8th Estonian Rifle Corps
Encyclopedia
The 8th 'Estonian' Rifle Corps
(2nd formation) was a formation in the Soviet Army
, created on 6 November 1942, during World War II
. (The corps had been formed before, and on the outbreak of war on 22 June 1941 its first formation was part of the 26th Army
in the Kiev Special Military District, consisting of the 99th
and 173rd Rifle Divisions.)
The 8th 'Estonian' Rifle Corps
1st formation was formed of mobilized native Estonians, who were at first brought in Russia (where many of them died because of poor conditions), batallions created in Estonia and former officials of the Republic of Estonia's army.
When 2nd formation was formed in 1942, the corps' structure consisted of the 7th
and 249th rifle divisions stationed in Estonia, reinforced by volunteers from the Estonian Communist Party
organisation. In an effort to increase overall formation experience, the battle-hardened 19th Guards Rifle Division later joined the 8th Rifle Corps. Throughout its entire existence, the rifle corps was commanded by Lieutenant General
Lembit Pärn. Over half of the formation consisted of non-Estonians or descendants of Estonians who emigrated to Russia in the 19th century.
, the Leningrad
and the 2nd Baltic Front. For 344 days, parts of the corps were engaged with German forces
, but no significant gains were made. For the next 123 days, the formation was engaging in the Battle of Velikiye Luki
where 13,000 of the 27,000 men were killed or wounded. Then, 37 days were spent in the Battle of Narva
, and the final 69 days were devoted to the Battle of Courland. During the Battle of Narva in 1944, the artillery of the rifle corps fired on the 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian), consisting of the Estonians fighting in the Waffen SS. The infantry of the corps was engaged in direct battle with the Estonians on the German side in the battles of Porkuni
and Avinurme on 20 and 21 September 1944, where the rifle corps murdered a number of prisoners of war.
In total, 4100 settlements were captured by the 8th Estonian Rifle Corps. Of the whole rifle corps, one division, six regiments, and one battalion were decorated with an order. The 8th Estonian Rifle Corps was also given the honorific "Tallinn", and on June 28, 1945 the corps was renamed the 41st Guards Estonian Tallinn Rifle Corps.
According to the 23 June 1945 decision of the Presidium
of the Supreme Soviet
of the USSR, demobilization of the Red Army started. The first Estonian rifle corps fighters were demobilized starting on 16 July 1945. By the end of 1946, 16,550 men were demobilized. Of those, 3,425 (20.7%) started to work in the administrative or legal bodies of the Soviet occupation regime (Communist Party, Komsomol
, trade unions etc).
Rifle corps (Soviet)
A rifle corps was a Soviet military organization of the mid-twentieth century. Rifle corps were made up of a varying number of rifle divisions, although the allocation of three rifle divisions to a rifle corps was common during the latter part of World War II.Unlike army corps formed by Germany...
(2nd formation) was a formation in the Soviet Army
Soviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
, created on 6 November 1942, 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...
. (The corps had been formed before, and on the outbreak of war on 22 June 1941 its first formation was part of the 26th Army
26th Army (Soviet Union)
The 26th Army was a field army of the Soviet Union's Red Army, active from 1941.- Operational history :...
in the Kiev Special Military District, consisting of the 99th
99th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)
The 99th Rifle Division was an infantry division of the Soviet Union's Red Army which fought in World War II...
and 173rd Rifle Divisions.)
The 8th 'Estonian' Rifle Corps
Rifle corps (Soviet)
A rifle corps was a Soviet military organization of the mid-twentieth century. Rifle corps were made up of a varying number of rifle divisions, although the allocation of three rifle divisions to a rifle corps was common during the latter part of World War II.Unlike army corps formed by Germany...
1st formation was formed of mobilized native Estonians, who were at first brought in Russia (where many of them died because of poor conditions), batallions created in Estonia and former officials of the Republic of Estonia's army.
When 2nd formation was formed in 1942, the corps' structure consisted of the 7th
7th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)
The 7th Rifle Division was a infantry division of the Soviet Union's Red Army, formed five separate times from 1918 to 1955. The division was first formed in September 1918 at Vladimir in the Moscow Military District....
and 249th rifle divisions stationed in Estonia, reinforced by volunteers from the Estonian Communist Party
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
organisation. In an effort to increase overall formation experience, the battle-hardened 19th Guards Rifle Division later joined the 8th Rifle Corps. Throughout its entire existence, the rifle corps was commanded by Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Lembit Pärn. Over half of the formation consisted of non-Estonians or descendants of Estonians who emigrated to Russia in the 19th century.
War service
The corps fought a total 916 days in the war, and at different times it was in service with the KalininKalinin Front
The Kalinin Front was a Front of the Soviet Army during the Second World War. This sense of the term is not identical with the more general usage of military front which indicates a geographic area in wartime, although a Soviet Front may operate within designated boundaries.The Kalinin Front was...
, the Leningrad
Leningrad Front
The Leningrad Front was first formed on August 27, 1941, by dividing the Northern Front into the Leningrad Front and Karelian Front, during the German approach on Leningrad .-History:...
and the 2nd Baltic Front. For 344 days, parts of the corps were engaged with German forces
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:...
, but no significant gains were made. For the next 123 days, the formation was engaging in the Battle of Velikiye Luki
Battle of Velikiye Luki
The Velikiye Luki offensive operation was executed by the forces of the Red Army's Kalinin Front against the Wehrmacht's 3rd Panzer Army during the Winter Campaign of 1942-1943 with the objective of liberating the Russian city of Velikiye Luki as part of the northern pincer of the Rzhev-Sychevka...
where 13,000 of the 27,000 men were killed or wounded. Then, 37 days were spent in the Battle of Narva
Battle of Narva (1944)
The Battle of Narva was a military campaign between the German Army Detachment "Narwa" and the Soviet Leningrad Front fought for possession of the strategically important Narva Isthmus on 2 February – 10 August 1944 during World War II....
, and the final 69 days were devoted to the Battle of Courland. During the Battle of Narva in 1944, the artillery of the rifle corps fired on the 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian), consisting of the Estonians fighting in the Waffen SS. The infantry of the corps was engaged in direct battle with the Estonians on the German side in the battles of Porkuni
Battle of Porkuni
Battle of Porkuni was the largest engagement between Estonians serving in the Red Army and Estonian pro-independence and Waffen-SS units. It took place in 21 September 1944 between Lake Porkuni and the Sauvälja village about seven kilometres northeast of the town of Tamsalu during the Leningrad...
and Avinurme on 20 and 21 September 1944, where the rifle corps murdered a number of prisoners of war.
In total, 4100 settlements were captured by the 8th Estonian Rifle Corps. Of the whole rifle corps, one division, six regiments, and one battalion were decorated with an order. The 8th Estonian Rifle Corps was also given the honorific "Tallinn", and on June 28, 1945 the corps was renamed the 41st Guards Estonian Tallinn Rifle Corps.
According to the 23 June 1945 decision of the Presidium
Presidium
The presidium or praesidium is the name for the heading organ of various legislative and organizational bodies.-Historical usage:...
of the Supreme Soviet
Supreme Soviet
The Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union was the Supreme Soviet in the Soviet Union and the only one with the power to pass constitutional amendments...
of the USSR, demobilization of the Red Army started. The first Estonian rifle corps fighters were demobilized starting on 16 July 1945. By the end of 1946, 16,550 men were demobilized. Of those, 3,425 (20.7%) started to work in the administrative or legal bodies of the Soviet occupation regime (Communist Party, Komsomol
Komsomol
The Communist Union of Youth , usually known as Komsomol , was the youth division of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The Komsomol in its earliest form was established in urban centers in 1918. During the early years, it was a Russian organization, known as the Russian Communist Union of...
, trade unions etc).