How the war began: defense of the Brest fortress.

Major Gavrilov

The commander of the 44th rifle regiment of the 42nd rifle division, Major Gavrilov Pyotr Mikhailovich, for 2 days led the defense in the area of ​​the Northern Gate of the Kobrin fortification, and on the third day of the war moved to the Eastern Fort, where he commanded a consolidated group of fighters from various units in number about 400 people. According to the testimony of the enemy, “... it was impossible to approach here with infantry means, since excellently organized rifle and machine-gun fire from deep trenches and from a horseshoe-shaped courtyard mowed down everyone who approached. There was only one solution left - to force the Russians to surrender by hunger and thirst ... "On June 30, after a long shelling and bombing, the Nazis captured most of the Eastern Fort, but Major Gavrilov with a small group of fighters continued to fight there until July 12. On the 32nd day of the war, after an unequal battle with a group of German soldiers in the North-West caponier of the Kobrin fortification, he was taken prisoner in an unconscious state.

Released by Soviet troops in May 1945. Until 1946, he served in the Soviet Army. After demobilization he lived in Krasnodar.

In 1957, for courage and heroism in the defense of the Brest Fortress, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. He was an honorary citizen of the city of Brest. He died in 1979. He was buried in Brest, at the Garrison cemetery, where a monument was erected to him. Streets in Brest, Minsk, Pestrachah (in Tataria - in the homeland of the hero), a motor ship, a collective farm in the Krasnodar Territory are named after him.

Lieutenant Kizhevatov

The head of the 9th outpost of the 17th Brest Red Banner Border Detachment, Lieutenant Andrei Mitrofanovich Kizhevatov, was one of the leaders of the defense in the Terespolsky Gate area. On June 22, Lieutenant Kizhevatov and the soldiers of his outpost from the first minutes of the war took up a battle with the German fascist invaders. He was wounded several times. On June 29, with a small group of border guards, he remained to cover the breakthrough group and died in battle. The border post where a monument to him was erected, streets in Brest, Kamenets, Kobrin, Minsk were named after him.

In 1943, the fascist executioners brutally shot the family of A.M. Kizhevatova - wife Ekaterina Ivanovna, children Vanya, Nyura, Galya and an elderly mother.

Citadel Defense Organizers

Captain Zubachev

Captain Ivan Nikolayevich Zubachev, a participant in the civil war and battles with the White Finns, from June 24, 1941, became the commander of the Citadel's Combined Defense Combat Group, Assistant Commander for the Economic Section of the 44th Infantry Regiment of the 42nd Infantry Division. On June 30, 1941, seriously wounded and shell-shocked, he was captured. He died in 1944 in the Hammelburg camp. Posthumously awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree. Streets in Brest, Zhabinka, Minsk are named after him.

Regimental Commissar Fomin

The deputy commander for political affairs of the 84th rifle regiment of the 6th Oryol rifle division, regimental commissar Fomin Efim Moiseevich, led the defense at first in the location of the 84th rifle regiment (at the Kholmsky Gate) and in the building of the Engineering Directorate (now its ruins remain in the area of ​​the Eternal fire), organized one of the first counterattacks of our soldiers.

On June 24, by order N1, the headquarters for the defense of the fortress was created. The command was entrusted to Captain I.N. Zubachev, regimental commissar E.M. Fomin was appointed his deputy.

Order No. 1 was found in November 1950 while dismantling the rubble of the barracks at the Brest Gate among the remains of 34 Soviet soldiers in the tablet of an unidentified commander. The regiment's banner was also found here. Fomin was shot by the Nazis at the Kholmsky Gate. Posthumously awarded the Order of Lenin. Buried under the plaques of the Memorial.

Streets in Minsk, Brest, Liozna, a garment factory in Brest are named after him.

Defender of the Terespol Gate Lieutenant Naganov

The platoon commander of the regimental school of the 333rd Infantry Regiment of the 6th Oryol Infantry Division, Lieutenant Naganov Alexei Fedorovich, at dawn on June 22, 1941, with a group of fighters took up defensive positions in a three-story water tower above the Terespol Gate. Killed in action on the same day. In August 1949, the remains of Naganov and his 14 fighting friends were found in the ruins.

Urn with the ashes of A.F. Naganova is buried in the memorial necropolis. Awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree, posthumously.

Streets in Brest and Zhabinka are named after him. A monument to him was erected in Brest.

Defenders of the Kobrin fortification

Captain Shablovsky

The defender of the Kobrin bridgehead, Captain Shablovsky Vladimir Vasilyevich, the battalion commander of the 125th Infantry Regiment of the 6th Oryol Infantry Division, stationed in the Brest Fortress, at dawn on June 22, 1941 led the defense in the area of ​​the Western Fort and the commanders' houses on the Kobrin fortification. For about 3 days, the Nazis laid siege to residential buildings.

Women and children took part in their defense. The Nazis managed to capture a handful of wounded soldiers. Among them was Captain Shablovsky, along with his wife Galina Korneevna and children. When the prisoners were led across the bridge over the bypass canal, Shablovsky pushed the guard off with his shoulder and shouted: "Follow me!", Rushed into the water. A burst of automatic weapons ended the life of a patriot. Captain Shablovsky was posthumously awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree. Streets in Minsk and Brest are named after him.

In the winter of 1943/44, the Nazis tortured Galina Korneevna Shablovskaya, the mother of four children.

Lieutenant Akimochkin, political instructor Nesterchuk

The chief of staff of the 98th separate anti-tank artillery battalion, Lieutenant Akimochkin Ivan Filippovich, together with the deputy battalion commander for political affairs, senior political instructor Nikolai Vasilyevich Nesterchuk, organized defensive positions on the Eastern ramparts of the Kobrin fortification (near the "Star"). The surviving cannons and machine guns were installed here. For 2 weeks, the heroes held the Eastern Ramparts, defeated a column of enemy troops moving along the highway. On July 4, 1941, the seriously wounded Akimochkin was seized by the Nazis and, finding a party card in his tunic, was shot. Posthumously awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree. A street in Brest is named after him.

Defense of the Terespol fortification

Art. Lieutenant Melnikov, Lieutenant Zhdanov, Art. Lieutenant Black

Under cover of artillery fire at dawn on June 22, the advance detachment of the enemy's 45th Infantry Division managed to break through the Terespol Gate into the Citadel. However, the defenders stopped the further advance of the enemy in this sector and for several days firmly held their positions. A group of the head of the courses of chauffeurs of Art. l-ta Melnikov Fedor Mikhailovich, 80 border guards led by Lieutenant Zhdanov and soldiers of the transport company led by Senior Lieutenant Cherny Akim Stepanovich - about 300 people in total.

The losses of the Germans here, by their own admission, "especially the officers, took on a deplorable proportions ... Already on the first day of the war, the headquarters of two German units were surrounded and defeated at the Terespol fortification, and the commanders of the units were killed." On the night of June 24 to 25, the combined group of Art. l-tov Melnikov and Cherny made a breakthrough to the Kobrin fortification. The cadets, led by Lt Zhdanov, continued to fight at the Terespol fortification and on June 30 made their way to the Citadel. On July 5, the fighters decided to join the Red Army. Only three managed to break out of the besieged fortress - Myasnikov, Sukhorukov and Nikulin.

Mikhail Ivanovich Myasnikov, a cadet of the district courses of drivers of the border troops, fought at the Terespol fortification and in the Citadel until July 5, 1941. With a group of border guards, he broke out of the enemy ring and, retreating in the Belarusian forests, joined up with units of the Soviet Army in the Mozyr region. For the heroism shown in the battles during the liberation of the city of Sevastopol, Senior Lieutenant Myasnikov M.I. was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

Senior Lieutenant Cherny Akim Stepanovich, commander of the transport company of the 17th Red Banner border detachment. One of the leaders of the defense at the Terespol fortification. On the night of June 25, together with a group of senior lieutenant Melnikov, he made his way to the Kobrin fortification. On June 28, shell-shocked, he was captured. Passed the fascist camps: Biala Podlaska, Hammelburg. He took part in the activities of the underground anti-fascist committee in the Nuremberg camp. Released from captivity in May 1945.

Defense of the Volyn fortification

Military doctor of the 1st rank Babkin, Art. political instructor Kislitsky, commissar Bogateev

The Volyn fortification housed hospitals of the 4th army and 25th rifle corps, the 95th medical and sanitary battalion of the 6th rifle division and the regimental school of the 84th rifle regiment. At the South Gate, the fortifications were held back by the cadets of the regimental school of the 84th Infantry Regiment under the leadership of the senior political instructor L.E. Kislitsky.

The building of the hospital was captured by the Germans by noon on June 22, 1941. The head of the hospital, 2nd rank military doctor Stepan Semyonovich Babkin and battalion commissar Nikolai Semenovich Bogateev, saving the sick and wounded, died heroically, shooting back from the enemy.

A group of cadets of the regimental school of junior commanders with some of the patients from the hospital and soldiers who arrived from the Citadel fought until June 27.

Pupils of musician platoons

Petya Vasiliev

Petya Vasiliev, a pupil of a musician platoon, from the first minutes of the war helped to pull out ammunition from destroyed warehouses, delivered food from a dilapidated store, performed reconnaissance missions, and extracted water. Taking part in one of the attacks to liberate the Red Army club (church), he replaced the deceased machine gunner. Petya's well-aimed fire forced the Nazis to lie down and then run back. In this battle, the seventeen-year-old hero was mortally wounded. Posthumously awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree. Buried in the Memorial Necropolis.

Petr Klypa

A pupil of the musician platoon of Klypa, Pyotr Sergeevich, fought at the Terespol Gate of the Citadel until July 1. He delivered ammunition and food to the soldiers, procured water for children, women, wounded and fighting defenders of the fortress. Conducted reconnaissance. For fearlessness and ingenuity, the soldiers named Petya "Brest Gavroche". During the breakthrough from the fortress, he was captured. He escaped from prison, but was captured and taken to work in Germany. After his release, he served in the Soviet Army. For courage and heroism shown during the defense of the Brest Fortress, he was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree.

Women in the defense of the Brest fortress

Vera Horpetskaya

“Vera” - that was how everyone in the hospital called her. A girl from Minsk region on June 22, together with the battalion commissar Bogateev, carried the sick out of the burning building. When she learned that there were many wounded in the dense bushes where the border guards were positioned, she rushed there. Bandages: one, two, three - and the soldiers again go into the line of fire. And the Nazis are still squeezing the ring. A fascist emerged from behind a bush with a submachine gun, another one behind him, Horetskaya leaned forward, covering the exhausted warrior. The crackle of a machine gun burst into the last words of a nineteen-year-old girl. She died in battle. Buried in the Memorial Necropolis.

Raisa Abakumova

At the Eastern Fort, a dressing station was set up in a shelter. It was headed by military assistant Raisa Abakumova. From under enemy fire, she carried seriously wounded soldiers on herself, and provided them with medical assistance in shelters.

Praskovya Tkacheva

Nurse Praskovya Leontyevna Tkacheva from the first minutes of the war throws herself into the smoke of the hospital engulfed in flames. From the second floor, where the postoperative patients lay, she managed to save more than twenty people. Then, after being seriously wounded, she was taken prisoner. In the summer of 1942, she became a liaison in the Chernak partisan detachment.

There is no more victory than victory over yourself! The main thing is not to kneel before the enemy.
D. M. Karbyshev

The defense of the Brest Fortress is a Sign to the Third Reich about its future fate, it showed that at the very beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the Germans had already lost. They made a strategic mistake, signing the verdict on the entire project of the Third Reich.

I had to listen to my great ancestor, Otto von Bismarck, who said: “Even the most favorable outcome of the war will never lead to the disintegration of the main force of Russia, which is based on millions of Russians proper ... These latter, even if they are dismembered by international treatises, will also quickly reconnect with each other, like particles of a cut piece of mercury. This is the indestructible state of the Russian nation ... ".

By the Second World War, fortresses were no longer a serious obstacle for a modern army, which was armed with powerful artillery systems, aviation, asphyxiant gases, and flamethrowers. By the way, one of the designers of the improvement of the fortifications of the Brest Fortress in 1913 was Staff Captain Dmitry Karbyshev, the unyielding Hero of the Great War, whom the Nazis turned into an ice block on February 18, 1945. The fate of people is amazing - Karbyshev in a German concentration camp met with another hero, Major Pyotr Gavrilov, who from June 22 to July 23 led the defense of the defenders of the fortress and was also taken prisoner seriously wounded. According to the description of the doctor who treated him, Voronovich, he was taken seriously wounded. He was in full command uniform, but turned into rags. All covered with soot, dust, emaciated to the extreme (skeleton covered with skin), he could not even swallow, the doctors, in order to save him, fed him an artificial mixture. The German soldiers who took him prisoner said that this barely living man, when he was caught in one of the casemates, alone took the fight, fired a pistol, threw grenades, killed and wounded several people before he was seriously wounded. Gavrilov survived in the Nazi concentration camps, was released in May 1945, and reinstated in the army in his former rank. After the country began to learn about the feat of the defenders of the Brest Fortress, Pyotr Mikhailovich Gavrilov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union in 1957.

Gavrilov, Pyotr Mikhailovich.

Defense

The fortress housed about 7-8 thousand fighters from different parts: 8 rifle battalions, reconnaissance and artillery regiments, two artillery divisions (anti-tank and air defense), units of the 17th Red Banner Brest border detachment, the 33rd separate engineering regiment, part 132nd battalion of the NKVD escort troops and some other units.

They were attacked by the 45th German Infantry Division (numbering about 17 thousand people) with the help of units of the neighboring 31st and 34th Infantry Divisions, it was supposed to capture the fortress by 12 noon on June 22nd. At 3.15 in the morning, the Wehrmacht opened artillery fire, as a result of the artillery, the garrison suffered heavy losses, warehouses, water pipes were destroyed, and communications were interrupted. At 3.45 the assault began, the garrison could not provide coordinated resistance and was immediately dismembered into several parts. They put up strong resistance on the Volynsk and Kobrin fortifications. Ours organized several counterattacks. By the evening of the 24th, the Wehrmacht suppressed the resistance on the Volyn and Terespol fortifications, two large centers of resistance remained - in the Kobrin fortification and the Citadel. In the Kobrin fortification, up to 400 people, led by Major Gavrilov, held the defense on the Eastern Fort, they fought off 7-8 attacks of the Wehrmacht per day. On June 26, the last defender of the Citadel died, on June 30, after a general assault, the Eastern Fort fell. Major Gavrilov with the last 12 soldiers, having 4 machine guns, hid in the casemates.

Last defenders

After that, individual fighters and small centers of resistance resisted. We do not know exactly how long they held out: for example, in the barracks of the 132nd separate battalion of the convoy troops of the NKVD of the USSR they found an inscription dated July 20: “I am dying, but I am not giving up! Goodbye, Motherland. " On July 23, Major Gavrilov was captured in battle. One of the main problems of the defenders of the fortress was the lack of water, if at first there was ammunition and canned food, the Germans blocked access to the river almost immediately.

Resistance continued after the capture of Gavrilov, the Germans were afraid to approach the dungeons of the fortress, shadows appeared from there at night, automatic fires sounded, grenades exploded. According to local residents, the shooting was heard until August, and according to German sources, the last defenders were killed only in September, when Kiev and Smolensk had already fallen, the Wehrmacht was preparing to storm Moscow.

An inscription made by an unknown defender of the Brest Fortress on July 20, 1941.

The writer and researcher Sergei Smirnov did a great job, thanks in large part to him, the Union learned about the feat of the defenders of the fortress, about who became the last defender. Smirnov found amazing news - the story of the Jewish musician Stavsky (he was shot by the Nazis). Sergeant Major Durasov, who was wounded in Brest, taken prisoner and left to work at the hospital, told about him. In April 1942, the violinist was about 2 hours late, when he arrived, he told an amazing one. On the way to the hospital, the Germans stopped him and took him to the fortress, where a hole was punched among the ruins, which went underground. A group of German soldiers stood around. Stavsky was ordered to go downstairs and offer the Russian soldier to surrender. In response, he was promised life, the violinist went down, an exhausted man came out to him. He said that he had long run out of food and ammunition and that he would go out to see with his own eyes the impotence of the Germans in Russia. The German officer then told the soldiers: “This man is a real hero. Learn from him how to defend your land ... ”. It was April 1942, the further fate and name of the hero remained unknown, as well as many hundreds, thousands of unknown heroes, about whom the German military machine broke down.

The feat of the defenders of the Brest Fortress shows that the Russians can be killed, although it is very difficult, but they cannot be defeated, they cannot be broken ...

Sources of:
Heroic Defense / / Sat. memories of the defense of the Brest Fortress in June-July 1941, Minsk, 1966.
Smirnov S. Brest Fortress. M. 2000.
Smirnov S. S. Stories about unknown heroes. M., 1985.
http://www.fire-of-war.ru/Brest-fortress/Gavrilov.htm

The defense of the Brest Fortress (defense of Brest) was one of the very first battles between the Soviet and German armies during the Great Patriotic War.

Brest was one of the border garrisons on the territory of the USSR; it covered the way to the central highway leading to Minsk. That is why Brest turned out to be one of the first cities to be attacked after the German attack. The Soviet army held back the enemy's onslaught for a week, despite the numerical superiority of the Germans, as well as support from artillery and aviation. As a result of a prolonged siege, the Germans were still able to seize the main fortifications of the Brest Fortress and destroy them. However, in other sectors the struggle continued for quite a long time: small groups left after the raid resisted the enemy with their last strength.

The defense of the Brest Fortress became an important battle in which Soviet troops were able to show their readiness to defend themselves to the last drop of blood, despite the enemy's advantages. The defense of Brest went down in history as one of the bloodiest sieges and at the same time as one of the greatest battles that showed all the courage of the Soviet army.

Brest Fortress on the eve of the war

The city of Brest became part of the Soviet Union shortly before the start of the war - in 1939. By that time, the fortress had already lost its military significance due to the destruction that had begun and only reminded of past battles. The Brest Fortress was built in the 19th century. and was part of the defensive fortifications of the Russian Empire on its western borders, but in the 20th century. it has ceased to be of military importance.

By the time the war began, the Brest Fortress was mainly used to house garrisons of military personnel, as well as a number of families of the military command, there was also a hospital and utility rooms. By the time of Germany's treacherous attack on the USSR, about 8,000 servicemen and about 300 families of the command lived in the fortress. There were weapons and supplies in the fortress, but their number was not calculated for the conduct of military operations.

Storming the Brest Fortress

The assault on the Brest Fortress began on the morning of June 22, 1941, simultaneously with the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. The barracks and dwelling houses of the command were the first to be subjected to powerful artillery fire and attacks from the aviation side, since the Germans wanted first of all to completely destroy the entire command staff in the fortress, and thereby introduce confusion into the army and disorient it.

Although almost all of the officers were killed, the surviving soldiers were able to quickly orient themselves and create a powerful defense. The surprise factor did not work as expected, and the assault, which was supposed to end by 12 noon, lasted for several days.

Even before the start of the war, the Soviet command issued a decree according to which, in the event of an attack, servicemen must immediately leave the fortress itself and take positions along its perimeter, but only a few managed to do this - most of the soldiers remained in the fortress. The defenders of the fortress were in a losing position, but they did not give up their positions and did not allow the Germans to quickly and unconditionally take over Brest.

The course of the defense of the Brest Fortress

Soviet soldiers, who, contrary to their plans, could not quickly leave the fortress, quickly organized a defense and within a few hours drove the Germans out of the territory of the fortress, who managed to get into its central part. The soldiers occupied the barracks and various buildings located along the perimeter in order to most effectively organize the defense of the fortress and be able to repel enemy attacks from all flanks. Despite the absence of a commanding officer, volunteers from among ordinary soldiers were quickly found, who took over the leadership of the operation.

On June 22, 8 attempts were made to break into the fortress from the side of the Germans, but they did not give any result. Moreover, the German army, contrary to all forecasts, suffered significant losses. The German command decided to change tactics: instead of an assault, a siege of the Brest Fortress was now planned. The troops that broke through were withdrawn and sorted along the perimeter of the fortress to begin a prolonged siege and cut off the Soviet troops' way to the exit, as well as disrupt the supply of food and weapons.

On the morning of June 23, the bombardment of the fortress began, after which an assault attempt was again made. Groups of the German army broke through, but faced fierce resistance and were destroyed - the assault again failed, and the Germans had to return to siege tactics. Extended battles began, which did not subside for several days and greatly exhausted both armies.

Despite the onslaught of the German army, as well as shelling and bombing, Soviet soldiers held the defensive, although they did not have enough weapons and food. A few days later, the supply of drinking water was cut off, and then the defenders decided to release women and children from the fortress so that they surrender to the Germans and stay alive, but some women refused to leave the fortress and continued to fight.

On June 26, the Germans made several more attempts to break through to the Brest Fortress, they managed to do it partially - several groups broke through inside. Only by the end of the month, the German army was able to capture most of the fortress, killing Soviet soldiers. However, the scattered groups that had lost a single line of defense still continued to offer desperate resistance even when the fortress was taken by the Germans.

The value and results of the defense of the Brest Fortress

The resistance of individual groups of soldiers continued until autumn, until these groups were destroyed by the Germans and the last defender of the Brest Fortress was killed. During the defense of the Brest Fortress, Soviet troops suffered colossal losses, but at the same time, the army showed genuine courage, thereby showing that the war for the Germans would not be as easy as Hitler had hoped. The defenders were recognized as war heroes.

After the start of the Great Patriotic War, the garrison of the Brest Fortress for a week heroically held back the onslaught of the 45th German Infantry Division, which was supported by artillery and aviation.

After a general assault on June 29-30, the Germans managed to capture the main fortifications. But the defenders of the fortress continued to fight bravely in some areas for almost three weeks in the face of a shortage of water, food, ammunition and medicine. The defense of the Brest Fortress was the first but eloquent lesson that showed the Germans what awaited them in the future.

Fights in the Brest Fortress

The defense of an old fortress that has lost its military significance near the city of Brest, which was included in the USSR in 1939, is an undoubted example of firmness and courage. The Brest Fortress was built in the 19th century as part of a system of fortifications that were being built on the western borders of the Russian Empire. By the time Germany attacked the Soviet Union, it could no longer perform serious defensive tasks and its central part, as part of the citadel and three adjacent main fortifications, was used to accommodate the border detachment, border protection units, NKVD troops, engineering units, hospital and auxiliary units. By the time of the attack, there were about 8 thousand servicemen in the fortress, up to 300 families of command personnel, a number of people who were going through military training, medical personnel and personnel of economic services - in all, in all likelihood, more than 10 thousand people.

At dawn on June 22, 1941, the fortress, primarily the barracks and residential buildings of the command staff, was subjected to powerful artillery fire, after which the fortifications were attacked by German assault detachments. The assault on the fortress was led by battalions of the 45th Infantry Division.

The German command hoped that the surprise of the attack and powerful artillery preparation would disorganize the troops stationed in the fortress and break their will to resist. According to calculations, the assault on the fortress should have ended by 12 noon. However, the German staff officers miscalculated.

Despite the surprise, significant losses and the death of a large number of commanders, the garrison personnel showed courage and stubbornness unexpected for the Germans. The position of the defenders of the fortress was hopeless.

Only part of the personnel managed to leave the fortress (according to the plans, in case of a threat of the outbreak of hostilities, the troops were to take positions outside it), after which the fortress was completely surrounded.

They managed to destroy the detachments that had broken through to the central part of the fortress (citadel) and took up defensive positions in strong defensive barracks located along the perimeter of the citadel, as well as in various buildings, ruins, basements and casemates both in the citadel and on the territory of adjacent fortifications. The defenders were led by commanders and political workers, in some cases by rank-and-file soldiers who took command.

During June 22, the defenders of the fortress repulsed 8 enemy attacks. German troops suffered unexpectedly high losses, so by evening all the groups that had broken through to the territory of the fortress were recalled, a blockade line was created behind the outer ramparts, and military operations began to take on the character of a siege. On the morning of June 23, after shelling and aerial bombardment, the enemy continued to attempt an assault. The fighting in the fortress took on a fierce, protracted nature, which the Germans had never expected. By the evening of June 23, their losses amounted to more than 300 people only killed, which was almost double the losses of the 45th Infantry Division for the entire Polish campaign.

In the following days, the defenders of the fortress continued to resist staunchly, ignoring the calls for surrender and the promises of the parliamentarians transmitted via radio installations. Nevertheless, their strength gradually dwindled. The Germans brought up siege artillery. Using flamethrowers, barrels with a combustible mixture, powerful charges of explosives, and according to some sources - poisonous or asphyxiant gases, they gradually suppressed pockets of resistance. The defenders experienced a shortage of ammunition and food. The water supply system was destroyed, and it was impossible to get to the water in the bypass canals, because the Germans opened fire on everyone who came into view.

A few days later, the defenders of the fortress decided that the women and children who were among them should leave the fortress and surrender at the mercy of the victors. But still, some women remained in the fortress until the last days of hostilities. After June 26, several attempts were made to break through from the besieged fortress, but only a few small groups were able to break through.

By the end of June, the enemy managed to capture most of the fortress, on June 29 and 30, the Germans launched a continuous two-day assault on the fortress, alternating attacks with shelling and aerial bombardment using heavy aerial bombs. They managed to destroy and capture the main groups of the defenders in the Citadel and the Eastern Redoubt of the Kobrin fortification, after which the defense of the fortress disintegrated into a number of separate centers. A small group of fighters continued to fight in the Eastern Redoubt until July 12, and later in a caponier behind the outer rampart of the fortification. Major Gavrilov and deputy political instructor G.D. Derevianko, being seriously wounded, were captured on 23 July.

Individual defenders of the fortress, hiding in the basements and casemates of the fortifications, continued their personal war until the fall of 1941, and their struggle is fanned by legends.

The enemy did not get any of the banners of the military units that fought in the fortress. The total losses of the 45th German Infantry Division, according to the divisional report, were 482 killed, including 48 officers, and over 1000 wounded as of June 30, 1941. According to the report, the German troops captured 7,000 people, among whom, apparently, all those who were captured in the fortress were enrolled, incl. civilians and children. The remains of 850 of its defenders are buried in a mass grave on the territory of the fortress.

Smolensk battle

In mid-summer - early fall of 1941, Soviet troops conducted a complex of defensive and offensive operations in the Smolensk region, aimed at preventing the enemy from breaking through in the Moscow strategic direction and known as the Smolensk battle.

In July 1941, the German Army Group Center (commanded by Field Marshal T. von Bock) sought to fulfill the task set by the German command - to encircle the Soviet troops defending the line of the Western Dvina and the Dnieper, capture Vitebsk, Orsha, Smolensk and open the way to Moscow ...

In order to disrupt the enemy's plans and prevent his breakthrough to Moscow and the central industrial regions of the country, the Soviet High Command from the end of June concentrated the troops of the 2nd strategic echelon (22nd, 19th, 20th, 16th and 21st I army) along the middle reaches of the Western Dvina and Dnieper. In early June, these troops were included in the Western Front (commanded by Marshal of the Soviet Union S.K. Timoshenko). However, only 37 divisions out of 48 were in position at the start of the German offensive. 24 divisions were in the first echelon. Soviet troops were unable to create a solid defense, and the density of troops was very low - each division had to defend a strip 25-30 km wide. The troops of the second echelon were deployed 210-240 km east of the main line.

By this time, formations of the 4th Panzer Army had reached the Dnieper and the Western Dvina, and infantry divisions of the 16th German Army from Army Group North had reached the section from Idritsa to Drissa. More than 30 infantry divisions of the 9th and 2nd armies of the German Army Group Center, detained by the battles in Belarus, lagged behind the mobile forces by 120-150 km. Nevertheless, the enemy began an offensive in the Smolensk direction, having a 2-4-fold superiority over the troops of the Western Front in manpower

and technology.

The German offensive on the right wing and in the center of the Western Front began on July 10, 1941. A strike force of 13 infantry, 9 tank and 7 motorized divisions broke through the Soviet defenses. The enemy's mobile formations advanced up to 200 km, surrounded Mogilev, captured Orsha, part of Smolensk, Yelnya, Krichev. The 16th and 20th armies of the Western Front found themselves in operational encirclement in the Smolensk region.

On July 21, the troops of the Western Front, having received reinforcements, launched a counteroffensive in the direction of Smolensk, and in the zone of the 21st Army, a group of three cavalry divisions raided the flank and rear of the main forces of Army Group Center. From the enemy's side, the approaching infantry divisions of the 9th and 2nd German armies entered the fight. On July 24, the 13th and 21st armies were united into the Central Front (commanded by Colonel General F.I.Kuznetsov).

It was not possible to defeat the enemy's Smolensk grouping, but as a result of intense fighting, Soviet troops thwarted the offensive of German tank groups, helped the 20th and 16th armies to break out of the encirclement across the Dnieper River and forced Army Group Center on July 30 to go on the defensive. At the same time, the Soviet High Command united all the troops of the reserve and the Mozhaisk line of defense (a total of 39 divisions) into the Reserve Front under the command of General of the Army G.K. Zhukov.

On August 8, German troops resumed their offensive, this time to the south - in the zone of the Central, and then the Bryansk Front (created on August 16, commander - Lieutenant General A.I. Eremenko), in order to secure their flank from the threat of Soviet troops from the south. By August 21, the enemy managed to advance 120–140 km and drive a wedge between the Central and Bryansk fronts. In view of the threat of encirclement on August 19, the Stavka authorized the withdrawal of the troops of the Central and the troops of the Southwestern Fronts operating south of the Dnieper. The armies of the Central Front were transferred to the Bryansk Front. On August 17, the troops of the Western Front and two armies of the Reserve Front went on the offensive, which inflicted significant losses on the enemy's Dukhshchina and Yelna groupings.

The troops of the Bryansk Front continued to repel the offensive of the 2nd German Panzer Group and the 2nd German Army. A massive air strike (up to 460 aircraft) on the 2nd tank group of the enemy could not stop its advance to the south. On the right wing of the Western Front, the enemy dealt a strong tank attack on the 22nd Army and on August 29 captured Toropets. The 22nd and 29th armies withdrew to the eastern bank of the Western Dvina. On September 1, the 30th, 19th, 16th and 20th armies launched an offensive, but did not achieve significant success. By September 8, the defeat of the enemy grouping was completed and the dangerous protrusion of the front in the Yelnya area was eliminated. On September 10, the troops of the Western, Reserve and Bryansk fronts went over to the defensive on the lines along the Subost, Desna, and Western Dvina rivers.

Despite the significant losses incurred during the Battle of Smolensk, the Soviet army managed to force the German troops to go over to the defensive in the main direction for the first time during the Second World War. The battle of Smolensk was an important stage in the disruption of the German plan for a lightning war against the Soviet Union. The Soviet army won time to prepare the defense of the capital of the USSR and subsequent victories in the battles near Moscow.

Tank battle in the area of ​​Lutsk-Brody-Rivne

From 23 to 29 June 1941, during border clashes in the Lutsk-Brody-Rivne region, a counter tank battle took place between the advancing German 1st tank group and the mechanized corps of the Southwestern Front, which were counterblowing, together with the combined-arms formations of the front.

Already on the first day of the war, three corps in reserve received an order from the front headquarters to move northeast of Rovno and strike together with the 22nd Mechanized Corps (which was already there) on the left flank of von Kleist's tank group. While the reserve corps were approaching the place of concentration, the 22nd corps managed to suffer heavy losses during the battles with the German units, and the 15th corps, located to the south, was unable to break through the dense German anti-tank defenses. The reserve corps came up one at a time.

The 8th corps approached the place of the new deployment with a forced march, and it immediately had to go into battle alone, since the situation in the 22nd corps by that time was very difficult. The approaching corps had T-34 and KV tanks in its composition, and the military contingent was well prepared. This helped the corps to maintain combat effectiveness during battles with superior enemy forces. Later, the 9th and 19th mechanized corps approached and also immediately entered the hostilities. The inexperienced crews of these corps, exhausted by 4-day marches and continuous German air raids, found it difficult to resist the experienced tankmen of the German 1st Panzer Group.

Unlike the 8th corps, they were armed with the old T-26 and BT models, which were significantly inferior in maneuverability to the modern T-34s, moreover, most of the vehicles were damaged during air raids on the march. It so happened that the front headquarters did not manage to gather all the reserve corps at the same time for a powerful strike, and each of them had to engage in battle in turn.

As a result, the strongest tank grouping of the Red Army lost its striking power even before a truly critical phase of fighting on the southern flank of the Soviet-German front began. Nevertheless, the front headquarters managed to preserve the integrity of its troops for a while, but when the forces of the tank units were running out, the headquarters gave the order to retreat to the old Soviet Polish border.

Despite the fact that these counterattacks did not lead to the defeat of the 1st Panzer Group, they forced the German command, instead of attacking Kiev, to turn its main forces to repel the counterattack and use its reserves prematurely. The Soviet command gained time for the withdrawal of the Lvov group of troops, which was under threat of encirclement, and preparation of defense on the approaches to Kiev.

Dishonestly, brutally, brutally on June 22, 1941, Nazi Germany attacked the sleeping Soviet Union. It was especially difficult for the border towns, which the Germans hit first. A separate line in the immortal feat of our compatriots is the defense of the Brest Fortress. An object that was a "tidbit" for the Nazis. What do we know about defending the Hero Fortress?

However, let us first turn to its history. The beginning of the construction of the Brest Fortress dates back to 1833. Note that the city is an important frontier garrison, it "blocks off" the central highway leading to Belarusian Minsk. For this reason, it simply needed to be strengthened. In different years of its "life" the fortress was a barracks, a military warehouse, and a political prison. The city itself either went into the possession of the Poles, then it returned to the territory of Russia, then it was again captured by its neighbors.

Shortly before the start of the bloody war (1939), Brest was incorporated into the USSR. The fortress itself no longer carried the significance of a strategic military facility, but rather was a monument of past battles. On the eve of the Great Patriotic War, garrisons of military personnel, a hospital, premises for economic needs were located in it, the families of the commanders permanently lived. In total, there are about 8 thousand military personnel and 300 "civilians" - members of their families. Of course, there were weapons and food supplies here, but more for show. Rumor has it that the water in the fortress ran out two days before the start of the great confrontation ...

The attack on the Brest Fortress coincided with. It is not difficult to guess that the first to come under fire were residential buildings and barracks. The Germans systematically destroyed the command staff with heavy artillery fire and air strikes. Their goals were ambitious: to send an army left without leadership into panic and take the fortress into their own hands by noon.

In reality, the assault on the fortification continued for several days. The surprise factor did not work as Hitler planned. Yes, most of the officer corps died, but the living soldiers immediately orientated themselves, taking a selfless defense. Did the Soviet high command know in advance about the impending attack on the country? There is no definite answer. But before the start of the war, a decree was issued: immediately leave the fortress in the event of an enemy offensive and take a defensive position along the perimeter. In fact, only a few were able to get out, and most of the military remained inside the bastion.

The Germans planned to take the fortress by storm, but could only get to its central part. Eyewitnesses of the events counted up to 8 attempts by the Nazis to break through the defenses of our soldiers, but they all turned out to be fruitless.

Moreover: the German command suffered enormous losses. This was not the beginning of the war that Hitler had hoped for! As a matter of urgency, the enemy changes tactics: the storming of the fortress is replaced by its siege. Troops that have advanced in the offensive, though not much, are urgently being recalled; they are deployed along the perimeter of the recalcitrant stronghold.

From now on, the enemy's task is to completely block the entrances and exits of the fortress for the Soviet troops. The besieged were literally left without supplies, weapons and water. The lack of life-giving moisture was especially acute in the stone walls. The atrocities of the Germans reached the point that they took all nearby sources under special control, dooming the imprisoned to certain death.

Despite the constant bombardment, shelling, and foot offensives of the Germans, our soldiers defended with dignity. Along with them, the fortitude of the spirit was shown by women and children. Many refused to leave the walls of the fortress and voluntarily surrender to the enemy for the chance to save their lives.

The Nazis tried to alternate the tactics of assault and siege, but made little progress in taking the Brest Fortress. Only by the end of June did the German army manage to take control of most of the bastion. However, separate scattered groups of our soldiers resisted the invaders even before the fall.

Even though it was still in the hands of the enemy, the feat of Soviet soldiers unpleasantly struck the German "elite". To say the least - scared. And how not to shudder at such a will to fight, courage and selflessness! Almost none of the 8 thousand soldiers survived.

Ours first learned about the feat of the hero-fortress ... from captured German reports in the winter of 1942. On the border of the 40-50s. the notes about the Brest Bastion in Soviet newspapers were based solely on hearsay. The historian S. Smirnov and the writer K. Simonov played a key role in the restoration of the historical picture, at the suggestion of which the book "Brest Fortress" was published. Today the site of great battles has become. Here everyone can plunge into the picture of the events of the terrible years.