Ivanovo schoolchildren went on an excursion to the 98th Airborne Division

On May 3, the 98th Guards Airborne Division will celebrate its 80th anniversary. In honor of the anniversary, schoolchildren were given a tour of the division’s territory. The guys saw the museum of military glory and learned how soldiers live. Details are in the report.

Probably, most Ivanovo residents are already accustomed and know that paratroopers are based in our city. But it was not always so. The division began its combat path in the fiery years of the Great Patriotic War. In January 1944, the formation of the 98th Guards Rifle Division began. The command and rank and file personnel were selected from cadets of military schools, sailors of the Pacific Fleet, Amur Flotilla and personnel of training units. The division’s battle flag was presented on May 3, 1944. This day is considered the founding day of the connection.

In June of the same year, the fighters were sent to the Karelian Front. When crossing the Svir River and capturing the bridgehead, the paratroopers showed particular courage and heroism. It was for this that on July 2 the division was awarded the title of Guards “Svirskaya”. Paratroopers took part in the battles for the liberation of Hungary and Czechoslovakia. For exemplary performance of tasks, the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. For a long time, the division was stationed in the Far East, in the city of Belogorsk, Primorsky Krai. Afterwards, she moved to the Odessa region.

Yulia Syomina, correspondent: “And in 1993 the division moved to Ivanovo. The main funds of the museum were also transported here. Almost all exhibits are authentic. The museum has two halls. The first is dedicated to the history of the division, the second hall is more modern.”

Excursions into the heart of the division are conducted frequently. And on the eve of the anniversary, fourth-graders came here. In the first hall, schoolchildren were told how the history of the division began. In the second, the children could not only listen, but also touch the exhibits.

Ilya Andreev, 4th grade student:
– What do you remember most?
– When I held RPGs and Kalashnikovs.

Ilya shared with us that in the future he wants and will definitely serve here in the landing force. In addition, the boy has someone to follow an example from – his dad. He is now at SVO. Fatima Aliyeva’s dad has been in the special operation for a year now. He says that he and his brother send him letters and drawings.

Fatima Aliyeva, 4th grade student: “And mom sends them through military service. He opens it and hangs up all our drawings with my brother. I’m proud of my dad, he protects our country.”

In this corner they keep gifts from the children who come on the excursion. Many people write letters.

Yulia Syomina, correspondent: “For example, sixth-grader Vika Salnikova writes. “Dear soldiers, I sincerely wish you victory. And to make you happy, I made you talismans for good luck. There’s a bear there.” And here is that same bear. “I want to give this bear to a guy named Maxim, that was the name of my deceased brother. He volunteered to fight in the war and died on August 16 last year. I’m sure you will win.” The rest of the letters are not delayed here; they have already been sent to the soldiers in the Northern Military District.”

You can also look at the so-called “trophies” in the museum. They were brought by soldiers from a special operation. Here, for example, is a drone. Our military call him “Baba Yaga” among themselves. Quite recently, this sign was brought from liberated Bakhmut. But most carefully in this museum they preserve the memory of the heroes.

Mikhail Kharin, deputy. company commander for military-political work: “These are the people we worked with in everyday life. With whom we shook hands and served side by side, everyone knew and crossed paths with these people who laid down their surname and first name in history. In particular, the streets of our city are named heroes of the Northern Military District, one of them is Vladimir Nikolaevich Zozulin.”

That’s not all. The guys were shown and told how the everyday life of soldiers in the barracks goes.

Evgeniy Zolotarev, deputy commander of a separate communications battalion: “Look, the duty of an orderly. Here he has a telephone, here he has documentation of the company duty officer, here he has a daily routine, where everything is written, what they spend and at what time.”

Morning exercises, raising the national flag and preparing equipment for the summer are only a small part of the daily routine for this Wednesday, the children were told. But the fourth-graders watched with particular interest the assembly of a Kalashnikov assault rifle.

“Then you see a gas tube and a cleaning rod and a muzzle brake compensator. You see, there is nothing as complicated as the Lord’s Prayer.”

Evgeniy Zolotarev, deputy commander of a separate communications battalion: “This year marks the 80th anniversary of the formation of our 98th Guards Airborne Svirskaya Red Banner Order of Kutuzov 2nd degree division, therefore, in terms of military-patriotic education, we are doing a lot of work, as we believe that this is very important for the younger generation . And this is carried out not only with lyceums, schools and colleges, but also at universities.”

The anniversary will be celebrated on the first of May with a car rally. And on the day of the anniversary, a monument “For the Airborne Forces” will be opened in the paratroopers’ park.

Julia Syomina. Maxim Shishkin. TV company “Bars”.