| 2nd Azov Corps | |
|---|---|
| 2-й Азовский корпус | |
| Active | 1 September 1919–11 January 1920 |
| Country |  Ukraine |
| Allegiance |  Makhnovshchina |
| Branch |  Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine |
| Type | Partisancorps |
| Size | 21,000 |
| Garrison/HQ | Azov |
| Equipment | 21,000bayonets, 385sabers, 176machine guns, 16cannons.[1] |
| Engagements | Ukrainian War of Independence:
|
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Trofim Vdovichenko [ru] |
| Chief of Staff | Feofan Mironov [ru] |
The2nd Azov Corps was a military formation of theRevolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine, one of the 4 corps that was created on 1 September 1919, and existed until 1920.
On 1 September 1919, a meeting of insurgents was held inDobrovelychkivka, at which a delegate was elected from each regiment. The meeting discussed the question of the further political existence of theMakhnovshchina as an independent organism. They also discussed the issue of reorganizing the insurgent regiments into a single army that would be effective in guerrilla warfare. The meeting elected aMilitary Revolutionary Council, as the central command of the insurgents. The insurgent regiments led byNestor Makhno were officially named theRevolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine (RIAU).Viktor Belash was in charge of organizing the army. Belash developed the structure of the RIAU, which consisted of fourcorps (three active and one reserve), each built from a number ofdivisions, which were in turn divided intoregiments,battalions,companies andplatoons.[2]Vdovichenko was appointed at the head of the 2nd Azov Corps.[3]
On 27 September 1919, the 1st corps took part in theBattle of Peregonovka, in which the RIAU won a major victory. On 28 September 1919, Makhno decided to conduct a deep raid onKaterynoslav, in which the 1st corps also took part. The Insurgent Army set off on a march in three maincolumns for the raid. The infantry in carts and cavalry made daily marches of 80–90versts. The right column, which was made up of the infantry units of the 2nd corps, advanced 315 versts throughPeschanyy Brod [ru],Sofiyevka,Dolinskaya,Kryvyi Rih,Apostolove andNikopol.
On 8 October, the corps occupiedBerdyansk, on 9 October –Prymorsk,Osipenko, on 14 October it occupiedMariupol, from here Vdovichenko sent the 2nd cavalry brigade to occupy the city ofTaganrog, which wasDenikin's headquarters. By the evening of 16 October, the 2nd cavalry brigade occupiedNovoazovsk, 65 versts west of Taganrog. By this time, Karani had occupied the railway line from Mariupol to the station with Vdovichenko's infantry, leading an offensive onVolnovakha, where there was aWhite Guard group guarding the artillery base.[4] On 24 October 1919, the corps commander, Vdovichenko, issued order No. 1 to the "Urban and Rural Councils, other organizations and authorities" for the arrest of deserters who left the Insurgent Army.[5]
On 11 January 1920, at a meeting of commanders inHuliaipole, it was decided to send the 2nd corps to the Berdyansk and Mariupol districts, where it would then dissolve. In the Mariupol district in the spring of 1920,Foma Kozhyn's formations of 100 sabers with 30tachankas andMaskalevsky's 500 cavalry, collected from the remnants of the 2nd corps, were raided.