In 1940 he returned to Kazakhstan and worked as a senior instructor at the Kazvoenkomat.
In the battles of the Great Patriotic War from September 1941 as part of the 316th Infantry Division under the command of Major General I.V. Panfilov.
The skillful leadership of the battalion commander made it possible to delay the Germans at this point for 3 days. After which Senior Lieutenant Momyshuly brought the battalion out of the encirclement combat-ready.
The heroic combat path of the battalion under the command of Bauyrzhan Momysh-uly is described in the art-historical book by Alexander Bek “Volokolamsk Highway”.
B. Momysh-uly spent a month at the front as a battalion commander, after which he was promoted ahead of schedule to a command position - to commander of his own regiment, while remaining in the rank of senior lieutenant.
Later, as the commander of the 19th Guards Rifle Regiment, on November 26-30, 1941, Guard Senior Lieutenant Momysh-uly in the area of the village of Sokolovo, Moscow Region, together with his regiment, fought stubborn battles for four days, successfully repelling enemy attacks. On December 5, 1941, B. Momysh-uly was wounded, but did not leave the battlefield.
- Colonel General I.M. Chistyakov in his book “Serving the Fatherland” wrote about Bauyrzhan Momyshuly:
I knew the commander of the 1073rd Infantry Regiment, Major Bauyrzhan Momyshuly, even before the war from joint service in the Far East. He was a young commander, Kazakh by nationality, with a tough and stubborn character and handsome appearance. I knew that I.V. Panfilov valued him very much for his special courage and ingenuity. Near Moscow, his battalion, being surrounded and without contact with the regiment for several days, fought with superior enemy forces. In fierce battles, the guards destroyed 400 fascists within two days, delayed their advance along the Volokolamsk highway and then, maneuvering through the forest, broke the encirclement and reached their regiment. After this battle, Panfilov kept Momyshuly’s battalion with him as a reserve, sending it into battle in the most difficult cases. I liked Momyshuly’s one more quality - truthfulness. No matter how hard it was for him, I knew that he would always tell the truth; he demanded the same from his subordinates.
- A letter written by the commander of the 8th Guards Rifle Division, Colonel I. I. Serebryakov, and the head of the personnel department of the 8th Guard Division, Major Kondratov:
"TO THE PRESIDIUM OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE UNION OF THE USSR Copy: TO THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE KAZAKH SSR (for information) I consider it my duty to report: In July 1941, I arrived in Alma-Ata to the post of chief of staff of the 316th Infantry Division, commanded by Major General Panfilov. The division was subsequently renamed the 8th Guards Rifle Division and was awarded the Order of the Red Banner and the Order of Lenin for the battles near Moscow. I was the chief of staff of this division for a long time and during the offensive battles, from March 1942 to October 1942, I commanded this division. At one time, neither General Panfilov, nor General Chistyakov, who commanded the division at that time, and I, as their first deputy and subsequently the division commander, for a number of reasons, were unable to note the well-deserved feats performed repeatedly in battle by one of the veteran officers of the Panfilov division. , who grew up in battles from senior lieutenant to colonel, now living Baurdzhan Momysh-Ula, the duty of justice requires me, outlining in this letter the feats he accomplished, to turn to you with a request. Baurdzhan Momysh-Uly, with the rank of senior lieutenant, was appointed battalion commander of the 19th Guards Rifle Regiment. As a battalion commander, he fought 27 battles in maneuver defense conditions near Moscow in 1941. Breaking away 5 times from the division behind enemy lines, in order to carry out special tasks set by Major General Panfilov in conditions of encirclement, he skillfully led his battalion and the units assigned to it from the encirclement, preserving manpower and equipment. 1. On October 26, 1941, Comrade Momysh-Uly, being a battalion commander, brought 690 people, 18 artillery harnesses, 30 carts from encirclement to Volokolamsk after stubborn fighting on the right line, conducting an organized battle to withdraw the battalion from encirclement on intermediate lines on over 35 km. In these battles, the battles they fought in the Safatovo, Milovani, Ryukhovskoye and Spas-Ryukhovskoye areas were of particular importance for the division, when the battalion crashed into the tail of the German columns advancing on Volokolamsk, which contributed to gaining time and separating the main force of the division from pursuing the enemy and delaying for 2 days the main enemy forces in the Volokolamsk direction. In the battles for the city of Volokolamsk in the period from October 27, 1941 to November 15, 1941, the Momysh-Uly battalion was repeatedly distinguished by its actions in defeating the German invaders. For all these exploits in the period from 10/16/1941 to 11/15/1941, General Panfilov on 11/7/41 presented senior lieutenant Momysh-Uly with a government award - the Order of Lenin. The fate of the award list is still unknown, and the well-deserved exploits of Comrade Momysh-Ula remained uncelebrated. 2. From 11/16/41 to 11/20/1941, the battalion under the command of Momysh-Ula fought under conditions of encirclement in the area of the village of Goryuny on the Volokolamsk highway, the Matrenino railway station, cutting off the main routes of movement of the main enemy forces advancing on Moscow. At this time, units of the division were retreating to the next intermediate line, and the actions of the Momysh-Ula battalion ensured the separation main force divisions from the advancing enemy force and occupy the next line. In these battles, the battalion destroyed up to 600 Nazis, 6 tanks and captured trophies: 6 heavy machine guns, 12 light machine guns, 2 guns, 8 radio stations, 2 staff vehicles with documents, including many “owls.” secret documents” deciphering the main forces of the Volokolamsk enemy group. On November 20, 1941, the battalion, having broken through the ring, fighting repeated battles behind enemy lines, joined its regiment by November 23, 1941. He brought with him 300 people, 2 guns, 16 carts, 4 heavy machine guns and again joined the division as a combat-ready unit. 3. In the area of the village of Lopastino - Desyatidvorka Momysh-Uly, on November 25, 1941, with one anti-tank gun, two mortars, two heavy machine guns and half a platoon of soldiers, he made a night raid on the enemy’s location, where up to 200 German soldiers were destroyed. This feat also remained uncelebrated. 4. From 11/26/41 to 12/7/41, senior lieutenant Momysh-Uly commanded the 1073rd Rifle Regiment, now the 19th Guards Rifle Regiment. a) In the area of the village of Sokolov, from November 26, 1941 to November 30, 1941, the Momysh-Uly regiment fought stubborn battles for four days, repulsed enemy attacks four times, despite intense air bombing; b) In the battles for the station and the village of Kryukovo, the regiment was in the center of the division’s battle formation and fought stubborn battles from 11/31/41 to 12/7/1941. 12/5/1941 in these battles comrade. Momysh-Uly was wounded and, knowing that there was nowhere to retreat further and that a small number of people remained in the regiment, he refused to leave the battlefield and continued to lead it until December 7, 1941. In the Kryukov battles, up to an infantry regiment, 18 tanks and many others were destroyed equipment, and together with other units of the division, on December 8, 1941, the regiment launched a counteroffensive. This heroic deed the young officer also remained unmarked; c) During the winter offensive of 1942, comrade. Momysh-Uly, with the rank of captain, with one and a half battalions of riflemen, in a bold night raid, defeated the reserves of the SS division "Totenkopf", destroying 1200 Nazis and capturing a junction of six roads with settlements: Borodino, Barklavitsa, Troshkovo, Trokhovo, Konyusheno, Vashkovo, and thereby 6.2 .1942 ensured the fulfillment of the division's mission, depriving the enemy of the ways and opportunities to supply reserves and ammunition to the Sokolov group, which stubbornly defended the village of Sokolovo for three days; d) 8.2.1942, finding ourselves with a platoon of scouts that had accidentally separated from the regiment in the Bol area. Sheludkovo, came across retreating enemy units: a column of up to 600 people and 8 tanks. In a sudden fire raid, the platoon destroyed up to 200 German soldiers and captured important operational documents. 5. From 2/27/1942 to 5/13/1942, taking up defensive positions in unfavorable conditions, in a wooded and swampy area on a wide front, in the area of the villages of Dubrovka, Kobljaki, being in the fire bag of the 1st, 4th, 5th air-ground German regiments, the Momysh-Ula regiment repelled up to hundreds of attacks, without conceding a single meter of ground to the enemy, inflicting heavy losses on him. Taking into account all the above military merits of Momysh-Ula, in August 1942 I issued an award sheet for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, whose fate is still unknown. While outlining far from fully the exploits of Momysh-Ula, I consider it my duty to inform you and ask, on the basis of the above, in accordance with the statutes of the orders of the USSR, to honor Comrade Momysh-Ula within the limits that you consider possible, for justice requires this of me. Guard Colonel Momysh-Uly, born in 1910, Kazakh by nationality, member of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) since 1942, participant in the Patriotic War since September 1941. In the Red Army since 1936, seriously wounded on December 5, 1941 in the Kryukovo area. Residence: Moscow, Kropotkina street, 19, Academy of the General Staff of the Red Army named after Voroshilov. Former commander of the 8th Guards Rifle Division of the Guard, Colonel Serebryakov. Head of the personnel department of the 8th Guards Division, Major Kondratov.
M Omysh-uly Baurdzhan - battalion commander and commander of the 1073rd (from November 1941 - 19th Guards) rifle regiment of the 316th, from November 1941 - 8th Guards Red Banner Rifle Division of the 16th Army of the Western Front.
Born on December 24, 1910 (January 6, 1911) in the village of Urak-Balva, now the Dzhuvalinsky district of the Dzhambul region of the Republic of Kazakhstan, into a peasant family. Kazakh. In 1929 he graduated from 9 classes. He worked as an economist at an industrial bank, secretary of the district executive committee, head of the district police, and instructor at the Alma-Ata city military registration and enlistment office of the Kazakh SSR.
In the Red Army from 1932 to 1934 and from 1936. In 1933 he graduated from the regimental school.
In the battles of the Great Patriotic War from September 1941, as part of the legendary division under the command of Major General I.V. Panfilov. Member of the CPSU(b)/CPSU since 1942.
As a battalion commander of the 1073rd Rifle Regiment (316th, from November 1941 - 8th Guards Rifle Division, 16th Army, Western Front), senior lieutenant Momysh-uly participated in 27 battles during the defense of Moscow.
During the second general offensive of the Wehrmacht on Moscow from November 16 to 18, 1941, the battalion of senior lieutenant Momysh-uly, separated from the division, heroically fought on the Volokolamsk highway near the village of Matronino. The skillful leadership of the battalion commander made it possible to delay the Nazis at this point for 3 days. After which senior lieutenant Momysh-uly led the battalion out of the encirclement combat-ready.
As the commander of the 19th Guards Rifle Regiment, on November 26-30, 1941, Guard Captain Momysh-uly in the area of the village of Sokolovo, Moscow Region, together with his regiment, fought stubborn battles for four days, successfully repelling enemy attacks. On December 5, 1941, B. Momysh-uly was wounded, but did not leave the battlefield. During the battle in the village of Dubrovka, Moscow Region, he was again seriously wounded and was in the hospital until March 1944. In the same year he graduated from the Officer Improvement Course at the Military Academy of the General Staff.
Since January 21, 1945, Guard Colonel Baurdzhan Momysh-uly commanded the 9th Guards Rifle Division of the 2nd Guards Rifle Corps of the 6th Guards Army of the 2nd Baltic Front. In February - March 1945, northwest of the Priekule station (Lithuania), units of the division skillfully led by him broke through three lines of heavily fortified enemy defenses. As a result of the division's offensive, 15 settlements were liberated and significant damage was inflicted on the enemy in manpower and military equipment.
Z and for the courage and heroism shown in the battle of Moscow, Captain Baurdzhan Momysh-uly in 1942 was nominated for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, but it was awarded to him only on December 11, 1990 posthumously...
After the war, the brave officer continued to serve in the Armed Forces of the USSR. In 1948 he graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff. Since 1950 - senior lecturer at the Military Academy of Logistics and Supply of the Soviet Army. Since December 1955, Colonel Momysh-uly has been in reserve. Lived in the city of Alma-Ata (Kazakhstan). Member of the USSR Writers' Union. Died on June 10, 1982. He was buried at the Kensai cemetery in Almaty.
Awarded the Order of Lenin (December 11, 1990, posthumously), 2 Orders of the Red Banner (06/06/1942; ...), Order of the Patriotic War 1st degree (06/6/1945), Red Banner of Labor (01/15/1971), Friendship of Peoples ( 12/23/1980), Red Star (...), “Badge of Honor” (01/3/1959), medals.
In Kazakhstan, streets are named after the Hero in the cities of Almaty, Dzhambul, Guryev (now Aterau), in the village of Assa, Dzhambul region; sports complex in the regional center of Burnoe, Dzhambul region; secondary schools in the cities of Almaty (No. 131), Dzhambul (No. 44), Shymkent (No. 42); Military boarding school in Almaty; state farm in Dzhuvalinsky district. The monument to Baurdzhan Momysh-uly was erected in front of the school building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Shymkent city).
Born into a peasant family. Kazakh.
In 1929 he graduated from 9 classes. He worked as a teacher, economist at the Industrial Bank, secretary of the Executive Committee of the Council of People's Deputies of the district, chief of the district police, instructor at the Alma-Ata city military registration and enlistment office of the Kazakh SSR, and district prosecutor. Service in the Red Army/SA
In the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army from November 1932 to 1934 and from 1936, he began as an ordinary Red Army soldier.
In 1933 he graduated from the regimental school, artillery military school, and became an artillery officer.
He served in the Far East with V.K. Blucher, participated in battles with the Japanese Kwantung Army, near Lake Khasan, as commander of an artillery battery, in July-August 1938.
In 1939-1940 he served in Ukraine, took part in campaigns in the Carpathians and the annexation of Bessarabia.
In 1940 he returned to Kazakhstan and worked as a senior instructor at the Kazvoenkomat.
In the battles of the Great Patriotic War from September 1941, as part of the 316th Infantry Division under the command of Major General I.V. Panfilov.
Member of the CPSU(b) since 1942.
As battalion commander of the 1073rd Talgar Rifle Regiment of the 316th Rifle Division (since November 1941 - 8th Guards Rifle Division, 16th Army, Western Front), Senior Lieutenant Momysh-uly participated in 27 battles during the defense of Moscow.
During the second general offensive of the Wehrmacht on Moscow from November 16 to 18, 1941, the battalion of senior lieutenant Bauyrzhan Momysh-uly, separated from the division, heroically fought on the Volokolamsk highway near the village of Matryonino.
The skillful leadership of the battalion commander made it possible to delay the Nazis at this point for 3 days. After which Senior Lieutenant Momyshuly brought the battalion out of the encirclement combat-ready.
The heroic combat path of the battalion under the command of Bauyrzhan Momyshuly is described in the art-historical book “Volokolamsk Highway” by Alexander Bek.
B. Momyshuly spent a month at the front as a battalion commander, after which he was promoted ahead of schedule to a command position - to commander of “his own” regiment, remaining in the rank of senior lieutenant
Later, as the commander of the 19th Guards Rifle Regiment, on November 26-30, 1941, Guard Senior Lieutenant Momysh-uly in the area of the village of Sokolovo, Moscow Region, together with his regiment, fought stubborn battles for four days, successfully repelling enemy attacks. On December 5, 1941, B. Momyshuly was wounded, but did not leave the battlefield.
During the battle in the village of Dubrovka, Moscow region, he was again seriously wounded.
In January-April 1942, the 8th Guards Rifle Division and the 9th Guards Rifle Division, the commander of which B. Momyshuly was subsequently appointed, fought with the SS division “Totenkopf” (Totenkopf) and participated in the Demyansk operation (“Demyansky boiler"). Soon B. Momyshuly was awarded the rank of guard colonel, and an order was issued for his appointment as division commander.
In 1944, B. Momyshuly completed advanced training courses for officers at the Military Academy of the General Staff.
Since January 28, 1945, Guard Colonel Bauyrzhan Momyshuly commanded the 9th Guards Rifle Division of the 2nd Guards Rifle Corps of the 6th Guards Army of the 2nd Baltic Front.
In February - March 1945, northwest of the Priekule station (Latvia), units of the division skillfully led by him broke through three lines of heavily fortified enemy defenses. As a result of the division's offensive, 15 settlements were liberated and significant damage was inflicted on the enemy in manpower and military equipment. Nomination for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union
For his courage and heroism in the battle of Moscow, captain Bauyrzhan Momyshuly was nominated for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union in 1942, but was awarded it only posthumously on December 11, 1990. Post-war biography
After the war he continued to serve in the Armed Forces of the USSR.
In 1948, he re-graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff, now with the full program.
Since 1950 - senior lecturer at the Military Academy of Logistics and Supply of the Soviet Army.
Since December 1955, Colonel Momysh-uly has been in reserve. Member of the USSR Writers' Union.
Gave lectures on combat training during a visit to Cuba in 1963 (published in Spanish-language newspapers). He met with the Minister of Defense of Cuba, Raul Castro, and was awarded the title of honorary commander of the 51st regiment of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba.
In military educational institutions of the USA, Cuba, Israel, and Nicaragua, Momyshuly’s military experience is studied separately.
"Volokolamsk Highway" became a required reading book for members of the Palmach, and later for officers of the Israel Defense Forces.
Fernando Heredia wrote that “most Cubans begin their study of Marxism-Leninism with the Volokolamsk Highway.”
Storm hardening
Bauyrzhan Momyshuly became famous during the war years as a talented commander, tactician and strategist. His services during the defense of Moscow were publicly celebrated, but they were in no hurry to reward him. “CARAVAN” found out why the most important award - the star of the Hero of the Soviet Union - was awarded to the national hero only many years after his death.
He was born on December 10, 1910 in the village of Burnoe, Dzhuvalinsky district, not far from present-day Taraz. Despite its southern location, this settlement has always had a harsh climate due to the proximity of the mountains. The winds constantly blow here, and in winter there are blizzards. It is no coincidence that the village was given such a name. To this day, near the Kuyuk and Shakpak passes, traffic on the highway is closed during heavy snowfalls and blizzards.
According to historians, the climate of his native places influenced the courageous and equally harsh character of Bauyrzhan. He was distinguished by integrity, rigidity, and exactingness. Subsequently, these qualities will make him a real strong-willed commander. Having devoted several years to teaching, the district committee and the police, he then threw in his lot with the army.
Unrecognized glory
“He gained real fame during the Great Patriotic War, in November - December 1941 in the battle for Moscow,” he told CARAVAN. writer Elen Alimzhan. – At that time, many front-line and central newspapers of the Soviet Union talked about the phenomenon of our battalion commander. While carrying out the task, he and his battalion got out of encirclement several times without much loss and with rich trophies. In a short time he rose to the rank of colonel.
In these battles, Momyshuly was wounded twice, but until the last he did not want to leave the front. He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner and the medal “For the Defense of Moscow.” But his merits were not fully appreciated.
“He was not approved as division commander,” the writer continued. “For more than a year he was the acting division commander. And he was not awarded the rank of general even after he graduated from the Academy of the General Staff of the Soviet Army.
In 1942, Bauyrzhan was nominated for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. In the text of the submission signed division commander Colonel Ivan SEREBRYAKOV, it was said:
“Momysh-uly, with the rank of senior lieutenant, was appointed battalion commander of the 19th Guards Rifle Regiment. In this position, he spent 27 battles in conditions of maneuver defense near Moscow in 1941. Five times he broke away from the division behind enemy lines in order to carry out special tasks set by Major General Panfilov, after completing which he skillfully led his battalion and the units attached to it from encirclement, preserving manpower and equipment.”
Today, one can argue for a long time about whether the new generation of Kazakhstanis knows enough about their legendary compatriot.
“Ask young people who Bauyrzhan is, and in response you will hear common words that everyone knows,” says Elen Alimzhan. – Of course, we, the older generation, are to blame for not yet giving a scientific analysis of Momyshuly’s activities in serving the Fatherland.
Meanwhile, historians, writers, journalists and even film people also contribute to preserving the memory of the hero who showed how to love the Motherland. Thus, his strong-willed character is conveyed in the recently filmed series. What decisions were made by the commander, in what conditions did he have to fight and how to behave when surrounded on all sides? How was his skill as a tactician honed? The viewer will find the answers to these questions.
“The love of Bauyrzhan and Bibijamal is conveyed in the film without unnecessary colors,” noted “KARAVANU” grandnephew of Momyshuly, publicist-researcher Beket MOMYNKUL. “She, like any woman, was afraid of losing her husband. He wasn’t on a business trip, he was going to war. On the one hand, she understood his desire to get to the front faster. On the other hand, I was afraid to let him go to hell. I felt in my heart that the separation would drag on for a long time. Her Bauke left her life for 14 long years, visiting only during short vacations.
In addition, Alexander Bek’s book “Volokolamsk Highway”, written on the basis of Bauyrzhan’s diaries and stories, has been left to history. And in the late 50s, Momyshuly himself wrote the book “Moscow is Behind Us.” After the war, he worked as a senior lecturer at the Military Academy of Logistics and Supply of the Soviet Army, and became a member of the Writers' Union of the USSR. In his books he talked about tactical maneuvers and strategies, and gave lectures on combat training not only in the country, but also during a visit to Cuba in 1963. At the same time, I met with the Minister of Defense of this country, Raul Castro, who now leads the country. Elen Alimzhan provided CARAVAN with a unique photo of that hero’s trip.
Pain and worries
During his lifetime, Momyshuly was never awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. According to Elen Alimzhan, the reason for this was... himself:
– Bauyrzhan’s straightforwardness and sincerity might seem something out of the ordinary. He stood up for the works of Kazakh writers that could be slowed down by censorship, sent sharp letters to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan, and spoke about the destiny of his people. It is no coincidence that when he returned home, he was left idle. The authorities did not offer him any suitable work. He was deprived of an official platform.
In Momyshuly’s notebook-diary, which is kept in the Zhambyl regional local history museum, there are these lines: “Sometimes unpleasant thoughts come to me like: when the juice is squeezed out of a lemon, it is thrown away. No, or rather, I threw myself overboard, preferring the depths of the sea to the smoky wardroom.”.
This is how he conveyed his experiences to paper.
These recordings were made from December 1955 to January 1956. They contain his principled civic position.
“I do not intend to fall again into the slavery of any rogue official. We still have not reached the highest level of democracy. It seems to me that the highest level of democracy will be based fundamentally on the absolutely free expression of public opinion and, most importantly, on respect for this opinion.”
Very personal
“They were transferred to the reserve with the right to wear a military uniform, with all the insignia and insignia. I, like a real soldier, am leaving the army with a deeply wounded sense of my soldier’s pride. But these insults will not destroy me. Everlasting memory and eternal glory to those who fell victim to this unheard-of madness of the “great” leaders. For it is not the people who start the fratricidal war. As a patriot and professional, it is very unpleasant for me to leave the army, to which I gave my youth and health. I have never sought anything else for myself than honest service to my people.”
Some argue that Momyshuly was left without work at that time, as he himself refused offers. But one gets the impression that if he was offered something, it was completely out of his league. Most likely, the authorities simply ignored him. The following lines from the diary speak about this: “Nobody wished me happy birthday. I state”.
Without a doubt, these words referred to the powers that be. After all, family and friends simple people would never forget about him:
“I understand that fate does its thing with every person. She pampers some immensely, and torments others without guilt. Like a bird, cutting its talons into its victim deeper and deeper, to the very heart. I have many wounds. But, as you know, sympathy only weakens a person’s will. This is too vile a straw to grasp at, man walking to the bottom. Secondly, it is useless for a drowning person to wait for help from someone who cannot swim. It's better to flounder yourself. I was floundering in a bureaucratic swamp and, it seems, I was floundering.”
Award after half a century
In July 1944, Ivan Serebryakov addressed the Supreme Soviet of the USSR with a request. He wrote that in August 1942 he issued an award certificate for Momyshuly to be awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. But the fate of the document is unknown. The text of this letter, the original of which was kept in the USSR Ministry of Defense, was provided to CARAVAN by publicist-researcher Beket Momynkul.
- Outlining far from complete feats, I consider it my duty to convey to you and ask, on the basis of the above, to mention Comrade Momysh-uly, for justice requires this of me,– reported Ivan Serebryakov.
Justice triumphed only almost half a century later, after the death of Bauyrzhan Momyshuly - on June 10, 1982. He was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union in 1990. Later he was awarded the title “Halyk Kaharmany”. But Momyshuly has long been in the memory of the people folk hero, like a glorious hero who glorified his native land with his bravery.
In the sudden (but predictable) discussions about the 28th, the topic of the entire heroic division and the special talents of its commander Ivan Panfilov, who came up with special combat tactics, is raised.
“He had very rich military experience. He was the first to use the practice of combat, stretching the division over 42 kilometers, creating pockets of tank destroyers. In military science, this was called the “Panfilov loop.” By the way, in modern computer game this concept has been preserved. He used this tactic even when he served in Central Asia", says his granddaughter Aigul Baikadamova.
The Internet interprets the “Panfilov Loop” as “a situation in a theater of military operations when the forces of the defending side are dispersed at several important points and do not rush at the enemy entirely.” However, the source of this definition is not indicated.
Bauyrzhan Momysh-uly says approximately the same thing.
“Momyshuly brilliantly put into practice the tactics of combat with small forces against an enemy many times superior in strength, developed by Major General I.V. Panfilov, which later received the name “Momyshuly’s spiral.”
B. Momyshuly: “I call it a spiral because all the battles of the Panfilov division near Moscow are characterized by the fact that it cut the path, jumped to the side and carried the enemy along with it, took him 10 kilometers away, then with a jerk again stood in his way, again was leaving. With such maneuvers, the enemy’s forces are dispersed, and our units again enter the highway. This, in the real sense of the word, exhausting the enemy gave a gain in time.”
Were there a loop and a spiral? In the battles for Volokolamsk, the battles took place along the road from which Panfilov’s men were shot down; they actually retreated 10 kilometers and were shot down again. There really was no breakthrough from the raid. But there was a narrow defile during which they lost almost all of the attached artillery (largely due to the fact that interaction with it was not established and the artillerymen had to fight without infantry cover). When the Germans completely turned around near Volokolamsk, they immediately carried the 316th Infantry Division out of the city. Their further advance was stopped more likely due to weather conditions (near Skirmanovo there was generally impassable mud), rather than loops and spirals.
The reports from higher-ups do not mention any special tactics.
Then there was standing in anticipation of a new blow, which happened on November 16th. And again, no special tactics are observed. The Germans are moving north and the 316th Rifle Division (8th Civil Defense Division) is rolling back east towards Istra, avoiding a flank attack from Skirmanovo and Solnechnogorsk. By this time, without Panfilov. Where is the special tactic here?
Actually the question is: is there anything about the Panfilov loop or spiral in the “tactics textbooks” Momysh-uly?
Did this tactic come from Beck's book? It is, of course, documentary to a certain extent, however, Beck forgot the first version on the train and copied it from memory, which is whyMomyshuly was dissatisfied with the result.
It is possible that they simply laid out a beautiful base for what happened in October-November 1941, calling it the “Panfilov Loop.”