- World War II Russian Protective Corps Guide, battlefields map and tours
The formation of the new 4th regiment of the Russian Corps began on December 15, 1943. Appointed to command positions: regiment commander – Colonel Hesketh, battalion commanders: I – Lieutenant Colonel Golubev, II – Lieutenant Colonel Popov-Kokoulin and III – Colonel Treskin; company commanders: 1st – Lieutenant Colonel Pashchenko, 2nd – military foreman Nefedyev; 3rd – Colonel Boldyrev; 5th – Colonel Luchaninov, 6th – Colonel Goleevsky, 7th – Colonel Levandovsky, 9th – Captain Nagorov. 10th – Colonel Rogovskoy and 11th – Colonel Pataridze.
The 4th Regiment began its existence on December 15, 1943 and on December 27 began the 1st week of training with young soldiers (essay “7th Company of the 4th Regiment”). The personnel of the forming units of the regiment were located: regimental headquarters and 1st battalion – Yagodina; II battalion – Parachin and III battalion – Čuprija.
For correct and uniform training in the regiment, the ranks of heavy platoons were concentrated in Parachin and Lieutenant Dubrova was appointed senior over them.
Location of the regiment’s units on April 30, 1944: regimental headquarters, 10th and 11th companies – Aleksinac, 1st battalion – Prokuplje, 2nd battalion – Bor, 3rd battalion headquarters and 9th company – Čuprija.
Russian Protective Corps units last positions map before leaving in 1944, Yugoslavia
The regimental headquarters moved to Stolac on October 9, to Krusevac on the 10th, to Grstenik on the 11th, to Kraljevo on the 12th, and to Cacak on the 15th.
I battalion. Essay “With the 1st battalion of the 4th regiment on White Stone and Bor.”
Order to the 4th regiment No. 102 dated September 12, 1944: “The 3rd company with two squads of the 1st and 2nd companies and three flak guns, sent on September 4 against the partisans, entered into battle with them 10 km in front of the town of Zhagubitsa. In a bold raid, overturning the enemy, the detachment of the 1st battalion inflicted heavy losses on the enemy: 20 killed, 13 wounded and 13 captured partisans. In addition, large military booty was captured – 5 machine guns, etc. Thanks to the courageous and correct conduct of the battle, our losses – only 5 lightly wounded. On behalf of the service, I thank the commander of the 1st battalion, Major Golubev, the commander of the 3rd company of the ltn. Rotinov and all gentlemen officers, non-commissioned officers and riflemen who took part in this valiant battle. Oberst Hesketh.” ROK Order No. 263 dated September 19, 1944.”
“On September 6, the 3rd company of the 4th regiment, under the command of Lieutenant Granitov, received orders to clear Zaichar from gangs and help remove about 900 wounded and various military equipment. Fighting against many times the strongest enemy, the 3rd company completed its task with great courage. Covering the evacuation of Zaichar, the company was surrounded and fought its way for several kilometers, thereby proving its high fighting qualities. I thank the 3rd company of the 4th regiment for its exemplary military service. Lieutenant General Shteifon.”
On October 15, the 1st Battalion set out for Cacak, and on the 16th and 17th, together with headquarters platoons, fought the advancing Chetniks. On the 18th a truce was concluded with the Chetniks.
On October 23, the 1st company under the command of Ob.-Ltn. was assigned to attack in a northern direction against Soviet troops, together with German units. Sukk, reinforced by two squads of the 2nd company. The start of the offensive is scheduled for 8.30. At 8 o’clock the regimental commander, Oberst Hesketh, accompanied by the commander of the 1st battalion, Major Golubev, chief of heavy weapons of the oblast-ltn. Dubrov and the commander of the 5th company of the 5th regiment of the ob.-ltn. Protopopov, went to the observation post. At 8:10 a.m. a bomb from an enemy grenade launcher fell directly near the group of commanders. Oberst Hesketh and ob.-ltn were killed on the spot. Dubrova, seriously wounded vol.-ltn. Protopopov (died on the 24th) and slightly wounded – Major Golubev. The enemy began shelling the city center, where units of the 4th regiment were located. As a result of the shelling, our units suffered heavy losses in people and horses. Due to the death of the regiment commander, who was also the detachment commander of all Russian units in Chachka, on October 23, the commander of the 1st battalion of the 3rd regiment, Major Jendrzeevsky, took over as temporary commander of the detachment. By evening, Major Popov-Kokoulin arrived in Chachak and, as the eldest, took command of the 4th regiment. The next day, October 24, according to the order of the German General Müller, Major Schell took temporary command of the regiment and detachment.
On October 25, the battle in Chachka lasted all day. At 12 o’clock the ceremonial burial of Oberst Hesketh and ob.-ltn. Dubrova at the German cemetery.
II battalion. The commander of the 5th company, Hauptmann Luchaninov, was dismissed from the Corps for health reasons at 13.44. Lieutenant Orlin was appointed commander of the company.
June 29, the change of the 1st and 2nd battalions began (essay “White Stone”).
July 9, the 7th Company, while on reconnaissance, was attacked by partisans with a force of about 400 people. After a strong battle, having thrown back the enemy, the company returned to its positions at B. Kamen. During the battle, ltn was killed. Timchenko Nikolay and 3 ranks, 8 wounded. Enemy losses: 35-40 people killed and many wounded. The company was thanked by the Commander-in-Chief of the South-East.
July 26, due to the injury of the commander of the 7th company, Hauptmann Levandovsky, Lieutenant Nevzorov took temporary command of the company.
September 3, the 2nd Battalion moved to Niš, and on October 15, it moved to Kraljevo. Situated for rest near the Knich station, the battalion was attacked by a gang of partisans on October 16, which was repulsed.
October 19, the battalion was attacked by partisans and Soviet troops near the village of Vitanovtsi. All attacks were repulsed.
On the 22nd he began guarding the Kraljevo-Cacak road. In the village of Slatina, the convoy of the 10th Mountain Jaeger Division was attacked by partisans. The 6th and 7th companies, which were on the march at that time, went on the offensive and the enemy was quickly repulsed and put to flight.
III battalion. The actions of this battalion are described in a separate essay by Colonel Treskin – “III Battalion of the 4th Regiment.”
October 26, according to the order of German General Müller, the 4th regiment and separate units of the Corps (companies of the Belgrade battalion, II battalion of the 5th regiment and I battalion of the 3rd regiment) were disbanded and consolidated into three separate battalions: 1st – major Shell, II – Major Popov-Kokoulin and IV – Major Shebalin.
During the period from October 27 to November 2, units of the 1st and 4th battalions fought in Chachka. On November 2, the 1st Battalion set out from Čačka and arrived in Sarajevo on December 18.
The 2nd battalion, after successfully completing the task of guarding the Kraljevo-Cacak road, set out for Sarajevo on November 29, where it arrived on December 13, and on the 18th moved to Kiseljak, where the 1st battalion arrived on the 21st.
On December 22, according to the order of General Gontarev, a combat group of separate battalions re-formed the 4th regiment consisting of three battalions, platoons: communications, artillery. PAK, cavalry, sapper and security company at the regimental headquarters.
Command staff:
commander of the 1st battalion – Major Schell; 1st company – ob.-ltn. Nevzorov; 2nd – vol.-lt. Sukk; 3rd – lt. Dratsenko;
commander of the 2nd battalion – Major Popov-Kokoulin; 5th company – vol.-ltn. Orlin; 6th – Hauptmann Rogowski; 7th – Hauptmann Lewandowski;
commander of the 3rd battalion – Major Shebalin; 9th company – lt. Sekachev; 10th – vol.-lt. Yablokov and 11th – Hauptmann Antonov.
Security company – Hauptmann Myshlaevsky.
December 23, Major Eichholtz took command of the regiment.
On December 26, the 2nd Battalion fought to occupy positions south of the Kiselyak-Busovacha highway and on the 27th repelled all partisan attacks, and Ltn. was wounded. Navrotsky Anatoly. On the 28th – the battalion moved to the Zenica area and from December 29 to 31 fought stubborn battles for the Visokovets and 592 heights, suffering significant losses: 6 were killed, including ltn. Cheslavsky, and 16 were wounded, among them: guardhouse. Lewandowski, ob.-ltn. Orlin et al. Moshin.
The 3rd battalion, on December 27, set out from Kiseljak to the Busovachi area. Hauptmann Khristoforov took command of the battalion.
On December 28, the regimental headquarters moved to the Busovachi area, and the 10th company occupied a bunker near it.
The 1st battalion, on December 29, came under operational subordination to the commander of the 5th regiment.