The group photo of the Vindavskiy infantry regiment is in an original black wooden frame and covered with glass. The Museum received the photo in 1988 from Karabanova Maria Stepanovna. The picture shows 1118 people. The place where the photo was taken is unknown. It is visible that the militia are placed against a brick building. The hierarchy of their location is strictly observed: in the center of the first rows is the command staff. Here, in the first row, on the left and right you can see the musical band of the regiment — there are different kinds of wind instruments in the hands of musicians.
The history of the Vindavskiy regiment begins in 1811. It was at this time, on January 17, 1811, in Mitava (today Jelgava, Latvia) the Mitava provincial semi-battalion was formed on the basis of a company of the Riga garrison regiment. The created unit changed its status and composition more than once during the 19th century, until it was finally reorganized into the 180th Vindavskiy infantry regiment in 1898. The name of the regiment comes from the town of Vindava (now Ventspils). The heavenly patron of the Vindavskiy regiment was considered the prophet Elijah, and the day of the regimental holiday was celebrated on August 2 (July 20).
In accordance with the new deployment of the Imperial army from 1909, the infantry’s 45th division was transferred to the Kazan military district from the Baltic States. This division, in addition to the artillery brigade, included four infantry regiments, including the Vindavskiy regiment. The divisional headquarters were moved to Penza, while the Vindavskiy regiment was moved to Saransk. The regiment participated in many battles of the First world war.
On July 30 (17) 1914, as part of the General mobilization of the army, the Vindavskiy regiment was reinforced and in early August, as part of the 45th division, went to the front. At that time, Vasily Ivanovich Petrovsky held the position of the regiment commander - he was in command of the regiment from April 1, 1914. After the announcement about mobilization the regular unit of the Vindavskiy regiment was detached (280 rank and files and 19 officers), and together with the reserve from Penza united in the 320th Chembarskiy infantry regiment, which in August as a part of the 80th infantry division went to on Western front.
The record of the Vindavskiy regiment is impressive: the rank and files and officers participated in the battle of Gorodok, in the Warsaw - Ivangorod operation, in the Lublin - Holm operation, in the second battle of Marashesti. In addition, the Vindavskiy regiment as part of the fourth army fought at the town of Vileika on the Western front in September 1915. The military had a task to eliminate the consequences of the Germans speech in the Molodechno district — for this operation the 304th Novgorod-Seversky infantry regiment and 180th Vindavskiy subdivisions were sent.
Grigory Vladimirovich Frost was made temporary commander of the Vindavskiy regiment, and under his command the soldiers of the regiment managed to dislodge the Germans from Vileika, it happened on September 10. At the same time the regiment managed to capture a lot of trophies: four guns, three machine guns and almost 200 prisoners. Unfortunately, not without losses: 14 officers were injured (of which 4 killed), as well as 1127 men from the lower ranks (87 missing, 211 killed).
Afterwards, Gregory Frost received the order of St. George, fourth class for this battle. Later, the officer went to Saransk, probably to a family living in the city. As for the Vindavskiy regiment, after the end of the war it never returned to its barracks in Saransk. Together with the entire Imperial army, the regiment was disbanded in 1918.
The history of the Vindavskiy regiment begins in 1811. It was at this time, on January 17, 1811, in Mitava (today Jelgava, Latvia) the Mitava provincial semi-battalion was formed on the basis of a company of the Riga garrison regiment. The created unit changed its status and composition more than once during the 19th century, until it was finally reorganized into the 180th Vindavskiy infantry regiment in 1898. The name of the regiment comes from the town of Vindava (now Ventspils). The heavenly patron of the Vindavskiy regiment was considered the prophet Elijah, and the day of the regimental holiday was celebrated on August 2 (July 20).
In accordance with the new deployment of the Imperial army from 1909, the infantry’s 45th division was transferred to the Kazan military district from the Baltic States. This division, in addition to the artillery brigade, included four infantry regiments, including the Vindavskiy regiment. The divisional headquarters were moved to Penza, while the Vindavskiy regiment was moved to Saransk. The regiment participated in many battles of the First world war.
On July 30 (17) 1914, as part of the General mobilization of the army, the Vindavskiy regiment was reinforced and in early August, as part of the 45th division, went to the front. At that time, Vasily Ivanovich Petrovsky held the position of the regiment commander - he was in command of the regiment from April 1, 1914. After the announcement about mobilization the regular unit of the Vindavskiy regiment was detached (280 rank and files and 19 officers), and together with the reserve from Penza united in the 320th Chembarskiy infantry regiment, which in August as a part of the 80th infantry division went to on Western front.
The record of the Vindavskiy regiment is impressive: the rank and files and officers participated in the battle of Gorodok, in the Warsaw - Ivangorod operation, in the Lublin - Holm operation, in the second battle of Marashesti. In addition, the Vindavskiy regiment as part of the fourth army fought at the town of Vileika on the Western front in September 1915. The military had a task to eliminate the consequences of the Germans speech in the Molodechno district — for this operation the 304th Novgorod-Seversky infantry regiment and 180th Vindavskiy subdivisions were sent.
Grigory Vladimirovich Frost was made temporary commander of the Vindavskiy regiment, and under his command the soldiers of the regiment managed to dislodge the Germans from Vileika, it happened on September 10. At the same time the regiment managed to capture a lot of trophies: four guns, three machine guns and almost 200 prisoners. Unfortunately, not without losses: 14 officers were injured (of which 4 killed), as well as 1127 men from the lower ranks (87 missing, 211 killed).
Afterwards, Gregory Frost received the order of St. George, fourth class for this battle. Later, the officer went to Saransk, probably to a family living in the city. As for the Vindavskiy regiment, after the end of the war it never returned to its barracks in Saransk. Together with the entire Imperial army, the regiment was disbanded in 1918.
