Kalutsky Nikolai

(February 19, 1919)
NV. Kalutsky - author of several books. Among them - "Treasured Dawns" (1972), "Memory of the Heart" (1975), "The fire itself" (1981), "Autograph of Victory" (1987), "Cadets" (1997), "The word about the soldiers of the Great Patriotic "(2000). The main characters of these books - his comrades.
Born February 19, 1919 on the farm now Korenovskaya Proletarian District, Krasnodar Territory, the son of peasants. Father - Kalutsky Vasily Ivanovich (1890 - 1982), passed three wars: the first world war, the Civil and the Great Patriotic War as a veterinary assistants, three wounded. Mother - Kalutsky Daria V. (1900 - 1993). Brother - Kalutsky Vladimir (1925 - 2000), a veteran of World War II, the gun commander, Sergeant. Sister - Kalutsky Mariya (1921 - 1995), participant of the Great Patriotic War, the nurse. Wife - Kalutsky Nina (1925 - 1991). Son - Kalutsky Valery N. (1948. born.) Engineer. Granddaughters, twins (1970 g. born.) - Svetlana Egorova and Polezhaeva Ekaterina V..

After graduating from the seven years in Makhachkala, Nicholas Kalutsky enrolled at the school, where he was preparing to become an instructor of industrial training. There he was elected secretary of the Komsomol organization. Later, he entered in absentia in the railway technical school and six months later sent to the nine-month course Komsomol workers.

In October 1939 Nicholas Kalutsky began military service under Kushkov private in the Border Troops. Here, and found his message about war. Filed a report with a request to forward it to the front, but was sent to the Novo-Petergofskoe military-political school of the NKVD. One and a half months of intense training laid the foundation for skillful action in battle.

August 17, 1941 the Germans advanced on Leningrad. The school sent to the Leningrad front under Oranienbaum (Lomonosov). On August 19 the first battle with the enemy near the settlement of Russian Antashi.

"Cadets! - Asked the battalion commander, Major Nicholas Shorin. - We must stand up night! "No day kept as long as 13 days and nights!

October 9th straight good place to release the surviving cadets. They were given the rank and sent to the front. N. Kalutsky was appointed political director mortar batteries.

In late November the battalion, consisting of battery included Kalutsky, moved westward to the river Funnel.
Once a clear November afternoon the Germans rolled out gun in the 800 meters from the vantage point Kalutsky and began methodically shooting. Many were killed and wounded. On our side there was an order not to shoot, took care of each mine. Kalutsky disobeyed, the responsibility assumed and filed a battery command "Fire!"

After two volleys of the enemy's gun was smashed to smithereens. But arbitrariness Kalutsky removed from the temporary command of the battery, were arrested. Above it hangs a real threat to bring before military tribunals. It ended up that kept the value of Kalutsky issued min.

In July 1942, Nikolai was the battery commander, 76-millimeter cannon. He had to learn new duties: fire control, care of the material part, horses, take care of personal composition.

. Early on the morning of January 16, 1944 residents of the city on the Neva heard a strong rumble, coming from the south-west, from the base Oranienbaum
. It hit the enemy artillery fire, 2-Second Shock Army. Began a decisive battle for Leningrad. At 11 pm near the village of Russian-Vysotskoye there was a meeting the advanced parts of the 42-st and 2 nd shock armies. 900-day siege of Leningrad has ended a crushing defeat fascists. January 27 battery Kalutsky participated in the First Leningrad salute. A few days later Nikolai Vasilyevich sent to the Narva bridgehead commander 6 th howitzer battery 1229-th artillery regiment.

. Hitler's command to focus on this narrow section of the front five divisions, a large number of artillery and mortar fire to eliminate the bridgehead, preparing for his gift to the Fuhrer's birthday on April 20
. And on April 19 after the hour and a half artillery barrage, they went on the offensive. But the gift did not take place.

Within four days the Soviet soldiers held back the bitter onslaught of the enemy, then, wearing his forces, went to the offensive and 26 April liberated the city of Narva. In these battles for the first time standing on the line tip-off Battery 122-millimeter howitzers under the command Kalutsky destroyed 6 enemy tanks and a lot of infantry.

Was memorable battle for Tallinn. September 22, 1944 column of troops came to the river Pirita. At 10 am, began preliminary bombardment. 8 Army crossed the river on the run and burst in Tallinn, and by evening he was released.

Two days later the march again and the loading of the train. Now the road went to Pskov, The Great Luke, Polotsk ... Chief tier appointed lieutenant Kalutsky.

At night, October 7, 1944 the train arrived at the station near the Narew. Towards the Soviet troops in the chain of several trains were moving enemy tanks. Artillerymen unloaded during the night and take the fight to the enemy. The battle continued and the next day. The enemy retreated, suffering heavy losses.

January 14, 1945 at 10 am stirred cold earth around the leading edge: the fire opened, hundreds of shells. Begun East Prussian Offensive. An hour later the fire was carried to the depth of enemy defenses.

On the night of January 15, 1229 th artillery regiment replaced firing positions: the enemy began to counterattack. January 16, our troops broke through the defense and began to pursue the enemy. Last night I had 3 - 4 times to change the position. N. Kalutsky ordered to withdraw from the position and move to the village. Nowe Miasto in the direction of the Vistula (Poland).
Suddenly at the edge of the forest there were German tanks and infantry, the enemy had a clear superiority. In seconds howitzer battery unfolded for the battle. After letting the enemy at a distance of 300-400 meters, the gunners opened rapid fire. Several tanks on fire, remained on the battlefield, the attack was repulsed.
January 28 battery Kalutsky with small battalion, under enemy fire, crossed the Vistula. At dawn the Germans again opened a massive artillery fire, trying to throw our troops into river. Then came the tanks with the infantry. Bridgehead narrow one: the 150 meters in length and in width - just 20 steps. By the end of the day from the battalion and battery Kalutsky left ... 15 fighters. And each of them wounded. Of the weapons were only one anti-tank rifle, two captured machine gun (from their ammunition ran out), the disk cartridges for rifle and several grenades.
On that day, January 29, 1945 brave soldiers repelled seven attacks. They waited for the eighth. Small battalion commander has failed. Kalutsky took command over. Established Elephant "(" elephants ") - short-large-caliber self-propelled guns Wehrmacht: beating continuously. Again tanks.
- Guys! - Exclaimed Kalutsky. - We still have one thing: to call the fire itself.
I looked into the eyes of everyone: no one shook.
- Come on, Captain! - Was a common response.
- Comrade Captain! I - Kalutsky. Cause fire on yourself!
The regimental commander, Lieutenant Colonel AK. Roberman gives the command:
- P-o-lux.. on Kalutsky ... quick ... Fire!
His companions managed to throw Kalutsky:
- Good-bye, boys!
The sky seemed to split. First - the darkness, and then hit the set of zips. From the blinding radiance of black body was a German tank, hanging over Kalutsky. The Germans rushed to seek safety in our trenches.
Kalutsky repeatedly calls the fire on himself. And again, rage of lightning, the earth explodes. He falls to the bottom of the funnel.
By morning the next day came the main forces of the 65 th Army. 15 dead heroes were put in mass grave. Sergeant 6 th battery Vasily Kapustin came to bid farewell to their commander. Lowered into the grave, pressed to his chest Kalutsky, and - lo! - Coverage frightened and joy: his heart was pounding, the captain was still alive. Shell-shocked and riddled with shrapnel was sent to the field hospital Nikolai Vasilyevich. But there he paused briefly and again soon plunged into the vortex of battle events

. Only two and a half months Nicholas Kalutsky learned that this feat of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of 10 April 1945 he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

. The offensive in the west, . troops of the 2 nd Russian Front smashed pressed to the Baltic Sea, 2 nd German army, . March 28, 1945 captured Gdynia, . then Danzig, . then division, . which he served Kalutsky, . was included in the 8 th Army VI,
. Chuikova and transferred to the Kyustrinsky springboard. He took the battery firing positions before Seelow heights. To Berlin was only a few tens of kilometers.

All these years of war Nikolai wanted to get to Berlin. And he was lucky to not only fulfill his dream, but also the first among the gunners in the presence of the commander of VI. Chuikova April 21, 1945 to open fire on the capital of Nazi Germany. And after the fall of Berlin to leave in honor of a universal favorite cadets border Major Shorina chipped pillar inscription on the Reichstag - Shorinets.
In 1956, NV. Kalutsky graduated with honors from the Military-Political Academy VI. Lenin. C 1957, he was - retired colonel. After his discharge from the army for many years worked in the Housing-operational service of the Ministry of Defense. From 1970 to 1990 was chief of the personnel department at the Research Institute of Medium Machine Building. Currently taking part in the Veterans Council.
In addition to the Gold Star of the Hero, he was awarded the Order of Lenin, two Orders of Patriotic War I degree, Order of the Patriotic War II degree, two Orders of Red Star and medals. He is an honorary citizen of the city of Derbent. Member of the parades in 1945 and 1995.
NV. Kalutsky - author of several books. Among them - "Treasured Dawns" (1972), "Memory of the Heart" (1975), "The fire itself" (1981), "Autograph of Victory" (1987), "Cadets" (1997), "The word about the soldiers of the Great Patriotic "(2000). The main characters of these books - his comrades.
Nikolai - a passionate lover of the theater. He loves to Russian folk and classical music, Soviet films, fiction. Often works rereads favorite authors - YU.M. Lermontov, LN. Tolstoy, AI. Kuprin, Maupassant, Balzac. Summer do not miss a chance to go for mushrooms.
Lives in Moscow.