The banner of freedom

What unites the Day of the liberation of Donbas, the Izborsk club and the strategic atomic weapon carrier Tu-95MS? Most readers are unlikely to be able to immediately answer this question, although it is quite simple. The logo that you see on the cover of a magazine, decorated with the aircraft named “Izborsk”, and the menacing machine is in service with the 22nd guards red banner Donbas heavy bomber air division, and received its honorable name, and the title of guards, in the battle for our land.

Stalino, Yenakiyevo, Ilovaysk, Chistyakov, Gorlovka, Debaltsevo, Donetsk, Lisichansk, Konstantinovka, Makiyivka, Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, Mariupol, Volnovaha, Vorochilovgrad – hard to find elsewhere in the world that could be compared with the Donets Basin in the number of military units, on whose banners of They were immortalized the names of the liberated settlements. On September 8, 1943 twenty salvoes from two hundred and twenty-four guns at walls of the Kremlin ushered in the return mining land to our people, and two days later twelve volleys of one hundred and twenty-four guns of the capital honored those who drove the Nazi occupiers from the Azov region.

Today it may seem that in modern conditions to celebrate the anniversary of the liberation of Donbas at least incorrect: two-thirds of the territory of the DPR and LPR are under Bandera occupation is not resolved, many other political and social problems.

This is a misconception: the holidays are given to us not for riotous fun (as some perceive them, and not best, part of our fellow citizens), but as a reminder of the great moments in our history. And those who defended the Donbas in the years 1941-42, and those who liberated it in 1943, should be an example for us, who stood in the way of resurgent Nazism.

In the decisive battle for the freedom of our land participated by those who a few months earlier dropped out to fight in the streets of Stalingrad and to close the ring around the group of troops under the command of von Paulus. Among them there are the famous sniper Vassili Zaitsev, flying ACE Aleksandr Pokryshkin and the future Marshal of Soviet Union Rodion Malinovsky.

The Germans, clinging with a death grip in the banks of the Seversky Donets and Mius, were well aware of who they are dealing with, so decided on a cunning psychological move: in July 1943 the command of the southwestern and southern fronts from captured German soldiers and officers were surprised to learn that against them to keep the defense 6th army of the Wehrmacht, the one which half a year earlier was defeated at the Volga banks. A few days later it became clear that the Nazi leadership to raise the morale of the soldiers a secret “rose” (more precisely — have been created) connection, commanded by von Paulus, but, as we know, German forces, this “all-wise” trick did not help.

Some of the divisions, brigades and regiments that liberated Donbas and glorious way continued after the great Victory, and the city of miners and metallurgists whose names appeared on their banners, for many years maintained contact with them. For the young men of these cities was considered a high honor to be called for military service in, Donbas, part.

The 50th Stalin guards’ rifle division after a decade and a half after the war became known as the 50th Donetsk guards motorized rifle division, and received its dislocation in the Belorussian military district. After the collapse of the USSR part, included in its composition, have played an important role in the construction of the Armed forces of the independent Belarus.

The 40th Yenakiyevo-Danube Guards Rifle Division, which became after the war, the 17th Guards Motorized and 126th Gorlovka Division, became part of the Carpathian Military District. Independent Ukraine, they were not needed, so were disbanded.

The 279th Lisichansk Red Banner Infantry Division after the war became the 44th training tank and transferred to the Urals. A few years ago, it set up a training base Armored Center, one of the best in Russia.

The 59th Kramatorsk guards infantry division, which became after the war, the 8th separate Kramatorsk red banner orders of Suvorov and Bogdan Khmelnitskiy guards motorized rifle brigade and stationed in the Odessa military district, almost fifty years later she again had to participate in hostilities. On its basis was established the Russian Peacekeeping contingent in Transnistria, and still carrying a service in that troubled region of the world.

In our days a living memory of the heroism of our liberators is the 22nd guards of red banner Donbas the divisions are the pride of the strategic aviation of Russia. It is on its armaments consist of minds of the global public supersonic carriers of nuclear weapons Tu-160, and much of the far turboprop bombers Tu-95MS — proven and very reliable technology.

It was formed on March 5, 1942 at an air base in Ryazan Dyagilevo like the 62nd Air Division for further action. She participated in the Battle of Stalingrad and the Caucasus, and in the heady days of the heady days of the summer of 1943 was based in the city of Rostov region.

On the 8th of November of the same year, in Gorlovka, where was transferred the headquarters of the division was handed guards banner, but in addition, it has received the current room: the order on it was released one and a half months earlier on September, 18. After another six months the divisions will be called the Donbas: its pilots fought for the Baltic States. Then there were the liberation of the Western Ukraine, Poland and Berlin operation.

Victory Day Donbas Heavy Bomber met in the Polish town of Ciechanow. After the war, its principal place of dislocation permanently became the Belarusian Bobruisk, and after the collapse of the USSR – Engels, Saratov region.

On a frosty day in February 2008, the author of these lines in the delegation of journalists happened to be visiting those who continue to carry the banner of the Liberators of Donbas. Engels airbase – itself a unique monument of history: the main relic of staff is considered to be in the room telephone for government communications, by means of which landed near the places Yuri Gagarin, Khrushchev reported on successful return from space. The foyer is decorated with a portrait of house officers Raskovoy where renowned pilot shaped female air regiments, here in the rare leisure time she played the piano beautifully sky “lured” prosperous Conservatory student, who predicted a great career as a musician.

At the base there are two museums, which are open on certain days of free access to tour groups. In one of them collected a fine collection of combat and training aircraft, into which you can even climb on a shaky ladder, but its most valuable exhibit is a nondescript, “corncob” An-2, on board which made training jumps studied in Saratov first cosmonaut. The second is unique because it is dedicated to the rear of the long-range aviation. Within its walls you understand the whole meaning of the famous words of Alexander Tvardovsky “Russian worker-soldier”: the prose of earthly labor – the foundation, without which it is impossible romance of high flight.

The meetings are the best part of these trips, with fellow countrymen, and, as live and virtual. To acquaint the guests with the history of Russian long-range aviation Engelstsy start with the personality of the founder of this kind of troops – Major General Michael Shydlovsky, a representative of a noble Slobozhanskiy noble family, who played a major role in the development of Donbas and leave a memory of our region. He was able to appreciate the talent of the young aircraft designer Igor Sikorsky and achieve mass production of unique for its time, heavy bombers, “Ilya Muromets”, the development of which was initially rejected by officials. In 1914 he was entrusted with the formation of the world’s first air squadron of strategic purpose. The fate of this man was tragic: Michael Shydlouski died during the Civil War, and his name has only recently been returned to the Fatherland.

In the museum stand there is the album with the inscription “From the miners Gorlovka”. In Soviet times, between Air Division and the residents of Donbas is actively communicating, arranged mutual visits to each other. But after the collapse of the USSR, it was almost completely lost.

Then Donbas Heavy Bomber Guard commanded by Major General Alexander Blazhenko. That’s what he told me:

– I was born in the village of South Lomovatka in Luhansk, in miner’s family. I wish that our relationship was closer to the people of Donbas proud that there is a division, and we – that freed the edge of your …

One of the traditions in the division was the revival of the custom of giving the names of their own aircrafts. Tu-160 is named after the famous aviator, and, not necessarily of the dead (the famous aces Alexander Molodchy, Pavel Taran and Vasily Reshetnikov awarded this right during his lifetime), Tu-95MS – in honor of the city, in one way or another connected with the history of the connection: if I expressed the wish that the sky furrowed board with the names of “Mine” and “Gorlovka”: places where air division won and got his Guards flag. I hope that readers will support me in this: heroic Donbas deserves to once in a festive day of its cities in the parade passed airplanes current heirs of glory light in September 1943.

Night takeoff of Tu-160 ships with a full load on combat watch. Huge the flames escaping from the rumbling engines set in the afterburner mode. Underfoot trembling concrete, at some point begin to ache terribly eardrums ears: this moment seems like an eternity. However, the plane breaks away from the strip and dissolves in the black sky, turning into one of the twinkling stars in the winter sky.

And at this moment you feel genuine pride for those who now bear the banner of your freedom. The banner of our freedom.

Alexander DMITRIEVSKY