Few people were not amazed by the huge numbers of destroyed and destroyed material assets on the territory of the USSR during the Second World War: 38,550 large and medium-sized industrial enterprises(Note 11 *), 1710 cities, more than 70 thousand villages and villages, 65 thousand railway lines and about 100 thousand collective farms and state farms, which amounted to direct damage of 700 billion Soviet rubles in pre-war prices (Note 15 * ), as a result of which 25 million people lost their homes. However, not many people know that the "scorched earth" strategy was carried out by the retreating Soviet troops, partisans, and underground fighters throughout the war. This is effective and completely fair in relation to the advancing enemy, but in none of the documents of the war period you will find data on the number of material values destroyed in this way. Paradoxically, it turns out that everything that was destroyed in the USSR during the war years was destroyed exclusively by the Nazis. The orders and directives of the Soviet leadership directly speak of the opposite.
"The Germans found empty barns, blown up shipyards, burned factory buildings. Instead of houses, they fought for rubble and snowdrifts" I. Ehrenburg, 11/18/41 (Note 15 *)
The Amur bridge across the Dnieper River in the Ukrainian city of Dnepropetrovsk in 1941 was blown up by the NKVD
- in October 1941, German sappers in Kyiv managed to clear the mines of the Opera House, the Pedagogical Museum, the State Bank, the University, St. Vladimir's Cathedral and other large buildings. The Soviet saboteurs managed to undermine the Khreshchatyk complex of buildings, and there is still no consensus on who blew up the Assumption Cathedral of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, although it was the laying of mines that was carried out by Soviet miners when they left the city in 1941
- The Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin), as well as another, smaller palace here, as well as Peterhof (Petrodvorets) were burned by Soviet artillery (Note 18 *)
- "during the assault on Taganrog, we (the advancing Germans - ed. note) for the first time had the opportunity to observe the organized destruction of the city by Soviet troops. Factories and institutions took off one after another. ... When we broke into the city, we saw huge piles of burnt grain In Taganrog, we were shown in practice the policy of "scorched earth" (Note 17 *)
- in 1942, in the basements of the regional executive committee of Rostov-on-Don, the Wehrmacht discovered mines prepared for detonation of a collectively large explosive force, but the Red Army managed to blow up only the railway bridge across the Don, which was soon restored by the Germans (Note 16 *) - from those remaining on the territory of the Oryol region to By the end of the evacuation, 30450 tons of grain were burned on 25 2851. Not threshed bread in stacks was also burned. According to the information about the abandonment of the Red Army in the city of Liven, Oryol region, all valuable property was destroyed in the city, communications were blown up, Adam's mill, a rubber plant, a distillery, a water pump, soldiers and commanders of the Red Army broke the property of the townspeople. On 11/23/41, the last units of the Red Army, leaving the city, set fire to it in several places, even attempts were made to set fire to residential buildings. According to the report of the Secretary of the Trubchevsk Underground District Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks A. Burlyaev, before the occupation of Trubchevsk by the Germans, on the instructions of the district party committee, a dry plant, a hemp plant, a bakery were blown up, a water pump and a power plant were damaged. On the territory of the Smolensk region, during the retreat of the Red Army, all the MTS were destroyed, ... rendered unusable ... inventory and spare parts. On the territory of the Oryol region, almost all large and medium-sized enterprises were disabled, even those related to the food industry, which worked to meet the needs of the local population. When the Red Army left the town of Toropets in the Kalinin Region, 15 enterprises were destroyed, including a distillery, a waste plant, an oil plant, a flax plant, a brick, tile, turpentine plants, MTS, 6 artels, a fish farm (Note 15 *)
On 07/01/1942, the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral F. Oktyabrsky and a member of the Military Council N. Kulakov, sent a report to Stalin in Moscow, in which, among other things, it is noted: "... 2.3 having captured Sevastopol, the enemy did not receive any trophies. The city as such was destroyed and represents a heap of ruins." (Note 14*)
- from the message of the Sovinformburo dated 11/21/41: "All plants and factories from the areas occupied by the Germans were evacuated to the Eastern regions of the Soviet Union ... The Germans really captured a small number of enterprises that could not be evacuated ... but captured in the form of ruins, blown up and destroyed by Soviet troops (Note 14 *)
- systematically destroying all locomotive depots, water pumping stations and other railway equipment (repair shops, stations, arrows, frost-resistant water tanks) during its retreat, the Red Army forced Hitler to issue an order dated 12/27/1941, according to which the restoration of Soviet railways was 30 thousand German construction workers and engineers were sent (Note 4 *)
- in August 1941 in Vyborg, out of 25 installed Soviet F-10 radio mines (each containing from 140 to 4500 kg of TNT), the Finns managed to neutralize 8, only partially preserving the historical development of the city
- according to the "Report on the measures taken to implement the order of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command No. 0428" of the Military Council of the Western Front on 11/29/1941 (12 days from the date of publication of this order): "... 398 Soviet settlements were burned and destroyed, most of which. ..teams of hunters from the military units of the front and sabotage groups of intelligence agencies of the special department "(Note 10 *)
In 1941, the NKVD officers laid 20 tons of tol in the dam of the Dneproges, the explosion of which destroyed part of the dam 165 meters long, causing a 20-meter wave. The wave washed away the coastal city strip and reached Marganets and Nikopol. Due to the fact that the NKVD did not warn anyone about the danger, according to approximate data, more than 100 thousand people died, of which about 20 thousand Red Army soldiers and about 80 thousand civilians and about 1.5 thousand Germans
- joint Decree of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR dated 06/27/1941 "On the procedure for the export and placement of human contingents and valuable property"
- "All valuable property, raw materials and food stocks, grain on the vine, which, if it is impossible to export and left in place ... must be immediately brought into complete disrepair, i.e. must be destroyed, destroyed and burned" (Note. 9*)
ORDER OF THE STATE OF THE SUPREME HIGH COMMAND No. 0428 dated 11/17/1941 "On the creation of special teams for the destruction of settlements in the rear of the fascist troops, 1941"
The Headquarters of the Supreme High Command ORDERS:
1. Destroy and burn to the ground all settlements in the rear of the German troops at a distance of 40-60 km in depth from the front line and 20-30 km to the right and left of the roads. To destroy settlements within the indicated radius of action, immediately drop aircraft, make extensive use of artillery and mortar fire, teams of scouts, skiers and guerrilla sabotage groups equipped with Molotov cocktails, grenades and explosives.
2. In each regiment, create teams of hunters of 20-30 people each to blow up and burn settlements in which enemy troops are stationed. To select the most courageous and politically and morally strong fighters, commanders and political workers in the hunting teams, carefully explaining to them the tasks and significance of this event for the defeat of the German army. Outstanding daredevils for courageous actions to destroy the settlements in which the German troops are located, to present to the government award.
3. In the event of a forced withdrawal of our units in one sector or another, take the Soviet population with them and be sure to destroy all settlements without exception so that the enemy cannot use them. First of all, for this purpose, use the teams of hunters allocated in the regiments.
4. The military councils of the fronts and individual armies systematically check how the tasks for the destruction of settlements in the radius indicated above from the front line are being carried out. Headquarters every 3 days to report in a separate summary how many and which settlements have been destroyed over the past days and by what means these results have been achieved.
Headquarters of the Supreme High Command
I. Stalin, B. Shaposhnikov (Note 13 *)
DIRECTIVE OF THE USSR Council of People's Commissars and the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks "TO THE PARTY AND SOVIET ORGANIZATIONS OF THE FRONT-FRONT REGIONS" 06/29/41 No. П509
4) In the event of a forced withdrawal of units of the Red Army, to steal a rolling stock, not to leave a single locomotive, not a single wagon to the enemy, not to leave the enemy a kilogram of bread or a liter of fuel. Collective farmers must steal cattle, hand over grain for safety to state bodies for its removal to the rear areas. All valuable property, including non-ferrous metals, grain and fuel, which cannot be exported, must be unconditionally destroyed
5) In areas occupied by the enemy, create partisan detachments and sabotage groups to fight against parts of the enemy army, to incite partisan war everywhere, to blow up bridges, roads, damage telephone and telegraph communications, set fire to warehouses, etc. In the occupied areas, create unbearable conditions for the enemy and all his accomplices, pursue and destroy them at every step, disrupt all their activities
DECISION of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks of July 18, 1941 "ON THE ORGANIZATION OF THE FIGHT IN THE REAR OF THE GERMAN TROOPS" (Note 3 *)
- "When the units of the Red Army are forced to withdraw, it is necessary to steal the entire rolling stock, not to leave the enemy a single locomotive, not a single wagon, not to leave the enemy a kilogram of bread or a liter of fuel. The collective farmers must steal all the cattle, hand over the grain for safekeeping to state bodies all valuable property, including non-ferrous metals, grain and fuel, which cannot be taken out, must be unconditionally destroyed. enemy army, to incite guerrilla warfare everywhere and everywhere, to blow up bridges, roads, damage telephone and telegraph communications, set fire to forests, warehouses, carts "(Note 5 *) (Compare with the previous one and find the differences)
- Directive of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (b) of Belarus dated 07/01/1941: "Destroy any communications behind enemy lines, blow up or damage bridges and roads, set fire to fuel and food depots, trucks and aircraft, arrange railway accidents ..." (Note 2 *)
Additional damage to the Soviet national economy was caused by local residents, who, in conditions of temporary anarchy, began to take away everything that they did not have time to destroy the retreating units of the Red Army and that was at least some value for them (Note 15 * and 16 *)
- you need to pay attention to the fact that during the hostilities many settlements passed several times from hand to hand and mercilessly, sometimes to the point of complete destruction, were destroyed by the opposing sides as a result of the fulfillment of the assigned combat missions
- as a result of the "scorched earth" tactics, the central historical part of Kyiv, the Dneproges, the Assumption Cathedral of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra were destroyed by the NKVD (Note 1 * and 12 *)
- by 1943, only 10% of industrial and 50% of agricultural products were produced in the Soviet territories occupied by the Germans from the level of 1940 (Note 1 *)
- only in 1943, as a result of the "rail" war, more than 350 thousand railway rails, a large number of bridges and stations in the territories of the USSR occupied by the Germans were blown up by Soviet partisans (Note 6 *)
- Vitebsk and Smolensk were almost completely destroyed in 1941 by the retreating Soviet troops (Note 12 *)
- resort coast of the Black Sea: Yalta, Gurzuf, Simeiz, Livadia, Alupka, Baidar gates and other places were destroyed and burned by Soviet partisans in accordance with Stalin's order "Leave nothing to the enemy"
- starting in the autumn of 1943, the Wehrmacht, in accordance with the order of the High Command, during its retreat purposefully began to destroy everything that the Red Army could use for its supply and deployment (Note 8 *)
NOTES:
(Note 1 *) - L. Semenenko "The Great Patriotic War. How it was"
(Note 2 *) - I. Hoffman "Stalin's war of extermination"
(Note 3 *) - D. Zhukov "Russian police"
(Note 4 *) - A. Speer "The Third Reich from the inside. Memoirs of the Reich Minister of War Industry"
(Note 5 *) - Stalin's speech on the radio on 07/03/1941
(Note 6 *) - Special issue 9\2010 Dossier-collection "Steam locomotives and armored trains of the USSR"
(Note 7 *) - I. Lutsky "Sea and captivity. The tragedy of Sevastopol"
(Note 8 *) - F. Mellenthin "Tank battles. Combat use tanks in WW2"
(Note 9 *) - B. Belozerov "Front without borders 1941-1945."
(Note 10 *) - "Encyclopedia of delusions. War"
(Note 11 *) - I. Vernidub "Ammunition of Victory"
(Note 12 *) - C. Ailesby "Plan Barbarossa"
(Note 13 *) - M. Solonin "The False History of the Great War"
(Note 14 *) - O. Greig "Stalin could attack first"
(Note 15 *) - I. Ermolaev "Under the banner of Hitler"
(Note 16 *) - V. Smirnov "Rostov under the shadow of a swastika"
(Note 17 *) - K. Meyer "German grenadiers. Memoirs of an SS general"
(Note 18 *) - E. Manstein "Lost Victories"
On the night of November 27-28, 1941, in the village of Petrishchevo, a fighter of the Soviet sabotage and reconnaissance group of Arthur Sprogis - Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya, set fire to a peasant residential building where German soldiers and a stable were located .. She was captured by local peasants and handed over to the Germans, who her then hung up..
ORDER OF THE STATE OF THE SUPREME HIGH COMMAND No. 0428
Moscow city.
The experience of the last month of the war showed that the German army is poorly adapted to war in winter conditions, does not have warm clothes and, experiencing enormous difficulties from the onset of frost, huddles in the front line in populated areas. The enemy, arrogant to the point of insolence, was going to spend the winter in the warm houses of Moscow and Leningrad, but this was prevented by the actions of our troops. On vast sectors of the front, the German troops, having met stubborn resistance from our units, were forced to go on the defensive and deployed in settlements along the roads for 2.0 - 30 km on both sides. German soldiers live, as a rule, in cities, towns, villages, in peasant huts, sheds, rigs, baths near the front, while the headquarters of the German units are located in larger settlements and cities, hiding in basements, using them as shelter from our aircraft and artillery.
To deprive the German army of the opportunity to deploy in villages and cities, drive the German invaders out of all settlements into the cold in the field, smoke them out of all rooms and warm shelters and make them freeze in the open air - such is an urgent task, the solution of which largely depends on the acceleration of the defeat of the enemy and the disintegration of his army.
The Headquarters of the Supreme High Command ORDERS:
1. Destroy and burn to the ground all settlements in the rear of the German troops at a distance of 40-60 km in depth from the front line and 20-30 km to the right and left of the roads. To destroy settlements within the indicated radius of action, immediately drop aircraft, make extensive use of artillery and mortar fire, teams of scouts, skiers and guerrilla sabotage groups equipped with Molotov cocktails, grenades and explosives.
2. In each regiment, create teams of hunters of 20-30 people each to blow up and burn settlements in which enemy troops are stationed. To select the most courageous and politically and morally strong fighters, commanders and political workers in the hunting teams, carefully explaining to them the tasks and significance of this event for the defeat of the German army. Outstanding daredevils for courageous actions to destroy the settlements in which the German troops are located, to present to the government award.
3. In the event of a forced withdrawal of our units in one sector or another, take the Soviet population with them and be sure to destroy all settlements without exception so that the enemy cannot use them. First of all, for this purpose, use the teams of hunters allocated in the regiments.
4. The military councils of the fronts and individual armies systematically check how the tasks for the destruction of settlements in the radius indicated above from the front line are being carried out. Headquarters every 3 days to report in a separate summary how many and which settlements have been destroyed over the past days and by what means these results have been achieved.
Headquarters of the Supreme High Command
I. STALIN
TO THE QUESTION ABOUT "Scorched Earth Tactics"
During the period of tense defensive battles near Moscow, the directive of the command of the Western Front of October 30, 1941 prescribed:
"Destroy all highways adjacent to the front line of defense, and highways that the enemy uses for his maneuver to a depth of 50 km. Maintain destruction continuously. Be sure to destroy all bridges. Minify all tank-hazardous directions with anti-tank mines and bottles with a combustible mixture. In possible directions infantry attacks, immediately place anti-personnel minefields, barbed wire, blockages, barricades and prepare fire barriers.
Similar demands are not hard to find among archival documents and other fronts. These are, one might say, classic methods of armed struggle. The war on transport communications and the mining of areas of terrain easily accessible to the enemy have their own history, rich in various examples. For these tactics, the armed forces of most states of the world have special troops.
During the years of the Great Patriotic War, perhaps, for the first time during the existence of the Russian and Soviet armies, other methods were used from the tactics of destruction - the total destruction during the retreat of everything that could be destroyed, including settlements. Residents of villages and villages located in the front line were subject to forcible eviction.
The damage caused by the German invaders to the national economy and citizens of the USSR has been carefully calculated. His summary indicators were previously announced at the Nuremberg trials. By 1959, the data was clarified. In the statistical collection "The National Economy of the USSR in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945." (M., 1990) says the following:
"The Nazi invaders completely or partially destroyed and burned 1,710 cities and towns and more than 70,000 villages and villages; burned and destroyed over 6 million buildings and made about 25 million people homeless; destroyed 31,850 industrial enterprises, disabled metallurgical plants, where about 60% of steel was smelted before the war, mines, which provided over 60% of coal production in the country, destroyed 65 thousand km of railway track and 4100 railway stations, 36 thousand postal and telegraph institutions, telephone exchanges and other communication enterprises; they ruined and plundered tens of thousands of collective farms and state farms, slaughtered, confiscated or drove to Germany 7 million horses, 17 million head of cattle, 20 million pigs, 27 million sheep and goats. In addition, they destroyed and destroyed 40,000 hospitals and other medical institutions, 84,000 schools, technical schools, higher educational institutions, research institutes, 43,000 public libraries."
Will the damage inflicted on the national economy and population by the orders of the leading officials of our state and the army be so scrupulously calculated, and how can it be fairly correlated with the given statistics and the requirements of necessity?
Judging by the documents, ill-conceived prescriptions, from which their own citizens suffered first of all, entered practice at the very beginning of the war, and were legalized during the Battle of Moscow.
DECISION OF THE MILITARY COUNCIL OF THE WESTERN FRONT
ON ORGANIZATION OF HARVESTING AND ELIMINATION OF THE HARVEST OF AGRICULTURAL CROPS IN THE SMOLENSK REGION
№ 0012
Smolensk Regional Committee of the CPSU (b)
Smolensk Regional Council of Workers' Deputies
Copies: Military Councils of the armies and military commissars of groups on a special list
THE MILITARY COUNCIL OF THE WESTERN FRONT DECIDES: 1. To propose to the Smolensk Regional Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks and the Regional Council of People's Deputies to immediately organize the implementation of the directive of the State Defense Committee regarding the sowing of industrial, grain crops and potatoes in the front line to the border determined by the following settlements: Bely, Komary , railway [road] from st. Nikitinka to st. mountains Dorogobuzh, Podmoshye, Oselye, Pavlikovo, Spas-Demensk (exclusively), Dobroselye, Krapivna, Ekimovichi (exclusively), Roslavl, Ershichi.
2. Organize on the territory specified in paragraph 1 the immediate mowing of ripe and unripe grain crops and the digging of potatoes, beets and other crops by collective farms, state farms and other state organizations and the transfer of mowed and threshed grain and harvested potatoes to state organizations under the authority of the Smolensk Regional Council of Deputies The working people, as well as the military units of the Red Army, leaving at the disposal of each collective farmer one and a half - two hectares for farming grain crops and potatoes. All cleaning work to be completed by 15.8.41.
3. Destroy the crops of all other immature crops by mowing, feeding, trampling by livestock and in other ways until 15.8.41.
4. To oblige all local party and Soviet organizations to freely transfer fodder and potatoes to units and formations of the Red Army, both in processed form and on the vine, at their request, sealed by the signature and seal of the commander and commissar of the unit and formation.
5. To oblige the Military Councils of the armies and commanders - commissars of groups to give appropriate orders for the organization and implementation of this work to local party and Soviet organizations, military units within a precisely specified period, while at the same time establishing strict control over the implementation of this resolution.
TsAMO USSR. F. 208. Op. 2524. D. 2. L. 554
ON THE EVACUATION OF THE POPULATION FROM THE FRONT STRIP
№ 0507
Military Councils of the armies
By order of the Military Council of the Western Front dated August 12, 1941, No. 017, a 5-kilometer combat zone was established, from the territory of which the entire civilian population is to be evicted. Despite the clarity and necessity of this event, many commanders and commissars of units and formations did not understand the essence of this order and allow the population to remain in the combat zone, which, in essence, contributes to the penetration of spies and saboteurs into the environment of the local population, the recruitment of spies from part of the local population hostile to the Soviet regime.
For example:
a) in the villages closest to the location of the 316 rifle division, during an enemy air raid, part of the population came out with white flags and banners;
b) in the area of 1077th [rifle] regiment, a spy was detained with fascist leaflets distributed among the population and units of the Red Army;
c) in the area of the 1306th [rifle] regiment, among the inhabitants of the [village] of Novo-Petrovskoye, a local resident Kuznetsov was exposed as a spy;
d) counter-revolutionary handwritten leaflets were found in the area of the 4th tank brigade and were scattered among the units of the Red Army.
All these facts once again indicate the need for a clear implementation of the order of the Western Front dated August 12 of this year No. 017.
I ORDER: 1. To be strictly guided in the eviction of the civilian population from the 5-kilometer zone of hostilities by order of the Military Council of the Western Front No. 017 of August 12, 1941.
2. All citizens who resist eviction should be arrested and handed over to the NKVD.
3. To implement this order, involve local authorities and employees of special departments of associations and units.
4. The control over the implementation of the measures noted in the order is entrusted to the members of the Military Councils and the heads of the political departments of the armies.
Report to me about the implementation of order No. 017 in regular political reports.
TsAMO USSR. F. 325. Op. 5045. D. 4. L. 1-2
FROM THE ORDER OF THE STAFF OF THE SUPREME HIGH COMMAND
№ 0428
<...>I ORDER: 1. Destroy and burn to the ground all settlements in the rear of the German troops at a distance of 40-60 km in depth from the front line and 20-30 km to the right and left of the roads.
To destroy settlements within the specified radius, immediately drop aircraft, widely use artillery and mortar fire, teams of scouts, skiers and trained sabotage groups equipped with Molotov cocktails, grenades and explosives.
<...>
3. In the event of a forced withdrawal of our units in one sector or another, take the Soviet population with them and be sure to destroy all settlements without exception so that the enemy cannot use them.
TsAMO USSR. F. 353. Op. 5864. D. 1. L. 27
REPORT OF THE MILITARY COMMISSIONER OF THE 53rd CAVALRY DIVISION
Member of the Military Council of the 16th Army
divisional commissioner LOBACHEV
In your letter No. 018, you indicate that we are not fulfilling the order of the Headquarters of the Supreme Command of the Red Army to destroy everything that can be used by the enemy, and that we are showing unnecessary and harmful liberalism in this matter.
I must note that before receiving the order from the Headquarters on this issue, we really showed liberalism and the enemy was left bread, housing, etc.
Now in parts of our division this is not the case. On November 19 and 20 alone, we burned down four settlements:
The ridge - only a few unburned houses remained, Mal[oe] Nikolskoye - completely, the village of Lesodolgorukovo and Denkhovo - the result of the fire is not yet known to me, but I personally observed how these settlements were engulfed in flames.
For this purpose, we create special groups of fighters who prepare in advance and destroy [buildings] immediately upon leaving this settlement by our troops.
Your instructions in the future will be carried out with even greater perseverance. For patrols, during raids on the enemy by separate detachments, this will be given as a special task in order to destroy everything that could [could] remain [for the enemy].
TsAMO USSR. F. 358. Op. 5914. D. 1. L. 13
REPORT ON THE PROGRESS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ORDER OF THE STATE NO. 0428 AS OF 25.11.41
№0324
| № pp |
Item names | By what means [destroyed] and the degree of destruction |
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1. | GOROBOVO | Destroyed by artillery |
| 2. | ZAOVRAZHIE | --"-- |
| 3. | SHARAPOVKA | Burnt down by troops |
| 4. | VELKINO | --"-- |
| 5. | ELBOW | --"-- |
| 6. | Ignatievo | --"-- |
| 7. | Pos. them. KAGANOVICH | --"-- |
| 8. | SERGIEVO | --"-- |
| 9. | SPASSKOE | --"-- |
| 10. | ANASHKINO | --"-- |
| 11. | IVANEVO | --"-- |
| 12. | DYAKONOVO | --"-- |
| 13. | KAPANY | --"-- |
| 14. | HAMSTERS | --"-- |
| 15. | LYAHOHO | --"-- |
| 16. | BRYKINO | 5-6 houses left |
| 17. | YAKSHINO | Burnt down by troops |
| 18. | BOLDINO | Only stone buildings remain |
| 19. | YEREMINO | 7-8 houses left |
| 20. | KRYMSKOE and svh. DUBKI | Burnt down completely by the troops |
| 21. | NARO-OSANOVO | --"-- |
| 22. | Krivosheino | Partially burnt |
| 23. | ANALSHINO | --"-- |
| 24. | KOLYUBYAKINO | --"-- |
| 25. | TOMSHINO | --"-- |
| 26. | PICTURE | --"-- |
| 27. | MASEEVO | --"-- |
| 28. | KOZHINO | --"-- |
| 29. | MAXIHA | Partially burnt and destroyed |
| 30. | DUBROVKA | Partially burnt |
| 31. | SUKHAREVO | --"-- |
| 32. | MOLODEKOVO | --"-- |
| 33. | MAURINO | --"-- |
| 34. | State Farm GOLOVKOVO | --"-- |
| 35. | SKUGROVO | --"-- |
| 36. | LOOKING OUT | --"-- |
| 37. | TUCHKOVO | --"-- |
| 38. | MUKHINO | --"-- |
| 39. | MOUSE | --"-- |
| 40. | PETROVO | --"-- |
| 41. | TRUTEEVO | --"-- |
| 42. | MIKHAILOVSKOE | --"-- |
| 43. | LARGE SEEDS | Burnt down by troops |
| 44. | VASILEVSKOE | --"-- |
| 45. | GRIGOROVO | Partially burnt |
| 46. | HOTYAZHI | --"-- |
| 47. | APARINA MOUNTAIN | --"-- |
| 48. | BEREZHKI | --"-- |
| 49. | ULITINO | --"-- |
| 50. | POKROVSKOE | --"-- |
| 51. | KARINSKOE | --"-- |
| 52. | MOUTH | Partially burnt |
| 53. | KOLYUBAKOVO | --"-- |
In addition, 9 sabotage groups of 2-3 people were organized and sent to the rear of the enemy with the task of setting fire. Neither group has yet returned. The main means [of destruction] of these groups are bottles of KS and gasoline.
The bridges located on the MOZHAYSKY and MINSK highways from LYAKHOVO to KRUTITSA have been blown up.
Deputy chief of the operational department lieutenant colonel PEREVERTKIN TsAMO USSR. F. 326. Op. 5045. D. 1. L. 62-63
ORDER OF THE MILITARY COUNCIL OF THE WESTERN FRONT
ON THE ORGANIZATION OF DEFENSE IN SETTLEMENTS
№ 01126
The experience of past military operations shows that the troops of the front often left settlements without taking advantage of their positive properties for combat. Settlements, especially those with strong stone buildings and fences, in addition to camouflaging the troops, give them protection from bullets, shrapnel, tanks and armored vehicles of the enemy.
Commanders of formations and units in a number of cases, not taking into account these properties and fearing "encirclement", did not take any measures to adapt settlements for stubborn battle and inflict the greatest damage on the enemy.
In the future, strongly demand from the personnel:
1. It is obligatory to use and adapt to the defense all settlements of operational or tactical importance as strongholds in the defense system.
2. Defended settlements are primarily adapted for anti-tank and anti-artillery defense<...>.
3. Barricade all streets adapted to the defense of the settlement, using local means and materials for barricades, regardless of damage <...>.
4. For the disposal of personnel and firing points in the defense, first of all, adapt strong stone buildings that allow longitudinal flanking fire<...>.
5. In the struggle for settlements, the role of the commander is especially responsible, as the organizer and head of defense, entrusted to the unit - part of the site or sector<...>.
6. Simultaneously with the adaptation of the settlement to the defense, draw up a plan and carry out preparatory measures for the destruction by destroying or burning all vital centers, buildings and stocks of food and materials in the event of a forced abandonment of the settlement.
TsAMO USSR. F. 326. Op. 5045. D4. L. 7-9
FROM A SPECIAL REPORT OF THE CHEMICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE 5th ARMY OF THE WESTERN FRONT
ON THE ACTIONS OF THE FLAME-THROWER UNIT
Head of the chemical troops of the Western Front
In addition, in a separate summary, I report the actual data on the work of the 26th company of the FOG, the firing shaft and the effectiveness of the bottles [KS] in the area of the 32nd [rifle] D[iviziya].<...>
The village of AKULOVO was burnt with bottles. CS has been used up. The arson was carried out by the fighters of the chemical platoon of the 17th [rifle] regiment, headed by the head of the chemical service, senior lieutenant EGOROV, and the commander of the department, comrade. KVASHIN.
<...>bottles burned 27 houses.
<...>
TsAMO USSR. F. 326. Op. 5045. D. 1. L. 101-102
REPORT OF THE HEAD OF THE MOZHAYSKY SECTOR OF THE NKVD
ON THE DESTRUCTION OF SETTLEMENTS IN THE REAR OF THE ENEMY
Member of the Military Council of the Western Front
comrade Bulganin
In accordance with your instructions for the destruction of settlements occupied by the enemy, the Mozhaisk sector [NKVD] did the following:
The sabotage groups of the NKVD, transferred over the front line, were set on fire: ROGATINO, ZABOLOTE, USATKOVO, ARKHANGELSKOYE, VOLCHENKI, KOVRIGINO, GORBOVO.
Agent groups of the sector set fire to: KRIVO-SHEINO, NOVAYA DEREVNYA, KHAUSTOVO, OGARKOVO and PAVLOVKA.
In addition, in the deep rear of the enemy, agents destroyed in the Smolensk region: in the village of RED LUCH, a school where the Germans were stationed, and near the city of KOZELSK, the former hostel of a glass factory, where the Germans were also housed.
The agents sent by us to destroy DOROHOVO, VEREY and some other points have not yet returned, and therefore the results of this task are unknown.
TsAMO USSR. F. 208. Op. 2524. D. 18. L. 88
saved)"... As for the issue of applying the so-called "scorched earth" tactics, the following example is indicative in this respect. N.S. Khrushchev submitted to the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks a proposal addressed to Malenkov, the essence of which was to immediately destroy all valuable property, grain and livestock in a zone of 100-150 kilometers from the enemy, regardless of the state of the front. In response to this proposal, an urgent telegram signed by Stalin followed, in which it was categorically indicated that the destruction of all property in connection with the forced withdrawal of the Red Army units was inadmissible. It was explained to Khrushchev that such measures could demoralize the population, cause dissatisfaction with the Soviet regime, upset the rear of the Red Army and cause defeatist moods both in the army and among the population instead of determination to repulse the enemy. It was necessary to destroy material values that could not be evacuated only in view of the clear threat of the capture of a specific territory by the enemy.
Stalin demanded not to blow up factories, power plants and water pipes, but to dismantle equipment, machine tools and other valuable parts, without which factories and power plants could not have been restored for a long time. It was strictly forbidden to take out or destroy the food necessary for the remaining population.
....
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See Izvestia of the Central Committee of the CPSU, 1990, No. 7, pp. 206-208.
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Based on these documents, it can be stated that the Soviet leadership did not demand any tactics of "scorched earth" to the detriment of its population at the very beginning of the war. Separate elements of this tactic began to be practiced later, and then only in the most dangerous areas of the main attacks of the Wehrmacht, as was the case, for example, in the autumn of 1941 in the battle of Moscow.
....
It should be emphasized that this was done on such a scale for the first time in the history of the Russian and Soviet army, and, apparently at the same time, foreign experience was borrowed. This is supported by the following circumstance. In 1998, the Canadian public became aware of archival documents considered top secret, which indicate that at the beginning of the Second World War the scorched earth tactics were initiated by the British Cabinet. All their colonies and dominions were ordered to develop appropriate measures in the event of an invasion by German troops.
In pursuance of this directive, the government of Canada, which was a dominion of Great Britain, adopted instructions from which it is clear that in the event of a military invasion, the Canadian province of Newfoundland was to be the first victim of the scorched earth tactics. According to the emergency plan, all civilian objects were to be destroyed, including schools and hospitals, as well as weapons depots. The population of Newfoundland, then numbering about 40 thousand people, was supposed to be evacuated, but they were not notified of these plans. In the event of further advance of the German troops, the directives of the Canadian government provided for the destruction of other cities and settlements. These included, in particular, Quebec City, Halifax, Sydney and Shelbourne. A scorched earth tactic was also planned for the western coast of Canada in case the Japanese invaded there.
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See: Shishlo A. The secret archive reveals sensations // Nezavisimaya gazeta, 1998, July 3.
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It is possible that after the signing on July 12, 1941 of the Soviet-British agreement "On joint actions of the governments of the USSR and Great Britain in the war against Germany", the British, due to their interest, could strongly recommend the tactics of "scorched earth" to the Soviet side.
Other historical facts show that not only in the tactics of "scorched earth", but also in many other ways, the British have always been guided only by their own interests. For their sake, they could use weapons even against their recent allies. So, in the summer of 1940, believing that the armistice between Germany and defeated France poses a threat of capture
French fleet by Germany, Great Britain decided to disable the French warships that were within its reach.
On the night of July 3, 1940, the British fleet unexpectedly attacked the French squadron, which was peacefully anchored in the Algerian harbor of Mers-el-Kebir. Within a few minutes, most of the unprepared French ships, whose commanders did not expect such treachery from the British, were sunk or damaged.
<k.m.<как заметили вот
- Events developed completely differently. "Not a word about negotiations - neither government, nor an ultimatum and before the attack">
>
The plans of the British to destroy the Baku oil fields in the initial period of the Second World War are known due to the fact that the USSR supplied part of the Caspian oil to Germany. The British did not abandon their plans to destroy the Soviet oil fields in the Caucasus after the German attack on the Soviet Union
On September 22, 1941, the head of the intelligence department of the NKVD of the USSR, Fitin, on the basis of intelligence data, informed the GKO that the command
British Middle Eastern army shortly after the German aggression against
The USSR received permission from the British War Office to organize a special mission. This mission had the task of destroying the Caucasian oil fields of the USSR in order to prevent their capture by the Germans in case such a danger turned out to be real.
English mission, which received code name"Mission No. 16 (P)",
settled in Northern Iran and was in full readiness for airlift at the right time to the Caucasus ..........
.... As for the position of the Soviet leadership on the issue of destroying material assets that could, having fallen to the enemy as a trophy, increase its military-economic potential, it was fundamentally different from the Western one: “special measures” were carried out whenever possible at the most the last moment before the retreat of the Red Army ....
.....
In connection with the importance of the task of evacuating and conducting special events in the Donbass
In October 1941, Deputy People's Commissar of Internal Affairs Serov was sent, who, relying on the apparatus of the regional departments of the NKVD, resolutely took the process of evacuating equipment and materials from industrial enterprises under strict control.
Material values that could not be taken out, as well as economically important objects, were destroyed or rendered unusable. In particular, special measures to disable the factories and mines of the Stalinugol plant, as well as the destruction of material assets that were not taken out by the NKVD Directorate for the Stalin Region. were carried out in accordance with
previously drawn up plans within a few days - from October 10 to October 15, 1941.
150 main mines were prepared for liquidation, of which 132 mines were
completely disabled.
Serov, in his report, stressed that the special measures were carried out in a timely manner, since the enemy troops were within up to 20 km from the destroyed mines. The absolute majority of them, according to experts, can no longer be restored or is not economically feasible, since it will cost less to drill new mine shafts.
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CA FSB RF, f. 3, op. 8, d. 61, l. 246-248; ibid., d. 943, l. 27-39.
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...."
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PS In accordance with the decision of the Presidium of the Higher Attestation Commission of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (VAK), the journal "Vlast" is included in the list of leading peer-reviewed scientific journals and publications published in Russian Federation, in which the main scientific results of dissertations for the degree of doctor and candidate of sciences in philosophy, sociology, political science, cultural studies, history and law should be published.
As the saying goes popular expression“If you want peace, prepare for war.” Here, dear friends, here is the thing. We often read catchy headlines in the media, they say - the militants agreed to surrender their weapons, 30 cities immediately passed under the control of Syria with the support of Russia, etc. All this is often taken for granted, but how often do we wonder - at what cost are these victories given to us?
It must be understood that the enemy will also not return an inch of land just like that. Here, you see, even in football, grown men cry because a couple of balls flew into their goal, and the team was defeated. But this is nothing compared to the defeats that Russia inflicts on the enemy in the Arab Republic. There, the stakes are much higher - these are not balls in the goal net, but human lives, at the cost of which the enemy held his positions for a long time.
Therefore, leaving a city, a settlement is a much greater defeat for them, one might say, a tragedy of a lifetime. Therefore, they fight to the death, to the last bullet, so as not to lose their possessions. Defeating such an opponent at the front, to put it mildly, is very difficult. In this article, we will use a specific example to describe what incredible efforts our military personnel are making to ensure that beautiful headlines appear in the media the next day.
So, let's recall the chronology of the events of the last week. Exactly a week ago, last weekend, our servicemen met with representatives of the rebels in the city of Busra al-Sham. Then we managed to push our position a little, and the armed groups agreed to surrender their positions. However, the problem is that illegal armed groups in the Arab Republic are like fleas on a stray dog. This is an endless Syrian wedding in Malinovka, where power changes every day. And it is not entirely clear with whom to negotiate. Thus, a few days after the deal on July 1, in the middle of the week, we again ran into a problem - part of the groups refused to make a peaceful decision. Here it is worth mentioning that Russia's actions are very tough, but the problem is being solved very quickly. When our servicemen once again faced the impenetrable intractability of the militants, we had to resort to drastic measures. But first, let's indicate on what points we could not agree?
Firstly, our side demanded the immediate surrender of all weapons and heavy equipment. The militants insisted on a phased surrender of weapons, hoping to "clean up the traces."
Secondly, the militants demanded the opportunity to freely leave the area of hostilities. This was the case with Eastern Ghouta, when we provided the rebels with "green buses". But, apparently, this practice is rather tired of our military, since releasing the militants, later we have to fight with the same people in other parts of Syria. Therefore, the demand is simple - either go over to the side of the Syrian army, or be shot.
As a result, the rebels rejected our side's demands. Introducing himself as Alexander, the Russian officer threatened the militants that if they did not agree to the deal, then 40 aircraft would immediately leave the Khmeimim airbase to begin strikes against the positions of the rebels. This warning did not work, but the officer kept his words. On Wednesday, July 4, an operation of the Russian Aerospace Forces, unprecedented in its scale, began in the southwest. Starting combat sorties on Wednesday, our pilots for 15 hours without a break attacked enemy positions, firing more than 600 missiles during this time. The operation ended only the next day - on Thursday 5 July. Think about the scale of the work done! This is about the price of our victories. But on the same day, Hussein Abazid, representing the interests of the southwestern militant group, said that the rebels were again ready for negotiations. And he also complained, they say - it's not fair, Russia is pursuing a "scorched earth" tactic. Negotiations took place again on Friday 6 July. As a result of the meeting, an agreement was reached that the Syrian troops and the Russian military police would occupy a number of settlements in the east of the province of Dar'a.
In addition, the most important settlement of Nasib, where the checkpoint of the same name is located on the border with Jordan, has passed under the control of government troops. In order to achieve local success, the strategically important city of Saida came under the control of the Syrian army earlier in this area. Thus, at the moment, the Syrian-Jordanian border is almost completely controlled by the soldiers of the Syrian army and the military personnel of the National Guard. As for the southern part, where clashes continue, 30 settlements there, on the terms of the Russian side, agreed to join the ceasefire regime. At the moment, the militants firmly hold their positions in the west of Dar'a - the city of Tafas is under their control. In general, the southwestern front of the militants is doomed to defeat, now it is only a matter of time. At the moment, more than 60% of the territory of southwestern Syria is already under the control of the Syrian army. I would like this to be over as soon as possible. It is also time to think about people - 320 thousand people have already left their homes. For some three weeks. Of these, approximately 60,000 are languishing near the Jordanian border.
The temperature outside is 45 degrees. So it's very difficult for people. Our guys, respectively, the service is also not sugar.
