Family book of memory and glory Nikolay Aleksandrovich Izobilin. The combat path of the division during the Great Patriotic War 108th Infantry

The first location is the village of Medvezhiy Stan, Vsevolozhsk district, Leningrad region.
As part of the active army (including from January 1945 - in the status of the rifle regiment of the same name of the internal troops of the NKVD of the USSR) - January 22, 1942 - May 9, 1945.
At first he provided rear security for the Neva Operational Group (2nd formation), and then for the 67th Army (1st formation).
It is known that in 1942 the regiment was headed by Major (later Lieutenant Colonel) Vasily Petrovich Staritsin, and from the summer of 1943 by Lieutenant Colonel Bogdanov.
Subsequently, the regiment was part of the USSR NKVD Troops Directorate for rear protection of the 3rd Baltic Front.
In January 1945, he was redeployed from the Baltic states to the East Prussian city of Insterburg (now Chernyakhovsk), where he was reorganized into the 108th Infantry Regiment of the Internal Troops of the NKVD of the USSR. From that moment - de jure as part of the 63rd Infantry Division of the Internal Troops of the NKVD of the USSR of the Directorate of the NKVD of the USSR for the protection of the rear of the 2nd Belorussian Front (2nd formation), but de facto in January-second half of April 1945 - in operational subordination of the USSR NKVD Troops Directorate for rear protection of the 3rd Belorussian Front.
Irreversible losses of this period: on January 25, 1945, the squad commander, Sergeant Pavel Vasilyevich Dushin, died.
The regiment took direct part in the assault on the city and fortress of Königsberg (now Kaliningrad), as well as in the security and military operation to cleanse the latter, carried out on April 11-19, 1945.
From approximately the end of April until October-November 1945, it was directly subordinate to the headquarters of the 63rd Infantry Division of the Internal Troops of the NKVD of the USSR.
From approximately October-November 1945 - in the East Prussian city of Insterburg (now Chernyakhovsk).
As of December 1, 1945, the regiment commander was Lieutenant Colonel Boris Aleksandrovich Churkin.
In December 1945, it was reorganized into the 562nd rifle regiment of the internal troops of the NKVD of the USSR with a location in Königsberg (now Kaliningrad): in the surviving buildings on modern Baranova Street and, in particular, in the building of the modern Dynamo sports complex there was a catering unit and the Red Army club of the unit, and in two buildings opposite (now the House of Folk Art and one of the educational buildings of the Kaliningrad Technical University) there are barracks, headquarters and warehouses.
In October 1946, it was reorganized into the 562nd separate battalion of internal troops of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs. The location is the same: in the city of Kaliningrad along modern Baranova Street.
The battalion was directly involved in the forced deportation of the German population from the Kaliningrad region to central Germany, as well as in a number of security and military operations carried out on the territory of the former Lithuanian SSR against illegal armed groups. Had irreparable losses incurred in battles. In particular, on August 26, 1948, in Kaliningrad, in the 4855th military hospital, Sergeant Nikolai Afanasyevich Gomalka died from wounds received during one of the Chekist military operations.
In April 1948, this battalion was “sequestered” into the 10th separate rifle company of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (according to other sources - MGB) of the USSR with a location in the city of Kaliningrad in the area of ​​Krasnokamennaya Street.
The best of the company's servicemen demobilized into the reserve by the personnel apparatus of the UMGB in the Kaliningrad region were sent to serve in the divisions of the internal affairs bodies of the region and, in particular, a large group - in the spring of 1949 to replenish the ranks of the water police, including Red Army soldiers Ilya Andreevich Mosol and Pavel Andreevich Pankov.
A former representative of the command of the 108th (562nd) Infantry Regiment of the Internal Troops of the NKVD-MVD of the USSR, Major Anatoly Semenovich Slonetsky subsequently became a police commissioner of the 3rd rank (analogous to the modern special rank of “major general of police”). November 5, 1953 – August 29, 1955 He, as the first head in the history of this educational institution, headed the Kaliningrad Special Secondary Police School of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR (now the Kaliningrad Law Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia).
The further fate of this military unit is unknown, but most likely it was disbanded at the turn of the 1940-1950s.

407, 444 and 539 rifle regiments,
575 artillery regiment,
152nd separate anti-tank fighter division (from January 25, 1942),
273 anti-aircraft artillery battery (458 separate anti-aircraft artillery division),
– until 20.2.43,
220 reconnaissance company,
172 engineer battalion,
485 separate communications battalion (409 separate communications company),
157th medical battalion,
155th separate chemical defense company,
188 (93) motor transport company,
278 field bakery,
153 divisional veterinary hospital,
1548 field postal station,
381 field cash desk of the State Bank.


Combat period
22.6.41-9.5.45


During the Great Patriotic War, the 108th Infantry Division had to participate in battles from June 26, 1941. to May 9, 1945
Before the war, the division was stationed in the Smolensk region, the division headquarters and special forces were in the city of Vyazma, rifle regiments of the 407th, 444th, 539th and 575th artillery. The regiment is in Dorogobuzh and Safonovo.
On June 22, 1941, the division was alerted and proceeded in a forced march to the old border west of Minsk.
On the instructions of the commander of the 44th Corps, which included the division with two regiments, defense was occupied in the Krasnoe-Dzerzhinsk-Stankovo ​​sector, 40 km wide. One rifle regiment was assigned to the operational group of the Western Front to eliminate enemy airborne forces. From June 26 to July 2, 1941, the division held its defense sector, but was outflanked by the enemy and was forced to fight out of the encirclement. (about 1200 people came out).
After leaving the encirclement, having received reinforcements, from the end of July to October 1941, the division fought defensive battles on the Vop River south of Yartsevo.
In October 1941, the division was again surrounded, in mid-November it emerged from the encirclement (also approximately 1,200 people), was replenished and carried out defensive work in the Zosimova Pustyn-Narofominsk sector.
On November 20, 1941, in connection with an enemy breakthrough on the near approaches to Moscow, the division was transferred to the 5th Army and took up defense in the Pavlovsko-Slobodsk direction between the cities of Zvenigorod-Istra, having a front line along the Kotovo-Gorshkovo, Boriskovo-Ivashkovo line. For 15 days, the division fought fierce battles with the enemy rushing towards Moscow and retreated 16 km. In these battles, the division's personnel showed massive heroism. By the end of the defensive battles, there were 120-150 active bayonets left in the regiments.
On December 5, 1941, the division as part of the 5th Army went on the offensive, participated in the liberation of the city of Mozhaisk, and in February 1942 reached the border of the Smolensk region. Here I was on the defensive for a year.
In February 1942, the division was withdrawn from the 5th Army, transferred to the left flank of the Western Front, for some time as part of the 10th Army it fought distracting battles in the area of ​​Zhizdra, and then in April it became part of the 11th Guards. the army of General Bagramyan and until June 1943 occupied the defense on the Zhizdren bridgehead, having a front line at the Ozhigovo, Dretovo, Babikino line (35 km south of Kozelsk).
The division began the Battle of Oryol-Kursk with an offensive as part of the 11th Guards. Army to the flank of the enemy’s Oryol group. On July 17, units of the division at the Dolbilovo-Rudnevo line (15 km south of Orel) cut the Bolkhov-Znamenskoye highway, thereby creating a threat of encirclement of the Bolkhov enemy group. Wanting to ease the situation of its troops, the German command launched an air strike on the division’s battle formations with a force of 1,200 sorties, and then for 3 days, with the help of two divisions, with the support of 100 tanks and aircraft, they tried to knock down parts of the division from the highway. Units of the division survived this battle, which was extremely brutal in its cruelty.
In the battles of July 17-19, 1943, our losses amounted to about 3,000 people, the enemy lost about 7,000 people and 37 tanks. For these battles the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.
In September 1943, the division became part of the 50th Army of General I.V. Boldin. this army was advancing in a westerly direction north of Bryansk. During the offensive, General Kryukov’s 2nd Cavalry Corps broke through behind enemy lines and occupied a bridgehead on the western bank of the river. Desna, was cut off from his troops and was subjected to continuous enemy attacks.
In this environment 108th Infantry Division received an order from the commander from a line south of Kirov (Kaluga region) to break through the enemy’s defenses and connect with the cavalry corps. On September 12, with an unexpected blow, the division broke through the enemy’s defenses, entered encirclement, covered 35 km behind enemy lines in a day, united with cavalrymen, where for 3 days they repulsed fierce enemy attacks.
On September 18, 1943, units of the division, together with the approaching army troops, went into pursuit and on September 19 captured the regional center of Dubrovka, on September 22 they crossed the river. Here we go.
On September 26, the division completed an honorable task - it was the first to enter the land of Belarus and captured the regional center of Khotimsk.
By the end of October 2, units of the division reached the river. Pronya (18 km south of Chausy), where it fought to capture and expand the bridgehead until November 20. On December 12, the division surrendered its defensive line and entered the second echelon of the army, where it was putting itself in order until January 2, 1944.
In January-February 1944, the division, continuing its offensive towards the Dnieper, crossed the river on the Lenivets-Adamovka section (4 km north of Novy Bykhov) on the night of February 21-22. Pursuing the retreating enemy, units of the division captured the Golden Bottom railway crossing, thereby cutting off the Bykhov-Rogachev railway. At this point, the division received orders to go on the defensive.
In the Battle of Belarus, the division initially participated as part of the 3rd Army, commanded by Lieutenant General Gorbatov. The offensive began on June 24, 1944 from a bridgehead on the river. Drut north of Rogachev. By the end of June 26, units of the division reached the river line. Ola in the Pavlovichi-Shpilivshchizna area.
On the morning of June 27, Commander 3 brought into battle the 9th Tank Corps under the command of Major General Bakharev, who had the task of reaching the Titovka, Zelenko, Babino line and thereby cutting off the escape route beyond the Berezina River and completing its encirclement.
During the offensive, the 108th Infantry Division was ordered to leave its offensive zone and, taking advantage of the success of the 9th Tank Corps, move through enemy rear lines to the Wieliczka, Jasny Les, and Titovka areas. By the end of June 27, units of the division reached the indicated area and took up defense along a deployed front. One battalion of the 444SP occupied the bridge across the river. Berezina, connecting Titovka with Bobruisk.
For two days, units of the division fought with the enemy who was trying to get out of the encirclement. By the morning of June 29, the fighting along the entire front began to subside; many soldiers and officers, seeing their hopeless situation, began to surrender. The encircled enemy group was dealt with and the city of Bobruisk was liberated. In these battles, units of the division inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, 4 thousand soldiers and officers were killed and more than 2000 were taken prisoner.
For these battles, by order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the division was given the name "Bobruisk"
After the Bobruisk operation, the 108SD became part of the 46th Rifle Corps of the 65th Army, commanded by Colonel General P.I. Batov, and the corps by Lieutenant General K.M. Erastov. The division served as part of this corps until the end of the war.
From the Minsk line, units of the division continued the offensive in the direction of Slonim, Pruzhany, Sherduv, Siemiatichi, on August 1 they reached the state border and crossed the Western Bug River in the Biruw area. On the territory of Poland, the division advanced in the direction of Medzna, Stoczek, Wyszkow, crossed the Narew River on the night of September 6 and fought fierce battles to expand the bridgehead until September 12. Then, until October 4, units of the division carried out engineering work to create a strong positional defense.
From October 4 to October 9, 1944, a fierce defensive battle broke out on the Serock bridgehead. In terms of its intensity, it was one of the most brutal battles for the 108th division during the entire Great Patriotic War. For 5 days, in a relatively small area (the 65th army occupied a bridgehead along a front of 25 km and a depth of 8 to 18 km; in the sector of the 108th division 5x8 km), 20 rifle and tank divisions, more than 1000 tanks and about 4000 guns and mortars.
The enemy, who concentrated large forces of infantry and tanks, managed to push back our units in the first days of the offensive, but by the end of October 9, having suffered huge losses (407 tanks and more than 20,000 killed), he was forced to go on the defensive, and on October 19, the troops of the 65th Army went on the offensive. as a result of which they not only restored the bridgehead, but also significantly expanded it, capturing Serock. For these battles the division was awarded the Order of Lenin. The division remained on the Narevo bridgehead until January 1945.
On January 14, an offensive operation began by the troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front, which included the 108SD, to cut off the East Prussian enemy group with access to the lower Vistula. At 12 noon, powerful artillery preparation began, after which units of the division captured the trench lines within several hours. The offensive developed rapidly. On January 18, units of the division, pursuing the retreating enemy, liberated the city of Plonsk, and on January 23, without a fight, they entered the first German city in East Prussia - Bischowswerder. Continuing the offensive on January 25, they captured the city of Gornsee in battle, and on January 26 they reached the Vistula River south of the city of Marienwerder. From this line, the division made a 50 km march to the area south of Graudenz, where the 105th Corps captured a bridgehead on the west bank of the river. Vistula.
Having crossed the Vistula, the divisions fought for the city of Shvets on February 8, and by the end of the day on February 10, they had completely broken through the German defenses and began pursuit in a northerly direction. Overcoming stubborn enemy resistance, units of the division approached the city of Zukau (15 km west of Danzig) on ​​March 9 and captured the city. The closer the division moved to Danzig, the stronger the enemy's resistance. The movement of units per day did not exceed 3 km. This is also explained by the large understaffing of the rifle regiments. The division advanced mainly through direct fire artillery, tanks and self-propelled guns.
Parts of the division began fighting directly on the outskirts of Danzig on March 25, and the city was completely liberated on March 29.
After the liberation of Danzig, the division as part of the corps made a 350 km march to the Oder and concentrated in the Klütz area (10 km south of the city of Stetin). On April 16 and 17, two regiments of the division carried out a particular task of clearing the floodplain between the two branches of the river from the enemy. Oder. On April 20, 1945, an army operation began to cross the river. Oder. On the same day, units of the division landed on the western bank of the river. For 5 days, our troops broke through the enemy’s defenses in depth and on April 25, having finally broken the enemy’s resistance, they entered the operational space.
Continuing the pursuit of defeated enemy units, the division captured the city of Glazov on April 26, Schönhausen, Treptow on April 28, Zarov, Beregov on April 30, Lindonhof, Forvern on May 1, Demin, Sülze on May 2.
On May 4, the division captured the last German city of Bart on its battle route and by the end of the day reached the shore of the Baltic Sea east of the city of Rostock.
Here, by the sea, for the 108th Bobruisk Order of Lenin Red Banner Rifle Division, the Great Patriotic War was over.
In July 1945, the division was redeployed to the Northern Group of Forces in the cities of Bolkenheim and Neisse. In mid-1946 it was disbanded. It should be added that the 108SD did not take part in hostilities before the Great Patriotic War.
During the Second World War the division was commanded by:
June-July 1941 - Major General Mavrichev A.I.
October 1941-March 1942 - Major General Birichev Ivan Ivanovich
May 1942-February 1943 - Major General Stuchenko Andrey Trofimovich
May 1943-May 1945 - Major General Teremov Petr Alekseevich
1. By order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Marshal of the Soviet Union, Comrade. Stalin No. 0181 dated July 5, 1944, the division was given the name “108th Bobruisk Rifle Division”
2. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated July 4, 1944, the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.
3. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated February 19, 1945, the division was awarded the Order of Lenin.
For the steadfastness, courage and heroism shown during the war in the fight against the fascist invaders, 12,294 soldiers and officers were awarded in the division, including:
Gold Star medal for 5 people
Order of Lenin 7 people
166 people received the Order of the Red Banner
Order of Suvorov 2nd degree 1 person
Order of Suvorov, 3rd degree, 9 people
Order of Kutuzov 2nd degree 4 people
Order of Kutuzov, 3rd degree, 17 people
Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky 2nd degree 4 people
Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky, 3rd degree, 50 people
80 people with the Order of Alexander Nevsky
Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree, 179 people
Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd degree, 731 people
Order of the Red Star 3863 people
Order of Glory 2nd degree 13 people
Order of Glory, 3rd degree, 432 people
Medal of Courage 4616 people
Medal for Military Merit 2127 people

Division soldiers remember
June 30, 1941 - July 1, 1941

After signing the order V.I. Kuznetsov, Biryukov and the 108SD command left for the 108SD defense sector
At the time of joining, the 108th Rifle Division included the 407th Infantry Regiment (about 500 people), a detachment of border guards (about 120 people), a reconnaissance battalion of the division under the command of Major M.N. Andreev, 2 heavy guns of the 1st division of the 49th Red Banner Artillery Regiment Corps on ChTZ tractors, several batteries of anti-tank guns, several detachments formed from soldiers and commanders of other units who entered the division’s defense sector from the west, from the state border.
The right column at 23.00 moved from its positions along the route Staroe Selo - Samokhvalovichi.
The first to act was the reconnaissance battalion, which was obliged to stop the presence of the enemy on the highway in the area of ​​the Fanipol station, and if he was not there, then cover the column from Dzerzhinsk while it passed through the highway. A detachment of border guards was moving behind the reconnaissance battalion. His task is to cover the column from Minsk. They were followed by units of the 407th joint venture in 30 vehicles with two quad machine gun mounts and several anti-tank guns, heavy hull guns, and after them combined detachments formed from soldiers of other units. In general, the column of 108 SD consisted of about 2,000 combat-ready soldiers and commanders. The column approached the Dzerzhinsk-Minsk highway at dawn. The reconnaissance battalion, not meeting the enemy on the highway, turned towards Dzerzhinsk. The advanced detachment of border guards approached the crossing. At this time, about 10 cars with machine gunners appeared from Minsk. The advanced detachment of border guards opened fire on them. 3 enemy aircraft appeared from Minsk. They walked at an altitude of 150-200 meters and, turning sharply, opened machine-gun fire on the column.
“When German planes appeared above the column and began to fire from machine guns, the Red Army soldiers opened fire on the planes. By this time the column had already dismembered. Then something unimaginable happened. The whole mass of people, leaving their cars, quickly rushed towards the highway. Everyone who could, They fired at enemy planes and vehicles. The first plane fell into the meadow towards Minsk. I followed it with my eyes and then I heard a gun duel, explosions, and a glow from Minsk. I realized that it was the 64th SD that had entered the battle.
The cars with Germans coming from the direction of Minsk suddenly braked: some were reversing, others were trying to turn back. Some turned into a ditch and buried their noses in the slope of the excavation. The soldiers fell off them like peas. They immediately fell, struck by our fire, others began to run, hiding behind ditches, without even trying to shoot back. They were caught between two hurricanes. Our soldiers rushed so quickly, with such determination to quickly overcome this ill-fated highway, that no armor, no fire was able to delay them. There were no lagging behind, no last ones. Everyone was ready to break any barrier with their chest. Even the wounded flew like birds. Both enemy soldiers and enemy vehicles were riddled with hurricane fire.
By this time, two heavy implements on ChTZ tractor trailers had passed the crossing. Two horse-drawn anti-tank guns immediately after the crossing turned around at the side of the road. The crew of each gun consisted of three people. They instantly mounted their guns and opened fire on the Germans. Two fascist tanks descended from the hill towards the crossing and fired at the artillery crews. The artillerymen noticed them, but managed to fire only one shot each and were themselves killed by fragments of enemy shells. However, they set fire to one fascist tank. Three more tanks appeared from behind the hill and opened fire on our heavy guns. One was destroyed along with its crew, and the second managed to turn around and open fire on the tanks. One tank caught fire, followed by a second one, but soon the entire crew was knocked out along with the gun.”
“The 108th SD column relatively easily crossed the Dzerzhinsk-Minsk highway and railway and only after crossing it came across Nazi tanks ambushed behind a rye field. The main part of the column managed to leave in the direction of Samokhvalovichi. The last to leave were the soldiers of E.S. Leshchenko’s squad from 407 SP. Two weeks later, soldiers, commanders and political workers of the 108 SD made their way through the front line and continued to fight the enemy.
June 30, 1941.

“….the border guards entered the battle. They defeated the enemy column in a short time: the Germans lost about 12 vehicles and 150 soldiers and officers in this battle.
After an hour and a half, artillery and mortar fire was opened on the quarries, then tanks appeared, accompanied by machine gunners. Within a few days, Soviet soldiers determined that the Germans were adhering to the same tactics... And this time, after artillery fire, 10 enemy tanks, accompanied by about a battalion of machine gunners, rushed to the quarries. Heavy hull guns and an anti-tank battery opened fire on them at the distant approaches. A little later they were supported by regimental artillery. The machine gunners were hit at close range by machine guns. Leaving 7 smoking tanks and half of the machine gunners on the battlefield, the Nazis were forced to retreat. Then fascist planes dropped bombs on the positions of the 108th SD soldiers for half an hour. But the bombing raid could not break the resistance of the Red Army soldiers.
Twice during the day on June 30 and three times on July 1, fascist vultures began to cover the defense area of ​​108 and 64 rifle divisions (SD) from the air. However, the soldiers of two divisions, taking up a perimeter defense, held their positions..."
“The Germans delivered the main attack with tank groups from the East: the villages of Mayukovshchina, Baranovshchina, Podyarkovo, Yarkovo, the Gumnishche farm. Here the Germans buried tanks in the ground and fired continuously at our battle formations. The German units had an order: by any means to prevent the Soviet divisions from breaking through the ring encirclement, to force them to surrender. We maneuvered with our limited artillery weapons and used grenades and bottles filled with gasoline against the enemy."
July 1, 1941.

“At 23.00, units of the 108th division and other scattered units that joined it left the concentration site southeast of Staroye Selo to the Fanipol station in order to immediately break through the station on July 3-2 and go further to the east. However, from the units of the 407th regiment, it was lost together from the regiment commander, having fallen behind from the exit point, Tarasevich was instructed to find him, convey the route to the regiment commander, and, in his passenger car, which he left for this purpose, it was possible to find the lost unit only at four o’clock in the afternoon. It turned out that the regimental commander was a lieutenant colonel. Mudrats was seriously wounded by unknown persons. Tarasevich handed over the route to the deputy regiment commander for economic affairs and went to catch up with the division commander, but did not get to 108, and fell ill on the way. Then in the second half of July he stopped in the Klichevsky district, where he embarked on the path of partisan warfare.”
“I fought (in the 108th SD) from the beginning of the war. In the battles for the city of Dzerzhinsk for Minsk at the end of June 1941, I was surrounded, but the main core fought its way to its own...
...108 SD broke through in the area of ​​Fanipol station. German aircraft discovered the column, and tanks and infantry were brought into action. The battle was fierce, although ours knocked out one plane and several tanks, but they themselves suffered heavy losses. In this battle, the following were killed: division commissar Khramov, chief of staff Olikhaver, division commander Mavrichev, seriously shell-shocked, he lost consciousness and was captured. Head of Department Kartsev with a small group of fighters left the encirclement on June 25 - July 2."
July 1, 1941.

Junior Sergeant 407 SP 108 SD Leshchenko E.S. recalls:
“On the evening of July 1, our 407th regiment was replenished: 3 colonels and 4 lieutenant colonels arrived (apparently from broken or lost regiments) and with our command they led a march-raid to break out of the encirclement. It was said: the enemy is 5 km away. Task regiment: approach secretly at night and strike at dawn, defeat the Germans, and then the path to their own will be open. Only about 1000 soldiers gathered, the artillery was pulled by tractors and horses. They walked 5-8-10 km, but the artillery did not reach the place. in the forest, 4 kilometers from the enemy, and the fighters moved in a dismembered formation to the village of Ptich. The village is located in the lowlands - the Ptich river flows there. The Germans were behind the village in the forest and saw that many Russians were walking.
Our artillery began to fire at the Germans, and the Germans began to fire at the forest where our artillery was located. The artillery barrage lasted about 30 minutes. Then the Germans began firing mortars at the village where our infantry was. The command was given to go on the offensive, and everyone began to approach the forest on their bellies in the gardens. When there were 200 meters left to the forest, a battle ensued, which lasted 1.5 hours, but they could not advance further to the forest. Command - "Attack!" We got up. "Hooray!" But ours are being mowed down. By this time, our artillery had been brought to the front line and it began to hit the forest where the Germans were. Everything was burning, continuous fire. More than half of ours were killed or wounded. The battle began to calm down, and the wounded began to be removed. Some villagers came out and began to help carry the wounded to the barns, and especially the seriously injured to the houses. The command was received to leave the battle, change direction and go to the neighboring forest. In the following days, we made our way at night to reach our own people, but the front went far to the East."

Heroes of the 108th Bobruisk Rifle Division






Shtanko Philip Feofanovich, member of the CPSU. In the Battle of Moscow, chief of staff of the 444th Infantry Regiment with the rank of captain. Commander of the 2nd Infantry Regiment of the 50th Infantry Division. Commander of the 50th Motorized Rifle Brigade. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded for the possession of a mountain range in the Carpathians, thereby opening the way for our troops to the central regions of Romania. Head of the personnel department of the 2nd mechanized army. Despite his poor health, he went through a difficult battle path almost from the very beginning of the war. Awarded 9 orders and 9 medals.








Volkov Mikhail Evdokimovich, member of the CPSU. For his participation in the battles on the Khalkhin Gol River as a commander of a machine gun platoon, he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. In these battles he was seriously wounded twice and had 7 bayonet thrusts. In the battle of Moscow Volkov M.E. - battalion commander of the 444th Infantry Regiment of the 108th Infantry Division, chief of staff of this regiment. Commander of the 126th and 159th Infantry Division. In 1944 he was seriously wounded. For his participation in battles from Moscow to the border with East Prussia, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal.







Kulikov Fedor Fedorovich, member of the CPSU since April 1943. Before the war he worked as a teacher. In 1939 he was drafted into the Soviet Army in the Moscow Proletarian Division. As commander of a company of machine gunners, he liberated the city of Bobruisk and was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, second degree, for battles. In 1944, he was appointed commander of the battalion of the 539th Infantry Regiment of the 108th Infantry Division. He was wounded in Poland. After being wounded, he commanded the battalion of the 407th Infantry Regiment; the battalion under his command was the first to break into the city of Danzig. For this battle he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. For crossing the Oderon River and maintaining a bridgehead on the western bank, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated July 29, 1946, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.







Sokolov Vasily Afanasyevich, member of the CPSU since 1919. Before the war he entered the Frunze Academy. Deputy Chief of Staff in the Battle of Moscow from November 22, 1941. Commander of the 444th Infantry Regiment. For 15 days, the regiment withstood the onslaught of the 252nd Nazi infantry division consisting of 4 regiments. He also fought in the Valley of Death, now the Valley of Glory - near the village of Oshchepkovo, south of the city of Gzhatsk. For participation in battles in the Sviro-Petrozavodsk operation in 1944, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Participant in the defeat of the enemy in the Balaton operation in the Hungarian direction in the Great Patriotic War.








Titov Alexey Fedorovich, commander of a machine gun platoon of the 444th Infantry Regiment of the 108th Bobruisk Infantry Division. Participated in defensive battles on the West Bank of the Narew River. In 1944, the enemy, with superior infantry forces supported by tanks and artillery, attacked our positions several times. But Titov did not flinch, went out with his soldiers and defeated the enemy. During 4 days of fighting, Lieutenant Titov, together with his soldiers, destroyed 100 Nazis, 10 machine guns, repelled 33 attacks, and firmly held the positions entrusted to him. For his courage and heroism, he was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union in 1944. Killed during the attack on East Prussia.








Zubov Leonid Dmitrievich, member of the CPSU. At the age of three he was left without parents and was raised in an orphanage until 1933. He began his career in February 1933. In 1940 he was drafted into the Soviet army. He met the Great Patriotic War in the 241st Smolensk mine artillery regiment, and was wounded in May 1943. From 1943 to 1946 he was in the 172nd separate sapper battalion of the 108th rifle division. When crossing the Oder River, he ensured the crossing of the division and the defeat of the Nazis on the western bank. For his military exploits, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal.

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Missing fallen

TYULENEV FROM TITOVO. 108 RIFLE

Red Army soldier Nikolai Vasilievich Tyulenev . Born on February 25, 1921 in the village of Titovo, Ramensky district. Father Vasily Gerasimovich, mother Agrafena Egorovna, her maiden name is indicated on the prisoner’s card - Grachkova ( Graschkowa).

He was drafted into the Red Army on September 5, 1939. He served in the 407th Infantry Regiment of the 108th Infantry Division. According to the prisoner's card, on June 30, 1941, he was captured near Slonim.

Before the war, the 407th Infantry Regiment was stationed in the Smolensk region. The division belonged to the rifle divisions of three thousand personnel and as of October 22, 1940, its staff strength was only 3002 people. This is rather the size of the rifle regiment. Perhaps it was in this composition that she met the war.

On June 22, 1941, the division was alerted and proceeded in a forced march to the old border near Minsk. It did not conduct military operations west of this line, and Tyulenev in the Slonim area, which is 200 kilometers west of Minsk, could not be captured. Most likely, the place of his captivity was either a collection point for prisoners somewhere in the Slonim region, or the “Slonim” direction. In this direction, Slonim-Baranovichi-Minsk, the 47th mechanized corps of the Germans was advancing, which was opposed by the 108th division near Minsk.

The division became part of the 44th Rifle Corps, which occupied defense on the territory of the Minsk fortified area (UR), and there was no neighbor to the right, i.e. No one was covering the flank of the corps itself from the north. The Minsk UR had a front of 160 km and a depth of 1-2 km. It included 206 built long-term fire structures, but back in 1939 it was partially disarmed and dismantled.

This is how the chief of staff of the 108th division, Colonel Belyshev, assessed the possibility of using the UR: “It is not easy to use pillboxes, and many are completely impossible, since the weapons and instruments have been dismantled; communications, ventilation and lighting do not function; there is no documentation on the fire system...” In addition, it was simply impossible to even get inside the firing points, because they were closed with special locks. Some structures were still used, but this was not a well-thought-out system of firepower and control that the SD assumes. So the fighters had to rebuild their defenses anew. Moreover, only two regiments of the division, the 444th and 407th, occupied the defense. Arrived later 539thThe regiment was assigned to the operational group of the Western Front to eliminate enemy airborne forces.

From June 26 to 28, the division resisted German tank attacks, was outflanked and, together with the remnants of the 64th Division, fought surrounded by 10-20 km until July 1. southwest of Minsk.

Apparently in these battles Nikolai Tyulenev was captured. But it can be assumed, if the date is inaccurate, that he could have been captured during his breakout from encirclement. That's how it was.

By the evening of June 30, the commander of the 3rd Army retreating from the border, Lieutenant General V.I. Kuznetsov, arrived at the command post of the 64th division with several generals and colonels. They took over command of the encircled divisions and organized their breakthrough from the encirclement. The breakthrough was planned for pre-dawn from July 1st to 2nd.

The 108th Division by that time included the 407th Infantry Regiment, where Tyulenev served, (about 500 people), a detachment of border guards (about 120 people), a reconnaissance battalion of the division, 2 heavy guns on ChTZ tractors, several batteries of anti-tank guns, several detachments , formed from fighters and commanders of other units who entered the division’s defense area from the state border.

The 64th division was supposed to break through at the Volchkovichi junction, and the 108th division a little to the south, at the station. Fanipol.This is how they remembered itMember of the Military Council of the 3rd Army, Army Commissar 2nd Rank Biryukov:

“Together with V.I. Kuznetsov we moved after the advanced units of the 108th Infantry Division. We reached the railway line when it was already dawn. Units of the 108th Infantry Division, ... with which we marched, were stopped by German aircraft. Having crossed the railway embankment at the crossing, V.I. Kuznetsov and I stopped at the highest point near the highway and watched the battle. In this area, the division's insignificant artillery took up firing positions and supported the breakthrough of units of the 108th Infantry Division. There was little ammunition, as I already mentioned, only 3 shots per gun. All this was quickly spent, and we saw how about 50 tanks deployed into battle formation near the railway, followed by armored personnel carriers with machine gunners. All this was no further than 800–1000 m from us.”

Other participants in those events also recalled. The first to act was the reconnaissance battalion, which was obliged to stop the presence of the enemy on the highway in the area of ​​the Fanipol station, and if he was not there, then cover the column from Dzerzhinsk while it passed through the highway. A detachment of border guards was moving behind the reconnaissance battalion. His task is to cover the column from Minsk. They were followed by units of the 407th regiment in 30 vehicles with two quadruple machine gun mounts and several anti-tank guns, heavy hull guns, and after them combined detachments formed from soldiers of other units. In general, the column of the 108th division consisted of about 2,000 combat-ready soldiers and commanders. The column approached the Dzerzhinsk-Minsk highway at dawn. The reconnaissance battalion, not meeting the enemy on the highway, turned towards Dzerzhinsk. The advanced detachment of border guards approached the crossing. At this time, about 10 cars with machine gunners appeared from Minsk. The advanced detachment of border guards opened fire on them. 3 enemy aircraft appeared from Minsk. They walked at an altitude of 150-200 meters and, turning sharply, opened machine-gun fire on the column.

When German planes appeared above the column and began firing machine guns, the Red Army soldiers opened fire on the planes. By this time the column had already dismembered. Something unimaginable happened here. The entire mass of people, leaving their cars, quickly rushed towards the highway. Everyone who could, fired at enemy planes and vehicles. The first plane was shot down immediately. He fell into a meadow towards Minsk. I followed him with my gaze and then I heard a gun duel, explosions, and a glow from Minsk. I realized that it was the 64th SD that entered the battle.

The cars with Germans coming from the direction of Minsk suddenly braked: some were reversing, others were trying to turn back. Some turned into a ditch and buried their noses in the slope of the excavation. The soldiers fell off them like peas. They immediately fell, struck by our fire, others began to run, hiding behind ditches, without even trying to shoot back. They were caught between two hurricanes. Our soldiers rushed so quickly, with such determination to quickly overcome this ill-fated highway, that no armor, no fire was able to delay them. There were no lagging behind, no last ones. Everyone was ready to break any barrier with their chest. Even the wounded flew like birds. Both enemy soldiers and enemy vehicles were riddled with hurricane fire.

By this time, two heavy implements on ChTZ tractor trailers had passed the crossing. Two horse-drawn guns immediately behind the crossing turned around at the side of the road. The crew of each gun consisted of three people. They instantly mounted their guns and opened fire on the Germans. Two fascist tanks descended from the hill towards the crossing and fired at the artillery crews. The artillerymen noticed them, but managed to fire only one shot each and were themselves killed by fragments of enemy shells. However, they set fire to one fascist tank. Three more tanks appeared from behind the hill and opened fire on our heavy guns. One was destroyed along with its crew, and the second managed to turn around and open fire on the tanks. One tank caught fire, followed by a second one, but soon the entire crew was knocked out along with the gun.”

The column crossed the highway and railway with relative ease and only after crossing it came across Nazi tanks ambushed behind a rye field. The main part of the column managed to leave in the direction of Samokhvalovichi. The last to leave were the soldiers of E.S.’s squad. Leshchenko from the 407th regiment. Two weeks later, about 1,200 people came out to join their forces.

But Tyulenev was unlucky and did not go out to his own people. His fate was unknown and to this day heis listed as missing.

The map of the captured Nikolai Vasilyevich Tyulenev is in the archives. He was registered in a prisoner of war camp Stalag - IVB Muhlberg (Mühlberg) near Dresden. His camp number is 111307. From the description this isshort, 162 cm, dark-haired 21-year-old boy. Shoemaker by profession. He was not wounded during capture.

    Stationed in the Smolensk region. On June 22, 1941, the division was alerted and proceeded in a forced march to the old border west of Minsk. At the direction of the commander of the 44th Rifle Corps, two regiments of the division took up defense in the Krasnoye-Dzerzhinsk-Stankovo ​​sector, 40 kilometers wide. One rifle regiment was assigned to the operational group of the Western Front to eliminate enemy airborne forces.
    Combat operations began in the Great Patriotic War on June 26, 1941 in the Dzerzhinsk region. From June 26 to July 2, 1941, the division held its defense sector, but was outflanked by the enemy and was forced to fight out of the encirclement (approximately 1,200 people came out). After leaving the encirclement, having received reinforcements, from the end of July to October 1941, the division fought defensive battles on the Vop River south of Yartsevo.
    As of September 1, 1941, it was part of the 44th Rifle Corps of the 16th Army of the Western Front.
    As of October 1, 1941, it was part of the 16th Army of the Western Front. In October 1941, the division was again surrounded, in mid-November it emerged from the encirclement (about 1,200 people), received reinforcements and participated in defensive work in the Zosimova Pustyn - Naro-Fominsk section.
    On November 20, 1941, in connection with an enemy breakthrough on the near approaches to Moscow, the division was transferred to the 5th Army and took up defense in the Pavlovsk-Slobodsk direction between the cities of Zvenigorod and Istra, having a front line along the Kotovo - Gorshkovo, Boriskovo - Ivashkovo line . For 15 days, the division fought fierce battles with the enemy, retreating 16 kilometers. In these battles, the division's personnel showed massive heroism. By the end of the defensive battles, there were 120-150 active bayonets left in the regiments.
    On December 5, 1941, the division as part of the 5th Army went on the offensive, took part in the liberation of Mozhaisk, and in February 1942 reached the border of the Smolensk region, where it was on the defensive for a year.
    In February 1942, the division was withdrawn from the 5th Army and transferred to the left flank of the Western Front. As part of the 10th Army, it fought diversionary battles in the area of ​​​​the city of Zhizdra, then in April it became part of the 11th Guards Army of General Bagramyan. Until June 1943, it occupied the defense on the Zhizdrinsky bridgehead, having a front line at the Ozhigovo, Dretovo, Babikino line (35 km south of Kozelsk).
    During the Battle of Kursk, it took part in hostilities north of Orel. On July 17, units of the division at the Dolbilovo-Rudnevo line (15 km south of Orel) cut the Bolkhov-Znamenskoye highway, thereby creating a threat of encirclement of the Bolkhov enemy group. According to German data, the 108th Rifle Division arrived from Sukhinichi on July 18 and immediately entered the battle. Wanting to ease the situation of its troops, the German command launched an air strike on the division’s battle formations with a force of 1,200 sorties, and then for 3 days, with the help of two divisions, with the support of 100 tanks and aircraft, they tried to knock down parts of the division from the highway.
    According to the operational report of the General Staff, the enemy with forces of over 4 infantry regiments and 180 tanks in the afternoon of 20.07 from the areas of Karentyaevo, Bulgakovo, Shemyakino and Shemyakinsky (Komsomol) counterattacked units of the 108th Infantry Division in the area of ​​Vetrovo - Rudnevo - Dolbilovo - Gorki and after a fierce battle, at the cost of heavy losses, he captured the Dolbilovo - Rudnevo - Gorki - Vetrovo - Krasny area. In heavy battles on July 17-19, the division suffered heavy losses. For these battles the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.
    According to German data, on July 22, the division with the 401st and 444th rifle regiments was located in the area 16 km southwest of the city of Bolkhov.
    In September 1943, the division became part of the 50th Army, advancing in a westerly direction north of Bryansk. During the offensive, General Kryukov’s 2nd Cavalry Corps broke through behind enemy lines and occupied a bridgehead on the western bank of the river. Desna, was cut off from his troops and was subjected to continuous enemy attacks. In this situation, the division received an order from the army commander from a line south of Kirov (Kaluga region) to break through the enemy’s defenses and connect with the cavalry corps. On September 12, with an unexpected blow, the division broke through the enemy’s defenses, entered encirclement, covered 35 km behind enemy lines in a day, united with cavalrymen, where for 3 days they repulsed fierce enemy attacks.
    On September 18, 1943, units of the division, together with the approaching army troops, went into pursuit and on September 19 captured the regional center of Dubrovka, on September 22 they crossed the river. Here we go. On September 26, the division was the first to enter the land of Belarus and captured the regional center of Khotimsk. By the end of October 2, units of the division reached the river. Pronya (18 km south of Chausy), where it fought to capture and expand the bridgehead until November 20. On December 12, the division surrendered its defensive line and entered the second echelon of the army, where it was putting itself in order until January 2, 1944.
    In January-February 1944, the division, continuing its offensive towards the Dnieper, crossed the river on the Lenivets-Adamovka section (4 km north of Novy Bykhov) on the night of February 21-22. Pursuing the retreating enemy, units of the division captured the Zolotoye Dno railway crossing, thereby cutting the Bykhov-Rogachev road. At this point, the division received orders to go on the defensive.
    In the Battle of Belarus, the division initially participated as part of the 3rd Army. The offensive began on June 24, 1944 from a bridgehead on the river. Drut north of Rogachev. By the end of June 26, units of the division reached the river line. Ola in the Pavlovichi-Shpilivshchizna area. On the morning of June 27, the commander of the 3rd Army brought into battle the 9th Tank Corps under the command of Major General Bakharov, who had the task of reaching the Titovka, Zelenko, Babino line and thereby cutting off the escape route beyond the Berezina River and completing its encirclement.
    During the offensive, the 108th Infantry Division was ordered to leave its offensive zone and, taking advantage of the success of the 9th Tank Corps, move behind enemy lines to the Wieliczka, Jasny Les, Titovka area. By the end of June 27, units of the division reached the indicated area and took up defense along a deployed front. One battalion of the 444th Infantry Regiment occupied the bridge across the Berezina connecting Titovka with Bobruisk. For two days, units of the division fought with the enemy who was trying to get out of the encirclement. By the morning of June 29, the fighting along the entire front began to subside; many soldiers and officers, seeing their hopeless situation, began to surrender. The encircled enemy group was dealt with and the city of Bobruisk was liberated. In these battles, units of the division inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, 4 thousand soldiers and officers were killed and more than 2000 were taken prisoner.
    For the military merits shown in these battles, by order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the division was awarded the honorary name "Bobruisk". After the Bobruisk operation, the division became part of the 46th Rifle Corps of the 65th Army. The division served as part of this corps until the end of the war.
    From the Minsk border, units of the division continued the offensive in the direction of Slonim, Pruzhany, Sherduv, Siemiatichi, on August 1 they reached the state border and crossed the Western Bug River in the Viruv area. On the territory of Poland, the division advanced in the direction of Medzna, Stoczek, Wyszkow, crossed the Narew River on the night of September 6 and fought fierce battles to expand the bridgehead until September 12. Then, until October 4, units of the division carried out engineering work to create a strong positional defense.
    From October 4 to October 9, 1944, a fierce defensive battle broke out on the Serotsky bridgehead. In terms of its intensity, it was one of the most brutal battles for the division during the entire Great Patriotic War. For 5 days, in a relatively small area (the 65th Army occupied a bridgehead along a front of 25 km and a depth of 8 to 18 km; in the sector of the 108th Division 5x8 km), 20 rifle and tank divisions and more than 1000 tanks fought simultaneously on both sides and about 4,000 guns and mortars. The enemy, who concentrated large forces of infantry and tanks, managed to push back our units in the first days of the offensive, but by the end of October 9, having suffered huge losses (407 tanks and more than 20,000 killed), he was forced to go on the defensive. On October 19, the troops of the 65th Army went on the offensive, as a result of which they not only restored the bridgehead, but also significantly expanded it, capturing Serock. For these battles the division was awarded the Order of Lenin.
    The division was on the Narevo bridgehead until January 1945. On January 14, an offensive operation began by the troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front, which included the 108th Infantry Division, to cut off the East Prussian enemy group with access to the lower Vistula. At 12 noon, powerful artillery preparation began, after which units of the division captured the trench lines within several hours. The offensive developed rapidly. On January 18, units of the division, pursuing the retreating enemy, liberated the city of Plonsk, and on January 23, without a fight, they entered the first German city in East Prussia - Bischowswerder. Continuing the offensive, on January 25 they captured the city of Gornsee in battle, and on January 26 they reached the Vistula River south of the city of Marienwerder. From this line, the division made a 50-kilometer march to the area south of the city of Graudenz, where the 105th Rifle Corps captured a bridgehead on the west bank of the river. Vistula. Having crossed the Vistula, the divisions fought for the city of Shvets on February 8, and by the end of the day on February 10, they had completely broken through the German defenses and began pursuit in a northerly direction. Overcoming stubborn enemy resistance, units of the division approached the city of Zukau (15 km west of Danzig) on ​​March 9 and captured the city. The closer the division moved to Danzig, the stronger the enemy's resistance. The advance of units per day did not exceed 3 km. This is also explained by the large understaffing of the rifle regiments. The division advanced mainly through direct fire artillery, tanks and self-propelled guns.
    Units of the division began fighting on the outskirts of Danzig on March 25, and the city was completely liberated on March 29.
    After the liberation of Danzig, the division as part of the corps made a 350 km march to the Oder and concentrated in the Klütz area (10 km south of the city of Stettin) On April 16 and 17, two regiments of the division carried out a particular task of clearing the floodplain between the two branches of the river from the enemy. Oder. On April 20, 1945, an army operation began to cross the river. Oder. On the same day, units of the division landed on the western bank of the river. For 5 days, our troops broke through the enemy’s defenses in depth and on April 25, having finally broken the enemy’s resistance, they entered the operational space. Continuing the pursuit of defeated enemy units, the division captured Glazov on April 26, Schönhausen, Treptow on April 28, Zaroff, Beregov on April 30, Lindonhof, Forvern on May 1, Demin, Sülze on May 2. On May 4, the division captured the last German city of Bart on its battle route and by the end of the day reached the shore of the Baltic Sea east of the city of Rostock.
    Here by the sea for the 108th Bobruisk Order of Lenin Red Banner Rifle Division completed combat operations in the Great Patriotic War. In July 1945, the division was redeployed to the Northern Group of Forces in the cities of Bolkenheim and Neisse. Disbanded on June 20 - 25, 1946 in the 65th Army of the Northern Group of Forces.
   The division was commanded by:
Mavrichev Alexander Ivanovich (03/01/1941 - 06/15/1941), major general
Orlov Nikolai Ivanovich (06/16/1941 - 11/01/1941), major general
Birichev Ivan Ivanovich (02.11.1941 - 04.03.1942), major general
Terentyev Vasily Grigorievich (03/05/1942 - 07/14/1942), colonel
Stuchenko Andrey Trofimovich (07/18/1942 - 01/08/1943), colonel
Sinitsyn Grigory Ivanovich (01/09/1943 - 06/14/1943), colonel
Teremov Petr Alekseevich (06/15/1943 - 05/09/1945), colonel, from 06/03/1944, major general 407 sp:
Nikolaev Nikolai Nikolaevich (?)
Dementyev Vasily Alexandrovich (?)
Vasenin Pyotr Vasilievich (to November 00, 1941), captured
Tarasov Nikolai Mikhailovich (11/14/1941 - 11/21/1941), died 11/21/1941
Pazukhin Ivan Mikhailovich (02/03/1942 - 03/03/1942)
Rychkov Alexey Alexandrovich (from 03/03/1942)
Rychkov Alexey Alexandrovich (04/29/1942 - 05/16/1944) (?)
Ishchenko Stepan Denisovich (from 05/16/1944)
444 sp:
Petukhov Ivan Ivanovich (07/02/1940 - 02/04/1942), did not escape the encirclement
Kovalin Stepan Fedorovich (11/14/1941 - 05/06/1942) (?)
Sokolov Vasily Afanasyevich (04/29/1942 - 07/09/1942)
Gorinov Semyon Fedorovich (07/05/1942 - 01/06/1943)
Melnichenko Nikolai Zakharovich (01/06/1943 - 03/19/1943), entourage
Grechko Anatoly Artemyevich (03/29/1943 - 04/03/1943)
Shaporev Yakov Andreevich (04/03/1943 - 05/16/1943)
Lazov Alexey Vasilievich (05/16/1943 - 01/13/1944) (?)
Shchetinin Ilya Vasilievich (07/25/1943 - 09/09/1943) (?)
Hasan Egor Davydovich (07/24/1943 - 01/05/1944), died 01/05/1944 (?)
Fotchenko Mikhail Semenovich (01/27/1944 - 02/24/1944), died 02/24/1944
Kolyakov Leonty Efremovich (from 03/21/1944)
Kushnarev Ivan Antonovich (05/25/1944 - 09/25/1944)
Abilov Anatoly Abilovich (03.10.1944 - 26.05.1945), wounded
Zhovannik Trofim Denisovich (06/01/1945 - 07/21/1945)
Shabelny Nikolai Nikitovich (from 07/21/1945) 539 sp:
Ryabtsev Georgy Petrovich (04/05/1941 - 09/00/1941), entourage
Morgun Pavel Ustinovich (07/15/1941 - 12/00/1942)
Bolshakov Alexander Tarasovich (until 02/04/1942), missing
Kotik Grigory Borisovich (to 06/07/1942)
Klochkov Ivan Markovich (07/01/1942 - 10/03/1942) (?)
Sharapov Markel Sanzhinovich (08/22/1942 - 04/03/1943), relieved of duty
Ivanov Ivan Nikolaevich (to 02.10.1942) (?)
Grechko Anatoly Artemyevich (04/03/1943 - 03/10/1945), wounded 07/19/1943
...
Bliznyuk Nikolai Ivanovich (06/02/1945 - 07/14/1945)
Pratsko Anatoly Kharitonovich (from 07/30/1945)
   Literature:
Stuchenko A. T., “Our Enviable Fate”, Moscow, Voenizdat, 1964.

108 RIFLE DIVISION

407, 444 and 539th Infantry Regiment,

575 artillery regiment,

152nd separate anti-tank fighter division (from January 25, 1942),

273 anti-aircraft artillery battery (458 separate anti-aircraft artillery division),

– until 20.2.43,

220 reconnaissance company,

172 engineer battalion,

485 separate communications battalion (409 separate communications company),

157th medical battalion,

155th separate chemical defense company,

188 (93) motor transport company,

278 field bakery,

153 divisional veterinary hospital,

381 field cash desk of the State Bank.

Combat period

During the Great Patriotic War, the 108th Infantry Division had to participate in battles from June 26, 1941. to May 9, 1945

Before the war, the division was stationed in the Smolensk region, the division headquarters and special forces were in the city of Vyazma, rifle regiments of the 407th, 444th, 539th and 575th artillery. The regiment is in Dorogobuzh and Safonovo.

On June 22, 1941, the division was alerted and proceeded in a forced march to the old border west of Minsk.

On the instructions of the commander of the 44th Corps, which included the division with two regiments, defense was occupied in the Krasnoe-Dzerzhinsk-Stankovo ​​sector, 40 km wide. One rifle regiment was assigned to the operational group of the Western Front to eliminate enemy airborne forces. From June 26 to July 2, 1941, the division held its defense sector, but was outflanked by the enemy and was forced to fight out of the encirclement. (about 1200 people came out).

After leaving the encirclement, having received reinforcements, from the end of July to October 1941, the division fought defensive battles on the Vop River south of Yartsevo.

In October 1941, the division was again surrounded, in mid-November it emerged from the encirclement (also approximately 1,200 people), was replenished and carried out defensive work in the Zosimova Pustyn-Narofominsk sector.

On November 20, 1941, in connection with an enemy breakthrough on the near approaches to Moscow, the division was transferred to the 5th Army and took up defense in the Pavlovsko-Slobodsk direction between the cities of Zvenigorod-Istra, having a front line along the Kotovo-Gorshkovo, Boriskovo-Ivashkovo line. For 15 days, the division fought fierce battles with the enemy rushing towards Moscow and retreated 16 km. In these battles, the division's personnel showed massive heroism. By the end of the defensive battles, there were 120-150 active bayonets left in the regiments.

On December 5, 1941, the division as part of the 5th Army went on the offensive, took part in the liberation of the city of Mozhaisk, and in February 1942 reached the border of the Smolensk region. Here I was on the defensive for a year.

In February 1942, the division was withdrawn from the 5th Army, transferred to the left flank of the Western Front, for some time as part of the 10th Army it fought distracting battles in the area of ​​Zhizdra, and then in April it became part of the 11th Guards. the army of General Bagramyan and until June 1943 occupied the defense on the Zhizdren bridgehead, having a front line at the Ozhigovo, Dretovo, Babikino line (35 km south of Kozelsk).

The division began the Battle of Oryol-Kursk with an offensive as part of the 11th Guards. Army to the flank of the enemy’s Oryol group. On July 17, units of the division at the Dolbilovo-Rudnevo line (15 km south of Orel) cut the Bolkhov-Znamenskoye highway, thereby creating a threat of encirclement of the Bolkhov enemy group. Wanting to ease the situation of its troops, the German command launched an air strike on the division’s battle formations with a force of 1,200 sorties, and then for 3 days, with the help of two divisions, with the support of 100 tanks and aircraft, they tried to knock down parts of the division from the highway. Units of the division survived this battle, which was extremely brutal in its cruelty.

In the battles of July 17-19, 1943, our losses amounted to about 3,000 people, the enemy lost about 7,000 people and 37 tanks. For these battles the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

In September 1943, the division became part of the 50th Army of General I.V. Boldin. this army was advancing in a westerly direction north of Bryansk. During the offensive, General Kryukov’s 2nd Cavalry Corps broke through behind enemy lines and occupied a bridgehead on the western bank of the river. Desna, was cut off from his troops and was subjected to continuous enemy attacks.

In this situation, the 108th Infantry Division received an order from the commander from the line south of Kirov (Kaluga Region) to break through the enemy’s defenses and connect with the cavalry corps. On September 12, with an unexpected blow, the division broke through the enemy’s defenses, entered encirclement, covered 35 km behind enemy lines in a day, united with cavalrymen, where for 3 days they repulsed fierce enemy attacks.

On September 18, 1943, units of the division, together with the approaching army troops, went into pursuit and on September 19 captured the regional center of Dubrovka, on September 22 they crossed the river. Here we go.

On September 26, the division completed an honorable task - it was the first to enter the land of Belarus and captured the regional center of Khotimsk.

By the end of October 2, units of the division reached the river. Pronya (18 km south of Chausy), where it fought to capture and expand the bridgehead until November 20. On December 12, the division surrendered its defensive line and entered the second echelon of the army, where it was putting itself in order until January 2, 1944.

In January-February 1944, the division, continuing its offensive towards the Dnieper, crossed the river on the Lenivets-Adamovka section (4 km north of Novy Bykhov) on the night of February 21-22. Pursuing the retreating enemy, units of the division captured the Golden Bottom railway crossing, thereby cutting off the Bykhov-Rogachev railway. At this point, the division received orders to go on the defensive.

In the Battle of Belarus, the division initially participated as part of the 3rd Army, commanded by Lieutenant General Gorbatov. The offensive began on June 24, 1944 from a bridgehead on the river. Drut north of Rogachev. By the end of June 26, units of the division reached the river line. Ola in the Pavlovichi-Shpilivshchizna area.

On the morning of June 27, Commander 3 brought into battle the 9th Tank Corps under the command of Major General Bakharev, who had the task of reaching the Titovka, Zelenko, Babino line and thereby cutting off the escape route beyond the Berezina River and completing its encirclement.

During the offensive, the 108th Infantry Division was ordered to leave its offensive zone and, taking advantage of the success of the 9th Tank Corps, move behind enemy lines to the Wieliczka, Jasny Les, Titovka area. By the end of June 27, units of the division reached the indicated area and took up defense along a deployed front. One battalion of the 444SP occupied the bridge across the river. Berezina, connecting Titovka with Bobruisk.

For two days, units of the division fought with the enemy who was trying to get out of the encirclement. By the morning of June 29, the fighting along the entire front began to subside; many soldiers and officers, seeing their hopeless situation, began to surrender. The encircled enemy group was dealt with and the city of Bobruisk was liberated. In these battles, units of the division inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, 4 thousand soldiers and officers were killed and more than 2000 were taken prisoner.

For these battles, by order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the division was given the name "Bobruisk"

After the Bobruisk operation, the 108SD became part of the 46th Rifle Corps of the 65th Army, commanded by Colonel General P.I. Batov, and the corps by Lieutenant General K.M. Erastov. The division served as part of this corps until the end of the war.

From the Minsk line, units of the division continued the offensive in the direction of Slonim, Pruzhany, Sherduv, Siemiatichi, on August 1 they reached the state border and crossed the Western Bug River in the Biruw area. On the territory of Poland, the division advanced in the direction of Medzna, Stoczek, Wyszkow, crossed the Narew River on the night of September 6 and fought fierce battles to expand the bridgehead until September 12. Then, until October 4, units of the division carried out engineering work to create a strong positional defense.

From October 4 to October 9, 1944, a fierce defensive battle broke out on the Serock bridgehead. In terms of its intensity, it was one of the most brutal battles for the 108th division during the entire Great Patriotic War. For 5 days in a relatively small area (the 65th army occupied a bridgehead along a front of 25 km and a depth of 8 to 18 km; in the sector of the 108th division 5x8 km), 20 rifle and tank divisions, more than 1,000 tanks and about 4,000 guns and mortars.

The enemy, who concentrated large forces of infantry and tanks, managed to push back our units in the first days of the offensive, but by the end of October 9, having suffered huge losses (407 tanks and more than 20,000 killed), he was forced to go on the defensive, and on October 19, the troops of the 65th Army went on the offensive. as a result of which they not only restored the bridgehead, but also significantly expanded it, capturing Serock. For these battles the division was awarded the Order of Lenin. The division remained on the Narevo bridgehead until January 1945.

On January 14, an offensive operation began by the troops of the 2nd Belorussian Front, which included the 108SD, to cut off the East Prussian enemy group with access to the lower Vistula. At 12 noon, powerful artillery preparation began, after which units of the division captured the trench lines within several hours. The offensive developed rapidly. On January 18, units of the division, pursuing the retreating enemy, liberated the city of Plonsk, and on January 23, without a fight, they entered the first German city in East Prussia - Bischowswerder. Continuing the offensive on January 25, they captured the city of Gornsee in battle, and on January 26 they reached the Vistula River south of the city of Marienwerder. From this line, the division made a 50 km march to the area south of Graudenz, where the 105th Corps captured a bridgehead on the west bank of the river. Vistula.

Having crossed the Vistula, the divisions fought for the city of Shvets on February 8, and by the end of the day on February 10, they had completely broken through the German defenses and began pursuit in a northerly direction. Overcoming stubborn enemy resistance, units of the division approached the city of Zukau (15 km west of Danzig) on ​​March 9 and captured the city. The closer the division moved to Danzig, the stronger the enemy's resistance. The movement of units per day did not exceed 3 km. This is also explained by the large understaffing of the rifle regiments. The division advanced mainly through direct fire artillery, tanks and self-propelled guns.

Parts of the division began fighting directly on the outskirts of Danzig on March 25, and the city was completely liberated on March 29.

After the liberation of Danzig, the division as part of the corps made a 350 km march to the Oder and concentrated in the Klütz area (10 km south of the city of Stetin). On April 16 and 17, two regiments of the division carried out a particular task of clearing the floodplain between the two branches of the river from the enemy. Oder. On April 20, 1945, an army operation began to cross the river. Oder. On the same day, units of the division landed on the western bank of the river. For 5 days, our troops broke through the enemy’s defenses in depth and on April 25, having finally broken the enemy’s resistance, they entered the operational space.

Continuing the pursuit of the defeated enemy units, the division captured the city of Glazov on April 26, Schönhausen, Treptow on April 28, Zarov, Beregov on April 30, Lindonhof, Forvern on May 1, Demin, Sülze on May 2.

On May 4, the division captured the last German city of Bart on its battle route and by the end of the day reached the shore of the Baltic Sea east of the city of Rostock.

Here, by the sea, for the 108th Bobruisk Order of Lenin Red Banner Rifle Division, the Great Patriotic War was over.

In July 1945, the division was redeployed to the Northern Group of Forces in the cities of Bolkenheim and Neisse. In mid-1946 it was disbanded. It should be added that the 108SD did not take part in hostilities before the Great Patriotic War.

During the Second World War the division was commanded by:

June-July 1941 - Major General Mavrichev A.I.

1. By order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Marshal of the Soviet Union, Comrade. Stalin No. 0181 dated July 5, 1944, the division was given the name “108th Bobruisk Rifle Division”

2. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated July 4, 1944, the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

3. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated February 19, 1945, the division was awarded the Order of Lenin.

For the steadfastness, courage and heroism shown during the war in the fight against the fascist invaders, 12,294 soldiers and officers were awarded in the division, including:

Gold Star medal for 5 people

166 people received the Order of the Red Banner

Order of Suvorov 2nd degree 1 person

Order of Suvorov, 3rd degree, 9 people

Order of Kutuzov 2nd degree 4 people

Order of Kutuzov, 3rd degree, 17 people

Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky 2nd degree 4 people

Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky, 3rd degree, 50 people

80 people with the Order of Alexander Nevsky

Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree, 179 people

Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd degree, 731 people

Order of the Red Star 3863 people

Order of Glory 2nd degree 13 people

Order of Glory, 3rd degree, 432 people

Medal of Courage 4616 people

Medal for Military Merit 2127 people

Division soldiers remember
After signing the order V.I. Kuznetsov, Biryukov and the 108SD command left for the 108SD defense sector

At the time of joining, the 108th Rifle Division included the 407th Infantry Regiment (about 500 people), a detachment of border guards (about 120 people), a reconnaissance battalion of the division under the command of Major M.N. Andreev, 2 heavy guns of the 1st division of the 49th Red Banner Artillery Regiment Corps on ChTZ tractors, several batteries of anti-tank guns, several detachments formed from soldiers and commanders of other units who entered the division’s defense sector from the west, from the state border.

The right column at 23.00 moved from its positions along the route Staroe Selo - Samokhvalovichi.

The first to act was the reconnaissance battalion, which was obliged to stop the presence of the enemy on the highway in the area of ​​the Fanipol station, and if he was not there, then cover the column from Dzerzhinsk while it passed through the highway. A detachment of border guards was moving behind the reconnaissance battalion. His task is to cover the column from Minsk. They were followed by units of the 407th joint venture in 30 vehicles with two quad machine gun mounts and several anti-tank guns, heavy hull guns, and after them combined detachments formed from soldiers of other units. In general, the column of 108 SD consisted of about 2,000 combat-ready soldiers and commanders. The column approached the Dzerzhinsk-Minsk highway at dawn. The reconnaissance battalion, not meeting the enemy on the highway, turned towards Dzerzhinsk. The advanced detachment of border guards approached the crossing. At this time, about 10 cars with machine gunners appeared from Minsk. The advanced detachment of border guards opened fire on them. 3 enemy aircraft appeared from Minsk. They walked at an altitude of 150-200 meters and, turning sharply, opened machine-gun fire on the column.

“When German planes appeared above the column and began to fire from machine guns, the Red Army soldiers opened fire on the planes. By this time the column had already dismembered. Then something unimaginable happened. The whole mass of people, leaving their cars, quickly rushed towards the highway. Everyone who could, They fired at enemy planes and vehicles. The first plane fell into the meadow towards Minsk. I followed it with my eyes and then I heard a gun duel, explosions, and a glow from Minsk. I realized that it was the 64th SD that had entered the battle.

The cars with Germans coming from the direction of Minsk suddenly braked: some were reversing, others were trying to turn back. Some turned into a ditch and buried their noses in the slope of the excavation. The soldiers fell off them like peas. They immediately fell, struck by our fire, others began to run, hiding behind ditches, without even trying to shoot back. They were caught between two hurricanes. Our soldiers rushed so quickly, with such determination to quickly overcome this ill-fated highway, that no armor, no fire was able to delay them. There were no lagging behind, no last ones. Everyone was ready to break any barrier with their chest. Even the wounded flew like birds. Both enemy soldiers and enemy vehicles were riddled with hurricane fire.

By this time, two heavy implements on ChTZ tractor trailers had passed the crossing. Two horse-drawn anti-tank guns immediately after the crossing turned around at the side of the road. The crew of each gun consisted of three people. They instantly mounted their guns and opened fire on the Germans. Two fascist tanks descended from the hill towards the crossing and fired at the artillery crews. The artillerymen noticed them, but managed to fire only one shot each and were themselves killed by fragments of enemy shells. However, they set fire to one fascist tank. Three more tanks appeared from behind the hill and opened fire on our heavy guns. One was destroyed along with its crew, and the second managed to turn around and open fire on the tanks. One tank caught fire, followed by a second one, but soon the entire crew was knocked out along with the gun.”

“The 108th SD column relatively easily crossed the Dzerzhinsk-Minsk highway and railway and only after crossing it came across Nazi tanks ambushed behind a rye field. The main part of the column managed to leave in the direction of Samokhvalovichi. The last to leave were the soldiers of E.S. Leshchenko’s squad from 407 SP. Two weeks later, soldiers, commanders and political workers of the 108 SD made their way through the front line and continued to fight the enemy.

“….the border guards entered the battle. They defeated the enemy column in a short time: the Germans lost about 12 vehicles and 150 soldiers and officers in this battle.

After an hour and a half, artillery and mortar fire was opened on the quarries, then tanks appeared, accompanied by machine gunners. Within a few days, Soviet soldiers determined that the Germans were adhering to the same tactics... And this time, after artillery fire, 10 enemy tanks, accompanied by about a battalion of machine gunners, rushed to the quarries. Heavy hull guns and an anti-tank battery opened fire on them at the distant approaches. A little later they were supported by regimental artillery. The machine gunners were hit at close range by machine guns. Leaving 7 smoking tanks and half of the machine gunners on the battlefield, the Nazis were forced to retreat. Then fascist planes dropped bombs on the positions of the 108th SD soldiers for half an hour. But the bombing raid could not break the resistance of the Red Army soldiers.

Twice during the day on June 30 and three times on July 1, fascist vultures began to cover the defense area of ​​108 and 64 rifle divisions (SD) from the air. However, the soldiers of two divisions, taking up a perimeter defense, held their positions..."

“The Germans delivered the main attack with tank groups from the East: the villages of Mayukovshchina, Baranovshchina, Podyarkovo, Yarkovo, the Gumnishche farm. Here the Germans buried tanks in the ground and fired continuously at our battle formations. The German units had an order: by any means to prevent the Soviet divisions from breaking through the ring encirclement, to force them to surrender. We maneuvered with our limited artillery weapons and used grenades and bottles filled with gasoline against the enemy."

“At 23.00, units of the 108th division and other scattered units that joined it left the concentration site southeast of Staroye Selo to the Fanipol station in order to immediately break through the station on July 3-2 and go further to the east. However, from the units of the 407th regiment, it was lost together from the regiment commander, having fallen behind from the exit point, Tarasevich was instructed to find him, convey the route to the regiment commander, and, in his passenger car, which he left for this purpose, it was possible to find the lost unit only at four o’clock in the afternoon. It turned out that the regimental commander was a lieutenant colonel. Mudrats was seriously wounded by unknown persons. Tarasevich handed over the route to the deputy regiment commander for economic affairs and went to catch up with the division commander, but did not get to 108, and fell ill on the way. Then in the second half of July he stopped in the Klichevsky district, where he embarked on the path of partisan warfare.”

“I fought (in the 108th SD) from the beginning of the war. In the battles for the city of Dzerzhinsk for Minsk at the end of June 1941, I was surrounded, but the main core fought its way to its own...

...108 SD broke through in the area of ​​Fanipol station. German aircraft discovered the column, and tanks and infantry were brought into action. The battle was fierce, although ours knocked out one plane and several tanks, but they themselves suffered heavy losses. In this battle, the following were killed: division commissar Khramov, chief of staff Olikhaver, division commander Mavrichev, seriously shell-shocked, he lost consciousness and was captured. Head of Department Kartsev with a small group of fighters left the encirclement on June 25 - July 2."

Junior Sergeant 407 SP 108 SD Leshchenko E.S. recalls:

“On the evening of July 1, our 407th regiment was replenished: 3 colonels and 4 lieutenant colonels arrived (apparently from broken or lost regiments) and with our command they led a march-raid to break out of the encirclement. It was said: the enemy is 5 km away. Task regiment: approach secretly at night and strike at dawn, defeat the Germans, and then the path to their own will be open. Only about 1000 soldiers gathered, the artillery was pulled by tractors and horses. They walked 5-8-10 km, but the artillery did not reach the place. in the forest, 4 kilometers from the enemy, and the fighters moved in a dismembered formation to the village of Ptich. The village is located in the lowlands - the Ptich river flows there. The Germans were behind the village in the forest and saw that many Russians were walking.

Our artillery began to fire at the Germans, and the Germans began to fire at the forest where our artillery was located. The artillery barrage lasted about 30 minutes. Then the Germans began firing mortars at the village where our infantry was. The command was given to go on the offensive, and everyone began to approach the forest on their bellies in the gardens. When there were 200 meters left to the forest, a battle ensued, which lasted 1.5 hours, but they could not advance further to the forest. Command - "Attack!" We got up. "Hooray!" But ours are being mowed down. By this time, our artillery had been brought to the front line and it began to hit the forest where the Germans were. Everything was burning, continuous fire. More than half of ours were killed or wounded. The battle began to calm down, and the wounded began to be removed. Some villagers came out and began to help carry the wounded to the barns, and especially the seriously injured to the houses. The command was received to leave the battle, change direction and go to the neighboring forest. In the following days, we made our way at night to reach our own people, but the front went far to the East."
Heroes of the 108th Bobruisk Rifle Division
Shtanko Philip Feofanovich, member of the CPSU. In the Battle of Moscow, chief of staff of the 444th Infantry Regiment with the rank of captain. Commander of the 2nd Infantry Regiment of the 50th Infantry Division. Commander of the 50th Motorized Rifle Brigade. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded for the possession of a mountain range in the Carpathians, thereby opening the way for our troops to the central regions of Romania. Head of the personnel department of the 2nd mechanized army. Despite his poor health, he went through a difficult battle path almost from the very beginning of the war. Awarded 9 orders and 9 medals.
Volkov Mikhail Evdokimovich, member of the CPSU. For his participation in the battles on the Khalkhin Gol River as a commander of a machine gun platoon, he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. In these battles he was seriously wounded twice and had 7 bayonet thrusts. In the battle of Moscow Volkov M.E. - battalion commander of the 444th Infantry Regiment of the 108th Infantry Division, chief of staff of this regiment. Commander of the 126th and 159th Infantry Division. In 1944 he was seriously wounded. For his participation in battles from Moscow to the border with East Prussia, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal.
Kulikov Fedor Fedorovich, member of the CPSU since April 1943. Before the war he worked as a teacher. In 1939 he was drafted into the Soviet Army in the Moscow Proletarian Division. As commander of a company of machine gunners, he liberated the city of Bobruisk and was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War, second degree, for battles. In 1944, he was appointed commander of the battalion of the 539th Infantry Regiment of the 108th Infantry Division. He was wounded in Poland. After being wounded, he commanded the battalion of the 407th Infantry Regiment; the battalion under his command was the first to break into the city of Danzig. For this battle he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. For crossing the Oderon River and maintaining a bridgehead on the western bank, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated July 29, 1946, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
Sokolov Vasily Afanasyevich, member of the CPSU since 1919. Before the war he entered the Frunze Academy. Deputy Chief of Staff in the Battle of Moscow from November 22, 1941. Commander of the 444th Infantry Regiment. For 15 days, the regiment withstood the onslaught of the 252nd Nazi infantry division consisting of 4 regiments. He also fought in the Valley of Death, now the Valley of Glory - near the village of Oshchepkovo, south of the city of Gzhatsk. For participation in battles in the Sviro-Petrozavodsk operation in 1944, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Participant in the defeat of the enemy in the Balaton operation in the Hungarian direction in the Great Patriotic War.
Titov Alexey Fedorovich, commander of a machine gun platoon of the 444th Infantry Regiment of the 108th Bobruisk Infantry Division. Participated in defensive battles on the West Bank of the Narew River. In 1944, the enemy, with superior infantry forces supported by tanks and artillery, attacked our positions several times. But Titov did not flinch, went out with his soldiers and defeated the enemy. During 4 days of fighting, Lieutenant Titov, together with his soldiers, destroyed 100 Nazis, 10 machine guns, repelled 33 attacks, and firmly held the positions entrusted to him. For his courage and heroism, he was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union in 1944. Killed during the attack on East Prussia.
Zubov Leonid Dmitrievich, member of the CPSU. At the age of three he was left without parents and was raised in an orphanage until 1933. He began his career in February 1933. In 1940 he was drafted into the Soviet army. He met the Great Patriotic War in the 241st Smolensk mine artillery regiment, and was wounded in May 1943. From 1943 to 1946 he was in the 172nd separate sapper battalion of the 108th rifle division. When crossing the Oder River, he ensured the crossing of the division and the defeat of the Nazis on the western bank. For his military exploits, he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal.