"Неугасимое пламя памяти "

                                                        -3-

55 people who participated in battles on the territory of North Ossetia, were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. Among them Russian Konstantin Novikov and Alexander Eagles, Ukrainians Vasily Maksimenko and Ivan Pilipenko, Belarus Nikolai Naumchik, the Georgians Vladimir  Lorsmanishvily and Alexey Pirmisashvily, Armenian Dzagan Karakhyan, Azerbaijani Idris Suleimenov, Abkhazians Vargan Gabriliya, адыгеец Aydamir Achmizov, a Jew Yakov Vernikov and many others.

Courage and bravery in the battle for the Caucasus showed the natives of North Ossetia: Colonel-General of aviation N.Naumenko, major-General of aviation I.Dzusov, major-General Kh.Britaev and Z.Kharebov, rear-Admiral P.Tsallagov, Heroes of the Soviet Union A.Аbaev, V.Galkin, L.Davidov, D.Dоеv, G.Kaloev, А.Klinovoy, А.Коzаеv, А.Mаkоеv, P.Маslеnnikоv, I.Nedvizhay, Nikolaev, G.Оkunеv, N.Orishchenko, Ya.Shaposhnikov, alive the holder of three orders of Glory V.Konyaev. The heroism of our soldiers was equally impassable for an enemy, as the peaks of the Caucasus mountains.

70 years ago in the battle of Vladikavkaz fascist troops suffered a crushing defeat, after which began the liberation of the entire Caucasus.

The outcome of protracted and bloody war, which became the Great Patriotic war,  solve the high spirit of soldiers and officers on the battlefield, the ability of marshals and generals accurately, consistently define strategic plans and ensure their implementation. One of the desirable goals of Hitler and his staff from the very first months of the invasion was Caucasus. And for this purpose they have all the grounds.

In the 30-s years in the Caucasus was created, the biggest fuel-energy base. The share of the Caucasus accounted for 86.5 % of the USSR oil production, 65 % of natural gas, 56.5 % of the manganese ore.| The densely populated Caucasus has also become a very important industrial and agricultural region of the Soviet Union. In these circumstances, the defense of the southern borders had a vital, crucial for the existence of the state.

It was well understood by the Nazis. In order to capture the Caucasus the command of the Wehrmacht plan was developed under the code name «Edelweiss», which provided to circle and  defeat the Soviet troops to the South and South-East of Rostov-on-don and possess the North Caucasus. At the next stage it was planned to bypass the Main Caucasian ridge  by one group of troops from the West, take t Novorossiisk and Tuapse, and developing the offensive along the coast of the Black sea in the South-East, come to the area of Batumi, and another group of forces, consisting mainly of the tank and motorized compounds, develop an offensive on Grozny, Makhachkala and Baku. In addition, it was planned to master the passes of the Main Caucasian ridge and get out to the area in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Sukhumi.Enemy hit the Caucasus superior power. The Soviet troops were inferior to the aggressor in personnel in 1,5 times, in guns and mortars - 2, in the tanks - more than in the 9 and in aviation - almost in 8 times. But, protecting the native land, repeatedly excelled in heroism.

                                                         -4-                                                                                      The worst defensive period of the battle for the Caucasus began in the summer of 1942. They were difficult months of continuous retreat - at the end of October, Hitler's troops were already at the walls of the city of Vladikavkaz. But the conquest of space in the South   came at a high price: each moving into was accompanied by huge losses. Brave fascist connections had been drained of blood, and those who remained in the ranks of the enemy have lost confidence. This was the result of the unprecedented courage and heroism of the Soviet soldiers and residents of the multinational North Caucasus, stood shoulder to shoulder with the soldiers on the protection of the native boundaries.

«Storm clouds hang over the snow-mountains and foothills, over gorges and valleys of the North Caucasus, over the boundless steppes. Blood painted water of fast Kuban. Smoke clouds rising over the village and auls. Hitler's robbers broke into the expanses of the North Caucasus. They rush to the mountains. The German-fascist bandits made drunk with the views of the Kuban wheat, the smell of the Grozny oil...» , - wrote on September 2, the front page of «Pravda», reprinted by the newspaper «Socialist Ossetia».

The article  called: «We Need stability. Need determination to defend every meter of the Soviet land, every piece of the area, every line, every house...Brothers, the enemy should be stopped and destroyed. Let  the hearts of everybody be filled with iron determination not to give the enemy a single inch of the Holy land.»

Vladikavkaz became «Little Stalingrad»  for the fascist troops. In the battles near the city on the Terek enemy was stopped, crushed and turned into an ignominious retreat. Vladikavkaz became not only impregnable Bastion, but also marked a new page in the war: the first major offensive operation carried out by the Soviet Army after a series of setbacks on the battlefield.

Today we must remember that to reverse the situation and win a historic victory in the bloodiest war could only army and the people of the united simultaneous beating of hearts and a single emotion. Fighting with the enemy in the land of North Ossetia, the defenders of our common Fatherland did not think about the nationality of each other. At the walls of Vladikavkaz and the Ossetian land they knew they protect their house, and their great Motherland - the Soviet Union. So heroically  Ossetians fought in the battle of Moscow, at Kursk, Stalingrad, on the Dnieper and in other battles.


70 years ago, after the great success under Vladikavkaz and in the battles for the other settlements in North Ossetia, a general offensive in the North Caucasus began on 27 November and lasted until December 31, when the Hitlerite command had to start mass withdrawal of troops. In the 44-th army came 223, 402 and 416-th Azeri, 409-th Armenian, 414-th the Georgian infantry division, staffed mainly by Armenians 320-th division and Azerbaijanis - the 9-th rifle corps. Later in the battle were introduced 151-st and 271-st division staffed by, respectively, mainly Armenians and Azerbaijanis and 347-th division of mixed ethnic composition. On the South Bank of the Terek river in the offensive moved part of the 58th army, as part of which there were 89th Armenian division and several divisions of mixed nationalities. The total number of representatives of Caucasian peoples in the armed forces of the Northern group according to some estimates amounted to 42.5 % of the                                                                      
                                                    -5-                                                                                                        personal.
On the way to the collapse of Nazi Germany were still hundreds and thousands of bloody battles. But the long-awaited moment of the great Victory came. The defeat under  Vladikavkaz and the battle for the Caucasus will remain bright pages in the feat of the Soviet people in the years of the great Patriotic war, in the grateful memory of the descendants.
I have already named some heroes but in fact there are 72 of them and the main aim of my work today to tell you about simple, modest veteran with a courage heart Alexey Mikhailovich Buchukury.

In the years of the great Patriotic war Alexey Mikhailovich was not wearing  high ranks, he was a simple ordinary soldier. But in fights for the native land he showed a high courage. The18-year old fellow defended his native town of Vladikavkaz, liberated Ossetia, the North Caucasus, the Crimea.He was wounded twice, but fulfilled his military duty. For military feats he was awarded the order of Patriotic war of I-st degree, the medals «For Bravery» and «For Defense of Caucasus», other medals, including the higher awards of Republic of North Ossetia-Alania: «To the Glory of Ossetia» and «the Sign of honour».
 A.M. Buchukury was born on March 1, 1924  in Vladikavkaz in the labour Georgian family. He was raised  in the spirit of the both finest Georgian and Ossetian folk customs.He grew a strong, healthy boy,  studied at the Georgian school N19 and helped his father at work, doing sports, especially he loved football. A.M.Buchukury recalls:
«I was born and grew up in Vladikavkaz,I liked and now I love my town- beautiful, multi-national. I am Georgian, but in my childhood my friends were: Ossetian Vasya Dzgoev, Russian Styopa Kutsenko, Armenian Ishkhan Kazarov (all of them were killed on the fronts of the Great Patriotic war) and the other guys.
We all went together in our beautiful park,we were fond of sports, playing football,we used to watch  the film «Chapayev» many times, worried about the fate of the hero. In General, we were  true, real friends, and even we all spoke the Ossetian language. Our adolescence ended on June 22, 1941, in the fateful day of the beginning of the Great Patriotic war. I remember  the speech of M. Molotov on the radio  remember a meeting in the town, mobilization and sending my relatives, neighbors, elder fellows to the front, I remember  huge patriotism, volunteers, daily reports of «Soviet Inform Buro».

  A.M. Buchukury was called in the army in August 1942. And his military service began firstly in the 319-rifle division, and then in 276-th Georgian infantry division. He became a soldier of the infantry tank company of the 353-rd separate fighter anti-tank division. On September 27,276-th division arrived from town Gory to protect Vladikavkaz and not to miss the enemy to the Military-Georgian road. 353 first division took over the defense of the area of the present Water station. The headquarters of the division was located in the village Balta. Infantry regiments occupied the defense of the borders of the mountain Lisoya- village Balta, Tarskoie- Mikhailovskoie. On arms of the division were 45 mm guns and the PTR.  The words «of the PTR, “pterovtsi” do not say anything to the youth of the21-st century.. And yet without them it is hard to imagine the Great Patriotic war. ATR - tank rifle, and «pterovtsi» or «soldiers» -the battle calculation.   We remember  those who fought                 -                                                     -6-                                                                                   the formidable force of their simple weapons,their valor and heroism.  One have to be courageous  to strike the enemy tanks at a meter distance from the MFR. This weapon for the brave and  the fearless. The battle demanded courage, bravery, composure, endurance and dedication from riflemen. It reminds ancient weapon, musket. It is   2-meter-long, heavy (weight 18 kg), and  meant for two fighters. Buchukury recalls:

«The Nazis were near  Vladikavkaz. on November 2, 1942,Gisel was occupied. Fascists behaved as though they had already won. The town was constantly bombed, fired from guns. Aircraft of Hitler flew over our position  dropping  leaflets, the content - insulting words: «Surrender! Your days are numbered, resistance is futile, on 7-th November, the town will be at our feet,» etc., etc. At lunch bombers appeared. Day and night bombing our positions, with the horrible howl attacked to our trenches, but we were well hidden, we had a good bunkers, so there was almost no loss. Bombing and shelling continued every day from 30 October to 7 November 1942. ».
On November 7 fascist group,

under Vladikavkaz, was defeated. On November 11, 1942, Gisel was released. The Germans were pushed back to the river Phiagdon. And then the fighting started the local value, difficult, everyday, grueling battles. They continued for a month and a half.
From 8 October to November in 1942, in fierce battles on the land of the North Ossetia, near Vladikavkaz and Mozdok, at Elkhotovsky gate, the groups of tank and motorized connections of Nazis were crushed. From the walls of Vladikavkaz  the offensive of the Soviet troops began. The great feat of the defenders of Vladikavkaz received an appreciation in 2007. - The decree of the President of the Russian Federation on October 8, 2007 Vladikavkaz - one of the first in the country was awarded the honorary title «CITY of MILITARY GLORY». This high evaluation of martial merit of  Vladikavkaz and the whole Republic serves as a new stimulus for the military, patriotic and moral education of the youth and the population of North Ossetia-Alania. Soldiers of the 276-rifle division, including A.M. Buchukury, made contribution to this high evaluation.
At the end of November 276-rifle division was transferred to the area of Darg-Koch-Zamankul-Illarionovskaya-Elkhotovo. The division changed here the 84-th marine rifle brigade. All  December parts of the division have been actively fighting against the fascists. It was very cold - to - 25-30c. Even the oldest people did not remember, that in December it had ever been such cold.
Fightings under Elkhotovo in December 1942  were of local importance, but very exhausting, long and difficult.  It was necessary to have the shutter speed, endurance, courage, to stand to death, reflect an attack of the Nazis, to hold the position at the Elkhotovsky Gate, not to retreat, not to skip the fascists to  Vladikavkaz and to the Grozny oil.
On December 27, 1942, parts of the 276-th division started a decisive attack on Illarionovka  and Elkhotovo.They were three days of fierce battles with the Nazis. A.M. Buchukury and other soldiers 353-th separate division supported with fire of  their guns and rifles each offensive of our infantry, firing straight at the machine-gun points and bunkers of the enemy, suppress the fire guns and other centers of resistance.
On 1-st of January 1943. Elkhotovo was released from German-fascist invaders. There was a lot of fun, a lot of smiles, hugs, greetings. And then villages Zmeyskoe, Iran,Stav-Dort were released. In January-February 1943. A.M. Buchukury participated in the battles for the                   -                                                        -7-                                                                       liberation of the cities and villages of the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, the Stavropol and Krasnodar territories.
In the summer of 1943  heavy fightings were in the Kuban region, on the «Blue line». It was a line of powerful defensive structures of the fascists in the way of our troops to the complete liberation of the Northern Caucasus. In these days A.M. Buchukury was unexpectedly transferred to acplatoon to the position of the driving soldier and it was not  surprise . In the years of the war, the soldiers served  where they were required by the homeland, where the order of the commander directed. And so A.M. Buchukury was a peterovets, and cannon number, and the drivers, and the commander of branch of infantry during the Great Patriotic war. From the stories of A.M. Buchukury:
«Once called me platoon commander and ordered to go to acplatoon to take the horses and be the drivers. I protested and said: «There are older soldiers for driving works, and as for me , for a young man,  it is shame to go to the cart». The Lieutenant said: « soldiers should serve where he was ordered to. The commander  knows and understands better where you are needed, where you do  the best  and where you should serve. And if you do not want to obey, we’ll make you to do it. And if you can't  do it,we’ll teach you. Go and do your orders.» So, not by  my own will I have become the driver». In August 1943, a part of the North-Caucasian front began fighting for the liberation of the Taman Peninsula. Private Buchukury then was transferred from acplatoon in the battery of 45 km guns and participated in the battles for the liberation of the Slavyanskaya, Petrovskaya, Varenikovskaya and town Temryuk in the post of gunner guns.
 A.M. Buchukury remembered  the fight for village Svistelnikovo. It was the key to Temryuk,  and fascists were holding  for it. In the battle for this small settlement division of the NKVD suffered huge losses. They are like on the parade arrived at the forefront on  the military «ZIS» and attacked the Nazis. All of them  were tall and healthy as if they had been selected. They went shouting: «Hurray! For The Motherland! For Stalin! » The enemy opened rapid fire, many of the fighters of the division of the NKVD were killed, but the remaining walked steadfastly forward. And who was wounded,  crawled in the thickets of reeds,  hiding  in anticipation of physicians. But the fascist vultures appeared before the doctors and started their dirty work - wounded were shot from machine guns, and reed set on fire incendiary bullets. In the terrible fire  all the wounded were killed. And from the fire of the fascist machine guns, firing shells and mines almost the whole division of the NKVD died. There were many losses,in 276-rifle division too, but still less, because the infantry was to attack not to growth, they crawled. A.M. Buchukury realized then that courage in the war still needed skill, cunning, and a commander's talent. Unfortunately, not always our command   appreciated the soldier's life. Especially in 1941-1943 because of this fact      were such  huge losses. And in 1944-1945, when we have learned to fight, the loss was smaller, and stupid losses in general were very few. On September 27, 1943, the Soviet troops liberated the town Temryuk, and on October 9 fascist troops were expelled from the Taman Peninsula, and the battle for the Caucasus ended in the complete victory of our troops. 276-rifle division was awarded the honorary title of Temryuk and it was  awarded the order of the Red Banner, and all personnel, including private Buchukury, was announced gratitude by the Supreme Commander-in-chief, Marshal of the Soviet Union  I.V. Stalin. During the years of war A.M. Buchukury  got  five such gratitudes. In the battles for the Taman Peninsula in October 1945. A.M. Buchukury was wounded and sent for treatment to the hospital in Zheleznovodsk.
Three months later he was again on the front and participated in the battles on the Crimean    -                                                -8-                                                                                     land. He was appointed the commander of branch in 903-rifle regiment, 242-nd mountain-rifle division. On April 11, 1944, the division was passed to the offensive and began to release the Crimea. Private Buchukury participated in the battles for the liberation of the cities of Kerch, Yalta, Balaklava, Sebastopol. On may 5, 1944, when  Sapun-mountain was assaulted, in the outskirts of Sebastopol, Buchukury was in the first ranks of the attackers. Private A.M. Buchukury shouting: «Hurray! » led his troops to the top of Sapun-mountain, but was seriously wounded, ran a few steps, fell, called out: «Guys, forward for the Motherland! For Stalin! » and lost consciousness. He  was picked by orderlies and sent to the hospital in Yalta.
 The long days of treatment began. A.M. Buchukury returned to the front, to his companions, but the verdict of doctors was adamant: «Fail to serve in the ranks of the Red Army». In the 20 years he became an invalid of the war and in the end of 1944, was discharged from the army. For heroism in the battles on the Sapun-mountain private Buchukury was awarded the medal «For Courage».