In the fall of 1956, an anti-Soviet uprising broke out in the Hungarian capital Budapest, in response to which the USSR sent troops into Hungary, and real battles broke out on the streets of the city between the Soviet army and Hungarian protesters. This post contains a photo story about these events.

How did it all start? In November 1945, elections were held in Hungary, in which the Independent Party of Smallholders gained 57% of the votes, and the communists received only 17% - after which they began blackmail and fraud, relying on the Soviet troops stationed in Hungary, as a result of which the Hungarian communists ( The Hungarian Workers' Party (HWP) became the only legal political force.

The leader of the VPT and the chairman of the government, Matthias Rakosi, established a dictatorship in the country modeled on Stalin's - he carried out forced collectivization and industrialization, suppressed dissent, created an extensive network of special services and informants, about 400,000 Hungarians were sent to camps for hard forced labor in mines and quarries.

The economic situation in Hungary was deteriorating, and in the VPT itself an internal political struggle began between the Stalinists and supporters of reforms. Matthias Rakosi was eventually removed from power, but this was not enough for the people - the emerging political organizations and parties demanded urgent anti-crisis measures, the demolition of the monument to Stalin, and the withdrawal of Soviet troops from the country.

On October 23, 1956, riots broke out in Budapest - demonstrators tried to seize the Radio House in order to broadcast the program demands of the demonstrators, and clashes began with the Hungarian state security forces AVH. As a result, the demonstrators disarmed the guards of the Radio House, and they were joined by many soldiers from the three battalions that were based in the city.

On the night of October 23, columns of Soviet troops moved towards Budapest - as the official wording sounded - "to assist the Hungarian troops in restoring order and creating conditions for peaceful creative work."

02. In total, about 6,000 soldiers of the Soviet army, 290 tanks, 120 armored personnel carriers and about 150 guns were brought into Hungary. Part of the Hungarian troops went over to the side of the rebels, and combat detachments were formed to defend the city. In the photo - the rebels and the Hungarian military are discussing organizational issues, almost all are armed with PPSh.

03. During the rally near the parliament building, an incident occurred: fire was opened from the upper floors, as a result of which a Soviet officer was killed and a tank was burned. In response to this, Soviet troops opened fire on the demonstrators, as a result, 61 people were killed on both sides and 284 were wounded. Historian László Kontler writes that “in all likelihood, the fire was carried out by security forces hiding on the roofs of nearby buildings,” and nearly 100 demonstrators were killed.

Almost immediately, fierce fighting broke out on the streets of the town. In the photo, rebels set fire to a Soviet armored personnel carrier with Molotov cocktails.

04. Soviet T-34 tanks on the city streets. The photo was taken from the upper floors of one of the city houses, which was turned into ruins during the fighting.

05. People burn the Soviet flag at one of the demonstrations:

06. Armed Hungarian rebels:

08. Demonstrators arrest a secret employee of the Hungarian secret services and take him to the commandant’s office. The Hungarian rebels shot many state security officers right on the streets.

09. Protesters toppled the statue of Stalin:

10. Tanks and armored personnel carriers on the city streets:

11. Houses damaged during the fighting. In the foreground of the photo there are Soviet cannons, and in the background there is a crowd of people in search of food; during the days of the uprising, the city’s supply practically did not work.

12. Soviet tank T-34 in a city park. On the right, in my opinion, is the church building.

13. Another tank:

14. Residents of the city are looking for their missing relatives in the city cemetery...

15. Houses destroyed by shots from tanks.

16. Destruction in the city center.

17. Traces of fighting in the city - a destroyed house and the remains of a tank with a flying turret - apparently the ammunition detonated.

18. Workers clear away the rubble left as a result of the fighting.

19. This is what many buildings looked like. The arched window of the first floor, blocked with bricks, is either a former firing point, or an improvised defense against looters.

20. Some houses were almost completely destroyed...

21. Machine gun point in one of the entrances.

22. Improvised street stalls selling food - in those days they were the only opportunity to buy at least something edible, most often these were the simplest products - bread, apples, potatoes.

23. Long lines of townspeople immediately lined up at stores that sold at least something.

24. Tram line destroyed during the fighting.

On November 4, additional Soviet forces were brought into Hungary against the rebels who had already believed in victory - the order of the Soviet commander-in-chief said something about “Hungarian fascists” and “a direct threat to our Fatherland.”

A second wave of Soviet troops and equipment crushed the uprising, and mass arrests immediately began. The reaction in the Western world to the Hungarian events was quite clear - intellectuals supported the rebels, and Albert Camus compared the non-interference of Western countries in the Hungarian events with non-intervention in the Spanish Civil War:

“The truth is that the international community, which, many years late, suddenly found the strength to intervene in the Middle East, on the contrary, allowed Hungary to be shot. Even 20 years ago, we allowed the armies of a foreign dictatorship to crush the Spanish revolution. This wonderful zeal was rewarded in The Second World War. The weakness of the UN and its split are gradually leading us to the third, which is knocking on our door."

The first post-war combat test for the Airborne Forces was participation in the Hungarian events.
In the summer of 1956, the situation in the world seriously deteriorated, and an Arab-Israeli conflict was brewing. Hotbeds of tension arose in the Socialist Commonwealth. In Poland, and especially in Hungary, nationalist, counter-revolutionary elements became more active.

In October, an armed uprising of anti-socialist forces took place in Hungary. Its organizers used mistakes made by the Hungarian Working People's Party, miscalculations in the field of economic policy, and serious violations of the law. Some of the youth and other segments of the population were involved in the armed struggle.

In this situation, a group of leaders of the Hungarian Working People's Party in early November 1956 formed the Revolutionary Workers' and Peasants' Government and created a temporary Central Committee of the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party. The new government turned to the USSR with a request to provide practical assistance in protecting people's democracy and in the fight against internal and external counter-revolution. Military units of the Soviet Army temporarily stationed on the territory of the People's Republic of Hungary on the basis of the Warsaw Pact, as well as additional contingents of Soviet troops, took part in the suppression of this rebellion.

The units that were part of the Budapest garrison were subordinate to the commander of the Special Corps, General P. N. Lashchenko, who was tasked with defeating the rebels and restoring order in Budapest. In other cities of the country, such tasks were assigned to the military formations of generals A.Kh. Babajanyan and Kh.Z. Mansurov. The entire operation received the code name “Whirlwind”.

Marshal I.S. Konev, at that time the Commander-in-Chief of the United Armed Forces of the Warsaw Treaty Organization member states, announced in his order that the leadership of the Warsaw Pact countries had decided to provide military assistance to Hungary. The defeat of the counter-revolution was entrusted to the Soviet troops. Readiness for action - by the end of November 3, the start of the operation - on the signal "Thunder".

The Airborne Forces headquarters developed an action plan for airborne units and units, and created forward detachments to disarm Hungarian units, as well as capture important military installations and government institutions. Before the outbreak of hostilities, the paratroopers managed to establish contacts with loyal members of the Hungarian army, with party and government officials on the ground, as well as with comrades from state security agencies.

Before the start of Operation Whirlwind, the order of the commander-in-chief was communicated to all personnel. It said: “Comrade soldiers and sergeants, officers and generals! At the end of October, in our brotherly Hungary, the forces of reaction and counter-revolution rose up in rebellion with the aim of destroying the people's democratic system and eliminating the revolutionary gains of the working people. Events have shown that the direct participation of active Horthyists in this adventure leads to the revival of fascism in Hungary and creates a direct threat to our Fatherland and the entire socialist camp. We must not forget that in the last war, Horthy Hungary opposed our Motherland together with Hitler’s Germany.

In accordance with the request of the government of the Hungarian People's Republic, on the basis of the Warsaw Pact concluded between the countries of the socialist camp, obliging us to take concerted measures necessary to strengthen their defense capabilities in order to protect the peaceful labor of their peoples, guarantee the inviolability of their borders, territories and ensure protection from possible aggression, Soviet troops began to fulfill allied obligations."

To carry out tasks in Hungary, units of the 7th Guards Airborne Division (80th and 108th Parachute Regiments) and the 31st Airborne Division (114th and 381st Parachute Regiments) were involved.

Since October 19, 1956, units of the 7th Airborne Division (commander Colonel P.F. Antipov) were at the airfields in readiness for departure. Meanwhile, the situation in Hungary continued to deteriorate. In order to create a grouping of forces and ensure landing by Li-2 and Il-12 aircraft, it was decided to concentrate airborne units in the area of ​​the Lvov and Khmelnitsky airfields.

Therefore, the 108th airborne division of the 7th airborne division in the period November 1-3 was transferred by rail to the Lvov airfield, and the 80th airborne division was transferred to the Mukachevo airfield and the Beregovo railway station, where a landing supply base was organized.

Units of the 31st Airborne Division (commander Major General P.M. Ryabov, deputy Colonel N.G. Zharenov) from the Novograd-Volynsky area, where the division was stationed, under their own power, by the end of the day on October 28, concentrated at the Lvov and Khmelnitsky airfields in readiness for airlift. From these airfields, the 31st Airborne Division was landed by landing at the Veszprem airfield, with the 114th Airborne Division being transferred on the first flight, and the 381st Airborne Division on the second.

The paratroopers immediately blocked the airfield.
The situation developed in such a way that decisive actions were needed by the paratroopers, who were assigned the leading role in the defeat of the opposition forces. It was necessary to operate in a big city and other populated areas, where houses easily turned into centers of resistance. In such a situation, everything was decided by high individual combat training, personal courage, initiative and moral and psychological toughening of the paratroopers. As subsequent events showed, this was not enough for them.

From the Lvov airfield, the 108th airborne division landed at the Tekel airfield by November 19, 303, captured and disabled six anti-aircraft batteries and took up defense around the airfield.
The next day at two o'clock in the morning, the 3rd company of this regiment received the task: acting as part of a battalion on armored personnel carriers and tanks, march to Budapest, disarm and neutralize the sapper battalion of the Hungarian army in the barracks on Julia Street, which had gone over to the side of the counter-revolution.

Commanded the 3rd Guards Division. Captain Nikolai Ivanovich Kharlamov, participant in the Great Patriotic War since 1942. The attempt to disarm the enemy peacefully was unsuccessful. The sappers put up stubborn resistance. The bloody battle lasted more than a day. Despite the fierce resistance of the Hungarian battalion and the difficult situation of the company, which developed due to losses in personnel and lack of ammunition, lack of communication with their own, the presence of wounded and an unfavorable tactical situation, the paratroopers did not flinch.

They rejected offers of surrender and held out to the end. By holding occupied objects, the company created conditions for the actions of other units of the battalion, which also found themselves in an extremely difficult situation.

On November 6 at 21.00, on the eve of the anniversary of the October Revolution, Captain Kharlamov received an order with an assault detachment from combined companies to seize and liquidate the headquarters of the counter-revolution, located in the Corvin cinema in Budapest.

To accomplish this task, the detachment was reinforced with a tank battalion, and fire support was organized by the tank regiment of the 33rd mechanized division. In accordance with the order, the task was to be completed by 6:00 the next day.
The headquarters building was a heavily fortified stronghold, defended by two batteries of 85 mm guns, tanks, anti-aircraft machine gun installations and a garrison of three hundred people with large reserves of ammunition.

The paratroopers met fierce resistance; the first and second attacks were unsuccessful. Using breaches in the buildings made by gunfire and hand grenade launchers, the control group, led by Kharlamov himself, burst into the cinema lobby and started a battle inside the building, supporting the attack in other areas with active actions.

Despite the desperate resistance of the counter-revolutionaries, the assault detachment consisting of the 3rd PDR and the remaining personnel of the 1st and 2nd parachute and two motorized rifle companies, with the support of a tank battalion, at 4.00 on November 7, basically captured the building of the Corvin cinema and began to clear its premises and adjacent buildings from desperately resisting Hungarian fascists.

For this battle, only from Kharlamov’s company were awarded: the Order of the Red Banner, Alexander Nevsky and the Red Star - three people, the Order of Glory of the 3rd degree and medals “For Courage” - 31 people.

A group of scouts from the 108th Regiment captured alive the main rebel Imre Nagy, who was guarded by Hungarian SS men. By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of December 18, 1956, Guard Captain N.I. Kharlamov. awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal. The commander of the Airborne Forces, Lieutenant General V.F. Margelov, presented the award to the hero in his office on Matrosskaya Tishina Street.

The 80th airborne division, having unloaded at Beregovo station (south of Mukachevo), was given the task of making a march of about 400 km under its own power and concentrating on the outskirts of Budapest. The regiment successfully completed the task, reached the assigned area, together with the 108th infantry regiment participated in street battles in the Hungarian capital, and on November 6 began protecting the Headquarters of the Soviet Forces in Hungary, which was then headed by Marshal I. S. Konev. During this period, the regiment was actually commanded by the deputy regiment commander, Lieutenant Colonel N.I. Kuznetsov.

During November 4 and 5, paratroopers captured the building of the Ministry of Defense, where the command of all rebel forces was located, and the barracks of the engineer battalion - the control center for the rebels in the Budapest zone.

The paratroopers took control of the government radio station. Kossuth, the university campus, the prison, all transport communications and communications facilities provided security for the main industrial enterprises. In fierce street battles, the main residential areas of Budapest were cleared of armed groups.

Units, assault groups, and capture groups sometimes acted independently, without the support of tanks and artillery. In a number of cases, when capturing objects and eliminating firing points, it came to hand-to-hand combat.

The intensity of hostilities is evidenced, for example, by such an episode. A platoon of paratroopers under the command of Senior Lieutenant I. Yaschik broke into the Petofi barracks, captured the first floor and fought a defensive battle for the whole day, being cut off from the main forces. Here are some of his reports to the battalion commander: “November 4, 1956 8.00.

Major Shelukhin. Please bring the tanks into the yard. I'm suffering losses. The enemy is conducting heavy machine-gun fire. It is necessary to pull back the damaged tank and clear the gate for our tanks to enter the yard. I continue to complete the task."

The following report: “November 4, 1956 21.00. The paratroopers fought like guards. If we die, consider us faithful sons of the Motherland. There are 10 people left who can fight. Privates Antai, Govorun, Kharvatkin, Lebedev, and Sergeant Mironenko fought bravely. We will not leave our place until we carry out the order.” Senior Lieutenant I. Yaschik himself was seriously wounded, but continued to lead the battle and remained in service.

It is noteworthy that the anti-aircraft batteries of the Budapest air defense system were captured by six combat groups of the 108th regiment. As often happens during landing operations, neither the regiment commander nor the unit commanders had complete data on the location of the batteries themselves, the security system and defense of firing positions and other objects.

Everything came to light during the battle. One of the combat groups, consisting of a reinforced company of 90 people, on November 4, having walked more than 30 kilometers off-road, crossed the Danube, carrying all the weapons, captured two batteries, disabled the guns, captured 96 officers and soldiers, captured a significant amount of weapons and ammunition.

In the city of Veszprem, the center of the Catholic diocese, our troops met fierce resistance, and here the paratroopers suffered losses. Many paratroopers died in Budapest, where the main forces of the counter-revolution were concentrated. The cases of brutal reprisals against Hungarian communists and wounded Soviet soldiers caused great indignation among our soldiers and officers. Participants in the events remember the incident when, in the village of Varpolot, criminals released from prison captured two of our officers and one conscript, and then brutally dealt with them. The paratroopers found the culprits and avenged their comrades.

Our tanks were practically unable to move freely along city streets. “Hungarian Fritzes,” as the paratroopers called the rebels, sat women and children near the windows, while they themselves, hiding behind them, targeted military equipment and Soviet soldiers. In such a situation, the paratroopers had to drive the SS men out of the houses hand-to-hand so that not a single child or woman would die.

Undead German, Austrian, Hungarian and Romanian SS men and fascists, as well as criminals of various stripes, fought against our soldiers. They had enough weapons since the war. The putschists hung their party workers and all fellow citizens who were friendly towards the Russians from trees by their legs, ripping open their stomachs. This was captured in photographs in newspapers of the time. The western border of Hungary was completely open, and NATO intelligence services were in charge of the country.

It should be noted that by the start of Operation Whirlwind, the personnel of the Soviet troops were determined. And when it became known that the actions of the Soviet Union were supported by all socialist countries, including China and Yugoslavia, this further strengthened the morale of the troops.

Budapest and some other cities were under martial law. Our troops controlled the situation on the city streets. Foreign propaganda, mainly from Radio Liberty and Radio Free Europe, persistently urged the townspeople to continue the armed struggle. But the rebel resistance weakened.

On November 9, 1956, the Minister of Defense of the USSR, Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K. Zhukov, reported: “...During November 8, our troops restored order in Budapest, combed forests in certain areas of the country, caught and disarmed scattered small groups of rebels. Regional military commandant's offices have been established in Budapest and locally...”

During the fighting in Hungary, Soviet troops suffered losses. According to estimates, they reached 2,260 people: irretrievable losses amounted to 720 people, of which 669 people were killed or died from wounds, 51 people were missing. The dead paratroopers were buried in Hungarian soil. Units of the 7th and 31st Guards. airborne divisions lost 85 people killed, 265 wounded and 12 missing. A lot of military equipment and weapons were shot down and damaged.

There were many casualties among the Hungarian population. In Budapest alone, about two thousand people died and over 32 thousand were injured. More than 200 thousand people left Hungary. Everything that happened was a tragedy for both the Hungarian and Soviet people.

The paratroopers performed their duty with dignity, showing high combat skills and courage in a combat situation for the first time since the war. All personnel of the units and formations were thanked by the commander of the Airborne Forces, Lieutenant General V.F. Margelov, for their exemplary performance of the combat mission in Hungary. A total of 1,710 paratroopers were awarded orders and medals, including the commander of the 31st Guards. Airborne Division, Major General P.M. Ryabov and Chief of Staff of the Division, Colonel I. I. Sineokiy.

Colonel Sineoky was left in charge at the division's permanent location. However, for some business he flew to Hungary, where along the way he had to participate in hostilities. After the paratroopers left Hungary, the colonel first received a reprimand from the commander of the Airborne Forces “for leaving the division without permission,” and a little later received the Order of the Red Star “for skillful leadership of units and personal courage shown during combat operations.”

Units of the 31st Guards Airborne Division returned to the Union at the end of December, but they were no longer stationed in Novograd-Volynsky, but in the cities of Chernivtsi and Kolomyia, where there were equipped airfields and landing sites necessary for airborne troops. Units and subunits began combat training and settling personnel in a new location.

The plane leaves in the fog of stars
Back to assigned base,
And our soldier’s duty calls us here -
The landing force was sent to the west by order.
And somewhere between the parachute lines
Bratislava is lit below,
And slowly sit down on the sand
Guys from Moscow and Volgograd.

Control tower at Ruzyne International Airport, Prague. An ordinary night shift turns into a nightmare: an armada of aircraft is approaching on the radar screens. Who are they? What's happening? Commands in Czech are growled over the radio: “Stop releasing and accepting aircraft, immediately vacate the runway.”

Behind the dispatchers, the door crunches and falls over, and armed people without insignia burst into the room. The Czechs finally understand what is happening - someone manages to break the radio equipment. The control tower is out of action, but GRU special forces are already in full swing on the airfield, having landed a couple of hours before the main forces disembarked on board a “Trojan horse” - a civilian aircraft that requested an emergency landing.

A small scuffle breaks out at the airport fire brigade building - firefighters, warned from the control center, are trying to block the runway with cars and special equipment. But when they come face to face with armed Soviet special forces, they hastily retreat. The airport terminal building is blocked, all exits to the field and approaches to the runway are blocked. We made it!

And in the sky above Prague the landing lights of the An-12 are already swinging. The first pot-bellied transporter comes in to land, unloads, in a matter of minutes - and the plane, roaring with four engines, leaves for reinforcements. Piles of unused parachutes remain along the edges of the airfield. In total, over the next 24 hours, 450 aircraft carrying units of the 7th Guards landed at Ruzyne airport. airborne division...

“If we had been thrown out at night, then half of the division... Do you know how many people were at the airfields, how many planes, how many people I would have killed?”
(General Lev Gorelov, at that time commander of the 7th Guards Airborne Division)

The word “parachute” practically does not appear in the Airborne Forces combat manual. And in each clause of the charter dedicated to landing, clarifications are always prudently followed: “dropping troops (landing)” or “landing site (airfield).”
The charter was written by smart people who knew very well military history and the practice of using airborne assault forces in various military conflicts.

Parachute landing of armored vehicles. Fantastic spectacle

The largest operation in the history of the Russian Airborne Forces was the Vyazma airborne operation, carried out by four airborne brigades and the 250th Rifle Regiment of the Red Army in January-February 1942. And many tragic and instructive moments were associated with this event.

The first group of paratroopers was landed behind German troops south of Vyazma on January 18 - 22, 1942. It is noteworthy that the 250th Infantry Regiment landed (attention!) by landing method. Thanks to the successful actions of the paratroopers, a few days later the 1st Guards Cavalry Corps of the Red Army broke through to their location. The possibility of encircling part of the German forces of Army Group Center emerged.

To strengthen the Soviet group, a second group of paratroopers was urgently landed behind enemy lines. By February 1, 2,497 people and 34 tons of cargo were parachuted into the indicated area. The result was discouraging - the cargo was lost, and only 1,300 paratroopers reached the collection site.

No less alarming results were obtained during the Dnieper airborne operation - strong anti-aircraft fire forced the planes to rise above the clouds, as a result, dropped from a two-kilometer altitude, 4,500 paratroopers were scattered over an area of ​​tens of square kilometers. Based on the results of the operation, the following directive was issued:

The release of a mass landing at night indicates the illiteracy of the organizers of this matter, because, as experience shows, the release of a massive night landing, even on one’s own territory, is associated with great dangers.
I order the remaining one and a half airborne brigades to be removed from the subordination of the Voronezh Front and considered as a reserve of the Headquarters.
I. STALIN

It is no coincidence that most of the airborne units of the Red Army were reorganized into rifle units during the war. Mass airborne assaults in the Western European theater of operations had similar consequences. In May 1941, 16 thousand German paratroopers, showing exceptional heroism, were able to capture the island of Crete (Operation Mercury), but suffered such heavy losses that the Wehrmacht air force dropped out of the game forever. And the German command had to give up plans to seize the Suez Canal with the help of paratroopers.

Body of a killed German paratrooper, Operation Mercury

In the summer of 1943, American paratroopers found themselves in equally difficult conditions: during the landing in Sicily, due to strong winds, they found themselves 80 kilometers from their intended target. The British were even less fortunate that day - a quarter of the British paratroopers drowned at sea.

Well, World War II ended a long time ago - since then, landing facilities, communication and control systems have radically changed for the better. Let's look at a couple of more recent examples:

Here, for example, is the Israeli elite parachute brigade “Tsanhanim”. This unit has one successful parachute landing: the capture of the strategically important Mitla Pass (1956). However, there are a number of contradictory points here: firstly, the landing was targeted - only a couple of hundred paratroopers. Secondly, the landing took place in a desert area, initially without any enemy opposition.

In subsequent years, the Tsanhaim parachute brigade was never used for its intended purpose: the soldiers deftly jumped with a parachute during exercises, but in real combat conditions (the Six-Day War or the Yom Kippur War) they preferred to move on the ground under the cover of heavy armored vehicles, or carried out targeted sabotage operations using helicopters.

The Airborne Forces are a highly mobile branch of the Ground Forces and are designed to perform tasks behind enemy lines as airborne assault forces.
(Combat regulations of the Airborne Forces, paragraph 1)

Soviet paratroopers repeatedly took part in combat operations outside the USSR, participated in suppressing rebellions in Hungary and Czechoslovakia, fought in Afghanistan and were the recognized elite of the Armed Forces. However, the actual combat use of the Airborne Forces was very different from the romantic image of a paratrooper descending from the sky on parachute lines, as was widely represented in popular culture.

Suppression of the uprising in Hungary (November 1956):
— fighters of the 108th Guards Parachute Regiment were delivered to the Hungarian airfields of Tekel and Veszprem, and immediately captured strategically important objects. Now, having captured the air gates, it was possible to easily receive help and reinforcements and develop an offensive deep into enemy territory.
- The 80th Guards Parachute Regiment arrived at the border with Hungary by rail (Beregovo station), from there it made a 400-km march to Budapest in a marching column;

Suppression of the uprising in Czechoslovakia (1968):
During Operation Danube, Soviet troops, with the support of Bulgarian, Polish, Hungarian and German units, established control over Czechoslovakia within 36 hours, carrying out a quick and bloodless occupation of the country. It was the events of August 21, 1968, associated with the brilliant capture of the Ruzyne International Airport, that became the prologue to this article.
In addition to the capital's airport, the Soviet landing force captured the airfields of Turany and Namešti, turning them into impregnable fortified points, where more and more forces arrived from the USSR in an endless stream.

Introduction of troops into Afghanistan (1979):
In a matter of hours, the Soviet landing captured all the most important airfields of this Central Asian country: Kabul, Bagram and Shindad (Kandahar was captured later). Within a few days, large forces of the Limited Contingent of Soviet Forces arrived there, and the airfields themselves turned into the most important transport portals for the delivery of weapons, equipment, fuel, food and equipment for the 40th Army.

The defense of the airfield is organized by separate company (platoon) strongholds with anti-tank weapons and air defense systems located in them in the directions of probable enemy advance. Removing the front edge of strong points should prevent aircraft on the runway from being hit by direct fire from enemy tanks and guns. The gaps between the strong points are covered with mine-explosive barriers. Advancement routes and reserve deployment lines are being prepared. Some units are allocated for ambush operations along enemy approach routes.
(Combat regulations of the Airborne Forces, paragraph 206)

Damn it! This is even stated in the Charter.

Rather than crawling onto a seashore covered with thorns or jumping from sky-high heights into the unknown, it is much easier and more effective to land at the capital’s airport on enemy territory, dig in, and transfer a division of “Pskov thugs” there in one night. Prompt delivery of heavy armored vehicles and other bulky equipment becomes possible. Paratroopers receive timely assistance and reinforcements, the evacuation of the wounded and prisoners is simplified, and convenient transport routes connecting the capital's airport with the center of the country make this facility truly invaluable in any local war.

The only risk is that the enemy might guess the plans and at the last moment block the runway with bulldozers. But, as practice shows, with a proper approach to ensuring secrecy, no serious problems arise. Finally, for insurance, you can use an advance detachment disguised as a “peaceful Soviet tractor”, which will restore order on the airfield a few minutes before the arrival of the main forces (this opens up wide scope for improvisation: an “emergency” landing, a group of “athletes” with black bags "Adibas", etc.)

Preparing a captured airfield (landing site) for receiving troops and materiel consists of clearing the runway and taxiways for landing aircraft (helicopters), unloading equipment and cargo from them, and equipping access roads for vehicles.
(Combat regulations of the Airborne Forces, paragraph 258)

Actually, there is nothing new here - the ingenious tactic of capturing the airport appeared half a century ago. Budapest, Prague and Bagram are clear evidence of this scheme. According to the same scenario, the Americans landed at Mogadishu airport (civil war in Somalia, 1993). The same scenario was followed by peacekeeping forces in Bosnia (taking control of Tuzla airport, early 90s), which was subsequently turned into the main support base of the Blue Helmets.

Russian paratroopers unload equipment. Tuzla Airport, Bosnia

The main objective of the “Throw on Pristina” - the famous raid of Russian paratroopers in June 1999 was... who would have thought! ... the capture of the Slatina airport, where reinforcements were expected to arrive - up to two airborne regiments. The operation itself was carried out brilliantly (its inglorious ending is no longer relevant to the topic of this article, since it has a clear political rather than military overtones).
Of course, the “capture of the capital’s airport” technique is only suitable for local wars with an obviously weak and unprepared enemy.

It was already unrealistic to repeat such a trick in Iraq - the wars in the Persian Gulf were carried out in the spirit of old traditions: aircraft bomb, tank and motorized columns rush forward, and, if necessary, targeted landing groups are landed behind enemy lines: special forces, saboteurs, air spotters. However, there was never any talk of any mass drops of paratroopers. First of all, there was no need for this.

Secondly, a mass parachute landing in our time is an unjustifiably risky and senseless event: just remember the quote from General Lev Gorelov, who honestly admitted that in the event of a parachute landing, half of his division could have died. But the Czechs in 1968 had neither the S-300, nor the Patriot air defense system, nor the portable Stingers...

Pskov paratroopers preparing for landing, 2005

The use of parachute landings in World War III seems an even more dubious idea. In conditions when even supersonic fighters are at mortal risk in the fire zone of modern anti-aircraft missile systems, one can hope that the huge transport Il-76 will be able to fly and land troops near Washington... Popular rumor attributes the phrase to Reagan: “ I wouldn’t be surprised if on the second day of the war I see guys in vests and blue berets on the threshold of the White House" I don’t know if the US President said such words, but he is guaranteed to receive thermonuclear ammunition half an hour after the start of the war.

Based on historical experience, paratroopers performed well as part of air assault brigades - in the late 60s, the rapid development of helicopter technology made it possible to develop the concept of using landing forces in the enemy’s close rear areas. Targeted helicopter landings played a significant role in the Afghan War.

Over the past 30 years, a unique image of the paratrooper has formed in Russian society: for some unclear reasons, the paratroopers do not “hang on slings,” but sit on the armor of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles in all hot spots.

That's right - the Airborne Forces, the beauty and pride of the Armed Forces, being one of the most trained and combat-ready branches of the military, are regularly involved in carrying out tasks in local conflicts. In this case, the landing force is used as motorized infantry, together with units of motorized rifle, special forces, riot police and even marines! (It’s no secret that Russian marines took part in the assault on Grozny).

5th company of the 350th Guards. airborne regiment, Afghanistan

This raises a reasonable philistine question: if over the past 70 years, the Airborne Forces have never, under any circumstances, been used for their intended purpose (namely, a massive landing of paratroopers), then why are there conversations about the need for specific systems suitable for landing under a parachute canopy: combat BMD-4M airborne assault vehicle or 2S25 Sprut anti-tank self-propelled gun?

If landing troops are always used as elite motorized infantry in local wars, then wouldn’t it be better to arm the guys with conventional tanks, heavy self-propelled guns and infantry fighting vehicles? Operating on the front line without heavy armored vehicles is a betrayal towards the soldiers.

Look at the US Marine Corps - the American Marines have forgotten the smell of the sea. The Marine Corps has become an expeditionary force - a kind of "special forces" trained for operations outside the United States, with its own tanks, helicopters and aircraft. The main armored vehicle of the Marine Corps is a 65-tonne pile of iron with negative buoyancy.

BMD-4M. A beautiful car, but one hit from a DShK bullet will tear the track

It is worth noting that domestic airborne forces also serve as rapid reaction forces, capable of arriving anywhere in the world and entering battle immediately upon arrival. It is clear that in this case the paratroopers need a special vehicle, but why do they need the aluminum BMP-4M, at the price of three T-90 tanks? Which, ultimately, is hit by the most primitive means: DShK and .

Of course, there is no need to go to the point of absurdity - in 1968, due to a shortage of vehicles, paratroopers stole all cars from the parking lot of Ruzyne Airport. And they did it right:

...explaining to personnel the need for rational use of ammunition and other material resources, skillful use of weapons and military equipment captured from the enemy;
(Combat regulations of the Airborne Forces, paragraph 57)

I would like to know the opinion of the airborne troops, what is it about their conventional armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles that dissatisfy them, compared to the “supermachine”?

Airborne troops. History of the Russian landing Alekhin Roman Viktorovich

OPERATION VORTEX IN HUNGARY

OPERATION VORTEX IN HUNGARY

In 1956, the Airborne Forces of the 7th (80th and 108th Guards Infantry Division) and 31st (114th and 381st Guards Infantry Division) divisions took part in the Hungarian events as part of Operation Whirlwind.

In October 1956, Soviet units were sent to Budapest to suppress the counter-revolutionary armed rebellion. In the city at this time, the rebels deliberately destroyed representatives of the Communist Party and the legitimate government. Many Hungarian law enforcement officers, armed forces soldiers loyal to the government, and ordinary people sympathizing with the legitimate government were killed. In other words, there was a real massacre in the city. It smelled like the overthrow of the communist regime, which was unacceptable for the USSR. A Special Corps under the command of Lieutenant General P. N. Lashchenko entered Hungary.

On November 1, 1956, the 114th and 381st Guards RPD were landed at the Veszprem airfield, where the paratroopers captured several important military installations and destroyed the airfield's anti-aircraft air defense batteries.

On November 3, 1956, the 108th Guards Airborne Division landed at Tekel airfield. During the short battle, the paratroopers disabled six anti-aircraft batteries. Since November 4, the regiment's units, together with the 80th Guards PDP, which made a march from the Mukachevo region with a length of about 400 kilometers, took part in the fighting to liberate Budapest from the rebels.

The 381st Guards Airborne Division of the 31st Guards Airborne Division seized the university campus. The 80th Guards Infantry Division of the 7th Guards Airborne Division, together with the 100th Guards Infantry Division, cleared a number of blocks in the city center. The paratroopers acted decisively and assertively. House by house they cleared the city's neighborhoods of rebels, disarming them or destroying them in case of resistance.

The 80th Guards PDP, together with the 100th Guards Tank Regiment, cleared the Kispest suburbs of Budapest, as well as Yllei Street.

By the end of November 12, 1956, the fighting in Budapest had ended. Units of the 7th and 31st Airborne Divisions in battles with the rebels lost 85 people killed, 265 paratroopers were wounded and 12 were missing. In particular, during Operation Whirlwind the Special Corps lost 669 people killed and 51 were missing. During the period of fighting, units of the Soviet Army seized 44,000 firearms and 62 guns from the rebels. 35,000 Hungarians were disarmed. The dead soldiers of the Soviet Army were buried in Hungary.

For the courage and heroism shown during combat missions in Hungary, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to the following paratroopers: Captain N. I. Kharlamov, Art. Lieutenant P. G. Volokitin (posthumously), Art. Lieutenant M.S. Zinukov (posthumously), Captain N.V. Muravlev (posthumously).

From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (VI) by the author TSB

Vortex The vortex of the vector field A, the vector characteristic of the “rotational component” of the field A. It is denoted by the symbol rot A. V. can be interpreted as follows. Let A be the field of fluid flow velocities. Let us place a small wheel with blades at this point in the flow

From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (GE) by the author TSB

From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (KO) by the author TSB

From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (PE) by the author TSB

Pecs (city in Hungary) Pecs (P?cs), a city in Hungary, at the southern foot of the Mecsek Mountains. Administrative center of Baranya county. 145.3 thousand inhabitants (1970). An important transport hub and industrial center. In the vicinity of P. there is coal mining and thermal power plants. The city has mechanical engineering, a variety of food

From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (PR) by the author TSB

Attached vortex Attached vortex, a conditional vortex, which is considered to be motionlessly connected to a body streamlined by a flow of liquid or gas, and replaces, in terms of the magnitude of the velocity circulation, the actual vorticity that is formed in the boundary layer

From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (RE) by the author TSB

From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (SB) by the author TSB

From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (FE) by the author TSB

From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (CHO) by the author TSB

From the book Russian Mythology. Encyclopedia by Madlevskaya E L

Whirlwind In popular belief, a whirlwind is a spinning wind, hence its other name “spin.” It was considered unclean and the most dangerous wind for people. A rushing whirlwind looks like a pillar with straw, leaves, and various objects twisted in it. Most often he

From the book Assault Rifles of the World author Popenker Maxim Romanovich

Small-sized assault rifle SR-3 "Whirlwind" Caliber: 9?39 mm Automatic type: gas-operated, locking by rotating the bolt Length: 610 / 360 mm (stock unfolded / folded) Barrel length: x/w Weight: 2.0 kg without cartridges Rate of fire : 900 rounds per minute Magazine: 10 or 20

From the book Abroad author Chuprinin Sergey Ivanovich

WRITERS OF HUNGARY OLEG VOLOVIKVolovich Oleg Anatolyevich was born in 1958 in Tashkent. He worked at the Uzbektelefilm studio, at the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, and at the State Agricultural Industry. Author of a number of television and radio programs, more than 300 publications in various newspapers and magazines, books: “Agroindustrial

From the book History of the European Football Championships author Zheldak Timur A.

From the book Encyclopedia of Slavic culture, writing and mythology author Kononenko Alexey Anatolievich

From the book Masterpieces of Russian Artists author Evstratova Elena Nikolaevna

From the author's book

Whirlwind 1905. State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. The dance of peasant women in elegant sundresses is turned into a sonorous decorative panel. Their wide, multi-colored skirts swirl in a whirlwind motion, and their red sundresses burst into flames, creating an enchanting spectacle.

On this day, the Day of the Special Forces of the Sn GRU, FSB, OMON... and further on the list, I would like to congratulate my colleagues and fellow soldiers who serve and have served there.
Having put aside all the tinsel and show-off of this day, I want to... tell you “about a memorable day” that our specialists missed. Namely the events in Hungary in 1956.
And about this. I repeat...
Twice a year the Magyars (Hungarians) have an attack of national pride and dislike for Russians
Namely October 23rd , Soviet tanks entering Budapest in 1956)
And to the Russians, together with the Austrians (March 15, the suppression of the Hungarian uprising against the Habsburgs in 1848 with the active participation of the Russian Empire).
I think it’s useful for paratroopers and patriots to remember this.

In the last twenty-five years, historians and journalists have been trying to present the Hungarian events of 1956 as spontaneous uprisings of the masses against the bloody pro-Soviet regime of Matthias Rakosi and his successor Erno Geryo. However, in fact, the scenario of this entire bacchanalia was written out from beginning to end in the Central Intelligence Agency, and if not for the timely intervention of our military, Hungary would have become the first victim orange revolution. It is still unknown what the Westerners would call this revolution, but the operation to implement it was codenamed Focus.
Operation Focus started with an information attack - using balloons they began to bombard Hungary with leaflets. In the first half of 1956, 293 cases of their appearance in the country’s airspace were recorded, and on July 19 they caused a passenger plane crash.
On the evening of October 1, 1954, thousands of balloons began to be released from the Munich area. The balloons flew in waves, 200-300 in each, and each of them carried from 300 to 1000 leaflets. (read more about the uprising)
And the special officers missed these events and the uprising began. After the bloody events, the USSR decided to send troops.
Operation:
Early in the morning of November 4, the introduction of new Soviet military units into Hungary began under the overall command of the commander of the Warsaw Pact troops, Marshal of the Soviet Union Ivan Stepanovich Konev, in accordance with the plan for Operation Whirlwind. The special corps was supposed to take on the main task of defeating the opposing enemy forces.
The composition of the corps remained the same, but it was reinforced with tanks, artillery and airborne units. The divisions had to solve the following tasks:
2nd Guards Mechanized Division - capture the north-eastern and central part of Budapest, seize bridges across the Danube River, the buildings of Parliament, the Central Committee of the All-Russian Trade Union, the Ministry of Defense, the Nyugati station, the police headquarters and blockade the military camps of the Hungarian units, preventing the rebels from approaching Budapest by roads from the north and east;
33rd Guards Mechanized Division - to capture the south-eastern and central parts of Budapest, capture bridges over the Danube River, the Central Telephone Station, the Corvin stronghold, Keleti station, the Kossuth radio station, the Csepel plant, the Arsenal, blockade the barracks Hungarian military units and prevent the rebels from approaching Budapest along the roads from the southeast;
128th Guards Rifle Division - capture the western part of Budapest, capture the Central Air Defense Command Post, Moscow Square, Gellert Mountain and the fortress, block the barracks and prevent the Hungarian rebels from approaching the city from the west.
To capture the most important objects in all divisions, one or two special forward detachments were created as part of an infantry battalion, as well as from 100 to 150 paratroopers on armored personnel carriers reinforced with 10-12 tanks.
On November 4, Operation Whirlwind began. The main objects in Budapest were captured, members of the government of Imre Nagy took refuge in the Yugoslav embassy. However, detachments of the Hungarian National Guard and individual army units continued to resist Soviet troops. Soviet troops carried out artillery strikes on pockets of resistance and carried out subsequent mopping-up operations with infantry forces supported by tanks.
By 8.30 paratroopers of the 108th Guards Parachute Regiment in cooperation with the 37th Tank Regiment of the 2nd Guards Mechanized Division, they captured 13 generals and about 300 officers of the Ministry of Defense and delivered them to the headquarters of Army General Malinin. The control of the Hungarian armed forces was completely paralyzed.
Despite the complete Soviet superiority in forces and means, the Hungarian rebels continued to impede their advance. Shortly after 8 o'clock in the morning, Budapest radio went on the air for the last time and appealed to writers and scientists around the world to help the Hungarian people. But by that time, Soviet tank units had already completed the breakthrough of the defense of Budapest and occupied the bridges over the Danube, the Parliament and the telephone exchange.
Particularly fierce battles, as expected, broke out for the Corvinus facilities, Moscow Square, the Parliament building, and the royal palace.
Operating side by side with the Soviet troops were the Kádár Hussars - volunteer detachments of communists dressed in quilted jackets and members of the Union of Working Youth of Hungary.
By noon on November 5, there was virtually only one strong resistance point left in the capital in Corvin Lane. To suppress it, 11 artillery divisions were brought in, which included about 170 guns and mortars, as well as several dozen tanks. By evening, rebel resistance not only in the alley, but throughout the entire block, ceased.
During November 6, the Soviet group of troops in Budapest continued to carry out tasks to destroy individual armed groups and resistance points. The fighting continued until the evening of Tuesday, November 6.
By November 10, the fighting had stopped. Imre Nagy and his accomplices took refuge in the Yugoslav embassy, ​​but on the 22nd they were lured out and arrested. On June 16, 1958, he, Maleter and several other active putschists were hanged. On June 16, 1983, the remains of Nagy Maleter were solemnly reburied in Budapest's Heroes' Square.
Kiraly managed to escape retribution by fleeing to Austria and soon becoming deputy chairman of the Hungarian Revolutionary Council in Strasbourg. Then he moved to the USA, where he founded the Hungarian Committee and the Association of Freedom Fighters. In 1990, he returned to Hungary, received the rank of colonel general and became a member of parliament. He lived until July 4, 2009.
The dead Soviet citizens are buried in the Budapest cemetery. There have been provocations and murders since 1950. Look at the monuments.

Why, as a paratrooper, did I visit this cemetery? Not only as a patriot of Russia and its traditions and history.
Because he served in the Carpathian Military District and in the 7th Guards Airborne (which included the 381st Regiment from the 31st Division) the combat composition of the USSR Armed Forces that participated in the events of 1956 included (below)... .
And I remember (!).....that from the 80th Guards Parachute Regiment my 39 ODSBr.