Kremlin Regiment

Kremlin Regiment (also called The Presidential Regiment, Russian: Кремлëвский полк ["Kremlyovskiy polk"] , Президентский полк ["Prezidentskiy polk"] ) is a unique military regiment, a part of Russian Federal Protective Service with the status of a special unit. The regiment ensures the security of the Kremlin and its treasures and guards the highest state officials. Meanwhile in accordance with a federal law of December 8, 1997 "On Immortalizing the Soviet People’s Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945" the regiment maintains a guard of honor at the eternal flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The regiment is housed in the historic Kremlin Arsenal.

History

As the leaders of the Soviet Union had moved from Petrograd to the Moscow Kremlin in the early 1918, their protection was entrusted to the Red Latvian Riflemen, under the command of the Commandant's of the Kremlin. In September 1918, the Latvian Riflement left for the fronts of the Civil War, and replaced in the Kremlin by the cadets of a Red Army officer's school that was redeployed into the Kremlin for this purpose.

In October 1935, the officer's school was moved from Kremlin to elsewhere, and a Special Purpose Battalion (since April 8, 1936, Special Purpose Regiment) was created to replace them in the Kremlin guard duty. On January 28, 1936, the battalion - and the Kremlin Garrison ("Komendatura Kremlya"), to which it was subordinated - were transferred from the People's Commissariat of Defense of the USSR to the People's Commissariat of the Internal Affairs (NKVD) of the USSR. Thus, it was deemed appropriate to focus such an important area of public safety, in one specific unit, and UKMK and 1st Division NKVD as operational units logged in Narkomat (People's Commissariat) of Internal Affairs. It is important to note that UKMK and 1st Division were separate public safety is not subordinate to each other, which would not prevent them closely cooperate and collaborate in the organization of activities to ensure the public safety.

On April 8, 1936, in accordance with Order No. 122 for the Moscow Kremlin Garrison, the Special Purpose Battalion was renamed Special Purpose Regiment; this day is considered the birthday of the regiment. However, the Regiment's Day is celebrated annually on May 7.

When the Soviet-German War began in 1941, the units of the Kremlin Garrison were made responsible for defending the Kremlin, where the State Defense Committee and Chief Military Headquarters were located. On June 25, 1941, the Commandant of the Garrison ordered the regiment to reinforce the defenses, and the regiment set up round-the-clock guard on the Kremlin walls. In 1942-1943 four groups of snipers from the Kremlin Regiment were sent to the Western and Volkhov Fronts. The snipers killed a total of more than 1,200 German soldiers and officers. Meanwhile the regiment lost 97 men during the war [ [http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/articles/atributesEng07.shtml The Presidential Regiment] ] . On February 23, 1944 the Kremlin Regiment was decorated with the Red Banner of Combat. Three battalions from the regiment took part in the Moscow Victory Parade of 1945 on Red Square.

In 1952 the regiment was reorganized into the Separate Special Purpose Regiment. On May 7, 1965 it was decorated with the Order of the Red Banner for its military achievements during the Soviet-German War. On May 8, 1967 the regiment took part in the ceremony of unveiling the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Alexander Garden. In 1973 the unit was renamed to the Separate Red Banner Kremlin Regiment. The regiment finally came to be called its current name in accordance with a presidential decree of March 20, 1993.On May 7, 2006 the regiment gained a new banner. It has also recently acquired special ceremonial uniforms closely modelled on those worn on parade by the infantry of the Russian Imperial Guard until 1914. These are worn in addition to modern style dress uniforms adopted during the final years of the Soviet period. Both types of uniform are in dark green with medium blue facings.

Notes

ee also

*Federal Protective Service of Russia
*OMON
*Federal Security Service of Russia

External links

* [http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Kremlin_Guards_Don_Spacesuits_In_Battle_Against_Winter_Weather.html Kremlin Guards Don Spacesuits In Battle Against Winter Weather]