| 44th Army | |
|---|---|
| 44-я армия | |
| Active | 1941–1943 |
| Country |  Soviet Union |
| Branch | Red Army |
| Size | Field army |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Stepan Chernyak Ivan Yefimovich Petrov |
The44th Army (Russian:44-я армия) of theSoviet Union'sRed Army was anarmy-levelcommand active duringWorld War II. Initially part of theTranscaucasian Front, its main actions included theAnglo-Soviet invasion of Iran and theKerch amphibious landings (both in 1941), before being transferred to theSouthern Front on 6 February 1943. There it took part in the Rostov, Donbas and Melitopol offensives. The army was disbanded in November 1943 and its units were transferred to other armies.[1]
The 44th Army was formed on 1 August 1941 from the40th Rifle Corps, ostensibly to guard the Soviet-Iranian border in theTranscaucasian Military District. It was composed of the20th and77th Mountain Rifle Divisions, as well as the17th Cavalry Division and other smaller units.[2] Former 40th Rifle Corps commander Major GeneralAlexander Khadeyev became the army's commander.[3] On 23 August, it became part of theTranscaucasian Front.[1] On 25 August, the army began its fighting in theAnglo-Soviet invasion of Iran by crossing the border and moving intoGilan Province. It capturedBandar Pahlavi andRasht by the next day.[4] By 1 September, the 220th Separate Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion, 36th and 265th Fighter Aviation Regiments and the 205th Separate Sapper Battalion had joined the army.[5]
In October 1941, the army was relocated from Iran toMakhachkala. In late November, it transferred to theBlack Sea coast atAnapa. From 25 December, it fought in theBattle of the Kerch Peninsula under command of Major General Aleksei Pervushin. Along with the51st Army and units of theBlack Sea Fleet, the army helped capture the Kerch Peninsula. It was landed atFeodosiya after the Black Sea Fleet captured the port on 29 December.[6] On 30 December, the army transferred to theCaucasian Front. On 15 January 1942,[7] Pervushin was seriously wounded when an airstrike hit his command post.[8] Major GeneralIvan Dashichev became acting commander, leading the army during its retreat from advancing German troops. The army suffered heavy losses from the German counterattacks and Dashichev was replaced in command by Major General Serafim Rozhdestvensky on 21 January. He was arrested soon after for "negligence in command" and would eventually serve 10 years in the gulag.[9] The army moved to control of theCrimean Front on 28 January 1942. Rozhdestvensky was replaced in command on 11 February[10] by Lieutenant GeneralStepan Chernyak.[11] The army launched several unsuccessful attacks during February and April.[12]
On 8 May, German troops launchedOperation Trappenjagd (Bustard Hunt). Troops of theXXX Army Corps broke through the front lines of the 44th Army. A German landing behind the main line of resistance unhinged the 44th Army's second echelon. The army's line soon collapsed, and the German troops captured 4,514 prisoners by the end of the day.[13]The army retreated intoKerch and was evacuated to theTaman Peninsula.[1] The army suffered heavy losses during the battle.[12][14]
On 20 May, the 44th Army became part of theNorth Caucasian Front and was concentrated inTikhoretsk. It moved to Makhachkala soon after. On 29 May, Chernyak was relieved of command because of the defeat in Crimea.[12] He was replaced by Major General Andrei Khryashchev. On 16 June, the army was composed of the138th,156th,157th,236th and302nd Rifle Divisions, among other units. It was transferred to the Transcaucasian Front. Until August, the army held a defensive line fromGudermes to the mouth of theTerek River. During this time, Khryashcev was replaced in command by Major GeneralIvan Yefimovich Petrov. On 9 August, the army became part of the front's Northern Group of Forces. During the fall of 1942, it fought in defensive battles in the Caucasus. On 10 October, Petrov was promoted to command the front's Black Sea Group of Forces[15] and was replaced by Major GeneralKondrat Melnik. In November, Melnik was transferred to command the58th Army[16] and was replaced by Lieutenant GeneralVasily Khomenko.[17] In December, the army pushed German troops back to positions north ofMozdok during a series of counterattacks.[1]
During January 1943, the army attacked towardsStavropol during theNorth Caucasian Strategic Offensive. It captured Stavropol on 21 January. On 24 January, it became part of the reformation of the North Caucasian Front. The army transferred to theSouthern Front on 6 February. It continued the advance and capturedAzov on 7 February. By 18 February, the army reached the line ofRyasnyi on the left bank of theSambek River, east ofTaganrog. The army held the line until the beginning of the Donbass Strategic Offensive in August. During the offensive, the army helped capture Taganrog on 30 August. Along with units of the Black Sea Fleet, the 44th Army capturedMariupol on 10 September. From 26 September, it fought in theMelitopol Offensive. At the end of October, the army was placed in reserve and regrouped northeast ofKakhovka. The army was soon placed in the line, relieving elements of the5th Shock Army. It defended the line ofZavadovka, Kakhovka and Britsantsy. Lieutenant General Khomenko and army artillery commander Major General Bobkov mistakenly drove their vehicles into German lines on 9 November and were killed. Stalin feared that the generals had defected to the enemy and disbanded the army. Its units were transferred to other armies.[1][18]
| Armies |
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| Guards | |
| Tank/Mechanized | |
| Guards Tank/Mechanized | |
| Shock | |
| Cavalry | |
| Sapper |
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| Reserve Army |
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