19th Army (Soviet Union)
Encyclopedia
The 19th Army was a field army
of the Soviet Union
's Red Army
, formed in 1941 and active during the Second World War. It was disbanded in 1945 or 1947.
under the command of General Lieutenant Ivan Koniev. Division Commissar I.P. Sheklanov became Member of the Army's Military Soviet. Initially the army consisted of the 25th Rifle Corps
(127th Rifle Division, 134th Rifle Division, and 162nd Rifle Division), and 34th Rifle Corps (129th Rifle Division, 158th Rifle Division, and 171st Rifle Division), the 38th Rifle Division, the 442nd Corps Artillery Regiment, the 471st Corps Artillery Regiment and other units. Sources disagree as to whether a Mechanized Corps, either the 25th or the 26th, was directly subordinate to the Army as well. Three weeks before the outbreak of war the 19th Army was send by rail to Ukraine in the Cherkassy region. The army received orders from Peoples Commissar of Defence, S.K. Timoshenko, to defend the Kiev Fortified Region.
From 25 June 1941, the Army was included into Group of Reserve Armies of the Highest Command (STAVKA
). The 19th Army was transferred by rail to Vitebsk, Rudnia, Smolensk. On 2 July, army was included into Western Front. The transfer by rail took more time than was expected. On 9 July first units to arrive received orders to deny Vitebsk
to the enemy and attack in the western direction and reach western bank of Dvina.
On the contrary, to the 11 July enemy brushed away Soviet forces from Vitebsk. On 11 July, the 19th Army was strengthened by 7th Mechanized Corps and on the next day attacked Vitebsk anew. At that time enemy had the initiative. To the 16 July, German forces struck through Yartsevo to Smolensk. Three Soviet armies (16th
, 20th
and 19th) found themselves in the operational encirclement.
On 14 July, 19th Army Headquarters received orders to transfer its troops to the 16th Army and to move to the Kardumovo region, and then Yartsevo. 19th Army Staff with great effort broke out of the encirclement near Wadino and received new divisions under its command. Those new forces took defensive positions on the river Vol.
During August-September 1941, 19th Army took part in the Battle of Smolensk
and tried to destroy the enemy Dukhowszczina group. In the middle of august army was strengthened with rifle, cavalry, tank division, two gun artillery regiments, three artillery divisions and two batteries of Rocket Artillery (Katyusha) additional from air army was protected by 43rd Mixed Aviation Division. Despite this reinforcements the army was not able to perform its task. A new attack on 1 September on Smolensk was also unsuccessful.
On 10 September, army took defensive positions.
On 12 September, I.S. Koniev became the commander of Western Front. New commander of 19th Army became General Lieutenant M.F. Lukin.
In October 1941, forces of the 19th Army fought in the Vyazma
defensive operation (2–13 October). The army was surrounded by enemy forces southwest of Jelnya. In the middle of October part of the army fought its way out of the encirclement to the Mozhaisk defence line. The Army commander M.F. Lukin and Chief of Staff General Major W.F. Malyshkin became prisoners of War. The member of the Military Soviet of the Army Divisional Commissar I.P. Sheklanov died in action. General Lieutenant I.W. Boldin then took command, but soon afterwards the army was disbanded, on 20 October 1941.
The army's chief of Staff was General Major P.N. Rubtsov, from June to July 1941, and then Colonel W.F. Malyschkin, who was promoted to General Major from October 1941.
By STAVKA order from 23 November 1941, army was reformed into 1st Shock Army
under direct command of STAVKA.
Army Commander
General Lieutenant W.I. Kuznetsov
Army's Chief of Staff
General Major Zachvatajev N.D.
. The Army's units were 104th and 122nd Rifle Divisions, 77th Marine Rifle Brigade, 4th Ski Brigade, two separate tank battalions and some artillery and other units.
Up until December 1944 the Army was defending the Kandalaksha direction. In September, her forces defeated enemy Allakurti group and by the months end reached the USSR state border with Finland on river Naruska-Joki, lake Onikamo-Jarvi where the army went on the defence.
On 15 November 1944 army was transferred into the Stavka Reserve and in January 1945 it was positioned near Grodno and Bialystok
.
On 29 January 1945, Army was subordinated to the 2nd Belorussian Front
(2nd Formation). Then it took part in the East Pomeranian Offensive
(10 February-4 April) during which course on 5 March it advanced to the coast of the Baltic Sea
north of Koslin (Koszalin
) and had an important role in the destruction of the east-Pomeranian enemy group. Next, the army together with 1st Guards Army, 70th Army and forces of the Baltic Fleet
destroyed the enemy Gdynia
group and entered port of Gdynia (28 March).
In April-beginning of May the units of the army took part in destruction of enemy group in western coast of Danzig Bay. Then, in cooperation with the 2nd Shock Army
, the army cleared Wolin
peninsula, and Usedom
and Rugia islands. On 9 May army received the capitulation of the German units on the Hel
peninsula.
On 1 May 1945 the army consisted of the 132nd Rifle Corps (18th, 27th
, and 205th Rifle Divisions), 134th Rifle Corps (10th Guards Rifle Division
, 310th Rifle Division, 313th Rifle Divisions), 91st and 153rd Fortified Regions (УР), 204th Guard Artillery Brigade, 884 иптап, 268 минп, and 186th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (зенап).
Feskov et al. says the army remained in Poland until 1947 with two rifle corps of six divisions, when it was disbanded.
Army Commanders
General Major Morozov S.I. (March 1942- May 1943)
General Major from February 1944- General Lieutenant Kozlov G.K. (May 1943-March 1945)
General Lieutenant Romanowsky W.Z. (March 1945 - to the war's end)
Members of the Military Soviet of Army
Brigade Commissar from December 1942 Colonel Kalinovsky A.P. (April 1942-March 1944)
General Major Pankov S.i (March 1944 - to the war's end)
Chiefs of Staff
Colonel from January 1943- General Major Markuschevich S.A. (April 1942-March 1945)
General Lieutenant Ljapin P.I. (March 1945-to the war's end)
Field army
A Field Army, or Area Army, usually referred to simply as an Army, is a term used by many national military forces for a military formation superior to a corps and beneath an army group....
of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
's Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
, formed in 1941 and active during the Second World War. It was disbanded in 1945 or 1947.
First Formation
The army was first formed in June 1941 in the North Caucasus Military DistrictNorth Caucasus Military District
The North Caucasus Military District was a military district of the Russian Ground Forces, which became in 2010 the Southern Military District and lately also includes the Black Sea Fleet and Caspian Flotilla....
under the command of General Lieutenant Ivan Koniev. Division Commissar I.P. Sheklanov became Member of the Army's Military Soviet. Initially the army consisted of the 25th Rifle Corps
Rifle corps (Soviet)
A rifle corps was a Soviet military organization of the mid-twentieth century. Rifle corps were made up of a varying number of rifle divisions, although the allocation of three rifle divisions to a rifle corps was common during the latter part of World War II.Unlike army corps formed by Germany...
(127th Rifle Division, 134th Rifle Division, and 162nd Rifle Division), and 34th Rifle Corps (129th Rifle Division, 158th Rifle Division, and 171st Rifle Division), the 38th Rifle Division, the 442nd Corps Artillery Regiment, the 471st Corps Artillery Regiment and other units. Sources disagree as to whether a Mechanized Corps, either the 25th or the 26th, was directly subordinate to the Army as well. Three weeks before the outbreak of war the 19th Army was send by rail to Ukraine in the Cherkassy region. The army received orders from Peoples Commissar of Defence, S.K. Timoshenko, to defend the Kiev Fortified Region.
From 25 June 1941, the Army was included into Group of Reserve Armies of the Highest Command (STAVKA
Stavka
Stavka was the term used to refer to a command element of the armed forces from the time of the Kievan Rus′, more formally during the history of Imperial Russia as administrative staff and General Headquarters during late 19th Century Imperial Russian armed forces and those of the Soviet Union...
). The 19th Army was transferred by rail to Vitebsk, Rudnia, Smolensk. On 2 July, army was included into Western Front. The transfer by rail took more time than was expected. On 9 July first units to arrive received orders to deny Vitebsk
Vitebsk
Vitebsk, also known as Viciebsk or Vitsyebsk , is a city in Belarus, near the border with Russia. The capital of the Vitebsk Oblast, in 2004 it had 342,381 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth largest city...
to the enemy and attack in the western direction and reach western bank of Dvina.
On the contrary, to the 11 July enemy brushed away Soviet forces from Vitebsk. On 11 July, the 19th Army was strengthened by 7th Mechanized Corps and on the next day attacked Vitebsk anew. At that time enemy had the initiative. To the 16 July, German forces struck through Yartsevo to Smolensk. Three Soviet armies (16th
16th Army (Soviet Union)
The 16th Army was a Soviet field army active from 1940 to 1945.-First Formation, 16th Army:Before Operation Barbarossa, HQ 16th Army was formed in July 1940 in the Transbaikal Military District . General Lieutenant М. F. Лукин took command...
, 20th
20th Army (Soviet Union)
The 20th Army was a field army of the Red Army that fought during the Great Patriotic War.-First formation:The Army was first formed in the Orel Military District in June 1941...
and 19th) found themselves in the operational encirclement.
On 14 July, 19th Army Headquarters received orders to transfer its troops to the 16th Army and to move to the Kardumovo region, and then Yartsevo. 19th Army Staff with great effort broke out of the encirclement near Wadino and received new divisions under its command. Those new forces took defensive positions on the river Vol.
During August-September 1941, 19th Army took part in the Battle of Smolensk
Battle of Smolensk (1941)
The Battle of Smolensk was a largely successful encirclement operation by the German Army Group Centre's 2nd Panzer Group led by Heinz Guderian and the 3rd Panzer Group led by Hermann Hoth against parts of four Soviet Fronts during World War II...
and tried to destroy the enemy Dukhowszczina group. In the middle of august army was strengthened with rifle, cavalry, tank division, two gun artillery regiments, three artillery divisions and two batteries of Rocket Artillery (Katyusha) additional from air army was protected by 43rd Mixed Aviation Division. Despite this reinforcements the army was not able to perform its task. A new attack on 1 September on Smolensk was also unsuccessful.
On 10 September, army took defensive positions.
On 12 September, I.S. Koniev became the commander of Western Front. New commander of 19th Army became General Lieutenant M.F. Lukin.
In October 1941, forces of the 19th Army fought in the Vyazma
Vyazma
Vyazma is a town and the administrative center of Vyazemsky District of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Vyazma River, about halfway between Smolensk and Mozhaysk. Throughout its turbulent history, the city defended western approaches to the city of Moscow...
defensive operation (2–13 October). The army was surrounded by enemy forces southwest of Jelnya. In the middle of October part of the army fought its way out of the encirclement to the Mozhaisk defence line. The Army commander M.F. Lukin and Chief of Staff General Major W.F. Malyshkin became prisoners of War. The member of the Military Soviet of the Army Divisional Commissar I.P. Sheklanov died in action. General Lieutenant I.W. Boldin then took command, but soon afterwards the army was disbanded, on 20 October 1941.
The army's chief of Staff was General Major P.N. Rubtsov, from June to July 1941, and then Colonel W.F. Malyschkin, who was promoted to General Major from October 1941.
19th Army 2nd formation
The army was formed on the basis of a STAVKA Directive from 20 November 1941 as a STAVKA Reserve.By STAVKA order from 23 November 1941, army was reformed into 1st Shock Army
1st Shock Army
The 1st Shock Army was a field army established by the Soviet Union's Red Army during World War II.The 1st Shock Army was created in late 1941 and fought in the northern areas of Russia and the Baltic States until the defeat of Germany in 1945...
under direct command of STAVKA.
Army Commander
General Lieutenant W.I. Kuznetsov
Army's Chief of Staff
General Major Zachvatajev N.D.
19th Army 3rd formation
Formed on 4 April 1942 on the base of STAVKA Directive from 27 March 1942. Army was formed on a base of Kandalakhsa Operational Group which was a part of the Karelian FrontKarelian Front
The Karelian Front was a Front of the Soviet Union's Red Army during World War II, and operated in Karelia.- Wartime :...
. The Army's units were 104th and 122nd Rifle Divisions, 77th Marine Rifle Brigade, 4th Ski Brigade, two separate tank battalions and some artillery and other units.
Up until December 1944 the Army was defending the Kandalaksha direction. In September, her forces defeated enemy Allakurti group and by the months end reached the USSR state border with Finland on river Naruska-Joki, lake Onikamo-Jarvi where the army went on the defence.
On 15 November 1944 army was transferred into the Stavka Reserve and in January 1945 it was positioned near Grodno and Bialystok
Bialystok
Białystok is the largest city in northeastern Poland and the capital of the Podlaskie Voivodeship. Located on the Podlaskie Plain on the banks of the Biała River, Białystok ranks second in terms of population density, eleventh in population, and thirteenth in area, of the cities of Poland...
.
On 29 January 1945, Army was subordinated to the 2nd Belorussian Front
2nd Belorussian Front
The 2nd Belorussian Front was a military formation of Army group size of the Soviet Army during the Second World War...
(2nd Formation). Then it took part in the East Pomeranian Offensive
East Pomeranian Offensive
The East Pomeranian Strategic Offensive operation was an offensive by the Red Army in its fight against the German Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front...
(10 February-4 April) during which course on 5 March it advanced to the coast of the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
north of Koslin (Koszalin
Koszalin
Koszalin ; is the largest city of Middle Pomerania in north-western Poland. It is located 12 km south of the Baltic Sea coast. Koszalin is also a county-status city and capital of Koszalin County of West Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999...
) and had an important role in the destruction of the east-Pomeranian enemy group. Next, the army together with 1st Guards Army, 70th Army and forces of the Baltic Fleet
Baltic Fleet
The Twice Red Banner Baltic Fleet - is the Russian Navy's presence in the Baltic Sea. In previous historical periods, it has been part of the navy of Imperial Russia and later the Soviet Union. The Fleet gained the 'Twice Red Banner' appellation during the Soviet period, indicating two awards of...
destroyed the enemy Gdynia
Gdynia
Gdynia is a city in the Pomeranian Voivodeship of Poland and an important seaport of Gdańsk Bay on the south coast of the Baltic Sea.Located in Kashubia in Eastern Pomerania, Gdynia is part of a conurbation with the spa town of Sopot, the city of Gdańsk and suburban communities, which together...
group and entered port of Gdynia (28 March).
In April-beginning of May the units of the army took part in destruction of enemy group in western coast of Danzig Bay. Then, in cooperation with the 2nd Shock Army
2nd Shock Army
The 2nd Shock Army was a field army of the Soviet Union during the Second World War. This type of formation was created in accordance with prewar doctrine that called for Shock Armies to overcome difficult defensive dispositions in order to create a tactical penetration of sufficient breadth and...
, the army cleared Wolin
Wolin
Wolin is the name both of an island in the Baltic Sea, just off the Polish coast, and a town on that island. It is separated from the island of Usedom by the Świna river, and from mainland Pomerania by the Dziwna river...
peninsula, and Usedom
Usedom
Usedom is a Baltic Sea island on the border between Germany and Poland. It is situated north of the Szczecin Lagoon estuary of the River Oder in Pomerania...
and Rugia islands. On 9 May army received the capitulation of the German units on the Hel
Hel
Hel may refer to:* Hel , a location in Norse mythology* Hel , ruler of Hel, the location* Hel , a Swedish Viking rock band* Hel, Poland, a town on the Polish Baltic coast* Hel Peninsula, the peninsula on which the town is situated...
peninsula.
On 1 May 1945 the army consisted of the 132nd Rifle Corps (18th, 27th
27th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)
The 27th Rifle Division was a tactical unit of the Bolshevist Russia and then the USSR, active between 1918 and 1941. First formed during the Russian Civil War on November 3, 1918 as part of 5th Red Army. Commanded by Vitovt Putna, it was transferred to the 16th Red Army in May 1920, and took part...
, and 205th Rifle Divisions), 134th Rifle Corps (10th Guards Rifle Division
10th Guards Motor Rifle Division
The 10th Guards Motor Rifle Division was a division of the Soviet Ground Forces. The full name of its predecessor division was the "10th Guards Rifle Pechengskii twice Red Banner, Order of Alexander Nevsky and the Red Star division"...
, 310th Rifle Division, 313th Rifle Divisions), 91st and 153rd Fortified Regions (УР), 204th Guard Artillery Brigade, 884 иптап, 268 минп, and 186th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (зенап).
Feskov et al. says the army remained in Poland until 1947 with two rifle corps of six divisions, when it was disbanded.
Army Commanders
General Major Morozov S.I. (March 1942- May 1943)
General Major from February 1944- General Lieutenant Kozlov G.K. (May 1943-March 1945)
General Lieutenant Romanowsky W.Z. (March 1945 - to the war's end)
Members of the Military Soviet of Army
Brigade Commissar from December 1942 Colonel Kalinovsky A.P. (April 1942-March 1944)
General Major Pankov S.i (March 1944 - to the war's end)
Chiefs of Staff
Colonel from January 1943- General Major Markuschevich S.A. (April 1942-March 1945)
General Lieutenant Ljapin P.I. (March 1945-to the war's end)
Sources
- Boevoi Sostav Sovietskoi Armii. czast I juni-dekabr 1941 goda, Moskva 1966
- http://docs.vif2.ru/