History 26/03/20 Cossacks-scouts: why are they so afraid of enemies
They were afraid of Circassians, Tartars and Turks, they were feared by European armies, and generals admired their ingenuity and courage. Talking about the scouts – a special kind of Cossack troops, for centuries, faithfully defending the Russian frontiers.
the Origin
Scouts – came from Zaporozhian Sich: in the lower reaches of the Dnieper, they have honed their skills and strengthened character. The name “Mogocha” is removed from the Ukrainian word “plytovaty” – to crawl, but some believe that the name came from the nickname Cossack Plastun.
Over time, the scouts were formed in special military units, performing a wide range of difficult and dangerous tasks from exploration to sabotage behind enemy lines. At the turn of XVIII and XIX bellies squads are already part of the black sea Cossack army, and after that become an integral part of the Kuban Cossacks, which are an important service for the protection of the southern borders of the Russian Empire. It was in the North Caucasus formed a legendary type of person that is forced to consider himself only as the forerunner of modern special forces.
Character
Even in the days when scouts were not considered, the Cossack elite, to get their ranks could not every. Often specialty leaders inherited or they were Cossacks from the early years ministered to experienced fighters. But this was not enough. The future leaders had to possess not only physical strength and good health, but certain traits – consistency and composure, and to be unpretentious in life, endurance in the campaign and patient in battle. Not everyone will be able to sit for hours in icy water or under the scorching sun. Hot temper and bright appearance could ruin the leaders it is no coincidence that it was mostly quiet and inconspicuous people.
Skills
the Scouts had to perform a much broader range of responsibilities than other military units. They were trackers and scouts, saboteurs and arrows, they needed to know artillery and engineering business, skillfully climbing mountains and swimming in turbulent rivers, moreover, the war forced them to learn the skills of unarmed combat.
the Long process of learning the art of war was a guarantee of survival for the leaders in the face of constant raids of the mountaineers of the Caucasus and harsh nature. In their bellies the lexicon of new terms, describing the fighting of the Cossacks: “a shot in the crunch” – the ability to hit any target in poor visibility or lack thereof, “wolf’s mouth” – the ability to carry out a lightning hit on the attack or “Fox tail” – the art to cover your tracks when you return from a mission.
Equipment
the Clothing worn by the Cossacks-plastuns were the most lightweight, comfortable and not flashy, so as not to interfere with stealth, agility and speed of movement. Tattered Circassian coat, shabby hat with hood, leather chuvaki did scouts is very similar to the indigenous inhabitants of the Caucasus foothills, which is very well masked their movement. On the belt at the scout, as a rule, hung a long dagger, a powder flask and bag of bullets, and in his hands he held a long-range fitting. An indispensable item for Cossack whip was used in battle and for the chase of horses, and in hunting.
War
their Bellies divisions took part in almost all the wars waged by the Russian Empire, starting the Russo-Turkish war of 1787-1791 and ending the First world war. However, it took half a century to successfully bellies belligerent infantry was introduced to the staff of the Russian army. It happened in 1842.
In some situations, the scouts had an obvious advantage over regular infantry: their ability to silently and suddenly sneak up on the enemy, to confuse the trail or to build a clever trap has helped the Russian army to win an important victory. So, in November 1855 during the Crimean war, the scouts under cover of darkness, dismantled the enemy’s mortar battery, the Russian delivered a lot of problems along the way, killing in melee a significant part of the enemy and taking three guns.
Heroes
History has left us many famous names of the Cossacks-Plast members, their courage and exploits were legends and songs. One of the most striking heroic pages associated with the defense of Sarikamish in 1915. Selected Turkish troops launched a massive offensive in the area of this border town and in fierce fighting the Russians gradually handed over their positions. To help the defenders of sarıkamış came Cossack regiment which was 2 Plastunskaya brigade of General I. E. Gulyga.
In the hardest weather conditions with 30-degree frost, and snow drifts waist-scouts night throw attacked and captured the headquarters of a Turkish infantry division. At the foot of the mountain were fierce and silent hand-to-hand fight, in which the Cossacks put about 800 Turkish soldiers and officers. This moment was a turning point in the battle of Sarikamis, and General Guliga for a successful operation were awarded the St. George arms and the Order of St. Anne 1st degree.
the Fate of
After the October revolution, the scouts repeated the fate of the Cossacks in General. Policy of the Soviet government were aimed at the gradual destruction of this noble class. Hunger, decossackization, the repression of the methods of Military communism – forced some to organize rebel groups, and others to emigrate abroad.
However, in the years of the great Patriotic war scouts last time said loudly about themselves. In the composition of the 9th Plastun rifle division, they participated in the Vistula-Oder, Moravian Ostrava, Prague and other operations, liberated Krakow, Ratibor, Troppau, and ended the war near Prague. Praised the fighting capacity of the scouts in the West. Cossacks has promoted the formation of the U.S. Marines and the Foreign Legion of France. And, of course, they laywhether the basis of preparation of the special forces in Russia.
Source:
© Russian Seven
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