13th Army (Soviet Union)
The 13th Army was a name given to several field armies of the Soviet Union's Red Army. Later armies existed until the 1990s, and the army survived as part of the Ukrainian Ground Forces for some years.
Russo-Finnish War
The 13th Army was created again at the end of December 1939 as a separate 13th Army in the course of the Soviet advance into the Karelian Isthmus when the 7th Army was split into two, and also renamed separate, after being substantially reinforced. As part of the 1940 February Vyborg offensive they were coordinated by the North Western Front in Leningrad, both armies were able to breach either first or second defensive positions in the Mannerheim Line, but were unable to breach the main position. The separate 13th Army was allocated three of the eight rifle corps assigned to the operation.Commanders
- Vladimir Grendal
- Filipp Parusinov.
World War II
The Army fought as part of the Central Front in the Battle of Kursk in July 1943 under General N.P. Pukhov, numbering four corps with twelve rifle divisions. The Army finished its war service in Germany within the 1st Ukrainian Front in 1945, consisting of the 24th Rifle Corps, 27th Rifle Corps, 102nd Rifle Corps, 17th Artillery Division, and many other smaller artillery and other formations.
Commanders
- Lieutenant General Pyotr Filatov
- Lieutenant General Fyodor Remezov
- Lieutenant General Vasyl Herasymenko
- Major General Konstantin Golubev
- Major General Auxentios Gorodnyansky
- Major General Nikolai Pukhov, from February 14, 1943 Lieutenant General, from August 26, 1944 Colonel-General
- Colonel General Mikhail Shumilov
- Colonel General Issa Pliyev
- Colonel General Ivan Lyudnikov
- Lieutenant General Alexander Nechaev
- Lieutenant General Nikolay Oleshev
- Lieutenant General Gleb Baklanov
Soviet Army
In 1960 the following divisions were assigned:
- 15th Guards Motor Rifle Division
- 97th Guards Motor Rifle Division
- 99th Motor Rifle Division
On 22 February 1968 the army was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.
In 1970 the following divisions were assigned:
- 51st Guards Motor Rifle Division
- 97th Guards Motor Rifle Division
- 161st Motor Rifle Division
In 1980 the following divisions were assigned:
- 51st Guards Motor Rifle Division
- 97th Guards Motor Rifle Division
- 161st Motor Rifle Division
- 275th Motor Rifle Division
Divisions in 1988:
- 51st Guards Motor Rifle Division
- 97th Guards Motor Rifle Division
- 161st Motor Rifle Division
Ukrainian Army
On 18 March 1992, in accordance with Decree No. 161 of the President of Ukraine, Major General Petro Shulyak was assigned as the army commander.Formation in 1989 | Formation in 1991–92 |
17th Guards Motor Rifle Division | Unchanged |
51st Guards Motor Rifle Division | No change |
97th Guards Motor Rifle Division | 97th Guards Mechanised Brigade |
161st Motor Rifle Division | 161st Mechanised Brigade |
Oleksandr Zatynaiko later became commander. On 27 December 1993, the 13th Army was redesignated as the 13th Army Corps.