19th Army (Soviet Union)
| 19th Army | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1941 - 1945 or 1947 |
| Country | Soviet Union |
| Branch | Red Army |
| Size | two or more Rifle corps |
| Part of | Reserve of the Supreme High Command, Western Front, 2nd Belorussian Front |
| Engagements | Operation Barbarossa, others |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
General Ivan Koniev |
The 19th Army was a field army of the Soviet Union's Red Army, formed in 1941 and active during the Second World War. It was disbanded in 1945 or 1947.
The army was first formed in June 1941 in the North Caucasus Military District under the command of General Lieutenant Ivan Koniev. Division Commissar I.P. Sheklanov became Member of the Army's Military Soviet. Initially the army consisted of
Sources disagree as to whether a Mechanized Corps, either the 25th or the 26th, was directly subordinate to the Army as well. Three weeks before the outbreak of war the 19th Army was sent by rail to Ukraine in the Cherkassy region. The army received orders from the People's Commissar for Defence, Marshal Semyon Timoshenko, to defend the Kiev Fortified Region.
From 25 June 1941, the Army was included in the Group of Reserve Armies of the Highest Command (Stavka). The 19th Army was transferred by rail to Vitebsk, Rudnia, Smolensk. On 2 July, army was included into Western Front. The transfer by rail took more time than was expected. On 9 July the first units to arrive received orders to deny Vitebsk to the enemy and attack in the western direction and reach the western bank of Dvina. On the contrary, to the 11 July enemy brushed away Soviet forces from Vitebsk. On 11 July, the 19th Army was strengthened by 7th Mechanized Corps and on the next day attacked Vitebsk anew. At that time the enemy had the initiative. To the 16 July, German forces struck through Yartsevo to Smolensk. Three Soviet armies (16th, 20th and 19th) found themselves in the operational encirclement. On 14 July, 19th Army Headquarters received orders to transfer its troops to the 16th Army and to move to the Kardumovo region, and then Yartsevo. 19th Army Staff with great effort broke out of the encirclement near Wadino and received new divisions under its command. Those new forces took defensive positions on the river Vol.
...
Wikipedia