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20th Army - History

Despite the trials of the past two decades, Russia has managed to maintain its defense potential and state sovereignty. This is the merit of the 20th Guards Army, which began its combat path in July 1942 (as the 4th Panzer Army), fought for Stalingrad, defeated the Lvov and Breslav groups of German troops. Later, servicemen of the 20th Army passed with honor through Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Moldova, the North Caucasus, Africa, and Yugoslavia. And today, in classrooms and at training grounds, the guards are preparing to adequately meet any enemy - in the western strategic direction.

Currently, the 20th army is the largest unit of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and participating in the most significant events of the country's military life, it adequately represents the face of the state at the international level. In modern conditions of tension in the international situation, the military personnel of the association continue to increase military traditions and strengthen organization and military discipline.

1st formation

The 20th Guards Red Banner Army is the successor to the military glory of the 4th Guards Tank Army. Having carried military prowess through Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Moldova, the North Caucasus, Africa, Yugoslavia, the guards continue to worthily continue the traditions of front-line soldiers. The 4th Tank Army was formed by order of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command of June 26, 1943 in the Moscow Region in the areas of Solnechnogorsk, Zagorsk and Kubinka.

During the Orel operation of 1943, the army in collaboration with the 11th Guards, 3rd and 63rd armies defeated the 20th Panzer, 10th and 25th Motorized, 253rd Infantry Divisions, inflicted heavy losses 9 The 18th and 18th Panzer and 208th German Infantry Divisions. The army in the Oryol operation marched about 400 kilometers with battles, forced the rivers Ors, Lubna, Tskan, Nugr, Sukhaya Orlitsa, liberated about 200 settlements and, cutting the main communications of the enemy, created a threat to encircle the entire Oryol-Bolkhov enemy group.

Since March 4, 1944, as part of the first Ukrainian front, the army participated in the Proskurovsky-Chernivtsi operation, in the liberation of the city of Lviv, the Vistula-Oder operation, in the storming of Berlin, the liberation of Prague. She fought about 3,800 kilometers across Soviet soil, the territory of Poland, Germany and Czechoslovakia. On its way, the army forces liberated from the Nazi invaders over 14 thousand settlements.

Twenty-one times gratitude was declared to the army troops in the orders of the Supreme Commander. For skillful actions in battles, shown courage and dedication, tens of thousands of soldiers, officers and sergeants were awarded orders and medals. 128 wars were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union, 48 soldiers and sergeants became knights of the Order of Glory of three degrees.

The 20th Army of the 1st formation was formed in June 1941 in the Oryol Military District. The army included the 61st, 69th Rifle Corps and the 7th Mechanized Corps, the 18th Rifle Division, artillery and other units.

On June 26, 1941, the army was included in the army group of the High Command Headquarters. On July 2, 1941, the army was transferred to the Western Front and fought defensive battles in Belarus. On July 6, its mechanized corps participated in a frontal counterattack north of Orsha. Until mid-July, army forces held defensive lines in the areas of the cities of Orsha, Rudnya and fettered large enemy forces advancing on Smolensk.

In July - September 1941, the army participated in the battle of Smolensk (July 10 - September 10). During the enemy attack on Smolensk in late July, the army was surrounded. After breaking through the encirclement, army troops joined the main forces of the front. Then its formations fought stubborn defensive battles south of Yartsevo, covering the Dorogobuzh direction.

In October 1941, the army took part in the Vyazemsky defensive operation (October 2-13), during which they were surrounded by the enemy in the area west of Vyazma. Part of her troops escaped from the encirclement and entered the Mozhaisk defense line.

On October 20, 1941, the field control of the army was disbanded, and troops were transferred to other front associations.

Army commanders: Lieutenant General Remezov F.N. (June - July 1941); Lieutenant General Kurochkin P.A. (July - August 1941); Lieutenant General Lukin M.F. (August - September 1941); Lieutenant General Ershakov F.A. (September - October 1941)

Member of the Military Council of the Army - Corps Commissar Semenovsky F. A. (June - October 1941)

Chief of Staff of the Army - Major General N. V. Korneev (June - October 1941) The 20th Army of the 2nd formation was formed on November 30, 1941 on the basis of the directive of the Supreme High Command Headquarters of November 29, 1941 on the basis of the Colonel’s task force A.I. Lizyukova. It included the 331rd and 352nd rifle divisions, the 28th, 35th and 64th rifle brigades, the 134th and 135th separate tank battalions, artillery and other units.

The army was subordinate to the Western Front. As part of the troops of the right flank of the front, on December 6-25, 1941, she participated in the Klinsko-Solnechnogorsk offensive operation. During the operation, her troops, in collaboration with the troops of the 16th, 30th and 1st shock armies, defeated the main forces of the 3rd and 4th tank groups of the enemy, drove them to the line of the Lama River and the Ruza River and liberated several settlements, including Volokolamsk (December 20).

During the Rzhev-Vyazemsky strategic operation (January 8 - April 20, 1942), the army broke through the enemy’s defenses at the turn of the Lama and, pursuing him, reached the area north-east of Gzhatsk by the end of January.

In August 1942, as part of the Rzhev-Sychev offensive operation ( July 30 - August 23), the army carried out the Pogorel-Gorodishchensky operation. Subsequently, until March 1943, in cooperation with other troops, she defended the Rzhev-Vyazma border.

In March 1943, her troops participated in the Rzhev-Vyazemsky offensive operation (March 2-31). Then, until mid-July, the army, being in the second echelon of the front, occupied a defensive line west and southwest of Vyazma.

Since July 23, 1943 - in the reserve of the Supreme Command.

On August 10, 1943, the army was included in the Kalinin Front, and on September 1, it was again withdrawn to the reserve of the Supreme Command. On October 15, 1943, the army became part of the Baltic Front (from October 20 - the 2nd Baltic Front), on November 5 - it was withdrawn to the reserve of the Supreme Command, April 10, 1944 - included in the Leningrad Front.

The army was disbanded on April 21, 1944 on the basis of the directive of the Supreme High Command Headquarters of April 18, 1944; its field control was directed to the formation of a field control of the 3rd Baltic Front.

Army Commanders: Lieutenant General A. Vlasov (November 1941 - March 1942); Lieutenant General Reiter M.A. (March - September 1942); Major General N. Kiryukhin I. (October - December 1942); Lieutenant General Khozin M.S. (December 1942 - January 1943); Major General, from April 28, 1943 - Lieutenant General N. Berzarin (January - March and August - September 1943); Major General A. Ermakov (March - August and September 1943); Lieutenant General A. Lopatin (September - October 1943); Lieutenant General Gusev N.I. (November 1943 - April 1944)

Members of the Military Council of the Army: Division Commissioner P. N. Kulikov (November 1941 - December 1942); Division Commissioner, from December 1942 - Major General A. Lobachev (November 1941 - April 1944)

The chiefs of staff of the army - Colonel, from December 1941 - Major General L. Sandalov (November 1941 - September 1942); Major General, from February 1944 - Lieutenant General Vashkevich V.R. (September 1942 - April 1944)