63rd Army (Soviet Union)

The 63rd Army of the Soviet Union's Red Army was formed on 10 July 1942, by the order of Headquarters Red Army Supreme Command № 994110, by renaming Stavka's 5th Reserve Army.

Since 12 July 1942 the army was incorporated into the newly created Stalingrad Front for defensive battles on approaches to Stalingrad. On 30 September 1942 Stalingrad Front was renamed as Don Front for the battle within the city. On 29 October 1942 the army subordinated to the reconstructed Southwestern Front for the Operation Uranus counter-offensive. On 4 November 1942 the 63rd Army was reflagged as the 1st Guards Army, which was named the 3rd Guards Army since 5 December.

27 April 1943 the Army was formed for the second time on the basis of the 2nd Reserve Army. Originally it consisted of the 129, 235, 250, 348, 380 and 397 infantry divisions, artillery, engineering, and other parts. 29 April 1943 the army was incorporated into the Bryansk Front. Initially it conducted defensive operations along the Zusha and Neruch Rivers and the region south of Mtsensk. It participated in Operation Kutuzov at Orel, and the Briansk and Gomel-Rechitsa Offensives. With Markian Popov's Bryansk Front at the Battle of Kursk it comprised the 5th, 41st, 129th, 250th, 287th, 348th and 397th Rifle Divisions. On 8 October 1943 the army was assigned to the Central Front(renamed as Belorussian Front on 20 October 1943). It was disbanded on 18 February 1944. Its troops were transferred to the 3rd and 48th armies.

Officers

Structure on 1 August 1942

Structure on 1 October 1942

Sources and further reading

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