TV Rossiya - Liberators The Soldiers of the Red Army (2010) Part 5 The Reconnaissance Scouts

From foot soldiers to fighter pilots, step into the shoes of those who fought for one of the largest armies in history. This series highlights ordinary foot soldiers, intelligence officers, mine pickers, gunners, tank men, marines, alpine and airborne raiders and fighter and attack aviation pilots whose role in the Allied victory over the Nazis played a crucial part in the war effort. Using the latest computer graphics and technology, viewers witness the combat equipment design, tactics and strategy of conducting a battle. Rare newsreel shots and the reconstruction of the events allow viewers to feel they are being transported back to the battlegroud, allowing them to see war through a soldier's eyes.

Part 5: The Reconnaissance Scouts

Beginning of 1943, Leningradites experienced the second winter of the siege. In order to restore land communication with Leningrad the Soviet command was preparing an operation “Spark”. Scheduling of operations and the breakthrough would have been impossible without the active work of the division and regimental artillery and aerial reconnaissance. It became one of the scouts missions to break the blockade. Everyone could not become a scout. Volunteer training lasted from weeks to months, and only after that they went on a mission. To oversee the defense of the enemy, the forefront of infantry units were equipped with a network of observation points, where scouts watched the terrain shifts, recording every detail. Before the advent of reconnaissance mission came the order to get information on the German defenses in the hallway on a plot of 12 km, called “bottle neck”. A job in the usual form, without insignia, documents and awards went three groups of scouts - reconnaissance, capture and cover. With a sample only necessary weapons - a knife, PCA or MR-40. In the night of January 12, using survey data, consolidated group of night bombers from Volkhov Front bombed artillery positions and control points of the enemy breakthrough band. Between Leningrad and the “main land” a narrow corridor formed through which the city has become possible to deliver food and fuel. Special story - about SMGs designer Alexei Sudaeva, and a separate chapter is devoted to a series of award - the countries highest medal “For Valour”.

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