7th Guards Airborne Division
Encyclopedia
The 7th Guards Airborne-Assault (Mountain) Division is a military formation of the Russian Airborne Troops. Its soldiers fought in Eastern Europe in World War II, after which they were based in Kaunas, Lithuania. During the Cold War period the division served in the suppression of the Hungarian and Czech revolutions. Based in Novorossisk, Russia, since 1993, it has also taken part in various counter-insurgency operations in the Caucasus region.
(Hungary
) under the 9th Guards Army, 3rd Ukrainian Front
. On 26 April 1945, the 322nd Regiment of the 8th Guards Airborne Corps was awarded the Order of Kutuzov
, second degree, for exemplary performance. In commemoration the division's official day is 26 April, by an order of the Defense Minister of the USSR.
On May 8, 1945, Major General Dmitrii Aristarkhovich Drichkin from Ukraine, commander of the 7th Guards Parachute Division, set up his headquarters in the village of Erlauf, Austria, some 60 miles west of Vienna and 50 miles east of Linz. Anxious to meet Allies, he is sent out scouts. At midnight, he met Major General Stanley Eric Reinhart, commander of America's 65th Infantry Division. 20 years later, public affairs officer Captain John J. Pullen described this cordial encounter for the National Observer. For the 50th anniversary, Erlauf erected a Soviet-sponsored memorial. It features a local girl, linking arms with a GI on her right, and a Soviet soldier on her left. To this day, an enlarged photo and a small exhibit mark the spot where this historic encounter took place: A life-size Major General Reinhart, smiling at General Drichkin, as they compare their watches one minute past midnight, on May 9, 1945, the moment the unconditional surrender of Germany became effective.
On 12 May 1945 the regiment ended the fighting in the city of Trebon
, Czechoslovakia
. During the war the regiment was thanked on six occasions by the Supreme Commander
. In all 2,065 of its soldiers, sergeants and officers were decorated for valor and heroism by the Soviet Union
.
The 7th Guards Airborne Division was established on 15 October 1948 on the basis of the 322nd Regiment at Polotsk in the Belorussian Military District
, being relocated to the cities of Kaunas
and Marijampole
, Lithuanian SSR
. Personnel from these bases took part in actions against anti-Soviet Lithuanian nationalists.
Units in this premier division of airborne troops have mastered the landing of Antonov An-8, An-12, An-22, and Il-76 aircraft, tested a number of new parachute systems (D-5 and D-6), all generations of BMD
, and 2S9 Nona artillery systems.
In 1956 the division was involved in Operation "Whirlwind," the suppression of the Hungarian revolution. On 3 November 1956, the 108th Parachute Regiment of airborne troops landed at the Tököl
airbase in Il-12
and Li-2planes, capturing and disabling six antiaircraft batteries, then taking up the defense of the facility. On 4 November 1956 the regimental staff, together with fighters from the 119th Parachute Regiment, entered the city of Budapest and took part in street fighting until the city was secured on 7 November.
In 1968 the division participated in Operation Danube to suppress the Prague Spring
uprising. The 108th Regiment distinguished itself in the most dangerous and difficult missions, for which about two hundred of its personnel received high government awards.
On June 23, 1968, troops of the 108th Airborne Regiment were tasked to fly from Kaunas
to Ryazan
, where they were to demonstrate their vehicle assault landing skills to the Minister of Defence of the USSR, Andrei Grechko
. The group of three An-12 aircraft took off early in the morning, reaching a cruising altitude of 4000 meters. Approaching the city of Kaluga, a plane carrying the staff of a company and battalion command (91 officers and men) collided with an Ilyushin Il-14
passenger plane that was at 4000 meters without clearance, with the loss of all aboard.
The division was involved in many major exercises and maneuvers, such as "Shield-76", "Neman", "West-81" (Exercise Zapad-81), "West-84" and "Watch-86", in the latter three exercises dropping airborne combat vehicles with crews, and receiving the Minister of Defence of the USSR Pennant "for courage and military prowess" during West-81.
In 1971 and 1972 the division was awarded the Red Banner of the Airborne Troops. On 4 May 1985, for success in military training and in connection with the 40th anniversary of the Victory in World War II, the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner
.
In 1988–1989 elements of the division took part in the Black January
events in Baku
. In 1993–1996 personnel from the 108th Regiment served on peace-making missions in Abkhazia
.
At some point after 1990 the division was given the 'Mountain' designation.
Between January 1995 and April 2004 the 108th Regiment fought in the North Caucasian region, notably in the August 1999 battle for the "Donkey's Ear" heights in Dagestan
.
The regiment's equipment includes the BMD-1
, BMD-2
and BTR-D
vehicles, with the anti-aircraft BTR-ZD and anti-tank BTR-RD "Robot" variants of the BTR-D. The BTR-RD was equipped with the 9М111 "Bassoon" anti-tank rocket systems (capable of firing twelve 9М111 "Bassoon" or 9М113 "Competition" anti-tank guided missiles at a time). Artillery vehicles include the 2S9 "Nona" 120-mm self-propelled artillery vehicle and the 1В119 reconnaissance and fire-control vehicle.
History
The division's baptism of fire was in 1945, fighting around Lake BalatonLake Balaton
Lake Balaton is a freshwater lake in the Transdanubian region of Hungary. It is the largest lake in Central Europe, and one of its foremost tourist destinations. As Hungary is landlocked , Lake Balaton is often affectionately called the "Hungarian Sea"...
(Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
) under the 9th Guards Army, 3rd Ukrainian Front
3rd Ukrainian Front
3rd Ukrainian Front was a Front of the Red Army during World War II.It was founded on 20 October 1943, on the basis of a Stavka order of October 16, 1943, by renaming the Southwestern Front. It included 1st Guards Army, 8th Guards Army, 6th, 12th, and 46th Armies and 17th Air Army...
. On 26 April 1945, the 322nd Regiment of the 8th Guards Airborne Corps was awarded the Order of Kutuzov
Order of Kutuzov
The Order of Kutuzov is a Soviet and Russian military award, named after famous Russian Field Marshal Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov ....
, second degree, for exemplary performance. In commemoration the division's official day is 26 April, by an order of the Defense Minister of the USSR.
On May 8, 1945, Major General Dmitrii Aristarkhovich Drichkin from Ukraine, commander of the 7th Guards Parachute Division, set up his headquarters in the village of Erlauf, Austria, some 60 miles west of Vienna and 50 miles east of Linz. Anxious to meet Allies, he is sent out scouts. At midnight, he met Major General Stanley Eric Reinhart, commander of America's 65th Infantry Division. 20 years later, public affairs officer Captain John J. Pullen described this cordial encounter for the National Observer. For the 50th anniversary, Erlauf erected a Soviet-sponsored memorial. It features a local girl, linking arms with a GI on her right, and a Soviet soldier on her left. To this day, an enlarged photo and a small exhibit mark the spot where this historic encounter took place: A life-size Major General Reinhart, smiling at General Drichkin, as they compare their watches one minute past midnight, on May 9, 1945, the moment the unconditional surrender of Germany became effective.
On 12 May 1945 the regiment ended the fighting in the city of Trebon
Trebon
Třeboň is a historical town in South Bohemian Region of Czech Republic. The population stands at 8,862 .-History:Třeboň was established around the middle of the 12th century. In 1366 the House of Rožmberk become owner of the estate...
, Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. During the war the regiment was thanked on six occasions by the Supreme Commander
Supreme Commander
Supreme Commander may refer to:* Commander-in-chief, a military rank**Supreme Allied Commander, title held by the most senior commander within certain multinational military alliances...
. In all 2,065 of its soldiers, sergeants and officers were decorated for valor and heroism by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
The 7th Guards Airborne Division was established on 15 October 1948 on the basis of the 322nd Regiment at Polotsk in the Belorussian Military District
Belorussian Military District
The Byelorussian Military District was a military district of the Soviet Armed Forces. Originally in the times of Russian Civil War it formed as the Western Front, and in April 1924 it was renamed to the Western Military District. In October 1926 it was redesignated the Belorussian Military...
, being relocated to the cities of Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
and Marijampole
Marijampole
Marijampolė is an industrial city and the capital of the Marijampolė County in the south of Lithuania, bordering Poland and Russian Kaliningrad oblast, and Lake Vištytis. The population of Marijampolė is 48,700...
, Lithuanian SSR
Lithuanian SSR
The Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Lithuanian SSR, was one of the republics that made up the former Soviet Union...
. Personnel from these bases took part in actions against anti-Soviet Lithuanian nationalists.
Units in this premier division of airborne troops have mastered the landing of Antonov An-8, An-12, An-22, and Il-76 aircraft, tested a number of new parachute systems (D-5 and D-6), all generations of BMD
BMP Development
The BMP series of infantry fighting vehicles were the first production line IFVs. Included in the series are the mainline BMPs, the airborne variant BMDs, and licensed modified and reverse engineered versions . BMP stands for Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty , meaning "fighting vehicle of infantry")...
, and 2S9 Nona artillery systems.
In 1956 the division was involved in Operation "Whirlwind," the suppression of the Hungarian revolution. On 3 November 1956, the 108th Parachute Regiment of airborne troops landed at the Tököl
Tököl
Tököl is a town in Pest county, Hungary.- External links :*...
airbase in Il-12
Ilyushin Il-12
The Ilyushin Il-12 was a Soviet twin-engine cargo aircraft, developed in the mid-1940s for small and medium-haul airline routes and as a military transport.-Design and development:...
and Li-2planes, capturing and disabling six antiaircraft batteries, then taking up the defense of the facility. On 4 November 1956 the regimental staff, together with fighters from the 119th Parachute Regiment, entered the city of Budapest and took part in street fighting until the city was secured on 7 November.
In 1968 the division participated in Operation Danube to suppress the Prague Spring
Prague Spring
The Prague Spring was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia during the era of its domination by the Soviet Union after World War II...
uprising. The 108th Regiment distinguished itself in the most dangerous and difficult missions, for which about two hundred of its personnel received high government awards.
On June 23, 1968, troops of the 108th Airborne Regiment were tasked to fly from Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
to Ryazan
Ryazan
Ryazan is a city and the administrative center of Ryazan Oblast, Russia. It is located on the Oka River southeast of Moscow. Population: The strategic bomber base Dyagilevo is just west of the city, and the air base of Alexandrovo is to the southeast as is the Ryazan Turlatovo Airport...
, where they were to demonstrate their vehicle assault landing skills to the Minister of Defence of the USSR, Andrei Grechko
Andrei Grechko
Andrei Antonovich Grechko was a Soviet general, Marshal of the Soviet Union and Minister of Defense.-Biography:Born in a small town near Rostov-on-Don, the son of Ukrainian peasants, he joined the Red Army in 1919, where he was a part of the legendary “Budyonny Cavalry”...
. The group of three An-12 aircraft took off early in the morning, reaching a cruising altitude of 4000 meters. Approaching the city of Kaluga, a plane carrying the staff of a company and battalion command (91 officers and men) collided with an Ilyushin Il-14
Ilyushin Il-14
The Ilyushin Il-14 was a Soviet twin-engine commercial and military personnel and cargo transport aircraft that first flew in 1950, and entered service in 1954. Il-14 was also manufactured in East Germany by VVB Flugzeugbau, in Czechoslovakia as the Avia 14, and in China under the Chinese...
passenger plane that was at 4000 meters without clearance, with the loss of all aboard.
The division was involved in many major exercises and maneuvers, such as "Shield-76", "Neman", "West-81" (Exercise Zapad-81), "West-84" and "Watch-86", in the latter three exercises dropping airborne combat vehicles with crews, and receiving the Minister of Defence of the USSR Pennant "for courage and military prowess" during West-81.
In 1971 and 1972 the division was awarded the Red Banner of the Airborne Troops. On 4 May 1985, for success in military training and in connection with the 40th anniversary of the Victory in World War II, the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner
Order of the Red Banner
The Soviet government of Russia established the Order of the Red Banner , a military decoration, on September 16, 1918 during the Russian Civil War...
.
In 1988–1989 elements of the division took part in the Black January
Black January
Black January , also known as Black Saturday or the January Massacre, was a violent crackdown of the Azerbaijani independence movement in Baku on January 19–20, 1990, pursuant to a state of emergency during the dissolution of the Soviet Union....
events in Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
. In 1993–1996 personnel from the 108th Regiment served on peace-making missions in Abkhazia
Abkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...
.
At some point after 1990 the division was given the 'Mountain' designation.
Between January 1995 and April 2004 the 108th Regiment fought in the North Caucasian region, notably in the August 1999 battle for the "Donkey's Ear" heights in Dagestan
Dagestan
The Republic of Dagestan is a federal subject of Russia, located in the North Caucasus region. Its capital and the largest city is Makhachkala, located at the center of Dagestan on the Caspian Sea...
.
Equipment
BMD-1
The BMD-1 is a Soviet airborne amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle, which was introduced in 1969 and first seen by the West in 1970. BMD stands for Boyevaya Mashina Desanta . It can be dropped by parachute and although it resembles the BMP-1 it is in fact much smaller...
, BMD-2
BMD-2
The BMD-2 is a Soviet airborne infantry fighting vehicle, which was introduced in 1985. It is a variant of BMD-1 with a new turret and some changes done to the hull. BMD stands for Boyevaya Mashina Desanta...
and BTR-D
BTR-D
The BTR-D is a Soviet airborne multi-purpose tracked armoured personnel carrier which was introduced in 1974 and first seen by the West in 1979 during the Soviet war in Afghanistan. BTR-D stands for Bronetransportyor Desanta . It is based on BMD-1 airborne IFV...
vehicles, with the anti-aircraft BTR-ZD and anti-tank BTR-RD "Robot" variants of the BTR-D. The BTR-RD was equipped with the 9М111 "Bassoon" anti-tank rocket systems (capable of firing twelve 9М111 "Bassoon" or 9М113 "Competition" anti-tank guided missiles at a time). Artillery vehicles include the 2S9 "Nona" 120-mm self-propelled artillery vehicle and the 1В119 reconnaissance and fire-control vehicle.
7th Division Commanders
- Guards Major General Gregory Fedoseevich Polishchuk (1945–1952)
- Guards Colonel Georgy Golofastov (1952–1955)
- Guards Major General Alexei Pavlovich Rudakov (1955–1956)
- Guards Colonel Peter Fëdorovich Antipov (1956–1958)
- Guards Colonel Ivan Makarovich Dudura (1958–1961)
- Guards Major General Peter Vasilevich Chaplygin (1961–1963)
- Guards Major General Dmitry Grigorevich Shkrudiev (1963–1966)
- Guards Major General Lev Nikolaevich Gorelov (1966–1970)
- Guards Major General Oleg Fëdorovich Kuleshov (1970–1973)
- Guards Major General Nikolaĭ Vasilevich Kalinin (1973–1975)
- Guards Major General Vladimir Stepanovich Kraev (1975–1978)
- Guards Major General Vladislav Aleksyeevich Achalov (1978–1982)
- Guards Colonel Vladislav Aleksyeevich Achalov (1982–1984)
- Guards Major General Vladimir Mihaĭlovich Toporov (1984–1987)
- Guards Major General Aleksyei Aleksyeevich Sigutkin (1987–1990)
- Guards Major General Valerii Frantsovich Hatskevich (1990–1992)
- Guards Major General Grigorii Andryeevich Kalabuhov (1992–1994)
- Guards Major General Igor Vilevich Solonin (1994–1997)
- Guards Major General Yurii Mihaĭlovich Krivoshyeev (1997–2002)
- Guards Major General Nikolaĭ Ivanovich Ignatov (2002–2005)
- Guards Major General Viktor Borisovich Astapov (2005–2010)
- Guards Colonel Aleksandr Yurevich Vyaznikov (2010–present)
Division Units
- 108th Guards Cossacks Air Assault Order of the Red StarOrder of the Red StarEstablished on 6 April 1930, the Order of the Red Star was an order of the Soviet Union, given to Red Army and Soviet Navy personnel for "exceptional service in the cause of the defense of the Soviet Union in both war and peace". It was established by Resolution of the Presidium of the CEC of the...
Regiment 'Kuban' (NovorossiyskNovorossiyskNovorossiysk is a city in Krasnodar Krai, Russia. It is the country's main port on the Black Sea and the leading Russian port for importing grain. It is one of the few cities honored with the title of the Hero City. Population: -History:...
). From the time the regiment was formed and up to 1993 the regiment was based in the city of KaunasKaunasKaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
, LithuaniaLithuaniaLithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, military unit 02291. Since August, 1993 and as of 2011: the regiment has been based in the city of Novorossisk, military unit 42091. - 247th Caucasian Cossacks Air Assault Regiment (StavropolStavropol-International relations:-Twin towns/sister cities:Stavropol is twinned with: Des Moines, United States Béziers, France Pazardzhik, Bulgaria-External links:* **...
) - 1141st Guards Artillery Regiment (AnapaAnapaAnapa is a town in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, located on the northern coast of the Black Sea near the Sea of Azov. It was originally a seaport for the Natkhuay tribe of the Adyghe people. Population: The town boasts a number of sanatoria and hotels...
) - 743rd Separate Guards Battalion
- 188th Separate Anti-aircraft Missile and Artillery Battery
- 649th Separate Engineer-Sapper Battalion
- 185th Separate Military Transport Aviation Squadron (KrymskKrymskKrymsk is a town in Krasnodar Krai, Russia. Population: It was founded in 1858 as the fortress and stanitsa of Krymskaya , named after the Crimean Cossack Regiment. The stanitsa was granted town status and given its present name a century later, in 1958...
, Krasnodar KraiKrasnodar Krai-External links:* **...
); - 967th Landing Support Company
- 162nd Intelligence Company
- 1681st Separate Material Support Battalion (Anapa)
- 6th Separate Maintenance and Recovery Battalion
- 3995th Military Hospital (airmobile)
- 286th Courier Station Mail Service