| | | | | | Historical background Druzhinnik of 3rd (Semyonovsky) Regiment of the Petrograd City Guard, 1918. | | | | | | Semyonovsky Regiment was one of the two oldest guard regiments of the Imperial Russian Army, what existed in 1687-1920. It have participated in the Russian-Turkish wars, Russian-Swedish wars (battles of Poltava, Lesnaya and Narva), Napoleonic wars (battles of Borodino, Lützen, Bautzen, Kulm and Leipzig), the World War I (Battle of Galicia, Sventiany Offensive), as well as in the suppression of the Polish and Hungarian uprisings, Russian Revolution of 1905.
Paradoxically, this regiment, unlike the rest of the Guard, was not disbanded after the October Revolution and continued to serve under the new authorities for a long time. On May 1, 1918, the military unit officially became known as the 3rd Regiment of the Petrograd City Guard. In fact, there was no change with the regiment, except for updating the name, even the old insignia were preserved. Although very often the regiment was called Semyonovsky by inertia.
A distinctive feature of the 3rd (Semyonovsky) Regiment of the Petrograd City Guard was the careful service. The druzhinniks, as the ranks began to be called, guarded the most responsible posts: in the State Bank, the State Savings Bank, the Stamp Treasury and other important state facilities. Because of this, the bolshevik authorities of Petrograd overlooked at many things that happened in the military unit, although most of the regiment, both officers and privates, were openly anti-communist.
However, when Petrograd latter was threatened by White Russian forces, many units from Petrograd were sent to the front, including the 3rd (Semyonovsky) Regiment. In late May 1919, the regiment in full force with a ceremonial march switched sides to join the White movement; all bolshevik political officers and communists of the regiment were arrested and shot. Shortly after the switching, the regiment was visited by the White general Alexander Rodzyanko, who was pleasantly impressed by their cheerful appearance and kept the unit the name of the Semyonovsky Regiment. The regiment bravely continued to fight for the White Movement until 1920, when the Whites were defeated in the North-West of Russia. After that, the regiment was interned by Estonia and disbanded.
In 2013, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on re-establishment of the Regiment as a rifle regiment, its name now becoming the 1st Semyonovsky Independent Rifle Regiment, and joining the Kremlin Regiment in providing security to the President of Russia and the entire Moscow Kremlin and its surroundings, just as its predecessors did. |
3-y Semyonovsky Pehotniy Polk is one of the few active russian-speaking regiments in the EU community. The regiment was formed on January 1, 2022 by separating from the Leib-Gvardii Preobrazhensky Polk. The reason of this was dissatisfaction with the policy pursued by colonel Nams.
The initiators of the separating were Platypus and Skobelev, who is a colonel now. The development of the regiment took place quite quickly, and already in the first months of its existence, it was able to occupy a certain niche in the European community and have high attendance (in February, it reached 25-30 people). Since the Leib-Gvardii Semenovsky Polk was often confused with the Leib-Gvardii Preobrazhensky Polk due to the tag [L-G], it was decided to change the name to the 3-y Semyonovsky Pehotniy Polk.
Once the words spoken by Emperor Alexander I: “What is good for others is not enough for the soldiers of Semyonovsky regiment” became the motto for both the real regiment and our one. The regiment has always stood on four pillars: Teamwork, Discipline, Skill and Fun. The skill of bayonet fighting is not a prerequisite for joining, but is highly welcome in the regiment. Any member of the regiment who has a desire to develop skills will be supported by officers and fellow soldiers. The regiment had its own GF teams, Elements and Hashira, composed entirely by members of the regiment.
The regiment also takes part in various inter-regimental tournaments, and also organizes own for its members.
Despite the fact that the regiment is very young, it is extremely promising and perhaps in the near future it will reach great heights. | | | | | | | |