August 2 - Day of the Airborne Forces of Russia
August 2, 1930 during the military exercises aviation For the first time in domestic practice, the Moscow Military District landed paratroopers, who were assigned certain combat training tasks. This experiment, with the participation of only 12 fighters, clearly demonstrated all the advantages of airborne assault forces and contributed to the emergence of a new kind of troops. Nowadays, the anniversary of the first airborne landing is celebrated as a memorable day - the Day of the Airborne Forces.
A few months after the first exercises with the experimental landing of a parachute assault, the formation of new units began. For several years, the airborne units were able to become a powerful striking force capable of capturing bridgeheads in the enemy’s rear and contributing to the advancement of the entire army. The combat power of the new formations was confirmed by numerous exercises, in which hundreds and even thousands of paratroopers-paratroopers were involved.
In 1939, the Airborne Forces for the first time took part in an armed conflict. One of the existing brigades was redeployed to the Khalkhin-Gol river area, and made a great contribution to defeating the enemy. Several large airborne units later participated in the Soviet-Finnish war. The paratroopers played a significant role in the operation to return the western regions of the USSR, previously occupied by third countries.
Soon after the start of the Great Patriotic War, the Airborne Forces were allocated to a separate branch of the armed forces, and on the basis of the existing formations 5 airborne corps were deployed with a total population of about 50000. Airborne troops were regularly involved in the solution of various combat missions. For example, the landing of troops in the rear of the German troops allowed to change the balance of power and accelerate the rout of the enemy near Moscow. In the future, the Airborne Forces carried out several more large landing forces. Amphibious operations were carried out both in the liberated European countries and in Manchuria.
After the end of the war, the development of the Airborne Forces was continued. During this period, special attention was paid to the material part of the troops. As a result of this, for the first time in the world, the Airborne Forces were created, having their own fleet of specialized equipment and weapons, as well as the means for its landing. The capabilities of the troops were repeatedly confirmed and demonstrated during numerous exercises at various ranges of the country and friendly states.
In 1956, the Airborne Forces of the USSR, as the most mobile branch of the armed forces, were drawn to suppress the insurgency in Hungary. Similar tasks were assigned to the paratroopers as part of Operation Danube. In the shortest possible time, Soviet paratroopers were able to take control of two Czechoslovak airfields and ensure the transfer of two divisions.
During the war in Afghanistan, amphibious units acted jointly with other branches of the military, and also carried out amphibious assault forces in various regions. The specific character of the theater of military operations made special demands on the troops and their use, but this made it possible to work out the interaction of formations and branches of troops, as well as to test in practice new compositions of regiments and divisions.
Despite the collapse of the Soviet Union and the problems that followed it, the Airborne Forces managed to maintain the required combat capability. In the post-Soviet period, the airborne troops had to use their skills during the two wars in Chechnya and the operation to force Georgia to peace.
According to the results of recent reforms and transformations, the Airborne Forces, having changed and optimized their composition, receive a new material part and increase their combat potential. This branch of arms retains the status of the most important component of the Armed Forces and plays a special role in the protection of the state. The editorial staff of the Military Review congratulates all personnel and all the veterans of the Airborne Forces on their professional holiday!
A few months after the first exercises with the experimental landing of a parachute assault, the formation of new units began. For several years, the airborne units were able to become a powerful striking force capable of capturing bridgeheads in the enemy’s rear and contributing to the advancement of the entire army. The combat power of the new formations was confirmed by numerous exercises, in which hundreds and even thousands of paratroopers-paratroopers were involved.
In 1939, the Airborne Forces for the first time took part in an armed conflict. One of the existing brigades was redeployed to the Khalkhin-Gol river area, and made a great contribution to defeating the enemy. Several large airborne units later participated in the Soviet-Finnish war. The paratroopers played a significant role in the operation to return the western regions of the USSR, previously occupied by third countries.
Soon after the start of the Great Patriotic War, the Airborne Forces were allocated to a separate branch of the armed forces, and on the basis of the existing formations 5 airborne corps were deployed with a total population of about 50000. Airborne troops were regularly involved in the solution of various combat missions. For example, the landing of troops in the rear of the German troops allowed to change the balance of power and accelerate the rout of the enemy near Moscow. In the future, the Airborne Forces carried out several more large landing forces. Amphibious operations were carried out both in the liberated European countries and in Manchuria.
After the end of the war, the development of the Airborne Forces was continued. During this period, special attention was paid to the material part of the troops. As a result of this, for the first time in the world, the Airborne Forces were created, having their own fleet of specialized equipment and weapons, as well as the means for its landing. The capabilities of the troops were repeatedly confirmed and demonstrated during numerous exercises at various ranges of the country and friendly states.
In 1956, the Airborne Forces of the USSR, as the most mobile branch of the armed forces, were drawn to suppress the insurgency in Hungary. Similar tasks were assigned to the paratroopers as part of Operation Danube. In the shortest possible time, Soviet paratroopers were able to take control of two Czechoslovak airfields and ensure the transfer of two divisions.
During the war in Afghanistan, amphibious units acted jointly with other branches of the military, and also carried out amphibious assault forces in various regions. The specific character of the theater of military operations made special demands on the troops and their use, but this made it possible to work out the interaction of formations and branches of troops, as well as to test in practice new compositions of regiments and divisions.
Despite the collapse of the Soviet Union and the problems that followed it, the Airborne Forces managed to maintain the required combat capability. In the post-Soviet period, the airborne troops had to use their skills during the two wars in Chechnya and the operation to force Georgia to peace.
According to the results of recent reforms and transformations, the Airborne Forces, having changed and optimized their composition, receive a new material part and increase their combat potential. This branch of arms retains the status of the most important component of the Armed Forces and plays a special role in the protection of the state. The editorial staff of the Military Review congratulates all personnel and all the veterans of the Airborne Forces on their professional holiday!
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