345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 345th Guards Airborne Regiment (345th PPD) of the Soviet Airborne Troops was active from 1944 to 1998. It was formed on 30 December 1944 at Lapichi, Osipovichi district, Mogilev Oblast, in the Byelorussian SSR
. In 1979, after the disbandment of 105-th Guards Airborne Division it received a Separate Regiment designation (345th OPPD).
Originally, the regiment was a part of 105th Guards Rifle Division, which then became 105th Guards Airborne Division stationed at Fergana
in the Uzbek SSR
.
The regiment was attached to 40th Army (Soviet Union)
headquartered in Kabul
, serving in Afghanistan
from the earliest days of the conflict, arriving on 14 December 1979. The Regiment was based in Bagram (it's 2nd Battalion in Bamiam (Bamian?), and later - Anab
). During the Regiment's deployment in Afghanistan, its original 1st Battalion remained on station in Fergana, Uzbek SSR, and in 1982 became the base for formation of the 387th Separate Training Regiment.
A Separate Airborne Battalion, which arrived in Afghanistan in July 1979 under the command of Guards Lieutenant Colonel Lomakin, was integrated into the 345th regiment as its new 1st Battalion. In October 1979, an incident resulting in death of KGB officer Captain Chepurnoy had occurred in this battalion, leading to transfer of command to Guards Major Pustovit.
The 345th Airborne Regiment had participated in most major operations of the conflict, including the Battle for Hill 3234
, which became the basis for the script of the movie "9th Company". On or about 11 February 1989 the regiment withdrew from Afghanistan
making it one of the very last detachments to exit the country.
After the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the regiment became part of 104th Guards Airborne Division.
The Regiment was later relocated to Gudauta
in the Abkhaz ASSR of the Georgian SSR. It took part in the April 9, 1989, crack-down on demonstrators in the centre of Tbilisi. Since August 1992 it was stationed in Gudauta
Abkhaz ASSR to participate in the Abkhaz war
. It was subsequently renamed the 50th Military Base and then the 10th Peacekeeping Airborne Regiment.
Byelorussian SSR
The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic was one of fifteen constituent republics of the Soviet Union. It was one of the four original founding members of the Soviet Union in 1922, together with the Ukrainian SSR, the Transcaucasian SFSR and the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic...
. In 1979, after the disbandment of 105-th Guards Airborne Division it received a Separate Regiment designation (345th OPPD).
Originally, the regiment was a part of 105th Guards Rifle Division, which then became 105th Guards Airborne Division stationed at Fergana
Fergana
Fergana is a city , the capital of Fergana Province in eastern Uzbekistan, at the southern edge of the Fergana Valley in southern Central Asia, cutting across the borders of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan...
in the Uzbek SSR
Uzbek SSR
The Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Uzbek SSR for short, was one of the republics of the Soviet Union since its creation in 1924...
.
The regiment was attached to 40th Army (Soviet Union)
40th Army (Soviet Union)
The 40th Army of the Soviet Union's Red Army was an army-level command active from 1941 to 1945 and then again from 1979 to circa 1990.It was first formed, after Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, had commenced, from elements of the 26th and 37th Armies under the command...
headquartered in Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
, serving in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
from the earliest days of the conflict, arriving on 14 December 1979. The Regiment was based in Bagram (it's 2nd Battalion in Bamiam (Bamian?), and later - Anab
Anab
Anab is one of the cities in the mountains of Judah, fromwhich Joshua expelled the Anakim . It stillretains its ancient name. It lies among the hills, 10 milessouth-south-west of Hebron....
). During the Regiment's deployment in Afghanistan, its original 1st Battalion remained on station in Fergana, Uzbek SSR, and in 1982 became the base for formation of the 387th Separate Training Regiment.
A Separate Airborne Battalion, which arrived in Afghanistan in July 1979 under the command of Guards Lieutenant Colonel Lomakin, was integrated into the 345th regiment as its new 1st Battalion. In October 1979, an incident resulting in death of KGB officer Captain Chepurnoy had occurred in this battalion, leading to transfer of command to Guards Major Pustovit.
The 345th Airborne Regiment had participated in most major operations of the conflict, including the Battle for Hill 3234
Battle for Hill 3234
The Battle for Hill 3234 was a defensive battle and successful military campaign fought by 345th Soviet paratroopers in Afghanistan against a force of 200 to 250 Mujahideen rebels...
, which became the basis for the script of the movie "9th Company". On or about 11 February 1989 the regiment withdrew from Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
making it one of the very last detachments to exit the country.
After the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the regiment became part of 104th Guards Airborne Division.
The Regiment was later relocated to Gudauta
Gudauta
Gudauta is a town in Abkhazia and a centre of the eponymous district. It is situated on the Black Sea, 37 km northwest to Sukhumi, the capital of Abkhazia....
in the Abkhaz ASSR of the Georgian SSR. It took part in the April 9, 1989, crack-down on demonstrators in the centre of Tbilisi. Since August 1992 it was stationed in Gudauta
Gudauta
Gudauta is a town in Abkhazia and a centre of the eponymous district. It is situated on the Black Sea, 37 km northwest to Sukhumi, the capital of Abkhazia....
Abkhaz ASSR to participate in the Abkhaz war
War in Abkhazia (1992–1993)
The War in Abkhazia from 1992 to 1993 was waged chiefly between Georgian government forces on one side and Abkhaz separatist forces supporting independence of Abkhazia from Georgia on the other side. Ethnic Georgians, who lived in Abkhazia fought largely on the side of Georgian government forces...
. It was subsequently renamed the 50th Military Base and then the 10th Peacekeeping Airborne Regiment.