12th Guards Rifle Corps | |
---|---|
Active | 1942–1946 |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | Red Army |
Type | Infantry |
Engagements | |
Decorations | ![]() |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Alexander Kazankin |
The12th Guards Rifle Corps was a corps of the Soviet Union's Red Army. Formed in 1942, the corps fought in theVistula–Oder Offensive,East Pomeranian Offensive andBerlin Offensive. The corps was awarded theOrder of the Red Banner for its actions during the storming of Berlin.[1] It was disbanded in Germany in June 1946.
The corps was first formed on theNorthwestern Front in December 1942, on the basis of the384th Rifle Division.[2] It was commanded by Major GeneralNikanor Zakhvatayev. In May 1944, Zakhvatayev was transferred to command the1st Shock Army.[3] He was replaced by Major GeneralMikhail Siyazov.[4] On 29 July, Siyazov became 67th Army deputy commander[5] and was replaced by Major GeneralStepan Bunkov [ru].[6]
On November 3, 1944 the corps included the23rd Guards,52nd Guards and33rd Rifle Divisions as part of the3rd Shock Army. It was the main force moving forward to the railway lineAuce –Layzhuva. On 2 December, the corps was part of Stavka Reserve and received orders to concentrate south ofJelgava for loading onto troop transports at the Jelgava, Platone, Meitene andJoniškis. At the beginning of January 1945, trains carrying elements of the corps arrived atMrozy, 50 kilometers east of Warsaw. The corps was concentrated 25 kilometers east of Warsaw, in the area ofMińsk Mazowiecki,Kałuszyn,Liw andDobre. On 14 January, the Vistula–Oder Offensive was launched. The corps was part of the army reserve in the early days of the offensive. On 19 January, the corps moved to bypass Warsaw from the north. On the morning of 20 January, the corps was in the area ofSochaczew,Lovach andSkierniewice. By the end of 25 January, it was in the area ofIzbica,Kolo andKlodawa. By the end of January, the corps had reachedBromberg. The 33rd and 52nd Guards Rifle Divisions positioned themselves at Bushkovo, Tsempelburg and Kline-Visnevka. The 23rd Guards Rifle Division was stationed in the second echelon. The32nd and 15th SS Infantry Divisions made several attacks against the corps, supported by tanks. These attacks were repulsed.[1]
Bunkov was sent to study at theMilitary Academy of the General Staff on 12 February[5][6] and replaced by Lieutenant GeneralAlexander Kazankin. The 23rd and 52nd Guards Rifle Divisions took up defensive positions on the east bank of the Oder betweenNieder-Krenina andAlt-Rudnitz. From 16 April, the corps was involved in theBattle of Berlin. Kazankin was wounded on 27 April during the fighting for Berlin.[7] He was replaced by 3rd Shock Army deputy commander Major GeneralAlexander Filatov.[8] On the morning of 2 May, the German troops began to surrender and the fighting ended soon after. On 11 June, the corps was awarded theOrder of the Red Banner for its actions at Berlin.[1]
The corps appears to have been disbanded in June 1946, still part of the 3rd Shock Army.[9]