226th Zemlyansky Infantry Regiment


The 226th Zemlyansky Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Imperial Russian Army. The unit existed from 1914 to 1918. The regiment was famous for defending Osowiec Fortress, having carried out the "Attack of the Dead Men."

Regiment formation

The unit formed in 1914 from personnel allocated by the 10th New Ingermanland Infantry Regiment in Kaluga. The unit was part of the 57th Infantry Division.

Service

After the creation of the regiment in July 1914, it was attached to the 57th Infantry Division of the 1st Army of Paul von Rennenkampf. The first battle took place on 29 August. The regiment covered the retreat of Russian troops from East Prussia, preventing their encirclement. For their courage in rearguard battles with the enemy, fourteen servicement were awarded the Cross of St. George, 4th Class. At the end of January 1915, the regiment found itself in Osowiec, taking the perimeter of the fortress under guard.
After leaving Osowiec, the regiment retreated to Grodno. During its defense, the soldiers expressed heroism, clearing the eastern part of the city from the enemy. On 19 August 1915, the officers and lower ranks of the regiment were subjected to a second gas attack. At the end of July and beginning of August 1916, the regiment took part in the Battle of Kowel, then in battles with the Austro-Hungarians near Ternopil. In December the unit was transferred to Romania to save Russia's new ally from defeat. The unit remained in Romania until the end of hostilities in December 1917, after which it returned to Russia.

Commanders

  • 16 August 1914 – 11 November 1914: Colonel Dmitry Alekseevich Tolbuzin
  • 22 November 1914 – 24 July 1916: Colonel Konstantin Vasilievich Kataev
  • 25 July 1916 – 6 September 1916: Colonel Vr. and. Vasily Petrovich Potapov
  • 7 September 1916 – 15 June 1917: Colonel Pavel Petrovich Gorev
  • 4 July 1917 – December 1917: Colonel Alexey Tikhonovich Beloborodov

Awards

  • Aleksey Semenovich Gvozdenko
  • Fyodor Semenovich Chernykh

Notable figures

Commemoration