached the senior non-commissioned officer, then joined the Red Army. He began his service as a platoon commander, fought with whites and gangsters. After the Civil War, he served as platoon commander, assistant company commander, deputy battalion commander, battalion commander. From 1930, he served as assistant commander and commander of the 234 Infantry Regiment, and since December 1933, as commander of a separate tank battalion and chief of the Armored Division Service of the 25 rifle division. In 1934, he graduated from the academic courses of technical improvement for the Red Army commanders, and in 1936, he was awarded the Order of the Red Star for excellent combat training. He took part in a campaign in Western Belarus, fought with the Finns.
Before the beginning of World War II, he commanded the 47 armored divisions (18 mechanized corps, Odessa Military District). The division commanded by the Motherland covered the retreat of the 18 and 12 armies of the Southern Front, during the fighting in the area of the city of Gaisin the division was encircled, in the course of leaving it caused the enemy significant damage. During the fighting for Poltava Rodin was seriously wounded. In March, 1942 was appointed commander of the 52 Tank Brigade, and in June, commander of the 28 Tank Corps, who at the end of July took part in a frontal counterattack against the enemy to the north of Kalach Don In October, he was appointed head of the Armored Troops of the South-Western Front, and in April 1943 of the year - commander of the 30 of the Urals Volunteer Tank Corps.
Lieutenant-General of Tank Forces Georgy Rodin (30 — 1897), commander of the 1976 Ural Volunteer Tank Corps, awards the guard of junior sergeant Pavlin Ivanovich Kozhin (1905 — 1973) with the medal “For Military Merit”
Since the spring of 1944, the corps was commanded by Evtikhiy Yemelyanovich Belov (1901-1966). He also had a great combat experience. He began service in the Red Army with 1920 year. He served as division commander, platoon, assistant company commander, commander of a rifle battalion, commander of a tank battalion. In 1932, he graduated from armored advanced training courses for commanders, and in 1934, he graduated from the MV Frunze Military Academy. Before the beginning of the war, he was the commander of the 14-th tank regiment (17-I tank division, 6-th mechanized corps, Western Special Military District). After the start of the Great War, he took part in a border battle, participated in a counter attack on the Belostok-Grodno direction, and then in defensive battles in the regions of Grodno, Lida and Novogrudok. In September, 1941, Eutykhiy Belov was appointed commander of the 23 Tank Brigade (49 Army, Western Front). In July, 1942 was appointed deputy commander for tank forces of the 20 Army (Western Front), where he participated in the Rzhev-Sychev offensive, and then during the defense of the army of the Rzhev-Vyazma defensive line. In January, 1943 was appointed deputy commander of the 3 Tank Army. In May, 1943 was appointed deputy commander of the 57 army, in July - deputy commander of the 4 tank army, and in March 1944 - commander of the 10 Guards Ural Volunteer Tank Corps.
Medium tanks T-34, made overplan for the Ural Volunteer Tank Corps. The stamped turret for the tank in the picture was released at the Ural Heavy Mechanical Engineering Plant named after Ordzhonikidze (UZTM) in Sverdlovsk
Echelon Urals Volunteer Tank Corps, heading to the front. On platforms T-34-76 and SAU SU-122 tanks
1 May 1943, the soldiers of the corps took the oath, vowed to return home only with Victory and soon received an order to go to the front. The Ural Corps became part of the 4 Tank Army and on July 27 received a military baptism at Kursk, north of the city of Orel. In battle, the Soviet tankers showed incredible stamina and unparalleled courage. The compound was awarded the honorary title of the guard corps. By the order of the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR No. 306 of October 26, 1943 of the year was transformed into the 10 of the Urals Guards Voluntary Tank Corps. All parts of the corps were given the name of the Guard. November 18 1943 of the body parts and formations in a solemn ceremony handed Guards Banners.
The battle path of the corps from Orel to Prague was over 5500 kilometers. The Ural Volunteer Tank Corps participated in the Oryol, Bryansk, Proskurov-Chernivtsi, Lviv-Sandomierz, Sandomierz-Silesia, Lower-Silesia, Upper Silesia, Berlin and Prague offensive operations. In 1944, the corps was awarded the honorary title Lviv. The corps distinguished itself when crossing the Neisse and Spree rivers, destroying the enemy's Kotbu groupings and fighting for Potsdam and Berlin, and on May 9, May 1945 was the first to enter Prague. The corps was awarded the Order of the Red Banner, Suvorov II degree, Kutuzov II degree. All in all, on the combat flags of the units that were part of the 10 Guards of the Ural-Lviv, Red Banner, Orders of Suvorov and Kutuzov of the volunteer tank corps, 54 of the Order.
A group of Soviet medium tanks T-34 from the 10-th Guards Urals Volunteer Tank Corps follows a street in Lviv
The 12 Corps Guardsmen, who destroyed 20 and more enemy combat vehicles, proved to be outstanding masters of tank combat. On the battle account, the guard Lieutenant M. Kuchenkov had 32 armored units, the guard Captain N. Dyachenko had 31, the guard sergeant N. Novitsky had 29, the younger guard M. Razumovsky had 25, the guard Lieutenant D. Manashin had 24, Guards Captain V. Markov and Guards Senior Sergeant V. Kupriyanov - 23; guards of foremen S. Shopov and Guards Lieutenant N. Bulitsky - according to 21; guards of foremen M. Pimenov, Guards Lieutenant V. Mocheny and Guards Sergeant V. Tkachenko - on 20 armored units.
During the Prague operation, the crew of the T-34 tank No. 24 63 of the Guards Chelyabinsk Tank Brigade under the command of the Guard Lieutenant Ivan Goncharenko became famous. In early May, 1945, in a campaign against Prague, tank I. G. Goncharenko was included in the head marching column, was among the first three reconnaissance tanks of the guard of junior lieutenant L. E. Burakova. After three days of forced march, on the night of 9 May 1945, the advanced corps units approached Prague from the north-west. According to the memoirs of the former commander of the 63 Guards Tank Brigade M. G. Fomichyov, the local population greeted the Soviet tankmen with glee, with national and red flags and banners “At this Ruda Armada! Long live the Red Army! ”
On the night of May 9, a reconnaissance platoon of three tanks, Burakov, Goncharenko and Kotov, with scouts and sappers on armor, was the first to enter Prague and found out that in the center of the city Czech rebels were fighting with the Germans. An assault group was formed in Prague - the tank commander of the company Latnik was added to the reconnaissance platoon. The assault group under the command of Latnik was tasked with capturing the Manes bridge and ensuring that the main forces of the tank brigade reached the center of the city. At the approaches to the Prague Castle, the enemy had a strong resistance: at Karlov and Manesov bridges across the Vltava River, the Nazis set a barrier of several assault guns under the cover of a large number of faustnik. The first to go to the Vltava river was Ivan Goncharenko's tank. In the course of the ensuing battle, the crew of Goncharenko destroyed two enemy SPGs and began to break through the Manes bridge, but the Germans managed to knock out T-34. From the award list: “Holding the crossing of comrade Goncharenko with fire of his tank, destroyed the self-propelled 2. The tank got hit by a shell and caught fire. T. Goncharenko was seriously injured. Being seriously wounded, the brave officer, bleeding profusely, continued to fight. Secondary hit in the tank t. Goncharenko was killed. At this time, the main forces approached and began a swift pursuit of the enemy. ” Goncharenko was posthumously awarded the Order of the Patriotic War I degree. The crew of I.Goncharenko, I.I. Filippov, I.G. Shklovsky, N.S. Kovrigin and P.G. Batyrev, received serious wounds in the 9 battle of May 1945, but survived. The remaining tanks of the assault group, breaking the resistance of the German troops, captured Manesov Bridge, preventing the enemy from blowing up the bridge. And then went through it to the center of Prague. On the day of May 9, the capital of Czechoslovakia was liberated from German troops.
Guard lieutenant, tanker Ivan G. Goncharenko
In honor of the tank, as the first of those who came to the aid of the rebellious Prague, a monument with the EC-2 tank was erected in the capital of Czechoslovakia. The monument to Soviet tankmen in Prague on Štefánik Square stood up to the velvet revolution in 1991, when it was repainted in pink, then removed from the pedestal and is now used as a symbol of the occupation of Czechoslovakia by Soviet troops. Thus, in the Czech Republic, as well as throughout Europe, the memory of the Soviet soldier-liberator was largely destroyed, and the black myth of the “Soviet occupation” transformed by the enemies of Russian civilization.
Soviet tank EC-2, standing in 1948-1991. in Prague as a monument to the T-34 tank I. G. Goncharenko
In total, the Urals tankers destroyed and captured 1220 tanks and self-propelled guns of the enemy, 1100 guns of various calibers, 2100 armored vehicles and armored personnel carriers, destroyed 94 620 soldiers and officers of the Great Patriotic War. During the war, 42 368 orders and medals were handed to corps soldiers, 27 soldiers and sergeants became full holders of the Glory Orders, 38 corps guardsmen were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
After the end of World War II, the corps was transformed into the 10 Guards Tank Division. The division is part of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (GSVG, ZGV). It is part of the 3 th Red Army General Army. After the withdrawal of troops from Germany in 1994, the division was redeployed to the Voronezh Region, namely the city of Boguchar (Moscow Military District). In 2001, the division took part in the hostilities in the North Caucasus. In 2009, the division was disbanded and on its base the 262-I Guard base of weapons and equipment storage (tank) was formed. In 2015, on the basis of the storage base, the 1-I separate tank squad was formed, with the transfer of the honorary names of the 10-th Guards Tank Division to it. This is the glorious path of the Ural Volunteer Tank Corps.
Fighters of the 63 Guards Chelyabinsk Tank Brigade on Prague's Wenceslas Square
Application. The oath of fighters, commanders and political workers of the Ural Volunteer Tank Corps. Source: Volunteers of the Urals. Sverdlovsk, 1980.
Ural people, our relatives!
We, your sons, entrust you with the defense of the Soviet Motherland, the freedom and independence of the Fatherland.
For centuries, the military glory of the Urals was forged. In the battle of Poltava, Peter, our brave ancestors walked. They passed with the Suvorov impregnable Alps. The banners of the Yekaterinburg and Perm regiments flew on the battlefields of Napoleon. Not sparing blood and their lives, our fathers defended the young Soviet government. Resolute, loyal sons of the Fatherland showed themselves to the Urals on the days of the deadly clash with the German invaders. And now, at the decisive moment of the Great Patriotic War, against the strongest and most insidious enemy, the gray-haired Urals again blesses their sons - volunteers for military exploits.
Comrades Urals!
You entrusted us to lead formidable war machines on the enemy. You created them, not getting enough nights, straining your field and your strength. In the armor of our tanks, in our guns and machine guns, your thought and energy, your indomitable hatred of child-killers, your all-conquering passion and confidence in victory. In factories, factories and collective farms, we, like a banner, carried the labor oath of the Urals. Now, being in the ranks of the Red Army, we utter the words of the military oath of allegiance to the motherland.
We swear!
Be a model of military discipline. Holy to keep order and organization. Perfectly master combat equipment.
We will not falter in the battles for our holy land. We will not spare the blood and life itself for the sake of the freedom and happiness of our people, for the complete liberation of our native land from invaders.
Swear!
To avenge the enemy for the destroyed cities and villages, factories and collective farms, for the torture and tears of old people and children, sisters and mothers.
We will not forget anything, we will not forgive anything to the fascist barbarians.
Swear!
In the decisive battles with the hated enemy to be in the front ranks of the defenders of the Motherland, we will not disgrace the age-old glory of the Urals. We will fulfill your order and return to our native Urals only with Victory.
2 application. Penalty to fighters, commanders and political workers of the Ural Volunteer Tank Corps from the working people of the Urals
Our dear sons and brothers, fathers and husbands!
From time immemorial it happened in our country: when they escorted their sons to the martial affairs, the Urals gave them their people's orders.
Seeing off and blessing you in the battle with the fierce enemy of our Soviet homeland, we also want to instruct you on our instructions. Accept it as a battle flag and with honor carry through the fire of harsh battles, as the will of the people of the native Urals.
At the decisive moment of the Great Patriotic War, you leave for a mortal battle for the honor, freedom and happiness of the motherland.
Every day the battles with the hated fascist invaders are becoming more and more intense. And many more battles will hear and see our dear Earth.
We punish you:
Fully use the high maneuverability of your great cars. Become a master of tank attacks.
Master the tactics of combat, a brilliant example of which is the battle at the walls of Stalingrad, which brought the historic victory of the Red Army.
Love your cars, take care of them, so that they always serve you without fail in battle.
Show samples of high military discipline, stamina, organization.
Forward to the West! Look there, strive there, everything will be fine behind you. Let not take for heart the concern for the family, the factory, the mine, the collective farm.
We give you a strong word, like the granite of our mountains, that we, who remain here, will be worthy of your military affairs at the front. The glory of our land, the glory of our deeds will flare even brighter. There will be shells and bullets and you have enough weapons.
We will send everything, we will deliver everything to our dear Soviet soldiers. At the forefront, in the smoke of battles, feel alongside the whole of the Urals - a huge military arsenal of the Motherland, a forge of formidable weapons.
Fighters and commanders of the Ural Volunteer Tank Corps!
We donated a volunteer tank corps to our means. With our own hands, we lovingly and thoughtfully forged our weapons for you. Days and nights we worked on it. In this weapon there are our cherished and hot thoughts about the bright hour of our complete Victory; in it is our will, firm as Ural-Kamen, to crush and destroy the fascist beast. In hot battles carry with us our will.
Remember our mandate. In it is our parental love and stern order, conjugal farewell and our oath.
Do not forget: you and your cars are a part of ourselves, it is our blood, our ancient Ural good fame, our fiery anger towards the enemy. Feel free to make a steel avalanche of tanks. You are waiting for feats and glory.
We are sure: the fierce enemy will be crushed to dust. And then the native land will bloom more and more completely, and all Soviet people will happily heal.
We are waiting for you with a victory! And then the Urals will hold you tight and lovingly and glorify their heroic sons through the ages. Our land, free and proud, will make wonderful songs about the heroes of World War II.
3 application. Front anthem "Black Knives"
Fascists whisper in fear to each other,
Huddling in the dark dugouts:
Tankmen appeared from the Urals -
Division of black knives.
Selfless fighters squads,
You can't kill their courage.
Oh, do not like fascist bastards
Our Ural steel black knife!
As with armor, machine gunners jump off,
You will not take them with any fire.
Volunteers don't crush the avalanche,
After all, everyone has a black knife.
Rush tanks of the Ural communities,
Enemy force throwing a shiver
Oh, do not like fascist bastards
Our Ural steel black knife!
We will write to the gray Urals:
"Be assured of your sons,
We are not in vain gave daggers,
That the Nazis were afraid of them. "
We will write: “We fight as it should,
And the Ural gift is good! ”
Oh, do not like the fascist bastards.
Our Ural steel black knife!
Award to representatives of the Ural Volunteer Tank Corps of the Mandate from the working people of the Southern Urals
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