I had a lot of urgent work last half of a year. But now the blog will be regularly updated. I've collected a lot of interesting materials! And I will begin with story about reconstruction of the Great Patriotic War (this is the name of the part of Second World War which took place in the territory of the USSR) which passed in November, 2011. It was dedicated to liberation of Kiev in 1943.
We were brought to an army arrangement in the morning on November 5. We had half of a hour to change our clothes, put all necessary into our duffel bags and went from the base to positions of signal section as reinforcement.
We were brought to an army arrangement in the morning on November 5. We had half of a hour to change our clothes, put all necessary into our duffel bags and went from the base to positions of signal section as reinforcement.
Vehicles with new participants were coming since yesterday so part of our team already were in the field and started performance of a fighting task - to construct the line of wire communication from observation post to a control filter post.
We were on a front line.To the left of us the frontier guards settled down. They were carrying out protection of the back land and checking every arriving vehicle. And in the four hundred meters from our observation post there were already German positions.
Though this time the wire line was rather short (about one hundred fifty meters), it was possible to lead it only by air. Approaching transport periodically tore a wire therefore we bore round-the-clock watch on two persons, checking and providing integrity of the line.
We lived right there. A mobile kitchen were developed between a trench parapet with the line of cells, a blindage and observation post. A fire, a copper and a teapot.
New fighters were attached to our operators squad so there were not any problems with providing the service.
It was supposed that for the night we again will depart to the back positions, having dismantled the telephone line. But the order didn't arrive, therefore all team stayed to keep watch on a front line for the second night.
At the 6:00 am it was necessary to build lines to supply communication during attack of the army. Before this there were necessity to mount guard from 3:00 a.m for 3 hours. So there weren't any sense to come to the back positions. Our squad built four marching canopies from groundsheets round a fire where we spent night. To take up in the three hours before dawn means to stand in tranches when the coldest part of night comes, and observe how a field between our positions and Germans blindages are covering by hoarfrost and clouding by fog. It is possible to make out how guard at Germans are heated at a fire with a help of stereopipe. It is good that we have enough firewood and there is possibility to go occasionally to a fire, throw a log to warm up sleeping friends, and to get warm by yourself at the same time.
At 6:00 in the morning we started to build two wire lines. Oh, if only tanks and artillery didn't tear it! After construction of lines we broke a field camp to transfer it to the back line, and went on delivery of ammunition and for fire practice.
And then attack to German positions began. Aircraft, tanks, artillery, and then we are. Our team was attached to infantry to provide communication with a staff and to coordinate operations. The part of lines is already prepared so we shouldn't build completely the line in this chaos!
There were nor any breaks of a wire and we successfully contacted with staff from the established place, and twice in process of army expansion.
The task is completed, the German airfield is taken. Hurrah!
Many thanks to all brave military photographers. Thanks to them we have so many great photos. Part of them were used in this post.
About 800(!) participants arrived to take part in this reenactment event. I've never saw so much artilleries and battle vehicles on reenactment! The first stage of it was very interesting an air battle: 2 our plains against 2 Germans. Soviet plane even had a machine gun!
The density of fire and amount of people becomes more similar to what it is necessary to aspire. It was really great event!
Great blog entry. I like the quality of the uniforms and vehicles and numbers of people at this reenactment. Russian reeanctors look younger than American reenactors.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Scott! I've been in reenactment in honor of Victory Day this year. So there will be a lot of WWII photos soon.
DeleteI think age of reenactors depends on the cost of historical costumes. For WWII prices are lower than for Napoleonic Wars, for example. So there is a possibility for young people to take part in events. Also here, in Ukraine, in Russia, in ex-USSR countries, there is a lot of interest to history of Great Patriotic War 1941-1945.
Telling about Napoleonic War reenactment, there there are more people of senior age.