The Guard at all times in all countries was considered the most powerful and most reliable military force. As a rule, military units were produced in the guards, which especially distinguished themselves in battles, showing their combat capabilities that were out of the general range, although in the Russian Empire, units that were especially favored by the rulers could also become guards. In any case, the soldiers of the highest stature, physically strong and courageous, were selected for the guard. Service in the guards was considered very honorable and profitable, since the guards usually guarded the emperor, were admitted to the palace, and could quickly make a career. In addition, the guards' salary was much higher than the army's, and the ranks had priority over the army's by 2 steps (for example, a second lieutenant of the guard could enter the army with the rank of captain).
In 1812, the Russian guard had 6 infantry and 6 cavalry regiments. After the end of the Patriotic War, during foreign campaigns, 2 more infantry regiments and 1 cavalry regiment were added to the guards for military merit.
The guards infantry of the Russian Empire consisted of 4 heavy and 2 light regiments. The heavy guards infantry included the Life Guards Preobrazhensky, the Life Guards Semenovsky, the Life Guards Izmailovsky and the Life Guards Lithuanian Regiments. The light infantry guards were the Life Guards Jaegers and the Life Guards Finnish Regiments. In 1813, the Life Grenadier and Pavlovsk Grenadier Regiments were added to the guards for military merit.
LIFE GUARD PREOBRAZHENSKY REGIMENT
Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment, one of the first two regiments of the Russian Guards (the second - Semenovsky), was formed in the 90s of the XVII century from the amusing troops of Peter I. For the first time, he distinguished himself in battle in 1700 near Narva, where, together with the Semenovsky regiment stopped the offensive of the Swedish army, covering the flight of the defeated Russian troops. Both regiments in that battle retreated with honor through the parted ranks of the Swedish infantry, admiring the heroism of the Russian guards. Subsequently, the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments played an important role in the history of the Russian state, being the armed force that supported (and often actually put on the throne) the rulers in the troubled era of palace coups.
In 1812, the Preobrazhensky Guards Regiment took part in the war against Napoleon. At this time, three battalions of the regiment were in the 1st Western Army, commanded by General of Infantry M. B. Barclay de Tolly. The regiment commander was Major General G.V. Rosen; The regiment was part of the 5th Corps of the Guards Infantry Division. On August 26, 1812, the regiment took part in the Battle of Borodino.
On August 26, 1813, the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment were granted St. George's banners with the inscription "For feats rendered in the battle of August 18, 1813 at Kulm." Kulm (modern Chlumets) is a village in the Czech Republic, where a battle took place between the allied army (Russian, Prussian and Austrian troops) and the French corps of Lieutenant General Vandamm. At Kulm, the French lost up to ten thousand killed and wounded, 12 thousand prisoners, 84 guns, the entire convoy. The general himself was also captured. Allied losses amounted to about ten thousand people. The victory at Kulm inspired the soldiers of the allied armies, strengthened the anti-Napoleonic coalition and forced Napoleon to retreat to Leipzig, where the French suffered a crushing defeat. 
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The uniforms for the guardsmen were sewn from the best cloth, they were distinguished by elegance and subtlety of decoration. The Preobrazhensky regiment in 1812 was the first in the Russian army to receive a new uniform: a dark green double-breasted uniform with red trim, a collar with hooks, a shako below the previous one, with a large “collapse” (expanded upwards). Belonging to the guards was determined by the emblems on the shakos - gilded double-headed eagles, as well as gold embroidery on the collars and cuff flaps. In the Preobrazhensky Regiment, this sewing was: the officers had oak and bay leaves intertwined with a figure eight, the soldiers had double “coils”. Officers' breastplates in the guards had a special shape: they were wider and more convex than those of army officers.
LIFE GUARDS SEMENOVSKY REGIMENT
The Life Guards Semenov regiment, together with Preobrazhensky, was one of the first regiments of the Russian guard, it was formed in the 90s of the 17th century from the amusing troops of Peter I. Together with the Preobrazhensky, the Semenovites first distinguished themselves in battle in 1700 near Narva, where they stopped the offensive Swedish army. In the era of palace coups, the Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky regiments played an important role in the enthronement of the rulers of Russia.
In 1812, three battalions of the Semyonovsky Life Guards Regiment were in the 1st Western Army, in the 5th Corps of the Guards Infantry Division (together with the Preobrazhensky Regiment); as part of this division, the Semenovites participated in the battle of Borodino. The regiment commander was K. A. Kridener. Possessing exceptional courage, he enjoyed the love and respect of the soldiers. The list of personnel of the regiment was adorned with the names of P. Ya. Chaadaev, who was promoted to ensign for distinction under Borodino, I. D. Yakushkin and M. I. Muravyov-Apostol, who were with the battalion banner.
On August 26, 1813, the Life Guards of the Semenov Regiment were granted the St. George banners with the inscription "For the feats rendered in the battle of August 18, 1813 at Kulm." 
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With a general guards uniform (a shako with double-headed eagles and a dark green double-breasted uniform with red shoulder straps), the Semenovsky regiment had light blue collars with red edging and yellow braid buttonholes. The soldiers had the same double “coils” as in the Preobrazhensky Regiment, and the sewing for the officers was oblong patterned buttonholes, bordered with a twisted ornament.
LIFE GUARDS IZMAILOVSKY REGIMENT
The Izmailovsky Guards Regiment was formed in 1730. During the Patriotic War of 1812 he was in the 1st Western Army, 5th Corps in the Guards Infantry Division. The regiment commander was Colonel M. E. Khrapovitsky. Under Borodin, the Izmailovites covered themselves with unfading glory. General of Infantry D.S. Dokhturov reported to M.I. Kutuzov about their feat: “I can’t but speak with sufficient praise of the exemplary fearlessness shown on this day by the regiments of the Life Guards Izmailovsky and Lithuanian. Arriving on the left flank, they unshakably withstood the heaviest fire of enemy artillery; the ranks showered with buckshot, despite the loss, arrived in the best arrangement, and all the ranks from the first to the last, one in front of the other, showed their zeal to die before yielding to the enemy ... ”The Izmailovsky, Lithuanian and Finnish regiments of the Life Guards were built enes in a square at the Semyonov Heights. For six hours, under continuous fire from enemy artillery, they repulsed the attacks of the cuirassiers of the corps of General Nansouty. Every second guardsman remained on the battlefield, the regiment commander was wounded, but did not leave the battlefield. For participation in the Battle of Borodino, M.E. Khrapovitsky received the rank of major general. As a reward for courage, the Izmailovsky regiment was granted St. George's banners with the inscription "For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812." The Izmailovites also distinguished themselves in the battle of Kulm, for which the regiment was awarded two silver trumpets. 
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With the general guards uniform, the lower ranks of the Izmailovsky regiment had dark green collars with red edging and buttonholes in the form of double "coils" of yellow braid. The officers had dark green collars with red edging and gold embroidery (the most difficult among all the Guards regiments).
LITHUANIAN GUARDS REGIMENT
The Life Guards Lithuanian Regiment was formed in November 1811. The regiment was commanded by Colonel I.F. Udom. During World War II, the regiment was in the 1st Western Army, in the 5th Corps of the Guards Infantry Division. The regiment took part in the battle of Vitebsk, but the Lithuanians took the real baptism of fire on the Borodino field. The regiment commander reported: “Destroying our ranks, enemy fire did not produce any disorder in them. The ranks closed and were verifiable with such composure, as if they were outside the shots. In this battle, the Lithuanians lost 37 officers and 1040 lower ranks, after the battle 9 officers and 699 lower ranks remained. Commander I.F. Udom was wounded. For his distinction in battle, he was promoted to major general.
The Lithuanian regiment also participated in the battle for Maloyaroslavets. Eight, and according to some reports, twelve times the city changed hands and was completely destroyed, but the Russian army cut off Napoleon's path to the southern provinces and thereby doomed the French to retreat along the Smolensk road. The regiment also participated in a foreign campaign. In 1813, he was granted the St. George banners with the inscription "For differences in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812." 
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With a general guards uniform (a shako with a double-headed eagle and a dark green double-breasted uniform with red epaulettes), the regiment had a red collar with yellow buttonholes, and red lapels of the Lancer type on the uniform. The buttonholes of the officers were embroidered with gilded thread, the soldier's buttonholes were made of yellow braid. The buttonholes of the Lithuanian regiment given here were also characteristic of all other guards regiments, except for those described above.
LIFE GUARD JEGER REGIMENT
Chasseur regiments were recruited from hunters who were distinguished by marksmanship, and often acted independently of the close formation in places “the most convenient and most adventurous, in forests, villages, on the passes.” The rangers were charged with the duty "to lie quietly in ambushes and keep silence, always having foot patrols in front of them, in front and on the sides." Jaeger regiments also served to support the actions of light cavalry.
In 1812, the Life Guards Jaeger Regiment was in the 1st Western Army, in the Guards Infantry Division. The regiment commander was Colonel K. I. Bistrom. On the Borodino field, the division of Delzon acted against the life rangers. In this battle, even clerks grabbed the guns of their dead comrades and went into battle. The battle snatched 27 officers and 693 lower ranks from the ranks of the regiment. The commander of the 2nd battalion B. Richter received the Order of St. for his courage. George 4th grade.
In the battle of Krasny, the Life Guards captured 31 officers, 700 lower ranks, captured two banners and nine guns. Pursuing the enemy, they captured another 15 officers, 100 lower ranks and three guns. For this operation, K. Y. Bistrom received the Order of St.. George 4th grade.
The regiment had military awards: silver pipes with the inscription "For the difference shown in the battle of Kulm on August 18, 1813", St. George banners with the inscription "For the difference in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812". In addition, he was awarded the "Jäger Campaign" on horns. 
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With the general Jaeger uniform of the Life Guards, the Jaeger Regiment had officer sewing in the form of straight buttonholes, piping and orange shoulder straps. The rangers were armed with somewhat shortened guns with bayonets and fittings with daggers, which relied on the best shooters.
LIFE GUARD FINLAND REGIMENT
In 1806, a battalion of the Imperial Militia was formed in Strelna from servants and artisans of country palace estates, consisting of five companies of infantry and half a company of artillery. In 1808 it was named a battalion of the Finnish Guard, in 1811 it was reorganized into a regiment. In 1812, the Finnish Life Guards Regiment was in the 1st Western Army, 5th Corps of the Guards Infantry Division. The regiment commander was Colonel M. K. Kryzhanovsky. The regiment participated in the battles near Borodino, Tarutin, Maloyaroslavets, Prince, near Krasnoy.
For military operations in 1812-1814, the Life Guards of the Finnish Regiment were granted St. George banners with the inscription "For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812." and silver trumpets with the inscription "As a reward for excellent bravery and courage shown in the battle of Leipzig on October 4, 1813." 
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With the general Jaeger uniform of the Life Guards, the Finnish Regiment had officer sewing in the form of straight buttonholes, piping and red shoulder straps. A special difference of this regiment was the presence on the uniform of the lapels on the model of the Lancers, which had a dark green color and a red edging.
REGIMENTS AWARDED WITH THE GUARDS RANK FOR DISTINCTIONS IN THE PATRIOTIC WAR OF 1812
LIFE GRENADER REGIMENT
In 1756, the 1st Grenadier Regiment was formed in Riga. The title of Life Grenadier was granted to him in 1775 for the distinctions shown in actions against the Turks; in addition, the regiment had two silver trumpets for the capture of Berlin in 1760.
During the Patriotic War, two active battalions of the regiment were in the 1st Western Army, 3rd Corps of Lieutenant General N. A. Tuchkov, in the 1st Grenadier Division; reserve battalion - in the corps of Lieutenant General P. X. Wittgenstein. The regiment was commanded by Colonel P.F. Zheltukhin. In August 1812, the regiment took part in the battle of Lubin. This was one of Napoleon's attempts to draw the Russian army into a general battle in an unfavorable situation for her. The attempt ended unsuccessfully. Of the 30 thousand people of the French army who participated in the battle, about 8800 were killed and wounded, the Russian troops of 17 thousand people lost about five thousand.
In the battle of Borodino, both battalions of the regiment were on the extreme left flank, near the village of Utitsa, and repelled all the attacks of the Poniatovsky corps. In this battle, N. A. Tuchkov was mortally wounded. Then the regiment participated in the battles at Tarutino, near Maloyaroslavets and Krasny. The 2nd battalion fought at Yakubov, Klyastitsy, near Polotsk, at Chashniki, on the Berezina. For bravery and courage shown in the Patriotic War of 1812, the regiment was assigned to the guards (as a young guard) and named the Life Guards Grenadier Regiment; he was granted St. George banners with the inscription "For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812." The regiment also participated in foreign campaigns; in 1814, its 1st and 3rd battalions entered Paris. 
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With a general grenadier uniform, the regiment had the letters “L. G.", on collars and cuff flaps - buttonholes: for officers - gold embroidery, for lower ranks - from white braid.
PAVLOVSKY GRENADER REGIMENT
The Pavlovsky regiment had a glorious heroic history and special fighting traditions. The regiment distinguished itself more than once in the battles of the late 18th - early 19th centuries, and proved to be a heroic combat unit. In 1812, two active battalions of the Pavlovsky regiment were in the 1st Western Army, 3rd Corps of Lieutenant General N. A. Tuchkov, in the 1st Grenadier Division; reserve battalion - in the corps of Lieutenant General P. X. Wittgenstein. In the battle of Borodino, 345 soldiers and officers of the Pavlovsky regiment were put out of action by enemy fire, commander E. Kh. Richter was wounded. Then the regiment participated in the battles at Tarutino, for Maloyaroslavets, near Krasnoe. The 2nd battalion at Klyastitsy especially distinguished itself, "passing through the burning bridge under heavy enemy fire" and knocking the French out of the city with bayonets. The regiment fought near Polotsk, at Chashniki and Berezina. For bravery and courage, he was ranked among the guards (as a young guard) and named the Life Guards Pavlovsk Regiment. He was granted the St. George banners with the inscription "For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812." In a foreign campaign, the regiment participated in many battles, in 1814 it solemnly entered Paris. 
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With the general army uniform, the Pavlovsky Grenadier Regiment had a special difference - outdated headgear, long ago replaced in other regiments by shakos. These were "mitres" - high hats with a copper forehead, on which a chased double-headed eagle was embossed. These "miters" were left to the regiment as a reward for the heroism shown near Friedland on 01/20/1808. Moreover, Emperor Alexander 1st ordered to leave the hats in the form they acquired in the battle: do not close up holes from bullets and shrapnel, and on each "peace" to knock out the names of those soldiers who were in these hats in the battle of Friedland.
ON THE ILLUSTRATION: a non-commissioned officer of the grenadier company of the Pavlovsky regiment in a grenadier mitre, an ordinary fusilier company of the Pavlovsky regiment in a fusilier miter
In total, 49 BMO ships took part in the hostilities. More than 80% of the personnel were awarded orders and medals for military merit. A total of ten BMOs died. Considering that they always sailed in the first echelon of the landing forces, and the fact that a significant part of these ships died on mines, this figure confirms that the “irons”, as the sailors lovingly called the BMO, were made to last and had high combat survivability .
The creation of armored "sea hunters" in the conditions of the most severe blockade is another of the many unprecedented feats of Leningraders during the 900-day blockade of the city.
A. L. Nikiforov
Russian Imperial Guard during the First World War
For two centuries, the fate of the Imperial Guard of Russia was closely connected with the Russian monarchy. Created by the iron will of Peter I the Great at the very beginning of the 18th century, the guard became one of the symbols of the mighty Russian Empire, being a reliable support of statehood. Therefore, it is quite natural that in the tragic period of the collapse of the empire, the glorious imperial guard of Russia went with it into the past.
The Russian Imperial Guard had a glorious history and significant privileges compared to the army units of the Russian army. Her military training, the brilliance of dress uniforms made an indelible impression on all the guests of the royal dynasty.
Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich recalled: “... In July 1914, shortly before the start of the Great War, in honor of the visit to Russia of French President Raymond Poincaré, a large parade of units of the capital's guard was given on the Field of Mars. The parade ended with a cavalry attack. This attack was the highlight of the whole parade. At the end of the Field of Mars, all the cavalry that was on parade, that is, two divisions, lined up. Then, at the command of Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich, the entire mass of the cavalry rushed into the quarry in the direction of the guest tent, where Emperor Nicholas II and the French president watched the parade. The picture was truly majestic, and even creepy. By order of Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich, the entire galloping mass of cavalry stopped in an instant.
in front of the royal retinue and guests. The officers lowered their weapons, saluting, and the trumpeters began to play the Guards campaign .... "1.
Indeed, the training of the guards cavalry was fascinating. For the wars of the early XIX century. that would be great preparation. But what to do if this mass of cavalry was met not by the parade ground of the Field of Mars, but by ravines with barbed wire, behind which cold-blooded machine gunners would be waiting for them, the royal commanders did not really think.
Unfortunately, as part of the current military training of the capital's guard units, most commanders paid insufficient attention to raising the level of knowledge of guard officers, conducting tactical exercises, improving weapons skills, establishing interaction between military branches in the field, organizing forced marches and military maneuvers.
Instead, for many tsarist generals, the main criterion for the training of guards units was the impeccable harmony of marching columns in parades, the gallant appearance of officers and soldiers, and questions of modern military tactics were a “dark forest” for most guards commanders.
It is natural that the field exercises of the capital guards near Krasnoe Selo at the beginning of the 20th century. turned into a formality, where much was done the old fashioned way: the cavalry rushed, not embarrassed by the designated fire, at the infantry chains and firing batteries. To repel these attacks in the spirit of the battles of Preussisch-Eylau and Borodino, the infantry reserves went out, holding their feet, in close formation on the line of chains, and fired volleys, the friendly crackle of which resembled cracking a nut. Mounted orderlies rushed along the front, as if spellbound against imaginary bullets and shrapnel. Needless to say, the batteries drove picturesquely onto the crests of the hills, famously removed from the limbers in full view of the enemy and stood in open positions2.
Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich, at similar summer maneuvers in 1913, summing up the results of the maneuvers, expressed a thoughtful phrase characterizing the level of military-strategic thinking of the highest tsarist generals: “... I can add that the maneuver played out perfectly: the infantry advanced, the cavalry galloped, the artillery fired. Thank you, gentlemen!...”3.
Somehow, the tsarist army was not lucky in the early twentieth century. for talented military leaders. With a universal formula for assessing the level of your
1 Cited. by: Dreyer V.N. At the end of an empire. SPb., 2011. S. 289.
2 See: Bezobrazov V.M. Dead Guard. Commander's Notes. SPb., 2008. S. 199.
3 Cit. Quoted from: Kersnovsky A.A. History of the Russian army. T. 4. Kersnovsky. M., 1994. S. 212.
combat readiness - "... the infantry advanced, the cavalry galloped, the artillery fired ...", the Russian army entered the First World War, having well-trained German and Austro-Hungarian armies as opponents.
The declaration of war by Germany and its allies found the capital's guards in Krasnoye Selo, where, under the command of General Vladimir Mikhailovich Bezobrazov, they were preparing for summer maneuvers. Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich, appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Imperial Army, ordered the Guards Corps to concentrate on the western border.
On August 7, 1914, the Guards Corps, attached to the 2nd Army of General Samsonov, concentrated in the Kingdom of Poland, in the area of the Novo-Georgievsk fortress. The 1st and 2nd Guards Cavalry Divisions, together with the troops of the 1st Army of General Rennenkampf, were already in East Prussia. The 3rd Guards Infantry Division, located in Warsaw, also fought in East Prussia, and in October 1914 returned to Warsaw.
Throughout the First World War, the Russian Guard was often used piecemeal. Separate brigades or divisions supported parts of the army they were part of. Thus, the commander of the imperial guard, General Bezobrazov, did not lead all of his troops.
For example, on August 16, 1914, the 1st Guards Infantry Division was hastily sent by rail to Lublin to reinforce General Evert's 4th Army. Two days later, the entire guard corps advanced in the same direction, as the enemy threatened the city. During heavy battles, in which the 1st brigade of the 2nd guards division suffered particularly heavy losses, the tsarist troops won, and General Mannerheim's separate guards cavalry brigade pursued the retreating enemy. The Guards Rifle Brigade also suffered heavy losses at Opatov, being attached to the 9th Army. Finally, on October 1, 1914, the Guards Corps was withdrawn to the army reserve, directly subordinate to the Commander-in-Chief1.
On October 10, the guards corps again participated in the battles on the Southwestern Front in the area of the Ivangorod fortress, located in the Kingdom of Poland. While Warsaw and Ivangorod continued
With the German and 1st Austro-Hungarian armies, the Russians counterattacked with the forces of their 9th Army. On October 12, the Russian guards corps broke through the Austrian front, forcing the enemy to retreat. By the end of October 1914, the Austro-German troops were thrown back to our western border, and
1 See: Kersnovsky A.A. Decree. Op. S. 221.
part of the territory of Poland, which was part of the Russian Empire, was completely liberated.
Our losses in the first months of the war turned out to be very large, especially in the guards. So, for example, after a fierce attack on November 11 by the Life Guards, the Grenadier Regiment was reduced to the size of a battalion. The officers of the less affected guards cavalry regiments voluntarily transferred to serve in the infantry. In addition, supply difficulties began, especially in artillery.
On December 6, 1914, the guards corps was again put into reserve, and on December 17-18, Emperor Nicholas II visited the 1st and 2nd guards divisions, and also held a review of the Ataman and Consolidated Cossack regiments. The officers and soldiers who distinguished themselves in battle were awarded St. George's crosses, and the commander of the guard, General Bezobrazov, was assigned to the imperial retinue and was awarded the golden St. George weapon.
On December 30, 1914, the entire Guards Corps, consisting of two cavalry divisions and the 3rd Infantry Division, joined at Radom, and only His Majesty's Cossack Regiment served at the Headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief. At the end of January 1915, the guard was assembled near Warsaw, and then, as part of the 12th army of General Plehve, took up positions near the Narew River in the Kingdom of Poland. The offensive began on February 7, but due to poor leadership, it did not succeed, and General Plehve stubbornly continued to throw his regiments into battle, including the guard. With little progress, this offensive cost the Russian guard 10 thousand people killed, wounded and missing, and the losses in the advancing army units amounted to 35 thousand people. Then the front temporarily stabilized, and in mid-June 1915 the Guards were withdrawn to the rear2.
Meanwhile, on June 12, 1915, the second stage of the powerful German-Austrian offensive on the Eastern Front began, the main goal of which was to encircle and destroy the Russian army in Poland. The stubborn defense of the tsarist troops at Krasnostav slowed down the German offensive at the cost of huge losses in the Russian army. On July 7, under the scorching sun, the Imperial Guard again entered the battle with the 9th German Army near Warsaw and completed the combat mission, but due to the mistakes of the headquarters of the southwestern front, this success was reduced to zero, and soon Warsaw was surrendered.
The "great retreat" of the Russian army in the summer of 1915 continued along the entire front, but the enemy did not achieve his main goal - the bloodless tsarist army was not destroyed, and in the fall
1 See: Volkov S.V. Russian officer corps. M., 2003. S. 280.
2 See: Bezobrazov V.M. Dead Guard. Commander's Notes. SPb., 2008. S. 201.
1915 the front line stabilized. On August 9, 1915, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich was removed from the post of Commander-in-Chief by decree of the emperor and was appointed governor of the Caucasus, as well as commander of the Caucasian Front. Emperor Nicholas II took over the leadership of the Headquarters and the Army.
Throughout 1915, the lack of weapons and ammunition in the Russian army became catastrophic and artillery support for the troops during the battles was practically absent. The guards artilleryman lieutenant colonel Alfater recalled: “... before my eyes, sad battle scenes pass in a kaleidoscope. Night withdrawal, artillery quickly joins the action, but fires only a few shells. And all the same irritated questions addressed to the battery: "How many shells are left?". And always the same answers: 100, 80, and sometimes less. By evening, smoke envelops our rear: commanders set fire to villages, haystacks, grain, burn fields. The army is dominated by a sense of helplessness, inability to stop the enemy, inevitable death. At night, retreat again, reflections of fire, and refugees crowd along the road - children in carriages, old people with poor belongings .. "1.
In July 1915, General Bezobrazov, for disobeying the orders of General Lesh, was removed from command of the Guards Corps and replaced by General Olokhov. By November 1915, the eastern front had stabilized, the retreat of the Russian army was over, the army survived, but Poland, part of Belarus, almost all of Lithuania and Courland were given to the enemy. The guards regiments were bled dry by intense battles, and the guards cavalrymen increasingly served on foot, in the trenches.
The commander-in-chief of the Russian army, Emperor Nicholas II, came to the conclusion that it was necessary to reorganize the guard, and in early October 1915, he initiated General Bezobrazov into his plans. The Guard was to consist of two infantry and one cavalry corps. The plan approved by the emperor on October 8, 1915 was implemented by General Bezobrazov, the newly appointed commander of the guard troops. However, the reorganization proceeded slowly given the most difficult situation with the staffing, especially in the 3rd Guards Division, which suffered heavy losses in the 1914 campaign.2
In mid-February 1916, the guard was moved to the Northwestern Front, to Rezhitsa, to strengthen the defense of Petrograd in the event of a German attack on the capital, but remained in
1 Cited. by: Portuguese R.M., Alekseev P.D., Runov V.A. The First World War in the biographies of Russian military leaders. M., 1994. S. 238.
2 See: Kersnovsky A.A. Decree. op. S. 225.
reserve. In May, the guards corps were transferred to the Western Front. The tragic days of 1915 were already behind us.
On the neighboring South-Western Front, on May 19, 1916, the offensive of the Russian army began - the famous "Brusilov breakthrough". To support the advancing troops, the Western Front also switched to active operations. On May 27, the Guard entered into a stubborn battle near Kovel. On July 15, 1916, at 1 pm, after strong artillery preparation, the guards broke through the swamps and attacked the enemy fortifications near the Belarusian town of Stokhod.
The 1st Guards Infantry Corps met strong resistance from the Germans near the village of Raymetso. The 2nd guards corps advanced more successfully, and the guards riflemen were even able to capture the enemy headquarters. The guards crew, left in reserve, on their own initiative tried to help both corps, trying to connect, covering the enemy in an encirclement. In the following days, the attacks of the Russian guards were aimed at capturing Vitonezh. German troops stubbornly counterattacked. As a result of five-day battles, the guard captured more than 8 thousand German soldiers, about 300 officers, two generals, as well as 50 cannons and 70 machine guns. After the regrouping, the tsarist guard continued the offensive at 17:00 on July 26, 1916. Two days passed in unsuccessful attacks. The guard generals, especially Grand Duke Pavel Alexandrovich, made tactical mistakes, and the guard units were forced to dig in. During the period from July 15 to July 28, the guard lost about 30 thousand people in killed, wounded and missing1.
On August 15, 1916, the guards corps were transformed into the "Special Army". At its head, General Romeiko-Gurko replaced General Bezobrazov. The Guards command made several attempts to resume the offensive in the direction of the city of Kovel, but they failed. These battles, due to the abundance of victims, were called the "Kovel meat grinder", during which the guards attacked at least 17 times. By mid-November 1916, the fighting subsided, the guards remained in positions near Stokhod, preparing to go on the offensive in the spring of 1917.
In June 1917, the guard corps took part in the so-called "Kerensky offensive", but it was no longer the imperial guard. The death sentence of the Russian army and the imperial guard was pronounced on March 1, 1917, when, after the abdication of Emperor Nicholas II, the famous “Order No. 1” was issued by the Petrograd Soviet of Workers 'and Soldiers' Deputies, abolishing military discipline and ranks.
1 See: Volkov S.V. Decree. op. S. 291.
The collapse of the army immediately followed, embracing even the guards units located at the front. The mood in the Guards units was different: in the 1st Guards Rifle Regiment, the regiment commander was killed, in the Semyonovsky Regiment, officers and soldiers fraternized, there were no serious incidents in Preobrazhensky, in the 4th Guards Rifle Regiment, officers of Baltic origin were expelled. In the guards cavalry, where the losses were lower and the composition of the regiments remained more homogeneous, revolutionary propaganda was not successful. The Cossack guards units returned home to the Don in perfect order and with standards.
The "swan song" of the remnants of the former imperial guard was the July battles of 1917 in the Carpathian region, near Mshany and Tarno-pol, where the oldest guards regiments - Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky - especially distinguished themselves.
On May 20, 1918, in the context of the growing Civil War, these glorious regiments were officially disbanded by the decision of the few surviving officers, and most of the guards officers joined the White Army that was being formed. The history of the Imperial Guard of Russia is over.
A. V. Pokhilyuk
During the Great Patriotic War, Soviet patriots repeated the feat of Ivan Susanin
A worthy contribution to the defeat of the Nazi invaders was made by the Soviet people who were on the other side of the front line.
The establishment of a bloody "new order" in the occupied regions of the USSR was accompanied by unrestrained preaching of chauvinism, nationalism and racism. The Nazis tried to shake the steadfastness of our people, undermine their faith in the victorious Red Army, divide them with national partitions, quarrel among themselves and turn them into obedient slaves. But the actions of the fascist invaders aroused the just anger of the Soviet people and even greater love for their socialist homeland.
The Soviet government educated the people as ardent patriots of the Motherland and genuine internationalists. Therefore, the conscious struggle of the peoples of the USSR against foreign invaders proceeded from the very nature of Soviet society. In the rear of the enemy armies, the partisan movement became an integral part of this struggle. In the temporarily occupied Soviet territory, partisan
Any of the existing modern armies
has in its ranks a certain number of parts,
imbued with a special spirit of self-respect,
based on an outstanding historical past...
These parts ... should serve as a guarantee of the continuity of those traditions,
which form the foundation of every army...
These elite troops must...
serve as a practical school,
hotbed for personnel of other parts of the army.
A. Gerua. "Hordes", 1923
Tsar Peter Alekseevich, creator of the Russian guard.
Chromolithography on metal. 1909
Throughout the thousand-year history of the Russian state, our ancestors constantly had to repel numerous aggressions with weapons in their hands, to defend the independence and integrity of the state. That is why military service has always been the most honorable and respected in Russia. Guardsmen have always deservedly occupied a special place among the armed defenders of the Fatherland.
Company banner of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. 1700
In Russia, the guard (life guard) was created by Peter I from amusing troops. Until now, historians do not have unity on the date of the creation of the Russian Guard. So, in the diary of Peter I, when explaining the failure near Narva in 1700, it is indicated that “only two regiments of the guard were on two attacks near Azov,” but in the list of troops that marched near Azov in 1696, Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments were not named guards . The famous historian P.O. Bobrovsky took May 30 (June 10), 1700 - the birthday of its "founding sovereign" for the birthday of the guard. In one of the letters, dated June 11 (22) of the same year, Peter calls Prince Yu.Yu. Trubetskoy "guard captain". And, finally, in the "Journal of Peter the Great" under the date August 22 (September 2), 1700, for the first time, as is commonly believed, the regiments are officially called guards. This day - September 2 (August 22, old style) is set as a memorable day of the Russian Guard.
In the initial period of their formation, Tsar Peter I was personally involved in the recruitment of the guards regiments. “Each soldier who wanted to enter the guards regiment was enrolled only with the permission of the Sovereign himself, who put his own resolutions on their petitions.” This “choice” principle of recruiting guards units with lower ranks, and even more so with officers, was subsequently preserved, although the criterion of the level of education and military professionalism was largely supplanted by Peter’s successors by criteria of political interest, personal devotion, wealth, generosity, etc.
In the Petrine era, the guardsmen solved a triune task. Firstly, they were the political support of the tsarist government in carrying out reforms that were not always popular with the people. Not without reason, after the adoption of the imperial title in 1721, the guard units began to be called the "Russian Imperial Guard". Secondly, the guards regiments not only performed the functions of a military school that trained command personnel for the army, but were also a testing ground where all sorts of innovations in reforming the army were tested. Finally, thirdly, the guard was also a combat unit, sometimes the last and decisive argument on the battlefield.
The Russian guard received its baptism of fire in the Northern War of 1700-1721. In the battle near Narva in November 1700, two guards regiments held back the attacks of the Swedes for three hours. Their steadfastness saved the Russian army from complete defeat. For this feat, the officers of the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments were awarded a badge of distinction with the inscription: "1700 November 19." The guards also participated in other battles with the Swedes: they took Noteburg (1702), won a victory near Narva (1704), distinguished themselves in battles near Lesnaya and Poltava (1709), etc.
For a long time, the guardsmen did not have any advantages in ranks with the rest of the troops. However, after the approval at the beginning of 1722 of the table of ranks, the officers of the guards regiments received the seniority of two ranks against the army.
To train officers in the army cavalry regiments in 1721, the Kronshlot Dragoon Regiment was formed, which was ordered to consist of only nobles and be called the Life Regiment (from 1730 - Horse Guards, from 1801 - Life Guards Horse Regiment). In September 1730, another guards regiment was formed, the Izmailovsky Life Guards.
In the Russian-Turkish war of 1735-1739. a special guards detachment consisting of 3 infantry battalions from the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky, Semenovsky and Izmailovsky regiments, 2 horse guard squadrons and 6 guns participated in the assault on Ochakov, the capture of Khotyn and in the battle of Stavuchany in 1739.
Empress Elizaveta Petrovna had the rank of colonel of all guards regiments. The grenadier company of the Preobrazhensky stick, with the help of which she ascended the throne, as a reward for the services rendered, the empress separated from the regiment and called it a life company.
During the reign of Catherine II, the consolidated guard battalions took part in the Russian-Swedish war of 1788-1790. and in two Russo-Turkish wars.
Cavalry guards in the reign of Emperor Paul I.
From a watercolor by A. Baldinger.
During the reign of Paul I, the numerical strength of the guard was significantly increased. Regiments were formed: the Life Guards Hussar (1796), the Life Guards Cossack (1798) and Cavalry Guards (1799), as well as the Life Guards Artillery and Jaeger battalions.
Under Emperor Alexander I, the Life Guards Jaeger (1806), Finnish (1811) and Lithuanian (1811) regiments were formed.
In 1805, the Life Guards Horse Artillery was formed, in 1811 - the Life Guards Artillery Brigade, in 1812 - the Life Guards Sapper Battalion.
During the reign of Alexander I, the guards participated in all the wars waged by Russia in the European theater of operations. In numerous battles, the guards covered themselves with unfading glory, giving an example of true service to the Fatherland.
The cavalry guards at the battle of Austerlitz fight with
Napoleon's cavalry.
The feat of self-sacrifice of the cavalry guards in the battle of Austerlitz on November 20 (December 2), 1805, is inscribed in blood in the military history of the Fatherland, when they went to certain death, saving the bleeding Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments from the vastly superior forces of the French cavalry that fell upon them. In total, in that terrible cabin, the Cavalry Guards regiment lost 13 officers and 226 lower ranks. The cavalrymen of the Life Guards of the Cavalry and Hussar regiments fought the enemy no less bravely in this battle. The Guards Cossacks of Colonel P.A. Chernozubov, who attacked the French in the vanguard of the second column of allied troops.
Miracles of stamina and courage were demonstrated by the guards in subsequent battles with the French. At Pultusk, on December 14 (26), 1806, the life cuirassiers of His Majesty's regiment (ranked in 1813 to the Young Guard) participated in a bold raid of the Russian cavalry on the right flank of the enemy, which decided the outcome of the battle in our favor.
In the battle of Friedland on June 2 (14), 1807, the Hussar and Cossack Life Guards regiments distinguished themselves, fighting with dragoons from the division of General Pear, as well as the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment, which scattered the Dutch cuirassiers with a bold attack. The Pavlovsky Grenadier Regiment, later assigned to the “Young” Guard, was awarded a special award for exceptional valor and stamina in battle: “he was ordered to leave the hats with him in the form in which he left the battlefield” (i.e. shot and hacked). During the battle, the regiment went to bayonets eleven times. Regiment chief, Major General N.N. Mazovsky, wounded in the arm and leg, and unable to sit in the saddle, ordered two grenadiers to carry themselves in front of the regiment in the last attack.
In the Patriotic War of 1812 and in the foreign campaign of the Russian army in 1813-1814. the guards confirmed the glory of Russian weapons. Polotsk and Smolensk, Borodino and Krasny, Kulm and Leipzig, Katsbach and Craon, La Rothiere and Fer-Champenoise - this is not a complete list of battlefields where the Russian guards distinguished themselves. And as a result - a solemn march in the defeated French capital: the Prussian guards cavalry walked in front, followed by the Russian light guards cavalry division guarding the monarchs, then the allied guards infantry. The 1st Cuirassier Division completed the solemn procession. The Russian emperor in a cavalry uniform with St. Andrew's ribbon over his shoulder rode a gray horse surrounded by his guards.
For military feats - honorary awards. All military awards granted for the Patriotic War had one common inscription: "For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812." The regiments of the Petrovsky brigade (Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky) were awarded the St. George banners for courage and steadfastness in the battle of Kulm. For heroism in the same battle, the Izmailovsky and Jaeger Guards regiments were awarded St. George's trumpets. The Life Guards Lithuanian Regiment received the same award for Leipzig. For the rescue of Emperor Alexander from captivity during the Battle of Leipzig, the Silver Pipes were awarded to the Life Guards Cossack Regiment and His Majesty's Own Convoy. St. George's standards were awarded to the regiments of the Guards Cuirassier Brigade - Cavalry Guards and Horse Guards. The Life Guards Dragoon Regiment in 1813 was awarded the St. George standard, and for the battle at Fer-Champenoise in 1814 - St. George's pipes. Silver trumpets were awarded to the 1st and 2nd Guards Artillery Brigades, as well as all Guards Cavalry Batteries.
In 1813, in addition to the Old Guard, the Young Guard was established in Russia. This name was originally given to two grenadier and one cuirassier regiments for military distinctions in the Patriotic War of 1812. In 1829, the Finnish Rifle Battalion was added to the Young Guard. He, like the regiments of the Life Guards Grenadier and Pavlovsky, was granted in 1831 the rights of the Old Guard for differences in the war with Poland.
Staff officer and bombardier of the 6th battery of the 3rd Guards and
Grenadier Artillery Brigade.
In 1814, in commemoration of the merits of the quartermaster unit and in memory of its "extremely zealous and useful activity for the troops in the era of the Napoleonic wars," a special institution was created as part of His Imperial Majesty's retinue for the quartermaster unit called the "Guards General Staff ” with the rights of the “Old” guard. It was made up of the most excellent staff and chief officers of the quartermaster unit (at first 24 officers of the Retinue), who were awarded a special distinction on their uniforms. These officers were not intended to serve exclusively in the guards, but were distributed on an equal basis with other ranks of the Retinue among all troops and teams that performed topographic surveys. It was a personal honorific given to particularly distinguished officers of the Quartermaster Unit, wherever they served.
In 1830, the Life Guards Don Horse Artillery Company was formed. In 1833, the guard was divided into two corps - Guards Infantry (from infantry and foot artillery) and Guards Reserve Cavalry (from cavalry and horse artillery).
In 1856, rifle companies were formed in all guards infantry regiments, one per battalion, and at the same time the guards 1st and 2nd rifle battalions were formed again. In the same 1856. The Life Guards Infantry Battalion of the Imperial Family was added to the composition of the guard (as the Young Guard).
In subsequent years, the number of units that were part of the Young Guard continued to increase. In wartime, the guards took part in all the wars waged by Russia. With their stamina and courage, the guardsmen earned fame not only in their own country, but also the rave reviews of the allies,
In peacetime, the guard carried out internal service, participated in the protection of the royal family, guards, parades, campaigns within Russia, in camps and carried out various assignments,
The officers of the guard consisted mainly of representatives of the higher nobility. The soldiers in the guard were selected from physically strong people, politically reliable.
The appearance of the guards units was distinguished by the youthfulness of the soldiers, their bearing, the ability of officers to behave with dignity, uniforms.
Case near the village of Telishe in 1877.
Artist V.V. Mazurovsky.
In the second half of the XIX century. The Russian Imperial Guard participated in almost all military enterprises of Tsarist Russia. Particularly distinguished parts of the guard during the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. in the battles for Gorny Dubnyak and Palishch, Dalny Dubnyak and the Shindarin position, at Tashkisen and Philippopolis.
At the same time, along with participation in hostilities, the guard continued to be used as a school for training military personnel in army units. The detachment of trained soldiers and officers from the guard continued until the First World War.
Life Guards Engineer Battalion. 1853
Artist A. I. Gebens.
By the beginning of the 20th century, 23.6% of regimental commanders and 28.8% of division commanders were transferred to the army from the guard. From the Semenovsky regiment, which was considered exemplary, they made a practical school for future army officers. The Life Guards Sapper Battalion served as a school for non-commissioned officers for sapper units. In artillery, this was the Life Guards Artillery Battalion,
The beginning of the 20th century was marked by Russia's participation in the suppression of the Boxer Rebellion in China. In 1900-1901. As part of the expeditionary corps in the Chinese campaign, the Life Guards Rifle Artillery Division took part, which participated in the operations of Russian troops in Manchuria and northern China.
In the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. the Guards Naval crew took part. Many guard officers participated in the war as volunteers, staffing units and formations of Russian troops in the Far Eastern theater of operations with command staff.
After the war with Japan, there was an urgent need for military reforms in Russia. They also touched the guards. First of all, this was due to an increase in the numerical strength of the guards units.
The deployment of the guard was carried out by forming new units or by converting army units into guard units for combat distinctions. If at the beginning of the 20th century the guard consisted of 12 infantry, 4 rifle, 13 cavalry regiments, three artillery brigades, a sapper battalion and a naval crew, then the guard met the First World War as part of 13 infantry, 4 rifle and 14 cavalry regiments. She also had four artillery brigades. Sapper battalion, Navy crew and other units. In the Navy, in addition to the Guards Naval crew, the cruiser Oleg, two destroyers and the imperial yacht were also assigned to the guards. In total, by 1914, there were about 40 units and over 90 thousand people in the guard. The guards included, in addition, the Page Corps and the permanent staff of the Nikolaev Cavalry School (Officer Cavalry School). In peacetime, the Guard was subordinate to the Commander-in-Chief of the Guards and the St. Petersburg Military District.
The First World War was a serious test for the Russian guard. Guards units successfully operated in the Battle of Galicia, Warsaw-Ivangorad and Lodz operations. Part of the Guards (3rd Guards Infantry, 1st and 2nd Guards Cavalry Divisions) participated in the East Prussian operation of 1914. Unfortunately, the actions of the Guards units here were less successful than on the Southwestern Front, the Life Guards The Keksholm Regiment and the 3rd battery of the Life Guards of the 3rd Artillery Brigade shared the tragic fate of the two army corps of the 2nd Army in the area of the Masurian Lakes.
In the summer of 1916, as part of a special army, the guard took part in the offensive of the Southwestern Front. In the battles on the Stohod River, she fought bloody battles with the enemy. Bloodless, having suffered heavy losses, the guards were withdrawn to the Headquarters reserve, where they remained until the end of the war.
In connection with the most serious losses in the personnel, representatives of the peasantry and the working class began to be called upon to replenish the guard. This seriously influenced the political mood among the guards. As a result, after the victory of the February Revolution of 1917 and the abdication of the king from the throne, the guards did not even make an attempt to intervene in the course of events, the Kornilov rebellion also left the guards indifferent. In February 1917, the soldiers of almost all the spare infantry units of the Petrograd garrison guard went over to the side of the rebels, which greatly contributed to the victory of the revolution.
The interim government retained the guard, abolishing the prefix "lab" and the name "Imperial". During the preparations for the October uprising, at a garrison conference in Smolny on October 18 (31), representatives of almost all regimental committees of the guards reserve regiments (with the exception of Izmailovsky and Semenovsky) spoke in favor of armed action. They also took an active part in the course of the uprising itself. Thus, the Pavlovtsy and the Guards grenadiers participated in the storming of the Winter Palace, the reserve soldiers of the Finland Regiment established Soviet power on Vasilyevsky Island, etc.
The formal disappearance of the Guards was associated with the signing of the Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty on March 3, 1918 by the Soviet government. However, already from the end of January, the demobilization of parts of the Petrograd garrison took place. At that time, it was recognized as necessary to get rid of the former military formations, including the guards, as soon as possible. The liquidation of the guards regiments was completed by April 1, 1918.
The Soviet Guard was born in the battles near Yelnya during the Battle of Smolensk, in the most difficult period of the Great Patriotic War. By decision of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command for mass heroism, courage of personnel, high military skill on September 18, 1941, by order of the People's Commissar of Defense No. 308, four guards rifle divisions were transformed: 100th (commander Major General I.N. Russianov) into 1 -th Guards Rifle Division, 127th (commander Colonel A.Z. Akimenko) into the 2nd, 153rd (commander Colonel N.A. Hagen) into the 3rd and 161st (commander Colonel P.F. Moskvitin) to the 4th Guards Rifle Division. This was the beginning of the Soviet guard, which inherited the best traditions of the Russian guard from the time of Peter the Great, A.V. Suvorov, M.I. Kutuzov.
Guard formations took an active part in all the decisive battles of the Great Patriotic War and made a significant contribution to the victory. If in 1941 the Soviet guards included nine rifle divisions, three cavalry corps, a tank brigade, a number of rocket artillery units and six aviation regiments, then in 1942 various formations of the Navy, the country's air defense, many types of artillery, as well as rifle, tank and mechanized corps, combined arms armies, 10 airborne guards divisions, and since 1943 - tank armies, aviation divisions and corps.
As a result, by the end of the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet guard was an invincible force. It consisted of 11 combined arms and 6 tank armies, one horse-mechanized group, 40 rifle, 7 cavalry, 12 tank, 9 mechanized and 14 aviation corps, 117 rifle, 9 airborne, 17 cavalry, 6 artillery, 53 aviation and 6 anti-aircraft -artillery divisions, 7 rocket artillery divisions; 13 motorized rifle, 3 airborne, 66 tank, 28 mechanized, 3 self-propelled artillery, 64 artillery, 1 mortar, 11 anti-tank, 40 rocket artillery brigades, 6 engineering and 1 railway brigades. 1 fortified area, 18 combat surface ships, 16 submarines, a number of other units and subunits of various branches of the armed forces, and a total of over four thousand military formations, became Guards.
The recognition of their military prowess was the introduction of the Guards Banner (Flag), and for military personnel - guards ranks and the establishment of the badge "Guards". Badges of Guards Valor were established by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on May 21, 1942. Thus, the military-political leadership of the country once again emphasized that it attaches particular importance to the guard formations in solving combat missions.
Breastplate "Guard", designed by the artist S.I. Dmitriev, is an oval framed with a laurel wreath, the upper part of which is covered with the Red Banner unfolded to the left of the staff. The banner is inscribed in golden letters: "Guard". In the middle of the wreath is a red five-pointed star on a white field. The banner and the star have a golden rim. The pole of the banner is intertwined with a ribbon: the tassels in the upper part of the pole hang down to the right side of the wreath. At the bottom of the wreath there is a shield with the inscription in raised letters: "USSR". The image of the guards sign was also placed on the guards banners awarded to the guards armies and corps. The only difference was that on the banner of the Guards Army the sign was depicted in a wreath of oak branches, and on the banner of the Guards Corps - without a wreath.
The presentation of the Banner (Flag) and the badge was usually carried out in a solemn atmosphere, which was of great educational importance. The honorary title obliged each warrior to become a master of his craft. All this contributed to the growth of the authority of the Soviet guard.
In the post-war years, the Soviet guards continued the glorious traditions of previous generations of guardsmen. And although in peacetime the formations were not transformed into guards, in order to preserve the combat traditions, the guards ranks of units, ships, formations and associations during the reorganization were transferred to new military units and formations with direct succession in terms of personnel. Thus, the Kantemirovskaya tank division was created on the basis of the famous 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Corps. The honorary title was retained and the corps guards banner was transferred to her. The same thing happened with the 5th Guards Mechanized Division, whose servicemen subsequently performed their military duty in Afghanistan with dignity. Similar reorganizations took place in the Air Force, landing troops and in the Navy. Newly formed units and formations of the Strategic Missile Forces, anti-aircraft missile units and formations of the country's Air Defense Forces were awarded the rank of artillery and mortar formations that distinguished themselves during the Great Patriotic War.
The Guards of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was the successor and continuer of the combat traditions of their predecessors. Guards motorized rifle Tamanskaya and guards tank Kantemirovskaya divisions; guard formations of the Airborne Troops... These names still evoke memory, inspire and oblige.
The guardsmen of the late twentieth century are true to the traditions of the guard, developed and consolidated by their predecessors. Will we ever forget about the feat of contemporaries, when on March 1, 2000, in the Argun Gorge, during a counter-terrorist operation on the territory of the Chechen Republic, the 6th paratrooper company of the 104th Guards Parachute Regiment of the 76th Airborne Division took a fierce battle with many times superior forces terrorists. The paratroopers did not flinch, did not retreat, fulfilled their military duty to the end, at the cost of their lives blocked the path of the enemy, showing courage and heroism. This feat is inscribed like a golden line in the recent history of the Russian Armed Forces, in the centuries-old chronicle of its guards. It inspires good deeds for those who today carry out difficult military service under the banners of the Guards, helps to instill in soldiers a sense of pride in their army, their Fatherland.
See: Military Encyclopedia I.D. Sytin. S.201.
Bobrovsky P.O. History of the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. St. Petersburg, 1900. T.I. P.376.; Valkovich A.M. My beloved children.//Rodina, 2000, No. 11. P.26.
Letters and papers of Emperor Peter the Great. SPb. 1887. T. I. C. 365.
Journal or Daily note of the blessed and eternally worthy memory of Emperor Peter the Great from 1698 to the conclusion of the Neustadt Peace. SPb., 1770, part I, p.12.
Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of May 31, 2006 No. 549 "On the establishment of professional holidays and memorable days in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation."
Dirin P.N. History of the Life Guards Semenovsky Regiment. T. 1. St. Petersburg, 1883. S. 158-161.
A Brief History of the Life Guards of the Izmailovsky Regiment. SPb., 1830. S. 4
The material was prepared in
Military Research Institute
History of the Military Academy of the General Staff
Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
At all times, every significant ruler was obliged to have a personal guard - this was a necessary and prestigious attribute. The kings of Persia had "immortals", the praetorians served the Caesars, the Byzantine emperors hired the Varangians and Slavs, the Scottish kings had drabants, the dukes of Burgundy were guarded by "black Walloons", and their overlords Valois and Bourbons preferred mercenaries from Scotland and Switzerland.
Any monarch, assuming the throne, immediately began to carry out reforms. First of all, this concerned the personal guard, which was inherited from its predecessor. But the reform was even more thorough if not only the monarch was replaced, but also the dynasty itself.
The last dynasty of Russian autocrats was no exception. A well-known opinion ascribes merit in the founding of the Guards and Guards Infantry to Peter the Great. But this is not entirely true, because guards units began to be created back in pre-Petrine times. The first was Mikhail Fedorovich, who thoroughly shook up the personnel of the inherited guard, which was the stirrup streltsy regiment. Then the sovereign conceived the creation of a new personal guard.
The process of reform did not stop throughout the entire period of the reign of the Romanov dynasty, which lasted more than three centuries. It is worth dwelling in detail on some interesting facts and important points.
1. The beginning of the guards units of the Romanovs was laid by the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Moscow elective soldier regiments.
The first was formed on June 25, 1642. This happened during the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich. The unit became known as the Lefort infantry regiment (after the commander of the Lefort regiment, commander of the guards since 1692). But on January 14, 1785, the regiment was renamed the Moscow Grenadier. After 6 years, the regiment was disbanded and became part of the Yekaterinoslav Grenadier Regiment.
The formation of the second regiment also refers to 1642. It consisted of 52 companies, each of which had a hundred soldiers and was called Butyrsky. On March 9, 1914, he became the Life Grenadier Erivan Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich Regiment. The disbandment of the guards unit took place in 1918.
The third division was created half a century after the formation of the first and second - in 1692.
2. The original design of such regiments assumed their existence as cadre units.
That is, in peacetime they were based on the "initial" people - from the foreman to the colonel. During the hostilities, the personnel were replenished with rank and file archers, which made it possible to deploy units of up to several regiments each.
Subsequently, the principle of framing was rejected, but the unusual division of regiments into shelves continued. Therefore, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd elective regiments consisted of five, six and two regiments respectively.
3. The first elected regiments participated in the Battle of Narva, which took place in 1700 and ended in failure for the Russian army.
One of the results of the battle was the receipt of the Preobrazhensky and Semyonovsky regiments, which were part of the 3rd elected, the status of the Life Guards. It is generally accepted that Preobrazhensky is the oldest guards regiment. However, from the time of its foundation until 1706, along with the Semyonovsky regiment, it was part of the same military unit, and the command of the regiments was carried out by a single chief. At first, they were commanded by Major General A. M. Golovin, and from 1700, I. I. Chambers, who had the same military rank, became the head of the regiment.
Historically, the primacy of education was given to the Preobrazhenians and Semenovtsy. But the version of the “primogeniture” of the Preobrazhenians had strong arguments, backed up by facts from the history of the unit. The regiment was condemned by some influential historians for the "revolt" that took place in it on October 16, 1820. The commander of the regiment, Schwartz, forbade the military to engage in crafts, and, in response to this, the soldiers of the head company filed a petition to change the commander. The result of such actions was the disarmament of the regiment and the direction of all personnel to the Peter and Paul Fortress. But the Semyonovites were not treated kindly by Soviet historians either. They were guilty of suppressing the insurgent Moscow workers in 1905.
4. The regiments of the Life Guards were conceived by Peter I as an effective personnel reserve.
Initially, all guardsmen were placed above the military personnel of other units by two ranks. Subsequently, this advantage remained only with the officers, and later the guard was divided into "old" and "young". In the first, the former superiority was preserved, and in the second it amounted to only one rank.
By the beginning of the last century, all guards officers had just such an advantage. During this period, there was no rank of lieutenant colonel in the guard, which was convenient for captains, who immediately became colonels.
5. The beginning of the twentieth century was the culmination in the development of the Russian guards infantry.
Now it consisted of 12 infantry and 4 rifle regiments and another separate company. Of this number, 12 regiments (including Semyonovsky and Preobrazhensky) were originally created as guards, and the rest of the units were awarded a similar status for exceptional merits.
In 1914, three infantry divisions and one rifle brigade were created from these guards units. The participation of the guards in the First World War was the most significant event in their history. The main operations in which she proved herself in the first year of the war were Lublin, Warsaw-Ivangorod, Czestochowa-Krakow. In 1915, the Guards troops participated in the battles near Lomzha, Kholm, Vilna, and the following year they fought for Kovel, Vladimir-Volynsky and on the banks of Stokhoda. In 1917, the guards actively participated in the Galician operation.
Since the guards units were used as shock infantry, they suffered colossal losses. The first war year claimed the lives of 30% of the officers, and up to 80% of soldiers and non-commissioned officers died.
6. By the beginning of the last century, recruits to the guards were supplied mainly by the Great Russian provinces.
To get into the elite troops, it was necessary to obtain a certificate from the local police, which testified to the reliability of the applicant. And recruits were distributed into regiments according to their appearance.
- Only tall blondes were suitable for Preobrazhensky, and in order to get into the 3rd and 5th companies, blondes had to have beards.
- For Semyonovsky, tall brown-haired men were required.
- Izmailovsky and Grenadier were completed with brunettes, and in the company of His Majesty brunettes with solid beards were required.
- Tall blonds were selected for Lithuanian, smooth-shaven brown-haired women were selected for Kexholmsky, and only brunettes were accepted for St. Petersburg.
- Jaeger, Volyn and Finland were considered the most democratic parts. People with any hair color, but with a light physique, could serve in them.
- The personnel of the rifle regiments were selected according to the same principle. Blondes were required to serve in the first, brunettes in the second, and people with short noses were accepted in the fourth.
The military training of the army and guards units was carried out according to uniform standards and had specific disciplines.
- Rifle. The soldiers took the initial course, acquired the skills of field observations, learned to determine the distance to the targets, conducted training and live firing.
- Shooting training of commanders was carried out.
- Engineering. Its goals are the development of self-digging, camouflage and the ability to build primitive engineering fortifications.
- Conducting a bayonet fight.
- Physical training. She came to the army units precisely from the troops of the guards. It included all kinds of exercises, field gymnastics, running, marches. Group exercises were also used, and since 1908 football appeared in them.
7. Changes in the name of the regiments took place exclusively during the reign of Paul I.
In the entire history of the Guards infantry units, only three of them changed their names. On August 24, 1914, due to the renaming of the capital, the St. Petersburg Regiment received the name of Petrogradsky.
On October 12, 1817, the Lithuanian regiment received the name of the Moscow one, but on the basis of its third company a new regiment was formed, which was given the former name.
In 1855, the Jaeger Regiment was given a new name - Gatchina, but 15 years later the name was restored. There is a legend explaining this fact. The restoration of the name of the regiment is associated with the resourcefulness of a certain wise general, whose prototype is Ivan Gavrilovich Chekmarev. When the emperor greeted him at the review with the words: "Hello, old huntsman!", He wittily replied: "I'm not an old huntsman, but a young Gatchina citizen!" All this is more like a historical anecdote, but so far no one has refuted it.
8. Traditionally, the location of the guards units was St. Petersburg. But for the 3rd Guards Division, Warsaw was chosen as the base. This division was created on the basis of the Guards Brigade of the Polish Corps and consisted of four regiments.
9. Even honored guardsmen could not do without a penal unit.
After the performance of the Decembrists, in 1826, the Life Guards Consolidated Regiment was organized. Soldiers from the lower ranks and officers who took an active part in the rebellion got into it. According to the bureaucratic canons of that time, they were considered "unwittingly fallen into misconduct." The regiment consisted of several battalions from the Grenadier, Moscow and Karabiner (training) regiments.
The created unit was hastily sent to the Caucasus, so that in the battles with the Persian troops, the penalized men would wash away the heavy guilt before the fatherland with their blood. In the next two years, the regiment was actively replenished with employees, who also stained themselves with participation in a significant December speech.
Only at the very end of 1828 did the guards unit return to the capital, and the battalions that made up it joined their native regiments.
10. For a long time there have been disputes not only about the seniority of the guards regiments, but also about which of them was the last to be disbanded.
Controversy is facilitated by the restoration of guard units during the Civil War. Historians tend to assign this title to the Company of the Palace Grenadiers ( image in header), formed on October 2, 1827. After the events of February 1917, it was named the St. George Grenadier, and on February 4, 1921, it was disbanded.
The history of the first guard units in the Russian army dates back to the existence of the imperial system. It is reliably known that the first such units were two and Preobrazhensky, which were founded during the reign of Peter I. Even then, these regiments showed considerable endurance and heroism in battle. Such divisions existed until Bolshevism came to power in Russia. Then there was an active struggle against the remnants of the tsarist regime, and the guards were disbanded, and the very concept was forgotten. However, during the Great Patriotic War, the issue of rewarding distinguished soldiers became acute, since many soldiers or entire units fought bravely even against superior enemy forces. It was during this difficult time that the badge "Guards of the USSR" was established.
Establishment in the Guards rank
In 1941, the Red Army suffered a series of defeats from the Wehrmacht and retreated. The decision to revive the old tradition of the Soviet government arose during one of the most difficult defensive battles - the Battle of Smolensk. In this battle, four divisions especially distinguished themselves: the 100th, 127th, 153rd and 161st. And already in September 1941, by order of the Supreme High Command, they were renamed the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Guards Divisions with the assignment of the corresponding rank. At the same time, the “Guard” badge was awarded to all personnel, and special salaries were also due: for privates - double, for officers - one and a half. Later, this badge also began to decorate the banners of distinguished units (since 1943).
During the war years, the Guards rank was awarded to many units that showed courage and heroism in battles with the invaders. But the history of elite formations in the Red Army does not end there. Guards ranks were also awarded during other armed conflicts. They continued until the collapse of the USSR. The “Guards” sign was awarded to any recruit who got into the unit, but only after he had passed the baptism of fire, and in such as aviation or navy, these requirements were even more stringent. Moreover, in this regard, there was no difference between officers and ordinary soldiers.
Badge "Guard": description
In total, there are several varieties of this award: during the Second World War, post-war, as well as modern signs. Each of them has its own differences, since over time the design and Yes changed and they were produced at different factories. The 1942 model will be described below.
So, this honorary award is a sign made in the form of a laurel wreath covered with gold enamel. The upper part is covered with a flowing color, on which "Guard" is written in gold letters. The entire space inside the wreath is covered with white enamel. In the center stands the Soviet army in red with gold edging. The left rays of the star are crossed by the staff of the banner, which is intertwined with a ribbon. Two cords depart from it, which hang down on the left branch of the wreath. At the bottom is a cartouche with the inscription "USSR" engraved on it.
When assigning any part of the guards rank, the emblem depicting the award was also applied to military equipment - tanks or aircraft.
The dimensions of the sign are 46 x 34 mm. It was made of tombac - an alloy of brass, copper and zinc. Its properties did not allow the award to rust. For fastening to clothes, a special pin and nut were attached. The award was worn on the right side of the garment at chest level.
The project was developed by S. I. Dmitriev. One of the versions was almost the same sign, but Lenin's profile was placed on the banner. However, Stalin did not like the idea, and he ordered the profile to be replaced with the inscription "Guards". So the award received its final form.
Privileges and Features
For those who had the badge "Guards of the USSR", special privileges were due. The award was retained by the person who received it, even if he left the guards service. The same applied to the transfer of a soldier to another unit. The award was also worn in the post-war period. In 1951, the government of the USSR issued a law that decided to temporarily stop awarding the "Guard" badge, doing this only in exceptional cases. This order was observed until 1961, when the Minister of Defense R. Ya. Malinovsky approved an order according to which the right to wear the badge came into force when serving in the guards unit. It did not apply to WWII veterans.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the delivery. It was held solemnly, with the general construction of the entire unit, with banners unfurled. In addition to the award itself, the fighter was also given a document containing relevant information about the award and confirming it. But over time, the presentation itself turned into a routine and lost its "ritual" meaning.
Modernity
Now, when the glory of past events is fading, it can be purchased from various private merchants. Since one of the most massive awards is just the “Guard” badge, its price is usually low. It depends on several features: the time and method of manufacture, the history of the award, and who is selling it. The cost starts at an average of 2000 rubles.
Outcome
The sign "Guard" testified to the heroism, military training and valor of the person wearing it. During the existence of the USSR, units awarded the title of guards were considered elite, and the soldiers who served in such units were treated with great respect.