Year of civil defense. Medals of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia “Army General Altunin” were awarded to veterans of the Crimean fire department Awards and titles

Born in the village of Steklyanka, now Kalachinsky district, Omsk region, into a peasant family. Russian.

He graduated from high school in his homeland. In the Red Army since August 1939. Sent to study at the Omsk Military Infantry School, in February 1940, with some of the cadets, he was transferred to the newly created Novosibirsk Military Infantry School. He graduated from it on June 10, 1941, and arrived at his new duty station in the Kharkov Military District on June 22, 1941.

The Great Patriotic War

First, Lieutenant Altunin was appointed deputy commander of a mortar company for political affairs in the 162nd Rifle Division of the 25th Rifle Corps. A few days later the division was loaded into echelons and sent to the Vitebsk direction. From the first days of July 1941 - in the battles of the Great Patriotic War as part of the Western Front, he commanded a mortar company in defensive battles east of Vitebsk, near Yartsevo in the Smolensk region. He was seriously wounded. After recovery, in September 1941 he was commander of a training rifle company in the North Caucasus Military District. In November 1941, he became a company commander in the 157th Infantry Division of the Transcaucasian Front. In December 1941, as part of the division, he landed in the first echelon of troops in Feodosia during the Kerch-Feodosia landing operation, and after three days of stubborn offensive battles he was again seriously wounded. While in the hospital he fell ill with typhus.

After recovery, in April 1942, he became the commander of a training machine gun company as part of the Volga Military District. He returned to the front only in November 1943, an officer in the operational department of a rifle division as part of the 11th Army of the 1st Belorussian Front. Participated in the Gomel-Rechitsa offensive operation. Since March 1944 - commander of a rifle battalion as part of the 3rd Guards Army on the 1st Ukrainian Front. During the Lviv-Sandomierz operation, Captain Altunin's battalion distinguished itself in breaking through the enemy's defenses and liberating the city of Vladimir-Volynsky. On July 29, 1944, at the head of the battalion, he crossed the Vistula near the village of Dorotka in Poland and captured a bridgehead. Having skillfully organized the defense, he fought on the bridgehead for over 40 days, diverting enemy forces from the main Sandomierz bridgehead. In September 1944, the surviving 40 fighters, led by Altunin, by order of the command, left the bridgehead and joined the main forces. For this operation, Captain Altunin was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and three more soldiers from his battalion were also awarded it.

From November 1944 - deputy commander of the 889th Infantry Regiment, at the same time he was awarded the military rank of major. Participated in the Vistula-Oder and Lower Silesian offensive operations of the 1945 campaign. In March he was recalled from the front to study at the academy.

Post-war period

In 1948 he graduated from the Military Academy named after M.V. Frunze. In 1948-1955 he served in units of the Turkestan Military District in the city of Termez, was assistant chief and head of the operational department of the headquarters of a rifle division, and chief of staff of a rifle division. In 1957 he graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff. He continued to serve in the Belarusian Military District - from January 1958 - deputy commander, from the end of the same year - commander of a motorized rifle division. Major General (1960). For several years he served in the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces. Since 1966 - Commander of the Army. Since June 1968 - Commander of the North Caucasus Military District.

Since October 1970 - Head of the Main Personnel Directorate of the USSR Ministry of Defense. Since 1972 - Head of the USSR Civil Defense - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. The military rank of Army General was awarded on February 16, 1977.

In 1986, an accident occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which revealed the unpreparedness of the USSR Civil Defense troops for prompt action to eliminate large-scale man-made and natural disasters. In the USSR, the main task of Civil Defense has always been preparation for action in the event of a large-scale war using nuclear weapons. Although this state of affairs had developed long before Altunin and at the highest level - he was accused of identified shortcomings in Civil Defense, removed from his post and appointed a military inspector-adviser in the Group of Inspectors General of the USSR Ministry of Defense.

Member of the CPSU Central Committee since 1976. Deputy of the Council of Nationalities of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 8th-11th convocations (1970-1989) from the Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. Lived in Moscow. Author of memoirs. He died on July 15, 1989 from a heart attack. He was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery.

Family

• Wife - Altunina Polina Dmitrievna (died in 2010, buried next to him).
• Sons - Alexander Alexandrovich (died in 2011) and Yuri Alexandrovich; granddaughter of Mironova Maria Yurievna.

Awards and titles

• Hero of the Soviet Union (decree of September 23, 1944).
• He was awarded four Orders of Lenin, two Orders of the Red Banner, the Order of Alexander Nevsky, the Order of the Patriotic War, 1st degree, the Order of the Red Star, the Order “For Service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR”, 3rd degree and medals of the USSR, as well as foreign orders and medals.
• Honorary citizen of the cities: Yartsevo, Smolensk region (1978); Old Crimea in Crimea (1978).

Today, on the Constitution Day of the Russian Federation, a solemn event took place in the city of Old Crimea, during which veterans of the Fire Department of the Republic of Crimea were awarded commemorative medals of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia “Army General Altunin”.

The location of the event was not chosen by chance. Hero of the Soviet Union, Army General Alexander Terentyevich Altunin participated in the Kerch-Feodosia liberation operation as part of the first echelon of landing troops, which lasted from December 1941 to January 1942. In the city of Old Crimea, a memorial sign was erected to the soldiers of the Great Patriotic War who fell during this period of time.

The event was attended by the head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia for the Republic of Crimea Sergei Shakhov, the heads of the administrations of the Kirov region and the city of Old Crimea, as well as Crimean rescuers and veterans of the Great Patriotic War and the Fire Department of the Republic of Crimea.

In a solemn ceremony, on the eve of Rescuer Day of the Russian Federation and in the Year of Civil Defense, the head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia for the Republic of Crimea, Sergei Shakhov, presented the commemorative medals of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia “Army Hero Altunin” to fire service veterans. Among the awarded veterans was a participant in the Great Patriotic War, Vladimir Nikolaevich Ivanov, who was not broken by the terrible war he experienced in his youth, because he faced the Nazi invaders as a young sixteen-year-old boy. And in the post-war years he devoted his life to firefighting.

“Today, we are witnesses to how deep and strong the memory of the heroes of our country is. Our dear Veterans, you have given a lot of effort to protect our country and our future. Let me wish you good health and good spirits, because you always remain the best example of heroism for the younger generation,” said Sergei Shakhov.

At the end of the event, all those present, veterans, and Crimean firefighters laid flowers at the memorial sign to the soldiers of the Kerch-Feodosia landing and honored the memory of the heroes with a minute of silence.

Historical reference: The Kerch-Feodosia landing operation was carried out at the end of December 1941. Its goal was to capture the Kerch Peninsula, and then fight for the liberation of the entire Crimea. The landing of troops directly from warships into a port occupied by the enemy became an unprecedented example in the history of naval art. The surprise and precisely calculated strike ensured the success of this operation.

Alexander Altunin, being a company commander, also landed in the first echelon of the 157th Infantry Division. Unfortunately, after three days of stubborn offensive battles, he was seriously wounded; after the second wound, he woke up only in the back of a truck that was transporting the wounded back to Feodosia. This wound saved his life, since the Nazis who received help did not leave any of the paratroopers alive; It was Altunin’s fighting friends who died near the Old Crimea who erected an obelisk at the site of their execution.

It is worth noting that since July 1972, Alexander Altunin was the head of the USSR Civil Defense - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. The military rank of Army General was awarded on February 16, 1977. Being already Deputy Minister of Defense, Chief of Staff of the Civil Defense of the USSR, A. T. Altunin visited the places of his military youth, including Old Crimea. It was during this visit that he was awarded the title “Honorary Citizen of Old Crimea.”

Now in the Starokrymsky Museum of School - Gymnasium No. 1, a corner in memory of Alexander Terentyevich Altunin has been created, where his photographs are stored. It was he who donated his ceremonial general’s uniform to the school museum, which became the decoration of one of the exhibitions.

Altunin Alexander Terentyevich - battalion commander of the 889th Infantry Regiment (197th Infantry Division, 3rd Guards Army, 1st Ukrainian Front), captain.

Born on August 14, 1921 in the village of Steklyanka, Krestinsky volost, Kalachinsky district, Omsk province (now Kalachinsky district, Omsk region). Russian. In 1936, he graduated from the 8th grade of school in the village of Izylbash (now the village of Irtysh, Cherlak district, Omsk region). In 1937-1939 he worked as an accountant of the Molotovsky district financial department in the village of Molotovo (now the village of Irtysh) and as secretary of the Ermolovsky village council in the village of Ermolovka (now does not exist; the territory of the Repinsky rural settlement of the Kalachinsky district of the Omsk region).

In the army since August 1939. Until March 1940 he studied at the Omsk Military Infantry School, and in June 1941 he graduated from the Novosibirsk Military Infantry School.

Participant of the Great Patriotic War: in July-July 1941 - deputy commander for political affairs and commander of a mortar company of the 720th Infantry Regiment (Western Front). Participated in defensive battles in Belarus and the Battle of Smolensk. On July 27, 1941, near the city of Yartsevo (Smolensk region), he was seriously wounded in the head and arm; until the end of September 1941, he was treated in hospitals in the cities of Plavsk (Tula region), Essentuki (Stavropol region) and Sochi (Krasnodar region).

In October-November 1941 - commander of a training rifle company of a reserve rifle brigade (in the North Caucasus Military District).

In November 1941 - January 1942 - company commander and battalion commander of the 633rd Infantry Regiment. He fought on the Transcaucasian (November-December 1941) and Caucasian (December 1941 – January 1942) fronts. Participated in the Kerch-Feodosia landing operation. On January 10, 1942, in a battle on the outskirts of the city of Stary Krym (Crimea), he was again wounded in the head and until the end of February 1942 was treated in a hospital in the city of Voroshilovsk (now Stavropol).

In April 1942 - July 1943 - commander of a training machine gun company and deputy commander of a training battalion of a reserve rifle regiment (in the Stalingrad and South Ural military districts). In July-November 1943 he served in the 21st separate reserve officer regiment (in the South Ural Military District).

From November 1943 - officer of the operational department of the headquarters of the 197th Infantry Division, in March 1944 - March 1945 - battalion commander and deputy commander of the 889th Infantry Regiment. He fought on the Belorussian (November 1943 - February 1944), 1st Belorussian (February-March 1944) and 1st Ukrainian (April 1944 - March 1945) fronts. Participated in the Gomel-Rechitsa operation, offensive battles in the Bobruisk direction, Lvov-Sandomierz, Sandomierz-Silesian and Lower Silesian operations.

He particularly distinguished himself during the Lviv-Sandomierz operation. On July 29, 1944, with a group of fighters, he was among the first to cross the Vistula River south of the city of Józefów nad Wisła (Otwock County, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland). Having captured an advantageous position on the left bank of the river near the village of Dorotka (Opyatovsky district, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland), the group under his command ensured that the battalion crossed the river with fire. He skillfully organized the battle on the bridgehead, inflicting great damage on the enemy. For over 40 days, the battalion's fighters heroically repulsed enemy attacks, holding a bridgehead in order to pin down his forces. Only in September 1944, by order of the command, did the soldiers leave the bridgehead and join up with the main forces.

For courage and heroism shown in battles with the Nazi invaders, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of September 23, 1944, to Captain Altunin Alexander Terentyevich awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal.

In 1948 he graduated from the M.V. Frunze Military Academy. In 1948-1956 - assistant chief and chief of the operational department of the headquarters, chief of staff of the rifle division (in the Turkestan military district).

In November 1957 he graduated from the Higher Military Academy (Military Academy of the General Staff). From January 1958 - deputy commander of the 50th Guards Motorized Rifle Division, in June 1958 - June 1961 - commander of the 120th Guards Motorized Rifle Division (in the Belarusian Military District). In June 1961 - January 1964 - Chief of Staff of the 11th Guards Army (in the Baltic Military District; the city of Kaliningrad).

In 1964-1966 - Deputy and 1st Deputy Chief of the Operations Directorate of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces. In March 1966 - June 1968 - commander of the 11th Guards Army (in the Baltic Military District; the city of Kaliningrad). In June 1968 - October 1970 - commander of the troops of the North Caucasus Military District (headquarters in the city of Rostov-on-Don).

In 1969 he graduated from the Higher Academic Courses at the Military Academy of the General Staff. In October 1970 - July 1972 - Head of the Main Personnel Directorate of the USSR Ministry of Defense. In July 1972 - July 1986 - Head of Civil Defense of the USSR - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. Since July 1986 - military inspector-adviser of the Group of Inspectors General of the USSR Ministry of Defense.

Army General (1977). Awarded 4 Orders of Lenin (23.09.1944; 31.10.1967; 21.02.1978; 13.08.1981), 2 Orders of the Red Banner (4.03.1945; 12.08.1971), Orders of Alexander Nevsky (25.05.1944), Order of the 1st Patriotic War degree (03/11/1985), Red Star (11/5/1954), “For service to the Motherland in the Armed Forces of the USSR” 3rd degree (04/30/1975), medal “For Military Merit” (11/15/1950), other foreign medals Orders of Tudor Vladimirescu 1st degree (Romania), Order of the People's Republic of Bulgaria 1st degree (Bulgaria, 09/14/1974), Order of the Renaissance of Poland 3rd degree (Poland, 10/1973), Red Banner of Battle (Mongolia, 07/6/1971), Red Banner (Afghanistan, 05.1985), other foreign awards.

Member of the Central Committee of the CPSU in March 1976 - April 1989. Deputy of the Supreme Soviets of the RSFSR of the 7th convocation (in 1967-1971) and the USSR of 8-11 convocations (in June 1970 - March 1989).

Honorary citizen of the cities of Yartsevo (1978, Smolensk region), Feodosia (1977, Crimea) and Old Crimea (1978, Crimea).

Streets in the cities of Kalachinsk (Omsk region) and Yartsevo (Smolensk region) are named after him. In Moscow, a memorial plaque was installed on the house in which he lived.

Essays:
Civil defense formations in the fight against natural disasters. M., 1976;
Civil defense formations in the fight against natural disasters. 2nd edition. M., 1978;
Civil defense formations in the fight against natural disasters. 3rd edition. Tashkent, 1979;
A story about troubled youth. M., 1981;
Stars over the Vistula. Novosibirsk, 1982;
Stars over the Vistula. 2nd edition. M., 1984;

In the year of the 85th anniversary of the country’s civil defense, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations established another commemorative medal - “Army General Altunin”.

From the regulations on the medal: “The Commemorative Medal of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia “Army General Altunin”” is awarded to the personnel of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia who have work experience (service) in the system of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia (including in services, bodies, institutions and organizations transferred to the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia ) for at least 10 years, as well as other citizens for fruitful work aimed at developing civil defense, improving methods of training, warning and protecting the population, as well as skillful leadership and organization of civil defense forces to act as intended.”

Altunin Alexander Terentievich

Born on August 14, 1921 in the village of Steklyanka, now Kalachinsky district of the Omsk region, in a peasant family. Russian.

In the Red Army since August 1939. He was sent to study at the Omsk Infantry School, in February 1940 he was transferred to the Novosibirsk Military Infantry School, which he graduated in June 1941.

Lieutenant A.T. Altunin has been a participant in the Great Patriotic War since June 1941. Deputy commander of a mortar company for political affairs of the 162nd Infantry Division of the 25th Infantry Corps, then commander of a mortar company in the same division on the western front. Participant in the Smolensk defensive battle. He was seriously wounded.

From September 1941 - commander of a training rifle company in the North Caucasus Military District, from November 1941 - commander of a rifle company of the 157th Rifle Division of the Transcaucasian Front. Participated in the Kerch-Feodosia landing operation in January 1941 - February 1942. In the battle near Feodosia, a few days after the landing, he was seriously wounded for the second time.

Since April 1942 - commander of a training machine gun company in the Volga Military District. Since November 1943 - officer of the operational department of the headquarters of the rifle division in the 11th Army of the 1st Belorussian Front.

Since March 1944 - commander of the rifle battalion of the 889th Rifle Regiment (197th Rifle Division, 3rd Guards Army, 1st Ukrainian Front). In this post he showed exceptional courage and heroism during the Vistula-Oder offensive operation. On July 29, 1944, with a group of fighters, he crossed the Vistula near the village of Dorotka (Poland), captured an advantageous position and used fire to ensure the battalion crossed the river. He skillfully organized the battle on the bridgehead, inflicting great damage on the enemy. For over 40 days, the battalion's fighters heroically repulsed enemy attacks, holding a bridgehead in order to pin down his forces. Only in September 1944, by order of the command, did the soldiers leave the bridgehead and join up with the main forces.

For the courage and heroism shown on the front of the fight against the Nazi invaders and the courage and heroism shown at the same time, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of September 23, 1944, Captain Altunin Alexander Terentyevich was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union with the presentation of the Order of Lenin and the Gold Star medal "

Since November 1944 - deputy commander of the 889th Infantry Regiment. Until March 1945, he fought on the 1st Ukrainian Front and took part in the Vistula-Oder and Lower Silesian offensive operations. Then he was recalled from the front to the academy.

In 1948 he graduated from the Military Academy named after M.V. Frunze, in 1957 - the Higher Military Academy named after K.E. Voroshilov. He continued to serve in the army in command positions: in 1948 - 1955 - assistant chief and head of the operational department of the headquarters of a rifle division, chief of staff of a rifle division in the Turkestan Military District. Since January 1958 - deputy commander and commander of a motorized rifle division in the Belarusian Military District. Then he was in a leadership position at the General Staff. Since 1966 - commanded the army, in June 1968 - October 1970 - commander of the troops of the North Caucasus Military District.

Since October 1970 - Head of the Main Personnel Directorate of the USSR Ministry of Defense.

In 1972-1986 - Head of Civil Defense - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR.

Since 1986 - military inspector-adviser of the Group of Inspectors General of the USSR Ministry of Defense.