8th tank brigade

The 8th Tank Brigade is formed on the basis of the Directive Deputy. NKO No. 725373ss of September 14, 1941 in Kosteryovo from the remaining divisions of the 32nd ^[2] and 2nd Panzer Divisions. It included a double-tank tank regiment, a motorized rifle battalion, an anti-aircraft artillery battalion, and three separate companies (reconnaissance, control and combat support).

The 8th Tank Brigade was staffed mainly by volunteer workers of the Kirov Leningrad Plant ^[3]

At the beginning of hostilities in service had 61 tanks, including: 7 KV , 22 T-34 and 32 T-40 .

Kalinin defensive operation. Moscow Battle (1941–1942)

September 14 Colonel Rotmistrov was appointed commander of the 8th Tank Brigade. In late September, the brigade was transferred to the North-Western Front and became part of the 11th Army .

The 8th tp (1st tb major Road, 2nd tb Baskakov) in the early morning unloaded at st. Valdai There are 61 tanks in the regiment, including 7 KV, 22 T-34 and 32 light T-40 ^[4] .

Immediately joined the battle for the village Luzhno. Then, until October 13, she fought on the Demyansk direction .

In October, a brigade consisting of a tank regiment and a motorized rifle battalion made a march 250 kilometers from Valdai to Dumanovo and on October 14 approached the village of Staroye Kalikino near Kalinin . Concentrating on the Leningradskoye Highway on the Mednoe -Kalinin sector, along with other formations from the operational group of General Vatutin , the 8th Tank Brigade, during the Kalinin defensive operation, fought for several days with the enemy who had occupied the city of Kalinin and were trying to reach the rear through the Mednoye- Torzhok North-Western Front .

On October 10, 1941, the 41st motorized corps of the 3rd tank group launched an offensive against Kalinin. For mobile units advancing infantry divisions. ^[five]

On October 12, advanced motorized enemy units approached Kalinin ^[5] .

On October 16, the 3rd Panzer Group part of the {16} forces launched an offensive from Kalinin in the northwestern direction to Torzhok , which was covered only by the 8th Tank Brigade and motorcycle regiment from the group of General NF Vatutin ^[3] .

On October 16, the enemy struck a strong blow from the area of ​​the Doroshikh railway station on Nikolo-Malitsa , during which the defense of the 934th Infantry Regiment was broken through, and by the end of the day the enemy had gone to the Medny area. The brigade under the command of Rotmistrov was ordered to go to Polustov, located 8 km north-west of Medniy, and prevent the enemy from advancing further to Torzhok. In carrying out this task, after breaking through part of the enemy’s tanks and motorcycles to Maryino and capturing the crossing of the Logovizh River, Rotmistrov decided to withdraw the brigade to the Likhoslavl area.

On October 17, the enemy captured Marino, dropping the 8th tank brigade to the Likhoslavl area ^[3] .

For October 16-17, the brigade caused serious damage to the enemy, destroying 22 tanks, 8 armored vehicles, 6 anti-tank guns and to the infantry battalion ^[3] .

In a combat report addressed to Colonel-General I. S. Konev of the Rotmistrov, he justified his decision in the following way:

“I inform you that 8 tbr on October 17th was attacked by the enemy’s tank division, with the support of motorcyclists and aviation, which bombed the brigade all daylight hours at 17.10. Owing to my open right flank and superior forces, the enemy managed to break through with. Copper across the river. Tvertsa and seize the second crossing at Marino across the river. Logovyzh. By virtue of the prevailing general situation, the general withdrawal of the Red Army units from this area, I made a castling and concentrated a brigade 12-15 km north-east of Likhoslavl, in the forest, directly east of Potochkino. ”

Colonel-General Konev, in a telegram addressed to Lieutenant-General Vatutin, demanded "Rotmistrov for failing to comply with the combat order and unauthorized departure from the battlefield with the brigade to arrest and bring to justice the military tribunal."

Lieutenant General Vatutin, assessing the situation and the position of the remaining formations of the task force, demanded from Rotmistrov:

“Immediately, without losing a single hour of time, return to Likhoslavl, where, together with the units of 185 sd , strike swiftly at Mednoy, destroy the enemy groups that had broken through, and seize Mednoy. It's time to end with cowardice! "

Soon, as part of the Kalinin Front, the 8th Tank Brigade took part in the winter counterattack of the Soviet troops near Moscow , distinguished itself during the liberation of the city of Klin . During the offensive, the brigade went as far as Rzhev .

On January 11, 1942, the 8th Tank Brigade was transformed into the 3rd Guards Tank Brigade for mass heroism of its personnel, and its commander, Colonel Rotmistrov, on May 5 was awarded the Order of Lenin .

Brigade Commanders

• Colonel Rotmistrov Pavel Alekseevich - September 14, 1941 - January 11, 1942 ^[2]

Brigade Chiefs

• Major Lyubetsky Mikhail Antonovich - September 14, 1941 - October 17, 1941 ^[2]

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