During the war Colonel N.I. Zavyalov was commanded by the celebrated connection, which was called "the arrow of the 3rd Ukrainian front," the 5-th separate guards Kramatorsk-Belgrade orders of the red banner, Suvorov motorized rifle brigade.

Born Nikolai Ivanovich 14 December 1913 in the village of Tikhvin Bor County.

In 1936 drafted into the red Army. He completed advanced courses for officers. Participated in the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940, in the rank of Lieutenant he commanded a rifle battalion. Was wounded.

On the fronts of the great Patriotic war from June 1941, the battalion commander. In July 1941 he was seriously wounded in the fighting in Ukraine. From November 1941 — commander 1032 rifle regiment 293-th infantry division of the 40th army of the southwestern front, party Barvinkove-Lozovsky offensive. Then fought at Stalingrad and 3rd Ukrainian fronts. He was the Deputy commander for the marching part of the 5th guards separate motorized rifle brigade and then became commander of a brigade. Successfully commanded a part in the liberation of the cities of Kramatorsk, Odessa, Izmail.

Hero Of The Soviet Union N.I.Zavyalov

Near a crossing through Dnieper near Nikopol. From left to right - the commander of the 5th  N. I. Zavyalov, commander of the 3rd гв. D. D. Lelyushenko and commander of the 266th S. M. Fomichenko

During Yassko-Kishinevsky strategic offensive operation from August 20 to August 26, 1944 the 5th the Guards separate motorized shooting crew under command of guard of the lieutenant colonel of M. I. .Zavyalov freed Izmail, the settlements of Tarutino and Tatarbunara in the territory of Odessa region, deeply broke to the back of the opponent. In this operation soldiers under command of the lieutenant colonel M. I. Zavyalov burned 10 tanks, lined 45 tools, more than 100 cars, destroyed to 3000 and took prisoner 300 soldiers and the opponent's officers.

The Sovetsky Voin newspaper wrote on August 28, 1944: "Across to the receding divisions on deep backs of the opponent from the North parts of guard of the colonel Zavyalov directed. Let knows the front it is a name: he is a main hero of Izmail".

The decree of Presidium of the Supreme Council of the USSR of September 13, 1944 for skillful command of crew and the courage and heroism of guard shown thus to the lieutenant colonel Nikolay Ivanovich Zavyalov gave the rank of the Hero of the Soviet Union with delivery of the Order of Lenin and the medal "Gold Star" (No. 3492).

Zavyalov N. I. the first time, for speeding up of Dnieper was twice presented to a zaniye of the Hero of the Soviet Union, but, an award didn't receive, spoke - "shelved".

On the way to the Victory soldiers of mobile Guards connection under N. I. Zavyalov's command passed a way from walls of Stalingrad to the Austrian Alps, forced Danube three times, crossed borders of five European states, participated practically in all offensive operations on the left wing of the Soviet-German front.

The Orders of Suvorov of a military leader and Kutuzova (both II degrees) decorated not only the Guards banner of motorized rifle brigade fanned by glory, but also a breast of the commander of crew colonel Nikolay Ivanovich Zavyalov. Except the called war decorations and the medal "Gold Star", it is awarded the Orders of Lenin, two awards of the Red Banner, two awards of Patriotic war, three awards of the Red Star, awards of the foreign states, many medals.

Guards banner of the 5th motorized rifle brigade

After war I continued service in the Soviet Army. In 1947 I ended the High academic courses at Military academy of the armored and mechanized troops of the Soviet Army of I. V. Stalin, in 1957 — the High academic courses at the Highest military academy of K. E. Voroshilov, in 1962 — Military academy of the name M. M. B. Frunze (in absentia). The major general since 1957. Since 1958 — the 24th Samaro-Ulyanovsky Berdichevskaya's commander three times Decorated with the Order of the Red Banner the Orders of Suvorov and Bogdan Khmelnytsky of the Iron motorized rifle division in the Carpathian military district. Since 1960 — the deputy commander on combat training of general army of the Carpathian military district. Since 1964 — at the same position in the 8th Guards army of Group of the Soviet troops in Germany.

After resignation in 1969 in a rank of the major general I counted as the debt, before the fallen and living brother-soldiers, to restore old front episodes.

Laborious work on collecting the facts, documents from the main archive of Podolsk began (at the same time I learned who wrote on it slanders during war). Meetings with veterans and hundreds of letters from them helped.

Truthful stories about courage and valor of soldiers formed the basis of books "Courage Versts" (1981) and "Under stars Balkan" (1987).

Lived in Kiev, it is buried on the Flannelette cemetery (1989)

Yes, the Hero of the Soviet Union Zavyalov Nikolay Ivanovich my grandfather, my grandfather on the mother's line. I am proud of that he fought with fascist not honor, was the patriot, hated enkevedist, was the ardent opponent of introduction of the Soviet troops to Afghanistan, spoke thus: "Lenya, Lenechka, you got! It not our war, it is impossible to seize others territories".

The grandfather, now history repeats itself, outside 2015, 70 years passed after the Great Victory, and we as in 1943, we are at war for Debaltseve, we free Kramatorsk, we hold Mariupol. And how you думаєшь, from whom? The enemy now on the other hand, from the East, the grandfather! Having armed with gebbelsovsky promotion, having fastened on itself vlasovsky Colorado tapes, fascist methods, without announcement of war, the enemy tries to seize territories of Ukraine which you, the grandfather, exempted from fascists. You remember, the grandfather, in the book "Courage Versts" described liberation of Donbass? Same heights, same cities, same settlements.

In memory the quote from your book "Courage Versts":

"The German command tried to keep at any cost Donbass to which in the strategic plans assigned a special part as to the major military-economic area and therefore held large forces here. In the military memoirs one of founders of strategic plans of a nazi Reich field marshal Manstein, estimating a situation of that time in Donbass, I wrote:

"Donbass played an essential role in operational plans of Hitler. He considered that from possession of this territory located between the Sea of Azov, the lower reach of the Collum and stretching to the west approximately to the line Mariupol – Krasnoarmeysk – the Raisin, will depend a war outcome …""

I so think, the grandfather, your book has to be a grant in this unsolemn war and lie on a table in the General Staff of Armed forces of Ukraine.

"Milestones courage" Zavyalov N.I.:

"The 5th Guards motorized rifle brigade should concentrate around Muratovo, Kapitonovo and Grechishkino, to clear of the opponent the left coast of the Seversky Donets on Svetlichnoye's site - Crimean and strongly to hold a boundary before approach of the 259th shooting division."

Yuri Lityuchenko, Ismail local historian writes:

Fighting secrets of the 5 guards

25 August 1944 the city was liberated from Nazi invaders 5 separate guards order of the red banner, Suvorov (II degree), Kutuzov (II degree) of Kramatorsk mechanized infantry brigade. Written about it a lot. I like the local historian drew some pages of her martial way. More precisely, the beginning of hostilities from June 22, 1941

So, June 1941. In eighth mechanized corps consisted of 34 tank division, 74 separate tank regiment, 22 and 34 motorcycle shelves. It was movable mobile connection. Naturally, they were reinforced by artillery. Their main task was to carry out cover the border on the right flank of the Kiev special military district. With the beginning of hostilities, the district was transformed into the South-Eastern front.

8 mechanized corps was tasked to reach the area of Dubno, Rivne-Brody. The above parts were the most prepared for this task. Moved the group was headed by Brigadier Commissioner Nicholas Poppel. Overall breakthrough, but the German group was stronger. In a rapidly changing environment defensive battles in the main forces of the mechanized corps failed to make it to the group of Poppele. Then with the fighting trooper stepped out of the environment. In different sources the length of the escape path is called different – from 250 to 650 km Yes, combat vehicles were damaged, but small arms tankers out of the fight. Despite this, brigade Commissar Poppel was not demoted in rank and position.

Reserved near rear, the personnel was included in 34 motorcycle regiment, and later – in the 34 infantry brigade. In stubborn battles have passed the autumn and winter of 1941-1942 near Kharkiv infantry compound obtained new organization of trehsotletnego composition, and special status 22 separate motorized rifle brigade.

The team successfully acted in the battles as members of the mobile group of the southwestern front under the command of General F. Kostenko. In snowy winter conditions under the Livny and the Upper it had contributed to the Moscow offensive operation, fought at Kharkov. From the memoirs of N. Zavyalova, December 16, 1942, arrived in the brigade Deputy commander, drill parts: "Under Brody, Riverhead, Kharkiv and here, at Stalingrad, we learned to fight against the numerically superior enemy, now created the conditions for the transition to a decisive attack and the liberation of the whole territory of the country."

In December the brigade was tasked to enter in an upcoming breakthrough to the South-East of the village of Veshenskaya in part I of the motorized rifle battalion. Senior Lieutenant N. Klushin took command of the battalion, competent and proactive commanded a division. The vanguard led by N. Zavyalov.

Hero of the Soviet Union Nikolai Zavyalov

The whole month of December and until mid-January to continue the offensive on the enemy. Finally part of the breakthrough and the brigade was in the rear of the enemy forces South. The enemy was still strong, especially the German part. Initiative, tenacity in repelling the attack, persistence in the offensive battles and military cunning helped to defeat the enemy and these frontiers. In fierce battles, the brigade was about 250 km away.

By order of the Supreme Commander of 16 January 1943 "for excellent and skillful actions in the defeat of the German fascist invaders, fortitude, courage, high discipline and organization," the team was awarded the title of guards and converted into 5 infantry brigade. At the village of Egorova-Kalitvenskaya on the meeting of personnel, it was announced on the award of the guards banner.

Before the award ceremony are the guards banner men had to previewing almost two months. It was the operation to liberate the North-Eastern part of Donbass. The largest cities are Voroshilovgrad and further Kramatorsk. In late January 1943, the enemy was still strong. Judge for yourself: Voroshilovgrad was covered by two German infantry divisions, two Panzer SS division "Reich" and the remains of 3 Italian infantry division.

After the offensive fighting, interacting with other parts of the red Army, 5th separate motor rifle brigade celebrated the liberation of the city. It was in March. Then there were heavy fighting on the Seversky Donets. Only in April on the river Aydar brigade received a respite. April 19, at the solemn meeting were handed to her long-awaited reward – guard banner and icons. The banner was taken by Colonel V. Potapenko. Now the team officially has the right to wear the title of guards.

Almost six months there was fighting at the Seversky Donets, and only in early September, battles ensued directly behind Kramatorsk. I battalion of Lieutenant N. Closina entered the North-Western outskirts of the city. The enemy fired at him from two sides, but the guards stood strong and managed to fight to clear the city from the enemy. No wonder the newspaper "Pravda" wrote: "heavy fighting had to do 5 separate motorized rifle brigade... repelling counterattacks from the West, they fought street battles surrounded and destroyed a German machine gunners". During these battles the brigade received the honorary title "Kramatorsk", and senior Lieutenant Klushin, which later will differ with the release of Ishmael, was awarded the order of Alexander Nevsky.

After the battle for Kramatorsk the brigade was redeployed to Zaporizhia direction and included guards army D. Laluska. From fights in the composition that I want to highlight two points. The first is the capture of Nikopol.

During the operation, the brigade in the February ice water had to overcome marshes R. Conca, then quietly focus on the Eastern Bank of the Dnieper and rapidly improvised on the night to cross the fortified Western shore. The battalion of major G. Nedescina managed to do it. Two other battalions also broke on the shore. Thus, February 8, our can free Nikopol.

During the battles for liberation of this city brigade received the order of the red banner. And one of the heroes of the liberation of Ishmael major Nadezkin was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

In mid-March the troops of the 3rd Ukrainian front was tasked to dismember 6 of the German army, to destroy it for parts and to facilitate the liberation of the black sea cities of Kherson, Nikolaev and Odessa. Among subsequent operations was planned and RAID the mechanized cavalry group of General-major M. Plieva from the river Ingulets to the river Prut. This group was included and 5th guards brigade. The most important battle in the final stage was to be the capture of the station and the city Separate and throw from the South-West of Odessa.

Team with this task brilliantly managed. For liberation Separately, for their valour and bravery of the brigade was awarded the order of Suvorov II degree. By the way, the order was awarded armoured unit for competent action to defeat the enemy. As well as 5 guards were part of 4 mechanized corps and was part of the group, that "tank" the award was fair.

One of the military secrets of the 5th guards motorized rifle brigade to the modern reader are the measures taken to strengthen its combat capability. On some points I want to emphasize here.

First, it should be noted the competent organization of the brigade and its separate parts. As already mentioned, 34 infantry brigade was composed of two motorcycle regiment and units of amplification, including artillery. 22 brigade had already trehmetalnye composition with artillery battalions, companies intelligence and machine gunners, division and company anti-tank rifles (CTR). It is this brigade increased its firepower. According to the recollections of N. G. Zavyalova, in a night battle of simultaneous volley company RPTR seemed the enemy a volley of 45-mm antitank guns. On the effectiveness of the fire and the psychological impact on the enemy he was as effective as artillery.

Operations on the introduction of breakthrough resistant defense or move into the attack command of the corps was reinforced even rocket artillery divisions of large caliber. Especially often this was done during the operations on the left-Bank Ukraine. The brigade was equipped not only with weapons but also with transport for mouth intelligence, machine gunners and artillery battalions. Interacting with cavalry units and tankers in 1942, 1943 and especially in 1944, the brigade commanders of different levels, from platoon to battalion – intelligently exploit the opportunities of each division.

The second important point was the good work of commanders and political workers for training fighters to defensive and offensive battles. A vivid example is the action of the Deputy commander for political Affairs G. M. Nedescina for organizing the crossing of the river Conca and the Dnieper in the period when he performed the duties of the battalion commander.

The political Department of the brigade at different times was led by competent officers-educators.

In particular, a political border guard F. S. Zhigunov has successfully managed a number of operations 1943-1944.

And the third point – precise work of back-end services. As you know, the team was often fighting in the rear of German forces. Thus losses due to the fault of military equipment almost was not. This is a tribute to officers and soldiers of the technical service team. Of course, not to mention the merits of the personnel of the medical platoon.

All of these components allowed the soldiers of the 5th guards motorized rifle brigade to adequately perform the task.

In our family album there are a lot of photos. From them such loved one looks is my grandfather.

Always friendly, hospitable, vigorous, rectilinear, without complaints to diseases and life.

Victory Day , Grandpa !

Thank you for the Victory!

Glory to the Heroes !

Remember . Proud . Victory.

By preparation of material sources were used:

Memoirs Boyko Lyudmila Nikolaevna (maiden name of Zavyalov)

Book "Courage Versts" N. I. Zavyalov

To be continued.

Vitaliy Boyko, ICF "Glory to Ukraine"