Vladimir Gil-Rodionov

Vladimir Vladimirovich Gil-Rodionov, Russian Владимир Владимирович Гиль-Родионов (born 18 July 1906 in Mogilev province in Russia, died 15 May 1944 in Belarus) - Soviet military officer (colonel), founder and leader Military Union of Russian Nationalists and Commander of the 1st Russian National SS Brigade, and then 1 Anti-Fascist Guerrilla Brigade during the Second World War.

At age 20, he chose a military career by joining the Red Army. He came to the rank of lieutenant colonel. In 1939 he graduated from the Military Academy. M. Frunze. At the time of Germany's attack on the USSR on June 22, 1941, he served as Chief of Staff of the 229th Rifle Division. During the fighting in the Vitebsk region he was wounded, then he was captured by the Germans and was imprisoned in a POW camp in Suwałki.

In 1942, he collaborated with the occupying forces. In April this year, after talks with representatives of the SD, he established an organization called the Russian Federation of Nationalists (BSNR) in the anti-Soviet camp. It was composed of former officers and soldiers of the Red Army. In June the BSNR program was announced and a conference was held, where W. W. Gil, who adopted the nickname "Rodionov", announced the appointment of the "new Russia" representative. He hoped the Germans would hand him over to the occupied territories of the USSR. For this purpose he began to form a military unit in the strength of the battalion called the "Druschina Verband". The battalion was then transferred to Stary Bychowo. In December 1942, the Germans formed another battalion under the name of "Druschina II", under the command of A. E. Błażewicz, among the Soviet POWs from Stalag 319 in Silesia. In March 1943, both battalions were merged into the 1st Russian National SS Regiment, numbering about 2 thousand. soldiers. Soon it was transformed into the 1st Russian National SS Brigade, which grew to about 2.5 thousand. people. It was directed to Belarus in the Mogilev region to fight the partisans. Vladimir W. Gil-Rodionov started acting as the host of the local population. He also tried to make his unit independent. However, this was contrary to the plans of the Germans who had introduced their officers to the brigade. In addition, a network of SD informants was formed under the command of the former Soviet commander of the 48th Rifle Division Major. Paweł W. Bogdanow.

After some time W. Gil-Rodionov realized the real intentions of the Germans. His brigade suffered more and more losses in heavy fighting with partisans. In this situation, he contacted the partisans, then decided to go to their side. September 16, 1943 part of Brigade together with Lt. Col. W. Gilem-Rodionowem - after killing German instructors and part of Russians who did not want to betray - went to the partisan side subordinated to the Belarusian Partisan Staff. Despite the atrocities committed by the pacification of the Belarusian villages, it was renamed the 1 Anti-Fascist Guerrilla Brigade and was launched to fight the Germans. In Berlin there was even a message that W. Gil-Rodionov was supposed to be transported to Moscow and rewarded by Joseph Stalin himself. Instead, he was awarded the Order of the Red Star and appointed to the rank of colonel. The Germans did not betray their betrayal. At the beginning of May 1944, they conducted an anti-partisan operation called "Fruhlingsfest", which destroyed the Brigade and severely wounded its commander. Vladimir Gil-Rodionov died from the wounds of May 15th.

Biography of Colonel Vladimir Gila-Rodionov (Russian) Bibliography

D. Żukow, I. Kowtun, 1st Russian brigade of the SS "Druzhina", 2010

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