BABRUJSK-BERLIN MORTAR REGIMENT

Baˈbrujsk-Berˈlin ˈMotrar ˈRegiment

Babrujsk-Berlin Guards Mortar Red Banner of the Orders of Kutuzov, Bagdan Khmiaĺnitski and Aleksandr Nevskij Regiment.

It was formed in Moscow in October 1942 during the Great Patriotic War as the 311th Regiment composed of three independent rocket artillery battalions. It was armed with BM‑13 (“Katiusha”) systems.

The regiment participated in the Battle of Stalingrad and on January 10, 1943, fired the first salvo at the enemy. Throughout the war, it was part of the 65th Army. The regiment supported the Oryol and Bryansk offensives with fire, the force in crossing over the Sozh River and pursuit of the enemy to the Dniapro River.

As part of the 1st Belarusian Front, it participated in the Belarusian Operation of 1944 (Operation Bagration of 1944) and fought for the liberation of Asipovichy (June 28, 1944). It distinguished itself in the course of the Babrujsk offensive of 1944, i.e. it resolutely acted in the defeat and capture of the enemy group that broke out of the Babrujsk ‘cauldron’ and advanced towards Asipovichy. The guardsmen repeatedly engaged in hand-to-hand combat against Nazis who attacked the regiment’s military dispositions. For this operation, the regiment was awarded the Babrujsk honorary title (July 5, 1944). It participated in the liberation of Baranavichy, in battles in the territory of Poland and in the Battle of Berlin. For these battles, the regiment was awarded with the Berlin honorary title (June 11, 1945).

Commanders were lieutenant colonel R. F. Zhurawliow (October 1942 — October 1943), major I. F. Zinov (October 18–26, 1943; temporary), lieutenant colonel F. P. Majatski (October 1943 — February 1944), engineer-colonel I. D. Merkulov (February — October 1944), lieutenant colonel I. N. Anashkin (October 1944–1945).