NEW YEAR IN THE MOUNTAINS My favorite holiday is New Year! The company began to prepare for it a week in advance. Kavun left for the Union as a replacement, and we have a new company senior lieutenant Sbitnev, a former platoon commander from the third company. He looked, grinning, at our preparations, as if at children,

255th Taman Naval Rifle Brigade

Formed in August 1942 as the 1st Marine Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet, September 25. 1942 renamed the 255th Naval Brigade ( in certain periods it was called the 255th Marine Brigade).
It was part of the troops of the Transcaucasian, North Caucasian fronts, Separate Primorskaya (since April 18, 1944 Primorskaya) A, and the 3rd Ukrainian Front.
She took part in the Battle of the Caucasus (including fighting for about 7 months on “Malaya Zemlya”), the Kerch-Eltigen landing operation, the liberation of Crimea, and the Iasi-Kishinev offensive operation. From the autumn of 1944 until the end of the war, it carried out tasks for the defense of the Black Sea coast in the Varna and Burgas regions.
For military distinctions she was awarded the honorary title “Tamanskaya” (October 1943), awarded 2 Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Suvorov 2nd degree, Kutuzov 2nd degree; over 4.5 thousand of its soldiers were awarded orders and medals, 2 were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
The brigade was commanded by: Colonel D. V. Gordeev (1942 - 43), Colonel A. S. Potapov (1943), Colonel P. V. Kharichev (1943 - 44), Colonel I. A. Vlasov (1944 - 45)
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Recommended literature about the combat path of the 255th separate infantry fighting vehicle.
ZHURUKHIN, Ivan Fedorovich
MIGHTY ALLOY
http://militera.lib.ru/memo/russian/zhuruhin_if/01.html
KIRIN Joseph Danilovich
BLACK SEA FLEET IN THE BATTLE FOR THE CAUCASUS
http://militera.lib.ru/h/kirin/03.html
The first to be formed, by decision of the Military Council of the North Caucasus Front, was the 255th Marine Brigade. It included the 14th, 322nd, 142nd Marine Battalions and the 726th Battery.

https://pamyat-naroda.ru/documents/...5::begin_date\07/01/1942::end_date\12/01/1943

Messages merged 5 Jul 2017, time of first edit 5 Jul 2017

1st battalion 255th Marine Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet
(b. 14 BMP) 18.9.42-15.1.43 Transferred to the Red Army
14th Marine Battalion BO
25.9.41-18.9.42 Reformed into 1 BMP 255 Brmp

2nd Battalion 255th Marine Brigade
(b. 142 bmp) 18.9.42-15.1.43 Transferred to the Red Army
142nd separate marine battalion NVMB
22.5.42-18.9.42 Reformed into 2 infantry fighting vehicles 255 infantry fighting vehicles

3rd Battalion 255th Marine Brigade
(b. 322 BMP) 18.9.42-15.1.43 Transferred to the Red Army
322nd Marine Battalion BO
12.5.42-18.9.42 Reformed into 3 infantry fighting vehicles 255 infantry fighting vehicles

16th Marine Battalion BO
10.31.41-18.9.42 Addressed to the acquisition of 255 and 83 infantry fighting vehicles

144th separate marine battalion of the Tuapse naval base
22.5.42-18.9.42 Addressed to the acquisition of 83 and 255 infantry fighting vehicles
http://www.teatrskazka.com/Raznoe/Perechni_voisk/Perechen_18_04.html

Messages merged 5 Jul 2017

RUSIN ANDREY DENISOVICH
Red Navy man in the Red Army since 1941.
Riding transport platoon of the 14th separate battalion 255 of the Red Banner Order of Suvorov, 2nd degree, Taman Rifle Brigade.

255th Taman Twice Red Banner Orders of Suvorov and Kutuzov Naval Rifle Brigade, where my great-grandfather served, was formed in August 1942 as the 1st Marine Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet. It included the 14th and 142nd divisions. and the 322nd Marine Battalions, staffed by sailors of the Black Sea Fleet, Azov and Caspian military flotillas.
On September 25, 1942, it was renamed the 255th Naval Rifle Brigade and transferred to the 47th Army (USSR) of the Black Sea Group of Forces of the Transcaucasian Front. In certain periods it was called the 255th Marine Brigade (255th Marine Corps). In cooperation with other units and formations of the army, it defeated in the areas of the village. Erivansky and the village of Shapsugskaya 3rd Mountain Rifle Division of the Romanians and stopped the further advance of the enemy.
In November, a brigade as part of the 56th Army fought in the Tuapse direction. Skillfully using the mountainous and wooded terrain, its soldiers repelled repeated enemy attempts to break through to the city of Tuapse. For the exemplary performance of combat missions and the valor and courage demonstrated by the personnel, she was awarded the Order of the Red Banner (December 13, 1942).
From February 6, 1943, the brigade, together with other formations and units, fought stubborn defensive battles on Malaya Zemlya for about 7 months.
In September and early October 1943, she took part in the Novorossiysk-Taman offensive operation. For distinguished service in the battles during the liberation of the Taman Peninsula, she was given the honorary name “Tamanskaya” (October 9, 1943).
In early November, part of the brigade's forces took part in the Kerch-Eltigen landing operation. In the spring of 1944, the brigade, as part of the Separate Primorsky (since April 18, Primorsky) Army, took part in the liberation of Crimea. In these battles, its personnel showed massive heroism and high combat skill. For exemplary performance of command tasks during the liberation of Kerch, the brigade was awarded the Order of Suvorov, 2nd degree (April 24, 1944), and for heroism, valor and courage shown by personnel during the liberation of Sevastopol - the second Order of the Red Banner (May 24, 1944 ).
In the Iasi-Kishinev offensive operation of 1944, it crossed the Dniester estuary (August 22) and, in cooperation with other formations of the 46th Army of the 3rd Ukrainian Front and units of the Black Sea Fleet, liberated the city of Akkerman (Belgorod-Dniester) on August 23rd. Subsequently, with her active and skillful actions, she assisted the front troops and naval forces in capturing the city. Brailov (Braila) (Aug. 28) and Constanta (Aug. 29), for which she was awarded the Order of Kutuzov, 2nd degree (Sept. 16, 1944). From the fall of 1944 until the end of the war, the brigade carried out tasks for the defense of the Black Sea coast in the Varna region and Burgas

255th Separate Marine Brigade(commander - Colonel D.V. Gordeev, military commissar battalion commissar M.V. Vidov) as part of the 14th, 142nd and 322nd battalions defended the road and heights in the direction of Neberdzhaevskaya and Novorossiysk.
Separate sections of the Taman Peninsula on a broad front were also defended by marine units and coastal batteries. Seven defense sectors were created as part of the Novorossiysk defensive region, almost all of which were fought by marines. Thus, in the second sector the 14th, 142nd and 322nd marine battalions defended, in the fourth - the 83rd separate marine brigade, in the fifth - the 144th separate marine battalion, in the sixth - separate detachments of sailors of the Novorossiysk The naval base and in the seventh sector were defended by the 305th Separate Marine Battalion.
For two weeks from August 11 to August 24, 1942, marine units, together with coastal batteries and ships, repelling numerous attacks by German troops, bravely and staunchly defended Temryuk.
The enemy sought to break into Novorossiysk at any cost. In the most dangerous areas of the defense he was opposed by the Marines. So the 142nd Marine Battalion was transferred to the area of ​​​​the city of Dolgaya, where it held back the enemy, leading bloody battles.
At the line between the town of Dolgaya and the Mefodievsky farm, the 255th separate marine brigade (commander - Colonel D.V. Gordeev) fought. Then she conducted military operations in the Lipka area, holding back the onslaught of the enemy, who was rushing to the Black Sea coast. Over the course of 10 days, numerically superior German forces, supported by a large number of tanks and aircraft, stormed the brigade's battle formations several times. The enemy managed to surround the brigade. However, despite the difficult situation, not a single one of its units left the line they occupied. At the same time, the Marines not only defended themselves, but also often went on the offensive.
With great difficulty, the sailors made their way along the mountain paths, carrying the wounded brigade commander D.V. Gordeev in their arms. Finally, in the area of ​​​​the city of Koldun, height 502.0, having retained its weapons and without losing its combat effectiveness, the brigade emerged from the encirclement.
Twelve attacks were repelled by a company under the command of political instructor N.I. Nezhnev, who fought for four days in conditions of complete encirclement, and units of the headquarters of the 142nd separate battalion of the Marine Corps (commander - Lieutenant Commander O.I. Kuzmin), also being surrounded, repelled four enemy attacks.
Stopped east of Novorossiysk, German troops, trying to break through to the Black Sea coast, launched an offensive through the mountainous and wooded area north of Novorossiysk, in the area of ​​the villages of Shapsugskaya, Abinskaya and Uzun. On September 19, after lengthy artillery and air preparation, the enemy attacked our positions. For three days, units of the 216th Infantry Division, weakened in previous battles, fought stubbornly. By the end of September 21, the enemy, at the cost of huge losses, pushed the division's units back 5–6 km. Then the command of the 47th Army transferred the 83rd and 255th separate marine brigades to this section of the front, which, in cooperation with the 77th Infantry Division, launched an offensive in the Shapsugskaya area. As a result of three-day battles, units of the brigades restored the situation and, developing the offensive, liberated the settlements of Karasu-Bazar, Glubokiy Yar, etc. In these battles, the Marines, together with the ground forces, defeated two enemy divisions and killed more than 3 thousand of his soldiers and officers. For exemplary performance of combat missions, the 83rd and 255th separate marine brigades and the 81st naval rifle brigade were awarded the Order of the Red Banner.
The 137th Separate Marine Regiment, formed in early September 1942, also took an active part in the battle for Novorossiysk. In early September, this regiment was transferred on fleet warships from Poti to Gelendzhik, and on the night of September 11, 1942, it began combat operations in the area of ​​cement factories.
The heaviest street battles took place in the city center, often turning into hand-to-hand combat. Intense battles took place on the territory of the Proletary plant, in its workshops, on every landing. Individual workshops and floors changed hands several times. The 305th, 14th battalions and the 83rd separate marine brigade stubbornly defended here.
In 1943, the Marine Corps became famous in combat operations near Novorossiysk, on the Myskhako bridgehead, which went down in the history of the Great Patriotic War under the name “Malaya Zemlya.” In the battles on this bridgehead, the marines of the Black Sea Fleet showed a vivid example of perseverance, courage and combat skill.
The offensive of Soviet troops in the North Caucasus that unfolded at the beginning of 1943 created favorable conditions for active operations of the Black Sea Fleet. In February 1943, the navy landed troops on the fortified coast in the Novorossiysk area to strike from the southwest and assist the ground forces in the liberation of Novorossiysk.
The main landing party was planned to land in the area of ​​South Ozereyka, and a demonstrative one - on the western shore of Tsemes Bay on the outskirts of the city - Stanichka. A detachment of Marines, Major Ts. L. Kunikov, was included in the demonstration landing.
The amphibious landing began on the night of February 4th. Due to stubborn enemy resistance, stormy weather and shortcomings in the organization of cooperation, it was not possible to land the main landing forces in the South Ozereyka area.
In the Stanichka area, a detachment of marines by Ts. L. Kunikov with a bold throw broke the enemy’s resistance and captured a small bridgehead up to 4 km along the front and 2.5 km in depth.
The landing party of Ts. L. Kunikov landed on five boats in Gelendzhik Bay and at 21.00. On February 3, 1943, he headed to the landing area. During February 4–5, in the area of ​​the fish factory and the southern outskirts of Stanichka, they managed to hold a bridgehead measuring 300 by 400 m, ensuring the landing of the main landing forces.
On the night of February 6, the gunboats "Red Adjaristan" and "Red Georgia", four minesweepers and boats delivered two battalions of the 165th Infantry Brigade with a total number of 2900 people, which were under the command of the commander of the 255th Marines, to the bridgehead of the 255th Separate Marine Brigade. Colonel A. S. Potapov's brigades immediately entered the battle.
The Marines had to fight especially hard in the area of ​​the radio station and cemetery, which the Germans turned into a strong defense center.
On the same day, the 14th battalion of the 255th brigade, under the command of Captain 3rd Rank Chebyshev, stormed an enemy stronghold in the area of ​​the water pump.
The German command, supported by a large number of tanks, made a new unsuccessful attempt to defeat the landing force.
By the end of February 6, the landing units on the bridgehead firmly held the line: Komarovsky Street, the western outskirts of Stanichka, a radio station, a water pump.
By the evening of February 9, the 255th separate marine brigade reached the line of Konstantinovskaya and Azovskaya streets in the southwestern part of Novorossiysk, and the 83rd separate marine brigade captured the line - Camp, Sudzhuk Spit.
By February 18, the 255th and 83rd separate rifle brigades of the Red Banner Marines were fighting on Malaya Zemlya; 51st, 107th and 165th rifle brigades, 815th rifle regiment of the 349th rifle division, 897th mountain rifle regiment of the 242nd mountain rifle division, airborne regiment, 574th army air defense regiment. On February 22–23, the 176th Red Banner Rifle Division was transferred to the bridgehead.
The presence of such a bridgehead as Malaya Zemlya created favorable conditions for the liberation of Novorossiysk.
The successes achieved by the Red Army in 1943 allowed the troops of the North Caucasus Front to launch an offensive to liberate the Taman Peninsula. The front troops had to break through the powerful defensive rampart, the so-called Blue Line, which the enemy had been creating since the beginning of 1943. Its most important stronghold was Novorossiysk.
To liberate the city, the Soviet command decided to carry out an operation with the forces of the 18th Army and the Black Sea Fleet, which was supposed to land troops directly in the port of Novorossiysk. The landing force included the 255th Separate Red Banner Marine Brigade, the 393rd Separate Marine Battalion, the 290th NKVD Regiment and the 1339th Rifle Regiment. Three landing detachments were formed from them.
In total, more than 6 thousand people took part in the landing, of which 4 thousand people. Marine Corps; It was armed with 40 guns, 105 mortars and 53 heavy machine guns. During the landing preparation period (from August 19 to September 9), a thorough reconnaissance of the enemy defenses was carried out.
With the onset of darkness on September 9, boarding of boats began in the port of Gelendzhik. At 21:15 the ships headed for the landing site.
Before the landing, artillery and aviation preparations were carried out. The torpedo boats were the first to rush into the port. Explosions of terrible force were heard near the pier and berths of the port: firing points and anti-landing fortifications were torpedoed, and coastal barriers at the entrance to the port were blown up.
As part of the first rush, the Marines of the 393rd battalion landed on the port's piers. The first echelon of the 1st detachment - units of the 255th Marine Brigade, under enemy fire, landed on the Kholodilnik - Cape Lyubvi section.
The brigade's units began the offensive without securing their landing points, and therefore, having moved forward, they found themselves isolated from each other and cut off from the coast.
An attempt to land the second echelon of the 255th brigade was repulsed by enemy fire, as a result of which the brigade's units landed on the site of the third landing detachment - in the area of ​​​​the Import pier. The enemy launched several counterattacks against units of the brigade. The units, divided into small groups, fought heavy battles. On the night of September 11, the remnants of the brigade made their way to the troops operating in the Stanichka area.

On September 16, Moscow saluted the valiant troops of the North Caucasus Front and the Black Sea Fleet, who captured Novorossiysk.
Having been defeated near Novorossiysk, the German command decided to evacuate its troops from the Taman Peninsula, holding the coast in the Temryuk area for this purpose.
During this period, several marine landings were landed on the Taman Peninsula in order to prevent the withdrawal of enemy troops and disrupt their evacuation to Crimea.
The 83rd and 255th brigades, the 386th and 369th separate marine battalions, intended to strengthen rifle formations, took part in this operation. Thus, the 11th Guards Rifle Corps, landed northeast of Kerch, was assigned the 369th separate battalion of marines; The 318th Novorossiysk Rifle Division was reinforced by the 386th Separate Marine Battalion, and the 117th Rifle Division by one of the battalions of the 255th Separate Marine Taman Red Banner Rifle Brigade. The battalions were used as advanced landing troops. They were entrusted with the most difficult task - capturing the landing points.
During these days of severe testing, the Marine Corps showed its high moral and combat qualities.
The former commander of the 318th Rifle Division, Hero of the Soviet Union, Major General V.F. Gladkov wrote: “On November 3, the Marine Corps glorified itself on the bridgehead just as on the day of its capture.” Writer Arkady Perventsev in his book “Terra del Fuego” truthfully described the remarkable combat and moral qualities of the marines of this unit: “I, as a landing commander and as an eyewitness, can testify that the sailors in Eltigen fought excellently.”
It was in 1943 that this method of combat employment of the Marine Corps, as action as part of the advanced detachments of rifle divisions, became widely used.
The landing now began to take place on a wider front. Several advance detachments landed at the same time, which facilitated the deployment of forces to capture the bridgehead.
As a result of the Kerch-Eltigen landing operation, troops of the North Caucasus Front captured a bridgehead on the Kerch Peninsula, which played an important role in the battles for the liberation of Crimea.
In 1944, the Marine Corps took an active part in the liberation of the Kerch Peninsula, Sevastopol and Nikolaev.
The Crimean strategic offensive operation (April 8 - May 12, 1944), carried out by troops of the 4th Ukrainian Front and the Separate Primorsky Army in cooperation with the Black Sea Fleet, involved the 83rd separate rifle Novorossiysk Red Banner Marine Corps brigade and the 255th separate rifle brigade Taman Red Banner Marine Brigade, landed on the Kerch Peninsula in December 1943.
The troops of the Primorsky Army, in which these brigades operated, on April 11, after powerful artillery and aviation preparation, broke through the enemy’s defenses on the Kerch Peninsula and on April 13 completely liberated the peninsula and the city of Feodosia, and on April 16 reached the eastern approaches to Sevastopol.
On May 7, 1944, after an hour and a half of artillery and aviation preparation, the assault on Sevastopol began. The troops advanced along the entire front from Balaklava to Kachi. The 83rd and 255th Marine Brigades, operating as part of the 16th Rifle Corps, took part in the assault on Sevastopol. The corps advanced in the direction of the main attack, Karan, Cossack Bay. Both brigades formed the first echelon of the corps; The 227th and 339th rifle divisions of the corps developed the success of the first echelon formations.
The 255th Separate Rifle Taman Red Banner Rifle Brigade of the Marine Corps (also in a three-echelon battle formation) broke through the enemy’s defenses in a 500 m area. Having stormed Kaya-Bash, the brigade continued to develop the offensive in the direction of the Chersonesos lighthouse. Pressuring the enemy, Soviet troops took Belbek by storm, crossed the Northern Bay and broke into Sevastopol. On Malakhov Kurgan, a marine, commander of a reconnaissance platoon, Lieutenant Volonsky, hoisted the Red Banner.
On May 9, Sevastopol became Soviet again; A 324-gun salute in Moscow announced this historic event to the whole world. The Crimean offensive operation was carried out at an exceptionally high pace. The heroic defense of the main base lasted 250 days, and in 1944, the enemy’s defensive lines near Sevastopol were broken through by Soviet troops in 3 days. In the battles for Crimea, the Marine Corps provided significant assistance to the advancing Red Army troops. The use of marine formations in the first echelon of the rifle corps in the main direction indicates that the marine corps played an important role in the operation to liberate Sevastopol, as well as in its defense.
For the military operations to liberate Crimea, the 83rd separate rifle Novorossiysk Red Banner Marine Brigade was awarded the Order of Suvorov, II degree, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated April 24, 1944. For successful military operations to liberate Sevastopol on May 25, 1944, both marine brigades were awarded the second Order of the Red Banner.

The People's Museum of the 255th Taman Separate Marine Brigade of the Red Banner Black Sea Fleet has been created in Moscow
Address: 101000, Moscow, st. Lyublinskaya, 56/2

The remnants of the personnel of the Ochakov sector continued to conduct combat operations as part of the tender combat sector. During these battles, the 2nd Black Sea Marine Regiment (commander - Captain N.N. Taran) was formed from Ochakovites, personnel of the Sevastopol and Nikolaev battalions. This regiment, together with other units of the combat sector, fought heavy battles on the Kinburn Peninsula, and then was evacuated to Tendra.

Already a month after the start of the war, the German-Romanian troops advancing in the south, at the cost of heavy losses, managed to break through the Dniester and continue to develop the offensive in the territory of the Odessa region.

The defense of this major industrial center, port and naval base became of particular importance. An important event for the defense of the city was the creation of the Odessa defensive region (ODR). Rear Admiral G.V. Zhukov was appointed commander of the OOR, and Major General I.E. Petrov was appointed deputy for land defense. The OOR included formations of the Separate Primorsky Army, ships, coastal batteries, the 1st and 2nd Black Sea Marine Regiments of the Odessa Naval Base, as well as six detachments of sailors who arrived from Sevastopol. As of August 20, the district's troops numbered 34.5 thousand people.

The 1st detachment included volunteers - sailors of the battleship "Paris Commune" and submariners (detachment commander - Major A. Potapov). The detachment began combat operations in the area of ​​the Vazhny village as part of the 161st Infantry Regiment of the 95th Moldavian Division. The fighters of the 2nd (commander - Captain I. Denshchikov) and 3rd detachments of sailors (commander - Major P. Timoshenko) fought courageously and steadfastly. The 4th detachment (commander - Captain A. Shchuk) conducted combat operations as part of the 161st Infantry Regiment of the 95th Infantry Division, the 5th detachment (commander - Captain V.V. Spilnyak) acted in the same direction, 6- The 1st detachment (commander - Major A. Shchekin) arrived in Odessa on August 28. The last two detachments were sent to replenish the 1st Black Sea Marine Regiment and the 54th Infantry Regiment.

On August 8, 1941, the 1st Black Sea Marine Regiment under the command of Colonel Ya. I. Osipov occupied the defense sector in the eastern sector in the area of ​​Grigoryevka, Buldinki, Staraya Dofinovka. In the same sector, the 2nd Black Sea Marine Regiment under the command of Major I. A. Morozov occupied the defense. In the remaining sectors, formations and units of the Primorsky Army defended.

The enemy concentrated over five army corps near Odessa and created a fivefold superiority in manpower and artillery. The first assault, which was aimed at capturing the city on the move, was repelled. From August 14, the enemy began to develop an offensive in two main directions: from the east and west. At the same time, the main blow was delivered to the eastern sector, where the defense sector of Grigoryevka, height 59.8, the northern tip of the Great Adzhalyk Estuary, was occupied by the 1st Black Sea Marine Regiment. Superior enemy forces managed to break through the defenses here and occupy Buldinka.

On August 15, the battle in this area continued. During the day, the 1st Marine Regiment, with the support of the destroyer "Shaumyan" and coastal batteries, repulsed several enemy attacks and stopped its advance.

On the morning of August 16, when the enemy resumed the offensive in the regiment's defense sector, delivering the main blow in the direction of Shitzly, and again the 1st Black Sea Regiment, reinforced by two battalions of the 2nd Marine Regiment, conducting an active defense and continuously counterattacking, stopped the enemy's advance.

The next day, the marines of Colonel Ya. I. Osipov, in cooperation with the border guards of Major A. A. Malovsky, with the support of the fire of the coastal battery and the gunboat "Red Georgia", surrounded and destroyed up to the enemy battalion that broke through to Shitzly, while capturing over 200 soldiers and officers.

On August 18, the enemy, having concentrated 18 of his divisions against the four rifle divisions defending Odessa, launched an offensive simultaneously against all defense sectors. On this day, the marines of the 1st Black Sea Marine Regiment repelled five attacks. On August 19, the enemy, having brought two infantry divisions into battle, with the support of 50 tanks and aircraft, in the morning again attacked the regiment’s defense sector in the area of ​​the Adzhalyk and Bolshoi Adzhalyk estuaries, but this time his attack was repelled. For five days, the enemy continuously attacked the positions of the marines in the eastern sector, trying to break through to the city from the east. Defending every inch of land, the Marines, in cooperation with coastal artillery ships and units of the Soviet Army, thwarted the plan to capture the city from the east.

The glory of the marines of the 1st Black Sea Marine Regiment and their commander, Colonel Ya. I. Osipov, resounded along the entire front. The glory of the 1st regiment was increased by a company of marines under the command of Captain A.S. Lamzin. In one of the battles she was surrounded by Romanians. For eight hours, the sailors repelled attacks from an enemy battalion with the support of 15 tanks. Suffering losses, the Romanians lay down in the wheat. At the same time, the Marines set fire to the wheat and, taking advantage of the panic among the enemy, fought their way out of the encirclement.

Volunteer detachments of sailors also fought heroically. Major General V.F. Vorobyov, commander of the 95th SD, which included a detachment under the command of Major A.S. Potapov, noted: “The Black Sea people are fighting with unparalleled bravery, courage and dedication. These are brave fighters. A detachment of sailors cements a division, companies and battalions are equal to them.” It was a high assessment given by the general commander, but the Marines deserved it.

In order to alleviate the situation of the troops of the Odessa defensive region, on September 22, 1941, in the area of ​​​​the village of Grigoryevka (25 km northeast of Odessa), a tactical amphibious landing was landed on the flank of the advancing enemy troops as part of the 3rd Black Sea Marine Regiment (1920 people, commander - Captain K. M. Koren). The regiment had a task: advancing in the general direction of Sverdlovo, to capture the Chebanki area, and then Staraya and Novaya Dofinovka, and thereby facilitate the simultaneous offensive of the 157th and 421st rifle divisions in the same direction.

On September 21, troops landed on the cruisers "Krasny Krym" (721 people) and "Red Caucasus" (996 people), the destroyers "Impeccable" and "Boikiy" (one company each).

At 1:30 a.m., after a powerful artillery barrage, the landing of troops began. Longboats and boats carrying marines approached the landing points. Under enemy fire, in chest-deep water, the first-strike units landed on the shore. At the same time, a parachute landing consisting of 23 marines of the 3rd Marine Corps under the command of Major M.A. Orlov was dropped in the rear of the Romanian troops. By two o'clock the company of the 3rd battalion of the regiment, headed by ml. Lieutenant I.D. Charupa, with a swift attack, captured a bridgehead on the shore and ensured the landing of subsequent echelons of troops. Following Charupa's company, two more companies of the 3rd battalion landed under the command of Art. Lieutenant I.F. Matvienko. The Marines captured the battery with a swift attack and opened fire on the enemy from its guns. By 5 a.m. all units were landed on the shore. The landing force in a two-echelon battle formation began to develop an offensive in the direction: 1st battalion (commander - senior lieutenant B.P. Mikhailov) - Grigoryevka, Chebanka, Novaya Dofinovka; 3rd battalion - Grigorievka, height 48.2, Staraya Dofinovka; The 2nd battalion advanced in the second echelon behind the 3rd battalion. The enemy put up stubborn resistance, especially in the area of ​​the village of Chebanka. During the landing battle on the shore, fleet aviation supported it by striking enemy reserves, firepower, and manpower.

At 8 a.m. on September 22, after artillery and air preparation, the 157th and 421st rifle divisions went on the offensive. In the post-war years, the former commander of the 421st SD, Colonel G. M. Kochenov, recalled: “... a continuous wave of black pea coats rose. In front, as always, were the Marines. Nothing could stop their swift attack. Neither machine gun fire nor thick wire barriers saved the Nazi soldiers.” The enemy, unable to withstand the combined attack of the defenders of Odessa from the sea and land, began to hastily retreat in a northern direction.

The 3rd Black Sea Marine Regiment, having overcome stubborn enemy resistance, completed its task by 18:00 and reached the Chebank line, height 57.3, Staraya and Novaya Dofinovka. At night, the marines linked up with the 1st Black Sea Marine Regiment, and on the morning of September 23, 1941, with units of the 421st Infantry Division. As a result of this strike, the troops of the Odessa defensive region threw the enemy back 8 km, liberated several settlements and defeated two divisions. The enemy lost about 2 thousand soldiers and officers. Our troops captured 50 guns and mortars, 127 machine guns, 1,100 rifles and machine guns, 13,500 mines and hand grenades.

The successful offensive of the landing forces and ground units played an important role in the defense of Odessa. The enemy lost the opportunity to shell the city and port.

The landing in the Grigoryevka area was the first major tactical landing of the Black Sea Fleet during the Great Patriotic War. Its success was ensured by thorough reconnaissance and the surprise of the operation, good training of landing personnel, achieving air superiority in the landing area, timely support by naval artillery fire and the simultaneous drop of parachute troops behind enemy lines.

The personnel of the Odessa defensive region honorably fulfilled their duty to the Motherland. The defenders of Odessa, showing unparalleled courage, bravery and mass heroism, steadfastly held the defensive lines. Often a company defended against a regiment, and a battalion against a division. More than 18 enemy divisions were pinned down near Odessa, and their losses amounted to over 150 thousand people.

When the threat of capture loomed over Crimea, by decision of the Supreme High Command the heroic garrison of Odessa was evacuated to the Crimean peninsula.

The transfer of troops of the Primorsky Army and the Odessa Naval Base by sea to Crimea was an example of a successfully carried out operational-strategic maneuver of forces in the coastal direction. It should be noted that such an evacuation of a large mass of troops and military equipment remained unsurpassed until the end of the Great Patriotic War.

On September 9, 1941, the enemy, with the forces of the 11th German Army of Colonel General E. Manstein, struck a strong blow from the Kakhovka bridgehead against the troops of the Southern Front, as a result of which he managed to break through the defense front and reach Perekop and Chongar.

For the defense of Crimea, by directive of the Supreme Command Headquarters, the 51st Separate Army was created. Colonel General F.I. Kuznetsov was appointed commander of the army, and the Black Sea Fleet was transferred to his operational subordination.

On September 25, 1941, the enemy wedged into our defenses at the Perekop positions, and on October 25, having a huge numerical superiority, broke into the Crimea. The troops of the 51st Separate Army, after a series of unsuccessful counterattacks, were forced to retreat to the Ishunkie positions.

On September 29, the 1st (commander Captain G.F. Sonin) and 4th (commander Captain E.A. Kirsanov) battalions of the 7th Marine Brigade, Colonel E., were transferred to these positions to assist the troops of the 51st Army. I. Zhidilov, renamed, respectively, the 1st and 2nd Perekop Marine Detachments.

At this time, the garrison of the main base of the Black Sea Fleet, which did not include ground forces, was hastily preparing to defend the approaches to Sevastopol from land.

On October 17–23, the Separate Primorsky Army, evacuated from Odessa, was transferred to the subordination of the 51st Separate Army and was also transferred to the Ishun positions. To unite the actions of the ground forces and the Black Sea Fleet, the Headquarters created the command of the Crimean troops, headed by Vice Admiral G. I. Levchenko. The commander of the 51st Separate Army, Lieutenant General P.I. Batov, was appointed his deputy for ground forces.

On October 24–29, the Crimean troops were divided into two groups: the first - the 9th SK, consisting of four rifle and one cavalry divisions; the second was a separate Primorsky Army, which included four rifle and three cavalry divisions. On October 25, these formations went on the offensive in order to restore lost positions. However, the next day the enemy brought reserves into battle, and the formations of these groups, exhausted in previous battles, were forced to begin retreating. The 7th Marine Brigade, which was deployed from Sevastopol, was unable to change the situation.

The troops of the 11th German Army launched an offensive in three directions: the 42nd Army Corps (73rd, 46th, 170th Infantry Division) pursued the 51st Separate Army, which was retreating in the direction of Feodosius - Kerch; The 54th Army Corps (50th, 132nd Infantry Division, Ziegler motorized brigade) advanced in the direction of Bakhchisarai - Sevastopol; The 30th Army Corps (22nd, 72nd Infantry Division) was supposed to prevent the troops of the Primorsky Army from holding lines in the spurs of the Crimean Mountains and cutting off the coastal road Alushta - Sevastopol.

By the beginning of the war, Sevastopol, reliably protected from the sea, had no land defensive fortifications. A threat to the Main Fleet Base from land was considered unlikely, but the possibility of an enemy airborne landing could not be ruled out. For this case, three defense sectors were created, the Sevastopol city and Balaklava combat sectors.

By the beginning of the battles near Sevastopol, the ground defense system consisted of three lines. The forward line was located 15–17 km from the city and consisted of four strong points: Chorgunsky, Cherkez-Kermensky, Duvankoysky and Aranchisky. The total length of the line was 46 km.

The main defense line was located 8–12 km from the city, the construction of which, begun on July 3, was largely completed in September. The length of the line was 35 km. A rear defense line with a length of 19 km was erected 3–6 km from the city. Its construction began on August 1 and was completed by September 15.

The defense of Sevastopol was divided into three sectors.

On the morning of October 30, units of the Sevastopol garrison took up positions at the forefront of the city’s defense.

Combat and numerical strength of the marine formations and units participating in the defense of Sevastopol as of November 3, 1941.

In the first days of the defense, before the arrival of the Primorsky Army troops in Sevastopol, only marine units were on the land front: as part of the 8th Marine Brigade (commander - Colonel V.L. Vilshansky), 2nd (commander - Captain N. N. Taran), 3rd (commander - Captain K. M. Koren, later - Lieutenant Colonel V. P. Zatylkin). Black Sea Marine Regiments, local Coastal Defense Rifle Regiment, 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th Marine Battalions, Danube Military Flotilla Marine Battalion, 14 Marine Corps battalions, urgently formed from coastal, aviation personnel units and naval educational institutions. By the beginning of the defense, some of the listed units had not yet arrived in Sevastopol or had not completed their formation.

In total, the Sevastopol garrison had about 22.3 thousand people to conduct combat operations on the land sectors of the front.

Later, the 7th Marine Brigade became part of the garrison.

On October 29, a state of siege was introduced in Sevastopol by order of the garrison chief. Marine units (8th brigade, two regiments and seven marine battalions) and a local rifle regiment took up combat positions.

In the area of ​​Balaklava, Kamary, Nizhnyaya Chorgun, Shuli, Cherkez-Kermen, Mount Kaya-Bash, the 2nd Black Sea Marine Regiment (commander - Major N.N. Taran) occupied the defense.

The 3rd Black Sea Marine Regiment (commander - Lieutenant Colonel V.N. Zatylkin, and from November 7, 1941 - Colonel S.R. Gusarov) defended in the Cherkez-Kermen, Zalankoy sector.

A battalion of the NKVD border troops school, two marine battalions of the electromechanical school of the fleet training detachment under the command of Captain I.F. Kogarlitsky and Captain I.F. Zhigachev, the 8th Marine Brigade under the command of Colonel V.L. Vilshansky took up defense in the Duvankoy area, Mount Azis-Oba, Aranchi. On the left flank from Arancha to Kacha, the defense was occupied by a local rifle regiment (commander - Lieutenant Colonel N.A. Baranov).

Two battalions of the training detachment of the Black Sea Fleet and a battalion of the Coastal Defense School named after. LKSMU (commander - Colonel V.A. Kostyshin) were advanced to the area of ​​the Alma River, north of the city of Bakhchisarai.

The fleet commander's reserve was the 18th Marine Battalion.

In early November, German troops launched the first assault on Sevastopol.

On the night of November 1, cadets of the battalion of the VMU BO im. LKSMU. On the morning of November 1, enemy motorized units attacked Bakhchisarai.

Thus began the heroic defense of Sevastopol. According to the nature of the hostilities, it can be divided into three stages: the first (from October 30 to November 21) - repelling the first (November) enemy offensive; the second (from November 22 to December 31, 1941) - reflection of the second (December) offensive of German troops; third (from January 1 to June 4, 1942) - relative calm in connection with the fighting on the Kerch Peninsula and reflection of the third (June) enemy offensive.

There were many examples in World War II when sea fortresses were quickly taken from land. Thus, in 1941, the Japanese captured the first-class English naval fortress of Singapore within 10 days. They relatively quickly captured Hong Kong and Surabaya. The French naval bases - Bizerte, Brest and others - did not last long. The German command planned an operation to capture Sevastopol, taking into account the experience of the “lightning war” and the capture of naval bases in Western Europe and North Africa from land. It seemed to him that capturing Sevastopol would not take much time.

On November 4, the Sevastopol Defense Region (SOR) was created as part of the Primorsky Army, coastal defense units of the main base, marines and some aviation units of the Black Sea Fleet.

The fiercest battles in the first days of the German offensive took place in the Duvankoy direction. In an effort to capture the Duvankoy defense center, the command of the 11th Army hoped to enter the valley of the Belbek River, strike in the direction of the Northern Bay and, thus, dismember the troops defending the city with the aim of their subsequent destruction in parts. The Duvankoy junction was defended by the 2nd battalion of the 8th brigade (commander E.I. Leonov), the 17th marine battalion (commander - senior lieutenant L.S. Ungur) and the 18th marine battalion (commander - captain A F. Egorov).

Bloody battles were fought for every line, every meter of Sevastopol land. By introducing new reserves into the battle, the enemy created a huge advantage over the SOR troops. Relatively small units of the Marine Corps slowly retreated, putting up stubborn resistance.

During this period, the active and decisive actions of the 8th Marine Brigade contributed to the disruption of the first offensive of the Nazi troops on Sevastopol.

On November 7, 1941, the Headquarters determined that the main task of the fleet was the active defense of Sevastopol and the Kerch Peninsula with all its might, pinning down the enemy in the Crimea, and repelling his attempts to reach the Caucasus through the Taman Peninsula.

Soon the whole country learned about the feat of five sailors of the 18th Marine Battalion (commander - Captain A.F. Egorov). The battalion fought defensive battles in the area of ​​the village of Duvankoy at the junction with the 3rd Black Sea Regiment and the 8th Marine Brigade. The enemy sought to break through the defenses of the Marine Corps at any cost and enter the Belbek Valley. Dozens of planes bombed the battalion's positions.

On November 7, enemy infantry units with seven tanks went on the attack, but their path was blocked by five marines - political instructor Nikolai Filchenkov, sailors Vasily Tsybulko, Yuri Parshin, Ivan Krasnoselsky and Daniil Odintsov, armed with grenades, petrol bombs and a machine gun.

In the first battle, the sailors destroyed three tanks, the remaining four turned back.

After some time, the enemy repeated the attack with the support of fifteen tanks. With a well-aimed burst from a machine gun, Vasily Tsybulko, through the viewing slot, killed the driver of the lead tank, who had stopped. Taking advantage of the enemy's confusion, Tsybulko knocked out the second tank with a bunch of grenades, and the third tank was blown up by a bunch of grenades, accurately thrown by political instructor Filchenkov.

Ivan Krasnoselsky set fire to two more tanks with combustible bottles, but was seriously wounded. Tsybulko, already wounded, with a well-aimed throw of a bunch of grenades disabled another tank, but was wounded a second time. Filchenkov, Parshin and Odintsov who remained in the ranks continued the unequal battle.

They fired at the viewing slots and threw grenades and petrol bottles at the tanks. Having used up all the ammunition, the heroes tied themselves with grenades and threw themselves under German tanks.

The tank attack was repulsed. When the battle ended, the sailors found the bleeding sailor Tsybulko. In the last minutes of his life, he told the battalion commissar how heroically his comrades died.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of October 23, 1942, all five marines were posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

On November 8, on the approaches to Sevastopol, the 7th Marine Brigade (brigade commander - Colonel E.I. Zhidilov) and two regiments of the Primorsky Army entered the battle, having made their way to the city and preserving the convoy and artillery.

On November 8, the brigade, together with the battalion of the naval school of coastal defense, attacked the enemy occupying the Mekenzi farm. The attack was supported by coastal batteries, aviation, and naval artillery of the cruisers Chervona Ukraine and Krasny Krym. Overcoming strong resistance, the marines broke through to the village of Mekenzia.

Bloody battles continued all day, but the farm was never taken. The enemy, bringing tanks and an infantry regiment into battle, stopped the advance of the marine units.

On the morning of November 9, fierce fighting broke out in the Kara-Kobya valley and in the Upper Chorgun region. Enemy attacks in the Kara-Kobya valley were repelled by a battalion of marines of the Danube Flotilla (battalion commander Captain A.G. Petrovsky). The enemy failed to break through the front here in any sector of the defense. By the evening of November 9, troops of the Primorsky Army approached Sevastopol.

Thus, the German command’s plan to capture the city failed outright. The Primorsky Army, which included some units of the Marine Corps, occupied defensive lines on the approaches to Sevastopol. The advantage of the German troops, which reached the approaches to Sevastopol earlier than the Primorsky Army, was eliminated.

At the time of entering Sevastopol, the Primorsky Army numbered no more than 8,000 people. and needed replenishment. After the inclusion of individual units and subunits of the Marine Corps, the size of the army by November 15, 1941 increased to 19,522 people.

At the same time, there were 14,366 people in the formations and units of the Marine Corps and Coastal Artillery that were not part of the Primorsky Army. The data presented indicate that in the first months of the city’s defense, the marines, even after the arrival of the Primorsky Army troops, made up the bulk of the defenders of Sevastopol.

On November 9, the Sevastopol defensive region of the SOR was organized, which now included four defense sectors, in each of which there were formations and units of the marine corps. The first sector was defended by the 383rd Infantry Regiment. The 1st battalion of the regiment was staffed by cadets from the school of border troops, the 2nd by personnel of the reserve artillery regiment of the fleet, and the 3rd by sailors from the coastal defense school.

The second sector was defended by the 172nd Infantry Division. It included: the 514th Infantry Regiment, the 2nd Black Sea Marine Regiment, the 31st Infantry Regiment of the 25th Infantry Division and the 1st Sevastopol Marine Regiment, in which the 1st Battalion was formed from the personnel of the 1st 1st Perekop Marine Detachment, 2nd - from the personnel of the Danube Flotilla Marine Battalion, and 3rd - from the sailors of the weapons school and the joint school of the fleet training detachment.

The third sector was defended by the 25th Infantry Division (without the 31st Regiment), the 3rd Black Sea Marine Regiment (commanded by Colonel S.R. Gusarov) and the 7th Marine Brigade. In the 287th Regiment of the 25th Infantry Division, the 2nd Battalion consisted of the 16th, and the 3rd - of the 15th Marine Battalions. In November 1941, the 2nd Perekop Marine Regiment was formed (three battalions, commander - Major I. I. Kulagin, since February 20 - Lieutenant Colonel N. N. Taran).

In the fourth sector, the defense was occupied by the 95th Infantry Division consisting of the 90th and 161st Regiments, the 8th Marine Brigade of five battalions and a local rifle regiment. In the 161st regiment, one battalion and in the 90th regiment, two battalions were staffed by fleet personnel.

The total number of SOR troops, including rear units and subunits, numbered about 55 thousand people.

In November 1941, 32 marine battalions (excluding the army reserve and the garrison of pillboxes and bunkers) fought in four sectors of the defense of Sevastopol. Thus, almost half of the troops in the Sevastopol defensive region were marines.

In the November battles, coastal artillery batteries and ships of the Black Sea Fleet provided great support to the sailors fighting on land. The guns of 31 ships, including the battleship Paris Commune, 5 cruisers, 2 leaders and 11 destroyers, fired 407 times at enemy targets. As a result of the active actions of the SOR troops, the enemy was forced to go on the defensive on November 21.

At a time when the Red Army, having won the battle of Moscow, began to develop an offensive to the west, the heroic garrison of Sevastopol repelled the second offensive of the Nazi troops, launched on December 17, 1941. About 200 thousand enemy soldiers and officers took part in the assault on the city , more than 1000 guns and 150 tanks. This time the main blow was delivered by the forces of the 22nd, 132nd and 24th Infantry Divisions on the northern sector of the front from the Duvankoy region along the Belbek valley to Kamyshly, Northern Bay. Intense fighting took place from the very beginning in the mountainous areas south and north of the Belbek River valley.

The 8th Marine Brigade (commanded by Colonel V.L. Vilshansky), defending a sector on a 10 km front in the area of ​​Mount Azis-Oba, repelled attacks by the main forces of the enemy, who, by the end of two days of fierce fighting, managed to wedge deep into the defense of our troops up to 1 km, go around the right flank of the brigade and surround the 241st Infantry Regiment of the 95th Infantry Division. Units of the 3rd sector found themselves in a difficult situation. To restore the situation, the reserves of the neighboring 4th sector and the commander of the defensive area were brought into battle.

Marine units repeatedly launched a counterattack. The 1st Sevastopol Regiment (commanded by Colonel P.F. Gorpishchenko), with the attached battalion of the 7th Marine Brigade, occupied the Kara-Kobya farmstead with a swift attack. On December 18, stubborn fighting continued in the area of ​​the villages of Nizhnyaya and Verkhnyaya Chorgun.

In the period from November 23 to December 16, about three battalions from the 9th Marine Brigade were delivered to Sevastopol to replenish marine units.

All enemy attempts to capture the Kamyshlovsky ravine and the Belbek River valley on December 19 were repulsed with heavy losses.

The defenders of Sevastopol repelled enemy attacks in all sectors of the defense, but under the pressure of his superior forces they were forced to gradually retreat. The situation of the SOR troops worsened. Continuous fighting exhausted the personnel; a significant part of the artillery and mortars were out of action, and there was a shortage of ammunition.

At this time, the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command ordered the urgent dispatch of the 79th Naval Rifle Brigade and the 345th Rifle Division to Sevastopol. The Kerch-Feodosia operation, scheduled for December 21–22, was decided to be postponed to a later date.

On December 20, the cruisers "Red Caucasus" and "Red Crimea", the leader "Kharkov", the destroyers "Nezamozhnik" and "Bodry" with the 79th naval rifle brigade under the command of a colonel left Novorossiysk for Sevastopol under the flag of the fleet commander, Vice Admiral Oktyabrsky. A. S. Potapova. In addition, the leader “Kharkov” carried a battalion of marines from the Tuapse naval base under the command of Captain L.P. Golovin to Sevastopol.

On the morning of December 22, the enemy, with large forces, supported by tanks and aircraft, resumed attacks on the Karatau heights and south of the Belbek River valley in the direction of Mekenzi cordon No. 1. On the night of December 23, the troops of the 4th sector were withdrawn to new positions in the Mekenzi Mountains region. An extremely difficult situation was created for the entire defensive region. At this critical moment, to eliminate the defense breakthrough in the Kamyshly area, the commander of the defensive area brought the 79th Naval Rifle Brigade into battle.

On the morning of December 23, the 79th brigade, in cooperation with units of the 25th and 95th rifle divisions, suddenly counterattacked the enemy, striking in the direction of heights 64.4, 57.8 and the Hammer and Sickle artel. Overcoming stubborn enemy resistance, by the end of the day the Marines had captured heights 192.0 and 104.5, pushed the Nazis back to their original position, reached the Belbek River valley and helped the 287th Infantry Regiment, which had fought a fierce battle here for 24 hours, escape from encirclement .

For excellent combat operations on the very first day of the battle, the commander of the Primorsky Army expressed gratitude to the brigade personnel.

A battalion of marines from the Tuapse naval base took an active part in the December battles. In December 1941, the battalion became part of the 8th Marine Brigade.

At this time, the 7th Marine Brigade firmly held its defenses in the area of ​​the Italian Cemetery and Upper Chorgun. During the December battles, it destroyed more than 2,500 Nazis, but it itself suffered significant losses: 200–300 people remained in the battalions.

The heaviest battles took place in the areas of defense of the battalions E. I. Leonov, S. N. Butakov, A. A. Khotin.

Marines of the platoons F.A. Nikitenko and Y. Kh. Klimov, under the command of company commander F.A. Rozgin and battalion commissar I.I. Shulzhenko, fought for several hours surrounded. At night, a group of soldiers led by Sergeant N.I. Boytsov broke through to their own and carried out the wounded, including company and platoon commanders and the deceased senior political instructor I.I. Shulzhenko.

Heavy fighting continued everywhere. The 4th battalion of the 8th Marine Brigade, under the command of Commissar V. G. Omelchenko, repelled two attacks by enemy infantry and tanks.

In the marine battalion of Captain Kharitonov (7th brigade), former submariner Ivan Lichkaty, replacing a seriously wounded commander, raised the company on a counterattack. The enemy was driven back. In hand-to-hand combat, I. Lichkaty died.

Actions of the Marine Corps of the Black Sea Fleet in the defense of Sevastopol in 1941–1942.

In the December battles, the marines of the battalions commanded by captains A. A. Bondarenko, L. P. Golovin, A. S. Gegeshidze, I. F. Kogarlitsky, E. M. Leonov, Major F. I. showed examples of perseverance and courage. Linnik, captains K. I. Pochashinsky, I. S. Ponyashkin, V. P. Kharitonov, A. A. Khotin, G. S. Shelokhov, M. S. Chernousov.

The sniper movement became widespread among the defenders of Sevastopol. Snipers Noah Adamia, political instructor V.E. Gladkikh, junior lieutenant K.A. Bzhelenko, junior political instructor S.M. Fomin, sergeants D.A. Ermolov, I.T. Drobotun, foreman 1st class O.K. Kozharinov, V.P. Rybalko and many others. Noah Adamia destroyed 250 fascists. He was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Snipers Lyudmila Pavlichenko and Ivan Bogatyr also became recipients of the Golden Star.

The December assault on Sevastopol, like the November one, ended in failure. During the December battles, the enemy lost only over 40 thousand soldiers and officers killed. The successful repulsion of the German offensive on Sevastopol was greatly facilitated by the Kerch-Feodosia landing operation carried out at the end of December 1941, as a result of which the Kerch enemy group was defeated. The German command was forced to divert a significant part of the forces from near Sevastopol and stop the assault on the city.

Having repelled the enemy's December offensive, the personnel of the Sevastopol garrison in the winter and spring months of 1942 continued to improve their defense, generalize and study the experience of the battles.

On June 7, 1942, the German command, having concentrated about 204 thousand people, 450 tanks, over 2000 guns and mortars, including heavy and heavy-duty artillery with a caliber from 420 to 600 mm, 600 aircraft, after many days of aviation and artillery preparation, launched an offensive on all sectors of the defense of Sevastopol. The enemy delivered the main blow from the Kamyshly and Belbek area in the direction of the Mekenzievy Gory checkpoint, Mekenzi cordon No. 1 and further to the northeastern tip of the Northern Bay, and a secondary one - from the Kamara area through Sapun Mountain to the southeastern outskirts of Sevastopol. By this time, the Sevastopol defensive region included 106 thousand people, 600 guns and mortars, 38 tanks and 53 aircraft.

The defenders of the city, showing massive heroism, repelled 15–20 attacks every day. The 79th Naval Rifle Brigade fought heroically. The battalions of majors Y. S. Kulichenko and Y. M. Pchelkin, who had to operate almost surrounded, especially distinguished themselves in battles. They fought together with units of the 747th and 514th regiments of the 172nd division (commander - Colonel I. A. Laskin). However, numerically superior enemy forces managed to penetrate the defenses at the junction of the 172nd Infantry Division and the 79th Marine Rifle Brigade.

The brigade, reinforced by the battalion of the 2nd Perekop Marine Regiment (commander - Lieutenant Colonel N.N. Taran), with the support of artillery of the 172nd Infantry Division and coastal batteries, launched several counterattacks in order to restore the situation.

At dawn on June 8, the battalion of Major Ya. M. Pchelkin launched a counterattack. A fierce battle ensued. The battalion of the 2nd Perekop Regiment (commander - Captain A.N. Smerdinsky) acted boldly and decisively. He came close to the German trenches and entered into a bayonet battle. The seriously wounded Smerdinsky was replaced by Captain D.S. Gusak. In the battle in the trenches, the battalion commissar, senior political instructor F.A. Redkin and captain D.S. Gusak were killed. Hand-to-hand combat ensued. The Marines showed unprecedented heroism and courage, but the enemy brought reserves into the battle, and the regiment, taking the wounded, was forced to retreat.

As a result of bloody battles, the enemy pushed back units of the 172nd Infantry Division and the 79th Marine Rifle Brigade to the area of ​​the Mekenzievy Gory stop.

While defeating the enemy in manpower and equipment, the defenders of Sevastopol themselves suffered heavy losses. Many unit commanders died in battle. There was only no more than a battalion left in the brigade... But the Marines fought to the death.

The reserve of the commander of the Sevastopol defensive region, including the 7th and 9th Marine Brigades, played an important role in the active defense of the city.

On June 11, units of the 25th Infantry Division (commanded by Major General T.K. Kolomiets) and a combined detachment of the 7th Marine Brigade under the command of Colonel E.I. Zhidilov counterattacked the enemy and reoccupied the Mekenzievy Gory station. Fierce fighting raged there for ten days. Showing mass heroism, the battalions of the 7th Marine Brigade, commanded by captains A. S. Gegeshidze, V. I. Rodin, A. V. Filippov, F. I. Zaporoshchenko, L. P. Golovin and Ya, steadfastly repelled enemy attacks. A. Rud.

On June 12, the enemy, after strong artillery and air preparation, launched attacks on the southeastern approaches to the city in the direction of the village of Kamary and Fedyukhin Heights. The fighting here continued for several days. The attacks in the Kamara area, along the Yalta Highway, were particularly fierce. The enemy failed to break into Sevastopol from this side. However, he continued to push back the city's defenders. Former commander of the 7th Marine Brigade E.I. Zhidilov wrote: “On June 23 we are ordered to withdraw from the Fedyukhin Heights to Sapun Mountain. In the center of our site is now the Yalta Highway. Our neighbors on the flanks are units of the 386th Infantry Division of Colonel Skutelnikov and the 9th Marine Brigade... We fight day and night... Our counterattacks, increasingly turning into hand-to-hand combat, still terrify the Nazis, and they roll back, covering the battlefield with thousands of their corpses. Only before an avalanche of fire are we forced to retreat. But at the same time, we always maintain a coherent organization and clear combat control.”

Particularly heavy fighting was fought by units of the 9th Brigade on Sapun Mountain and battalions of the 8th Marine Brigade near Inkerman. From 26 June, the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 8th Brigade fought while completely surrounded. Almost the entire personnel of these battalions died.

The situation of the heroically fighting battalions of the 8th Brigade worsened every hour. Soldiers, commanders and political workers died, but the Marines fought to the death, defending Sevastopol until the last hour. There were already fierce battles on the streets of the city, and the brigade personnel continued to fight near Inkerman. Thousands of Marines gave their lives for their homeland in these battles.

The defenders of the North Side also performed an immortal feat. Here, in the June battles, the marine battalions of Captain A. S. Gegeshidze and Captain Y. A. Rud fought to the death. In these battles A.S. Gegeshidze was seriously wounded. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, A. S. Gegeshidze was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union in 1942.

74 sailors, under the command of Captain 3rd Rank Evseev and battalion commissar I.P. Kulinich, repelled numerous enemy attacks on the Konstantinovsky Ravelin fort for three days.

In hand-to-hand combat, the Marines defended every meter of Sevastopol land with a bayonet, butt and grenades.

In the Kara-Kobya valley, in unequal, bloody battles, units of the 3rd Black Sea Marine Regiment (commanded by Colonel S.R. Gusarov) and the engineer battalion also suffered significant losses. The regiment included cadets from the Naval School of Coastal Defense named after. LKSMU (commander - Colonel V. A. Kostyshin). Many of them died heroically. While defending Sevastopol, cadets from the unit of junior lieutenant Viktor Sokolov performed a feat in the valley. Covering the retreat of the regiment's units, the sailors fought until the last bullet. The Nazis tore apart seriously wounded sailors and brutally tortured the wounded Viktor Sokolov.

From June 30, fierce battles broke out on the streets of Sevastopol, where every house, every pile of ruins turned into a kind of pillbox. More than one thousand of Nazi invaders found their grave here.

When the fighting broke out directly in the city, the Supreme High Command ordered the evacuation of the Sevastopol garrison. The evacuation lasted from July 1 to July 3. It was covered by units of the Primorsky Army and a combined regiment of sailors under the overall command of Major General P. G. Novikov. Some of those who were unable to evacuate broke through to the mountains to join the partisans.

The military commissar of the 79th brigade, senior battalion commissar S.I. Kostyakhin, leading a combined detachment of sailors (about 400 people), covered the withdrawal of the Special Operations Command units. On July 2, his detachment on the Balaklava highway destroyed 20 tanks and more than 100 people. enemy soldiers and officers. In this battle, the detachment lost more than 75 percent of its personnel. However, on July 3 and 4 he continued to fight. On July 4, shell-shocked S.I. Kostyakhin was captured by the Nazis and, after torture, was shot in Bakhchisarai.

The defense of Sevastopol took place in extremely difficult conditions. The city was located deep in the rear of German troops and was isolated from the main forces of our army.

The defense of the city, which lasted eight months, was one of the brightest pages of the Great Patriotic War. It demonstrated the greatness of the spirit of the Soviet people, their unbending resilience and mass heroism. The enemy suffered enormous damage. The enemy's losses amounted to about 300 thousand soldiers and officers killed and wounded. In the last 25 days of fighting alone, German and Romanian troops lost up to 150 thousand people, over 250 tanks, up to 250 guns and over 300 aircraft near Sevastopol.

To commemorate the outstanding military merits of the city’s defenders, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR established the medal “For the Defense of Sevastopol,” which was awarded to over 99 thousand people. 54 of the most distinguished soldiers, including 26 sailors, were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Thousands of defense participants were awarded orders and medals of the Soviet Union.

With the withdrawal from Sevastopol, the struggle to retain Crimea during the first period of the Great Patriotic War ended. The Black Sea Fleet was relocated to the Caucasus ports.

The Marine Corps played a significant role in the defense of Kerch.

In October 1941, units of the Kerch naval base, including the 9th Marine Brigade (commanded by Colonel N.V. Blagoveshchensky), together with units of the ground forces, fought heavy battles. On October 20, the brigade (more than 4 thousand people) occupied a defense line on the approaches to the city of Kerch with a front length of 35 km.

At the beginning of November, numerically superior enemy forces broke through the defenses of our troops in the Ak-Monai sector. By order of the commander of the Kerch operational group, the 1st battalion of the 9th brigade was sent to the breakthrough area and assigned to the rifle regiments of the 9th rifle corps to participate in rearguard battles.

On November 5–6, the battalion's companies did not leave the battle. Of the 720 fighters, only 170 people returned to the brigade.

On November 9, units of the brigade, a combined naval battalion (commanded by Captain Modzalevsky) and a local rifle battalion took on the enemy attack in the Kamysh-Burun area. For three days the brigade fought stubborn battles, defending the approaches to Kerch.

The 9th Marine Brigade repeatedly faced counterattacks. During these days, the enemy lost about 3,000 soldiers and officers. On November 11, German troops occupied Kamysh-Burun and approached Karantinnaya Sloboda.

On November 13, the 3rd and 4th battalions of the brigade gained a foothold on the outskirts of Kerch. During the day, the 2nd battalion successfully repelled attacks by enemy tanks and only in the evening, on the orders of the commander of the 106th division, retreated to a new line.

On November 14–15, all battalions of the brigade continued to conduct rearguard battles, covering the withdrawal of army units. On the night of November 16, the last group of sailors of the 9th brigade was evacuated from the Yenikale pier.

In these difficult battles, the Marines showed courage and heroism. The commander of the 2nd battalion, Captain Podchashinsky, and the battery commander, Dublyansky, especially distinguished themselves.

The battle for Kerch continued 40 days later, in December 1941, when troops of the North Caucasus Front, sailors of the Black Sea Fleet and the Azov Flotilla landed in Kerch.

The 83rd Naval Rifle Brigade under the command of Colonel I.P. Leontyev took part in the landing.

From May 15 to May 20, 1942, units of the brigade fought heavy battles, covering the withdrawal of our troops through the Kerch Strait to the Taman Peninsula. In these battles, the brigade commander, Colonel I.P. Leontyev, Commissar V.I. Navoznov and many others died. Some of the marines went to the Adzhimushka catacombs and took part in the struggle of the heroic underground garrison. One of the battalions was commanded by Major A.P. Panov.

For about six months, more than 15 thousand military personnel (including marines) and residents of Kerch offered courageous resistance to German troops. The garrisons of the catacombs fought with the enemy for 170 days and nights, diverting significant forces of German troops in unequal battles.

The Germans tried to get inside the quarries, but each time they were unsuccessful, and only by using gas did they manage to break into the underground garrison and deal with its heroic defenders.

As an oath of allegiance, evidence of the unbending will of the Soviet people who did not bow their heads to the enemy, the words of the radiogram sounded on the air: “Everyone! Everyone! Everyone! To all the peoples of the Soviet Union! We, the defenders of Kerch, are suffocating from the gas, dying, but not surrendering!”

The exploits of the courageous defenders of Kerch were awarded the highest award of the Motherland. In October 1973, the city of Kerch was awarded the honorary title of Hero City with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal.

When the offensive of the Nazi troops in the Caucasus began, the Marine Corps took an active part in its defense.

In May 1942, German troops, after strong aviation and artillery preparation, went on the offensive against the Red Army troops defending the Kerch Peninsula. The enemy managed to break through the defenses of our troops. Units of the Red Army, fighting heavy battles, were forced to evacuate to the Taman Peninsula. The Novorossiysk defensive operation of the troops of the North Caucasus Front began. Four brigades, three regiments, 12 marine battalions and 6 naval rifle brigades took part in the battles on the Taman Peninsula and the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus.

Near Novorossiysk, German troops were opposed by formations of the 47th Army (commanded by Lieutenant General K. N. Leselidze), as well as formations and units of the Marine Corps. The main forces of the 47th Army fought at the Erivan, Neberdzhaevskaya, Verkhne-Bakanskaya line.

On August 21, 1942, during the battle for the village of Krymskaya, the 83rd separate marine brigade (commander - Colonel M.P. Kravchenko, military commissar - regimental commissar F.V. Monastyrsky) was transferred to this area. The brigade, in cooperation with rifle units, with the support of the armored train “Death to the German occupiers!” fought fierce battles, repelling the attacks of the enemy, who, however, managed to push back our units and occupy the villages of Abinskaya and Krymskaya.

As a result of the loss of these settlements, there was a threat of German troops exiting through the passes of the Main Caucasus Range to Novorossiysk.

To strengthen the defense of Novorossiysk, by order of Rear Admiral S. G. Gorshkov, deputy commander of the Novorossiysk defensive region for the naval unit (commander Major General G. P. Kotov, and from September 8, 1942 - Major General A. A. Grechko) , detachments of sailors were formed from the personnel of the watercraft and the 2nd brigade of torpedo boats. In addition, the 1st and 2nd Marine Brigades were formed from separate Marine battalions (during the battles, the 1st Brigade was renamed the 255th Separate Marine Brigade, and the second became part of the 83rd Separate Marine Brigade infantry). The Marine Corps took up defensive positions on the Mikhailovsky, Babich, Kabardinsky, Neberdzhaevsky and Volchi Vorota passes. The 46th anti-aircraft artillery division moved into the same area specifically to fight enemy tanks.

The 255th separate marine brigade (commander - Colonel D.V. Gordeev, military commissar battalion commissar M.V. Vidov), consisting of the 14th, 142nd and 322nd battalions, defended the road and heights in the direction of Neberdzhaevskaya and Novorossiysk.

Separate sections of the Taman Peninsula on a broad front were also defended by marine units and coastal batteries. Seven defense sectors were created as part of the Novorossiysk defensive region, almost all of which were fought by marines. Thus, in the second sector the 14th, 142nd and 322nd marine battalions defended, in the fourth - the 83rd separate marine brigade, in the fifth - the 144th separate marine battalion, in the sixth - separate detachments of sailors of the Novorossiysk The naval base and in the seventh sector were defended by the 305th Separate Marine Battalion.

The first to enter the battle were the 687th battery, which opened fire on enemy infantry and tanks advancing in the Neberdzhaevsky pass area, and the 142nd separate marine battalion, which fought in the Shapsugskaya area.

For two weeks from August 11 to August 24, 1942, marine units, together with coastal batteries and ships, repelling numerous attacks by German troops, bravely and staunchly defended Temryuk. In difficult and bloody battles, the 144th separate marine corps battalion under the command of Lieutenant Commander A.I. Vostrikov, the 305th separate marine corps battalion, commanded by Art. Lieutenant P.I. Zheludko, as well as the Azov Marine Battalion under the command of Major Ts.L. Kunikov.

Developing the offensive, German troops occupied Anapa on August 31 and reached the Black Sea coast.

The enemy sought to break into Novorossiysk at any cost. In the most dangerous areas of the defense he was opposed by the Marines. So the 142nd Marine Battalion was transferred to the area of ​​​​the city of Dolgaya, where it held back the enemy, leading bloody battles. The 16th Marine Battalion took up defense at height 307.4, where, having repelled more than ten attacks, it stopped the advance of the enemy, who struck from Glebovka. The 144th separate marine battalion fought in the area of ​​the Adagun village and the village of Varenikovskaya.

At this time, units of the 103rd Rifle Brigade repelled enemy attacks at the Wolf Gate Pass. The combat operations of the marines and ground forces were supported by the leader "Kharkov" and the destroyer "Soobrazitelny", maneuvering in Tsemes Bay.

The 81st Naval Rifle Brigade under the command of Colonel P.K. Bogdanovich, fighting heavy battles on intermediate lines, retreated to the southeast. In August, the brigade fought on the Laba River, and then defended the area of ​​the village of Fanagoriyskaya, closing the entrance to the mountains through the Wolf Gate. From September 1942 to April 1943, units of the brigade held an important defense sector behind the Kabardian pass southeast of the village of Neberdzhaevskaya. Then the 81st brigade (commander Colonel P.I. Nesterov) was transported to Malaya Zemlya.

At the beginning of September, the newly formed 15th, 16th and 17th Marine Battalions with a total number of more than 3,400 people arrived in Novorossiysk from Tuapse and Poti. From these the 200th Marine Regiment was formed.

These days, the German command landed troops two miles north of the Tuzla Spit and in the area of ​​​​Sinaya Balka. Units of the Kerch naval base, including the 305th and 328th separate battalions of the Marine Corps, with the support of coastal batteries and the gunboats Rostov-Don and Oktyabr, fought in extremely difficult conditions.

At the line between the town of Dolgaya and the Mefodievsky farm, the 255th separate marine brigade (commander - Colonel D.V. Gordeev) fought. Then she conducted military operations in the Lipka area, holding back the onslaught of the enemy, who was rushing to the Black Sea coast. Over the course of 10 days, numerically superior German forces, supported by a large number of tanks and aircraft, stormed the brigade's battle formations several times. The enemy managed to surround the brigade. However, despite the difficult situation, not a single one of its units left the line they occupied. At the same time, the Marines not only defended themselves, but also often went on the offensive.

With great difficulty, the sailors made their way along the mountain paths, carrying the wounded brigade commander D.V. Gordeev in their arms. Finally, in the area of ​​​​the city of Koldun, height 502.0, having retained its weapons and without losing its combat effectiveness, the brigade emerged from the encirclement.

Twelve attacks were repelled by a company under the command of political instructor N.I. Nezhnev, who fought for four days in conditions of complete encirclement, and units of the headquarters of the 142nd separate battalion of the Marine Corps (commander - Lieutenant Commander O.I. Kuzmin), also being surrounded, repelled four enemy attacks.

On September 2, German troops occupied Verkhne-Bakansky and the Wolf Gate pass, and the next day - the settlements of Fedotovka and Vasilyevka. Having concentrated five divisions here, the enemy began the assault on Novorossiysk.

In early September, the 83rd Separate Marine Brigade had to fight fierce street battles. On September 8, its units were surrounded. Having fought surrounded for six days, the brigade held back the onslaught of an enemy ten times superior, and then broke out of the encirclement with a decisive counterattack. After this, the Marines fought their way back to the southern outskirts of Stanichka, from where on September 10 they were evacuated to the eastern shore of Tsemes Bay.

Assessing the actions of the Marine Corps, Marshal of the Soviet Union A. A. Grechko wrote: “In the battles on the streets of Novorossiysk and its eastern outskirts, the Marine Corps battalions under the command of Major A. A. Khlyabich, Captain V. S. Bogoslovsky, Lieutenant Commander A. I. Vostrikova, Art. Lieutenant M.D. Zaitsev and other units of the Marine Corps...” Stopped east of Novorossiysk, German troops, trying to break through to the Black Sea coast, launched an offensive through the mountainous and wooded area north of Novorossiysk, in the area of ​​the villages of Shapsugskaya, Abinskaya and Uzun. On September 19, after lengthy artillery and air preparation, the enemy attacked our positions. For three days, units of the 216th Infantry Division, weakened in previous battles, fought stubbornly. By the end of September 21, the enemy, at the cost of huge losses, pushed the division's units back 5–6 km. Then the command of the 47th Army transferred the 83rd and 255th separate marine brigades to this section of the front, which, in cooperation with the 77th Infantry Division, launched an offensive in the Shapsugskaya area. As a result of three-day battles, units of the brigades restored the situation and, developing the offensive, liberated the settlements of Karasu-Bazar, Glubokiy Yar, etc. In these battles, the Marines, together with the ground forces, defeated two enemy divisions and killed more than 3 thousand of his soldiers and officers. For exemplary performance of combat missions, the 83rd and 255th separate marine brigades and the 81st naval rifle brigade were awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

The 137th Separate Marine Regiment, formed in early September 1942, also took an active part in the battle for Novorossiysk. In early September, this regiment was transferred on fleet warships from Poti to Gelendzhik, and on the night of September 11, 1942, it began combat operations in the area of ​​cement factories.

The heaviest street battles took place in the city center, often turning into hand-to-hand combat. Intense battles took place on the territory of the Proletary plant, in its workshops, on every landing. Individual workshops and floors changed hands several times. The 305th, 14th battalions and the 83rd separate marine brigade stubbornly defended here.

The company of junior lieutenant V. G. Milovatsky (322nd battalion of the 255th brigade) in the battles for Novorossiysk repelled 19 enemy attacks and destroyed about 800 of his soldiers and officers. On March 31, 1943, V. G. Milovatsky was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

During the defense of Novorossiysk, the troops of the defensive region, coastal, naval artillery and aviation disabled about 14 thousand soldiers and officers and a large amount of enemy military equipment.

German troops, after bloody battles that lasted about a month, captured Novorossiysk, but were unable to develop an offensive along the Black Sea coast on Tuapse, since the troops of the 47th Army, units as well as marine formations managed to gain a foothold on the eastern outskirts of Novorossiysk and on the eastern shore Tsemes Bay. For 360 days, the heroic defenders of the city held their defense here.

In the landing operations of the Black Sea Fleet, the combat operations of the 83rd separate naval rifle brigade under the command of Colonel I.P. Leontyev during the Kerch-Feodosia landing operation of 1941 are of significant interest.

The brigade's battalions performed the task of the advanced landing detachments. The landing took place in stormy weather. Operating together with units of the 224th Infantry Division and the 124th Infantry Brigade, the battalions landed at three points: at Cape Zyuk, at Cape Khroni and at the village of Chelochik. The Marine battalions were commanded by Captain A.I. Kapran, Art. Lieutenant Tarasyan, Captain A.P. Panov.

The Marines, having landed in the water under heavy enemy fire, breaking the coastal edge of the ice with their chests, reached Crimean soil. At some points only isolated units landed. Some of them were united by the commissar of the 1st battalion of the 83rd brigade, Art. political instructor I. A. Teslenko. This combined detachment fought heavy battles for several days, during which Teslenko was wounded three times. On December 29, in the area of ​​Cape Tarkhan, the detachment linked up with the main forces of the brigade.

Political instructor I. A. Teslenko became the first Hero of the Soviet Union in the brigade.

On the same day, December 29, a water detachment of sailors of the 9th Marine Brigade (300 people) under the command of Art. Lieutenant A. F. Aidanov, acting as an assault detachment of the main landing force, landed from patrol boats in the port of Feodosia. Having overcome stubborn enemy resistance, the Marines captured part of the port and secured access to the berths of ships with the first echelon of landing forces.

BLACK SEA FLEET LANDINGS IN 1943

Total number - 11 (of which 3 landing operations)

The total number of disembarked personnel is 31,680 people.

(in 1941 - 2 landings; in 1942 - 3 landings)

The first to rush into the harbor was the patrol boat "SKA-0131" (commander A.D. Kokarev). Under enemy fire, he landed an assault group on the protective pier, which, having captured the lighthouse, turned on the light.

By the morning of December 30, the troops of the 44th Army completely liberated Feodosia, and on January 2, 1942, the landing units of the 51st Army reached the Arabat Gulf. With the expulsion of the enemy from the Kerch Peninsula and the formation of a new Crimean Front, the operation was completed.

In 1943, the Marine Corps became famous in combat operations near Novorossiysk, on the Myskhako bridgehead, which went down in the history of the Great Patriotic War under the name “Malaya Zemlya.” In the battles on this bridgehead, the marines of the Black Sea Fleet showed a vivid example of perseverance, courage and combat skill.

The offensive of Soviet troops in the North Caucasus that unfolded at the beginning of 1943 created favorable conditions for active operations of the Black Sea Fleet. In February 1943, the navy landed troops on the fortified coast in the Novorossiysk area to strike from the southwest and assist the ground forces in the liberation of Novorossiysk.

The main landing party was planned to land in the area of ​​South Ozereyka, and a demonstrative one - on the western shore of Tsemes Bay on the outskirts of the city - Stanichka. A detachment of Marines, Major Ts. L. Kunikov, was included in the demonstration landing.

The amphibious landing began on the night of February 4th. Due to stubborn enemy resistance, stormy weather and shortcomings in the organization of cooperation, it was not possible to land the main landing forces in the South Ozereyka area.

In the Stanichka area, a detachment of marines by Ts. L. Kunikov with a bold throw broke the enemy’s resistance and captured a small bridgehead up to 4 km along the front and 2.5 km in depth.

It should be noted that only volunteers who had proven themselves well in previous battles were selected for the airborne detachment. Major T.L. Kunikov was appointed commander of the landing, and Art. Lieutenant N.V. Starshinov, and the chief of staff was Captain F.E. Kotanov. During the formation of the detachment, its command had the right to select people from any part of the Novorossiysk naval base. The formed detachment consisted of 250 volunteer marines. The paratroopers were armed with 250 machine guns, fourteen 52-mm mortars, nineteen 50-mm mortars, 42 machine guns and 17 anti-tank rifles. Each of the Marines had 10 hand grenades and 12 loaded machine guns.

Kunikov’s detachment consisted of five combat groups, the personnel of which underwent special training at Thin Cape in Gelendzhik. Assault groups learned to jump into the water with weapons, climb rocks, and throw grenades from awkward positions. The Marines mastered all types of captured weapons, learned to throw knives and act in hand-to-hand combat, and provide first aid.

The landing party of Ts. L. Kunikov landed on five boats in Gelendzhik Bay and at 21.00. On February 3, 1943, he headed to the landing area.

After artillery preparation, the assault groups of senior lieutenants V.S. Pshechenko and A.D. Taranovsky were the first to land. The landing lasted only two minutes. During the night, landing groups of senior lieutenants I.V. Zhernovoy, I.M. Ezhel, V.A. Botylev were landed. At 2.40. Ts. L. Kunikov reported that the landing force had captured a bridgehead on the shore.

Thus, the demonstration landing turned into an auxiliary one, and then became the main one. The epic of Malaya Zemlya began with him. Having broken through the fire curtain, the assault detachment managed to occupy a small but very important landing point in the area of ​​the Novorossiysk suburb of Stanichki.

The Marines destroyed about a thousand enemy soldiers and officers, captured four captured guns, from which they immediately opened fire on the enemy. An hour and a half later, the second group of troops landed, then another, after which the number of paratroopers increased to 800 people.

The battle for the bridgehead became fierce: every building, every meter of land was under crossfire from enemy firing points and illuminated by rockets.

Marine landings of the Black Sea Fleet in 1941–1944.

The landing party suffered heavy losses and it was difficult to advance. The enemy, having brought up reserves, launched a series of counterattacks at dawn on February 4. But neither counterattacks by superior forces, nor shelling from heavy guns, nor air strikes could break the resistance of the Marines. During February 4–5, in the area of ​​the fish factory and the southern outskirts of Stanichka, they managed to hold a bridgehead measuring 300 by 400 m, ensuring the landing of the main landing forces.

Ts. L. Kunikov said about his fighters: “The detachment was small. But the people seem to be handpicked, real sailors. Defenders of Odessa and Sevastopol, participants in the Kerch and Feodosia landings, heroes of battles in Novorossiysk and the Caucasus.”

On the night of February 6, the gunboats "Red Adjaristan" and "Red Georgia", four minesweepers and boats delivered two battalions of the 165th Infantry Brigade with a total number of 2900 people, which were under the command of the commander of the 255th Marines, to the bridgehead of the 255th Separate Marine Brigade. Colonel A. S. Potapov's brigades immediately entered the battle.

The Marines had to fight especially hard in the area of ​​the radio station and cemetery, which the Germans turned into a strong defense center.

On the same day, the 14th battalion of the 255th brigade, under the command of Captain 3rd Rank Chebyshev, stormed an enemy stronghold in the area of ​​the water pump.

The German command, supported by a large number of tanks, made a new unsuccessful attempt to defeat the landing force.

By the end of February 6, the landing units on the bridgehead firmly held the line: Komarovsky Street, the western outskirts of Stanichka, a radio station, a water pump.

The brave defenders of Malaya Zemlya, having repelled numerous attacks by units of the enemy’s 17th Army, expanded and secured the bridgehead.

The situation on the bridgehead improved significantly after the landing on the night of February 9 of the 83rd Separate Marine Brigade under the command of Lieutenant Colonel D.V. Krasnikov. Units of the brigade, quickly and in an organized manner, landed on the shore, and during February 9–10, fighting heavy offensive battles, occupied the settlements of Aleksino, Myskhako, and the Myskhako state farm.

By the evening of February 9, the 255th separate marine brigade reached the line of Konstantinovskaya and Azovskaya streets in the southwestern part of Novorossiysk, and the 83rd separate marine brigade captured the line - Camp, Sudzhuk Spit.

On the same day, a company under the command of Art. Lieutenant V.A. Botylev broke through behind enemy lines in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe street. Shevchenko. When repelling one of the attacks, ml. Sergeant M. M. Kornitsky knocked out a tank with an anti-tank grenade. The remaining tanks turned back. The Marines, having fortified themselves in one of the buildings, repelled several more attacks. In the afternoon, the Germans surrounded and set fire to the building with shells. The position of the sailors defending there became hopeless. At this critical moment of the battle, ml. helped out his comrades. Sergeant M. M. Kornitsky. He tied several anti-tank grenades to his belt and, holding a grenade prepared for explosion in his hand, jumped over the fence onto the German soldiers who were preparing to attack. The hero blew himself up along with the Nazis and thereby provided the company with a way out of encirclement.

Jr. Sergeant M. M. Kornitsky was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for his accomplished feat.

By the end of February 10, the landing troops, having overcome stubborn enemy resistance, occupied 14 blocks of Novorossiysk, the settlements of Aleksino and Myskhako and cut the Novorossiysk-Glebovka highway.

In the battles on the bridgehead, Chief Petty Officer Voronin (144th Separate Marine Battalion) performed a heroic feat.

The attacking chains of Marines, coming under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire, lay down near the wire fence. The grenades thrown by the paratroopers could not destroy it. Then Voronin, hung with grenades, crawled to the barrier, and then, standing up to his full height, threw several bunches of grenades into the German trench and suppressed the firing point. Following this, he threw his pea coat over the barbed wire and was the first to overcome the fence. The entire company followed the hero's example. The obstacle was overcome, but a machine gun burst killed the brave marine. For his heroism, Voronin was posthumously awarded the Order of Lenin.

In these battles, the foreman of the 2nd article of the 16th battalion of the 83rd Marine Brigade, Kanatiev, distinguished himself. On February 13, on Malaya Zemlya, during another German air raid, he shot down a Yu-87 plane with a second shot from an anti-tank rifle.

The command of the North Caucasus Front took energetic measures to build up forces and assets in Malaya Zemlya. Five days later, there were up to 17 thousand soldiers and officers of the airborne troops, who had 21 guns, 74 mortars, 86 machine guns and 440 tons of ammunition and food. As a result of the measures taken, it was possible not only to defend the bridgehead, but also to expand it to 30 square meters. km.

By February 18, the 255th and 83rd separate rifle brigades of the Red Banner Marines were fighting on Malaya Zemlya; 51st, 107th and 165th rifle brigades, 815th rifle regiment of the 349th rifle division, 897th mountain rifle regiment of the 242nd mountain rifle division, airborne regiment, 574th army air defense regiment. On February 22–23, the 176th Red Banner Rifle Division was transferred to the bridgehead.

Thus, almost two-thirds of the 18th Airborne Army fought on the bridgehead.

The success of the landing was due to the suddenness of the landing, the determination of the landing troops, the interaction of all branches of the naval forces participating in the landing, and the massive heroism of the paratroopers.

The presence of such a bridgehead as Malaya Zemlya created favorable conditions for the liberation of Novorossiysk.

The successes achieved by the Red Army in 1943 allowed the troops of the North Caucasus Front to launch an offensive to liberate the Taman Peninsula. The front troops had to break through the powerful defensive rampart, the so-called Blue Line, which the enemy had been creating since the beginning of 1943. Its most important stronghold was Novorossiysk.

To liberate the city, the Soviet command decided to carry out an operation with the forces of the 18th Army and the Black Sea Fleet, which was supposed to land troops directly in the port of Novorossiysk. The landing force included the 255th Separate Red Banner Marine Brigade, the 393rd Separate Marine Battalion, the 290th NKVD Regiment and the 1339th Rifle Regiment. Three landing detachments were formed from them.

In total, more than 6 thousand people took part in the landing, of which 4 thousand people. Marine Corps; It was armed with 40 guns, 105 mortars and 53 heavy machine guns. During the landing preparation period (from August 19 to September 9), a thorough reconnaissance of the enemy defenses was carried out.

With the onset of darkness on September 9, boarding of boats began in the port of Gelendzhik. At 21:15 the ships headed for the landing site.

Before the landing, artillery and aviation preparations were carried out.

The torpedo boats were the first to rush into the port. Explosions of terrible force were heard near the pier and berths of the port: firing points and anti-landing fortifications were torpedoed, and coastal barriers at the entrance to the port were blown up.

As part of the first rush, the Marines of the 393rd battalion landed on the port's piers. The first echelon of the 1st detachment - units of the 255th Marine Brigade, under enemy fire, landed on the Kholodilnik - Cape Lyubvi section.

The brigade's units began the offensive without securing their landing points, and therefore, having moved forward, they found themselves isolated from each other and cut off from the coast.

An attempt to land the second echelon of the 255th brigade was repulsed by enemy fire, as a result of which the brigade's units landed on the site of the third landing detachment - in the area of ​​​​the Import pier. The enemy launched several counterattacks against units of the brigade. The units, divided into small groups, fought heavy battles. On the night of September 11, the remnants of the brigade made their way to the troops operating in the Stanichka area.

The 393rd Separate Marine Battalion under the command of Captain-Lieutenant V.A. Botylev, an active participant in the fighting on Malaya Zemlya, especially distinguished himself in the battles. The battalion received the combat mission to land directly in the port of Novorossiysk, take possession of the coastline, the Staraya Passenger and Lesnaya piers and, advancing in a north-western direction, reach the line, Sacco and Vanzetti Street, the church on the market square, an oil depot, a railway station, an elevator.

During the landing, due to poor visibility and strong enemy artillery fire, part of the landing craft went off course and the marine units on them were landed on the coast of the entire bay from the Eastern Mole to Cape Love, at a front of 6 km instead of the intended 1200 m.

The battalion immediately moved to the defense of the captured areas. Two strongholds were created: one near the railway station, the other near the club building. The first strong point was held by marines under the command of Lieutenant Commander A.V. Raikunov, and the second under the command of Lieutenant Commander V.A. Botylev.

Taking advantage of the small number of troops, the enemy brought up reserves and, with the support of tanks, launched a series of fierce attacks. During September 11–13, the 339th Infantry Regiment and units of the Marine Corps fought to occupy the Proletary cement plant and reached the Red Engine plant, which contributed to the breakthrough of enemy defenses by troops of the 18th Army advancing from the southeast.

During the fighting, the Marines stormed the station, over which a red flag was hoisted. In order to increase the offensive breakthrough of the troops, the Military Council of the 18th Army sent an appeal to formations and units, which emphasized that the glorious successors of the traditions of the heroic defenders of Odessa, Leningrad, Sevastopol and Stalingrad are realizing their cherished dream of uniting the Lesser Land with the Greater Land. The appeal called on the soldiers to complete the liberation of the city as soon as possible.

In six days, the marines of Botylev's 393rd battalion, fighting surrounded, destroyed over 1,750 Nazis, destroyed 4 tanks, 2 guns and dozens of firing points. The combat score of sniper Hero of the Soviet Union Philip Rubakho increased from 278 to 323 destroyed fascists.

On September 16, Moscow saluted the valiant troops of the North Caucasus Front and the Black Sea Fleet, who captured Novorossiysk.

For their valor and bravery, 12 formations and units, including the 83rd Separate Red Banner Rifle Brigade of the Marine Corps and the 393rd Separate Marine Battalion, were given the honorary name “Novorossiysk”.

For the exploits performed in the battles for Novorossiysk, thousands of soldiers were awarded orders and medals. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to marines captain-lieutenant V. A. Botylev and A. V. Raikunov. In the 393rd Separate Marine Battalion alone, 431 people received government awards.

The success of the Novorossiysk landing operation was ensured by the high combat training of the units (about three weeks were allotted for it), the surprise of the landing, powerful aviation and artillery preparation for the landing, air supremacy of aviation, and the high morale and combat qualities of the landing personnel.

Having been defeated near Novorossiysk, the German command decided to evacuate its troops from the Taman Peninsula, holding the coast in the Temryuk area for this purpose.

During this period, several marine landings were landed on the Taman Peninsula in order to prevent the withdrawal of enemy troops and disrupt their evacuation to Crimea.

With the advance of Soviet troops to Perekop, Genichesk and the Kerch Strait, favorable conditions were created for the liberation of Crimea. For this purpose, in November 1943, it was planned to conduct the Kerch-Eltigen landing operation with the participation of troops of the 56th and 18th armies of the North Caucasus Front, the Black Sea Fleet and the Azov Flotilla.

About 130 thousand soldiers and officers, over 2 thousand guns and mortars, 125 tanks, 119 warships and 159 ships, motorboats and other landing craft and over 1000 aircraft were involved in the operation.

The general leadership of the landing operation was carried out by the commander of the North Caucasus Front, General I. E. Petrov, his assistant in the naval unit was Vice Admiral L. A. Vladimirsky. Rear Admiral S.G. Gorshkov was appointed commander of the landing forces in the main direction, and Rear Admiral G.N. Kholostyakov in the auxiliary direction.

The 83rd and 255th brigades, the 386th and 369th separate marine battalions, intended to strengthen rifle formations, took part in this operation. Thus, the 11th Guards Rifle Corps, landed northeast of Kerch, was assigned the 369th separate battalion of marines; The 318th Novorossiysk Rifle Division was reinforced by the 386th Separate Marine Battalion, and the 117th Rifle Division by one of the battalions of the 255th Separate Marine Taman Red Banner Rifle Brigade. The battalions were used as advanced landing troops. They were entrusted with the most difficult task - capturing the landing points.

From a tactical point of view, the combat operations of the 386th Marine Battalion under the command of Major N.A. Belyakov are of greatest interest. The battalion, including the attached separate company, numbered 734 people and was armed with 16 heavy and 35 light machine guns, 23 anti-tank rifles, 5 50-mm mortars, 385 submachine guns, 230 rifles. The machine gunners and riflemen each had 8–10 grenades.

The battalion received the task of landing on the night of November 1, 1943 in the area of ​​Cape Kamysh-Burun, seizing a bridgehead from the dam to mound 37.4 and ensuring the landing of the main forces of the 318th Infantry Division.

During the preparation of the battalion for landing, landing on landing craft, landing on an unequipped beach and seizing a bridgehead on the beach was practiced, and company and battalion exercises were conducted.

At midnight on October 31, in the port of Taman, the battalion boarded boats and motorboats. The landing began after artillery preparation at 5:15 a.m. on November 1st. The enemy offered fierce resistance. We had to land during a strong wave, when some of the small ships were washed ashore.

The advance detachment completed the landing at 6 o'clock. At the same time, the 1st company, due to damage to the tug, did not arrive at the landing site in a timely manner and was landed only on the evening of November 1.

Units of the battalion with access to the shore began to fight for the landing point; minefields and obstacles were undermined using special cartridges with an extended cord. Having passed the barrage, the first group, consisting of four platoons under the command of the deputy battalion commander for political affairs, Captain N.V. Rybakov, by 7 o’clock took the northern outskirts of the village of Eltigen by storm, and by 8 o’clock reached Cape Kamysh-Burun, where they captured two 75- mm guns and three heavy machine guns.

The second group also consists of four platoons under the command of the company commander of machine gunners Art. Lieutenant Tsibizova captured the southern outskirts of the village of Eltigen and, overcoming fierce enemy resistance, captured height 37.4 by 8 o'clock. The 2nd company (commanded by senior lieutenant N.I. Bogdanov) occupied another height and captured two enemy guns. Thus, by 8 a.m. the 386th Separate Marine Battalion completed its task.

A platoon of marines under the command of Lieutenant A.D. Shumskikh captured the dominant height of 47.7.

The enemy made a number of attempts to regain this height. 18 Marines had to repel an attack from a reinforced battalion. In this battle, Lieutenant Shumskikh died, but the height was held until reinforcements arrived. Seeing the small number of landing forces, by 9:30 a.m. on November 1, the enemy transferred more than two battalions of infantry and port command sailors to the landing site from Kerch in vehicles, which, with the support of 10 tanks, launched several attacks against the marines. However, all of them were repulsed, while the enemy lost 6 tanks and more than 500 soldiers and officers.

By 19:00 on November 1, the main forces of the 318th division (commander - Colonel V.F. Gladkov) were landed in the Eltigen area; in total, including the 386th battalion, 2,500 people; the rest of the division landed on November 2.

The next day, the enemy brought down heavy artillery and mortar fire on the landing formations. At 8 a.m. on November 2, the Germans, with the support of tanks, again attacked the sailors’ positions at an altitude of 37.4, but the attack was successfully repulsed. Then the enemy launched several attacks against the 318th Infantry Division, but these attempts were also unsuccessful. However, the enemy managed to block the transfer of reinforcements to the landing force and its supply by sea. The position of the paratroopers became difficult, but despite this, they continued to hold a bridgehead in the Eltigen area. From the first days of fighting on the bridgehead, the landing personnel experienced an acute shortage of food supplies. The basic daily diet consisted of 150–200 grams of bread, 20–40 grams of canned food, and 10 grams of fish. There were days when the paratroopers received 80 grams of bread a day. It was getting cold. The personnel did not have warm underwear, gloves or hats.

During these days of severe testing, the Marine Corps showed its high moral and combat qualities.

The former commander of the 318th Rifle Division, Hero of the Soviet Union, Major General V.F. Gladkov wrote: “On November 3, the Marine Corps glorified itself on the bridgehead just as on the day of its capture.” Writer Arkady Perventsev in his book “Terra del Fuego” truthfully described the remarkable combat and moral qualities of the marines of this unit: “I, as a landing commander and as an eyewitness, can testify that the sailors in Eltigen fought excellently.”

For the courage and bravery shown in the battles near Eltigen, armor-piercing Red Navy man N.A. Dubkovsky and foreman V.P. Zakudryaev were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. The main forces of the 56th Army landed on the night of November 3, 1943 in the areas of the villages of Gleika and Zhukovka. The 369th Marine Battalion, acting in the first throw, captured the bridgehead and ensured the landing of the advanced detachments and the main landing forces. Having overcome enemy resistance, the landing units of the 56th Army reached the Yenikale area.

In the battle for the landing, the platoon of the 369th battalion under the command of mln. acted especially decisively and proactively. Lieutenant N.P. Kirillov, who was the first to land on a steep bank and opened fire on enemy machine-gun points that were interfering with the landing of the advance detachment. Thanks to his actions, the advance detachment units landed without major losses.

When the company commander died in the battle for the landing point, Jr. took command. Lieutenant Kirillov. The marines he raised to attack captured three pillboxes and destroyed several dozen enemy soldiers and officers. Kirillov was seriously wounded, but continued to command the company. By Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR Jr. Lieutenant N.P. Kirillov was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for his decisive and selfless actions.

For more than a month, units of the 318th Infantry Division and Marine battalions, repelling attacks from superior enemy forces, held a bridgehead in the Eltigen area. In early December, when the troops of the 56th Army went on the defensive, the enemy had the opportunity to transfer part of their forces against the Eltigen landing force.

On December 3, he brought another division, a combined regiment and tanks into battle. The bridgehead was shot through with all types of weapons.

In these difficult conditions, the paratroopers continued to repel numerous enemy attacks. The most fierce fighting took place from December 4 to 6.

By this time, the Eltigen landing had completed its main task. With his active actions, he pinned down significant forces of German troops and did not allow them to be used against the main landing force landed in the Yenikale area. Therefore, the command decided to withdraw units of the Eltigen landing from the encirclement to the Kerch region to join the troops of the 56th Army.

On December 6, units of the Eltigen landing fought out of encirclement. The first to break through to the Kamysh-Burun area was a company of the 386th Marine Battalion under the command of Lieutenant P.G. Deikalo, and after it the main landing forces came out. One of the groups of paratroopers numbering 500 people. broke through to the southern outskirts of Kerch and captured Mount Mithridates in battle. During the night, about 1,500 paratroopers entered the area. The appearance of Soviet troops in Kerch was a surprise for the enemy. Panic arose among the German garrison. Under these conditions, the struggle for Kerch could have ended in major success. However, the command of the North Caucasus Front, due to lack of time, did not have time to take advantage of the favorable situation before dawn.

On the morning of December 7, the enemy managed to bring up fresh forces and, having launched several attacks, pushed the paratroopers back to the shore of Kerch Bay, where they gained a foothold.

To help the landing on December 7 and 8, 980 people were landed in the area of ​​the beach adjacent to the eastern slopes of Mount Mithridates. 83rd separate rifle Novorossiysk Red Banner Marine Brigade (brigade commander Colonel P. A. Murashov), who defended the area of ​​height 91.4, the northern shore of Lake Solenoye until December 10, that is, until the evacuation of the last landing units.

As a result of the Kerch-Eltigen landing operation, troops of the North Caucasus Front captured a bridgehead on the Kerch Peninsula, which played an important role in the battles for the liberation of Crimea.

In this landing, the methods of combat use of the Marine Corps were further developed. Each reinforced battalion constituted the forward detachment of the rifle division, the first echelon.

The task of the advance detachment was to land at the specified point, seize a bridgehead and ensure the landing of the main landing forces. The actions of the landing force were negatively affected by the lack of artillery and tanks in its forward detachments, as well as the poor knowledge of the boat commanders of the landing area, as a result of which the advance detachment unit landed with a displacement of 1.5–2 km from the intended points.

The experience of combat use of Marine battalions as forward detachments confirmed their ability to successfully solve the problem of seizing a landing bridgehead.

For more than a month, units of the 318th Infantry Division and Marines held the occupied section of the coast, repelling enemy counterattacks. During this time, the paratroopers destroyed several thousand soldiers and officers. The 386th Separate Marine Battalion alone destroyed more than 800 Nazis, knocked out 7 tanks and captured 50 soldiers and officers.

For their courage and heroism, 13 members of the battalion were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, including the battalion commander, Major N.A. Belyakov, Art. Lieutenant I. A. Tsibizov, Lieutenants P. G. Deikalo, F. A. Kalinin, L. I. Novozhilov, K. F. Stronsky, A. D. Shumskikh, Sergeants N. D. Kiselev, V. T. Tsymbal ; Sergeant N.A. Krivenko, battalion nurse - chief sergeant G.K. Petrova. 395 people were awarded orders and medals.

It was in 1943 that this method of combat employment of the Marine Corps, as action as part of the advanced detachments of rifle divisions, became widely used.

The landing now began to take place on a wider front. Several advance detachments landed at the same time, which facilitated the deployment of forces to capture the bridgehead.

In 1943, more than 30 landings were landed with the participation of about 35 thousand marines.

Unlike the first period of the war, in 1943, formations and units of the Marine Corps, as a rule, were assigned combat missions in advance, and up to two to three weeks were allotted for preparation.

In 1944, the Marine Corps took an active part in the liberation of the Kerch Peninsula, Sevastopol and Nikolaev.

On March 28, troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front from bridgeheads on the right bank of the Southern Bug launched a decisive offensive and captured Nikolaev. The offensive Odessa operation began, which lasted until April 14, 1944. At this time, the landing detachment under the command of Art. Lieutenant K.F. Olshansky. Most of the paratroopers (55 people) were the personnel of the 384th Separate Marine Battalion, 12 people. were Red Army soldiers of the 1st Guards fortified region of the 3rd Ukrainian Front.

On the night of March 26, 1944, a landing party on seven rowing boats left the village of Bogoyavlenskoye for Nikolaev. Overcoming the current, the paratroopers walked up the Southern Bug for about 25 km and at dawn quietly landed in the area of ​​​​the new elevator in the port of Nikolaev, silently removed the sentries and took up defense in the elevator building.

Unaware of the size of the landing party, the enemy initially used from 400 to 1000 soldiers against it. When the attacks failed to reach their target, artillery was used. After a 20-minute shelling, attacks followed again, but it was not possible to dislodge the paratroopers from the elevator. Then tanks were brought into battle. A fierce battle raged all day on March 28. The paratroopers fought to the death. They repelled 18 attacks and destroyed about 700 Nazis.

In an unequal battle, the commander of the detachment, Art. Lieutenant K.F. Olshansky, deputy detachment commander for political affairs, Captain A.F. Golovlev, Lieutenant G.S. Voloshko, Jr. Lieutenant V.E. Korda and over 50 privates and senior officers. Only 12 people survived. But even after this, the enemy was unable to capture the area occupied by the Marines. When all the officers died, command of the detachment was taken over by Sergeant Major 2nd Article K.V. Bochkovich. On March 28, together with ground units, the 384th separate battalion of marines under the command of Hero of the Soviet Union F.E. Kotanov entered the city. For the courage and heroism shown during the liberation of Nikolaev, the battalion was given the name “Nikolaevsky”, and the entire personnel of K. F. Olshansky’s detachment was given the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

The Crimean strategic offensive operation (April 8 - May 12, 1944), carried out by troops of the 4th Ukrainian Front and the Separate Primorsky Army in cooperation with the Black Sea Fleet, involved the 83rd separate rifle Novorossiysk Red Banner Marine Corps brigade and the 255th separate rifle brigade Taman Red Banner Marine Brigade, landed on the Kerch Peninsula in December 1943.

The troops of the Primorsky Army, in which these brigades operated, on April 11, after powerful artillery and aviation preparation, broke through the enemy’s defenses on the Kerch Peninsula and on April 13 completely liberated the peninsula and the city of Feodosia, and on April 16 reached the eastern approaches to Sevastopol.

On May 7, 1944, after an hour and a half of artillery and aviation preparation, the assault on Sevastopol began. The troops advanced along the entire front from Balaklava to Kachi. The 83rd and 255th Marine Brigades, operating as part of the 16th Rifle Corps, took part in the assault on Sevastopol. The corps advanced in the direction of the main attack, Karan, Cossack Bay. Both brigades formed the first echelon of the corps; The 227th and 339th rifle divisions of the corps developed the success of the first echelon formations.

The 83rd separate rifle Novorossiysk Red Banner Marine Brigade broke through the enemy’s defenses two kilometers east of Karan in an area of ​​800 m. Its battle formation consisted of three echelons and an artillery group. In cooperation with the 242nd Rifle Division, the brigade continued to advance in the direction of Kamyshovaya Bay.

The 255th Separate Rifle Taman Red Banner Rifle Brigade of the Marine Corps (also in a three-echelon battle formation) broke through the enemy’s defenses in a 500 m area. Having stormed Kaya-Bash, the brigade continued to develop the offensive in the direction of the Chersonesos lighthouse. Pressuring the enemy, Soviet troops took Belbek by storm, crossed the Northern Bay and broke into Sevastopol. On Malakhov Kurgan, a marine, commander of a reconnaissance platoon, Lieutenant Volonsky, hoisted the Red Banner.

On May 9, Sevastopol became Soviet again; A 324-gun salute in Moscow announced this historic event to the whole world. The Crimean offensive operation was carried out at an exceptionally high pace. The heroic defense of the main base lasted 250 days, and in 1944, the enemy’s defensive lines near Sevastopol were broken through by Soviet troops in 3 days. In the battles for Crimea, the Marine Corps provided significant assistance to the advancing Red Army troops. The use of marine formations in the first echelon of the rifle corps in the main direction indicates that the marine corps played an important role in the operation to liberate Sevastopol, as well as in its defense.

For the military operations to liberate Crimea, the 83rd separate rifle Novorossiysk Red Banner Marine Brigade was awarded the Order of Suvorov, II degree, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated April 24, 1944. For successful military operations to liberate Sevastopol on May 25, 1944, both marine brigades were awarded the second Order of the Red Banner.

The decision of the commander of the Transcaucasian Front on the Kerch-Feodosia landing operation on December 25, 1941 - January 2, 1942.

Combat actions of the Marine Corps of the Black Sea Fleet in the Kerch-Feodosia landing operation December 25, 1941 - January 2, 1942

At the beginning of February 1943, an airborne detachment of Black Sea troops approached the coast captured by the enemy at night. Having stepped off the lead boat directly into the water, Major Caesar Kunikov, the detachment commander, was one of the first to step ashore.

From that moment on, Kunikov became the father of the heroic “Little Land”, conquered from the enemy.

The fighters of a carefully selected strike force, all Black Sea sailors, proudly called themselves Kunikovites and without hesitation followed their commander straight to enemy batteries, captured them and immediately turned their guns against the invaders!

Before the war, Caesar Lvovich Kunikov edited the Moscow newspaper Mashinostroenie. He was an engineer by training and graduated from the Industrial Academy. With the medal “For Labor Distinction” on his chest, at the beginning of the war he came to the Azov military flotilla and here, with the rank of major, he quickly earned a reputation as a brave, intelligent, proactive and disciplined commander.

He fought on the Don, defending his native Rostov, commanded “sea hunters” on the Sea of ​​Azov, more than once went behind enemy lines, everywhere showing perseverance, skill, reasonable risk and the restrained passion with which he had previously led the cause of industrialization in his area countries.

He knew how to draw experience from every meeting with the enemy. He was brave not only during the battle, but - no less important - he was brave before the battle: he boldly prepared a battle plan and knew how to organize a victory.

The battles made him a military man, a commander, a sailor, and he wanted to justify his rank with honor, sparing no labor, precisely because Kunikov had no special naval training, except for one year of study at a naval school. He said:

We are entrusted with the best fighters - sailors, and we must be able to lead them. If we can do this, we will do miracles.

In saying this, he remained true to his words.

Among the commanders of the Marine Corps, it is difficult to stand out with military skill and courage. Kunikov managed to stand out.

Last fall, after the battles on the Sea of ​​Azov, during the retreat to Taman, Kunikov commanded a separate detachment of marines.

The detachment fought against numerous enemies. The detachment's fighters had more than one battle with the enemy at sea, but they had not yet fought on land. The Nazis stubbornly pressed the position of the sailors. The machine gunners repelled one attack after another, and when, having received new strength, the Nazis launched a psychic attack, walking at full height, the ardent souls of the sailors boiled: the psychic attack had the opposite effect for the Germans.

With a thunderous Red Navy “Hurray!” The sailors rose up to meet the fascists. The commander walked with them. The chains of the attackers were crushed and broken, the enemy fled, leaving hundreds of dead and wounded on the battlefield.

Kunikov probably had this incident in mind from his rich experience when he said:

My fighters have fought many times against superior enemy forces. It happened that a battalion fought against a division. But we were not embarrassed by this and do not intend to be embarrassed. We are not thinking about the number of the enemy, but about how to destroy more invaders.

There were battles for every house. The detachment had the task of holding the captured bridgehead until the arrival of the main landing forces. The enemy was in a hurry to throw a handful of heroes into the sea.

Kunikov, as usual, assessed the difficult situation with great self-control, positioned forces, restrained the fighters from aimless impetuosity in the current situation, and pulled up those lagging behind. As always, he attached great importance to the correct organization of the fire.

The very first day of fighting showed that the struggle was developing around the former school building. From here the enemy viewed our positions. We need artillery. And the Kunikovites captured two full enemy batteries. The commander ordered fire in such a way as to block the enemy's approaches to the school.

He himself was now at the guns, he controlled the fire himself, and if the need arose, he supplied shells. Kunikov was where the outcome of the battle was decided.

With grenades in their pockets, the sailors climbed onto the roofs of houses, beat the fascists, and drove them out of the attics. Others cleared the enemy from basements and kicked them out of rooms turned into firing points.

(Leaflet of the political department of the Black Sea Fleet. 1943)

TsVMM, No. 18166

Combat actions of the Marine Corps of the Black Sea Fleet in the Novorossiysk-Taman strategic offensive operation September 9 - October 9, 1943

Combat actions of the Marine Corps of the Black Sea Fleet in the Novorossiysk landing operation on September 10–16, 1943.

Decision of the commanders of the North Caucasus Front and the Black Sea Fleet for the Kerch-Eltigen operation 11/1–11/1943.

Combat actions of the Black Sea Fleet marines in the Kerch-Eltigen landing operation November 1–11, 1943

Combat actions of the landing detachment of the 384th separate marine battalion of the Black Sea Fleet during the liberation of Nikolaev on March 26–28, 1944.

Combat actions of the Black Sea Fleet marines in the Crimean strategic offensive operation April 8 - May 12, 1944

Combat actions of the 83rd and 255th separate marine brigades during the liberation of Sevastopol on May 7–12, 1944 during the Crimean strategic offensive operation

Combat actions of the 257th Red Banner Rifle Division during the liberation of Sevastopol on May 5–12, 1944.

Combat actions of the Marine Corps of the Black Sea Fleet in the Iasi-Kishenev strategic offensive operation on August 20–29, 1944.

Combat operations of the Marine Corps of the Black Sea Fleet as part of the landing force in the Dniester estuary in the Yassy-Kishenev strategic offensive operation on August 20–29, 1944.

The military glory of the sailors thunders across the great Soviet country. Every day, every hour brings new news about the heroism and fortitude, about the high patriotism and sacred hatred of the enemy of the brave sons of the Soviet Navy.

Here is the story of the immortal feat of 55 sailors of the famous Marine Corps battalion of Major Kotanov.

On the dark night from March 25 to 26, seven fishing boats rowed from the village of Bogoyavlenskoye up the Southern Bug. They were going against the tide. A fierce headwind was blowing. The boats were flooded with water. There were Germans on both banks of the river. Every now and then flares soared into the black sky, and then everything on the boats froze so as not to give themselves away. But the saving darkness finally came, and the boats continued their unprecedentedly difficult fifteen-kilometer journey.

At 02:08 a.m. the airborne radio operator radioed to the battalion commander: “I’m carrying out the task.” This meant that the detachment, having passed the gates of the port, landed in Nikolaev, which was still in the hands of the Germans, at the appointed place. 55 sailors and 12 Red Army soldiers under the command of the holder of the Order of Alexander Nevsky, senior lieutenant Konstantin Olshansky, landed behind enemy lines, removed three fascist sentries and took up a perimeter defense in the buildings adjacent to the elevator.

The Germans raised the alarm. A battalion of enemy infantry launched an assault on a handful of brave men. Thus began a battle that lasted two days and wrote a new brilliant page in the history of Russian weapons.

The sailors let the Germans get closer. When the distance was reduced to one hundred meters, the paratroopers opened devastating fire. The enemy choked in his own blood and rolled back to his original positions.

Then the Germans decided to use artillery. Four 75mm cannons opened direct fire. The shells pierced walls and exploded inside buildings. After thorough artillery preparation, the Germans launched an infantry battalion into the attack a second time. But they didn’t know Russian soldiers well! Once again the approaches to the besieged buildings were covered with the corpses of the Nazis, and again the fierce attack of the enemy was choked.

The third attack was accompanied by fire from six-barreled mortars, but the mortars could not break the fortitude of the Black Sea heroes.

Half an hour later, the Germans launched a new attack, supported by two medium tanks. The tanks fired thermite shells at direct fire. The houses in which the main landing group was located, led by comrade, caught fire. Olshansky, hero and favorite of the Kotanovsky battalion. Under the cover of tanks, the Germans managed to get almost close. Enemy grenades rained down on the heroic sailors. The connection between the groups was interrupted. Outside, the Nazis, confident of their victory, shouted: “Rus, surrender!”

It was at the beginning of twelve o'clock. At 11:10 a.m., the battalion’s radio operator received a radiogram in Bogoyavlensky: “We, the soldiers and sailor officers of Comrade Olshansky’s detachment, swear to our Motherland that we will carry out the task facing us to the last drop of blood, not sparing our lives. Signed by the personnel." The heroic paratroopers continued to fight with unheard-of ferocity, and the Germans rolled back over and over again.

Neither guns, nor six-barreled mortars, nor tanks helped them against a handful of sailors. And then (remember this, comrade!) the Germans decided to burn out our brothers in arms with flamethrowers and smoke them out of buildings with smoke bombs. They directed the hellish flames of flamethrowers at the windows and embrasures and released thick waves of smoke at the sailors. But flamethrowers and smoke bombs did not break the steely fortitude of the sailors.

This unprecedented battle lasted for two days! Despite the overwhelming superiority in men and equipment, the enemy achieved nothing. Russian sailors survived! They repulsed 18 fierce attacks and destroyed up to 700 enemy soldiers and officers. The paratroopers completed their combat mission and held out until the Red Army units arrived.

In an unequal battle, senior lieutenant Konstantin Olshansky, party organizer of the detachment captain Alexei Golovlev, brave officers died the death of the brave: lieutenant Grigory Voloshko, junior lieutenant Vasily Korda, junior lieutenant Vladimir Chumachenko. Fifty Russian sailors and Red Army soldiers laid down their young heads heroically for the happiness and independence of our people.

There is no way to describe the exploits of each of these heroes. We will only tell you about the Red Navy man Stepan Golenev. Wounded by a shell fragment, he crawled to the window and saw the Germans running across to the building. Golenev fired a full disk of cartridges at them, was seriously wounded a second time, but continued to fight. When he was wounded again, and this time mortally, Golenev shouted: “Comrades, my strength will soon leave me... Give me grenades... I’ll destroy those fascist bastards over there!”

He took two grenades, gathered his last strength, stood up and, exclaiming: “I am sending these grenades for the tears and torment of our wives and mothers!”, he threw the grenades at the Germans.

Dying, he whispered: “Take revenge, comrades, on the enemy for me and our fighting friends... I fulfilled my duty to the Motherland... Farewell!”

And the survivors swore to take merciless revenge over Golenev’s body. They fulfilled this oath honestly and to the end.

67 heroes confused all the plans of the Germans, made the task easier for the advancing units of the Red Army, helped it save Nikolaev from final destruction and disrupt the theft of civilians into fascist slavery, scheduled by the Germans for March 26.

(Leaflet of the political department of the Black Sea Fleet.) (Not earlier than March 28, 1944 TsVMM, No. 21080)

Letter from M. K. Kalinin to the wife of K. F. Olshansky

1st MARINE BRIGADE BSF

(27.8–25.9.42, renamed the 255th Motorized Rifle Brigade)

255th SEPARATE RIFLE TAMAN (9.10.43) TWICE RED BANNER (13.12.42), (24.5.44) ORDERS OF SUVOROV II DEGREE (24.4.44) AND KUTUZOV II DEGREE (16.9.44) MARINE CORPS BRIGADE

(25.9.42–9.5.45)

COMMANDER

GORDEEV Dmitry Vasilievich, lieutenant colonel, colonel - 28.8.42–14.1.43.

POTAPOV Alexey Stepanovich, colonel - 14.1.43–9.43.

GRIGORIEV Semyon Timofeevich, major - 9.43.

KHARICHEV Petr Vasilievich, colonel - 26.9.43–1.44.

VLASOV Ivan Vasilievich, colonel - 9.1.44–3.5.45.

TATARCHEVSKY Petr Mikhailovich, colonel - 3–9.5.45.

MILITARY COMMISSIONER

VIDOV M.K., battalion commissar, senior battalion commissar, regimental commissar - 28.8–15.10.42.

VIDOV M. K, regimental commissar, lieutenant colonel - 10/15/42–5/2/43, died.

DOROFEEV Ivan Andreevich, battalion commissar, major - 28.8.42–22.6.43.

IVANOV, major - 9/27/43.

CHIEF OF STAFF

PAVLOVSKY Nikolai Osipovich, lieutenant colonel - 28.8.42–12.42.

DOLGOV Vasily Stepanovich, lieutenant colonel - 12.42–3.43.

KHLIABICH Alexander Andreevich, colonel - 23.4–11.9.43, died.

BURYACHENKO Petr Fedotovich - 28.9.43–12.43.

2nd MARINE RIFLE BRIGADE

(10/1/42 reorganized into the 83rd Separate Marine Brigade)

83rd SEPARATE MARINE BRIGADE

(2nd formation)

83rd SEPARATE RIFLE NOVOROSSIYSKAYA (16.9.43) DANUISKAYA (6.145) TWICE RED BANNER (13.12.42), (24.5.44) ORDER OF SUVOROV II DEGREE (24.4.44) MARINE CORPS BRIGADE

(1.10.42–9.5.45)

COMMANDER

KRAVCHENKO Maxim Pavlovich, lieutenant colonel - 30.8–20.12.42.

KRASNIKOV Dmitry Vasilievich, lieutenant colonel - 12.20.42–5.43.

ABRAMOV Alexey Maksimovich, colonel - 4.6.43–7.43.

KOZLOV I.F., lieutenant colonel - 7.43–9.43.

OVCHINNIKOV F.D., lieutenant colonel - 19.9.43–11.43.

MURASHEV P. A., colonel - 11/16/43–12.43.

SMIRNOV L.K., lieutenant colonel, colonel - 4/27/44–1.45.

SELEZNEV V., colonel - 1.45–9.5.45.

MILITARY COMMISSIONER

KORNILOV, senior political instructor - 8.42–11.9.42.

MONASTYRSKY Fedor Vasilievich, regimental commissar - 11.9–15.10.42.

DEPUTY COMMANDER FOR POLITICS

MONASTYRSKY Fedor Vasilievich, regimental commissar, colonel - 10/15/42–4.43.

ZARAKHOVICH Alexander Abramovich, lieutenant colonel - 4.43–7.43.

HEAD OF POLITICAL DEPARTMENT

RYZHOV Andrey Ivanovich, Hero of the Soviet Union (7.5.65), regimental commissar, colonel - 11.9.42–3.43.

Ivan LUKIN, major - 3.43–9.43, died.

EMELYANOV, major - 8.41–4.45, v.

CHIEF OF STAFF

PAVLOV Andrey Georgievich, captain 3rd rank - 1–19.9.42.

CHIRKOV Alexander Yakovlevich, captain 3rd rank - 19.9.42–11.42.

BURYACHENKO Petr Fedotovich, major - 6.11.42–6.43.

MIKHAILIN Vasily Nikolaevich, major - 23.6.43–10.43.

VLASOV A., colonel - 5–9.5.45.

7th MARINE BRIGADE

(12.8.41–17.7.42, disbanded)

COMMANDER

ZHIDILOV Evgeniy Ivanovich, colonel, major general - 17.8.41–3.7.42.

MILITARY COMMISSIONER

EKHLAKOV Nikolai Evdokimovich, battalion commissar, regimental commissar, brigade commissar - 18.8.41–7.6.42, wounded.

ISCHENKO Alexander Mitrofanovich, regimental commissar - 7.6–3.7.42.

HEAD OF POLITICAL DEPARTMENT

ISCHENKO Alexander Mitrofanovich, battalion commissar, regimental commissar - 28.8.41–7.6.42.

KAZACHEK Sergei Antonovich, regimental commissar.

CHIEF OF STAFF

UKOLOV Mikhail Vasilievich, senior lieutenant - 8.41–941.

ILLARIONOV Vladimir Sergeevich, lieutenant colonel - 9.41–11.41, died.

KERNER Arkady Zakharovich, major - 11.41–19.12.41, killed.

KOLNITSKY Alfons Yanovich, colonel - 12/24/41–7.42, missing.

CHIEF OF ARTILLERY

KOLNITSKY Alfons Yanovich, colonel - 10.41–24.12.41.

8th MARINE BRIGADE

(1st formation, 30.8.41–10.1.42, disbanded; 2nd formation, formed on the basis of the 1st Sevastopol folder, 20.1–17.7.42, disbanded)

COMMANDER

VILSHANSKY Vladimir Lvovich, colonel - 13.9.41–10.1.42.

GORPISHCHENKO Pavel Filippovich, colonel - 1/29–7/17/42.

MILITARY COMMISSIONER

VISHNEVSKY Gennady Nikiforovich, regimental commissar - 10.30–11.5.41, int.

EFIMENKO Leonty Nikolaevich, brigade commissar - 5.11.41–1.42.

SILANTYEV Prokofy Ivanovich, regimental commissar - 1.42–6.42.

PONOMARENKO Porfiry Ivanovich, senior political instructor.

HEAD OF POLITICAL DEPARTMENT

GAYSINSKY Fedor Moiseevich, regimental commissar - 9.41–11.41.

VOLKOV Vladimir Dmitrievich, regimental commissar - 4.11.41–12.41.

CHAPSKY Petr Andreevich, senior political instructor, battalion commissar - 12.41–7.42.

CHIEF OF STAFF

TEKUCHEV Timofey Naumovich, major - 9.41–3.12.41, vrid, 17.12.41, died.

SAKHAROV Vasily Pavlovich, major - 3.12.41–1.42.

STALBERG Nikolai Augustinovich, major - 5.42–7.42.

CHIEF OF ARTILLERY

SMETANIN Sergey Petrovich, major - 9.41–7.42.

83rd MARINE RIFLE BRIGADE

(1st formation, 3.1.42–16.9.42, the brigade became part of the 2nd Marine Brigade)

COMMANDER

LEONTIEV Ivan Pavlovich, colonel - 10.41–6.42, died.

VRUTSKY Valentin Apollinarievich, colonel - 6.42–5.9.42.

MILITARY COMMISSIONER

NAVOZNOV Vasily Ivanovich, regimental commissar - 11.41–15.5.42, died.

KAZACHEK Sergey Antonovich, regimental commissar - 7.42–9.42.

CHIEF OF STAFF

CHIRKOV Alexander Yakovlevich, captain 3rd rank.

9th MARINE BRIGADE

(10.9.41–15.7.42, disbanded)

COMMANDER

BLAGOVESCHENSKY Nikolai Vasilievich, lieutenant colonel - 9/25/41–7/3/42.

MILITARY COMMISSIONER

MONASTYRSKY Fedor Vasilievich, regimental commissar - 1.9–27.12.41.

POKACHALOV Vasily Mikhailovich, regimental commissar - 2.1.42–7.42.

HEAD OF POLITICAL DEPARTMENT

DUBENKO Fedor Fedorovich, regimental commissar - 8.41–4.42.

CHIEF OF STAFF

EGOROV Alexander Ivanovich, lieutenant colonel - 25.9.41–7.42.

1st SEVASTOPOL MARINE REGIMENT

(01/20/42 assigned to staff the 8th Marine Brigade)

COMMANDER

GORPISCHENKO Pavel Filippovich, colonel - 9.41–1.42.

MILITARY COMMISSIONER

CHAPSKY Petr Andreevich, senior political instructor - 11.21.41–1.42.

1st BLACK SEA MARINE REGIMENT

(15.8.41–6.4.42, disbanded)

COMMANDER

MOROZOV Ivan Alekseevich, major - 5–15.8.41.

OSIPOV Yakov Ivanovich, quartermaster 1st rank, colonel - 15.8–2.11.41, died.

MILITARY COMMISSIONER

MITRAKOV Vladimir Alekseevich, senior political instructor - 8.8.41–9.41.

DEMYANOV Ivan Mikhailovich, senior political instructor, died on November 22, 1941.

2nd BLACK SEA MARINE REGIMENT

(16.9.41–14.1.42, disbanded)

COMMANDER

OSIPOV Yakov Ivanovich, quartermaster 1st rank - 8–15.8.41.

MOROZOV Ivan Alekseevich, major - 15.8–15.10.41.

TARAN Nikolai Nikolaevich, captain, major, lieutenant colonel - 10.41–1.42.

MILITARY COMMISSIONER

TARABARIN Vasily Alexandrovich, senior political instructor - 10.41–1.12.41.

KALASHNIKOV Grigory Nikitovich, senior political instructor - 12.41–1.42.

CHIEF OF STAFF

Papyrin Nikolay Vasilievich, senior lieutenant, captain - 18.9.41–12.41.

CHIBYSHEV Petr Aleksandrovich, lieutenant - 12.41–2.42.

MATVIENKO Ivan Fedorovich, major - 3.42–7.42.

3rd BLACK SEA MARINE REGIMENT

(10.9.41–15.7.42)

COMMANDER

ROOT Kuzma Methodievich, captain - 9.41–4.42.

ZATYLKIN Vasily Nikolaevich, lieutenant colonel - 10.41–7.42.

GUSAROV Sergey Rodionovich, colonel - 7.42.

MILITARY COMMISSIONER

MALYSHEV Yakov Petrovich, senior political instructor - 9.41–12.41.

SHARINOV, battalion commissar - 1.42–2.42.

CHUSOV Ivan Georgievich, battalion commissar - 6.42–7.42.

CHIEF OF STAFF

KHARICHEV Petr Vasilievich, major, lieutenant colonel - 9.41–4.42.

UTKIN Viktor Ivanovich, major - 4.42–7.42, missing.

16th SEPARATE MARINE BATTALION

COMMANDER

KRASNIKOV Dmitry Vasilievich, major - 8.42–11.42.

ROGALSKY Ivan Anufrievich, senior lieutenant - 11.42–5.43.

MILITARY COMMISSIONER

PONOMAREV Dmitry Fedotovich, senior political instructor - 8.42–15.10.42.

DEPUTY COMMANDER FOR POLITICS

PONOMAREV Dmitry Fedotovich, senior political instructor, captain - 10/15/42–1.43.

CHIEF OF STAFF

IVANOV, captain.

142nd SEPARATE MARINE BATTALION

(22.5–18.9.42)

COMMANDER

KUZMIN Oleg Ilyich, captain-lieutenant - 6.42–10.42.

MILITARY COMMISSIONER

RODIN V.S., senior political instructor.

CHIEF OF STAFF

SOLOGUB Pavel Mikhailovich, senior lieutenant - 6.42–4.942, died.

143rd SEPARATE CONSTANCE (7.9.44) RED Banner (22.1.44) MARINE CORPS BATTALION

(22.5.42–16.9.44, transferred to KDuFl)

COMMANDER

ARTAMONOV Mikhail Petrovich, captain-lieutenant, captain 3rd rank - 6.42–30.9.43, died.

LEVCHENKO Zakhary Ivanovich, captain, major - 10.43–3.44.

MAKAROV Vasily Ivanovich, captain - 3.44–11.44.

LEVITSKY Ivan Konstantinovich, lieutenant colonel - 11.44–4.45.

MILITARY COMMISSIONER

ALESHECHKIN, senior political instructor - 6.42–9.42.

DEPUTY COMMANDER FOR POLITICS

SOLDATKIN Egor Trofimovich, captain - died on 9/25/43.

ARNAUT Leonid Grigorievich, captain - died 9.1.44.

CHIEF OF STAFF

KRATOV Andrey Ivanovich, senior lieutenant - 6.42–2.43.

LEVCHENKO Zakhary Ivanovich, captain, major - 2.43–10.43.

KUPRIN Nikolai Kuzmich, senior lieutenant - 10.43–10.1.44, died.

GLOSMAN, senior lieutenant - 2.44–3.44.

ZVEREV Boris Aleksandrovich, senior lieutenant - 4.44–10.44.

BALONSKY Alexander Alexandrovich, senior lieutenant, captain - 10.44–4.45.

144th SEPARATE BATTALION OF THE MARINE CORPS OF THE TUAPSIN NASB

(22.5–18.9.42, focused on the formation of the 83rd and 255th BrMP)

COMMANDER

VOSTRIKOV Alexander Ivanovich, captain-lieutenant - 6.42–9.42.

MILITARY COMMISSIONER

SOLDATKIN Egor Trofimovich, senior political instructor - 7.42–9.42, wounded.

CHIEF OF STAFF

GERASIMENKO Nikolay Mikhailovich, senior lieutenant, captain - 6.42–10.42.

305th SEPARATE MARINE BATTALION

(14.1–18.9.42, disbanded)

COMMANDER

POPOV Vasily Mikhailovich, captain - 6.42–21.7.42.

PARASYUK Ivan Grigorievich, major - 21.7.42–8.42.

ZHELUDKO P.I. senior lieutenant - 8.42.

MILITARY COMMISSIONER

CHIEF OF STAFF

SHARAPOV Philip Ignatievich, senior lieutenant - 6.42–9.42.

SEPARATE BATTALION OF SAILORS OF THE AZOV MILITARY FLOTILLIA

COMMANDER

KUNIKOV Caesar Lvovich, major - 18–27.8.42.

MILITARY COMMISSIONER

NIKITIN Vasily Petrovich, battalion commissar - 18.8.42–8.42.

PARFENOV Ivan Aleksandrovich, battalion commissar - 8.42–27.8.42.

CHIEF OF STAFF

BOGOSLOVSKY Veniamin Sergeevich, captain - 8.42–27.8.42.

305th SEPARATE RED Banner (6.145) MARINE CORPS BATTALION

(formed from OBM 8.42, battalion given number 305)

COMMANDER

KUNIKOV Caesar Lvovich, major - 27.8–5.9.42.

BOGOSLOVSKY Veniamin Sergeevich, captain - 5–20.9.42.

SHERMAN Aron Moiseevich, captain-lieutenant - 10.10.42–10.2.43, in.

MARTYNOV Dmitry Dmitrievich, captain, major, Hero of the Soviet Union (24.3.45) - 11.43–3.45, seriously wounded.

MILITARY COMMISSIONER

PARFENOV Ivan Aleksandrovich, battalion commissar.

CHIEF OF STAFF

BOGOSLOVSKY Veniamin Sergeevich, captain - 27.8–5.9.42.

SVIRIN Vladimir Pavlovich, senior lieutenant - 5.9.42–12.42.

386th SEPARATE RED Banner (31.544) MARINE CORPS BATTALION

(15.4.43–16.9.44)

COMMANDER

BONDARENKO Anton Aleksandrovich, captain - 4.43–9.43.

BELYAKOV Nikolai Aleksandrovich, Hero of the Soviet Union (11/17/43), captain, major, lieutenant colonel - 9.43–5.5.45.

DEPUTY COMMANDER FOR POLITICS

STARSHINOV Nikolai Vasilievich, captain - 6.43–8.43.

RYBAKOV Nikolay Vasilievich, captain, major - 9.43–12.43.

CHIEF OF STAFF

ZHERNOVOY Ivan Vasilievich, captain - 4.43–9.5.45.

393rd SEPARATE NOVOROSSIYSKY (16.943) RED Banner (31.544) MARINE CORPS BATTALION named after Ts. KUNIKOV

(7.9.43–16.9.44)

COMMANDER

BOTYLEV Vasily Andreevich, Hero of the Soviet Union (18.9.43), lieutenant captain - 21.8.43–6.44.

STARSHINOV Nikolai Vasilievich, Hero of the Soviet Union, major - 6.44–9.44.

BONDARENKO Anton Aleksandrovich, major - 9.44–9.5.45.

DEPUTY COMMANDER FOR POLITICS

STARSHINOV Nikolai Vasilievich, Hero of the Soviet Union (22.1.44), captain, major - 8.43–1.44.

GOLUB I.M., major - died 23.1.44, accident.

CHIEF OF STAFF

PREGEL Georgy Pavlovich, captain - 9.43–9.10.43, died.

LARIONOV Georgy Zakharovich, major - 10.43–7.44.

KIRICHENKO Vladimir Yakovlevich, captain - 7.44–9.44.

ERMOLENKO Semyon Yakovlevich, captain - 9.44–2.3.45.

BUDNIK Nikolai Nikolaevich, senior lieutenant - 2.3–9.5.45.

A SQUAD OF PATRONS UNDER THE COMMAND OF SENIOR LIEUTENANT K. F. OLSHANSKY

(67 people from the 384th Marine Battalion, 26–28.3.44)

COMMANDER

OLSHANSKY Konstantin Fedorovich, senior lieutenant, died, posthumously (20.4.45) awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

DEPUTY COMMANDER FOR POLITICS

GOLOVLEV Alexey Fedorovich, captain, died, posthumously (20.4.45) awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

CHIEF OF STAFF

VOLOSHKO Grigory Semenovich, lieutenant, died, posthumously (20.4.45) awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

Organization of the Marine Corps of the Black Sea Fleet in 1941–1945.

Organization of the Novorossiysk defensive region (NOR) 484

In the fall of 1942, Ts. L. Kunikov commanded a separate battalion of marines.