Feat Podolsk cadets

• The feat Podolsk cadets

About feat Podolsk cadets much has been written in various books and shown in different films. As often happens in the descriptions of the various events of the Great Patriotic War, the information seems to be a lot, but it is controversial and too unspecific.

Briefly it all comes down to the next. Detachment Podolsk cadets of about 2,500 people, poorly armed and which had only two 45-mm cannon (on other versions were more and some very old, almost from the museum, guns), more than a week kept the defense on Maloyaroslavets direction fronting significantly superior forces of the Wehrmacht, in particular, the 19th Panzer division. Cadets, who were 18-19 years old (a boy), destroyed up to hundreds of German tanks and thousands of soldiers of the Wehrmacht, but almost all killed themselves. With their lives they have detained the Germans and won the time to prepare for defense.

In all of the Soviet period, repeatable, and now, as usual, there was much speculation and little real facts. After the Red Army troops were in the boiler Vyazemsky, to the front we were thrown (including) and cadets of military schools. In the Podolsk infantry school at that time was about 2,000 students in Podolsk artillery-about 1500.

October 5 was formed combined unit of a rifle company of Podolsk infantry and the artillery division (battery of 45-mm and 76-mm battery guns) Podolsk artillery school. A detachment was sent to Yukhnova area where joined the squad captain Starchak (430 saboteurs, trained to be infiltrated into the German rear). Later, it was sent to two more companies of Podolsk infantry school. Combined unit operated as part of the 17th Armored Brigade, also fought together several units to them. SS Division "Reich" October 5 took Yukhnov, but instead to strike at Maloyaroslavets, the road to which was actually open, turned north to Gzhatsk. This allowed troops 43rd army time to organize the defense, relying on 37th Maloyaroslaveckij fortified area. The main fighting took place on Ilyinsk combat portion that overlaps Warsaw highway on the way to Maloyaroslavets.

. For action in this area, according to data in combat and numerical strength of the Soviet army in 1941-1945, and help staff of the Western Front on 10/14/41, focused (except for the consolidated groups Podolsk schools), the following parts and connections: 312-I 110 infantry division, fully staffed, the 108th reserve infantry regiment, two separate machine-gun battalion, a company of cadets of the Moscow CPG, three howitzer regiment and the regiment RGC rocket artillery, a separate artillery battalion 76-mm guns, four anti-tank artillery regiment, Sem s individual flamethrower mouth. Armed fortified 37th was 70 - 76.2 mm guns in 1900 and from 5 to 75 mm French guns.

According to data from Inventories artillery Western front on 14/10/41, at combined unit Podolsky artuchilischa 12 had 45-mm anti-tank guns 12 regiment 76, 2-mm shells arr. 1927, 4 heavy machine guns and 510 rifles. Summary detachment Podolsky infantry school had in their composition 4 45-mm anti-tank guns, 2 regiment 76 2-mod mm cannon. 1927, at 20 82 mm and 1 120 mm mortar, the easel 37 and 64 of hand gun, rifle 691. That is all it was less than a thousand active "bayonets". The fighting on fighting Ilyinsk site began on October 13, October 16 Germans failure of defense, and on October 18 the German tanks, followed by the retreating Red Army, came to Maloyaroslavets.

Source: The feat of Podolsk cadets: it was actually

© Russian Seven russian7.ruV the course of these actions took place the episode where once 14 German tanks were destroyed in one battle, which survived a lot of documentary evidence, including many photos. October 16 battle group of the 19th Panzer Division tried to go to the rear of the Soviet position, but came under fire from 85-mm anti-aircraft guns, which were the main armament regiments antitank artillery. Of the 15 tanks, only one survived. Usually destruction of these tanks is credited Podolsk cadets, but most German cars have destroyed the artillery of 85-mm guns, which were not cadets.

Despite their small number compared to other troops 43rd Army, fought in this sector, combined unit Podolsk cadets played an important role. The cadets were well trained, all had behind him the experience of military service in the Army, mostly age was 23-25 ​​years. In fact, they were part of the elite, especially in comparison with other compounds. For example, soldiers 312th Rifle Division, on the site and which were Podolsk cadets, not only did not receive any training, but also a considerable part do not even know the Russian language (the division was formed in Kazakhstan). As a result, this division suffered huge losses. But there were connections, even worse to show themselves, for example, put forward to the Maloyaroslavets 53rd Infantry Division and the 17th Division of the People's Militia. In a report to the commander of the 43rd Army said: "The infantry divisions of these fled the onslaught of infantry battalions and several tanks. I believe that the 17-th and 53-th division demoralized, and those responsible should be brought to justice. Squads shoot all fleeing from the battlefield. " Nothing like about Podolsk cadets are not mentioned in the military documents, on the contrary all states that they fought bravely and well.

Precise data on the students of both schools loss never published, called the figures in 2500 and 3500 losses, and that had survived only 500 students, nor are baseless. The total number of consolidated groups, according to the documents, no more than two thousand people. Died not all fought in the 37th fortified area, because, according to combat reports, save, despite of heavy losses, the combat capability of the combined detachment retreated to the line Nara River. Survived the fighting students were put in the Ivanovo region, where there were created new Shuyskoe Infantry School. Podolsk artillery school was evacuated to Uzbekistan.