66th Army (Soviet Union)

66th Army
Active	1942-1943
Country	Soviet Union
Branch	Red Army
Type	Field army
Engagements	World War II Battle of Stalingrad
Commanders
Notable commanders	Vladimir Kurdyumov Rodion Malinovsky Aleksey Semenovich Zhadov

The 66th Army was a field army of the Red Army. It was established in August 1942 from the 8th Reserve Army. The 66th Army fought to break through to the Volga to the north of Stalingrad during September and October 1942. During Operation Uranus, the Soviet encirclement of German troops in Stalingrad, 66th Army troops linked up with those of the 62nd Army, forming the inner encirclement. Until February the army fought to destroy the pocket and then was held in reserve. In May 1943 it became the 5th Guards Army for its actions during the Battle of Stalingrad.

Commanders

• Vladimir Kurdyumov (1942)
• Rodion Malinovsky (1942)
• Aleksey Semenovich Zhadov (1942-1943)

Bibliography

• Шестьдесят шестая армия // Председатель Главной редакционной комиссии (2004). Военная энциклопедия: В 8 томах [Military Encyclopedia: The 8 volumes] (in Russian). 8: Таджикский — Яшин. Moscow: Voenizdat. p. 579. ISBN 5-203-01875-8.