Full Cavalier of the Order of Glory Arkady Dmitrievich Shishkin

Shishkin Arkady Dmitrievich

Platoon commander of the 93rd separate sapper battalion (16th rifle division, 2nd Guards Army, 1st Baltic Front) sergeant – at the time of his nomination for the Order of Glory 1st class.

Born on August 25, 1914, in the village of Lenskiy, Orlovsky district of Vyatka province (now the village of Lena in the Verkhoshizhem district of Kirov region) in a peasant family. Russian. In 1927, he graduated from 4 grades of primary school in the village of Zheltie in the same district.

He began his labor activity in 1928 as a regular collective farmer in the collective farm "Red Star." In 1932, he went to earn money in the capital of Bashkiria, Ufa, working as a cooper in the Molotov artel. From 1934 to 1937, he worked as a plasterer for the Kirov Construction Trust in the city of Kirov.

In 1937-1938, he served in the Red Army, in the construction battalion of the Leningrad Military District. After being discharged to the reserve, he worked for several months as a plasterer at the construction site of a copper smelting plant in the city of Revda, Sverdlovsk region. From March 1938, he worked as a plasterer on the construction of a metallurgical plant in the city of Monchegorsk (Murmansk region).

During the war with Finland in 1939-1940, he was again mobilized into the army. He participated in battles as part of the 301st howitzer artillery regiment (7th army of the Northwestern Front).

After demobilization, he returned to Monchegorsk, working as an instructor at the office of the "Severnikel" combine. In the first months of the Great Patriotic War, the equipment of the combine was dismantled and evacuated to the east, mainly to the Urals and the city of Norilsk. Shishkin, along with a group of employees, went to Norilsk.

In August 1941, he was again drafted into the army by the Taymyr district military enlistment office. He was at the front from September 1941. As part of the 17th rifle division, he participated in the defense of Moscow during the offensive operation. In January 1942, he was wounded and treated in a hospital in the city of Gorky (Nizhny Novgorod). In September of the same year, after recovering, he was sent to the 16th Lithuanian rifle division being formed in the city of Balakhna, Nizhny Novgorod region, and was assigned as a sapper in the 93rd separate sapper battalion. He went through the entire combat path with them until Victory.

The division was introduced into battle in December 1942 on the Bryansk Front. It was then transferred to the 48th Army and participated in the offensive on Oryol, then until the summer of 1943, it held defensive positions west and southwest of the city of Alexeyevka (Belgorod region). In these battles, junior sergeant Shishkin commanded a sapper squad, was awarded the "Excellent Scout" badge, and earned his first combat award.

In April-March 1943, junior sergeant Shishkin and his squad carried out a combat mission to set up engineering barriers in the defense zone of the 167th rifle regiment in the area of the village of Zubkovo (Pokrovsky district of Oryol region). Under his leadership and personally, 1200 mines were laid, 2 pillboxes and other structures were equipped. He was awarded the medal "For Combat Merit."

Later, as part of the 48th Army of the Central Front, he participated in the Battle of Kursk, in defensive battles on the Oryol-Kursk direction, and in the Oryol offensive operation.

During the offensive, junior sergeant Shishkin and his squad were in the pursuit group of the 167th rifle regiment. On July 26, 1943, in the area of the village of Rybnitsa (11 km southwest of the settlement of Zmievka, Oryol region), the sappers discovered a group of Germans, engaged in combat, and captured 4 prisoners and 3 operational radio stations. Ensuring the advance of the regiment, his squad made passages through barbed wire obstacles and minefields, removing 250 mines in the process. He was nominated for the Order of the Red Banner by the regiment's command.

In August 1943, the division was withdrawn from combat, spent some time in reserve, and was replenished in the city of Tula. In September, it was transferred to the Kalinin (from October 1943 – 1st Baltic) Front and included in the 4th Shock Army. It participated in the Nevel, Gorodok (1943), and Vitebsk offensive operations. From the beginning of 1944, the division's units held defensive positions east of the city of Polotsk (Belarus).

In late January 1943, senior sergeant Shishkin, as one of the leading sappers of the unit and an excellent expert in sapper work, was again nominated for an award – this time for the Order of Glory 3rd class. The award sheet described his combat merits in battles near Oryol and reported that the award documents were returned from the headquarters of the 48th Army without results due to the time elapsed since the feat.

By order of the 16th rifle division dated February 1, 1944 (No. 80/n), senior sergeant Shishkin Arkady Dmitrievich was awarded the Order of Glory 3rd class.

In the summer of 1944, the division participated in the Polotsk offensive operation. In these battles, sergeant Shishkin commanded the platoon of the same sapper battalion.

From June 30 to July 9, 1944, sergeant Shishkin and his platoon provided timely and accurate reconnaissance of the enemy's explosive barriers in the division's offensive zone from the village of Machulishche to the village of Dmitrovo in the Polotsk district of Vitebsk region of Belarus. On July 5, while reconnoitering the route near the village of Zeleny Bor, he and a group of sappers engaged in combat with a group of enemy soldiers and ensured the capture of two prisoners.

By order of the 4th Shock Army dated July 15, 1944 (No. 360), sergeant Shishkin Arkady Dmitrievich was awarded the Order of Glory 2nd class.

In September-October 1944, acting as part of the 2nd Guards Army, the 16th Lithuanian Division participated in the Memel operation aimed at the final liberation of the Lithuanian SSR. Following the order of the commander of the 2nd Guards Army, the division made two marches and on October 5, advancing on the right flank of the army, successfully crossed the Dubisa River, and by the end of the day approached the Krozenta River. The 3rd battalion of the 249th rifle regiment cut the highway from Shiauliai to Kelme.

On October 6, 1944, sergeant Shishkin, with a group of scouts, carrying out a command assignment, penetrated behind the battle lines of the advancing infantry and captured the bridge on the highway Shiauliai – Kelme, 1 km northeast of the city of Kelme (Shiauliai district of Lithuania). The sappers preserved the bridge from explosion and held it until the main forces arrived.

The approaching tanks crossed to the other side without hindrance. After that, the sappers finally removed the charges and completely cleared the bridge of mines, ensuring passage for the advancing units.

The defensive battles in the area of Shiauliai dragged on until October. The Germans realized that their efforts were in vain and weakened their pressure, and their forces were exhausted. The command of our front took advantage of this.

In early October, the Lithuanian division received orders to go on the offensive. It occupied a line along the road from Shiauliai to the city of Kelme. The terrain was low-lying, with thickets and quiet, but deep rivers. Approaching Kelme, the Krazhante River flowed. The bridge over it was in the hands of the Germans. Scouts reported that they were mining it and would blow it up as soon as the division began its offensive. The division commander, Colonel Urbsas, who replaced Major General Karvialis, decided to capture the bridge and defuse it before the division's offensive. This could be done by sappers and scouts, masters of their craft. When discussing who to send, the division staff mentioned sergeant Shishkin and his platoon. The commander of the sapper battalion, Major Terentyev, said:

— He is my most experienced miner. He served in the regular army before the war, participated in the Finnish War, and has been in this one from the first day. Moreover, he is a candidate for party membership. I am sure he will accomplish the task.

Shishkin's platoon, reinforced by a scout squad, set out on the assignment on October 5, 1944. It was already getting dark when they passed the forward positions of our infantry and reached the no man's land. A small forest, touched by the colors of autumn, was visible not far away. The sun was setting behind its tops, shining reddish rays, and it seemed painted on the fiery canvas of sunset. The tall grass on the uneven lowland was covered with dew.

The soldiers crawled to the edge of the forest, looked around, and cautiously moved along the forest. The young birches still glowed, as if they had absorbed sunlight, now radiating it. The bushes darkened. The sharp smell of fallen, beginning to rot foliage filled the air. It was quiet. From deep in the forest, the angry chirping of two magpies could be heard. They seemed to be quarreling over a place to sleep.

Soon it got dark. The lowland was flooded with darkness, and there seemed to be some floating shadows. The forest became tense, the rustling of falling leaves was caught, and with a gust of wind, an anxious noise arose. Approaching the river, Shishkin sent two scouts ahead. The other soldiers lay down. The reeds by the water rustled quietly, and fish splashed occasionally. The river shimmered with a dull shine, like mercury. The opposite bank was barely discernible as a mass of darkness, and in the sky, rare stars shone, veiled by clouds.

The scouts did not return for a long time. Finally, they appeared and reported the unexpected.

The fascists are working on the bridge. There are no less than a company of them. They are apparently preparing to blow up the bridge. They are hauling explosives. There is a guard – five men on each side.

— How far is it? — asked Shishkin.
— About six hundred – seven hundred meters.
— Why did you take so long?

The Lithuanian scout said something in Lithuanian, and his comrades quietly laughed. The squad leader translated:
— We didn’t walk – we rode on belts, meaning we crawled.
— Alright. We’ll go too. Just quickly,— ordered Shishkin.— We must not be late.

The sappers and scouts, trying not to break the silence, moved in a line, and when the bridge became visible, they continued to approach it crawling. Gradually, the figures of enemy soldiers began to be distinguished, and their quiet voices could be heard.

At the entrance to the bridge, there were sentries, and nearby, observers were looming. By their hand movements, Shishkin guessed that they were surveying the area with binoculars. Then he also took out his binoculars. The darkness lightened a little. Human figures, the bridge, its supports, and boxes of explosives became clearer. The work was apparently coming to an end.

The fascists were tying the last boxes and unrolling the fuse cords.

— We need to cut them off from the bridge,— said Shishkin and divided his platoon and scouts into two groups. The first was to strike the enemy on this bank and push them away from the bridge. The second – to assist the first at first, then break through to the bridge and capture the opposite bank.
— I will go with the second group. The scout commander leads the first. Clear?
— We need to add,— said the scout commander, a tall Lithuanian.— We cannot shoot at the boxes. We will blow up the bridge ourselves.
— Right... Listen, comrades, the assault must be with full force, but do not lose your composure. If you come across wires and cords – tear them immediately.

The tall grass allowed them to crawl further. The groups approached the bridge, and when they were about fifty meters away, Shishkin jumped up.

— Forward,— he quietly commanded, and both groups rushed toward the bridge.

Stunned by the suddenness, the fascists initially did not understand what was happening and did not immediately start to run. They managed to shoot the nearest ones at close range with short bursts. They fell silently, and only when the sentries on the bridge shouted "Russ!" — did they run, each in different directions. Most of them fled across the bridge to their side. They were pursued by Shishkin's group. They did not shoot on the bridge. Only the sound of boots could be heard, and it instilled terror. A silent attack is unbearable even for people with very strong nerves. The Germans threw down their weapons, discarded their backpacks to lighten their run.

Having run to the opposite bank, Shishkin stopped his group. The fleeing fascists disappeared into the darkness.

He ordered the scouts to take up defense, and he returned to the bridge. The sappers immediately began to defuse the mines, but it was not easy. Darkness and the enemy soldiers who remained on our bank hindered their work. They opened indiscriminate fire on the bridge. Wounded sappers fell into the water, some drowned, but the others continued to work. The noise of the battle reached the city. It was only a kilometer from the bridge. Lights of motorcyclists appeared on the road. At the same time, Shishkin was informed that the sappers had discovered anti-tank mines under the bridge decking. The situation was critical.

But the sappers and scouts did not lose their composure. Shishkin was on the bridge when the scout commander ran up to him with his squad.

— Give me all the grenades. I will hold off the motorcyclists,— he said, taking grenades from Shishkin.— Give me everything...

Shishkin assessed his plan. He immediately ordered the sappers to hand over the grenades, and the scouts ran off to the road. There they scattered along the roadside and took down the motorcyclists before they realized what was happening on the bridge. The rear motorcyclists had already managed to turn back.

— Take the machine guns!— shouted Shishkin.

The scouts understood him, rushed to the downed motorcycles, and took the machine guns from them. Meanwhile, the battle continued on our bank. About fifteen fascists, led by an officer, whose commands could be heard from the darkness, lay in the grass, constantly changing positions, firing at the bridge. One squad of sappers hurried to finish them off, but the fascists appeared like shadows, now in one place, now in another. They pinned down the sappers working on the bridge and diverted an entire squad, which was extremely necessary for defusing the bridge.

After a while, a scout ran up to Shishkin and reported that enemy infantry was moving from the city.

It became clear that the fascists would try to blow up the bridge at any cost. The situation continued to worsen. And then Shishkin decided to signal the tanks until the end of the defusing. "Let them come up and help with their guns." A red rocket soared into the black sky, illuminating the meadow where enemy soldiers lay, and those seconds of retreating darkness were enough to scatter them with grenades. The rocket also affected those advancing from the city. The fascists took it as a signal to storm the city and stopped halfway. Now the sappers were not disturbed.

Leaving a small guard, Shishkin ordered everyone else to search for anti-tank mines not only on the bridge but also in the approaches to it. This precaution proved to be not unnecessary. The sappers discovered mines both on the road and on the shoulders. The mines were neutralized in time. The approaching tanks did not have to delay.

In the morning, the city of Kelme was captured by our troops, who crossed the bridge.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated March 24, 1945, senior sergeant Shishkin Arkady Dmitrievich was awarded the Order of Glory 1st class. He became a full cavalier of the Order of Glory.

The brave warrior has many glorious deeds to his credit. During the war, he defused thousands of various mines.

He removed many explosives and other enemy tricks from the path of advancing Soviet soldiers and saved their lives. He made hundreds of passages for infantry and tanks through barbed wire obstacles. He built bridges and command posts, equipped crossings, and laid mines. Nothing could obstruct his path to fulfilling the combat mission of his Motherland.

And yet, of all the combat episodes, the most memorable for Arkady Dmitrievich will remain the capture of the bridge near the city of Kelme. And not because he was awarded the Order of Glory 1st class for this feat, but because this episode became a bridge of friendship between the war veteran and the residents of the city of Kelme.

After the war, he continued to serve in the army. He was discharged to the reserve in June 1946 with the rank of junior lieutenant.

He lived and worked in the city of Revda, Sverdlovsk region, and later in the village of Nizhny Alarcha, Alamedin district of Kyrgyzstan. He worked as a carpenter and plasterer.

He died on August 7, 2003.

He was awarded the Orders of the Patriotic War 1st class (03.11.1985), Glory 1st (24.03.1945), 2nd (15.07.1944), and 3rd (01.02.1944) classes, medals, including "For Combat Merit" (27.06.1943).

Kyrgyzstanis – Full Cavaliers of the Order of Glory