41st Army (Soviet Union)
Encyclopedia
The 41st Army is a field army of the Russian Ground Forces
, currently part of the Siberian Military District
. Originally, it was formed in 1942 as part of the Soviet
Red Army
, during World War II
. It was reformed in 1998, probably on December 1, when the Transbaikal Military District
and Siberian Military District
were amalgamated.
and Tarasov's operative groups. Its structure also included the 134th, 135th, 179th and 234th rifle divisions, the 17th Guards
Rifle Division, the 21st Tank Brigade, two separate Guards mortar battalions, and several other separate elements.
From May to November 1942, the army was focused on defending the South-Western approach to the city of Bely. In late November, the army joined the Rzhev offensive operation (also known as "Operation Mars"). During that time, the army was engaged with the German
XLI Panzer Corps. The army's offensive failed, and they were surrounded by the German XXX Army Corps (Germany). By December 8, the surrounded forced were destroyed.
In March 1943, the newly reinforced 41st Army joined the Rzhev
-Vyazma
operation. The offensive was a success and German forces in the Rzhev-Vyazma area were annihilated. Following the operation, the forces of the army were transferred to the 39th Army
and the 43rd Army, while the 41st Army itself was send to the STAVKA
reserves. On April 9, 1943, the army was disbanded and its remaining forces would form the Reserve Front.
September 1, 1942:
December 1, 1942:
March 1, 1943:
Russian Ground Forces
The Russian Ground Forces are the land forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, formed from parts of the collapsing Soviet Army in 1992. The formation of these forces posed economic challenges after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and required reforms to professionalize the force...
, currently part of the Siberian Military District
Siberian Military District
The Siberian Military District was a Military district of the Russian Ground Forces. In 2010 it was divided between the two newly formed Central and Eastern Military Districts.- History :...
. Originally, it was formed in 1942 as part of the Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
, during World War II
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
. It was reformed in 1998, probably on December 1, when the Transbaikal Military District
Transbaikal Military District
The Transbaikal Military District was a military district of first the Military of the Soviet Union and then the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, formed on May 17, 1935 and included the Buryat Republic, Chita Oblast, and Yakutia. Chita was the headquarters of the district...
and Siberian Military District
Siberian Military District
The Siberian Military District was a Military district of the Russian Ground Forces. In 2010 it was divided between the two newly formed Central and Eastern Military Districts.- History :...
were amalgamated.
War service
The 41st army was created in May 1942, on the base of Nikolai BerzarinNikolai Berzarin
Nikolai Erastovich Berzarin was a Soviet Red Army General during the Stalinist era and the Second World War. In 1945 he became commander of the Soviet occupying forces in Berlin.-Family:Berzarin was born the son of a pipefitter and a seamstress...
and Tarasov's operative groups. Its structure also included the 134th, 135th, 179th and 234th rifle divisions, the 17th Guards
Guards unit
Guards units are elite units and formations in the armed forces of the former Soviet Union, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. These units were awarded Guards status after distinguishing themselves in service, and are considered to have elite status. The Guards designation originated during the...
Rifle Division, the 21st Tank Brigade, two separate Guards mortar battalions, and several other separate elements.
From May to November 1942, the army was focused on defending the South-Western approach to the city of Bely. In late November, the army joined the Rzhev offensive operation (also known as "Operation Mars"). During that time, the army was engaged with the German
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
XLI Panzer Corps. The army's offensive failed, and they were surrounded by the German XXX Army Corps (Germany). By December 8, the surrounded forced were destroyed.
In March 1943, the newly reinforced 41st Army joined the Rzhev
Rzhev
Rzhev is a town in Tver Oblast, Russia, southwest of Staritsa and from Tver, on the highway and railway connecting Moscow and Riga. It is the uppermost town situated on the Volga River. Population:...
-Vyazma
Vyazma
Vyazma is a town and the administrative center of Vyazemsky District of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Vyazma River, about halfway between Smolensk and Mozhaysk. Throughout its turbulent history, the city defended western approaches to the city of Moscow...
operation. The offensive was a success and German forces in the Rzhev-Vyazma area were annihilated. Following the operation, the forces of the army were transferred to the 39th Army
39th Army (Soviet Union)
The 39th Army was a Field Army of the Soviet Union's Red Army formed on 15 November 1941 in the Arkhangelsk Military District, in accordance with a directive issued by the Stavka on 2 November 1941...
and the 43rd Army, while the 41st Army itself was send to the STAVKA
Stavka
Stavka was the term used to refer to a command element of the armed forces from the time of the Kievan Rus′, more formally during the history of Imperial Russia as administrative staff and General Headquarters during late 19th Century Imperial Russian armed forces and those of the Soviet Union...
reserves. On April 9, 1943, the army was disbanded and its remaining forces would form the Reserve Front.
Structure
June 1, 1942:- 17th Guards Rifle Division
- 134th Rifle Division
- 135th Rifle Division
- 179th Rifle Division
- 234th Rifle Division
- 21st Armoured Brigade
- Separate Engineer and Artillery units
September 1, 1942:
- 17th Guards Rifle Division
- 134th Rifle Division
- 179th Rifle Division
- 234th Rifle Division
- 21st Armoured Brigade
- 104th Armoured Brigade
- Separate Engineer and Artillery units
December 1, 1942:
- 6th Rifle Corps
- 150th Rifle Division150th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)The 150th Rifle 'Idritskaya' Division was a formation in the Red Army fighting on the Eastern Front of World War II from 1941 to 1945. It gained most fame as the formation whose soldiers famously raised the Soviet flag over the Reichstag near the end of the war.The nickname ‘Idritskaya’ was given...
- 74th Rifle Brigade
- 75th Rifle Brigade
- 78th Rifle Brigade
- 91st Rifle Brigade
- 150th Rifle Division
- 17th Guards Rifle Division
- 93rd Rifle Division
- 134th Rifle Division
- 234th Rifle Division
- 262nd Rifle Division
- 1st Mechanized Corps1st Mechanized Corps (Soviet Union)The 1st Mechanized Corps was a formation in the Soviet Red Army during World War II. Initially formed in March 1940 it was attached to the Leningrad Military District, & held in reserve near Pskov fortified region in Soviet Union It was under the command of Major General M. L. Cherniavsky when the...
- 19th Mechanized Brigade
- 35th Mechanized Brigade
- 37th Mechanized Brigade
- 65th Armoured Brigade
- 219th Armoured Brigade
- 47th Mechanized Brigade
- 48th Mechanized Brigade
- 104th Armoured Brigade
- 154th Armoured Brigade
- Separate Engineer and Artillery units
March 1, 1943:
- 17th Guards Rifle Division
- 93rd Rifle Division
- 134th Rifle Division
- 262nd Rifle Division
- 75th Rifle Brigade
- 78th Rifle Brigade
- Separate Engineer and Artillery units
Current Composition
- Headquarters - NovosibirskNovosibirskNovosibirsk is the third-largest city in Russia, after Moscow and Saint Petersburg, and the largest city of Siberia, with a population of 1,473,737 . It is the administrative center of Novosibirsk Oblast as well as of the Siberian Federal District...
- 85th Motor Rifle Division85th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)The 85th Leningrad-Pavlovsk Red Banner Motor Rifle Division was a infantry division of the Soviet Red Army active from 1931 and converted to a motorised formation in 1957. It is now part of the Russian Ground Forces....
- Novosibirsk - 122nd Motor Rifle Division - AltayAltai RepublicAltai Republic is a federal subject of Russia . Its capital is the town of Gorno-Altaysk. The area of the republic is . Population: -Geography:...
- 74th Independent Motor Rifle Brigade - YurgaYurgaYurga is a town in Kemerovo Oblast, Russia, located on the Tom River. Population: It was founded in 1886. Work settlement status was granted to it in 1942; town status was granted in 1949....
- many other storage bases
- 85th Motor Rifle Division