Rifle corps (Soviet)
Encyclopedia
A rifle corps was a Soviet military organization of the mid-twentieth century. Rifle corps were made up of a varying number of rifle (infantry
) 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
and the Western Allies
, Soviet rifle corps were composed primarily of combat troops and had only a small logistical component. Because the rifle divisions themselves were also primarily made up of combat troops, the rifle corps were numerically smaller than corps of other nations. The Soviets also formed Guards
rifle corps during World War II, although these were often assigned control of regular rifle divisions and sometimes controlled no Guards rifle divisions.
When Germany invaded the Soviet Union
on June 22, 1941, the Red Army
initially had some 32 rifle corps headquarters as part of their order of battle
in action against the Germans. Because Stalin's prewar purge of the Red Army had removed so many experienced leaders, the rifle corps echelon of command in Soviet forces engaged against the Germans dwindled in the face of massive Red Army losses of 1941. The stark shortage of experienced leaders forced the Red Army to have rifle army headquarters directly supervising rifle divisions without the assistance of intervening rifle corps headquarters. The use of rifle corps headquarters never disappeared entirely from the Red Army during World War II, as rifle armies in areas not fighting the Germans (such as the Far Eastern military region) maintained their use of rifle corps headquarters during the entire war.
An example of wartime rifle corps organization is that of the 8th Estonian Rifle Corps
in 1942:
Of the 8th Rifle Corps' 1942 strength of 26,466 men, only 2,599 (less than 10 per cent) made up the corps headquarters and corps assets, the remainder being assigned to the two rifle divisions.
By November 1941, the Soviet order of battle showed only one rifle corps headquarters still active among the forces fighting the German invasion. By early 1942, however, the Soviets began to reactivate rifle corps headquarters for use as an intermediate command echelon between the rifle armies and rifle divisions. Doubtlessly, the direct command of divisions by army headquarters resulted in too-large spans of control for army commanders and the Red Army desired to reintroduce the rifle corps headquarters once enough experienced commanders and staff officers were available. By the end of 1942, 21 rifle corps headquarters were in action with Soviet forces engaging the Germans. This grew to over 100 by the end of 1943, and reached a peak of 174 either in action against the Germans or as part of the strategic reserve of the Stavka
by the end of the war with Germany in May 1945.
A limited number of Rifle Corps remained as part of the Ground Forces post 1945. They were slowly converted to 'Army Corps' though they still mostly consisted of Rifle and then Motor Rifle Divisions.
this list is incomplete - there were at least sixty Rifle Corps as well as the Special Rifle Corps in the Far East
1st - 40th Guards Rifle Corps formed after June 22, 1941:
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
) divisions, although the allocation of three rifle divisions to a rifle corps was common during the latter part of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Unlike army corps formed by Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the Western Allies
Western Allies
The Western Allies were a political and geographic grouping among the Allied Powers of the Second World War. It generally includes the United Kingdom and British Commonwealth, the United States, France and various other European and Latin American countries, but excludes China, the Soviet Union,...
, Soviet rifle corps were composed primarily of combat troops and had only a small logistical component. Because the rifle divisions themselves were also primarily made up of combat troops, the rifle corps were numerically smaller than corps of other nations. The Soviets also formed Guards
Russian Guards
Guards or Guards units were and are elite military units in Imperial Russia, Soviet Union and the Russian Federation. The tradition goes back to the retinue of a knyaz of medieval Kievan Rus' and the streltsy, the Muscovite harquebusiers formed by Ivan the Terrible by 1550...
rifle corps during World War II, although these were often assigned control of regular rifle divisions and sometimes controlled no Guards rifle divisions.
When Germany invaded 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....
on June 22, 1941, the 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...
initially had some 32 rifle corps headquarters as part of their order of battle
Order of battle
In modern use, the order of battle is the identification, command structure, strength, and disposition of personnel, equipment, and units of an armed force participating in field operations. Various abbreviations are in use, including OOB, O/B, or OB, while ORBAT remains the most common in the...
in action against the Germans. Because Stalin's prewar purge of the Red Army had removed so many experienced leaders, the rifle corps echelon of command in Soviet forces engaged against the Germans dwindled in the face of massive Red Army losses of 1941. The stark shortage of experienced leaders forced the Red Army to have rifle army headquarters directly supervising rifle divisions without the assistance of intervening rifle corps headquarters. The use of rifle corps headquarters never disappeared entirely from the Red Army during World War II, as rifle armies in areas not fighting the Germans (such as the Far Eastern military region) maintained their use of rifle corps headquarters during the entire war.
An example of wartime rifle corps organization is that of the 8th Estonian Rifle Corps
8th Estonian Rifle Corps
The 8th 'Estonian' Rifle Corps was a formation in the Soviet Army, created on 6 November 1942, during World War II. The 8th 'Estonian' Rifle Corps 1st...
in 1942:
- 8th Rifle Corps
- 7th Rifle Division
- 249th Rifle Division
- 85th Corps Artillery Regiment
- 36th Sapper Battalion
- 86th Medical Battalion
- 482nd Reconnaissance Company
- 162nd Machine Gun Battalion
Of the 8th Rifle Corps' 1942 strength of 26,466 men, only 2,599 (less than 10 per cent) made up the corps headquarters and corps assets, the remainder being assigned to the two rifle divisions.
By November 1941, the Soviet order of battle showed only one rifle corps headquarters still active among the forces fighting the German invasion. By early 1942, however, the Soviets began to reactivate rifle corps headquarters for use as an intermediate command echelon between the rifle armies and rifle divisions. Doubtlessly, the direct command of divisions by army headquarters resulted in too-large spans of control for army commanders and the Red Army desired to reintroduce the rifle corps headquarters once enough experienced commanders and staff officers were available. By the end of 1942, 21 rifle corps headquarters were in action with Soviet forces engaging the Germans. This grew to over 100 by the end of 1943, and reached a peak of 174 either in action against the Germans or as part of the strategic reserve of the 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...
by the end of the war with Germany in May 1945.
A limited number of Rifle Corps remained as part of the Ground Forces post 1945. They were slowly converted to 'Army Corps' though they still mostly consisted of Rifle and then Motor Rifle Divisions.
List of Soviet Rifle Corps 22 June 1941
- 1st Rifle Corps - 10th Army10th Army (Soviet Union)The 10th Army of the Soviet Union's Red Army was a field army active from 1939 to 1944.The Army was formed in September 1939 in the Moscow Military District, and then deployed to the Western Special Military District...
, Western Special MD, under General Major F.D. Rubtsov with 2nd and 8th Rifle Division8th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)The 8th Rifle Division was a military formation of the Soviet Union's Red Army in the Winter War, the Soviet invasion of Poland, and World War II...
s. - 2nd Rifle Corps - under HQ Western Special MD, comprised the 100th and 161st Rifle Divisions under General Major A.N. Ermakov
- 3rd Rifle Corps- 4th Rifle Division4th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)The 4th Rifle Division was an infantry division of the Soviet Union's Red Army active from 1921 to 1946.The Division was activated 1919 near Petrograd during the Russian Civil War, and fought on the western front of that war and in the Soviet-Polish War. Until 1923 its headquarters was at Minsk...
, 20th Mtn Rifle, 47th Mtn Rifle, as part of Transcaucasus Military District - 4th Rifle Corps - 27th27th 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...
, 56th, and 85th Rifle Division85th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)The 85th Leningrad-Pavlovsk Red Banner Motor Rifle Division was a infantry division of the Soviet Red Army active from 1931 and converted to a motorised formation in 1957. It is now part of the Russian Ground Forces....
s, as part of 3rd Army - 5th Rifle Corps - 13th, 86th, and 113th Rifle Divisions, part of 10th Army10th Army (Soviet Union)The 10th Army of the Soviet Union's Red Army was a field army active from 1939 to 1944.The Army was formed in September 1939 in the Moscow Military District, and then deployed to the Western Special Military District...
, WSMD - 6th Rifle Corps - 41st, 97th, and 159th Rifle Divisions, part of 6th Army6th Army (Soviet Union)The 6th Army was a field army of the Soviet Red Army formed four times during World War II and active with the Russian Ground Forces up until 1998...
, Kiev Special Military District - 7th Rifle Corps - in the Odessa Military DistrictOdessa Military DistrictThe Odessa Military District was a military administrative division of the Imperial Russian military, the Soviet Armed Forces and the Ukrainian Armed Forces and was known under such name from around 1862 to 1998. It was reorganized as part of the Military of Ukraine and the Military of Moldova in...
, under General Major K.L. Dobroserdov included 116th, 196th, and 206th Rifle Divisions. - 8th Rifle Corps - 26th Army26th Army (Soviet Union)The 26th Army was a field army of the Soviet Union's Red Army, active from 1941.- Operational history :...
, Kiev Special Military District, under General Major M.G. Snegov with 99th99th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)The 99th Rifle Division was an infantry division of the Soviet Union's Red Army which fought in World War II...
, 173rd Rifle Divisions and 72nd Mountain Rifle Division - 9th Rifle Corps -in the Odessa Military DistrictOdessa Military DistrictThe Odessa Military District was a military administrative division of the Imperial Russian military, the Soviet Armed Forces and the Ukrainian Armed Forces and was known under such name from around 1862 to 1998. It was reorganized as part of the Military of Ukraine and the Military of Moldova in...
- 10th Rifle Corps -assigned to the 8th Army8th Army (Soviet Union)The 8th Army was a field army of the Soviet Red Army during the Second World War.The 8th Army was formed in October 1939 from the Novgorod Army Operational Group of the Leningrad Military District with the task of providing security of the Northwestern borders of the USSR. The 8th Army was a field...
in the Baltic Military DistrictBaltic Military DistrictThe Baltic Military District was a military district of the Soviet armed forces, formed briefly before the German invasion, and then reformed after World War II and disbanded after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991....
(BSMD). Included the 10th10th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)The 10th Rifle Division was a military formation of the Red Army.It existed by 1920, but was formally created on 20 June 1922, based on the 29th Infantry Brigade. It was then recreated at Vladimir in September 1939....
, 48th, and 90th Rifle Divisions. - 11th Rifle Corps -assigned to the 8th Army8th Army (Soviet Union)The 8th Army was a field army of the Soviet Red Army during the Second World War.The 8th Army was formed in October 1939 from the Novgorod Army Operational Group of the Leningrad Military District with the task of providing security of the Northwestern borders of the USSR. The 8th Army was a field...
in the Baltic Special Military District, with the 11th, and 125th Rifle Divisions. - 12th Rifle Corps - Transbaikal Military District, with 65th and 94th Rifle Divisions
- 13th Rifle Corps, - 12th Army12th Army (Soviet Union)The Soviet Union's 12th Army was a field army formed multiple times during the Russian Civil War and World War II.-Civil War & Polish-Soviet War:...
, Kiev Special MD, under General Major N.K. Kirillov, with 44th44th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)The 44th Kievskaya of the Red Banner Rifle Division of Nikolay Shchors, or 44th Kievskaya for short, was an elite military formation of the Soviet Union....
, 58th, and 192nd Mountain Rifle Divisions - 14th Rifle Corps - 9th Army9th Army (Soviet Union)The 9th Army of the Soviet Union's Red Army was a Soviet field army, active from 1939 – 43, and then after the war from 1966 to 1989.It was active during the Winter War against Finland as part of the Leningrad Military District, beginning operations at the end of November 1939 under ComKor M.P....
, Odessa Military DistrictOdessa Military DistrictThe Odessa Military District was a military administrative division of the Imperial Russian military, the Soviet Armed Forces and the Ukrainian Armed Forces and was known under such name from around 1862 to 1998. It was reorganized as part of the Military of Ukraine and the Military of Moldova in...
, under General Major D.G. Egorov comprising the 25th25th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)The 25th Rifle Division 'Chapayevskaya was a Russian, and later Soviet, Red Army formation formed during the Russian Civil War. It was named after its civil war commander, Vasily Chapayev...
and 51st Rifle Divisions. By the end of the war, 14th Rifle Corps was a direct-reporting formation of 2nd Belorussian Front2nd Belorussian FrontThe 2nd Belorussian Front was a military formation of Army group size of the Soviet Army during the Second World War...
, including 90th Guards Rifle Division90th Guards Rifle DivisionThe 90th Guards Rifle Division was a Soviet infantry division of the Second World War.The division traces its history back to 8 September 1941 when the 325th Rifle Division was formed in the Orel Military District...
. - 15th Rifle Corps - Kiev Special Military District assigned to the 5th Army with the 45th45th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)The 45th Rifle Division was a Red Army infantry division formed originally during the Russian Civil War that fought in World War II and then served through the Cold War in the Leningrad Military District....
, and 62nd Rifle Divisions. - 16th Rifle Corps - assigned to the 11th Army in the Baltic Military DistrictBaltic Military DistrictThe Baltic Military District was a military district of the Soviet armed forces, formed briefly before the German invasion, and then reformed after World War II and disbanded after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991....
, including the 5th5th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)The 5th Rifle Division of the Soviet Red Army was initially formed in September 1918 as the 2nd Penza Infantry Division. It was later renamed as the 5th Rifle Division , Saratov , Vitebsk , and 'in the name of the Czechoslovak Proletariat'...
, 33rd, and 188th Rifle Divisions. - 17th Rifle Corps - 12th Army12th Army (Soviet Union)The Soviet Union's 12th Army was a field army formed multiple times during the Russian Civil War and World War II.-Civil War & Polish-Soviet War:...
, Kiev Special MD, under General Major I.V. Galanin comprising the 60th, 69th Mountain Rifle, and 164th Rifle Divisions. - 18th Rifle Corps - From 1934 to 1938 included the 12th Amurskaya Rifle Division12th Amurskaya Rifle DivisionThe 12th Rifle Division was a military formation of the Red Army which participated in combat operations during World War II. It was formed 5 October 1923 in Omsk . On 18 February 1924, it was given the name of the Siberian Revolutionary Committee. It was part of the Western Siberian Military...
. In 1941 was part of the 15th Army, Soviet Far East FrontSoviet Far East FrontThe Far Eastern Front was a Front — a formation equivalent to a Western Army Group — of the Soviet Army during the Russian Civil War and the Second World War....
, under General Major V.A. Zaitsev with 34th Rifle Division and 202nd Airborne Brigade - 19th Rifle Corps - assigned to the 19th Army19th Army (Soviet Union)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.-First Formation:...
, Leningrad Military DistrictLeningrad Military DistrictThe Leningrad Military District was a military district of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. In 2010 it was merged with the Moscow Military District, the Northern Fleet and the Baltic Fleet to form the new Western Military District.-History:...
with the 115th and 142nd Rifle Divisions. - 20th Rifle Corps - with the 137th and 160th Rifle Divisions, part of the STAVKA Reserve
- 21st Rifle Corps - assigned to the WSMD with the 17th, 24th24th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)style="float: right; clear: right; background-color: transparent"| The 24th Samaro-Ulyanovsk Division was a rifle, then a motor-rifle division of the Red Army of the USSR...
, and 37th Rifle Divisions. - 22nd Rifle Corps -180th and 182nd Rifle Divisions, part of 27th Army27th Army (Soviet Union)The 27th Army was a field army of the Soviet Union's Red Army, which fought in World War II. First formed in May 1941. Initial commander was H. E. Berzarin. Took part in battles in the Baltic. On 22 June 1941 it consisted of the 22nd and 24th Rifle Corps, 16th and 67th Rifle Divisions, 3rd Separate...
, BSMD - 23rd Rifle Corps - in the Transcaucasus Military District comprising 136th Rifle Division and 138th Mountain Rifle Division under General Major K.F. Baranov
- 24th Rifle Corps - comprised the 181st and 183rd Rifle Divisions, part of 27th Army, BSMD
- 25th Rifle Corps - 127th, 134th and 162nd Rifle Divisions, part of 19th Army
- 26th Rifle Corps - comprised the 21st, 22nd, and 26th Rifle Divisions, part of First Red Banner Army, Soviet Far East FrontSoviet Far East FrontThe Far Eastern Front was a Front — a formation equivalent to a Western Army Group — of the Soviet Army during the Russian Civil War and the Second World War....
- 27th Rifle Corps - assigned to the 5th Army and composed of the 87th, 124th, and 135th Rifle Divisions.
- 28th Rifle Corps - comprised the 6th6th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)The 6th Rifle Division was a Soviet military unit. They participated in several battles, most notably the Soviet westward offensive of 1918–1919 and Estonian War of Independence. From their inception the unit saw combat and had three periods of active service...
, 42nd, 49th, and 75th Rifle Divisions as part of 4th Army - 29th Rifle Corps - assigned to the 11th Army in the Baltic Military DistrictBaltic Military DistrictThe Baltic Military District was a military district of the Soviet armed forces, formed briefly before the German invasion, and then reformed after World War II and disbanded after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991....
, including the 179th and 181st Rifle Divisions. - 30th Rifle Corps - in the Orel Military District, including the 19th, 149th and 217th Rifle Divisions. Reformed and assigned to 18th Army18th Army (Soviet Union)The 18th Army of the Soviet Union's Red Army was formed on 21 June 1941 on the basis of HQ Kharkov Military District and armies of the Kiev Special Military District.The Army's commander in 1941 was General-Leitenant Andrew Kirilovych Smirnov...
, 4th Ukrainian Front4th Ukrainian FrontThe 4th Ukrainian Front was a front of the Red Army during World War II...
in 1944 in the Mukachevo - Uzhgorod area during Carpathian-Uzhgorod Offensive Operation (9 September 1944 - 28 September 1944) - 31st Rifle Corps - composed of the 193rd193rd Rifle Division (Soviet Union)The 193rd Tank Division was originally a Red Army infantry division that was reorganised after World War II as a mechanised and finally a tank division of the Soviet Army.- 1st Formation :...
, 195th, and 200th Rifle Divisions - 32nd Rifle Corps - 46th and 152nd Rifle Divisions, with 16th Army, STAVKA Reserve
- 33rd Rifle Corps - in the Orel Military District, including 89th, 120th, and 145th Rifle Divisions.
- 34th Rifle Corps - 129th, 158th and 171st Rifle Divisions, part of 19th Army
- 35th Rifle Corps - 9th Army9th Army (Soviet Union)The 9th Army of the Soviet Union's Red Army was a Soviet field army, active from 1939 – 43, and then after the war from 1966 to 1989.It was active during the Winter War against Finland as part of the Leningrad Military District, beginning operations at the end of November 1939 under ComKor M.P....
, Odessa Military DistrictOdessa Military DistrictThe Odessa Military District was a military administrative division of the Imperial Russian military, the Soviet Armed Forces and the Ukrainian Armed Forces and was known under such name from around 1862 to 1998. It was reorganized as part of the Military of Ukraine and the Military of Moldova in...
, comprising the 95th and 176th Rifle Divisions. - 36th Rifle Corps - composed of the 140th, 146th, and 228th Rifle Divisions
- 37th Rifle Corps - in the Kiev Special Military District, assigned to the 6th Army6th Army (Soviet Union)The 6th Army was a field army of the Soviet Red Army formed four times during World War II and active with the Russian Ground Forces up until 1998...
, including 80th, 139th, and 141st Rifle Divisions. - 38th Rifle Corps
- 39th Rifle Corps - comprised the 32nd, 40th, and 92nd Rifle Divisions, part of 25th Army, Soviet Far East FrontSoviet Far East FrontThe Far Eastern Front was a Front — a formation equivalent to a Western Army Group — of the Soviet Army during the Russian Civil War and the Second World War....
- 40th Rifle Corps - in the Transcaucasus Military District under General Major A. A. Khadeev with 9th Rifle Division and 31st Rifle Division.
- 41st Rifle Corps -in the Moscow Military DistrictMoscow Military DistrictThe Moscow Military District was a military district of the Soviet Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. In 2010 it was merged with the Leningrad Military District, the Northern Fleet and the Baltic Fleet to form the new Western Military District.-History:In the beginning of...
included 118th and 235th Rifle Divisions - 42nd Rifle Corps - Assigned to the 14th Army14th Army (Soviet Union)The 14th Army was formed in October 1939 in the Leningrad Military District. It participated in the Soviet-Finnish war, during which its 52nd and 104th Rifle Divisions fought in the Battle of Petsamo.From 24 June 1941 the Army included...
, Leningrad Military DistrictLeningrad Military DistrictThe Leningrad Military District was a military district of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. In 2010 it was merged with the Moscow Military District, the Northern Fleet and the Baltic Fleet to form the new Western Military District.-History:...
with the 104th and 22nd Rifle Divisions. - 43rd Rifle Corps
- 44th Rifle Corps - under HQ Western Special Military District, comprised the 64th and 108th Rifle Divisions under General Major V.A. Yushkevich.
- 45th Rifle Corps - with the 187th, 227th and 232nd Rifle Divisions, part of the STAVKA Reserve
- 46th Rifle Corps
- 47th Rifle Corps - under HQ Western Special Military District, comprised the 55th, 121st, and 143rd Rifle Divisions.
- 48th Rifle Corps - 9th Army9th Army (Soviet Union)The 9th Army of the Soviet Union's Red Army was a Soviet field army, active from 1939 – 43, and then after the war from 1966 to 1989.It was active during the Winter War against Finland as part of the Leningrad Military District, beginning operations at the end of November 1939 under ComKor M.P....
, Odessa Military DistrictOdessa Military DistrictThe Odessa Military District was a military administrative division of the Imperial Russian military, the Soviet Armed Forces and the Ukrainian Armed Forces and was known under such name from around 1862 to 1998. It was reorganized as part of the Military of Ukraine and the Military of Moldova in...
, comprising the 30th Mountain Rifle30th Rifle DivisionThe 30th Rifle Division was a military formation of the USSR from 1918 to c.1945.Its final full name was the 30th Rifle Irkutsk Order of Lenin, three times the Red Banner, Order of Red Banner of Labor Division of the name of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR...
and 74th Rifle Divisions. - 49th Rifle Corps - composed of the 190th, 197th and 199th Rifle Divisions
- 50th Rifle Corps - Assigned to the 23rd Army23rd Army (Soviet Union)The 23rd Army was a Field Army of the Soviet Union's Red Army. It was formed in May 1941 in the Leningrad Military District for the defence of the southernmost part of the Soviet Union's border with Finland, north and northeast of Vyborg...
, Leningrad Military DistrictLeningrad Military DistrictThe Leningrad Military District was a military district of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. In 2010 it was merged with the Moscow Military District, the Northern Fleet and the Baltic Fleet to form the new Western Military District.-History:...
with the 43rd43rd Rifle Division (Soviet Union)The 43rd Rifle Division was a formation of the Red Army, which took part in the Second World War, known to the Soviets as the "Great Patriotic War"....
, 70th and 123rd Rifle Divisions. - 51st Rifle Corps, with 98th, 112th, and 153rd Rifle Divisions, part of the 22nd Army
- 52nd Rifle Corps, with its HQ in Novosibirsk, Siberian Military DistrictSiberian Military DistrictThe Siberian Military District was a Military district of the Russian Ground Forces. In 2010 it was divided between the two newly formed Central and Eastern Military Districts.- History :...
along with the 133rd Rifle Division, additionally had the 166th Rifle Division at Barabinsk and the 178th Rifle Division at OmskOmsk-History:The wooden fort of Omsk was erected in 1716 to protect the expanding Russian frontier along the Ishim and the Irtysh rivers against the Kyrgyz nomads of the Steppes...
, part of 24th Army - 53rd Rifle Corps at KrasnoyarskKrasnoyarskKrasnoyarsk is a city and the administrative center of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, located on the Yenisei River. It is the third largest city in Siberia, with the population of 973,891. Krasnoyarsk is an important junction of the Trans-Siberian Railway and one of Russia's largest producers of...
, Siberian Military DistrictSiberian Military DistrictThe Siberian Military District was a Military district of the Russian Ground Forces. In 2010 it was divided between the two newly formed Central and Eastern Military Districts.- History :...
, where the 119th Rifle Division was stationed, also included the 107th Rifle Division at BarnaulBarnaul-Russian Empire:Barnaul was one of the earlier cities established in Siberia. Originally chosen for its proximity to the mineral-rich Altai Mountains and its location on a major river, the site was founded by the wealthy Demidov family in the 1730s. In addition to the copper which had originally...
and the 91st Rifle Division at AchinskAchinskAchinsk is a city in Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, located on the right bank of the Chulym River near its intersection with the Trans-Siberian Railway, west of Krasnoyarsk. Area: . Population:...
, part of 24th Army - 54th Rifle Corps
- 55th Rifle Corps - composed of the 130th, 169th, and 189th Rifle Divisions
- 56th Rifle Corps
- 58th Rifle Corps - composed of the 68th, 83rd, and 194th Mountain Rifle Divisions in the Central Asia Military District
- 59th Rifle Corps - composed of the 39th and 59th Rifle Divisions, part of 1st Red Banner Army, Soviet Far East FrontSoviet Far East FrontThe Far Eastern Front was a Front — a formation equivalent to a Western Army Group — of the Soviet Army during the Russian Civil War and the Second World War....
- 60th Rifle Corps - Western Special Military District. 7th, 8th, and 214th Airborne Brigades. Became 4th Airborne Corps 23rd June 1941.
- 61st Rifle Corps (110th, 144th, 172nd Rifle Divisions), 20th Army20th 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...
, Stavka Reserve - 62nd Rifle Corps - 170th, 174th17th Armored Brigade (Ukraine)The 17th Guards Armored Brigade is a formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. Full name of the Brigade is 17th Separate Guards Kryvyi Rih orders of Red Banner and Suvorov Brigade. It was formally known as 17th Guards Tank Division....
, and 186th Rifle Divisions, with 22nd Army - 63rd Rifle Corps - 53rd, 148th, and 167th Rifle Divisions, with 21st Army21st Army (Soviet Union)-June to September 1941:21st Army was a part of the Second Operational Echelon of the RKKA. It was formed from the forces of the Volga Military District in May 1941 and was initially based on 63rd Rifle Corps and 66th Rifle Corps. The army was under the command of Lieutenant-General Vasilii...
- 64th Rifle Corps - North Caucasus Military DistrictNorth Caucasus Military DistrictThe 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....
with the 165th, and 175th Rifle Divisions. - 65th Rifle Corps - Headquarters only assigned to the Baltic Special Military District.
- 66th Rifle Corps - 61st, 117th, and 154th Rifle Divisions, with 21st Army21st Army (Soviet Union)-June to September 1941:21st Army was a part of the Second Operational Echelon of the RKKA. It was formed from the forces of the Volga Military District in May 1941 and was initially based on 63rd Rifle Corps and 66th Rifle Corps. The army was under the command of Lieutenant-General Vasilii...
- 67th Rifle Corps - with the 102nd, 132nd, and 151st Rifle Divisions, part of the STAVKA Reserve
- 68th Rifle Corps
- 69th Rifle Corps (73, 229, 233 Rifle Divisions), 20th Army20th 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...
, Stavka Reserve - Special Rifle Corps (79th Rifle Division and 101st Mountain Rifle Division), Far Eastern Front
this list is incomplete - there were at least sixty Rifle Corps as well as the Special Rifle Corps in the Far East
List of Soviet Rifle Corps formed during World War II
Almost all Soviet Rifle Corps were disbanded in the first several months of the war and reformed as the Soviet High Command gained experience in commanding large numbers of forces.- 83rd Rifle Corps (119th, 339, 360th Rifle Divisions) as part of 4th Shock Army on 1 December 1944 (BSSA)
- 94th Rifle Corps (124th, 221st, 358th Rifle Divisions) and 113th Rifle Corps (192, 262, 338th Rifle Divisions) with 39th Army39th Army (Soviet Union)The 39th Army was a Field Army of the Soviet Union's Red Army formed on 15 November 1941 in the Arkhangelsk Military District, in accordance with a directive issued by the Stavka on 2 November 1941...
, RVGK on 1 May 1945), - Latvian 130th Rifle Corps of the Order of Suvorov.
- 135th Rifle Corps.
1st - 40th Guards Rifle Corps formed after June 22, 1941:
- 1st Guards Special Rifle Corps1st Guards Special Rifle CorpsThe 1st Guards Special Rifle Corps was a hastily formed Red Army blocking formation active briefly in 1941, during the German advance on Moscow....
was formed in late 1941 - 4th Guards Rifle Corps (3rd Ukrainian Front3rd Ukrainian Front3rd Ukrainian Front was a Front of the Red Army during World War II.It was founded on 20 October 1943, on the basis of a Stavka order of October 16, 1943, by renaming the Southwestern Front. It included 1st Guards Army, 8th Guards Army, 6th, 12th, and 46th Armies and 17th Air Army...
) from November 1943 commanded by G.E. Afanas'evich, former commander of the VDVVDVThe Russian Airborne Troops or VDV is a military branch of service of the Russian Military, on par with the Strategic Rocket Forces and the Russian Space Forces...
, the Soviet Airborne Forces. - 5th Guards Rifle Corps (17, 19 и 91 гв. Rifle Divisions), 1 May 1945 with 39th Army39th Army (Soviet Union)The 39th Army was a Field Army of the Soviet Union's Red Army formed on 15 November 1941 in the Arkhangelsk Military District, in accordance with a directive issued by the Stavka on 2 November 1941...
. - 30th Guards Red Banner Leningrad Rifle Corps - became 30th Guards Army Corps after World War II, and based at VyborgVyborgVyborg is a town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, situated on the Karelian Isthmus near the head of the Bay of Vyborg, to the northwest of St. Petersburg and south from Russia's border with Finland, where the Saimaa Canal enters the Gulf of Finland...
in the Leningrad Military DistrictLeningrad Military DistrictThe Leningrad Military District was a military district of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. In 2010 it was merged with the Moscow Military District, the Northern Fleet and the Baltic Fleet to form the new Western Military District.-History:...
for many years until 1998. - 41st Guards Rifle Corps Estonian Tallinn. Formed 1945 from 8th Estonian Rifle Corps8th Estonian Rifle CorpsThe 8th 'Estonian' Rifle Corps was a formation in the Soviet Army, created on 6 November 1942, during World War II. The 8th 'Estonian' Rifle Corps 1st...