Let us dwell only on some of its representatives.
Among the corps commanders, we would like to mention the commander of the 3 Sibac General of Infantry E. E. Radkevich. In the asset of the comcor - the victory in the First August operation 1914, the salvation of the 10 army from destruction in the Second August operation 1915, successful actions in the Vilna operation in September 1915 (in one of the promising articles, we will definitely dwell on the actions of one of the best com-corps of the Russian army).
E. A. Radkevich.
As well as commanders of the SibAk – 2 general from the infantry A.V. Sychevsky (in 1914 - May 1915) and the SibAk-1 general from the cavalry MM Pleshkov (1914 - July 1917).
A.V. Sychevsky.
M.M. Pleshkov.
And among the commanders - Lieutenant-General M. A. Folbaum (October 24 - September 29 1915 - Head of the 3 ssd), Lieutenant-General K. R. Dovbor-Musnitsky (in 1914 - January 1917, the Head 14- ssd), Lieutenant General P.A. Andreeva (in 1914 - October 1915, the head of 13 th ssd).
M.A. Folbaum.
K.R. Dovbor-Musnitsky.
P. A. Andreev.
And the head of 5 Siberian, Lieutenant-General A. A. Taube became the Knight of St. George weapons for successful defense on r. Ravke with 04. 12. 1914 g. - 02. 01. 1915 g. - and was in the battle line and was contused. The aggressive attacks of the enemy were repulsed, and the positions were saved. At the head of the entrusted division, the general fought against Gerardov, Prasnysh, Novogeorgievsk, and Holm.
A. A. Taube.
The regimental commanders and officers were brilliant - in addition to showing high professional qualities, personal valor and self-sacrifice.
The commander of the 14 Siberian Regiment, Colonel Iosif Nikolaevich Khuramovich [Getz V. Death in brotherly embrace // Sentry. Brussels. May 1962. No. 432 (5). C. 17.] was killed by a shell break.
For the battle under the Groytsy Order of St. George 3 degree 30. 01. 1915 was awarded the commander of the 16 Siberian Rifle - Colonel Stanislav Rozansky, who attacked the Germans with the last surviving 50 arrows. The colonel died from the wounds of 7 in October 1914.
S.M. Rozhansky.
The commanders of the 20 and 16 of the Siberian regiments, Colonels D. M. Mikhailov and K. K. Bork, distinguished themselves during the Second Prasnysh operation. During the latter, “The difficult and demanding task of the 2 Siberian Corps was crowned with success thanks to the outstanding valor and energy of commanders: the division chiefs Lieutenant General Krause and Taube, then the regimental commanders, especially 14 Siberian Colonel Dovbor-Musnitsky and 19- th Siberian Colonel Kushelevsky. Both colonels were out of action, wounded. ”[RGVIA. F. 2279. Op. 1. d. 245. L. 43.].
We wrote about the commander of the 43 Siberian Regiment, Colonel A. A. Berezina, who fell under Soldaus, (see Special circumstances. Part of 1).
And you can continue.
We will reproduce only 2 orders characterizing the courage and military professionalism of one of the Siberian shooters - mounted reconnaissance.
1) By the troops of the 2 Army of the Western Front dated 13 in May 1916, No. 127.
“Based on paragraph 2 Art. 415 provisions for the field control of troops in wartime and Art. Art. 25 and 121 of the Statute of the Imperial Military Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George and the St. George's Arms attributed to him, who had particularly brilliant feats of courage and bravery and was awarded the Duma - awarded the Order of St. George IV. 1916. May 13 of the day Head of the 37 equestrian reconnaissance team of the Siberian rifle regiment, 4 of the Uhlan Kharkov regiment, lieutenant von Richter Vladimir.
2) From the Order No. 56 of January 30 1916 on the 10 of the Siberian Rifle Division. “The head of the 37 equestrian reconnaissance team of the Siberian Rifle Regiment, 4 of the Uhlan Kharkov Regiment, Lieutenant Von Richter Vladimir, is presented by me to the award of the Order of St. George IV, Art. on the basis of pp pp. 9, 19, 24 and 26 of the St. George Statute ... one of the most important tasks, besides checking the forces and location of the enemy, was to find out what the work of the Germans on the shore of Lake Naroch is, how much their barrage across the lake. ... Lieutenant Richter moved from the village of Ready and penetrated into the rear of the enemy. As a result: a) in an environment of exceptional difficulty and the same danger, he made reconnaissance of the enemy’s fortifications and obstacles arranged in front of him and passes through them, deep in the enemy’s rear, b) the first one broke into the fortifications and thus drew others behind him , explosions destroyed the dugout, the fortification and its defenders; 25 Germans killed, the rest taken prisoner and brought into our position, d) being seriously wounded and threatened by the strongest enemy, refused to surrender, took part until the last moment in the conduct of the battle, brought out of it in a timely manner all people like 4's seriously injured and 3-x easily and did not leave the enemy trophies. ... the assignment was executed under the most difficult conditions, sealed with blood and, being quite successful, brought undoubted benefit in studying the enemy and exterminating part of his forces and means. The very departure from the place where the enemy was beaten: first he took the prisoners, then he brought out all his wounded and the last was taken out, holding his rifle, Lieutenant Richter. The retreat continued under enemy fire from 3 hours of the night until 8 hours of the morning. All this makes lieutenant von Richter’s foray into a future example for tactics books in the future. ”
One can also recall the exploits of Ya. T. Sergeev, lieutenant colonel of 21 Siberian (see On horseback - on guns), and many other officers and lower ranks.
Look at the faces of the officers and soldiers of the Siberian infantry units - only some of the heroes of the Great War.
5 fact. Documents about the exploits of the Siberian shooters paint outstanding paintings.
So, in the pouring rain, the commander of 30 Siberian Colonel M. V. Izhitsky moved the regiment into a bayonet attack. The attack also infused the neighboring parts. And 30-th Siberian, silently and unceasingly, like an avalanche, moved toward the goal - and almost unhindered: as if on cue, the Germans cleared the road to the regiment, firing into the air and hurriedly departing. Obviously, the very appearance of the regiment going on the attack was so impressive that the enemy did not run the risk of encountering breasts with Russians. T. o. without a shot, the regiment passed to the settlements of Stocky - and even the Germans abandoned the village suitable for stubborn defense. In 20 hours without a single shot, the regiment returned Stocks, and the ring was opened.
And the September 19, even under the fear of death, in no case could it be possible to retreat before the Germans, who were bursting together with all their might. And the valiant regiment led by his brave commander carried out the order. 3-th day, almost sleeping arrows step by step, retreating in the rain of shrapnel, bursting over the treetops. The faint of heart could not stand this hell and rushed through the forest like mad. The officers grabbed them by the collars and, shaking them, they brought to life. By personal example, stopping the retreat and organizing his companies, MV Izhitsky acted astride.
He decided to throw everything that was at hand into the bayonet attack. The words of the commanders, heartily, inspired the fighters, and the 3 battalion harmoniously moved forward - and the forest was announced with a powerful “Hurray”. The enemy did not expect such a turn, and the nearest resistance line of the Germans was raised to bayonets - only a few Germans managed to escape. But other lines of the bayonet strike did not take at all - and “like hares scared by dogs, they ran away from the Siberian shooters who were striving for them with a hurricane.” The 3 th battalion supported the 1 th and 4 th - and the attack became a general [[Kodinets A. Decree. cit].
Documents we have at our disposal - for example, the ZhDD of the 18 Siberian Rifle Regiment
or materials from the funds of the Trophy Commission
they allow you to see (even if fragmentary) - how effectively and bravely the Siberians acted.
So, the loss of parts of 18-th SSU in battle [RGVIA. F. 3352. Op. 1. L. 2] July 4 1915 was 365 people. Moreover, the regiment kept under enemy artillery fire, literally burying entire units in the trenches as in graves - but, letting the Germans in, the Siberians mowed down the enemy with machine gun fire and went into bayonet attacks - which the enemy could not withstand. In that battle in a bayonet attack, Ensign Kruglyshkin died and staff captain Konovalov was wounded (remaining in the ranks). The bayonet attack allowed the 2 company of the Absheron regiment, previously captured by the Germans, to be released.
And in the battle of Prasnysh 10 - 15 February 1915, during the 14 offensive, the 3 machine gun and up to a thousand prisoners were captured. They distinguished themselves: staff captain Semenov, Lieutenant Colonel Boreysh, Lieutenant Kozin, Ensign Vakhtrame, Second Lieutenant Kucherov [RGVIA. F. 16180. D. 63. L. 1]. 10 July of the same year in places. Piask regiment was captured 3 machine gun and 9-gun howitzer battery. The guns were disabled - the battery was left with the locks removed. In this case, Captain Kochisov, Lieutenant Colonel Boreysh and Lieutenant Tkhostov distinguished themselves [Ibid.].
The list can be very long. And we will certainly pay attention to the feats of units and formations of the Russian army, as well as its ranks.
6 fact. The qualities of the Siberian shooters were highly valued by both their own and the enemy.
For example, officer G. F. Tanutorov recalled: “I saw our Siberian regiments passing along the Uyazdov alley. The crowd enthusiastically greeted them, threw cigarettes to the soldiers. What good fellows are these Siberians ”[Tanutorov F.F. Light and shadows of the Caucasus. From Tiflis to Paris. M., 2000. C. 171.]. Another source noted that when the Russian regiment was in position, the Germans put up 2 sentries, and as soon as they learned that the Siberian had approached, they put out 20 [Serebrennikov I. I. Undergoing fate blows. Diary 1914-18's. Irkutsk, 2008. C. 206]. And if some Russian soldier from the trench “for cheerfulness” babakhat more often, then the Siberian shooter beats rarely and accurately ”[Turkul A.V. Drozdovtsy on fire. Munich, 1948. C. 10.].
The Austrian brochure of the Informative Department of the High Command in January 1917 reported on the “great combat experience”, “combat trials” and “high combat reputation” of the overwhelming majority of Siberian rifle divisions [Grinev G. Evaluation of the Austrians of Russian troops to the beginning of 1917. // Military Story. No. 128. C. 17.].
And G. Blumentrit, who was a lieutenant of the 1914 th (71 th Thuringian) infantry regiment in 3, recalled that after the first attacks on the Russian front, the Germans quickly realized that they were confronted with completely different soldiers than the Belgians and French - more harsh, with more strong determination and fighting spirit. And even among them, the "Siberian Corps" and "Asian troops" were "much harder" [http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/GERblumentritt.htm].
7 fact. Siberian rifle units spawned their own particular folklore.
We will cite only a few poems of Siberian officers.
These texts are given in the works of the commander of 6-th SPC, Colonel V. I. Seifulin.
And, of course, one cannot but remember the famous March of Siberian Riflemen, which was released in 1915.
March of the Siberian shooters. 1915
Thus, in general, all Siberian infantry units confirmed and multiplied the brilliant reputation earned back in the Russian-Japanese. And Russia can be proud of such troops.
