Service in the intelligence corps is extremely tough, responsible, and dangerous

There’s nothing new in saying that the path of any frontline soldier is a major life challenge. The more so if we talk about frontline reconnaissance troopers.
When talking to these men of respectable age, one wonders how could anybody who survived so many terrible events, grievous losses, sorrow and misery remain ready to stand up any moment for his Motherland. Yet they are willing to share their kindness, smiles, and words…

Vasyl Natalchenko

The war began when the 21-year-old boy was a cadet at Krasnodar Infantry Academy. One would hardly be interested in his life before the war, since the majority of people lived the same way back in those harsh days: born in a rural family (in the village of Katansa, Orenburg region, Russia), was left fatherless at the age of 1, left school after 9 years, applied to military academy… How could anybody – including himself – ever imagine that this ordinary boy would become a brave fighter of the South-West, South, Stalingrad, 2nd and 3rd Belarus Fronts, would go through the war from its very first day to the very last one, and would be putting his life at risk every day for the sake of freedom for his people.

Lt. Natalchenko was assigned an infantry platoon, 917th rifle regiment, 249th rifle division immediately after his graduation from the academy. Natalchenko’s platoon sustained heavy casualties in its very first battle upon the Pivdenny Buh River: only 8 soldiers survived from a 48-men unit.
Vasyl Natalchenko says: “…the enemy was much better prepared for combat in the beginning of the war. The Germans exceeded us numerically both in men and materiel. There were 4 squads in my platoon. According to TOE, there was supposed to be one machinegun in each squad. Instead, they were issuing us only 3 antitank grenades. That’s why we were losing many men. But neither numerous Nazi regiments, nor their weapons and materiel could beat our soldiers’ courage, endurance, and heroism as well as our rear’s unstoppable hard work”.

Natalchenko’s regiment stood heroically against Hitler forces for half a year, moving from one entrapment to another. By commander’s call, Lt. Natalchenko was reassigned to the 150th cavalry regiment, 38th cavalry division. “…there I was: a young Lieutenant arriving to the regimental HQ. there were only 2 clerks besides the executive officer. That’s how I became assistant staff officer for reconnaissance”.

Natalchenko’s division was surrounded and sustained heavy losses once again in May, 1942, during Kharkiv offensive. After reaching the friendly lines, Vasyl Natalchenko was reassigned to the 142nd cavalry regiment, 34th cavalry division.

By chance, staff officer of the regimental HQ was severely injured in combat and sent to hospital day before. So 21-year-old Lt. Natalchenko was appointed to his position.

“The regiment’s HQ is its brain centre, - Vasyl Natalchenko says, - the amount of work is enormous. Stalingrad operation was underway at that time, and our division was among forward offensive echelons. That was three months of hard continuous brain work. Three months of hell in the battlefield. There was little time to sleep, eat or rest. But there were funny moments, too, - Vasyl Natalchenko smiles at his memories, - for some reason the Germans had a horror of cavalry. Seeing us mounted, they screamed “Cossak!” and fled. Therefore we especially enjoyed catching them by surprise...”

In one such combat the 142nd cavalry regiment sustained heavy losses and was surrounded by German troops. A courier managed to reach Natalchenko’s group and delivered an order concerning retreat to the east. 68 men led by Natalchenko spent 9 days and nights moving in the eastern direction without map or food, using only compass bearings. They were lucky enough to reach friendly forces on the ninth day.

Following those events, Vasyl Natalchenko was once again reassigned to assistant staff officer for reconnaissance, 86th cavalry regiment, 32nd cavalry division. Sleepless nights and restless days resumed: enemy movements and gun posts had to be constantly monitored.

“Reconnaissance is always carried out in the neutral zone, - Vasyl Natalchenko says, - timely and accurate intelligence is key to future victory in combat. The forward area was always lit by flare rockets making it extremely difficult to remain invisible. I can hardly tell now how many times we had to take prisoners. I can only say that it was quite an uneasy thing to do. I remember our winter-time missions. It was February. We lay in snow for hours, dressed in white camouflage cloaks and observing the terrain during the night. Our arms and legs were growing numb, but we were slowly crawling towards the enemy trenches. A rocket flashes in the sky the moment you stand up, so you have to hit the snow again. This could go on for hours. But we did take prisoners in those trenches. So, we did not freeze in vain!”

One of our most successful missions happened near Stalingrad. We were assigned a day operation. Our group stayed in the enemy rear for the whole day. It was growing dark and we had to return to our regiment base. That’s when we heard a motorcycle approaching.
When it came near us, we surrounded it and eliminated the driver. We then convoyed the officer which sat in the sidecar to the regimental HQ. He turned out to be a signal officer carrying extremely valuable documents – orders, maps etc. The information we received from him allowed our division to prepare well for the offensive and defeat the enemy.

From October, 1943 to September, 1944, Vasyl Natalchenko studied at cavalry officer school and was appointed assistant staff officer for reconnaissance, 65th cavalry regiment, 32nd cavalry division. With this unit he participated in battles for Konigsberg that became milestone on the way to the Great Victory. After the fall of Konigsberg, Natalchenko’s regiment continued advancing to the German territory.

On May 3, 1945, the legendary linkage on the Elbe took place. Natalchenko was there, too. It was there where he celebrated the Victory Day.

Since then, the 9th of May for him is the greatest holiday of all. No wonder, since Vasyl Natalchenko survived the hell of the war, fought cold, hunger, and chronic fatigue, put his life at risk every day in order to gather intelligence for his regiment.

Cavalry regiments were allotted to mechanized and tank formations. Vasyl Natalchenko continued his service in the town of Berdychiv, later – in Zhytomyr, where he was in charge of scouts training. “Service in the intelligence corps is extremely tough, responsible, and dangerous. A reconnaissance trooper must be patient, thoughtful; he must know how to use his wits,” Vasyl Natalchenko was always telling his students. He taught them things that he knew himself: how to be a fearless, determined, and brave warrior. A reconnaissance trooper. A soldier of Victory.

The heroic path of the veteran was distinguished by the Order of the Red Star, the Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd Class; medals “For Defending of Stalingrad”, “For Konigsberg” and many others.