Why the 89th Taman division was called Armenian

Among the names of many parts of the Red Army during the Great Patriotic War, special geographical areas were distinguished, where their warriors distinguished themselves with outstanding military feats. This had to be earned.

In connection with the events of the last decade in the North Caucasus, journalists often used the name "Taman Tank Division". This is not entirely correct, since the motorized rifle division, although it includes a tank regiment. There are both missile and self-propelled artillery, but from this the division did not become either missile or artillery.

However, today few people know that during the war there was another military unit with a very similar name.

One of the elite units of the Russian (formerly Soviet) army will soon return its formidable name, which was fanned by glory. At the suggestion of the President of the Russian Federation, the 2nd Guards Taman Division will be revived, whose status in the process of military reform was lowered to the brigade division. This unit should not be confused with the 89th Armenian division, which distinguished itself at about the same time and fought there, in the Kuban, in the North Caucasus. About her and will go further story.

In the Red Army of the pre-war period, some military units were formed on a national basis, in particular, six Armenian divisions were part of the Soviet armed forces. Their specificity consisted in a good level of preparation for conducting military operations in the mountainous terrain. The military doctrine of the late 1930s presupposed decisive offensive actions, and for their successful implementation it was required to overcome mountain ranges and to seize oil fields in Romania. The nationality of the majority of the personnel was not advertised, however, the future Taman Division received an unofficial name for the 89th Armenian Rifle Division.

For its intended purpose, it was not possible to apply mountain skills, it was necessary to fight on its territory, and the losses proved to be considerable. Since 1943 Nver Gevorkovich Saforian was appointed as the 89th commander. With his name is connected with the heroic page of the battle chronicle of the part, which became a legend.

August 1943 year. The headquarters of the Supreme High Command voiced the problem: to break the Germans' defense on Dolgaya Hill. This height was the key to mastering the Taman peninsula. The regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Yervand Karapetyan, fearlessly went on the attack. Senior Sergeant Avetisyan repeated the feat of Alexander Matrosov, he closed the embrasure with his body. In those hot days, ordinary Karakhanyan and Arakelyan, having shown heroism, were awarded the gold stars of the Hero of the Soviet Union. The result of these bloody battles was the release of Taman. In honor of this peninsula, the division in October of the same year received its terrible name.

Then there were difficult miles of war, liberation of Kerch, Crimea. For the mass heroism shown to the two regiments, the title of Sevastopol was conferred. One of the first 89 Taman Division reached the Soviet border, Poland passed, and then rushed to the enemy's den, to Germany. Here, on the smoking ruins of the Reichstag, its soldiers celebrated Victory, dancing kochari (Armenian folk dance).

Of course, during the war years the ethnic composition of the unit changed. The Armenian Taman division suffered losses, received reinforcements, again went into battle.

In the postwar years, the national units of the Soviet Army were abolished. In 1956 the 89th Taman Division was disbanded.