Today, the Rear of the Armed Forces, which is, in a certain sense, a link between the country's economy and the army and navy themselves, is an integral part of the state's defense complex, and the military administration bodies, services, military units, and institutions that make up this complex at all levels collectively form an effective system for providing support to the troops and forces. It is clear from this that the success of the current stage of the Armed Forces' reform in the current conditions largely depends on the standard of living of our soldiers and officers.

I am sure that many people will agree with me that there are no training tasks for the Rear of the Armed Forces even in peacetime. A missile or an airplane cannot be conditionally fueled, and a soldier cannot be conditionally equipped or conditionally fed. In both wartime and peacetime, we are expected to provide real and comprehensive support. This is achieved through the high level of responsibility and conscientious performance of our duties. The upbringing of rear-area soldiers based on historical traditions plays a significant role in this process.

Military history work is necessary primarily to enrich the present day with the experience of the past. The reform of the Russian Armed Forces is currently on everyone's lips. Not so long ago, we had the opportunity to work extensively on an interesting project called "The Image of the Rear in 2005." Various options were considered, and the structure of the management bodies was critically evaluated. In this process, we relied on the experience of the past. History helped us answer many questions, such as whether a Rear Headquarters was necessary. The fact is that in 1949, by the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR dated June 18, 1949, "On the Reorganization of the Rear Services of the Armed Forces of the USSR," the Rear Services Headquarters was disbanded. In its place, the Rear Services Directorate was established, which inherited a small portion of the former headquarters' functions. However, it became evident that it was nearly impossible to manage such a vast organization, consisting of all the services under the Chief of the Rear Services, without a headquarters. Consequently, the headquarters was reinstated in April 1953. So, is there any point in repeating old mistakes? History itself has answered this question.

We are engaged in historical work for the sake of the future. We are turning to our origins not only to celebrate the 300th anniversary, but also to have a clear vision of the future development of the Armed Forces' Rear, and to improve the educational work aimed at uniting military units.

In the Russian army, including in the logistics units, the formation of high moral and combat qualities and psychological stability among

page 59

A great deal of attention was paid to the training of military personnel. This training was conducted both during combat exercises and in the course of daily military operations. For example, the training of the rank-and-file soldiers focused on preserving the traditions of teaching the troops what was necessary for war, fostering a sense of religiosity, loyalty to the throne and the Fatherland, and conscious obedience to commanders and the requirements of the military oath. The training of all categories of military personnel on military traditions, particularly the traditions of military heroism, played a crucial role in developing their high moral and psychological qualities.

One of the first steps towards strengthening the spiritual strength of the rear military personnel was the introduction of their own professional holiday, the Day of the Rear of the Armed Forces. In recognition of the contributions made by the personnel during the Great Patriotic War, as well as their effective efforts in providing logistical support for the combat training of troops and naval forces in peacetime, the Minister of Defense has ordered that this holiday will now be celebrated annually on August 1. This date was chosen for a reason. The fact is that from the time of the establishment of the central rear and supply bodies in Russia in 1700-1701, in the form of the Proviant, Military, and Artillery Orders, until the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, there was no unified centralized management of the rear support of the troops. In 1941, the first weeks of fighting convinced the country's leadership and the Armed Forces of the need to address this issue.

By the Decree of the State Defense Committee dated July 28, 1941, and by the Order of the People's Commissar of Defense dated August 1, 1941, the Main Directorate of the Red Army's Rear, the Directorates of the Rear of the Fronts and Armies, and the positions of the Chief of the Rear of the Red Army, the Chiefs of the Rear of the Fronts and Armies were established. Subsequently, the positions of Chiefs of the Rear were established in military districts, fleets, and all branches of the Armed Forces. The expediency of this decision has been confirmed by almost six decades of the history of the development of the rear support for the army and navy. This is why August 1 is designated as the Day of the Rear of the Armed Forces. Given that the rear was established in the early 18th century, we will celebrate its 300th anniversary in 2000.

Every today's rear-line soldier can rightfully be proud of their military historical heritage. Our soldiers and officers have repeatedly carried the heavy burden of war. Consider and appreciate the fact that during the Great Patriotic War, rear-line workers delivered 42 million shells and mines, about 17 billion rounds of ammunition, more than 40 million tons of food and fodder, and over 16.4 million tons of fuel to the active army. For the needs of the front-line personnel, the Red Army's rear provided 38 million overcoats, 73 million t-shirts, and 64 million pairs of shoes. The total volume of military transportation reached 19.7 million wagons. The rear units restored 120,000 kilometers of railway materials, 100,000 kilometers of roads, and 6,000 airfields. Over 10.5 million wounded soldiers and nearly 7 million sick soldiers were returned to active duty after treatment. According to our data, 68 rear-line soldiers became Heroes of the Soviet Union and recipients of the Order of Glory in three degrees, and 41 became Heroes of Socialist Labor. Tens of thousands were awarded orders and medals. Rear-line soldiers continue to receive the highest awards today. For example, Irina Yanina, a nurse. She was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Russia for her courage and bravery in the counter-terrorism operation near the Dagestani village of Karamakhi. Under fire from the militants, Irina provided first aid and evacuated 28 wounded soldiers from the area. The militants damaged the ambulance armored vehicle. The brave nurse rushed to rescue the wounded soldiers. When the militants attempted to capture them, Yanina forced them to retreat with her machine gun. The militants then opened fire on the armored vehicle with a grenade launcher. Irina pulled an officer and two soldiers out of the burning car. A powerful explosion caught her as she was saving another wounded man...

In order to educate our personnel on the best examples of selflessness, we must know all of our heroes and outstanding figures in the Rear of the Armed Forces. Among those who will forever remain in our memory and ranks are the first Chief of the Rear of the Armed Forces, General of the Army A.V. Khrulev, Colonel-General M.N. Milovsky, General of the Army S.S. Maryakhin, Marshals of the Soviet Union I.Kh. Bagramyan and S.K. Kurkotkin, and Colonel-General V.I. Vinogradov, who laid the foundations for the modern Rear of our army.

A retrospective review of the 300-year history of the Russian, Soviet, and Russian Army's Rear has helped us, based on our accumulated experience, to look into the future and answer the question of what the Rear of the Armed Forces should look like in the twenty-first century. In turn, the preparations for the anniversary celebration have contributed to the preservation and revival of military traditions and the strengthening of patriotism among military personnel. I would like to mention just a few of the activities carried out by the Rear of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in preparation for the anniversary. So, a lot of work was carried out to clarify and prepare historical records, descriptions of structural changes in the main and central departments of the Ministry of Defense, subordinate to the Chief of the Armed Forces Rear, parts and institutions of the rear of central subordination, rear universities. Thematic expositions of museums in the rear departments of the Armed Forces, districts, and fleets were created and updated... In 1977, the rear museum of the North Caucasus Military District was established with a permanent exhibition "History of the Army Rear". Colonel General V.I. Isakov, Chief of the Russian Armed Forces' Logistics Department and Deputy Minister of Defense, who visited the museum, noted that no other museum in the country has such an exhibition. Its main advantage is that, although it is a miniature, it comprehensively reflects the historical path of the entire Rear of the Armed Forces from Peter the Great's time to the present day, and should serve as an important means of fostering a sense of patriotism and loyalty among our soldiers. In 1998, the Rear Museum of the Baltic Fleet was established.

A great deal of work has been done in all districts and fleets to reflect the historical milestones of the rear in visual propaganda. As a result, the interest of personnel in history is growing every day. For example, in 1998 alone, more than 40,000 people visited the museums of the rear services, including more than 21,000 at the Museum of Military Uniforms, more than 10,000 at the Military Medical Museum, and more than 2,000 at the Food Service Museum. The Museum of the Fuel Service and the Military-Historical Museum of the Veterinary and Sanitary Service have more than 1,000 visitors, while the museums of other rear units, formations, and institutions have about 5,000 visitors. Today, the number of visitors to these institutions has increased even further. Additionally, not only military personnel but also the general public can now explore the history of the development of the rear structures of the army and navy at the Central Museum of the Armed Forces, which features a permanent exhibition on the rear.

In 1999, the central military tourist base of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation "Terskol" hosted the "Elbrusiad-99", dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the Home Front of the Armed Forces. About fifty people took part in the mass ascent of military tourists and mountaineers from districts and fleets to the highest peaks in Europe. Traditional capsules with texts of messages to posterity were placed on both peaks of Elbrus. In the same year, military tourists climbed to the top of Mount Aibga at the Krasnaya Polyana tourism and recreation center, where the appropriate symbols were delivered.

The 300th anniversary of the Rear of the Armed Forces has become an important milestone for all our military personnel in understanding the rich historical experience. However, this is not the end of our military-historical work. As we embark on the practical implementation of the plan to reform the rear support system, it is the responsibility of the educational institutions to mobilize people. The rich history of the Rear of the Russian, Soviet, and Russian armies will continue to be an important element of our meticulous educational efforts.

page 60

Постоянный адрес данной публикации: