Kobrin. Long-awaited release

Belarus is fairly called edge of courage and fighting glory. Heartrending experiences fell to lot of the distressful Belarusian people in days of the Great Patriotic War. The black wing of war covered our earth for long three years, and it became the arena of great battles.

In the summer of 1944 decisive fights for the liberation of Belarus which became history under the name "Belarusian Offensive Operation" − the code name "Bagration" were developed.

Even long before approach of the Soviet troops the opponent began to create the powerful, deeply echeloned defense on our earth. Hitler declared the largest cities of Minsk, Vitebsk, Polotsk, Mogilev, Babruysk, Orsha fortresses and demanded to defend them at any cost.

However the destiny of invaders was already predetermined. Early in the morning on June 23, 1944 great fight for full clarification of all Belarusian earth from fascist aggressors began. Breaking the furious resistance of the opponent, the Soviet troops were torn forward.

In June-July, 1944 the Soviet Army struck a crushing blow to invaders on the Belarusian earth, crushed them and completely exempted the republic from the enemy. Every day brought joyful messages about release everything the new cities and villages. On July 20 it is forever entered in history of our city as one of the most memorable days in a year as this day long-awaited release came, and by right we with pride designate now this date a city Holiday.

With profound gratitude and appreciation and appreciation we remember soldiers liberators of the 61st Army of the 1st Belarusian front who during the Lublin-Brest operation of 1944 brought to kobrinchana freedom. The honourable name of "Kobrin" was appropriated to twelve military units which especially caused a stir in fights for the city in the order of the Supreme Commander.

Undoubted relevance for all times is represented by their memoirs, - live and the evidences of firmness and heroism which are truthfully reflecting real events.

Pavel Alekseevich Belov is the lieutenant general ordering the 61st army, writes in the diary of the commander: "21.07.1944. At 0:20 took Kobrin. The order of the Supreme Commander and salute was not yet as other more important progress covered our small victory..." (Collection of memoirs "Bug on fire").

Dmitry Kuzmich of Whitebaits is the colonel, the commander of the 12th Guards Pinsky shooting division in the book of memoirs "Through a smoke and a flame" writes: "Pursuing the opponent, the division for four days promoted more than on 120 kilometers. Regiments of a division participated in release of the cities of Yanov, Drogichin, Antopol, Gorodets and started fights for Kobrin – the most important strong point of Germans on the Brest direction.

On approaches to Kobrin the opponent showed persistent resistance. After a powerful fire raid of division of the 29th and 37th Guards shooting regiments advanced to the attack and straight off rushed into Kobrin. Street fights were started.

Hitlerites fired from windows and attics. From depth they were supported by artillery and mortars. Guardsmen broke into the houses, destroyed fascists grenades, pricked bayonets, beat with butts, shot at point blank range. Everywhere shells and mines were torn, continuously scribbled machine guns and automatic machines. In the city there were fires, everything was shrouded in a smoke. Of a quarter by a quarter through a smoke and a flame guardsmen moved ahead.

The big group of Hitlerites sat down at one of houses and strong fire stopped advance of the 1st company of the 37th regiment. The commander of a battalion of guard major N. G. Lysenko ordered to roll out regimental tools closer to infantry. Gunners struck the house, machine guns concentrated fire at windows and attics. Soldiers were rushed forth. In a few minutes in the house there is no living fascist left. Also other companies and battalions of regiments worked.

The suitable parts of the 212th shooting division strengthened blows of our troops. Heavy fighting in the city continued more than four hours. Having crushed garrison of the enemy, troops of the 9th Guards shooting case released on July 20 Kobrin".

Malenkov Alexey Fedorovich - the chief of investigation of the 60th Guards case artillery regiment in the book of memoirs "An avalanche terrible to Brest" so describes those memorable events: "Within July 19-20 there was heavy fighting in a Kobrin - the most important knot of resistance on ways to Brest. The local earth is filled with splinters of mines and shells, plentifully spilled by blood of our soldiers …

On July 19, 1944 the 9th Guards shooting case of the lieutenant general G. A. Halyuzin approached the city forever to expel from it the hated enemy.

Fight went on approaches to the city, suddenly it was not succeeded to capture him. The situation developed such: the river Mukhavets reliably covered Kobrin from the East. On the highway, conducting to the city, Germans suited blockages from the cut roadside trees. In the city firing positions for artillery and mortars were equipped on streets and the square. With a pedantry inherent in Germans entrenchments took away a paling of poles, rovnenky as if cut on a ruler. Defense was strong, but also we saved up considerable experience and skill. Everything became quickly, everyone kept at a distance and a task in fight.

To the right of the road the second division of the major A.M. Surkov approached and was developed and opened fire at the opponent. Flashes of shots of tools, on the right and to the left of the highway bumps, columns of the shot-up earth, a smoke of the become torn shells, a roar, fire tornado...

And here our guardsmen rushed into the city. Between houses figures of fighters flashed, were late for an instant and, having fired a burst from the submachine gun on Hitlerites, short dashes moved further.

The commander of the fifth battery of guard senior lieutenant N. D. Melnik saw how in the next attempt to go in to the attack under strong gun and machine-gun fire the infantry lay.

The opponent fired so dense on in advance adjusted sectors that in the field it was necessary to lie not movably more and more fighters in the soldier's blouses which faded, impregnated then. The miller ordered to roll out tools on an open position and fire of direct aiming to destroy the Hitlerites who sat down at brick houses.

Gun crews hardly rolled a 122-mm howitzer, weighing more than three and a half tons. Yes, the howitzer is not a brisk forty-heel, it is so easy for them to maneuver in the battlefield...

From observation post it was well visible how gunners stuck around wheels of a howitzer and it slowly swept across the field. Stopped... Developed in the necessary direction, still strove near it then as if stood and, at last, from a trunk the flame flashed, the deafening shot as if the huge soccerball burst was distributed. Struck also other tools. The battery conducted intensive fire. At the left amicably guns entered, their sharp shots were considerably allocated in a fight roar.

Tightened the city a smoke through which long tongues of a flame broke - it were the fires. Through the burning houses the infantry moved ahead more and more deeply, aspiring to the downtown. Hitlerites undertook frequent counterattacks by force to a company with assistance of artillery and tanks. Street fights were cruel and bloody. Hitlerites, having taken refuge in houses, fired from windows, from attics, used each crack, each shelter. The division of a battalion of N. G. Lysenko approached the big stone building at which the group of Hitlerites sat down.

− will not admit machine guns to the house, only people we will put, - the commander of a battalion estimated the developed situation.

Platoon according to kept silent.

− Only the artillery vykovyrnt them, - the battalion commander looked out because of a thick tree and right there the fiery stream stegnut on a trunk as if the saw, ogryzy hushed chips. The battalion commander was stirred up. - And so, - it continued. - The major Lysenko disposed to tighten the forty-heels. Now they will work, and we will jerk at once, - the battalion commander concluded.
Gunners and machine gunners acted accurately and in coordination. Forty-heels opened fire at door and window openings, house walls, and machine gunners at an attic. Under cover of fire of tools and machine guns guardsmen rushed to storm. They broke into the house and finished in short hand-to-hand fight of the remained Hitlerites.

So from the house to the house, through fire and a smoke of big fires the infantry moved ahead. Heavy fighting in the city lasted more than four hours. Soon the parts of the 212th division coming after mastering of m Gorodets along the highway approached east and northeast suburb. On July 20, 1944 the city of Kobrin was freed by joint efforts of two divisions from fascist aggressors".

This news from far military years as if special crystals, light to us those severe terrible years of military hard times, is urged all of us to remember what price won freedom.

There pass years and decades, but grateful memory kobrinchan about the liberators does not die away, is transferred from generation to generation. She carefully remains in family albums, on the turned yellow military documents, looks at us eyes of heroes of release from stands of our military and historical museum of name A.V. Suvorova.

On the eve of a light and joyful holiday we express to all veterans sincere gratitude for their feat of arms and we congratulate on a city Holiday. To all kobrinchana also our warm congratulations and wishes of good and prosperity.
 

Kurashova, L. Kobrin. Long-awaited release/L. Kurashova//Kobrin-inform. – 2013. – July 18. – Page 11. Kobrin's release in memoirs of liberators.



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