Unbroken. Forgotten feat General Karbyshev Bashny.Net

Cadet from unreliable family

Dmitry Karbyshev born October 26, 1880 in a military family. Since childhood, he wanted to continue the dynasty begun by his father and grandfather. Dmitry entered the Siberian Cadet Corps, however, despite the efforts exerted in the study, there was listed among "unreliable».
The fact is that the older brother Dmitry, Vladimir, was involved in revolutionary circles, created in Kazan University, along with another young radicals - Vladimir Ulyanov. But if the future leader of the Revolution escaped with only the exception of the University, the Vladimir Karbyshev ended up in prison, where he died.
Despite the stigma, "an unreliable," Dmitry Karbyshev went brilliantly, and in 1898, at the end of the Cadet Corps, entered the Nikolaev engineering school.
Of all military specialties Karbysheva most attracted the construction of fortifications and defensive structures.
The talent of the young officer was first apparent in Russian-Japanese campaign - Karbyshev strengthened position to build bridges across rivers, established means of communication and conducted reconnaissance in force.
Despite the unfortunate outcome of the war for Russia, Karbyshev proved to be a class specialists, which was awarded medals and the rank of lieutenant.





From Przemysl to Perekopa

But freedom of thought in 1906, lieutenant Karbysheva dismissed from service. However, not for long - the command was smart enough to realize that the specialists of this level should not be scattered.
On the eve of World War I captain Dmitry Karbyshev designed forts of Brest Fortress - the ones in which thirty years later would fight the Nazis, Soviet soldiers.
WWI Karbyshev passed as Divisional Engineer 78th and 69th Infantry Divisions, and then the chief of the engineering service of the Finnish 22th Infantry Corps. For courage and bravery in the storming of Przemysl during Brusilovsky breakthrough, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and was awarded the Order of St. Anne.
During the Revolution Colonel Karbyshev not rushed, and immediately joined the Red Guard. All his life he was faithful to his views and beliefs that are not retracted.
In November 1920, Dmitry Karbyshev engaged in engineering maintenance assault Perekop, the success of which ultimately decided the outcome of the Civil War.



Missing

By the end of 1930, Dmitry Karbyshev considered one of the most prominent experts in the field of military engineering art, not only in the Soviet Union, but also in the world. In 1940 he was promoted to lieutenant-general, and in 1941 - the degree of Doctor of Military Sciences.
On the eve of the Great Patriotic War, General Karbyshev worked on the fortifications on the western frontier. During one of his trips abroad and caught the start of hostilities.
The rapid advance of the Nazis, Soviet troops put in a difficult position. 60-year-old general engineering troops - not the most desired man in the part that faces the environment. However Karbysheva failed to evacuate. However, he himself, like a military officer, decided to escape from Hitler's "bag" together with our units.
However, August 8, 1941, Lieutenant-General Karbyshev was seriously wounded in the battle of the Dnieper River and the unconscious was captured.
From now until 1945, in his personal file would mean a short phrase: "Missing».
Valuable expert

Karbysheva Authority as a military specialist was very high. The Nazis even before the capture of General made it to the list of those who hoped to use later in the service of the Third Reich.
The German command was convinced: Karbyshev among the Bolsheviks - casual man. The nobleman, an officer of the royal army, he easily agrees to go over to their side. In the end, he and the CPSU (b) came only in 1940, apparently under duress.
Soon, however, the Nazis discovered that Karbyshev - tough nut to crack. 60-year-old general to serve the Third Reich refused, expressed confidence in the ultimate victory of the Soviet Union, and in no way resembled a man broken captivity.
In March 1942 Karbysheva were transferred to the concentration camp officer Hammelburg. In it was an active psychological treatment of senior Soviet officers to force them to go on the side of Germany. For this to create the most humane and benevolent conditions. Many hlebnuvshie Down and Out in the ordinary soldiers' camps, it broke. Karbyshev, however, turned out to be quite different from the text - any benefits and privileges "reforge" it failed.
Soon Karbysheva placed a colonel Pelit. That Wehrmacht officer, an excellent knowledge of the Russian language, as in his time served in the imperial army. Moreover, Pelit was Karbysheva colleague while working on forts of Brest Fortress.
Pelit, a subtle psychologist, painted before Karbysheva all the advantages of the service of the great Germany, proposed "compromise variants of cooperation," - for example, the general engaged in historical works about military operations of the Red Army in the current war, and for that it in the long run be allowed to travel to a neutral country.
However Karbyshev again otmёl all the proposed options for cooperation by the Nazis.
Incorruptible

Then, the Nazis made a last attempt. General was transferred to solitary confinement of a prison in Berlin, where he was held for about three weeks.
After that, the investigating officer that he was waiting for a colleague - a famous German professor Heinz Raubengeymer fortifier.
The Nazis knew Karbyshev Raubengeymer familiar and, moreover, the Russian general, with respect for the work of German scientist.
Raubengeymer Karbysheva announced the following proposal of the authorities of the Third Reich. General proposed the liberation of the camp, the possibility of moving to a private apartment, as well as complete financial security. He will have access to all the library stacks and Germany have the opportunity to get acquainted with other materials in the interest of his areas of military engineering. If you need to guarantee any number of helpers for arranging the laboratory, performing development work and other measures to ensure the research character. The results of the work should be relegated to the German specialists. All ranks of the German army will treat Karbysheva as Lieutenant-General of Engineering Troops of the German Reich.
A middle-aged man who has passed through the deprivation in the camps, offers luxurious retaining position, and even the title. He was not required even to denounce Stalin and the Bolshevik regime. The Nazis were interested in his work Karbysheva basic specialty.
Dmitry Karbyshev well aware that this is likely the last sentence. He knew what would follow failure.
However, the courageous general said: "My beliefs do not fall out with his teeth from lack of vitamins in the diet of the camp. I am a soldier and I remain faithful to his duty. He forbids me to work for the country which is at war with my Motherland ».
The Germans look forward to Karbysheva, its influence and authority. It was he, not General Vlasov, on the original idea, was to lead the Russian Liberation Army.
But all the plans of the Nazis broke intransigence Karbysheva.
Gravestones for fascists

After this failure the Nazis put on Gen. cross, defining it as "a convinced fanatical Bolshevik, the use of which can not be in the service of the Reich».
Karbysheva sent to a concentration camp Flossenburg, where they began to be used in the hard labor of the utmost gravity. But here the general surprise their fellow sufferers unbending will, fortitude and confidence in the ultimate victory of the Red Army.
One of the Soviet prisoners later recalled that Karbyshev knew how to cheer up even in the most difficult moments. When the prisoners worked on the production of gravestones, the general said: "This job gives me real pleasure. The more gravestones require us Germans, the better, then, are our business at the front ».
He moved from camp to camp, the conditions became more stringent, but failed to break the Karbysheva. In each of the camps, which turned out to be a general, he became the spiritual leader of this resistance to the enemy. His resistance gave strength to those who were near.
The front slid to the West. Soviet troops entered the territory of Germany. The outcome of the war became apparent even a convinced Nazi. Nazis have nothing left but hatred and the desire to deal with those who turned out to be stronger than them, even in chains and barbed wire ...



Execution

Major Seddon de Saint-Clair was one of dozens of prisoners of war who survived the terrible night of February 18, 1945 in the Mauthausen concentration camp.
"As soon as we entered the territory of the camp, the Germans drove us to the shower, was told to undress and let us top of the jet of ice water. It lasted a long time. All blue. Many fell to the floor and died immediately: heart can not stand. Then we were told to wear only underwear and wooden shoes on his feet and drove into the yard. General Karbyshev standing in a group near the Russian comrades from me. We understood that to live out the last hours. A few minutes later the Gestapo, who stood behind us with a fire hose in hand, we began to pour cold water streams. Those who tried to escape from the jet, those beaten with batons on the head. Hundreds of people have fallen frozen or crushing skulls. I saw the fallen and General Karbyshev "- said Canadian Maj.
The last words were addressed to the general to those who shared with him a terrible fate, "Baudry, comrades! Think of the motherland, and courage will not leave you! ».



Hero of the Soviet Union

With the story of the Canadian Major began collecting information about the last years of General Karbyshev conducted in German captivity. All collected documents and eyewitnesses spoke of extraordinary courage and perseverance of this man.
August 16, 1946 for exceptional resilience and courage in the fight against the German invaders in World War II, Lt. Gen. Dmitry Mikhailovich Karbysheva was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
In 1948, the former Mauthausen concentration camp was opened a monument to General. The inscription on it reads: "Dmitry Karbysheva. Scientists. Soldier. Communists. Life and death were his feat in the name of life. "



Source: www.aif.ru