The Afghan war, like any other armed conflict, is a terrible and difficult page in the history of our country. The veterans of this war are held in high esteem among modern people no less than the participants in the Second World War. Military operations in Afghanistan are inextricably linked with the history of the 66th brigade in Jalalabad.
66th separate motorized rifle brigade
During the Afghan war, there was the 66th separate motorized rifle Vyborg Red Banner Order of Lenin Order of Alexander Nevsky Brigade. An invaluable contribution was made by the 66th brigade in Jalalabad, an Afghan city where active hostilities were taking place. The brigade was a military unit, existed from 1941-25-09 to 06/1/1988 in the Soviet Union and was subordinate to the commander of the 68-1 motorized rifle division from 1969 to 1980 and under the command of the 40th combined arms army from 1980 to 1988
From 1969 to 1980, she was part of the 68th motorized rifle division of the SAVO and the 40th combined arms army of TurkVo. Consists of departments and divisions.
Stayed in Alma-Ata from 1947 to 1979, still being the 186th motorized rifle division. LaterThe 66th brigade was stationed in Jalalabad from 1980 to 1988. These years were among the most difficult in the history of the brigade. The 66th brigade distinguished itself not only in Jalalabad. She took part in many operations.
Abreviation DSHB - 66 brigade, Jalalabad.
Awards of the 66th OMS Brigade
For participation in other conflicts, the brigade was awarded such significant awards as:
- Order of Lenin.
- Order of the Red Banner.
- Order of Alexander Nevsky.
How it was: the history of the 66th motorized rifle brigade
At the very beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the 1236th regiment of the 372nd SD was formed in Barnaul. His successor is the 186th motorized rifle regiment of the 68th MD. Later, the 66th separate motorized rifle brigade will be formed from it., Berlin, Stettin-Rostock offensive operations, Mginsk, B altic, Tallinn operations and in breaking the blockade of Leningrad.
When the Second World War ended, the division was present in Germany as part of the Soviet occupation.
In 1946, the 372nd division was reorganized into the 46th rifle brigade. This decision was due to the reduction of the USSR Armed Forces. But the division was not completely transformed. Some of its units were reorganized into rifle battalions. From 1949 to 1953 there was an active restoration of rifle divisions and brigades. On time for them alltheir former numbers were returned. In 1955, military buildings, which had been empty until that time, finally began to fill up. Eyewitnesses admitted that the sight of the empty barracks was terrifying, recalling the number of losses.
Only in 1957, the 372nd SD was transformed into the Novgorod Red Banner Motorized Rifle Division and received the number 68. At the same time, the 186th motorized rifle regiment appeared in Alma-Ata, which was transformed from the 1236th rifle regiment.
Afghan war
Veterans of the war remember that day as now. Their stories are more poignant and emotionally colored than news reports, news items and documentaries. The participants of those years still remember how on December 27, 1979, just before the New Year, the regiment was awakened by an alarm. For a long time, not quite understanding what was happening, the soldiers marched along the railway tracks in order to gather near the city of Termez by the evening of January 1, 1980.
You can see the 66th Jalalabad brigade in the photo below.
After 2 days, the regiment is withdrawn from the 68th MSD and handed over to 108-1 MSD, TurkVo.
January 4, 1980, the regiment is sent to Afghanistan to carry out military operations. Fighting is taking place on the territory of several Afghan provinces: Talukan, Kunduz, Nakhrin, Baghlan and others.
Not all soldiers endure hard conditions and fierce battles. Many of them are exhausted physically and psychologically. January 9-10 among personnelan armed rebellion breaks out, as a result of which some of the soldiers go over to the side of the opposition. The regiment manages to suppress the rebellion.
Two days, from February 23, 1980, the 168th motorized rifle regiment covers the distance from the city of Puli, through Salang and Charikar, to Kabul. The path is very difficult due to the strong gas contamination of the tunnel. But by the end of February, the regiment gathers and settles in the area of the city of Kabul.
66 separate motor rifle brigade, Jalalabad, Afghanistan (1979-1989)
Jalalabad was the place from which it was easiest to control combat units throughout the territory of hostilities. However, for this it was necessary to create a special headquarters, scattering the rest of the staff across the Afghan provinces. But for this, a combat unit was needed, including the units required for the effective conduct of hostilities.
The leadership decided that the eastern part of the DRA needs to be strengthened. Then it was ordered to form a tactical unit OKSVA. On the basis of the 186th motorized rifle regiment, the 66th motorized rifle brigade was formed, which was a military unit with the number 93992. Separate units of the brigade were located in the cities of Nangarhar, Kunar, Lagman. Determining the location of the headquarters, the command decided that in choosing the ideal place for the installation of the 66 brigade of Jalalabad, there is no equal.
On March 1, 1980, a directive was adopted, according to which a number of some reinforcements were carried out:
- United various brigades and battalions, for example, the 48th airborne assault battalion and part of the 39thairborne assault brigade, adding paratroopers.
- The artillery was reinforced.
- Actively increased combat and logistics support, which consisted in increasing the staff of the regimental ammunition.
- The 66th brigade contained units that controlled the territory of the Jellalabad airport. In order to relieve them of an extra load, at the end of 1981, it was decided to form a separate 1353rd security battalion for this purpose.
To block the supply of weapons and ammunition to the Mujahideen, the command ordered to block the routes connecting Afghanistan and Pakistan.
To achieve this goal, a separate 15th Special Forces Brigade was introduced.
66th brigade was sent to the city of Jalalabad immediately after the re-registration.
Composition of the brigade
All these units worked smoothly and clearly:
- Office and Headquarters of Brigade.
- Propaganda and Agitation Detachment (BAPO).
- 856th courier-postal service station.
- 1417th bath and laundry point.
- Commercial and household enterprise.
- Orchestra.
- Bakery.
- Platoons: flamethrower, chemical protection, commandant.
- Battalions: air assault, tank, artillery, 3 motorized rifle.
- Batteries: anti-tank, anti-aircraft missile.
- Companies: reconnaissance, signalmen, engineering and sapper, repair, automobile column, which performed the role of material support, and, of course, medical and sanitary,engineering sapper company of the 66th Jalalabad brigade.
The personnel of the 66th motorized rifle brigade in Jalalabad and other provinces totaled 3,500 fighters. It was almost a unique combat unit.
The commanders were Smirnov O. E., Ozdoev S. G., Tomashov N. S., Posokhov A. G., Zharikov A. N., Avlasenko V. V.
Withdrawal from Afghanistan and disbandment of the brigade
The final withdrawal of the brigade from the war zone began on May 15, 1988 and lasted 12 days. She was immediately returned to her previous number and assigned the Battle Banner of a separate motorized rifle brigade.
On the photo below: parting of the 66th brigade. Jalalabad, Afghanistan.
Awards
The titles of heroes of the USSR were awarded to: Shornikov N. A., Demchenko G. A., Stovba A. I., Igolchenko S. V. The titles of the heroes of R. F. were awarded: Amosov S. A., Gadzhiev N. O. Ertaev B. E. was awarded the title of Hero of Kazakhstan
Memories
The 66th separate motorized rifle brigade was stationed in the city of Jalalabad. In mid-May, Captain Garin, who at that time commanded a battalion, dies. The losses were colossal. During the first two years - 52 dead soldiers, and even more wounded. The extras lost count, according to confirmed data, there were more than 200 people.
The period from 1949 to 1953 fell on the restoration of rifle divisions. All of them, leaving the brigades, again received their previous numbers. At the end of February, the 186th motorized rifle regimentwas ordered to concentrate in the area of the city of Kabul, since the 70th and 66th separate motorized rifle brigades at that time, in principle, were the only motorized rifle brigades in the Armed Forces of the USSR, which included airborne assault battalions.
In addition, these were the largest brigades in terms of the number of personnel. Veterans recall that after the 787th training motorized rifle regiment was disbanded, it received the Battle Banner of the 66th Brigade. He was stationed in Termez and took part in military operations in Jalalabad and Assabad.
The first losses came at the end of March. 1980-30-03 Lieutenant Turchenkov died. The battalion was trained in Termez during February and March 1980.
Later the deaths became more frequent, many soldiers died. Veterans remember their combat exits. How they walked in chains, how their comrades ran into mines. These terrible memories left their mark on the fate of people who fought so that others could live.
