Tank brigade "Revolutionary Mongolia" and the squadron "Mongolian Arat" in the war against Nazi Germany.
Mongolia declared war on fascist Germany on the very first day of the Great Patriotic War. On June 22, 1941, the Central Committee of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, the Presidium of the Small Khural and the Council of Ministers of the Mongolian People's Republic adopted a joint declaration: “All the people of our freedom-loving and independent republic, bound by bonds of blood inviolable friendship with the Soviet people, will condemn this treacherous act with the deepest contempt. Nazi Germany, will respond with the utmost strengthening of friendship between the Soviet and Mongolian peoples, will be faithful to the obligations assumed under the agreement on mutual assistance concluded on March 12, 1936."
This agreement was sealed with the blood of Soviet and Mongolian soldiers who fought together against the Japanese militarists in the battles on Khalkhin Gol in 1939. In Tokyo, they planned to occupy Mongolia and reach Irkutsk and the shores of Lake Baikal, thereby preparing favorable conditions for the invasion of German troops from the west. The victory of the Soviet and Mongolian soldiers thwarted these plans.
Mongolia did not have a developed industry, so it could not supply the Soviet Union with large quantities of tanks or aircraft. The funds raised by the Mongolian workers were used to create the Revolutionary Mongolia tank brigade and the Mongolian Arat squadron. Mongolian tanks became part of the 112th Red Banner Tank Brigade and at the then exchange rate cost almost 4 million Soviet rubles, which was a huge amount for a small Mongolia.
Mongolia had a lot of livestock and livestock raw materials (wool, leather, cashmere). Officer white sheepskin coats, which are often shown in Soviet films about the war, have become an iconic mark of Mongolian aid to the Red Army. The very first echelon in November 1941 from Mongolia to the USSR delivered 15 thousand of these sheepskin coats, as well as felt boots, quilted jackets, mittens, scarves and other winter things made of sheepskin, leather, camel, goat and yak wool.
The second echelon in February 1942 brought for the 49th Army of the Western Front, Marshal Zhukov, 148 tons of meat, 80 tons of sausages, canned horse meat and beef, goat meat, bread, butter, chrome boots, belts, traditional nehiy khantaz (Mongolian woolen and fur vests), gloves, wadded trousers, warm sheep blankets, hats and thousands of meters of the famous Mongolian felt for yurts (it was especially appreciated by the Soviet partisans).
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The third echelon in November 1942 consisted of 236 carriages, accompanied by forty Mongolian delegates. In addition to hundreds of tons of meat, jam, milk, butter and winter clothes, they delivered ready-made felt yurts, ski hats, leather coats, raincoats, soldiers' boots, saddles for Soviet cavalry, hospital and work shoes, etc. to the Soviet Union.
In March 1943, the fourth echelon arrived with 12 thousand pairs of boots, 10 thousand greatcoats, 500 pairs of shoes for pilots, 3 thousand wadded jackets and trousers, 1 thousand cavalry saddles, 30 tons of soap, yurts, knives, tobacco. From products - hundreds of tons of poultry and gazelle (Mongolian antelope) meat, oil, wine, biscuits.
In November 1943 and January 1945, the fifth and sixth echelons arrived. In addition to the usual products, they delivered a large number of personal gifts to Soviet soldiers from Mongolian friends.
The supplies of unpretentious and hardy Mongol horses were strategically important for the Soviet army and economy. The losses of the USSR in horses during the war years were estimated at 8 million heads! In total, the Mongols supplied half a million horses to the USSR. They were distributed among personnel and partisan formations, and made up for the ruined farms in Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia. The legendary horsemen of General Pliev also fought on Mongol horses.
Soviet cavalry on Mongol horses in Berlin.
Engeliin Badam, a shepherd woman who gave the front in distant Russia 16 camels, 93 horses, 1600 sheep and 10 thousand, entered the history of Mongolia. By November 1941, five infantry divisions were equipped with Mongolian winter uniforms, preparing for a counteroffensive near Moscow. In 1942-1945, every fifth Soviet soldier wore a Mongolian overcoat. Three thousand Mongolian volunteers fought in the ranks of the Red Army.
Small, poor Mongolia began to provide assistance to the Soviet Union before the American Lend-Lease. The supplies consisted of vital items, while the Western allies, in order not to give the Soviet army an early advantage over the Nazis, sent razor blades to the trenches instead of warm clothes and weapons.
When a well-fed, arrogant Europe sinks to the desecration of monuments to Soviet soldiers-liberators and denial of the decisive contribution of Soviet soldiers to the victory over fascism, the memory of the Great Patriotic War is sacredly honored in poor little Mongolia.
Author: VLADISLAV GULEVICH