For the Dnieper and Bugsky channel

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

When Pasha Senchuk was admitted to Komsomol, asked it a question: - We know about your participation in underground work at pansky Poland very little. You can in more detail about it?

- Pashka Senchuk, the pupil of the seventh class, modest, but active in public work, with nervousness told: - Under trying conditions there were members of KPZB of our village October … Most often Grigory Poddubny, and sometimes my uncle Grigory Senchuk gave me instructions. Then, of course, I did not know that he is a leader of a party cell of our village. Did not know, as many other villagers are communists. I only well understood that these people combat against the Polish occupation and injustice … It to me was to liking, and I often transferred books, unclear to me notes or words in an oral form. That's all, did nothing special, - Senchuk concluded. The pasha was admitted to Komsomol, and soon elected the secretary of the Komsomol organization of October seven-year school.

The village October that in twenty kilometers from Kobrin, before war treated Antopolsky district. In the morning on June 22 with the friends came to October village council. The chairman of executive committee Vasily Golodyuk gave some orders. Having seen children, quickly brought together employees of the Village Council and together decided to discuss how to be what to do. Around the cannonade of tools, a roar of planes was heard. The Soviet troops departed …

In October, as well as in other villages, there lived the former Red Army men. One were employed in workers to prosperous owners, others adapted to women, the third healed wounds at kind people. By means of local anti-fascist patriotic group, especially thanks to Dmitry Borisyuk and Grigory Senchuk's active work, okruzhenets prepared for fight.

In villages there were leaflets handwritten, calling the population of the occupied territory for fight against the German aggressors. In the same time Germans began to catch to catch Red Army men and to send in camp for prisoners of war. Many of them joined a patriotic underground. But separate okruzhenets, having warmed at peasants, not akhotel but did not hurry to deal with it. Then organizers of guerrilla groups decided to provoke them. Made and transferred them a leaflet under which put the signature "Stalin". In it there were also such words: "... for treachery of the Homeland, desertion, evasion from fight with German ok kupant - execution". It made sober timeservers. They established connection with local underground workers and began to join the created organizations of resistance.

When Grigory Senchuk disappeared in the village Turnaya at the aunt Iriny Pavlovny Karpuk, once to him Dmitry Borisyuk directing an underground in bourgeois Poland came with the stranger.

- This is your cousin Boris Lukashuk, be familiar, - Vorisyuk presented. - Arrived to relatives to holiday, and here war. Here also remained in the village …

In Turnoy which the dense wood closely adjoined under the leadership of Lukashuk at the beginning of 1942 the group of guerrillas was created. It consisted generally of local population. There were in it also Red Army men-okruzhentsy. Patriots from October Grigory Senchuk, Pavel Senchuk, Georgy Davidyuk, Stepan Kozlowski, Vladimir Martynov, Ivan Khudyakov and still the person six former fighters of Krasnoyarmiya also joined them in one of March days up in arms.

The village October the German authorities put under special observation. Almost daily with western, from South side in it there were Germans and politsa. They surrounded houses of patriots, mocked at their families threatened with execution. About actions of popolshchik something was known by the being osadnik who came back in October Anatoly Berestovsky. He personally with police officers hunted for locals Ivan Guzyuk (Ivanov), Grigori Connick, Nikolay Leonyuk and Vladimir Martynov, the Landowner with the henchmen managed to arrest Grigori Connick. It was sent for interrogations to Kobrin, and in a week brought to the village half-dead … that gave the companions and showed the place of burial of the brother Berestovsky, the former landowner killed earlier for the cruelty to local population. Grigory did not fulfill the requirement of chasteners, and Anatoly Berestovsky killed Connick.

On the account of the landowner there were already also other victims. October patriots decided to move away the ardent enemy of the Soviet power. Many nights carried out in an ambush to catch it. At last it was succeeded to take Berestovsky and to shoot. To guerrilla group of Boris Lukashuk it became close in the big Turnyansky woods. It met Nikolay Shish, the commander of the guerrilla group operating on - to the neighbourhood in Grushevsky the woods. Both heads decided not to unite yet, but agreed that Lukashuk's group will pass for the Dnieper and Bugsky channel, there, where according to Ivanov (Ivan Guzyuk) from October, there are guerrillas too. Guzyuk already several times crossed the territory of Antopolsky district and it was the good conductor. It conducted the friends to the region of Galitsky bogs. On the way turnyansky guerrillas came to coherent Kalenik Yaroshchik who told them how to come to Litvinchuk's group.

At the beginning of April, 1942 more than twenty guerrillas from the Turnyansky woods settled down in Kondrat Litvinchuk's koshara in the natural boundary of Dubrovka in four kilometers from Galik. Here the local and arrived guerrillas led by Lukashuk merged together. Them there were more than forty people …

NIKOLAY TIMOFEYEVICH SHISH

In October, 1941 Nikolay Shish appeared in the native village of Hudlin of Antopolsky district. There lived his family, the father, brothers. Nikolay Shish already had considerable experience of underground work. He with the elder brother Andrey, the member of KPZB, fellows villager fought against the authorities of bourgeois Poland for freedom and independence of the people. Pilsudsky's regime pursued it. The brother Shisha Andrey Timofeyevich was betrayed by the provoker and arrested. He managed to escape from hands of the Polish police, to be transported through border to the Soviet Union and thus to avoid punishment.

Nikolay Shish at the request of a communistic underground crossed the Polish and Soviet border more than once, performing important tasks of Communist party of the Western Belarus. Before an appeal it took in the Polish army with itself(himself) the fifteen-year-old relative Lyonya Shish once what to train from it the courier. They crossed the border successfully. They were met by the Soviet frontier guards. Nikolay all road paid Lyonya's attention to passing villages, signs with which power it was possible to be guided on the way. Also there was time when Lyonya as the shuttle, scurried about through border with the valuable data. At dark autumn night it approached border with documents of military value again, is transferred ny to it by Nikolay Shish who served at that time in the Polish army. On a cordon it was silent. It seemed, all assumed successful transition around. But some invisible shadow tried to keep step with it. Lyonya hid, considering in the dark iskhozhenny him a track. And only moved, having quickened the pace a trot, it was intercepted by zholnezhi-frontier guards. There was no place to run. Leonid Shish did not manage to destroy the state importance of the data. Lyonya was subjected to cruel tortures day by day. And when brought to full exhaustion, he did not sustain sadistic tortures, admitted, called four participants of an underground whom he knew and had with them communication. In number there were Nikolay Timofeyevich Shish, the native uncle Lyoni Nikolay Petrovich Kunyakh, Ivan Pavlovich Kozakevich, and, itself, Leonid Pavlovich Shish. The Polish authorities cruelly managed with all of them. The military court sentenced Nikolay Kunyakh to execution as serviceman of the Polish army, Ivan Kozakevich - to the death penalty through hanging, Nikolay Shish also as serviceman - to execution, and Leonida Sciiscia as teenager, imprisoned for five years of the cruel mode.

On August 8, 1940 Nikolay Timofeyevich Shish will write in the autobiography which was stored in Department of Internal Affairs archive of the Volynsk regional executive committee Ukrainian by the Soviet Socialist Republic: "In 1931 the Polish authorities took me in army in which I served till June 7, 1932, that is about one day in which I was arrested. After a nine-day consequence the Polish military court sentenced me to death which through the president is replaced subsequently with 15 years' imprisonment. Was imprisoned in the cities of Grudzendz, Vronka, Ravich and in the Keltsky voivodeship in prison of the city of the Sacred Cross. From the last prison with approach of the Polish-German war escorted by together with other prisoners drove in Kovel where it was unbound by Red Army of day on September 21, 1939. After release entered at once Workers' and Peasants' guard with which it is listed in Workers' and Peasants' militia".

The KPZB underground party organizations, workers of the Western Belarus developed the movement in protection of patriots-podpolytsikov. On meetings and demonstrations they demanded cancellation of severe sentences. However has the luck to escape only to Shish - the death penalty to him was replaced for twenty years of prison. Two - Nikolay Kunyakh and Ivan Kozakevich - the difenziva managed to execute. Seven years there was in an imprisonment Nikolay Timofeyevich, four years from them sat in the single. But also here he found occupation, learned foreign languages. Seized Polish, German, Czech and, of course, Belarusian and Russian languages. He wrote letters to the relatives and even received them from the brother Andrey from the Soviet Union where he ran from prosecution of a defenziva. "Till 1937, - Nikolay Timofeyevich wrote to autobiographies, Andrey wrote me letters to prison and sent books. In the last letter written, apparently, in a month July, 1937 he reported that he has intention to leave to Madrid (apparently, had desire to enter the international red crew fighting on the party of republicans against fascists), since then had from it no letter and now I do not know where it is and whether in general it is live".

Liberating mission of Red Army in September, 1939 opened new life before Nikolay Shish.
None of underground workers reproached Lyonya Shish. Until the end of the life it remained faithful to business for which fought …

On February 19, 1988 from the PORP Central Committee Central archive reported: "According to documents of PORP Central Committee archive, PPK fund, number 606/1932, Shish Nikolay Timofeyevich, year and the birthplace 12.03.1910, Hudlin, a gmina Gorodets of the Kobrin County was a cavalryman of the second cavalry regiment in Starogarda. It is accused of espionage, it was sentenced by a court-martial at military court DOCK, number USh to Grudziondza of 16.06.1932 to execution. The president of the Polish Republic replaced with the decision of 16.07.1932 the death sentence for 15 years of heavy prison and removal from army".

Shish's character reached manhood, became tempered also in difficult years of an underground and imprisonment and in a peace time at responsible work in administrative bodies, and in the first months of war with fascism. Having returned to the native home in October, 1941, Shish first of all met the former member of KPZB Ivan Ivanovich Shish, and through it - the old friends living in surrounding settlements. Nikolay Timofeyevich learned through the companions that on Demidovshchinsky farms the Soviet military pilot Dmitry Udovikov heals wounds in Poprotsky' family. Without postponing, visited him. Got acquainted with other "okruzhenets". Nikolay told them about the appeal of the Soviet government on the organization of the guerrilla movement in the back of the German troops, depicted the plan of the organization of guerrilla fight conceived by it. Nikolay Shish and Dmitry Udovikov agreed about joint actions.

Around them the local people, the Soviet activists, Red Army men who appeared in the back of the enemy, escaping from the German prisoner-of-war camp began to be consolidated. In October, 1941 in Grushevsky the woods of Antopolshchina there was a group of guerrillas led by Nikolay Shish. Originally Dmitry Udovikov, Philip Poplavsky, Ivan Shvorob, Sofya Poprotskaya, Alexey Novichuk, Roman Senchuk, Vera Vyshinskaya, Maria Motuz and others went to this group. Groups still absolutely young nephew of Nikolay Timofeyevich Petya Shish was coherent.

Dmitry Karpovich Udovikov, the military pilot of destructive aircraft, was lined in air fight in Kobrin's sky in the first days of war. Seriously injured it was picked up by Germans and placed in a prisoner-of-war camp. Udovikov recovered when he was brought on a stretcher in the "hospital" opened temporarily in the building of Kobrin high school. It was "hospital" of suicide bombers. In it placed only seriously wounded of Red Army men on whose recovery nobody counted.

As nurses local women worked here. They sympathized with wounded and as could alleviated their suffering. Nurses Kugach Liouba and Tasya (their names to Dmitry Udovikov were so remembered) learned that the pilot is called Mitya and that he is a lieutenant, the fighter pilot.

- Where you carry me, girls? - Udovikov addressed nurses, looking on the parties and not thinking that was conceived by them.

- Lie, lie. Do not move. So it is necessary. Also covered his body with a blanket.

- My absence will be found by Germans, and you, girls, lose.

- The wolf regretted a mare - left a tail yes a mane, - one of them laughed the matter off.

- We already thought over everything. Instead of you laid the died prisoner of war on a bed. Germans do not know you by sight, so, will hardly study "your corpse". Especially as daily from these infernal rooms take out tens of the dead.

Girls placed Udovikov in hospital for lightly wounded prisoners of war. In hospital Galina Garbuzova who with Pyotr Vasilenko and girls nurses saved lives to many Soviet soldiers worked. By means of patriots from "hospital" Udovikov was also taken out.

Mitya there were girls a little, he could already rise and move slightly. It was given crutches, the fellow recovered. However its stay in Kobrin not for long lasted. After a while it was taken away in camp for the Soviet prisoners of war in Brest. From the very first days Dmitry Udovikov was not abandoned by thought of escape. It was necessary to get acquainted with children, to choose the most courageous and reliable of them, to study a situation, to survey a barbed wire around camp, to find in it weak spots and to train itself, friends for escape.

Hunger, insanitary conditions, lack of remedies weakened an organism. Wounds healed badly. Udovikov, the person living and cheerful at heart, supported themselves, encouraged companions jokes humourous catchphrases, gained the confidence of prisoners of war. Soon it got general respect. With it consulted, exchanged thoughts. And thus he created group for escape.

The German security guards sadistically scoffed at prisoners of war. Fed them with a skilly, and that not daily, and time in two-three days. Prisoners were finished to such an extent that on hillocks burial grounds of the fallen horses dug out and ate carrion meat. Diseases burst. In days several hundreds of prisoners of war died. Hardly managed to bury them. And protection of camp continued to rage.

Near the dining room if it was possible to call so it, several tens prisoners crowded. The German from protection cut off a knife slices of bread and threw them into sand under legs of the yearned prisoners. Having reached despair, some of them, having lost self-control, rushed down to the ground, being enough bread pieces. Germans played, rogotat in all throat, beating prisoners by a rubber bludgeon.

Dmitry Udovikov did not keep, looking at this shameful procedure humiliating the dignity of living people jumped out of crowd and it appeared near the German. The sadist once again scornfully threw a bread piece. The guy moved apart in breadth hands with crutches and shouted: "To a step forward!". He stepped a leg on a chunk and kneaded it. The supervisor pricked up the ears and once again threw bread into sand. Mitya crushed him again. It psychologically worked also on prisoners of war. And the German everything continued the study. Udovikov mixed bread chunks with the earth. Red Army men moved ahead, as if stepping on extreme fascists. The German from the rest of bread receded and walked to the dining room. Having returned, it enclosed in Udovikov's hands the whole loaf of bread, probably, for courage.

The fighter pilot drew with this resolute act attention of prisoners of war even more. It instilled them confidence, urged not to give in to weaknesses, to adequately bear the Red Army man's rank, to look for ways to a way out …

At night on August 18, 1941 when prisoners of camp began to depart to a dream, Udovikov's five already made the way across poorly lit territory to a prickly wire protection. Crept up in a plastoon way, hid. Dmitry Udovikov raised a crutch a wire which a few days ago his friends nadlomat and disguised, and in a whisper ordered: "Give". Children one by one spread through the prepared pass and got out. But approximately through half a kilometer the group encountered the second wall of a wire. Protection was not here, and it was overcome without incident.

- Quietly, children, we on freedom, - rejoicing, Udovikov said. - And now for me. Do not leave alone. Though itself ran crutches.

Supporting each other, the five appeared already in several kilometers from camp. The way lay on Antopol further. Went on Mukhavtsa, across Dnepro - to Bug … When Dmitry Udovikov recovered, he was acquainted with local activists … Then it contacted villagers … which already worked in neighboring Grushevsky the woods in guerrilla group of Nikolay Timofeyevich Shish, and Udovikov began to look for an opportunity to get acquainted with it. The meeting took place unexpectedly. Nikolay Shish according to stories of friends knew about Udovikov's plans and came to him.

The winter came nearer. The group was not ready to go the full structure to the wood yet. It was necessary to get stronger, better to arm, expand communications with patriots of other villages and "okruzhenets", to be prepared really for guerrilla fight. At the end of 1941 patriots came to fighting tasks. Shish and Udovikov often appeared on farms and in villages, met the underground workers, coherent, other patriots wishing to cast in the lot with guerrillas. All winter Nikolay Timofeyevich and Dmitry Karpovich formed in settlements and around them guerrilla groups, prepared together with local activists of the Soviet power of new fighters, studied situation in the German garrisons and police stations. And as soon as the winter began to concede to spring, the patriots acting in an underground joined Shish's group and went to the wood …

In February-March, 1942 Vasily Tikhomirov, Grigory Kuznetsov, Vasily Melyushin's group was created.

How there was it? the 145th shooting regiment of the 202nd special division in which Vasily Tikhomirov served stood at the most Polish border on a joint of the Brest and Belostoksky regions. On June 20 at its party meeting, the Komsomol organizer of a company, accepted the candidate for members of Communist party. The battallion Communist Party meeting which was planned for the second day had to is final to resolve an issue of reception of Vasya in candidates. But it did not occur.

Early in the morning, when sunrise only began to be designated, pre-dawn silence broke shots … Fight with Germans was started. The company receded... Near Vasya Tikhomirov the shell became torn. He fainted and when recovered, it turned out that it is contused, hears nothing, cannot speak, one leg is wound with rags …

… Wounded put on the truck and carried, in several kilometers from Minsk fascists fired at the car, surrounded it.

... At the night of profit of the car with trailers, shipped all prisoners in them. The column of cars moved on the West. Vasily and Alexey Golubev with whom were together called up for military service sat next in a body, waited for an opportunity. And such case turned up. Friends exchanged glances and jumped overboard. Shots were distributed. Burned Tikhomirov's leg above a knee, he fell, pretended to be the killed. The car slowed down. Germans did not begin to approach the killed, and the column moved further. Alexey was not visible. Having gained strength, Vasily spread in a rye field, but lost a reference point, could not think where he is. Night came, he fell asleep. The push in a shoulder woke Tikhomirov. Over it the man was inclined … It was Ivan Abramchuk from Kustovichsky farms. His family also left the former fighter of Red Army.

In the beginning Tikhomirov took cover at Abramchukov, then it was defined to a family of Olga Semenovny Gavrilyuk which house stood near the village of Osovets of Kobrin district. Through Abramchukov, Olga Gavrilyuk and others Vasily Tikhomirov established relation with local patriots and the Red Army men escaping from prisoner-of-war camp. Tikhomirov became in Kustovichakh with "okruzhenets" the captain I. Baranov, V. P. Melyushin, G. S. Kuznetsov, local activists, Komsomol members P. V. Kostylyuk, N. V. Valsky closely acquainted, And, I. Golodyuk, G. S. Germanyuk, S. M. Marinevich.

Active political work among youth was developed. Often meetings, descents, parties gathered. On them Vasily Tikhomirov, Ivan Baranov, Vasily Melyushin, Grigory Kuznetsov dispelled lie of the German propaganda about crash of the Soviet power. They conducted work with young people who entered police, without having understood a difficult situation. Pyotr Kostylyuk brought three guys once - Ivan Zalishchuk, Vladimir Nikonyuk, Iosif Torgun who just according to the agenda were called by the German authorities and are enlisted in police formations.

- These boys - our, Soviet, - Pyotr Kostylyuk told, - do not want to serve fascists and will not be, wish to go with us. Vasily Tikhomirov and his companions did not know art of underground work. Youth descents, in fact, carried out openly.

Participants of meetings, without being very cautious, told people about what carry on conversation at parties. They did not notice that they are watched by eyes of the traitor, the clerk of a local justice. The German authorities knew of collecting, of the developed underground in Kustovichakh.

In one of winter days to the village fascists suddenly appeared suddenly and seized the captain Baranov, and also Komsomol members Kostylyuk, Valsky, Golodyuk, Germanyuk, Marinevich. Tikhomirov lived on the farm and avoided arrest. The whole month fascists of Komsomol members in torture chambers of Kobrin prison tortured, but none of them gave the friends. All of them were shot.
Vasily Tikhomirov strengthened the underground group new devoted people, carried out a lot of work on equipment by their weapon. Then took away the adherents in the wood. He knew about actions of small guerrilla groups in Turnyansky and Grushevsky the woods. At the beginning of April, 1942 the group joined structure the guerrilla Shisha.

ESCAPE

The guerrilla group of Nikolay Timofeyevich Shish established relation with the Soviet prisoners of war of Kobrin camp. At approach of spring of the forty second they prepared escape. Mischa Gerasimov last time analysed with the friends carefully developed plan of an exit from camp. Red Army men with impatience and big nervousness waited for twilight.

Mikhail Gerasimov and Sasha Kiryanov served in the 46th detached engineer battalion of the 55th shooting division. Transporting the receding troops through a water barrier, they also did not notice how they remained in an environment and were taken prisoner. Mikhail is a foreman of a company, Sasha is a Red Army man. Both got to the camp for prisoners of war which is set up at the river Svisloch near Minsk. Here they got acquainted and for a long time crossed the destinies. Germans formed a column of prisoners of war for sending from camp. Where will carry in what party, nobody knew.

- Stick to me, - Gerasimov to Sasha Kiryanov ordered.

And when shipped on one car, they nestled to each other and silently thought everyone in own way, but about same: how to escape from claws of fascists.

…. It was the Kobrin camp of the Soviet prisoners of war which was placed in the territory of the former military camp near the Moscow highway. In one compartment of a barrack with Gerasimov and Kiryanov there were thirteen more people. With them endured the hardships of cruel camp life, shared thoughts, became colleagues. The senior all of them recognized Mikhail Gerasimov, the closest assistants - Aleksandra Temkina and Alexander Kiryanov. Together with Anatoly Kuznetsov, Alexander Tikhomirov, Sergey Kokin, Nikolay Nazarov, Boris Kaplunov, Vladimir Eglit and others which surnames are not established they decided to prepare escape.

When there came hard frosts of the 1941st and in barracks became insufferably cold, diseases became frequent, Germans allocated groups of prisoners of war for dismantling of the wooden houses broken by shells for heating of rooms. On an attic of the semi-disorganized house in the territory of camp Sasha Temkin cleared away a blockage. And suddenly before it the machine gun opened. He did not believe the eyes, hid him, and told Gerasimov about a find in the evening. Mikhail was delighted, advised to disguise well a machine gun, and to Kiryanov charged to examine it regarding suitability. The machine gun appeared systems of Degtyarev who established on the Soviet tanks. It was serviceable, but without disks and cartridges. Sasha Kiryanov sorted it and in parts gradually moved with Temkin together with firewood in the room where lived. Gerasimov suggested to rummage around attentively semi-disorganized house in which found a machine gun, to look for cartridges and disks. Two disks, hundreds of cartridges were found. In a dump found also a rifle. It appeared, in this house on the eve of war workshops on repair of weapon were deployed.

In one of December days the senior on a barrack in a rank of the foreman found the hidden machine gun. He ordered to throw out immediately it from the room, otherwise promised to declare to Germans. Red Army men were forced to do something. On one they left to the bathroom, in parts took out the weapon, wound the sorted machine gun and a rifle a sacking and drowned in smelly mix.

The spring of 1942 came. Prisoners of war pulled out a machine gun and a rifle from the bathroom, took eight grenades, the gun which got during the winter from other hiding places, and perepryatat to the prepared reliable place. Last time carefully discussed the plan of escape, distributed duties.

- Children, - Gerasimov almost in a whisper addressed the companions. - Everything at us is ready. There will come the dead of night - will go for break. When the comparative silence seized camp and the darkness clouded a barbed wire, Red Army men started actions. One group went directly to the sentry, as if distracting him from gate in camp. The second - in a plastoon way on one made the way to the purpose to come to the sentry from the back and to get to gate. Dashingly and quickly removed the deceived sentry - and all fifteen people appeared behind gate, out of camp. Having collected all forces, Red Army men directed to safe places and soon took cover in small mixed to a lesochka which passed into a bog. When were convinced that nobody pursues them, all stopped, recovered the breath and began to embrace each other for pleasure and happiness.

At daybreak the group arrived to Demidovshchinsko-Adrinskiye of the farm on which Vera Vyshinskaya and Sofya Poprotskaya who had communication with guerrillas lived …

With nightfall Shish and Udovikov took away Gerasimov's group in an arrangement of guerrillas. Mikhail Gerasimov began to carry out functions of the assistant to the commander still small group in forty people, the name to which named Chapayev.

BETTER DEATH, THAN CAPTIVITY

The guerrilla group of Shish which was constantly replenished with the local patriots escaping from prisoner-of-war camp Red Army men, okruzhenets destroyed telecommunication of the opponent, sorted and burned bridges on highways and paths, broke milk and oil milling sheds in Zelov, Detkovichakh, Kustovichakh and other villages, and dispersed on April 1, 1942 a police station in Budakh in Antopolshchina.

Active actions of national avengers caused alarm in fascists, the Enemy did not doze and developed massive attacks to guerrillas. On April 24 the German chasteners managed to surround in the Detkovichsky wood about thirty guerrillas led by their commander Nikolay Timofeyevich Shish and his assistant Mikhail Ivanovich Gerasimov.

The small group of Shish was based in Grushevsky the woods. Germans revealed the location of guerrillas and began to prepare for a round-up. Around Detkovichsky and Grushevsky of the woods they concentrated several hundreds of gendarmes and police officers. Guerrilla investigation reported on the opponent's congestion in large settlements and at intersections of roads, on movement of forces of the opponent.

- What will we do? - Shish addressed the guerrillas. - Apparently, fascists want to deal shortly with us exactly here where we are. Therefore I suggest to act all group tonight, to break into two groups and to move towards the Moscow highway. Perhaps this most will manage to mislead the opponent who assumes that we will go towards the Dnieper and Bugsky channel, to deafer places. Guerrillas supported Shish. In the night of April 24 the part of group departed in the Detkovichsky wood and settled down on rest on a cemetery. Enemy investigation marked guerrillas, and fascists imposed a cemetery early in the morning.

Guerrillas did not become puzzled and occupied perimeter defense in the small cemeterial lesochk reminding the island. Chose advantageous positions in hollows, behind large trees, stubs and who than could were dug round. Shish ordered to protect cartridges, to fire the first volley on the coming opponent on his team, having used all types of weapon that to stun with amicable fire chasteners and to make impression that in the wood large forces of well armed guerrillas are concentrated.

And it is valid when Germans and politsa began to come nearer, earned Sasha Kiryanov's machine gun. Amicably burst volleys from rifles. Fascists began to move back back, having left before the wood of the killed and wounded, but continued to shoot. Guerrillas suffered losses also: Nikolay Nazarov died, two guerrillas got wounds.

After a respite fascists were reconstructed and advanced to the second attack. It began almost at the same time on all ring of blockade. This time attacking were gone ahead by the German officers and gendarmes who tried to inspire with the example police officers. Chasteners went having dissipated, did dashes, were selected closer and closer to a lesochka, at the same time conducting chaotic fire.

The lain-down guerrillas shot seldom, but precisely, admitting fascists closer. Well-aimed fire Nikolay Timofeyevich already struck one officer. Then, the attacking politsa fell there. Shish at the top of the voice began to give false teams to mislead the opponent, to make impression that on a cemetery big forces of guerrillas were fixed. He shouted: on three grenades action! to throw Easel machine guns on the left flank! To the first platoon to prepare for attack! To the second and third to move forward on, the left flank! To the fourth and fifth conclusions to come forward on the right flank, to other platoons to concentrate fire at the center...

Nikolay Shish calmed down, considering what further to tell. At this time Gerasimov was connected: "Listen to my team! Fire! Hurrah - and-and!" And again guerrillas under shouts "hurrah" amicably struck fascists: one volley, the second, third, zastrochit a machine gun. Fight to the death of twenty eight guerrillas against repeatedly surpassing enemy forces ran high.

Ring around a cemetery everything contracted. Fascists shouted at the top of the voice too: "Give up, there is a lot of us, all the same we will destroy!" But the commander of group Shish, his assistant Gerasimov, encouraged the fighters.

- Children! To fight to the last boss. Better death, than captivity. And any national avenger did not tremble. Three more guerrillas died. Battle was accepted by such self-sacrificing character that guerrillas once again forced fascists to tremble. In the evening of their division departed from a lesochka, but kept all defended territory under control. Guerrilla intelligence agents groped unprotected sites, quietly left an environment and escaped towards the village of Zalesye.


For the next day in the morning Germans and politsa adjusted the tank, reconstructed the ranks and rushed on the cemeterial wood. But the wood already was empty. Only graves of hastily buried guerrillas reminded of courage and firmness of the Soviet patriots. The opponent in this fight lost several tens people, from a battlefield took out about 70 wounded

Heavy losses were suffered also by national avengers. Death of brave Vladimir Tikhomirov, Nikolay Nazarov, Pavel Kovalchuk, Georgy Belyuvin, Ivan Dyvinets, Sergey Baranov, Pyotr Zenovyev, Sergey Sekirbekov, Nikolay Tikhonchuk were killed in this unequal battle. When the handful of guerrillas discussed a situation of Detkovichskhy fight, the commander Nikolay Shish told:

- Good fellows, children, battled as athletes. Well, and you, Sergey Kokin, deserve a special praise. You are a hero from heroes. Showed big sharpness and resourcefulness, under heavy fire made six sorties to the killed Germans and politsayam and took out twelve rifles, twenty three grenades and nearly one and a half thousand cartridges. Bravely Stepan Zhokin, Vladimir Eglit, Boris Kaplunov battled. In a word, each of us fought as it befits Bolsheviks! And that who heroically - died, - glory to them eternal, rest and our hearty thanks.

After a lunch which was helped to be arranged Zhora Bogachuk and others coherent of Demidovshchinsky farms, having relaxed from yesterday's fight, guerrillas lay down on a halt. Nikolay Timofeyevich Shish quietly began the favourite song …

Nikolay Shish gave command to gather in a campaign. To foul the trail, and the enemy could not find guerrillas, it was necessary to pass the big bog here and there passing into coppices and to place the group on the island which grew with a guelder-rose and a small birch forest.

National avengers started on on a way. Each of them touched in memory of a detail of last fight which foretold them death, and they already amicably continue to go along new novel roads in the back of the enemy. Every other day guerrillas were divided into several groups and came to the next fighting task. On the Moscow highway they cut telecommunication. The group under the leadership of Dmitry Udovikov broke creameries in the city settlement of Antopol and the village of Zyolovo. Milk-processing points destroyed in Detkovichakh and Gorodtsa groups of Nikolay Shish and Mikhail Gerasimov …

Shish's group prepared for transition for Dnepro-Bug. There, behind the channel - huge marsh open spaces and the boundless woods. Besides there, beyond Dnepro-Bug, guerrillas, including earlier left group led by Boris Lukashuk of the village Turnaya act.

- When we agreed with it about transition of its group for the channel, - Shish consulted on Gerasimov and Udovikov, - that agreed that after replenishment of the ranks by new people and the weapon we will unite and will move to a front line on the East.

So, the guerrilla group of Nikolay Shish totaling already about fifty people left the native places. Intelligence agents led by Udovikov probed a way. Near the village Osipovichi on the farm at the most Dnieper and Bugsky channel they met coherent Galitska of group of guerrillas Kalenik Yaroshchik - the local tailor. He told that around Galik the guerrilla group is deployed, and on the way, the village of Yamnik, has on the barge a small German garrison, protects work on raising of the mnogokovshovy excavator flooded with guerrillas about two weeks ago. The excavator partitioned off the channel and stopped navigation. To accelerate work, to garrison there arrived officers.

- What is this security garrison? - Udovikov asked.

- In garrison two easel machine guns of "Maxims", one manual machine gun, 15 Germans and 15 working Poles. All of them are armed. Data exact.

DEATH OF THE COMMANDER

On the channel the German vessels scurried about, throwing from the West on the East and back retaliatory divisions of fascists, and most often transporting the freights necessary for "the new authorities". The guerrillas deployed for Galik in the natural boundary of Dubrovka round the clock kept the watch and supervision over the channel. Her commander Boris Lukashuk decided to block the channel.

Against the village of Yamnik the mnogokovshovy excavator stopped. Reported on it Lukashuka Andriyan Litvinchuk.
- It is easy to flood the excavator, - he told, - as it is better to make it, we will help my brother Petya who knows the device of the floating excavator, the brother both the sailor, and the excavator operator.

Several guerrillas led by Grigory Senchuk accompanied by Andriyan and Pyotr Litvinchukov appeared near the floating excavator. Together with workers they brought up him cables so that it became almost across the channel. Found hatches, opened them and in several hours the floating excavator sat down on a bottom, having partitioned off the water route. The channel remained paralyzed. The movement of vessels stopped. Germans hurried to resume navigation: put small well armed security forces, brought the armed Polish workers here and began to conduct works on raising of the excavator.

- Protection it is necessary to hurt and not to give to Germans the chance to restore the movement on the channel, - the guerrilla commander offered Andriyana Litvinchuka. - It is necessary to carry out investigation, to learn how many Germans are protected by the excavator what weapon at them, strengthenings - to mark all points.

It was entrusted to carry out investigation to Andriyan's brother - to Pyotr who well knew Polish. Having loaded on a cart cans with the milk, sour cream and basins of oil which are just taken by guerrillas on the Volovelsky maslopunkt, Pyotr Litvinchuk started on the journey. The German protection stood in three kilometers from Galik, and Pyotr quickly appeared before it.

- Where you go? What you carry? - in broken Polish the German standing on a post asked.

- Oil, mleko I bring to Antopolsky creamery. Our head collected for you, Germans.

- I, I, gutnut, gutnut!

Pyotr thought that it is possible to bribe Hitlerites, and willingly suggested them "to remove test". They did not force themselves to ask: quickly surrounded the vehicle and did not depart from it, were not sated yet. Petya tried to speak about something with Germans, but paid the main attention to fighting points of the enemy, and then asked for permission to start on the journey. On the way came to Pole Alexander Narkevich whose house stood on the farm at the channel. At it he obtained additional information on protection and moved to the old friend of the family Litvinchukov Kaleniku Yakovlevichu Yaroshchik living on Osipovichsky farms shared with it awareness on garrison, gave it milk, sour cream, oil and with empty ware went back. Reported on garrison on the commander Lukashuk.

Guerrillas of Galitsky group were going to break protection of the excavator. At this time also Shish's group from Grushevsky of the woods for Dnepro-Bug moved. Dmitry Udovikov told Shish about a meeting with coherent Yaroshchik and about data which he had.

Nikolay Timofeyevich, having weighed a situation, suggested Udovikov and Gerasimov to break the German protection on the barge. They supported an impudent plan of the commander and began to discuss how it is better to tighten the forces to the region of the barge.

- According to the channel, coherent on the southern coast, two easel machine guns in well equipped blindages connected by trenches are established. Ahead - a pure bog and small breasts islands. Behind a bog - the village of Yamnik.

From North side of the channel - too a bog and a big hillock under which cover it is possible to approach the channel. Germans and defensive strengthenings on this party are not present.

- Therefore, the first what it is necessary to count on, - Shish argued, - suddenness of attack. The second, for this operation to allocate forty people, having divided them into two parts. Under cover of darkness of office of Grigory Kuznetsov and Mikhail Borzov to transport on the left side of the channel. Two offices which will be headed by Alexander Temkin and Sergei Ivanov, will concentrate fire on machine-gun nests, will capture them, then on both sides prompt attack - and to Germans the end. I will order fight if you do not object.

Informed commanders of offices of the plan of attack. Kuznetsov and Borzov's group, the local osipovichsky guy Vasily Sidorchik conducted to the barge. Germans just shot his mother and cousins …

- Still these villains will remember me, - Vasily in the village publicly declared and went to neighboring bogs to guerrillas. Here also it conducts Shisha on defeat of security garrison is fighting. With nightfall both groups at the same time came to a fighting task. The first led by Kuznetsov and Borzov about twenty people was transported on the ferry through Dnepro-Bug and went by an initial boundary on North side of the channel. The purpose of this group - to distract fascists from the main direction of blow of guerrillas, to open fire from North side of the channel, having given the chance to the southern group led by Shish imperceptibly to come nearer to machine-gun to nests. However Kuznetsov and Borzov's offices lingered on a crossing via the channel and were late to open fire at the barge from its North side.

Germans noticed the guerrillas approaching on South side of the channel. In the sky rockets soared up - became light-as in the afternoon. Fascists opened storm fire. The main group of attack Shisha appeared at a great disadvantage - on a narrow fifty-meter strip of sushi between the channel and a bog. Bullets pressed guerrillas to the earth, many of them were wounded the first minutes of fight. The unexpected situation overset the plan of sudden attack on the barge. Fortunately, Kuznetsov and Borzov's offices opened fire at the barge and to the back to the German machine gunners from North side of the channel at this time. Hitlerites tarried, without having understood why they shoot at them from the back. And in Shish's group zastrochit a machine gun. Desperate firefight began.

The coming group of guerrillas had four machine guns and 35 rifles. Germans well understood that they are surrounded and their death is inevitable if from Antopol and Drogichin help is not given. For another they let one in the rocket sky, asked about the help. But aim fire of offices of Kuznetsov and Borzov from severny side of the canal, and it was conducted by them with distance in fifty - hundred meters, so pressed fascists that at them the stalemate began to develop.

Though in group of the Germans who were beating off from the barge continuously scribbled a machine gun towards guerrillas and manual grenades were started, nevertheless they could not beat off attacks of national avengers, rushed on a ladder on the southern coast of the channel to entrenchments and trenches where their machine gunners sat and beat off. The Germans who were jumping out on a ladder right there fell in water, struck by bullets of guerrillas.

The successful issue of the combat was complicated equal, without bushes and the wood, by the district on approaches to the barge. It well was exposed to fire of fascists. It was very difficult for guerrillas to creep up to trenches. And the striking power of coming weakened because many wounded appeared.

Bullets densely stuck into a hillock behind which the machine gunner Zakir Hashimov lay down, kicked up dust. Filled up with sand of an eye of the guerrilla. He wiped them, but all the same saw nothing and could not conduct aim fire at the enemy. It was noticed by Sergei Ivanov, crept up to him, snatched out a machine gun from his hands and directed fire to machine-gun nests of fascists. In the same time the fighters who were behind a hillock in the second echelon strengthened firefight on entrenchments. Having used fire strengthening, Nikolay Shish's group crept up to trenches.

Alexander Temkyn's office, having nestled on the shaft of the channel, fell into more advantageous position - the machine gun scribbling from the barge did not get fighters. Bullets went over the heads. They were protected by a low embankment.

… Fighters Shisha and Temkina rushed to attack to trenches and literally in several minutes crumpled fascists. Bullet of a reserve of Mikhail Gerasimov. Vasily Tikhomirov grabbed the taken easel machine gun and turned it towards the barge. Pressed a trigger, but shots did not follow. The machine gun was damaged. The Germans defending on the barge understood that trenches are taken, and began to throw on the coast of the grenade. One of them deafened and wounded Tikhomirov.

Fight continued several hours. Began to dawn. The gaze shrouded - the district that suited guerrillas. The commander of group Nikolay Timofeyevich Shish, having used the developed situation, gave command: "Forward! For the Homeland! In attack to the barge!" And with exclamation "hurrah!" guerrillas rushed on the barge. One of the first Nikolay Shish with the aide-de-camp Stepan Zhokin rushed on it. Fascists were generally destroyed. Shish and Zhokin began to look through the broken windows in cabins. The hidden officer shot from the gun. The bullet got directly into Nikolay Timofeyevich's temple. The falling commander was picked up by guerrillas, and the aide-de-camp Zhokin rushed to a cabin to destroy the officer. But also it the fascist bullet struck. From two Germans locked from within cabins continued to shoot back. Several guerrillas pulled hard on a door and broke it from loops. One of fascists made attempt to shoot back, but was right there struck. Two officers were disarmed and taken prisoner. Fight terminated. The barge was lit. Took two easel machine guns of "Maxims", one manual machine gun, thirteen rifles, it is a lot of grenades and cartridges, food stocks. But nevertheless one fascist during storm of the barge managed to jump imperceptibly in water and under the barge to stay before leaving of guerrillas.

The German got out of water, peering at a tail of a column of guerrillas which moved on a towing-path of the channel towards the village of Galik. Once again looked round around and started wandering directly through a bog to the village of Yamnik. Having explained somehow to inhabitants that one survived, asked to bring it to a police station. And made to the yamnichena, than in the future and rescued themselves from a penalty. They knew that Hitlerite command issued the order on extermination of each fifty-hundred locals for one killed German.

Command of guerrilla group was assumed by the assistant Mikhail Gerasimov. National avengers fairly were tired, but quickly transferred to supplies two killed and eight wounded, and also the weapon, ammunition, provisions taken at Germans and left on the channel on the East. As a result of fight seven German officers, and only thirteen Germans were destroyed.

Guerrillas quickly walked on a shaft of the channel. It was necessary to leave as soon as possible further from these places, they knew that fascists will immediately send retaliatory group to a pursuit. But not only it disturbed them. The general grief was imposed on them by death of the commander Nikolay Shish loved by all and the guerrilla Stepan Zhokin.

… In Zvantsa, at the very beginning of the wood, decided to bury the died companions. To the right of the road on a low hill harmonous and attractive young oaklets flaunted … Before them the panorama of Dnepro-Bug revealed.

Two dead bodies put at the dug grave. On the left side from them there were under protection two captured officers. The floor was taken by Gerasimov. "Dear companions, fighting friends! We lost in fight with fascists of the faithful and favourite companions, our great, courageous commander Nikolay Timofeyevich Shish and the fighter guerrilla Stepan Arkhipovich Zhokin. So we will revenge damned invaders for their death, for the scolded our earth! Let to you, Nikolay Timofeyevich, and you Stepan Zhokin, down will be the earth our native! We will not bring you!"

Having been built around a grave, guerrillas silently listened forever to the remembered words. Remembered. Because it in fact was their oath in the face of the commander to whom said goodbye forever. On a breast of the dead put the failed manual machine gun, and over a grave arranged a five-pointed star from oak branches. Two German officers were shot, covered with the earth.

Guerrillas hurried. The road was coming heavy. They had many wounded. Around deep, boundless bogs stretched. Zvanets on their background was allocated from all directions As the island among the ocean. Despite painful fatigue, the management of group decided to move to the big Svarinsky woods straight off. Guerrillas were conducted on marsh tracks by Andriyan Andriyanovich Litvinchuk who perfectly knew the district. At last on one of islands between Zvants and Svarinyyu the group stopped for rest. Here also took place, a meeting of two small guerrilla groups - Shish and galitsky zakanalny group of guerrillas led by Lukashuk. In the first there were over fifty people, in the second - forty. Guerrillas mixed up, got acquainted among themselves and a uniform stream moved deep into bogs and the big woods.

When guerrillas chose to themselves the place for the parking, through coherent the message arrived that Patalakh - the commander of one more group of guerrillas which was actively operating in the neighboring woods of Svarini wants to meet the management of group. The meeting took place in Gerasimov's group. Pyotr Pavlovich Patalakh is a foreman on a rank, the Komsomol member who is brought up, accurate in expressions, exclusively vigorous, - pleased Gerasimov, Udovikov and Lukashuk.

He told that at the end of May, 1942 Vasily Nikitovich Semenov's group consisting of fifteen people joined them. On its account there were already several impudent operations. On June 27, 1942 merging of three groups of guerrillas Mikhail Ivanovich Gerasimov, Boris Konstantinovich Lukashuk and Pyotr Pavlovich Patalakh took place. It occurred in the pine wood near Belozersky Canal. Appropriated to the joint group a name of N. T. Shish.

After association also the structure of management changed. In group there were already 136 people, it had three platoons on three offices in everyone, hozvzvod, office of investigation, a health service. The commander of group elected the Komsomol member Mikhail Gerasimov, he was only 23 years old, the native of the city of Valdai, the Leningrad region; the commissioner of group 1901 year of birth, the candidate for members of All-Union Communist Party (bolsheviks), the staff sergeant, the native of the village Turnaya of Kobrin district of the Brest region elected Boris Konstantinovich Lukashuk; Pyotr Pavlovich Patalakh, twenty four years, the foreman, the member of All-Union Leninist Young Communist League, the native of the village N. Vasilyevka N. became the deputy commander of group. Nikolaev Village Council of the Troitsk district of the Chkalovsky region; the chief of a staff of group - Dmitry Karpovich Udovikov, 1917 year of birth, the member of All-Union Leninist Young Communist League, the lieutenant-pilot, the native of the city of Kharkiv …

CANNONADE ON RAILWAY COMMUNICATIONS

… During "rail war" tens of diversionary groups in the territory of Kobrin, Antopolsky, Berezovsky, Drogichinsky, Ivanovskoye, Pinsky areas attacked the railroads, pillboxes and earth-and-timber emplacements of the enemy which were located along ways. They destroyed bridges, pumping stations, arrows, semaphores, telecommunication.

Especially actively the diversionary group of Pavel Vasilyevich Senchuk which undermined seven echelons of the opponent worked. Pavel Senchuk - one of the first guerrillas. Participated in many battles which were conducted by group of Shish, perfectly knew the district and people, had many friends and companions who lived in neighboring villages and gave him invaluable help. People knew it as resident of the village October in which he was born and the kike. Its group unexpectedly appeared on iron and highways not only at night, but is frequent also in the afternoon.

When still the group of Shish was in the Luninetsky area, its management decided to send to Antopol and Kobrin's area well armed group for carrying out diversions on iron and highways Brest-Moscow, Brest-Pinsk. Yury Geroyev (commander), Pavel Senchuk (deputy), Ivan Nikonyuk were a part of group it is from the village Vorotynichi, Leonid Netsvetayev (Arkhangelsk), Konstantin Voronezhsky (the surname is unknown), three Poles Chesik, Kazik, Vladek Bazylevsky.

The diversionary group armed with submachine guns, two machine guns arrived to the Grushevsky-Gandyborsky wood of Antopolshchina in April, 1943. From now on also its fighting activity on iron and highways began. Three months later command of crew withdrew from Yury Geroyev's group in connection with appointment as his commissioner of group of Kutuzov. Pavel Senchuk became the commander of diversionary group. Shemetovki's population, Oak, Ilovsk, Detkovichey, Temra knew it as Pashku-podryvnika.

Mines in the majority were set up by Senchuk. His dexterous hands skillfully carried out this operation. It did not allow marriage and untidiness because it threatened with death, quickly and surely worked with explosive devices. In the beginning, as he will write in the memoirs much later, explosive was put between cross ties, and a cap detonator - on a rail, and it turned out not bad. But Germans strengthened protection. Going on a cloth, lit rails with small lamps and removed caps and mines. Besides, echelons began to go at small speeds. Each engine pushed ahead two-three platforms. Nemia nevertheless not always found caps and explosion happened under ahead the going platforms. The engine sharply pulled up and stopped structure. Such case occurred on a site Gorodets-Antopol when the group of miners of Senchuk applied an old method of explosion.
After this case guerrillas quickly mastered a new way of a mining. Began to put mines with batteries by the principle of electroshort circuit, that is left on a surface two sticking-out metal short moustaches over which the pushed forward platforms passed, and the engine as its landing is lower, touched moustaches, and there was an explosion. Thus in September of the 43rd the echelon on a site the Stone - Lipovo is derailed. But the most reliable was soposob which was applied for the first time by group on Lipniki-Snitovo's run at the end of September. Senchuk made the way closer to the road, carefully took cover and began to expect emergence of the train. Other boyia settled down so that to cover the miner in case he is found by Germans. When the echelon came nearer, Senchuk whisked on railroad tracks, in a trice enclosed a mine under a rail, slid from an embankment and took to the heels to the group. Protection noticed the guerrilla, opened fire. But machine gunners made Germans silent. There was an explosion. The echelon got derailed …

GUERRILLA CREW OF MOLOTOV

… The guerrilla groups of Lazo, of Suvorov, of Kutuzov operating in the area of Dnieper and Bugsky channel subordinated to an interdistrict staff "in the spring of 1943 struck notable blows to enemy communications and small garrisons, but they had still no sufficient unity in actions".

To eliminate this defect, it was decided to transform an interdistrict staff to crew. On April 20, 1943 the order on Pinsky connection four groups: the Manhole name, of Suvorov, of Kutuzov – are united in guerrilla crew of Molotov which commander appointed Mikhail Ivanovich Gerasimov ordering earlier group of Shish, the commissioner - Fedor Semenovich Kunkov, the chief of a staff - Mikhail Leontyevich Prokhodsky.

The order on crew of June 4, 1943 the deputy Gerasimova Nikolay Mikhaylovich Popov is appointed the commander of group of Shish, the deputy of a komotryad – the commander of the second company Yury Nikolaevich Samarkin …

Litvinchuk, V. A. Za Dneprovsko-Bugsky channel. Nikolay Timofeyevich Shish. Escape. Better death, than captivity. Death of the commander. A cannonade on railway communications. Guerrilla crew of Molotov / A. V. Litvinchuk//Tam, beyond Dnepro-Bug / A. V. Litvinchuk. – Brest: JSC Brest Printing House, 2008. – Page 60 - 64; 64 – 76; 76 - 79; 87 – 92; 92–103; 241–243; 286–288. About fighting feats of guerrillas of group of Shish acting and in the territory of Kobrin district. Group a name of the first commander, heroically died Nikolay Timofeyevich Shish, the native of Hudlin received subsequently.



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