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{{Short description|WW2 Soviet Red Army formation}}
{{more footnotes|date=October 2013}}
{{more footnotes|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox military unit
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=2nd Guards Army
|unit_name=2nd Guards Army
|image=[[File:Soviet Guards Order.png|200px]]
|image=Soviet Guards Order.png
|caption=
|caption=
|country=[[Soviet Union]]
|country=[[Soviet Union]]
|type=
|type=
|branch=[[Red Army]],
|branch=[[Red Army]],
|dates=1942 - 1945
|dates=1942–1945
|command_structure=
|command_structure=
|size=two or more [[Rifle corps (Soviet)|Rifle corps]]
|size=two or more [[Rifle corps (Soviet)|Rifle Corps]]
|garrison=
|garrison=
|battles=[[Operation Little Saturn]]
|battles=[[Operation Little Saturn]]
|notable_commanders=[[Rodion Malinovsky]]
|notable_commanders=[[Rodion Malinovsky]]<br>[[Georgy Zakharov (army general)|Georgy Zakharov]]<br>[[Porfiry Chanchibadze]]
}}
}}
The '''2nd Guards Army''' was a field army of the [[Soviet Union]]'s [[Red Army]] that fought in [[World War II]], notably at [[Stalingrad]].
The '''2nd Guards Army''' was a field army of the [[Soviet Union]]'s [[Red Army]] that fought in [[World War II]], most notably at [[Battle of Stalingrad|Stalingrad]].


== History ==
2nd Guards Army was formed according to the order of the Staff of the Supreme High Command ([[STAVKA]]) from October 23, 1942 on the basis of the 1st Reserve Army. Formation and training took place in the [[Tambov]], [[Michurinsk]] and [[Morshansk]] areas. The Army initially comprised the [[1st Guards Rifle Corps]] - 24th, 33rd Guards and [[98th Rifle Division]]s under Guards General-Major I.I. Missan, and the [[13th Guards Rifle Corps]] with the 49th, [[3rd Guards Motor Rifle Division|3rd Guards]] and [[387th Rifle Division]]s.
The 2nd Guards Army was formed according to the order of the Staff of the Supreme High Command ([[Stavka]]) from October 23, 1942, on the basis of the 1st Reserve Army. Formation and training took place in [[Tambov]], [[Michurinsk]] and [[Morshansk]] areas. On 1 November 1942 the [[Combat composition of the Soviet Army]] lists 1st Reserve Army with the [[1st Guards Rifle Corps]] – [[24th Guards Rifle Division|24th Guards]], [[33rd Guards Rifle Division|33rd Guards]] and [[98th Rifle Division|98th]] [[Rifle Division|rifle divisions]] [under Guards General-Major I. I. Missan], and the [[13th Guards Rifle Corps]] with the [[49th Guards Rifle Division|49th Guards]], [[3rd Guards Motor Rifle Division|3rd Guards]] and [[387th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)|387th]] divisions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.teatrskazka.com/Raznoe/BoevojSostavSA/1942/19421101.html|title=Боевой состав Советской Армии на 1 ноября 1942 г.|website=www.teatrskazka.com|access-date=2017-06-15}}</ref>


By the time of the [[Battle of Stalingrad]], the 2nd Guards Army had become the most powerful force in the Red Army. The 2nd Guards Army appeared on the scene after the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[Operation Uranus]] had successfully encircled the [[6th Army (Wehrmacht)|German Sixth Army]] at Stalingrad in November 1942. In December 1942, as preparations started for [[Operation Saturn]], the 2nd Guards Army was ordered by an impatient [[Joseph Stalin]] to get ready for the attack on [[Rostov]]. The assault and capture of Rostov was the ultimate goal of the Red Army for Operation Saturn.
By the time of the [[Battle of Stalingrad]], the 2nd Guards Army had become one of the most powerful units in the Red Army. The 2nd Guards Army appeared on the scene after the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[Operation Uranus]] had successfully encircled the [[6th Army (Wehrmacht)|German Sixth Army]] at [[Stalingrad]] in November 1942. In December 1942, as preparations started for [[Operation Saturn]], the 2nd Guards Army was ordered by [[Joseph Stalin]] to prepare for an attack on [[Rostov, Yaroslavl Oblast|Rostov]]. The assault and capture of Rostov was the ultimate goal of the Red Army for Operation Saturn.


In December 1942, plans for Operation Saturn had to be altered. The [[Germany|German]] [[Operation Wintergewitter]], led by [[Field Marshal]] [[Erich von Manstein]]'s [[Army Group Don]], made an attack on the [[Stalingrad Front]] in an effort to relieve the [[6th Army (Wehrmacht)|Sixth Army]] in Stalingrad. Thus, Operation Saturn was changed to [[Operation Little Saturn]], which was to be a counter-attack that would be launched as soon as Operation Wintergewitter subsides. The German forces, spearheaded by [[Army Group Hoth]], made rapid initial advances but was stalled at the [[Myshkova River]]. [[Colonel-General]] [[Hermann Hoth]]'s [[panzer]] divisions were at a standstill and were suffering heavy casualties, even before the bulk of the 2nd Guards Army had arrived. By this time, Manstein realized that the operation was doomed. The 2nd Guards Army, under [[General]] [[Rodion Malinovsky]], had been transferred to Stalingrad Front to halt the offensive. Stalin had agreed to this decision.
In December 1942, plans for Operation Saturn had to be altered. The [[Germany|German]] [[Operation Wintergewitter]], led by [[Field Marshal]] [[Erich von Manstein]]'s [[Army Group Don]], made an attack on the [[Stalingrad Front]] in an effort to relieve the [[6th Army (Wehrmacht)|Sixth Army]] in Stalingrad. Thus, Operation Saturn was changed to [[Operation Little Saturn]], which was to be a counter-attack that would be launched as soon as Operation Wintergewitter ended. The German forces, spearheaded by [[Army Group Hoth]], made rapid initial advances but was stalled at the [[Myshkova River]]. [[Colonel-General]] [[Hermann Hoth]]'s [[panzer]] divisions were at a standstill and were suffering heavy casualties, even before the bulk of the 2nd Guards Army had arrived. By this time, Manstein realized that the operation was a failure. The 2nd Guards Army, under [[General]] [[Rodion Malinovsky]], had been transferred to the Stalingrad Front to halt the offensive. Stalin had agreed to this decision.


After Operation Wintergewitter had petered out, Soviet forces in the [[Soviet Southwestern Front|South-West Front]] led by the [[Soviet First Guards Army|First Guards Army]] successfully launched Operation Little Saturn against the [[Italian war in Soviet Union, 1941-1943#The Italian 8th Army or Armata Italiana in Russia|Italian Eighth Army]]. After that, the 2nd Guards Army and the [[51st Army (Soviet Union)|51st Army]] launched another counter-offensive, this time against Army Group Hoth, right before [[Christmas]] 1942. Not only had Operation Wintergewitter been halted, the Red Army had made substantial gains against Army Group Hoth, Army Group Don, and also [[Army Group A]] in the [[Caucasus]] that month.
After Operation Wintergewitter had ended, Soviet forces in the [[Soviet Southwestern Front|South-West Front]] led by the [[Soviet First Guards Army|First Guards Army]] successfully launched Operation Little Saturn against the [[Italian war in Soviet Union, 1941-1943#The Italian 8th Army or Armata Italiana in Russia|Italian Eighth Army]]. Following this, the 2nd Guards Army and the [[51st Army (Soviet Union)|51st Army]] launched another counter-offensive, this time against Army Group Hoth, in the days before [[Christmas]] 1942. Not only had Operation Wintergewitter been halted, the Red Army had made substantial gains against Army Group Hoth, Army Group Don, and also [[Army Group A]] in the [[Caucasus]] region that month.


Until late 1943, the [[2nd Guards Mechanised Corps]] was operating as part of the army.
Until late 1943, the [[2nd Guards Mechanised Corps]] was operating as part of the army.
Line 28: Line 30:
The 2nd Guards Army made a very significant contribution to the Soviet halt of Operation Wintergewitter and the successful counter-attacks that followed.
The 2nd Guards Army made a very significant contribution to the Soviet halt of Operation Wintergewitter and the successful counter-attacks that followed.


In February 1944, the Army relocated to the area of the [[Perekop Isthmus]]. The [[Crimean Offensive]] was launched across the Perekop Isthmus on 8 April 1944 by elements of the 2nd Guards Army and [[51st Army]], under the [[4th Ukrainian Front]].<ref name="Atlas">{{cite book|title=Atlas of World War 2|last=Jordan|first=David|author2= Weist, Andrew|year=2004|publisher=Amber Books|location=London, England|isbn=0-7607-5557-4|pages= 124–125|accessdate=2010-03-19}}</ref> In cooperation with other troops of the 4th Ukrainian Front and the Black Sea Fleet, Sevastopol was liberated on May 9. In May and June the 2nd Guards Army was relocated to the area of the cities [[Dorogobuzh]] Elnya. On May 20, was in reserve Supreme Command, on July 8 was a part of the 1st Baltic Front. By that time, it consisted of the 11th and the 13th and 54th Guards Rifle Corps. In this structure, on 5–20 July 1944 took part in the [[Vilnius Offensive]]/operation at the end of July, in Siauliai offensive reflect enemy counterattacks west and north-west of Siauliai . In October, participated in Memel offensive. On December 20 it was reassigned to the 3rd Belorussian Front.
In February 1944, the Army relocated to the area of the [[Perekop Isthmus]]. The [[Crimean Offensive]] was launched across the Perekop Isthmus on 8 April 1944 by elements of the 2nd Guards Army and [[51st Army (Russia)|51st Army]], under the [[4th Ukrainian Front]].<ref name="Atlas">{{cite book|title=Atlas of World War 2|last=Jordan|first=David|author2= Weist, Andrew|year=2004|publisher=Amber Books|location=London, England|isbn=0-7607-5557-4|pages= 124–125}}</ref> On 1 May 1944 the army comprised the [[13th Guards Rifle Corps]] (3rd, 24th and [[87th Guards Rifle Division]]s); [[54th Rifle Corps]] ([[126th Rifle Division|126th]], 315th, and [[387th Rifle Division]]s); [[55th Rifle Corps]] ([[33rd Guards Rifle Division|33rd Guards]], 87th, and [[347th Rifle Division]]s); and the 78th and 116th Fortified Regions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.teatrskazka.com/Raznoe/BoevojSostavSA/1944/19440501.html|title=Боевой состав Советской Армии на 1 May 1944|website=www.teatrskazka.com|access-date=2022-04-23}}</ref> In cooperation with other troops of the 4th Ukrainian Front and the Black Sea Fleet, Sevastopol was liberated on May 9, 1944. In May and June the 2nd Guards Army was relocated to the area of the cities [[Dorogobuzh]] Elnya. On May 20, was moved to the [[Reserve of the Supreme High Command]] and on July 8 the unit was a part of the 1st Baltic Front. By that time, it consisted of the 11th and the 13th and 54th Guards Rifle Corps. In this structure, on 5–20 July 1944 took part in the [[Vilnius Offensive]]/operation at the end of July, and in the Siauliai offensive reflect enemy counterattacks west and north-west of Siauliai. In October, the 2nd Guards Army participated in the Memel offensive. On December 20 it was reassigned to the 3rd Belorussian Front.


On 1 December 1944 the army, part of [[1st Baltic Front]], consisted of [[11th Guards Rifle Corps]] ([[2nd Guards Tamanskaya Motor Rifle Division|2nd]], [[32nd Guards Rifle Division|32nd]] and [[33rd Guards Rifle Division]]s), [[13th Guards Rifle Corps]] ([[3rd Guards Motor Rifle Division|3rd]], [[24th Guards Rifle Division|24th]] и 87 гв., [[16th Rifle Division]]), [[1st Rifle Corps]] (145th, 306th, and 357th Rifle Divisions), artillery (including 21st Artillery Breakthrough Division and 2nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division), tank forces, and other formations and units.<ref>tashv.nm.ru, [http://www.tashv.nm.ru/BoevojSostavSA/1944/19441201.html Combat composition of the Soviet Army, 1 December 1944], accessed October 2011</ref>
On 1 December 1944 the 2nd Guards Army, part of the [[1st Baltic Front]], consisted of the [[11th Guards Rifle Corps]] ([[2nd Guards Tamanskaya Motor Rifle Division|2nd]], [[32nd Guards Rifle Division|32nd]] and [[33rd Guards Rifle Division]]s), [[13th Guards Rifle Corps]] ([[3rd Guards Motor Rifle Division|3rd]], [[24th Guards Rifle Division|24th]], [[87th Guards Rifle Division]]s and [[16th Rifle Division]]), [[1st Rifle Corps]] (145th, [[306th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)|306th]], and [[357th Rifle Division|357th Rifle Divisions]]), artillery (including 21st Artillery Breakthrough Division and [[2nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division (Soviet Union)|2nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division]]), tank forces, and other formations and units.<ref>tashv.nm.ru, [http://www.tashv.nm.ru/BoevojSostavSA/1944/19441201.html Combat composition of the Soviet Army, 1 December 1944] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810102805/http://www.tashv.nm.ru/BoevojSostavSA/1944/19441201.html |date=10 August 2011 }}, accessed October 2011</ref>


In January - April 1945, during the [[East Prussian Offensive]] the army broke through long-term strategic defenses, eliminated in conjunction with other troops surrounded the front of its group (south-west of Königsberg and Samland group).
During the [[East Prussian Offensive]] in January–April 1945, the army broke through long-term German strategic defenses, eliminated in conjunction with other troops surrounded the front of its group (south-west of Königsberg and Samland group).


== Post War ==
⚫
After the war ended, 2nd Guards Army, numbering six rifle divisions in two corps, was withdrawn to the [[Moscow Military District]] where it was eventually disbanded in September 1945.

⚫
After the war ended, 2nd Guards Army, numbering six rifle divisions in two corps, was withdrawn to the [[Moscow Military District]] where it was disbanded in September 1945.

== Commanders ==
*Major General (from February 1943 – Lieutenant General) [[Yakov Kreizer]] (October–November 1942 and February–July 1943)
*Lieutenant General [[Rodion Malinovsky]] (November 1942 – February 1943)
*Lieutenant General [[Georgy Zakharov]] (July 1943 – June 1944)
*Lieutenant General [[Porfiry Chanchibadze]] (June 1944 – until the end of the war)


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{Reflist}}
<references/>


==References==
==References==
* Beevor, Antony. ''Stalingrad the Fateful Siege: 1942-43''. London: Penguin Books, 1998.
* Beevor, Antony. ''Stalingrad the Fateful Siege: 1942–43''. London: Penguin Books, 1998.
*{{Cite book|url=http://vital.lib.tsu.ru/vital/access/manager/Repository/vtls:000479812?f0=sm_creator%3A%22%D0%93%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%2C+%D0%92%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9+%D0%98%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87%22|title=Вооруженные силы СССР после Второй Мировой войны: от Красной Армии к Советской|last=Feskov|first=V.I.|last2=Golikov|first2=V.I.|last3=Kalashnikov|first3=K.A.|last4=Slugin|first4=S.A.|publisher=Scientific and Technical Literature Publishing|year=2013|isbn=9785895035306|location=Tomsk|language=ru|trans-title=The Armed Forces of the USSR after World War II: From the Red Army to the Soviet: Part 1 Land Forces|ref={{SfnRef|Feskov et al|2013}}}}
* Feskov et al., ''The Soviet Army during the period of the Cold War'', Tomsk University Press, 2004


==External links==
==External links==

Latest revision as of 12:39, 10 May 2024

2nd Guards Army
Active1942–1945
CountrySoviet Union
BranchRed Army,
Sizetwo or more Rifle Corps
EngagementsOperation Little Saturn
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Rodion Malinovsky
Georgy Zakharov
Porfiry Chanchibadze

The 2nd Guards Army was a field army of the Soviet Union's Red Army that fought in World War II, most notably at Stalingrad.

History[edit]

The 2nd Guards Army was formed according to the order of the Staff of the Supreme High Command (Stavka) from October 23, 1942, on the basis of the 1st Reserve Army. Formation and training took place in Tambov, Michurinsk and Morshansk areas. On 1 November 1942 the Combat composition of the Soviet Army lists 1st Reserve Army with the 1st Guards Rifle Corps – 24th Guards, 33rd Guards and 98th rifle divisions [under Guards General-Major I. I. Missan], and the 13th Guards Rifle Corps with the 49th Guards, 3rd Guards and 387th divisions.[1]

By the time of the Battle of Stalingrad, the 2nd Guards Army had become one of the most powerful units in the Red Army. The 2nd Guards Army appeared on the scene after the Soviet Operation Uranus had successfully encircled the German Sixth Army at Stalingrad in November 1942. In December 1942, as preparations started for Operation Saturn, the 2nd Guards Army was ordered by Joseph Stalin to prepare for an attack on Rostov. The assault and capture of Rostov was the ultimate goal of the Red Army for Operation Saturn.

In December 1942, plans for Operation Saturn had to be altered. The German Operation Wintergewitter, led by Field Marshal Erich von Manstein's Army Group Don, made an attack on the Stalingrad Front in an effort to relieve the Sixth Army in Stalingrad. Thus, Operation Saturn was changed to Operation Little Saturn, which was to be a counter-attack that would be launched as soon as Operation Wintergewitter ended. The German forces, spearheaded by Army Group Hoth, made rapid initial advances but was stalled at the Myshkova River. Colonel-General Hermann Hoth's panzer divisions were at a standstill and were suffering heavy casualties, even before the bulk of the 2nd Guards Army had arrived. By this time, Manstein realized that the operation was a failure. The 2nd Guards Army, under General Rodion Malinovsky, had been transferred to the Stalingrad Front to halt the offensive. Stalin had agreed to this decision.

After Operation Wintergewitter had ended, Soviet forces in the South-West Front led by the First Guards Army successfully launched Operation Little Saturn against the Italian Eighth Army. Following this, the 2nd Guards Army and the 51st Army launched another counter-offensive, this time against Army Group Hoth, in the days before Christmas 1942. Not only had Operation Wintergewitter been halted, the Red Army had made substantial gains against Army Group Hoth, Army Group Don, and also Army Group A in the Caucasus region that month.

Until late 1943, the 2nd Guards Mechanised Corps was operating as part of the army.

The 2nd Guards Army made a very significant contribution to the Soviet halt of Operation Wintergewitter and the successful counter-attacks that followed.

In February 1944, the Army relocated to the area of the Perekop Isthmus. The Crimean Offensive was launched across the Perekop Isthmus on 8 April 1944 by elements of the 2nd Guards Army and 51st Army, under the 4th Ukrainian Front.[2] On 1 May 1944 the army comprised the 13th Guards Rifle Corps (3rd, 24th and 87th Guards Rifle Divisions); 54th Rifle Corps (126th, 315th, and 387th Rifle Divisions); 55th Rifle Corps (33rd Guards, 87th, and 347th Rifle Divisions); and the 78th and 116th Fortified Regions.[3] In cooperation with other troops of the 4th Ukrainian Front and the Black Sea Fleet, Sevastopol was liberated on May 9, 1944. In May and June the 2nd Guards Army was relocated to the area of the cities Dorogobuzh Elnya. On May 20, was moved to the Reserve of the Supreme High Command and on July 8 the unit was a part of the 1st Baltic Front. By that time, it consisted of the 11th and the 13th and 54th Guards Rifle Corps. In this structure, on 5–20 July 1944 took part in the Vilnius Offensive/operation at the end of July, and in the Siauliai offensive reflect enemy counterattacks west and north-west of Siauliai. In October, the 2nd Guards Army participated in the Memel offensive. On December 20 it was reassigned to the 3rd Belorussian Front.

On 1 December 1944 the 2nd Guards Army, part of the 1st Baltic Front, consisted of the 11th Guards Rifle Corps (2nd, 32nd and 33rd Guards Rifle Divisions), 13th Guards Rifle Corps (3rd, 24th, 87th Guards Rifle Divisions and 16th Rifle Division), 1st Rifle Corps (145th, 306th, and 357th Rifle Divisions), artillery (including 21st Artillery Breakthrough Division and 2nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division), tank forces, and other formations and units.[4]

During the East Prussian Offensive in January–April 1945, the army broke through long-term German strategic defenses, eliminated in conjunction with other troops surrounded the front of its group (south-west of Königsberg and Samland group).

Post War[edit]

After the war ended, 2nd Guards Army, numbering six rifle divisions in two corps, was withdrawn to the Moscow Military District where it was disbanded in September 1945.

Commanders[edit]

  • Major General (from February 1943 – Lieutenant General) Yakov Kreizer (October–November 1942 and February–July 1943)
  • Lieutenant General Rodion Malinovsky (November 1942 – February 1943)
  • Lieutenant General Georgy Zakharov (July 1943 – June 1944)
  • Lieutenant General Porfiry Chanchibadze (June 1944 – until the end of the war)

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ "Боевой состав Советской Армии на 1 ноября 1942 г." www.teatrskazka.com. Retrieved 2017-06-15.
  2. ^ Jordan, David; Weist, Andrew (2004). Atlas of World War 2. London, England: Amber Books. pp. 124–125. ISBN 0-7607-5557-4.
  3. ^ "Боевой состав Советской Армии на 1 May 1944". www.teatrskazka.com. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  4. ^ tashv.nm.ru, Combat composition of the Soviet Army, 1 December 1944 Archived 10 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine, accessed October 2011

References[edit]

External links[edit]

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