15th mechanized brigade (1st formation)

The brigade began to form on May 2, 1935 in the Ukrainian military district in the city of Shepetovka, Vinnytsia region, Ukrainian SSR.

On May 17, 1935, the Ukrainian military district was divided into two military districts - Kiev and Kharkov . The 15th MBR became part of the Kiev Military District.

The commander of the brigade J. N. Fedorenko.

Assistant Brigade Commander for Technical Affairs M. D. Shilkrot.

The brigade was armed with light tanks T-26 . A team was stationed in the city of Shepetovka, Kamenetz-Podolsk Oblast .

The tank formation became part of the Shepetovsky garrison and was a powerful means of strengthening the troops of the border garrison.

In mid-1938, the armored forces renumbered and renamed formations and transferred them to new states. The 15th mechanized brigade was called the 38th light tank brigade . Since July 26, 1938, the brigade became part of the Vinnitsa Army Group .

15th mechanized brigade

• Ukrainian military district (2.7 - 17.5.1935);
• Kiev Military District (05.17.1935 - 07.27.1938);
• Kiev Special Military District (07.26.1938);

Brigade commanders:

• Fedorenko, Yakov Nikolaevich , (May 1935-1937), from November 26, 1935 brigade commander .
• Volokh, Pyotr Vasilievich , brigade commander, (as of July 1, 1938, until June 4, 1940).

Military Commissioner, Deputy Brigade Commander for Political Affairs:

• Zuev, Ivan Vasilievich , (12.1937-10.05.1939), regimental commissar .

Assistant brigade commander for technical matters:

• Shilkrot, Moses Davidovich , since September 1935 major .

Chief of Staff Brigade:

• Kukushkin, Alexander Vasilievich (03.1936-10.1937),
• Malygin, Konstantin Alekseevich , Major, (12.1937 - 03.1941).

Head of Political Department:

• Shirokov, Victor Prokofievich , battalion commissar , (until 4.11.1939).

Head of the 5th part (rear of the brigade):

• Mukhin, Alexey Vasilievich , captain.

Head of Chemical Services:

• Verushkin, Fedor Alekseevich .

Head of Political Department:

• Shirokov, Victor Prokofievich , battalion commissar (until 4.11.1939).

In 1935-1938:

• management brigade
• 1st Separate Tank Battalion
• 2nd Separate Tank Battalion
• 3rd Separate Tank Battalion
• 15th Separate Training Tank Battalion
• 15th Separate Rifle Battalion
• 15th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion
• 15th Separate Communications Company
• 15th Separate Repair and Restoration Battalion
• 15th separate motor transport company
• 15th separate combat support battalion

1935 year

On May 2, in the city of Shepetivka, Vinnytsia Region, Ukrainian SSR UkrVO, the formation of a brigade began. Brigade commander Fedorenko, Assistant Brigade Commander for Technical Affairs M.D. Shilkrot.

On July 1, the 15th MBR was stationed in the garrison of Shepetivka, the Kamenetz-Podolsk region of the Ukrainian SSR.

In September, personal military ranks were awarded: to the brigade commander, Y. N. Fedorenko, the brigade commander, and to the assistant brigade commander for the technical part, M. D. Shilkrot, major.

socialist competition was increasingly included in the process of combat and political training of district personnel. It was held under the slogans: "All communists and Komsomol members are excellent shooters!", "Not a single one lagging behind in fire training!"

1936 year

1st of January

Brigade commander brigade commander Y. N. Fedorenko, assistant brigade commander for technical affairs Major M. D. Shilkrot.

The 15th MBR was stationed in the garrison of Shepetovka.

The brigade was armed with light tanks T-26 linear - 93 pcs., T-26 chemical (flamethrower) - 8 pcs., T-26 radium (having a walkie-talkie) - 67 pcs., Small amphibious tanks (tankettes) T-37A linear - 2 pcs., T-37A radium - 7 pcs., T-27 tankettes - 4 pcs., Total tanks - 181 pcs .; FAI armored vehicles - 3 pcs., BAI and BA-3 - 2 pcs., total armored vehicles - 5 pcs.

In March, Alexander V. Kukushkin was appointed chief of staff of the brigade (03.36-10.37).

In 1936, at the call of the Political Administration of the okrug, formations and units of the okrug were included in the Stakhanov movement . The title of Stakhanovist was assigned to units, units and formations that perfectly studied military equipment, cherished military equipment, and saved fuel and lubricants.

12-th of September

Shepetovsky maneuvers. September 12-15, 1936 The 15th MBR participated in district tactical exercises. The purpose of the exercises is to improve the combat training of troops. The exercises were held in the region of Shepetivka, Vinnitsa region , Berdichev, Zhytomyr. Compounds formed in 1936 took part in the exercises. The leader of the exercises was I.E. Yakir, his deputy was the assistant commander of the district’s troops for cavalry, Commander Timoshenko, Semyon Konstantinovich. Party and political work in the exercises was led by the Army Commissar of the 2nd rank Amelin MP. The headquarters of the leadership was headed by the chief of staff of the district, division commander Butyrsky VP

Participants: on the one hand - the 7th cavalry corps ( 2nd , 23rd , 26th cavalry divisions) with the 15th, 17th mechanized brigades attached to it and the 135th rifle machine-gun brigade, 35th fighter air squadron; on the other hand, the 8th Rifle Corps (the 44th and 100th Rifle Divisions and the 3rd Cavalry Division ) with the 12th and 22nd Mechanized Brigades assigned to it, the 34th Fighter Squadron. There were 450 tanks in rifle divisions and mechanized brigades. There were 56 aircraft in the squadrons.

On the maneuvers, the troops worked out the questions of offensive combat and the organization of mobile defense in wooded areas, the organization and conduct of the march of the cavalry corps in anticipation of the oncoming battle with the horse-mechanized group of the enemy, the breakthrough of the defensive line with overcoming the water barrier, conducting mobile defense and command and control.

September 14th . Mechanized units fought in difficult conditions. In two days during the maneuver, they traveled up to 100 km.

1937 year

1st of January

Brigade commander brigade commander Fedorenko.

Assistant Brigade Commander for Technical Affairs Major M.D. Shilkrot.

In 1937, the brigade commander Y.N. Fedorenko appointed chief of the armored forces of the Kiev military district .

On May 10, the posts of deputy commanders for political affairs were abolished, and the posts of military commissars were introduced.

September 22 formed Kamenetz-Podolsk region . Shepetovsky district with the regional center of Shepetovka is included in the Kamenetz-Podolsk region.

In December, the regimental commissar I.V. was appointed military commissioner of the brigade. Zuev, the chief of staff of the brigade, major K.A. Malygin.

International assistance to the people of Spain in the fight against fascism was provided by the military personnel of the district. For the difference in battles, the Order of the Red Banner was awarded to Military Commissar I.V. Zuev.

1938 year

1st of January

Deputy brigade commander for political affairs regimental commissar I.V. Zuev, Assistant Brigade Commander for Technical Affairs M.D. Shilkrot. Chief of staff of the brigade K.A. Malygin.

On July 1, brigade commander P.V. Volokh.

On July 26, the Main Military Council of the Red Army, the Kiev Military District transformed into the Kiev Special Military District and created army groups in the district. The armored forces renumbered and renamed formations and transferred them to new states. The 15th mechanized brigade became known as the 38th light tank brigade . The brigade became part of the Vinnitsa army group .

• Commissioner (in the military unit)

1. Red Banner Kiev. Essays on the history of the Red Banner Kiev Military District (1919-1979). Second edition, revised and supplemented. Kiev, publishing house of political literature of Ukraine. 1979. S.S. 81-84-on the creation of mechanized brigades, p.88-socialist competition, p.90-Stakhanov movement, pp. 96-97-Shepetovskie teachings, p. 107-108-military commissar of the brigade I.V. Zuev, pp. 112-113-organizational activities in the KOVO, pp. 116-117-on military commissars 05/10/1937.
2. Central State Archive of the Soviet Army, f. 25899, op. 34, d.42, l. 14. On the creation of mechanized brigades.
3. Central State Archive of the Soviet Army, f. 25899, op. 34, d.27, l. 63. About the brigade commanders.
4. Central State Archive of the Soviet Army, f. 25880, op. 74, d. 135, l. 22, 86, 110, 111. Shepetian teachings.
5. Babajanyan A. Marshal of the armored forces Y. N. Fedorenko. - "Military History Journal", 1976, No. 10.

1. Yakov Nikolaevich Fedorenko
2. Pocket Atlas of the USSR of 1939. MAIN DEPARTMENT OF GEODESY and CARTOGRAPHY under the SNK of the USSR. LENINGRAD 1939