 | You can helpexpand this article with text translated fromthe corresponding article in Russian. (April 2015)Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
| 69th Army | |
|---|---|
| 69-я армия | |
| Active | 1943–1945 |
| Country |  Soviet Union |
| Branch | Red Army |
| Size | Field army |
| Part of | Voronezh Front |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | |
The69th Army (Russian:69-я армия) was afield army established by theSoviet Union'sRed Army during theSecond World War.
The army was formed in February 1943 with theVoronezh Front from the18th Rifle Corps, under the command of Lieutenant GeneralMikhail Kazakov. It originally included the161st,180th and270th Rifle Divisions, the1st Destroyer Division (an anti-tank unit), the37th Rifle and173rd Tank Brigades, as well as artillery and other units. By the time it was sent into combat, the army had been reinforced with two more rifle divisions and a tank regiment, and had a strength of around 40,000 men and 50 tanks.[1] Without finishing its formation, the army was sent into battle inOperation Star, an offensive which aimed to recaptureKharkov. The offensive began on 4 February and the army experienced initial success, defeating opposing German units southwest ofNovy Oskol and recapturingVolchansk alongside the38th Army on 9 February. Developing the offensive, its troops crossed theDonets, and operating in conjunction with the3rd Tank Army and the40th Army, recaptured Kharkov on 16 February. When the offensive was stopped by the German counterattack that began theThird Battle of Kharkov in early March, the 69th had reached the area southeast ofOposhnya and southwest ofValka andSharovka.[2]
During the Third Battle of Kharkov, the army was able to hold the German attacks for three days but was forced to withdraw back to the left bank of the Donets on the line betweenShishino andBezlyudovka, where the German advance was finally halted. As a result of heavy losses, the 69th was withdrawn to the front reserve on 20 March.[2]
After the end of the war, the army became part of theGroup of Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany. Its headquarters was relocated toBaku, where it was used to form the headquarters of theBaku Military District in August.[2]
| Armies |
|
|---|---|
| Guards | |
| Tank/Mechanized | |
| Guards Tank/Mechanized | |
| Shock | |
| Cavalry | |
| Sapper |
|
| Reserve Army |
|
.svg)
.svg)