Tour of the school Museum of the 78th volunteer brigade of Кrasnoyarsk Siberians  

Our school museum is dedicated to the 78th Stalin`s volunteer brigade of Krasnoyarsk Siberians.

This is a unique military unit formed in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. It consisted entirely of volunteers.

From 28,000 applications were selected only 5965 ones. That is why, we can rightfully say that the best of the best went to the front.

1942 was the hardest year for our country. Fascist invaders advanced to the Volga. Destruction and enslavement threatened millions of Soviet citizens.

In these circumstances, the Novosibirsk Regional Committee Party and the Military Council of the Siberian Military District appealed to Stalin, the President of the National Defense Commission about the formation of additional units of volunteers. On July 7, 1942 Krasnoyarsk Regional Committee of the Party and Executive Committee took a  decision on the formation of a separate Volunteer Rifle Brigade of Krasnoyarsk residents. On July 24th the  brigade received the name of Stalin and it was assigned No. 78.

The training camp of the Brigade was located in Green Grove. The headquarters` tent was just located  in the old school building.

The brigade was led by Lt. Col. Ivan Maksimovich Sivokon, Commissioner Alexander M. Korsakov, Chief of Staff -Major Fyodor Pavlovich Boyko.

Soldiers of the brigade learned to dig in and hold entrenching shovel, to throw anti-grenades.

They learned to shoot from rifles and shotguns, to contact with the radio and to bandage the wounded.

Warm morning in 1942 on the 6 of September on the parade ground in the Green Grove personnel lined up 78 teams.

In the warm morning on September 6, 1942 the personnel of the 78th  brigade  lined up on the parade ground in  Green  Grove. The volunteers were awarded the banner of the Regional Committee of the party and the Executive Committee. They also received Mandate from the residents of Krasnoyarsk krai.  "We swear to our countrymen, as long as the heart beats, no mercy for the enemy!"

On September 16, 1942  the 87th Brigade was raised by the alarm and all units  moved to the railway station. On both sides of roads  stood residents of Krasnoyarsk and saw off  their fellow-counrymen to the front. In the first ranks were:  Nikolai Danilenko, Alexei Andros, Ivan Baksheev, Vasily Shivernovsky, Nikolai Shoev, Fydor Gorb, Ivan Shubra, Nikolai Trofimuk,  Alexander Sedelnikov, Maria Dayneko (Oskolkova) and many thousands of volunteers.

Alexander Sedelnikov

Maria Dayneko (Oskolkova) and many thousands of volunteers.

A few days battalions  loaded into trains and went to the front. Through the din of the rushing trains the wind carried away to the Siberian expanses the volunteers` song:  Taking a rifle, go volunteers Braves convening regiments.  The Communists go, Komsomol, members, The non-Party Bolsheviks.  Through Siberia, on the width of the taiga,  Rolled our battle cry,  The power of the Siberians, Herculean strength  Raised on a decisive battle.

Together with other Siberian units the78th Brigade was a part of the Special Siberian housing. The corps came to Moscow and stayed in Supreme Commander of the reserve rate. The78th Brigade based in Ochakovo. Hard work on the preparation continued. The brigade was reinforced and armed. In early October in 1942 the 87th brigade detrained at the station of Selizharovo. From here the soldiers moved to the area of concentration.

Selective German divisions,  such as: "Great Germany", "Dead head", separate SS regiment, 4 infantry divisions, the 2nd Aviapolevaya  Division, the12th Panzer Division, artillery and sapper units resisted to Siberians. On November 25, the75th brigade of volunteers from Omsk joined battle.

On the night of November 28, it was replaced by the78th brigade. These were the first battles of our countrymen. Shells,mines, bullets rained down on the heads of the fighters.

Patches of ground and trees rose into the  air. The main events took place in the area of such villages as Lukino , Demehi, Medvedkovo, Mazury, Knyazhino, Shiparevo, Romanovo.

In a hard 22-day battle near the town of White the 6th Siberian Corps suffered huge losses. The78th Stalin Brigade lost 75% of its members. The survivors called baptism of fire under White "bloodbath".

On April 16, 1943 by order of the Supreme Commander the 6th volunteer Corps received the title of "Guards". From the survivors of Omsk and Krasnoyarsk volunteer brigades was formed the 65th Guards Rifle Division.

Most of Krasnoyarsk residents fought in the 257th Rifle Regiment. From 5975 people that went to the front in the 78th brigade in 1942, only about 300 volunteers returned. The veterans who survived in those terrible days took an oath to preserve the memory of their fellow soldiers.

In Siberia, there was no war – But the lists of the fallen are endless. In Siberia, there was no war -  But every park has obelisks.  In Siberia, there was no war -  But Siberia was famous for its regiments.  And the best sons of the homeland  Since then are named Siberians....