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Separate Semyonovsky Rifle Regiment / 130th motorized rifle brigade

The Semyonovsky Regiment of the Western Military District is a unique unit, currently in which the military personnel of the military unit provide protection for the facilities of the Ministry of Defense. The elite units are recruited with excellent reputation, height from 175 to 190 cm, athletic build, without tattoos, with good eyesight and hearing. The Preobrazhensky and Semyonovsky regiments are one of the most famous formations of the Russian army until the 20th century. They were created in 1691 on the basis of the "amusing troops" with whom the young Peter I studied military affairs. It was these two regiments that became the base for the creation of a new regular army, organized according to European standards.

The formation of the Preobrazhensky and Semyonovsky regiments is closely intertwined with the emergence of the Russian guard. Following modern trends in military affairs, Peter I understood hat the heart of any army should be a guard - professional, well-trained and well-armed troops. This is exactly what the former "funny troops" became.

There was no reliable information about the structure of the "amusing" regiments, but it is known that their number, which was initially 50 people, was rapidly increasing, and as a result it was decided to transfer part of the troops to the village of Semyonovskoye. Since 1683, not only young men, but also adult men were enrolled in the ranks of the "amusing" ones. Peter I developed the first in the history of Russia a special program of military vocational guidance for young men, including not only physical training, but also patriotic education. The young men were taught the skills of using weapons, carrying out guard and intelligence services, they comprehended the history of the Russian state and learned about the military potential of the countries neighboring Russia. A whole "funny town" called Pressburg was erected in the village of Preobrazhenskoye near Moscow - to practice maneuvering troops on the ground and learn how to storm fortresses.

In 1691, Peter I decided to transform the amusing troops into two separate regiments. So, amusing from the village of Semyonovskoye began to be called the Life Guards Semyonovsky Regiment, and the amusing villages of Preobrazhenskoye - the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment. The baptism of fire for the newly formed regiments was the campaign to the Turkish fortress of Azov in 1695, made to establish Russian domination in the Crimea and to open access to the Black Sea during the military confrontation between Russia and Turkey.

Already in the first battle with the Swedes, the guards managed to distinguish themselves. In a fierce battle near Narva, Peter's troops held back the superior forces of the Swedes for more than three hours. So, each soldier of the Semyonovsky regiment was awarded a silver medal for participating in the 13-hour assault on the Noteburg fortress captured by the Swedes (now the Russian city of Shlisselburg). In addition, the soldiers of the Preobrazhensky and Semyonovsky regiments saved the Russian army from complete defeat by the Swedes during the Battle of Narva in 1700. For their resilience, the Transfiguration and Semyonovites were awarded red stockings, as a symbol of the fact that the soldiers were able to withstand "knee-deep in blood," and for several years this element of uniform was a distinctive feature of the guardsmen.

Peter I strove to single out the guard and, by his decrees, gave it a special status. So the guardsmen had differences in military uniform. Many people know the legend about the red stockings of the guards, who were granted to them as an element of the uniform for the fact that they “stood knee-deep in blood” near Narva. Moreover, any guardsman is considered one rank, and since 1722 - two whole ranks higher than the usual army rank. Also, in the guard, a double allowance is introduced for the lower ranks and one and a half for officers.

In 1700 it was named Life Guards Semyonovsky regiment (Along the palace near Moscow Semenovskoye, where it was originally stationed). During the war of 1700-21 the regiment in 1700 acted heroically near Narva, in 1703 it distinguished itself during the siege of Nyenskans and during the capture of the Swedes. ships at the mouth of the Neva, was in the Prut campaign in 1711, dep. units - in the wars with Turkey (1735-39) and Sweden (1741-43 and 1788-90). In full force, the regiment took part in the wars with France (1805, 1806-07, 1812-14), Turkey (1828-29 and 1877-78).

From 1723 the regiment was located in St. Petersburg, and from 1739 - in the regimental settlement on the territory between the present Zagorodny Avenue, Zvenigorodskaya Street, Obvodny Canal. and Moskovsky ave. In 1797-1809 on the territory. around the regimental parade ground (now Pionerskaya Square), along Zagorodny Avenue, Ruzovskaya and Zvenigorodskaya streets, regiment barracks were built (architect F.I.Volkov under the direction of architect F.I.Demertsov). Regimental temple - Vvedensky Cathedral (destroyed in 1932). From the name occurs Semenovsky bridge across the river. Fontanka and Semyonovskaya square.

In 1820 unrest broke out in the regiment. In 1820, the Semyonovsky regiment, dissatisfied with the exorbitant severity and exactingness of the new regiment commander, revolted, but was surrounded and sent to the Peter and Paul Fortress under escort. At the behest of the imp Alexander I, it was decided to dismiss the Semyonovsky regiment - that is, transfer the soldiers to serve in other regiments, and some of the higher ranks were sentenced to military court. The new Semyonovsky regiment was created from officers of other grenadier regiments and was considered a young guard, and only three years later it was restored to its previous rights.

In 1905, the Semyonovsky regiment took part in the suppression of the Dec. armed uprising in Moscow, his detachment carried out a punitive expedition along the Moscow-Kazan railway. The Commander of these actions, Regiment Major General G.A. Min in 1906 was killed by a member of the Party of Socialist-Revolutionaries Z. V. Konoplyannikova on the platform Art. New Peterhof. During the 1st World War 1914-18, the regiment as part of the 1st Guards infantry sent to the South-West. the front, left in Petersburg, the reserve battalion in the summer of 1917 was deployed to the Guards.

During the First World War, the Preobrazhensky and Semyonovsky regiments took a direct part in the Battle of Galicin, the Battle of Mazury, the Warsaw-Ivangorod and Lublin operation, the Brusilov breakthrough and many other military battles. The soldiers of the Semyonovsky regiment took an active part in the December uprising in Moscow in 1905. The Semyonovites took part in suppressing the rebellion, for which they earned the praise of Emperor Nicholas II. In 1917, the Semyonovsky regiment was renamed the 3rd Petrograd Uritsky City Guard Regiment and stood on the side of the Soviet regime, however, during the spring offensive on Petrograd, some of the officers went over to the side of the White Guards. As a result, at the beginning of 1918, the regiment was abolished, and later, in 1925, some of the participants were arrested by the Soviet authorities and shot.

The 130th separate motorized rifle brigade received the honorary name "Semyonovsky " in the spring of 2013, when the corresponding decree was signed by the President of the Russian Federation. Russian leader Vladimir Putin spoke 12 December 2012 about the need to revive the Preobrazhensky and Semyonovsky regiments, since "the fighting spirit of the Armed Forces rests on traditions, on a living connection with history, on examples of heroes' courage and self-sacrifice." According to the President of the Russian Federation, it is absolutely necessary to return from oblivion the glorified and legendary military units and formations, which for some reason remained in the past. "The Minister of Defense must submit appropriate proposals," the head of state added in his message to the Federal Assembly.

Such an initiative is expected to increase the self-awareness of soldiers as the historical successors of the noble guards, as well as increase the status and attractiveness of military service in the army for boys. In addition, it is planned that the Transfiguration and Semyonovites who graduated from military service will teach patriotism lessons in school institutions. If the renaming experience is successful, then in the future, perhaps, other military units will also carry the banners of the renowned Life Guards regiments.