64th Army (Soviet Union)


The 64th Army was a field army established by the Soviet Union's Red Army during the Second World War.
Formed as the 1st Reserve Army as part of the Reserve of the Supreme High Command in April 1942, the formation was designated as the 64th Army in July 1942. The Army distinguished itself at the Battle of Stalingrad, was granted Guards status and renamed the 7th Guards Army in April 1943.

History

After its creation, the 64th Army was included in the newly formed Stalingrad Front. With the beginning of the Stalingrad Strategic Defensive Operation, its advanced troops fought hard battles with the vanguards of the 6th German Army on the Tsimle River. The 64th Army repelled the offensive of the southern strike group of the enemy around Surovikino, Rychkovo and further on the left bank of the Don. In early August, due to the threat of the 4th Panzer Army breaking through to Stalingrad from the southwest, the army troops were moved there and continued to conduct defensive battles. Since August 7, the army was part of the Southeastern Front. At the end of August it repelled the enemy's attacks on the middle area, and in early September it was assigned to the internal defensive area of Stalingrad and was stationed around Staro-Dubovka, Elhi and Ivanovka, where it fought hard battles until September 12.
Later it defended the southwestern outskirts and the southern part of Stalingrad. After the breakthrough of the defense of the South-Eastern Front at the junction of the 62nd and 64th armies and the withdrawal of its troops to the Volga in the area of Kuporosnoy, the main forces of the army defended the area south and southwest of Stalingrad, from where they systematically launched counterattacks on the flank of the enemy group who tried to take over the city.
During the transition to the counter-offensive, the army was a part of the main strike group of the Stalingrad front and subsequently fought in the enemy's encirclement. On January 1, 1943, as part of the Don Front, she participated in the liquidation of the encircled German troops in Stalingrad.
Since July 12, 1942 it was part of the Stalingrad Front and since January 1, 1943, of the Don Front. After the end of the Battle of Stalingrad, the 64th Army was from February 6, 1943 part of an Army group of troops under the command of Lieutenant General Kusma Trubnikov, which were held in reserve. Since the beginning of March 1943 it was part of the Voronezh Front and was engaged in defensive battles on the Donets River in the Belgorod region..
On May 1, 1943, the 64th Army was transformed into the 7th Guards Army.

Army composition

Commanders