ASIPOVICHY PARTY-KOMSOMOL UNDERGROUND

Asiˈpovichy ˈParty-Komsoˈmol Underˈground

It operated from July 1941 to June 1944 during the Great Patriotic War in Asipovichy town and Asipovitcy Rajon, Magiliow Voblasc, under the leadership of the Asipovichy Underground Rajon Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsveviks) of Belarus, Magiliow Underground Voblasc Committee of the Leninist Young Communist League of Belarus (from April 1943), and Asipovichy Underground Rajon Committee of the Leninist Young Communist League of Belarus (since October 1942).

At the end of 1941, it united 9 underground groups in Asipovichy and 3 ones in the rajon. During the occupation years, 33 underground groups (more than 120 people) were operating in Asipovichy and the rajon. The underground maintained communication with the 1st Asipovichy, 1st Babrujsk, 161st G. I. Kotovskij Partisan brigades, the S. M. Kirov, “Khrabratsy” (brave men), “Maskva” (Moscow) detachments.

In July — August 1941, the underground group of 25 people in the Asipovichy steam locomotive depot (leaders were communists M. S. Shviedaw and V. P. Sianiuk); the group of 11 people at the Asipovichy railway station and train shunters (leaders were communist U. M. Bandarenka, A. A. Pazniak); the locomotive depot repairmen group of 6 people (leader was A. F. Сhajkowski), operated until January 1944; the “Zagatzbozhzha” (grain production) and food warehouse group of 14 people (leaders were M. F. Liemiesh, V. K. Malievich, F. U. Vierkhavodka), operated until February 1944; the Komsomol youth group of 6 people at the radio centre (leaders were F. A. Krylovich, G. B. Sakalowski); the railway hospital underground group of 9 people (leader was P. S. Kozak) were formed. Until November 1943, the underground group of 11 people (leaders were R. N. Barazna, V. I. Stashewski) in Brycalavichy; until September 1943, the underground group of 6 people (leader was V. I. Ivanov) in Gradzianka worker’s settlement; until July 1943, the underground group of 5 people (leaders were M. U. Kuńko, M. P. Gotsin) in Lipien village also operated.

In September and December 1941, the underground groups were formed, i.e. in the town hospital, the one of 5 people (leaders were Je. P. Shamko, V. A. Pratsko), operated until September 1943; two town Komsomol youth ones of 4 people each; the one under G. I. Kavaĺ operated until July 1942; the one under I. K. Radzivilava operated until November 1942.

Since March 1942, the underground group (13 people) led by I. D. Sankovich, whose apartment had an installed radio set, started operating. Radio operator N. S. Zonina (Bierastowskaja) transmitted reconnaissance data to the headquarters of the 1st Belarusian Front.

At the end of 1941, the underground members established a connection with the members of the Asipovichy Underground Rajon Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Belarus, R. Kh. Golant, M. P. Karaliow, and A. V. Shyjonak. To coordinate the underground activities, the commandment centre led by M. S. Shviedaw was formed. Its members included U. M. Bandarenka, A. S. Krot, F. A. Krylovich, M. M. Niavierka, A. F. Chajkowski. Patriots, i.e. communists, Komsomol members, non-Party men, non-union youth (railway workers, teachers, medical workers, employees, chauffeurs, etc.), were grouped around the centre.

The groups’ leaders were given the task of recruiting new people to the underground, maintaining a strict conspiracy, and conducting sabotage actions. Communication agents were appointed, the underground members meeting places with representatives of the centre were selected.

The work of the underground was intensified after the February Plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Belarus in 1943 which demanded in the adopted Resolution ‘...decisively strengthen penetration into the towns.’

On the instructions of secretary of the Magiliow Underground Voblasc Committee of the Leninist Young Communist League of Belarus, P. F. Valozhyn, in April — August 1943, more than 20 Underground Komsomol Youth groups were formed in Asipovichy, led by the Komsomol members F. A. Krylovich, S. F. Vazhnik, A. K. Parmon, K. K. Parmon, U. I. Krukowski, S. V. Kazakow, M. M. Niavierka, L. S. Kruglik, and others.

The underground members received on the radio and distributed reports of the Soviet Information Bureau, printed leaflets, obtained reconnaissance data, arms, ammunition, and medicines for partisans, sabotaged the railways, decommissioned locomotives, machine tools, and equipment. The Group under M. S. Shviedaw alone in August-November 1941 decommissioned 12 locomotives, on November 13, 1942, it burned a special wagon with valuable devices in train formation repair and restoration, as a result of which the railway service of the invaders was deprived of the opportunity to promptly eliminate the results of explosions and crashes for a long time. In the winter of 1943, the underground members took away the font, paper, and ink from the German printing house and gave these items to partisans. Individual patriots worked in the occupation apparatus thanks to which they were able to receive forms of documents, valuable information, ammunition, food, paper, medicine, and dressing material.

The underground conducted a number of daring operations, for example, M. M. Niavierka destroyed 3 military echelons with magnetic mines; S. F. Vazhnik exploded the flax plant, the “Zagatzbozhzha” warehouse, and a cannon in the yard of the field commandant’s office; A. S. Krot derailed a train with fuel, decommissioned 6 steam locomotives; M. I. Patotski destroyed a tower of mechanical blocking at the station. On the night of July 30, 1943, F. A. Krylovich conducted one of the largest diversions of the Great Patriotic War, i.e. the Asipovichy sabotage of 1943. In total, the Asipovichy underground members exploded 30 military echelons and disabled more than 70 steam locomotives.

In the battle against the German Nazi invaders, Z. M. Astapovich, M. M. Astapovich, V. M. Bielalipietski, U. D. Blinkow, K. A. Brytvich, M. D. Bugor, A. I. Vajtsiankova, K. I. Gilitski, V. A. Goman, V. V. Guryna, V. P. Zhdanovich, P. T. Kazlowskaja, U. I. Kirzhymanaw, D. Ja. Kirpichenka, G. I. Kovaĺ, R. U. Kuńko, A. V. Likhadzijewskaja, N. P. Miazhennaja, M. I. Miranovich, M. I. Pobaĺ, I. K. Radzivilava, A. V. Rusakovich, G. D. Sankovich, I. D. Sankovich, M. I. Sankovich, N. M. Sankovich, V. P. Sankovich (Maĺchyk), S. A. Stashewskaja, V. I. Stashewski, S. I. Khatkievich, F. N. Chajkowski, A. N. Jakavitski dead.

In Asipovichi, vulitsas are named after F. A. Krylovich, R. U. Kuńko, and P. T. Kazlowskaja; monument to F. A. Krylovich was raised.