Memoirs of the former chief of a staff

Kobrin → Materials about Kobrin district → Kobrin district in the years of war

Memories of the former chief of a staff of the Brest guerrilla connection of how arose, grew, the guerrilla movement in the western regions of Belarus, including in Kobrin district spread.

Formation

… In several days after leaving force staff of Filinov and Gubarev there came to us representatives of group of Kirov which was based to the north of Antopol. History of its education, as we know, such is. Since April, 1942 the group under command of the old communist Nikolay Timofeyevich Shish worked in Antopolsky district. First it totaled only 25 people. But also this small group managed to crush enemy garrison in the village Detkovichi. The success inspired guerrillas, the authority brought to group. It began to grow quickly at the expense of local population. Soon, however, the group was divided into two groups. One its part led by Mikhail Ivanovich Gerasimovym of m (N. T. Shish in June, 1942 died) left on the East, another under Philip Poplavsky's command remained on the place. To spring of 1943 Poplavsky's group grew to 100 people. Guerrillas appropriated it a name of Kirov.

In the dakhluvsky woods of Kobrin district the group of Chapayev conducted active military operations. The order to arrive to force staff was transmitted to command of this group through coherent. However this order was disregarded by them. There was pretty strange situation. Boeva, originally guerrilla group - and suddenly "mutiny" against the regional centralized management. What to do? How to be? It became clear that the commissioner in group of Chapayev is Victor Boyko - the former political leader of one of parts of the Brest garrison. With it Fedor Dmitriyevich Romma as the Komsomol worker, was well familiar before war. Romm also charged to settle the relations with chapayevets.

When Romm together with coherent approached camp of group of Chapayev, point-policemen at once disarmed him and delivered in a staff. There they also met Victor Boyko. All misunderstanding at once dissipated and when Fedor Dmitriyevich told about arrival of underground regional committee of party and formation of force staff, the commander of group, the commissioner and the chief of a staff were enraptured.

Excessive vigilance of guerrillas was caused by sharpness of a situation and aspiration not to pass an enemy agency in the ranks. In two days the commander of group I. P. Postovalov and the commissioner V. I. Boyko arrived to force staff. Sikorsky met them exclusively friendly. Handed to each of them the PPSh brand new submachine guns, and allocated to group the anti-tank gun.

We learned a lot of group, interesting about the past. In particular, we knew that in July, 1941 in the dakhluvsky woods the communist, by the army political leader V. I. Boyko from activists of Kobrin district and fighters and commanders who left an environment organized guerrilla group. The sergeant I. I. Orlov became her commander. In August, 1941 Orlov's group carrying the name Chapayevsk was divided into four groups, and on July 12, 1942 all four groups united in group of Chapayev again.

Ivan Ivanovich Orlov - the personality not ordinary. It was the person whose bravery was an example for guerrillas. From the very first days the organizations of group he began to make combat operations, extremely courageous, impudent, original on the invention. Under its management several enemy garrisons were successfully crushed, 18 military echelons are derailed.

On April 27, 1943 in honor of the coming May Day holiday command of group decided to blow up the bridge on a highway Brest - Moscow. Went for performance of this risky operation with small group of fighters itself Eagles. He imperceptibly approached the bridge, removed the sentry. But fascists from security team nevertheless noticed a handful of guerrillas, surrounded it. Eagles rushed with the people to hand-to-hand fight and died. Kobrin's inhabitants with admiration told then that even the Hitlerite officer paid tribute to courage and Orlov's firmness. Before a system of the soldiers it told: "There is the Russian hero. You study at it as it is necessary to be at war".

… May, 1943 came to an end. And for force staff still there were a riddle Brest, Zhabinkovsky, Maloritsky, Domachevsky and Divinsky districts. We assumed, even heard something about actions of guerrillas in that districts of the area, far from us, but specifically could tell nothing about their affairs. Sikorsky about it spoke:

- Southwest districts of the area remain for us still white spot. But I more than am sure, as there are guerrillas. Conditions for expansion of the guerrilla movement in those places favorable, around the big woods and bogs.

But all this rumors and assumptions. And to have reliable data, I suggested to send well armed group of guerrillas there for a long time. But Sikorsky postponed everything. At the next meeting which took place on May 25, 1943 he told:

- … The underground regional committee of party sent to Kobrin district for the organization of the guerrilla movement of the person who is also tempered in long underground fight to Alexander Ivanovn Fedosyuk … To Brest with a special task, - after a small pause Sikorsky continued, - the party organizer of group of Shchors of Alexander Ivanovn Khromov will go. This is the fighting and resolute woman. Till fall of 1942 it was an active underground worker in Brest …

Loss pain

To an exit of guerrillas to "rail war" messages on death of the commander of the 120th group Makarevich, the commander and the commissioner of group of Chapayev of Postovalov and Quickly came to force staff. And approximately in a week we already precisely knew circumstances of death of these three remarkable companions.

In the last dates of July on a share of group of Chapayev standing in the dakhluvsky wood near Kobrin heartrending experiences dropped out. Fascist command threw against it large forces of infantry. It hoped to crumple straight off guerrillas, but nothing left this their invention. Guerrillas met the opponent by amicable gun and machine-gun fire. Having left in the battlefield tens of the killed and wounded, Hitlerites in a disorder receded. Soon chasteners undertook new attack to guerrillas. But also this time they, having suffered heavy losses, were forced to depart for initial positions.

For the second day approach of Hitlerites was resumed. They engaged tanks, armored cars to action, began firing of positions of guerrillas from artillery. And what guerrillas could oppose to the enemy? One and only anti-tank gun, grenades yes the will and courage.

The enemy pressed. The group with great difficulty constrained its impact. Tanks, having dispersed, crept and tease on defense of chapayevets. It seemed that guerrillas will not sustain a pressure of Hitlerites, will tremble and will begin to depart. And Postovalov rushed to this critical moment towards to the tank rumbling with caterpillars with a linking of grenades. The heavy armored vehicle approaches closer and closer. It already meters in fifteen from it, just about will crush the daredevil. All who saw this duel of the tank with the person stood... And Postovalov, having slightly risen over the earth, threw a linking of grenades under a steel monster with white crosses on armor. The column of fire, lumps of the earth and dust shot up before Post-opal. The tank twirled as the covered with wounds animal, on the place and stood. Loud "hurrah!" swept over a battlefield.

The personal example of the commander inspired fighters. They with a bigger rage rushed on the enemy. Hitlerites did not sustain prompt attack of guerrillas, began to depart. When Germans receded, Postovalov warned the fighters:

- Fascist chasteners on will leave us alone. Early in the morning it is necessary to wait for new approach so be ready to heavy fight.

The commander was not mistaken. The pas dawn at the village of Plyanta appeared 12 chock-full enemy cars. Without suspecting danger, Hitlerites drove up to extreme constructions. And they were waited for a long time by group of guerrilla submachine gunners. They amicably struck fascists. Those in panic were swept up. Using confusion of the opponent, all group went in to the attack.

Heavy fighting with fascist invaders continued four more days. And all their attacks were unsuccessful. Having lost two tanks, seven cars, two guns, to one hundred soldiers and officers, Hitlerites receded. Guerrillas suffered considerable losses also. In a death toll there was a commander of group Ivan Postovalov and the commissioner Victor Boyko.

All of us in force staff took death of the commander and commissioner of group of Chapayev hard. But we were consoled to some extent by the fact that fascist chasteners expensively paid for their death that the group the resolute actions did not allow the opponent to burn villages Borsches and Plyanta, rescued from stealing on a hard labor to Germany youth of these villages.

Meetings in the Ruzhansky dense forest

... On Pruzhana Highway - Ruzhana guerrillas decided to make an ambush. To a task there were two companies under command of the commander of group of Kirov A. I. Samuylik. At dawn approached the road. Having conveniently settled down and having carefully masked, began to wait. Our fighters expected to line two platform soles plying on the highway and an armored car. But they for some reason did not appear. Samuylik summoned the commander of a company Dokuchayev, ordered:

- Send the person ten to phone line. Let will cut columns, will damage communication.

In half an hour Dokuchayev reported on the commander of group:

- Communication is damaged in several places.

- Wait for Germans now any minute.

Really, it was not necessary to wait long. From Pruzhan two cargo cars seemed.

- To prepare! - the team was heard.

Cars are closer and closer. They are jammed by the German soldiers.

- Fire!

Amicably struck machine guns and automatic machines of guerrillas this team of Samuylik. Cars sharply braked. The escaped Hitlerites began to jump out of them. Having crept away on ditches, ditches, holes, they began to shoot back. Heavy fighting was started. Fortunately, overweight of forces was on the party of guerrillas. Resistance of fascists was quickly broken.

In fight guerrillas killed 27 Hitlerites, burned two cars, captured a lot of weapon, ammunition, important documents. Also two people - A. Sevastyanova and N. Maksimenko lost. The fallen companions were brought to forest camp where buried with honors. And soon it was necessary to enter new fight with the enemy.

Command of crew knew that the large group of fascist chasteners left the Birch and moves towards guerrilla camp. Across the brigade commander urgently sent it Dokuchayev and Lavrentyev's companies. Hitlerites went along Selets Road - Shchitno. And here guerrillas suddenly opened strong gun and machine-gun fire at them. Hitlerites began to depart hasty. The first confusion, however, soon took place at them, and they began to beat off desperately.

Fight dragged on. Having learned about it, the brigade commander himself went to the place of fight, having taken with himself still a company of guerrillas. Emergence of fresh forces, their resolute attack amazed the opponent. Throwing the killed and wounded, Germans began to recede in panic. Guerrillas made up for them, shot or took prisoner …

… Business is business. There are so many surprises, so many critical situations are created, having heard about which not at once will believe. There was in March, 1943 it and to our intelligence agent Lenya Straton. From guerrillas I in general heard how he, having met large group of fascist chasteners, managed to leave them moreover killed several fascists among whom there was the senior officer. There was a wish to learn about a feat of the intelligence agent from lips him. And here in the gutamikhalinsky wood this opportunity was presented. Here is how everything was.

In the early March morning Lenya Straton left in investigation. In a dense foggy haze the trees which surrounded the road were hardly looked through. Lenya is the guy desperate. Under it a kind cavalry horse. On a breast the automatic machine. Ahead, kilometers in two, the big village of Svyatitsa. In it as he was told, Germans were not. And it jumped on the horse without any precautions.

Having jumped on gallop to the village, Lenka, to the amazement, saw the German soldiers who set on it barrels of automatic machines. There is no time to deliberate. It slashed with long turn on them from PPSh, abruptly turned a horse and rushed off back. But his horse, having made several jumps, fell to the ground. Straton wounded in a breast head over heels departed on the frozen road. Hitlerites rushed to it in hope to grab live. But the intelligence agent found forces, laid down for the killed horse and again pressed the submachine gun trigger. Long turn mowed some more Hitlerites. Having shot a disk, inserted another. But the enemy bullet got into a disk, killed fingers of the left hand.

Lenya prepared the grenade. Began to wait. Decided to undermine itself and Germans who, perhaps, will run up to it. But Hitlerites did not decide to come nearer but only shot, having taken cover for corners of country houses. Having used indecision of fascists, it was thrown from the road, in a dense fir grove aside. Ran meters two hundred and fell, having fainted. Fascists did not decide to pursue the guerrilla who ran away into the wood with automatic machine.

Lenya regained consciousness only towards evening. Bleeding profusely, he hardly rose to the feet. Being unsteady, went towards family camp. Having felt thirsty, but water was not. From the frozen puddle broke off an ice floe piece, began to gnaw. Having satisfied I am eager a little, again went. Overcoming painful pain, it went and fell, rose and again went. Hardly nevertheless reached tents. Here provided to ohm first aid, brought to group.

Lenya Straton is a guerrilla nickname. Actually it was the guerrilla of group of Shchors Alexey Karpovich Bobkov. Having recovered, he continued to battle against the enemy to our clear victory …

Planes come in the land

… We according to Sikorsky's instructions began searches of the platform for airfield in July …

… Kotovsk and of Shchors we will transfer groups of a name to the southern zone of area, there, where we plan creation of airfield. Not to weaken the central zone, we will translate crew "Soviet Belarus" here.

Nobody objected to Sikorsky's proposal. For the second day after meeting in force staff groups of Shchors and a name Kotovsk were already in way. With them Sikorsky, Drozdov with the counterspies, Arzumanyan and I left.

The railroad was crossed before sunrise to the west of station Gorodets. Having seen before itself impressive force, the German protection did not dare to engage with us. Then went on the southern coast of the Dnieper and Bugsky channel. The wagon train moving with us stretched more than for kilometer. On vehicles there were with the filled tapes several easel machine guns. Two couples of well-fad horses pulled an anti-tank gun. Force is solid!

Then I thought: the land opponent to us is not terrible. We will be developed and will strike. And what if fly planes? Where to disappear? Around - a bush. At this thought somehow it became feel ill at ease. Fortunately, everything managed well. By noon we entered the big village Svaryn located on border with the Volynsk area of Ukraine. On the same day examined the place which is picked up for airfield. It is equal, but with a set of the sticking-out stubs.

Sergey Ivanovich's hopes to the aid of local population were completely equaled. There passed week of intense work of hundreds of guerrillas, peasants from Svaryni and Radostov. The airfield was constructed. The former pilots - the chief of a staff of group of Shchors Victor Guzhevsky and the chief of a staff of crew of Molotov Dmitry Udovikov, having examined it, recognized quite suitable for reception of heavy planes.

Completion of construction of airfield caused general triumph. Both ordinary guerrillas, and commanders did not hide the pleasure, they went on airfield and mentally imagined how in several days they will accept the first plane from the Continent. It will be the real holiday!

All shone also Sergey Ivanovich. He hotly thanked both guerrillas, and local population for honest work. Expressed special gratitude to the deputy commander of group of a name Kotovsk to Alexey Danilovich Podolyak on whom all responsibility for construction works was conferred …

Near airfield the medical unit which was headed by the doctor S. T. Ilyin was placed … The skillful hands of the surgeon it saved not one hundred guerrillas from death. In a medical unit the wounded brought from all groups lay. Them was much. All of them waited for sending to Moscow. Among wounded I saw Sergey Otarashvili (his real name - Moisey Nikolaevich) - the beautiful, strong and brave Georgian. His hand killed in a shoulder hung as a lash, the wound suppurated. Despite a serious condition, he did not despond. Always vigorous it was known also in group of Shchors. In the most difficult situation Sergey did not lose courage.

Kohl the speech came about guerrilla hospital, treatment of wounded fighters and commanders, I deem it appropriate to tell at least in brief about the organization of a health service in groups and crews, about our brave medics …

Examples of that it is possible to bring much. The same glory, as well as the honored doctor of BSSR Stepan Timofeyevich Ilyin, the chief of a health service in the southern zone of area, used at guerrillas and the honored doctor of RSFSR Victor Alekseevich Lekomtsev. Still being N to captivity in the Southern town near Brest, he helped to get on feet to the fighters and commanders who got for a barbed wire. It cured many guerrillas, being in group of Shchors, in the most difficult conditions successfully operated the famous hero of Kirill Prokofyevich Orlovsky …

… On September 15 the radiogramm came from the Belarusian staff of the guerrilla movement. We were informed that the Brest connection has to take part in "rail war" again.

… And shortcomings, there were many misses. Some groups did not take care of carrying out careful investigation of approaches to railroad tracks, did not reveal weapon emplacements of the opponent and did not suppress them. As a result came under fire from earth-and-timber emplacements and blindages. There were cases when large divisions left to the road on narrow sites. Such density of people complicated to make explosions by all at the same time. I also pointed to these shortcomings on instructing. Demanded from command of groups and crews not to repeat mistakes at all, to pay special attention to blocking of earth-and-timber emplacements, making of passes in minefields, for bigger safety to have on flanks of groups of group of cover. Recommended to put mines on joints of rails that one explosion to put out of action at once two.

In the night of September 19 operation code-named "Concert" was performed. It passed as we and wanted that, successfully. The German patrols protecting the railroad for our groups it were not counted. At the sight of the big strength of guerrillas they usually ran up who where and did not disturb us at all. But there were also serious obstacles - minefields on approaches to the road, the earth-and-timber emplacements which are densely placed along railroad tracks. Therefore each group started explosion of rails only after suppression by special groups of all weapon emplacements of the opponent after in minefields passes were made.

The operations "Concert" the big role was played by conductors. In most cases local peasants, residents of the villages and farms, next to the road, were them. It is characteristic that they participated in operation not on coercion, and of own will. Risking on an equal basis with guerrillas life, they rendered us invaluable service. Many, warm thanks to them.

As the operation "Concert" was performed, it is possible to see on separate examples. The group of Shchors came to a site of Zhabink Road - Kobrin. The chief of a staff of group V. F. Guzhevsky directing operation made the decision is reserved to approach the railroad, and then to occupy with a resolute throw it. He hoped to provide these suddenness.

First operation went according to the drawn-up plan. Guerrillas without firing approached the road of meters on 80-100. And suddenly - strong machine-gun fire. The opponent beat from two earth-and-timber emplacements located from each other on small removal. The commander of a company Murat Gadzhayev before whose fighters exorcized enemy machine guns quickly contacted the commander of diversionary office Nathan Liker, allocated it in the help some more people and ordered:

- To immediately suppress weapon emplacements of the opponent. We will cover you.

Having broken into two groups, daredevils quickly spread to earth-and-timber emplacements. And already strong explosions are heard ahead. Enemy machine guns ceased … Further implementation of combat operation took place without special work. Guerrillas of group of Shchors blew up 390 rails. More to the right of this group the group of a name Kotovsk worked. To his fighters also was to what to rejoice. They blew up 330 rails.

Before an exit to combat operation "Concert" in separately operating group of Kirov near Antopol open party meeting took place. Acted the party organizer of group of Alexander Ivanovn Khromov. Still absolutely young, vigorous woman all respected this for mind and judiciousness, sensitive and sympathetic heart, and, above all - for courage which she always showed in fight. And therefore all fighters and commanders validly listened to it, trusted each her word. And she spoke about big importance of the forthcoming operation, urged to treat with all responsibility to its performance.

Words of the party organizer got an enthusiastic response in the hearts of fighters and commanders. On a site of the railroad Antopol - Gorodets they blew up more than 270 rails. Especially communists Lukash Urakov, Kuptay Kulbayev, Vasily Lomako, Komsomol members Mikhail Lyashko, Vladimir Voytovich, Grigory Grinevich, Semyon Kirichuk caused a stir. An example of all was set by Aleksandra Ivanovna.

In group of Kirov shoulder to shoulder with Belarusians, Russians, Ukrainians, representatives of many other sister republics patriots of Yugoslavia bravely battled against Hitlerites. In their group there was the whole office. All of them participated in the operation "Concert", deserved a praise of the commander of group S. Shish. Among especially caused a stir he called Serbians Mladek Gaydobronsky, Vinka Imbreush, Dragomir Mishkovich, Croats Mikhail Golen and Lavlo Gudlin.

Also the site of the road Brest - Kobrin lit up with flashes of explosions. Here guerrillas of group of Chapayev undermined 360 rails. Groups of crew of Stalin tore railroad tracks to lines Brest — Malorita. For this night they undermined 1050 rails, having destroyed the railroad on a site about 12 kilometers …

… Carrying out the operation "Concert", guerrillas of the Brest connection undermined for one night of 5550 rails, or, in other words, put the road out of action for several days on a site in more than 66 kilometers. The operation "Concert" on the scales by more than two times surpassed the previous "rail war". If to consider that it was carried out in the territory of all Belarus, it is possible to imagine as far as we will feel there was a blow to railway communications of the enemy …

Entering in a year of the 1944th

… In December, 1942 … I was accepted by the candidate for party members and now became the member of All-Union Communist Party (bolsheviks) …

… At party meeting … noted my merits in the organization of group of Shchors, listed those fights which I directed as the commander of group …

By January, 1944 in the Brest connection there were already six crews - of Stalin, "the Soviet Belarus", of Ponomarenko, of Dzerzhinsky, of Sverdlov and of Gulyaev, it is a lot of separately operating groups. I suggested Sikorsky to create one more crew on the basis of group of Chapayev acting near Kobrin and who was based in the dakhluvskhy wood long ago. Sergey Ivanovich in principle was not against. But the organization of crew because of special circumstances was late. In particular, because the group did not disengage. Death of brave his first commanders Ivan Orlov and Ivan Postovalov, the commissioner Victor Boyko fell. And still at the end of January the issue with the organization of crew was resolved.

The group of Chapayev totaled about 500 people. Sikorsky suggested to make of one three. So we also arrived. Behind one group kept a name of Chapayev, two others began to bear Orlov and Postovalov's names. Also the crew was called by the name of Chapayev. Later as a part of crew also the fourth group was formed.

We met certain difficulties with selection of the brigade commander. There was a wish to put forward to this position of the person whom guerrillas well and long ago knew, as they say, "". But whom? Temporarily appointed the commander of crew of the old guerrilla Gapasyuk. In several months it was replaced by F. N. Baranov. To this position Fedor Nikolaevich came from a post of the chief of a staff of crew of Dzerzhinsky. Rams - the commander of Red Army, in many fights proved the skillful and strong-willed military leader …

It is known that by February, 1944 the Soviet troops on the wide front left to the river Pripyat, conducted a battle on the Brest direction. We appeared in essence in a front strip. This circumstance forced the German command to make every effort to clear the next backs of guerrillas. At the same time considerably intensified the actions and we. From crews and groups one behind another messages on bloody fights with fascist troops arrived.

The situation in the southern zone of area was especially heated. Active German armed forces aimed to force the Dnieper and Bugsky channel and to strike blow in the direction of Divin to deprive of guerrillas of svarynsky airfield, to hold down, and whenever possible and to destroy strengths of guerrillas operating in this area. There, as we know, along with crew of Molotov of Pinsky connection and groups of Shchors and a name Kotovsk crews of Stalin, of Yazykovich and of Flegantov - in total not less than four thousand people worked.

On a pyatidesyatikilometrsvy strip of defense of guerrillas fascist command threw two divisions removed from the front and also cavalry crew. On all this strip fights rattled day and night. Guerrillas, vryvshis to the earth on the southern coast of the channel, having constructed a tree in advance - earth defensive works, reflected one enemy attack for another …

Carrying out the indication of underground regional committee of party and force staff, the major of II. M. Kovalsky charged to the deputy commander of group of Shchors Nikolay Vaganov to select sixty most courageous and fighting guerrillas in separate cavalry group. The task to come into contact with the operating Soviet front-line units, to report on them on guerrilla defense of Dneprovsko - the Bugsky channel, to ask for help was set for it.

The group of horsemen should cover the big and dangerous distance to the front, and then somewhere on a joint of the German parts a throw to break in an arrangement of the Soviet troops. I knew Vaganov long ago and well. It was extremely fighting and resourceful commander. And therefore mentally approved Kovalsky's decision to send it for the front.

The situation in the southern zone of area became complicated more and more meanwhile. Every day fights with the German troops broke out, already rather poor stocks of ammunition thawed. This circumstance also disturbed force staff. If the German troops start long fights on the line of defense of the Dnieper and Bugsky channel, then guerrillas should battle until parts of Red Army approach.

In the middle of February the opponent strengthened pressing guerrillas again. Once in the early frosty morning on one of sites of the canal he in addition threw not less battalion of soldiers. Germans hoped that, having created big superiority in manpower and military equipment, they will manage to break our resistance. But it happened so that on this site in defense there was a group of Shchors quite recently thrown here. The enemy did not know about it and hoped for an easy victory. However miscalculated. Guerrillas opened at a motorcade strong fire with anti-tank guns and machine guns. The enemy was especially stunned by our gunners. Fascists, without having accepted battle, began to be developed. But as soon as their machines descended on a roadside, began to be blown up one by one on mines. Escaped dashed away towards Kobrin. Their self-confidence cost much to Hitlerites.

The guerrilla Kovalsky at once reported about this successful combat operation in force staff. It notified us as well that N. Vaganov's group came back because of a front line, brought a lot of automatic weapon, ammunition and tolite.

The force staff expressed gratitude to guerrillas of group of Shchors for successfully carried out fight, but warned that to calm down early, hot fights with the enemy still ahead …

Fierce attacks of Hitlerites soon considerably weakened. And there was it because parts of our 70th army forced the river Pripyat, regiments of the 160th shooting division left to the district of the regional center of Divin. The German command was forced to delay significant forces there.

In Svaryni as I spoke, the guerrilla hospital was located. In it there were more than 100 seriously wounded. Except them over 500 people from families of guerrillas and the party and Soviet asset gathered here. All these people expected evacuation on the Continent.

The force staff ordered to transport all wounded and families to the Soviet hinterland, through a front line as no hope for landing of planes for airfield existed any more. On March 3 all this mass of people accompanied by 700 armed guerrillas under Vaganov's command acted in the direction of Rafalovki. On March 5 all evacuated safely passed through a front line …

… After connection of guerrillas of the southern zone of area with parts of the Soviet Army in the Brest connection there were about nine thousand people. The most part of guerrillas was in Berezovsky, Ivatsevichsky, Kobrin districts. The guerrilla several guns, ten two mortars, about 40 anti-tank guns, more than one thousand machine guns and automatic machines were armed. The main weapon - rifles. Due to the approach of the front military operations of groups became more active. Guerrillas feel an acute shortage of ammunition.

Front-line German units stood along the railroad Brest - Luninets, and also along the Dnieper and Bugsky channel. The enemy garrison in the Birch totaled about two thousand people, in Ivatsevichakh - about one thousand to Kobrina, Kamentsa, High, Pruzhanakh, Ruzhanakh, Kosovo – on 3OO - 400 people. All garrisons have strong defense, are enclosed with pillboxes and earth-and-timber emplacements, entangled by wire entanglements. Approaches to the railroads are almost everywhere mined.

Guerrillas paid the main attention to military operations on communications of the opponent: to blasting rails, descent under slopes of military echelons, to firing from PTR of engines and cars. By then guerrillas undermined 1826 echelons, about 10 thousand rails, 62 tanks, 59 armored cars are lined, 1221 cars are destroyed. As a result of diversions and in open fights about 50 thousand Hitlerites are killed and wounded …

Army – the liberator

On June 17 from the Belarusian staff of the guerrilla movement the order was received to be prepared for massive rail attack. Having received the order on preparation for "rail war" from force staff, the commander of crew of Chapayev F. N. Baranov within two days, generally at night, carried out trainings with fighters, in all details worked operation on blasting rails.

The place for trainings was picked up similar about volume where they should tear "piece of iron". All this became plant louses of to fulfill, actions of fighters to clockwork clearness, to perform operation, without losing in vain any excess minute. The group of Postovalov under command of the commissioner N. F. Yakunin in the night of June 20 approached the railroad Brest - Minsk in one and a half kilometers to the west of Tevli's station. The district was here strongly boggy and therefore the opponent least of all expected appearance of guerrillas.

Having approached the road on visible distance, the group concentrated for a throw. Calculation of the commissioner was simple: without uniform shot to direct between earth-and-timber emplacements to the railroad, to blow up rails, without having given to Hitlerites of time to come round.

Exactly at 24 o'clock the silence of night was broken by deafening explosions, the sky was lit with bright flashes. The group started operation implementation. The raid of guerrillas on the railroad was lightning. All hundred dining rooms of checkers which were available for them thundered nearly at the same time. 200 rails as they were established on their joints were undermined.

… A little more to the right group of Postovalov the group of Chapayev worked. He also successfully performed combat operation, having blown up 190 rails. The crew of Chapayev brilliantly performed operation on explosion of rails …

Pronyagin, P. V. Formation. Loss pain. Meetings in the Ruzhansky dense forest. Planes come in the land. Entering in a year of the 1944th. Through a front line / P. V. Pronyagin//At the border / P. V. Pronyagin. – Minsk: Belarus, 1979. – Hl. 14. – Page 77-84; Hl. 19. – Page 108-10; Hl. 20. – Page 111-117; Hl. 21. – Page 117-128; Hl. 26. – Page 158-161; Hl. 30. – Page 177-180; Hl. 32. – Page 190-192. 

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