Operation Aryans

During the years of the civil war in Russia, part of the Kalmyks, led by supporters of the restoration of the monarchy and local nationalists, came out on the side of the White Guards. The 80th Zyungarsky, 3rd Donskoy, 1st and 2nd Astrakhan and other White Guard Kalmyk regiments took an active part in the hostilities against units of the Red Army.

In 1920, the leaders of several Kalmyk counter-revolutionary organizations and groups, together with the Russian army of Wrangel, fled to Turkey, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, the United States, and France, where they launched active anti-Soviet work.

In the years 1927-1928. in Paris, the leader of the Kalmyk nationalists Shamba Balinov, the widow of Prince Tundutov, the former tsarist officer Abushi Alekseev, Sanji Balykov and others created the Kalmyk National Union, the main ideological platform of which was the struggle against the Soviet regime. The end result of the Union’s activities was the liberation of the Kalmyk people from the Bolsheviks.

With the outbreak of World War II, Kalmyk nationalists sharply intensified their activities.

After the start of World War II, the situation in the Kalmyk Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic became more complicated: military service began, and military-economic measures were taken to mobilize the economy. At the initiative of the party and Soviet bodies, the 110th Separate Kalmyk Cavalry Division was formed, which participated in the hostilities against the Germans.

During the summer offensive of 1942, the German-Romanian forces of Army Group “A” reached the borders of the Kalmyk ASSR. On August 12, 1942, Soviet troops left Elista, retreating in the direction of Astrakhan and Stalingrad. On August 15, 1942, Soviet troops retreated to the line Small Derbets - Lake Sarpa - State Farm Sarpinsky - Hanata . Thus, in the end, German-Romanian forces occupied most of the republic - the city of Elista and five uluses of the Kalmyk Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, three more uluses were partially occupied.

In 1942, in Berlin, the RSHA and the "Ministry of the Eastern Territories" created the "Kalmyk National Committee" ( Kalmükischen Nationalkomitee ), headed by Balinov. The main task of the committee was to attract former Soviet troops of Kalmyk nationality who were in German captivity, as well as residents of the temporarily occupied territory of the Kalmyk ASSR, to the active struggle against the USSR. At the same time, the KNK, together with the Kalmyk department of the Eastern Ministry, trained personnel for the occupied regions. Members of the KNC began active work on the recruitment of prisoners of war in the Kalmyk national legion .

In July 1942, the Kranich team was sent to the Kalmyk steppes, led by a staff member of the Abvergrupp-103, Sonderfuhrer Otto Verba . He led intelligence and counterintelligence work against the Red Army and partisans, was engaged in the formation of the Kalmyk national legion.

In September 1942, the formation of the Kalmyk cavalry squadrons began, which later became the basis for the creation of the Kalmyk cavalry corps .

In 1942, KNK chairman Balinov and German intelligence agent Baldanov arrived in Elista captured by the Germans, where they proceeded to create anti-Soviet armed groups.

After the defeat of German troops near Stalingrad and the Germans' retreat from the North Caucasus, German military intelligence began preparing sabotage and terrorist groups to leave them in the Soviet rear. For this purpose, bases and storages were created in advance with weapons, explosives, food and clothing, which the reconnaissance and sabotage groups were supposed to use. In the summer of 1944, with the help of Kalmyk collaborators, Abwehr tried to organize an anti-Soviet uprising in the Soviet rear.

German intelligence took up preparations for the operation in Kalmykia in January 1944. The operation plan was developed by the leadership of the headquarters of Valley I under the leadership of Major Hermann Bown and Marvitz. The officer of Abwehr, the commander of the Kalmyk cavalry corps, Dr. Doll (Otto Verba) and his deputy white emigrant Zubkov also took an active part in the preparation of the plan. Kalmykov from Dr. Dol’s case was prepared at the Abwehr intelligence school, located 43 km from Koenigsberg. Preparation for the operation was completed on May 15, 1944, and on the same day the whole group flew from Königsberg Airport to Romania. The transfer across the front line was carried out on October 1, 1943 on a German plane, saboteurs were parachuted.

From a certificate from the Office of the NKGB of the Astrakhan Region to a group of German scouts abandoned in Kalmykia. On October 27, 1943, on the Akim-Pesky area of ​​the Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, after a short shootout, German intelligence officers were detained:

1) Crow-Martynyuk Alexander Denisovich (nickname Alexander Titov), ​​was a radio operator, in the first days of November, 1943, was transferred to the counterintelligence Smersh SKVO.

2) Erdiev Khartskha Ochirovich (nickname Misha), born in 1914, a native of the village of Ulan-Erge, a deserter of the Red Army, retreated with the Germans in January 1943 from Kalmykia and until October 1, 1943 was serving in the Kalmyk corps as an ordinary soldier 1- 1st squadron of the 1st division.

During the detention, German intelligence agents flew out and dropped simultaneously with them:

1) Ogdonov Basang Burunovich , 28 years old, resident of the Zyungarovsky village council of the former Chernozemsky ulus of the Kalmyk Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, Kalmyk was a gang before the occupation, during the occupation in Elista he was one of the organizers of the Kalmyk volunteer squadrons, retreated with the Germans in January 1943, occupied the command position in the Kalmyk corps until the moment of abandonment.

2) Erentsov Soga, a resident of the village of Ulan-Erge, specializing in veterinarian, served as a police officer during the occupation. During a jump from an airplane, as established by the investigation, it crashed.

3) Khalgaev Muda Abushevich, born in 1916, served as a police officer during the occupation, was in the service in the Kalmyk corps.

During the arrest, Martynyuk and Erdniev were confiscated: the German Duplex radio, code, code, Nagan revolver and TT pistol. All other saboteurs were armed with TT rifles and pistols. The transferred scouts had the task:

• To establish contact with gangs operating in the territory of Kalmykia, to intensify their activities.
• To establish the presence of military units in Kalmykia, their deployment, strength and armament.
• To find an air landing pad and a place for possible storage of fuel for aircraft.
• To study the political mood of the population of Kalmykia.
• To inform German intelligence on all issues, as well as systematically radiate the weather.

Ogdonov’s group was defeated, the radio operator was captured, Ogdonov himself managed to escape.

On June 28, 1944, from the NKVD of the USSR, a copy of the memorandum was received in the name of the head of the Main Directorate of Counterintelligence Smersh of the NPO of the USSR for HF:

From Astrakhan. Moscow. NKVD USSR -Comrade Beria. As a result of the 5-day persecution, a group of saboteurs consisting of 9 people landed on May 23 was discovered by our operational-military group and eliminated 55 km northwest of the village of Yaskul. During the battle 3 paratroopers were killed, 6. captured. Weapons seized. There are no losses on our part. A group of detainees is sent to Yaskul. All detainees will be questioned. The results of the interrogation will be announced later. The head of the GUKR Smersh V. S. Abakumov on the same day handed over the document to the 3rd department of the GUKR, Colonel V. Ya. Baryshnikov ^[1] .

The group, led by Captain Abwehr Kwast, aka von Sceller , consisted of 33 people, of which 19 sabotage agents, 4 radio operators, 7 German crew members. Fighter aircraft were immediately called to the landing area of ​​the German aircraft and the task forces of the NKVD and the NKGB of the Astrakhan Region were sent. As a result of the measures taken, the enemy aircraft was detected and set on fire. The landing and the crew showed armed resistance during the detention. During the ensuing exchange of fire, 7 people were destroyed (of which 3 were crew members), and 12 were taken prisoner (of which 6 pilots). The remaining 14 people were able to escape.

“The enemy sabotage group is being thrown out, May 23, p. g. north of the village of Utta. Prepared and sent to our rear ("Valley I") with the task: 1. Create a powerful radio center (radio residency), with which to connect a number of radio points available on our side and prepared for disposal. 2. To prepare further transfers of agents and insurgent groups, moreover, these transfers are supposed to be carried out on a large scale. The rebel movement was to be led by Dr. Doll. 3. Contact local Kalmyk bandits ” ^[2] .

After landing, 9 Kalmyks, by order of Kvast, headed towards Chigir in search of horses. Team leader Kvast, after landing, gave a telegram about the safe arrival. The group was prepared and sent to the Soviet rear by the German intelligence agency "Valley-1" in order to prepare a base in Kalmykia for the subsequent transfer of 36 squadrons of the so-called "Kalmyk corps of Dr. Dol" and the organization of an uprising among Kalmyks, in addition, Sceller's group was to contact with Ogdonov’s group . At the first interrogation, the group’s senior captain Scheller spoke about the group’s mission and plans for German military intelligence:

The operation led by me pursued two goals, namely: the establishment of a transmission center, which was supposed to receive messages from radio agents who were to be thrown into the eastern regions of the USSR, who could not contact the German intelligence agencies directly with their low-power transmitters. 2 The gradual abandonment of 36 squadrons of the Kalmyk corps of Dr. Doll for the organization and development of the national rebel movement, which, according to Abwehr, takes place in Kalmykia. For this task it was necessary to create air communications and opportunities for landing aircraft. To accomplish the task of installing radio communications, the group had a 40-watt transmitter mounted together with the antenna and receiver in a brown suitcase. After the main station had been reliably set up, Valley 1 had to drop intelligence agents into various regions of Eastern Russia. These agents would have to transmit radio reports to our main station. As far as I know from Bown, the agents would work in full confidence that she would transmit information directly to Germany ^[3] .

At the second interrogation, Sceller testified:

Regarding the actions of Kalmyk groups, the following should be said. The first two groups, landing on May 23, 1944, were to become the vanguard, establish contact with supposedly existing national rebel groups, and ensure the safety of the main radio station. The following equipment was allocated: per person 1 automatic with two disks, 3 hand grenades, full uniforms, a saddle, harness. This equipment (also a light machine gun) was delivered on May 23, 1944. In addition, both groups were allocated: 2 Maxim machine guns, 2 light machine guns, 16 rifles. All weapons were of Russian origin. These weapons remained in Tsilistey and should arrive on May 27, and also should arrive about 40 bales of luggage, in which there were about 10 thousand rounds of ammunition in machine gun belts; about 10 thousand cartridges for rifles; 15-20 thousand rounds for machine guns; several boxes with Russian hand grenades; medicines and dressings; 60 kg of shag and 100 days of food ^[3] .

Scheller managed to transmit to the intelligence center a radio message about a successful landing. In Moscow at Lubyanka, this circumstance was not left without attention. Having information about the nature of the task assigned to the detachment, as well as the captured ciphers, radio equipment and radio operators, it was decided to start a radio game with an abwehr, code-named "Aryans". In addition, counterintelligence officers came to the conclusion that the Germans apparently did not know about the decision of the Soviet government to resettle Kalmyks inland. To participate in the radio game with the Abwehr, it was decided to involve the senior group of Eberhard von Sceller and the radio operator of the plane, Lieutenant Hans Hansen, who, for the purpose of conspiracy, the Smersh operatives assigned the aliases "Beard" and "Colonizer," respectively.

“Kvast” is an old scout - he knows well the work and personnel of the Abwehr. For a long time he worked in Sweden. Has a connection and authority in the German intelligence agencies. Although he is pro-Hitler-tuned, yet, given his involvement in the destruction of the aircraft, he (possibly) can be recruited and used in the future. In any case, he can give valuable evidence that cannot be taken from him during the game ^[4] .

On May 30, 1944, the first radiogram was sent to Abwehr:

Landing at 0.4.55 Moscow time. At 12.40 the attack of Russian fighters. Yu destroyed. The necessary equipment was saved, without water and food. Gremer, Khanlapov, Bespalov, Mukhin, two Kalmyks killed. Lieutenant Wagner, Chief Sergeant Miller injured. We crossed the one position - the sands, the district of Yashkul. The situation is favorable, contacted with partisans, security is provided. Kalmyk intelligence found out that the Russians noticed Yu’s landing. From Stalingrad and Astrakhan fighters sent. Mistake Yu - to sit in the afternoon, sat for a long time, it is necessary at night. We are preparing the site. Do not take measures until I fully clarify the situation. Radio operator using Lieutenant Hansen. I am listening to you according to plan. I ask for the instructions of Kvast ^[5] .

Scheller persuaded Hanzen to warn the German command of the work under the control of the Soviet special services. But Hansen did not succumb to persuasion. In his memoirs, he recalled his presence in Soviet captivity and participation in a radio game:

I want to state that, as an officer, I have not seen a disgracing or degrading relationship, except for the behavior of the police during the captivity. On the contrary, I met straightforward and fair people whom we had previously been described in a completely different way. I still cannot make judgments about the Soviet Union, since I know too little of the country and its institutions. If the country makes the same pleasant impression on me as officers and soldiers made on me, then we can say that any nation will consider itself happy, having friendship with the Soviet Union ^[5] .

In the course of the radio game, the enemy’s misinformation about the “successes” of the Kvast detachment continued: establishing contact with five small gang groups and the Ogdonov detachment operating in Kalmykia. At the same time, they indicated the exact location of the Kvast detachment and demanded help: “To the head of the body. Thank you for your congratulations. As a reserve of radio operators I need Zakharov, Blok, Kosarev, Mailer. Due to difficult communication conditions, use only the best radio operators. Intelligence met five small partisan detachments without ammunition. Ogdonov has 85 horsemen, poorly armed. I could not gather small groups around me. Authoritative leadership is needed. The first aircraft products, money, two sets of landing lights, ammunition, weapons, radio operators. When to wait for the plane. "

After informing the enemy of detailed data on the landing site and its symbols with lights at night on June 9, 1944, the enemy transmitted the following message:

“The delivery was probably at night 11.6. All necessary will follow. Landing and taking of the crew with the appropriate designation of the site. An identification mark and a final decision will follow. Captain".

The Soviet command decided to report on the persecution and destruction of Ogdonov’s group:

To the head of the body. The situation here is completely unbearable. Ogdonov’s detachment is broken, Kalmyks refuse to help us. Forced according to the agreement to make his way to the rebels in the Western Caucasus, from where, possibly, to Romania. I will be forced to leave a few people from the crew due to illness and the inability to transport them to the Kalmyks, to whom I will explain that I am going to Germany to personally get help and strengthening. I ask for sanction or counter-order within 3 days, because I can’t wait any longer. Quast ^[5] .

On August 14, an affirmative answer was received from Abwehr. The German command Kvast was invited to move to them on the front line. On August 18, a radiogram was sent to the Germans:

Today, southwest of Bergin, a skirmish with a detachment of the NKVD. Being without ammunition, they were saved only on horseback. We continue the march in a southwestern direction. I do not foresee success. Thirst and hunger torment. In case of death take care of our families. Quast ^[5] .

Then the 2nd radiogram was sent to Abwehr.

Начальнику органа. Калмыки изменили, мы остались одни, без боеприпасов, продуктов и воды. Гибель неизбежна. Предотвратить ничем не можем. Мы свой долг выполнили до конца. Во всем считаем виновным Вас и Марвиц. Абсурдность операции была очевидна ещё до её начала. Почему нам не помогли. Кваст ^[5] .

Последняя радиопередача состоялась 20 августа 1944 года, текст в середине специально был оборван

Нас преследуют. Кругом пески и соль. Вынуждены изменить маршрут. Мучает жажда.

В ходе операции «Арийцы» немцам было отправлено 42 сообщения и получено в ответ 23. Были уничтожены 2 тяжёлых самолёта и захвачены их двигатели, находившиеся в хорошем состоянии, 12 человек были ликвидированы, 21 задержаны. Из рапорта о ходе проведения радиоигры «Арийцы» от 12 июня 1944 года:

В процессе проводимой органами СМЕРШ радиоигры по делу «Арийцы» был вызван для посадки в район поселка Песчаный (бывший Яшкуль) самолет противника. 12 июня с. г. в 02-00 после выброски 5 парашютистов, 20 мест с оружием, боеприпасами и продовольствием 4-моторный самолет противника «Ю-290» произвел посадку и попал в устроенную заранее ловушку. После 15-минутного боя и попыток вырваться из ловушки самолет загорелся, по-видимому, подожжен экипажем. Принятыми противопожарными мерами удалось спасти левую плоскость с двумя дизель-моторами и хвостовую часть самолета. В обломках обнаружены 6 почти сгоревших трупов. Один летчик — штабфельдфебель Энб, успевший выскочить из самолета, застрелился. Из числа выброшенных парашютистов задержаны 3 человека: Бацбурин, по национальности татарин, кличка «Хакимов»; Цокаев, по национальности осетин, клички «Марков» и «Кожевников»; Росимов, по национальности татарин, клички «Шаримов», «Гайдулин». Четвёртый парашютист, Бадмаев, кличка «Санпилов», по национальности монгол, при приземлении разбился насмерть. Пятый парашютист, калмык по национальности, направленный немцами в качестве охраны радистов, разыскивается.

Шеллер оставил любопытный документ — письмо:

«Господин генерал! Я добровольно предложил свои услуги русской контрразведке и работал честно и упорно над выполнением весьма секретного задания. В итоге нашей совместной работы достигнут известный успех: был сбит гигантский немецкий транспортный самолет „Ю-290“, а пассажиры, и среди них 4 немецких агента, попали в руки русской контрразведки. Я желал бы и в дальнейшем также честно и добросовестно работать над выполнением заданий русской контрразведки. Я прошу поэтому Вашего согласия на включение меня в агентурную сеть советской контрразведывательной службы. Я обязуюсь безупречно хранить тайны органа, на который, возможно, буду работать, также и в том случае, если мне придется действовать против немецкой разведки. В случае Вашего согласия прошу присвоить мне псевдоним „Лор“. Место дислокации. 17.06.44. Э. фон Шеллер» ^[6] .

Шеллер рассчитывал, что его оставят в живых, но по решению Особого совещания при НКВД СССР от 20 октября 1945 года за шпионаж он был приговорен к расстрелу. Приговор приведен в исполнение 2 ноября 1945 года.

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