KV-1 of Lieutenant Pavel Guja passes on Pushkinskaya Square in Moscow after a military parade
Soviet tank aces. Pavel Danilovich Gudz was at the front from the first day of World War II. Together with the 4th mechanized corps, he participated in the battle in the Lviv ledge, experienced the bitterness of summer retreats 1941 of the year. He took part in the defense of Moscow, where he had an effective battle on his KV-1, destroying ten enemy tanks in one battle. In one of the fights in 1943 year lost his hand and was seriously injured, but still returned to the front - already with a prosthesis.
Pre-war life of a hero
Pavel Danilovich Gudz was born in the village of Stufchency, Proskurovsky district, Kamenetz-Podolsky region 28 September 1919 of the year (today it is the territory of the Khmelnitsky region of Ukraine) in an ordinary family of Ukrainian peasants. The childhood of the future Soviet general was unsweetened in every way. The recently ended World War I, the collapse of the Russian Empire as a result of two revolutions and several years of bloody civil war seriously undermined the life of the peasantry.
To feed the family, Pavel’s father went to work in the Far East, where got a loader at the port. When Pavel Hudz graduated from a rural school, the boy's father died at work in an accident, after that only his mother was engaged in raising a son.
Despite all the difficulties of peasant life, Pavel showed interest in studying, he managed not only to finish the rural seven-year plan, but also continue further education, enrolled in 1933 in the cultural enlightenment located near the house. The choice of a future place of study was largely influenced by cinema, whom the young man met in his native village, when the movie-shift arrived there.
Graduating from college, Pavel Gudz moved to the city of Satanov, Khmeltsnik region, here he was sent for distribution to work in the local house of culture. Already in 1937 year at the age of 18 years, Paul was appointed inspector of public education in the Satan district executive committee, then the young man joined the CPSU(b). At this time, he showed himself more creatively., staged performances at a local club, was fond of photography and even dreamed of entering the Kiev film school.
Lieutenant Pavel Hudz in 1941 year
Ahead the young man loomed or creative, or party career, but unexpectedly for everyone in 1939 Pavel Gudz submitted documents and entered the 2nd Saratov Tank School, which trained personnel for medium and heavy tanks, at first it was multi-tower T-28 and T-35, but just before the war began, the school began to prepare tankers for the KV tank.
New heavy tanks began to enlist in large numbers before the war, being an unpleasant surprise for the Nazis. Hutz graduated from Saratov School with honors, after which he was sent to the rank of lieutenant for further service in Lvov at the disposal of the 32nd Panzer Division of the 4th Mechanized Corps. A new lieutenant arrived in his 63rd tank regiment a week before the start of World War II.
It is worth noting, that at that point in time the 4th mechanized corps of General Vlasov was one of the most staffed in the Red Army and had no problems with tanks, including modern designs. The corps was before 101 KV tank and 313 T-34.
The hull problems were the same., as the whole Red Army. The troops were in the process of formation, the same 32nd Panzer Division was part of the new formation. The command and rank of the compound was not united, tankers have not studied enough new combat vehicles, which massively arrived in units before the war itself, there was a serious lack of middle and junior command personnel. While 22 June 1941 years, the border of the USSR crossed a fully mobilized army, accumulated serious combat experience in two years of victorious military campaigns in Europe. It was with such an opponent and in such circumstances that Pavel Danilovich Gudz should have been faced immediately after graduation from school.
Fights in the Lviv ledge and a parade on Red Square
First war morning, 22 June, Pavel Hudz was met by the duty officer. From the very first days of the war, the corps began to advance to the front., to fend off the blows of the German units in the Lviv ledge. While advancing to the front unit, where was Paul Hudz, collided on a highway towards Kristinopol (from 1951 of the year - Chervonograd) with an advanced detachment of the enemy.
The forward detachment of the Soviet troops included impressive forces of five KV-1 tanks, two T-34s and two cannon armored vehicles BA-10. Joining the battle, Soviet tankers first destroyed the enemy cannon. According to the results of the first meeting with the enemy, they reported on the destruction of five German tanks, three armored personnel carriers and several vehicles.
Later that day, the KV-1, under the command of Lieutenant Guja, dealt a glancing blow to the enemy ice rink, knocking down a caterpillar and pushing a combat vehicle into a ditch. It is worth noting, that the experienced fighter Galkin was the driver in the crew of the newly made lieutenant, which was previously a test of KV tanks at the Kirov plant in Leningrad. It is believed, that it was one of the first tank rams of the Great Patriotic War.
In the book of Mikhail Baryatinsky "Soviet tank aces" is indicated, what is the first battle Paul Hudz was presented to the Order of the Red Banner. However, he did not succeed in receiving the award, the situation in the Lviv ledge was not in favor of the Soviet troops, who had to rush east, these days there was no time for rewards.
TO 10 August 1941 year all, what remains of the 32nd Panzer Division, concentrated in the area of the city of Priluki, here the unit was finally disbanded. The surviving material part was transferred to the 8th Panzer Division, and the staff went to the Vladimir region, where the process of forming the 91st separate tank battalion and the 8th tank brigade began.
Lieutenant Hudz was recorded in another new unit - the 89th separate tank battalion, the composition of which was formed from the most distinguished commanders and Red Army soldiers of the 63rd Tank Regiment. By the end of August, Lieutenant Pavel Hudz was already the chief of staff of the new unit.
The new part was equipped with tanks only by the beginning of November 1941 of the year, when the tankers received a somewhat unusual task. Late in the evening before the parade, the commander of the battalion K called him. Horin, who told the lieutenant, that to participate in a traditional military parade on Red Square 7 November, it is necessary to send a company of heavy tanks KV-1, only five cars.
Then Hutz found out, that the parade will take place in 8 am, that is, two hours earlier than usual. The command transferred all other vehicles to the 16th Army, which waged heavy battles with the enemy in the area of Skirmanovo - Kozlovo. In this way, the heavy tank KV-1 of Lieutenant Guja turned out to be captured in the photo and video while driving past the monument to Pushkin.
The battle of one KV-1 against 18 German tanks
Whole november 1941 years in the midst of fierce battles near Moscow, tanks from the 89th separate tank battalion were used by the command to parry German attacks. Heavy combat vehicles were attached to infantry units, first in a few pieces, and by the end of November, as the material part is eliminated in battles and one tank each.
3 December the Germans made their last desperate attempt to break through to the capital of the USSR. Units of the German 40th Motorized Corps struck in the direction of the villages Nefedyevo and Kozino to the left of Volokolamsk highway. The Germans managed to capture these settlements, ousting from the positions of fighters of the 258th Infantry Regiment of the 78th Infantry Division. The battles with the 10th German Panzer Division continued in this direction for two days., until the Germans were forced to stop.
On 5 December, Soviet troops were preparing a counterattack on the enemy, To strengthen the 258th Infantry Regiment, the only heavy tank KV-1 remaining at that time in the 89th Separate Tank Battalion was transferred. Pavel Danilovich Guju was to command a tank in this battle. The advancing Soviet troops were supposed to knock the Germans out of Nefediev.
At night Hudz with the crew, using conductor, brought the tank to the firing position closer to the village. At the same time, they observed maximum disguise, using only sidelights, the engine was also muffled. According to one version, to hide the extension of the tank to a position, Hutz agreed with the gunners, so that under their volleys get to the village Nefedyevo as close as possible, about 300-400 m.
German tank Pz IV destroyed near Moscow
In the morning, tankers were able to count in the village and the surrounding area. 18 German tanks, the silhouettes of which began to emerge in the cold frosty dawn. At the same time, the Guja crew achieved complete tactical surprise. The Germans did not expect a counterattack and did not think, Yes, and it was hard to imagine, that they will be attacked by a single tank. Tanks stood between huts without crews, who quietly rested in the village.
KV-1 began to shoot the enemy and by that time, how the crew rushed to them, already burning 4 tanka. At the same time, the crew fired machine guns at the German tankers running up to the vehicles, not all of them managed to get inside, staying on the streets of a captured village, literally in 35 km from Moscow, which remained an unattainable goal for them.
Pavel Hudz organized the battle as competently as possible. No matter how strong the fighting vehicle, available to him, in open battle with 18 enemy tanks, he would never have defeated. Therefore, he made the most of his surprise factor.. But even in such an atmosphere of chance, that KV-1 will not be damaged or destroyed by the enemy, there were not many.
Tanks outside the village opened strong fire on HF. One of the shells soon hit the tower, even though he didn’t break through the armor, crew sensations were not the most pleasant, many were injured, gunner Sablin fainted, and his place was taken by Paul Hudz. By shooting 20 shells, the crew destroyed more 4 enemy tank. After which Gudz decided to attack. Shooting from short stops, KV destroyed two more enemy tanks, after which the Germans wavered and began to retreat, hiding from the scene. The crew of the KV tank used up almost full ammunition in this battle., and on the armor of their tank, the tankers counted 29 hits of enemy shells.
For this battle at Nefedyevo, the crew of the KV-1 tank was awarded, Pavel Gudz was introduced to the Order of Lenin. It is believed, what's between Rokossovsky, Stalin and Zhukov got a misunderstanding about this case, Stalin proposed to award a tanker with the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, but a day earlier Zhukov had already signed documents for awarding the Order of Lenin, which was already the highest state award of the USSR.
In any case, Hudz himself was never upset about this., yes and a hero, as such, did not consider himself, he was just doing his job, based on that life path, who chose back in 1939 year, entering the tank school.
Last volleys
In the future, Guja's career in the army only went up. In May 1942 he is a senior lieutenant, in July, the captain and commander of the tank battalion of the 212nd tank brigade. In November, Pavel Danilovich receives the rank of major and becomes deputy commander of the 8th Guards Tank Regiment of Breakthrough.
In battles near Stalingrad, the officer was seriously injured., total on the body of the tanker counted 8 wounds: six fragmentation and two bullet. According to the relatives of the hero, Paul was considered dead, his condition was so bad. However, fellow soldiers did not believe in the officer's death., tracked down the major's body, who was already with the dead and literally pulled him out of the other world, handing over to doctors. Despite severe injuries, in May 1943 years after treatment at the Saratov Military Hospital, Hudz returns to the front. By the fall of the same year, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, he became commander of the 5th separate guards breakthrough tank regiment.
Hudz fought his last fight during the liberation of his native Ukraine in October 1943 of the year. In Zaporozhye, near Dneproges, the officer's tank was beaten. Three crew members died, the driver and Pavel survived, who got seriously injured hands, he had a damaged left collarbone, and the shattered brush hung only on flaps of skin.
When Paul came to his senses, through the periscope he saw two "Tigers", who bypassed the immobilized shot tank, showing no more signs of life. The decision came instantly, cutting off with a knife the remnants of the brush that interferes with it, Goodz from the already knocked out KV opened on the enemy, substituted board, fire and knocked out two tanks. Already during the battle, another shell hit the Soviet tank.. The commander of the combat vehicle woke up only in the evening in a funnel next to the KV, where did the driver take him.
There were hospitals ahead again, this time it was a real disability. The tankman lost his hand, but did not lose courage and desire to fight the enemy. Again after being wounded in April 1944 Hudz returned to the front - already with a prosthesis, again taking command of the 5th separate guards breakthrough tank regiment. true, now he stayed at the front only until May 1944 of the year.
In the regiment he was met by Marshal of Armored Forces Fedorenko, who conducted inspection trips in parts, equipped with a new IS-1 tank, also known as the IS-85. It was on his initiative that Gudz, who officially had 18 destroyed German tanks, after all, he was recalled from the front and enrolled as a student of the command faculty of the Military Academy of Armored Forces, which he graduated with honors in 1947 year.
Pavel Danilovich Hudz
His entire further career was directly related to the army., tactics and use of tank troops, including under conditions of a nuclear explosion, teaching work, testing of new military equipment, including BMP-3.
The renowned tanker retired only in 1989 year with the rank of colonel general. Despite severe frontline injuries, Pavel Danilovich lived a long life. He passed away at the age 88 years in Moscow in May 2008 of the year.
/Sergey Yuferev, topwar.ru/
