Panfilovtsy

Panfilovtsy

"Panfilovtsy" (from _ru. панфиловцы, singular: панфиловец - "panfilovetz", named after Soviet Major General Ivan Panfilov) were soldiers of the Soviet 316th Rifle Division (renamed to 8th Guard Rifle Division on November 18, 1941. Consequently, they were also named guardsmen - "panfilovtsy" - гвардейцы-панфиловцы) under the command of Panfilov.

"Panfilovtsy" can also refer to twenty five border guards who fought in Afghanistan on November 22, 1985.Fact|date=December 2007

History

According to the official Soviet military historiography, 28 Panfilovtsy led by politruk Vasiliy Klochkov withstood a four-hour battle on November 14, 1941 at Dubosekovo village near Volokolamsk highway, during which fifteen to eighteen German tanks were destroyed.cite web |url=http://www.serpukhov.su/dima/war/eng/eklin.htm |title=Ìîæàéñêî - Klin-Solnechnogorsk defence operation 1941 |publisher=Dima |date=Monday, April 02, 2001 1:31:34 PM |accessdate=2007-11-06] According to Soviet accounts, almost all died in 28 Panfilovtsy, but they did not let the enemy pass. On July 21, 1942 all "panfilovtsy" were awarded the title of 'Heroes of the Soviet Union'.

Later assessment

Eventually, it turned out that at Dubosekovo about 100 Soviet soldiers fought and eventually were killed, captured, or retreated. The number of destroyed tanks is not exactly known either.

In reality the "28 Panfilovtsy" were likely the 2nd Battalion, 1075th Regiment, 316th Rifle Division (later renamed the 8th Guard Rifle Division). In the battalion were three companies (4th, 5th and 6th) each consisting of 120 to 140 men, and the entire battalion had at its disposal only four anti-tank guns.

The first attack on the battalion, by 10-12 German tanks, was repelled, and on that first day of battle, the entire regiment destroyed 5 or 6 German tanks. The second attack, by approximately 50 German tanks, routed the entire battalion and reduced the strength of the 4th company (which probably stood model for the myth of the "28 Panfilovtsy") to 25 men. During two days of combat the losses of the entire Soviet 1075 Regiment amounted to 400 killed, 100 wounded, and 600 missing in action. The regiment destroyed 15 German tanks (which later became 18 in the myth). The losses incurred caused the commander and commissar of the 1075th Regiment to be removed from command.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • City of Military Glory — (Russian: «Город воинской славы») is an honorary title bestowed upon the citizenry of Russian cities, where soldiers had displayed courage and heroism during the Great Patriotic War.[1] The award, which to date has been bestowed upon 27 cities,… …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Moscow — For the 1812 battle during the Napoleonic Wars, see Battle of Borodino. Battle of Moscow Part of the Eastern Front of World War II …   Wikipedia

  • Ivan Panfilov — Ivan Vasilyevich Panfilov ( Панфилов Иван Васильевич ) (January 1, 1893 (O.S. December 20, 1892) November 19, 1941) was a Russian general and Hero of the Soviet Union (1942, posthumously). During the Battle of Moscow in November 1941 Panfilov,… …   Wikipedia

  • Guards unit — NOTOC Guards units are elite units and formations in the armed forces of the former Soviet Union, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. These units were awarded guards status after distinguishing themselves in service, and are considered to have elite… …   Wikipedia

  • List of World War II topics (P) — # P 15 Termit # P 59 Airacomet # P 61 Black Widow # P 80 Shooting Star # P 4 class torpedo boat # P. G. Wodehouse # P. O. Box 1142 # P. Y. Saeki # P107 # Paavo Berg # Paavo Nurmi # Paavo Yrjölä # Pablo de Escandón y Barrón # Pacific Fighters #… …   Wikipedia

  • Batalla de Moscú — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Batalla de Moscú Frente de Europa Oriental – Segunda Guerra Mundial Tropas s …   Wikipedia Español

  • List of Russian people — The Millennium of Russia monument in Veliky Novgorod, featuring the statues and reliefs of the most celebrated people in the first 1000 years of Russian history …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”