In 1943, the military operations of the fronts of the Great Patriotic War gradually return to the territory of modern Ukraine. Already, in principle, it is clear that the USSR will win the war against the fascist invaders. In this article we will talk about the 2nd Ukrainian Front, the battle path, the chronicle of which is very interesting.
The outcome of ancient wars could be decided in one battle, when the troops met head-on and there was a battle between them. With development military equipment it has become impossible. Victory in a global war (starting with the 1st World War) can only be won by an army that clearly coordinates the movements and actions of combat units on large area front. An example of such a successful military conglomerate is the 2nd Ukrainian Front, whose combat path is very interesting. With the help of interaction, the command can simultaneously achieve success in different areas, and the enemy, accordingly, will not have enough human and technical resources to "fix the holes."
At the end of 1943, the territory of Soviet Russia was already practically liberated from the invaders. Therefore, many troops that participated in the liberation of the Russian regions continued their combat path behind the enemy and crossed into the territory of modern Ukraine. In this regard, it became expedient to create a new front. The headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief, by order of October 16, 1943, established the 2nd Ukrainian Front, the combat path of which lasted until 1945. On October 20 of the same year, the order came into force.
It was not difficult to form an effective combat unit, because the backbone of the group was made up of parts of the former Steppe Front, which already had experience of interacting with each other.
Immediately after the creation of the front, the task was set to liberate the central region of Ukraine as soon as possible. At the end of September, the troops of the Steppe Front crossed the Dnieper near Kremenchug. Despite the fact that the front did not have enough forces for a serious fight, the commander decided to continue the offensive. The main task at that moment was to prevent an attack by the enemy army from the direction of Dnepropetrovsk, so the military council of the front decided to advance along the Pyatikhatka-Apostolovo line.
This operation will later be called Pyatikhatskaya. The offensive after the concentration of forces began on October 15, 1943 and gradually bore fruit. After the fighting took on a protracted nature, the command changed strategy.
When the army was bogged down in fighting in the Dnepropetrovsk region, it was necessary to change the direction and emphasis of hostilities. For this, reconnaissance was carried out. According to the information available to the army, it became clear that few enemy forces were concentrated in the Znamenka area. To provide effective resistance, the enemy will have to transfer forces, which will take some time.
From the side of Znamenka, our army, namely the 2nd Ukrainian Front, whose combat path across Ukraine was long, struck the first blow on November 14, 1943. Until November 25, there was no particular dynamics in the actions of the troops. But success in these battles was ensured by the strong 2nd Ukrainian Front! The chronicle of hostilities is as follows:
From December 3 to 5, there were battles for the liberation of the city of Alexandria. For the Nazis, this was a rather important point, because even now large deposits of brown coal remain in this area, which was used as fuel.
On December 6, fighting began for the liberation of a major railway junction - the city of Znamenka. The city was liberated in a few days.
Then the troops headed towards Kirovograd. The distance from Znamenka to the regional center is only 50 kilometers, but the army was able to liberate Kirovograd only on January 8, 1944. The enemy built a strong line of defense, which for a long time held back Soviet soldiers but could not withstand the pressure.
Where did the 2nd Ukrainian Front go next? The combat path of our troops continued to the west. It was necessary to liberate Right-Bank Ukraine and Moldova. The offensive towards Uman from the Kirovograd region began on March 5, 1944. The Germans were unable to create a strong line of defense in this sector of hostilities. In all elements, except for the Red Army, they were approximately 2 times superior to the capabilities of the enemy. The army broke through the defense line of the Wehrmacht troops, about 8 kilometers wide, in 2 days. After that, a successful breakthrough began.
The city of Uman was liberated in 1944. Further, the troops crossed the Southern Bug and continued on their way towards Dubno and Zhmerinka. On March 19, the city of Mogilev-Podolsky was liberated.
In fact, in 2 weeks, the Soviet troops succeeded in a small "blitzkrieg". For example, the distance from Kirovograd to Uman is 197 km. From Uman to Mogilev is also not very close. There is also the combat factor to consider.
In late March - early April, the troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front were supposed to help the formations of the 1st Ukrainian Front near Kamenetz-Podolsk. Task: the encirclement of the 1st enemy tank army. The armies were supposed to reach the Dniester and advance literally along the coast in order to encircle the enemy's army. The ring was almost closed. On April 3, the spacecraft took the city of Khotyn, famous for its fortress.
The troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front took an active part in the operations of the Red Army outside the borders of the USSR, aimed at the complete destruction of enemy troops. It is worth noting in this respect the events of August 1944. At this time, the Soviet troops carried out the Iasi-Chisinau offensive, which later developed into a joint Bucharest-Arad one with the Romanian troops. The strategic goal of these operations was the change of power in Romania and the withdrawal of this state from the war against the USSR. Of course, the Red Army, which was already impossible to stop at that time, completed the task.
Further, the 2nd Ukrainian Front (the combat path of 922 units of the regiment and other formations is briefly described in the material) moved to Hungary. In October, our army carried out a successful offensive against enemy troops in the Debrecen area. Army Group South, which operated in Hungary, was defeated as a result of the well-planned actions of our troops. After that, the Soviet troops headed towards Budapest, surrounded the enemy and entered the city.
The last combat operations of the troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front took place in Austria and the Czech Republic. Prague offensive operation against individual units German troops ended May 12, 1945.
In the history of the Great Patriotic War 2, the Ukrainian Front (combat route - 1943-1945) left a noticeable mark. The troops of this particular front liberated strategically important areas and also participated in battles in many European countries.
Europe, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus will not forget the exploits of Soviet soldiers!
It was formed in the southwestern direction of the Soviet-German front on October 20, 1943 on the basis of the order of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command No. 30227 of 10/16/1943 by renaming the Steppe Front. It included the 4th, 5th and 7th guards, 37th, 52nd, 53rd, 57th armies, 5th guards. tank and 5th air armies. Subsequently, it included the 9th Guards, 27th, 40th, 46th Armies, 6th (since September 1944 - 6th Guards) and 2nd Tank Armies, cavalry mechanized group, Romanian 1st and 4th armies. The Danube military flotilla was under operational control of the front.
In October - December 1943, the troops of the front carried out an operation to expand the bridgehead captured on the right bank of the Dnieper River in the sector from Kremenchug to Dnepropetrovsk; by December 20, they reached the approaches to Kirovograd and Krivoy Rog.
During the strategic offensive of the Red Army on the Right-Bank Ukraine in the winter of 1944, the troops of the front carried out the Kirovograd operation (January 5 - 16), and then, in cooperation with the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front, the Korsun-Shevchenko operation (January 24 - February 17), in as a result of which 10 enemy divisions were surrounded and destroyed.
In the spring of 1944, the front carried out the Uman-Botoshansk operation (March 5 - April 17), they defeated the German 8th Army and part of the forces of the 1st Tank Army. In cooperation with the 1st Ukrainian Front, the troops of the front cut through the defense zone of the German Army Group South, liberated a significant part of the Right-Bank Ukraine and the Moldavian SSR, and entered Romania.
In August 1944, the front participated in the Iasi-Kishinev strategic operation (August 20-29), during which 22 German divisions were destroyed and almost all Romanian divisions were defeated, and Romania was withdrawn from the war on the side of Germany.
On October 6 - 28, 1944, the troops of the front carried out the Debrecen operation, defeated the German Army Group South, and took an advantageous position to defeat the enemy in the Budapest area. Then, in cooperation with part of the forces of the 3rd Ukrainian Front and the Danube military flotilla they carried out the Budapest strategic operation (October 29, 1944 - February 13, 1945), surrounded and liquidated the 188,000 enemy grouping, liberated Budapest on February 13 and created the conditions for an offensive in the Vienna direction.
In March - April 1945, the troops of the left flank of the front, participating in the strategic Vienna operation (March 16 - April 15), in cooperation with the 3rd Ukrainian Front, completed the liberation of Hungary, liberated a significant part of Czechoslovakia, the eastern regions of Austria, its capital Vienna ( 13 April).
On May 6-11, the troops of the front took part in the Prague strategic operation, during which the defeat of the German armed forces was completed, Czechoslovakia was completely liberated. On May 10, formations of the left wing of the front, developing the offensive, met with American troops in the areas of the cities of Pisek and Cesko Budejovice.
The front was disbanded on June 10, 1945 on the basis of the directive of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command of May 29, 1945; The field command of the front was transferred to the reserve of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command for the formation of the headquarters of the Odessa Military District on its basis.
2nd Ukrainian Front formed in the southwestern direction of the Soviet-German front on October 20, 1943 on the basis of the order of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command of October 16, 1943 by renaming. It included the 4th, 5th and 7th guards, 37th, 52nd, 53rd, 57th armies, the 5th guards tank and 5th air armies. Subsequently, it included the 9th Guards, 27th, 40th, 46th Armies, 6th (from September 1944 - 6th Guards) and 2nd Tank Armies, a cavalry-mechanized group, the Romanian 1st and 4th Army. The Danube military flotilla was under operational control of the front.
In October-December 1943, the troops of the front carried out an operation to expand the bridgehead captured on the right bank of the Dnieper River in the sector from Kremenchug to Dnepropetrovsk; by December 20, they reached the approaches to Kirovograd and Krivoy Rog.
During the strategic offensive of the Red Army on the Right-Bank Ukraine in the winter of 1944, the troops of the front carried out the Kirovograd operation (January 5-16), and then, in cooperation with the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front, the Korsun-Shevchenko operation (January 24-February 17), in as a result of which 10 enemy divisions were surrounded and destroyed.
In the spring of 1944, the front carried out the Uman-Botoshansk operation (March 5-April 17), they defeated the German 8th Army and part of the forces of the 1st Tank Army. In cooperation with the 1st Ukrainian Front, the troops of the front cut through the defense zone of the German Army Group South, liberated a significant part of the Right-Bank Ukraine and the Moldavian SSR, and entered Romania.
In August 1944, the front participated in the Iasi-Kishinev strategic operation (August 20-29), during which 22 German divisions were destroyed and almost all Romanian divisions were defeated, and Romania was withdrawn from the war on the side of Germany.
On October 6-28, 1944, the troops of the front carried out the Debrecen operation, defeated the German Army Group South, and took an advantageous position to defeat the enemy in the Budapest area. Then, in cooperation with part of the forces of the 3rd Ukrainian Front and the Danube military flotilla, they carried out the Budapest strategic operation (October 29, 1944 - February 13, 1945), surrounded and liquidated the 188,000 enemy grouping, liberated Budapest on February 13 and created conditions for an offensive in the direction of Vienna.
In March-April 1945, the troops of the left flank of the front, participating in the strategic Vienna operation (March 16-April 15), in cooperation with the 3rd Ukrainian Front, completed the liberation of Hungary, liberated a significant part of Czechoslovakia, the eastern regions of Austria, its capital Vienna ( 13 April).
On May 6-11, the troops of the front took part in the Prague strategic operation, during which the defeat of the German armed forces was completed, Czechoslovakia was completely liberated. On May 10, formations of the left wing of the front, developing the offensive, met with American troops in the areas of the cities of Pisek and Cesko Budejovice.
The front was disbanded on June 10, 1945 on the basis of the directive of the Supreme Command Headquarters of May 29, 1945; The field command of the front was transferred to the reserve of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command for the formation of the headquarters of the Odessa Military District on its basis.
Front commanders: General of the Army, from February 1944 - Marshal of the Soviet Union I. S. Konev (October 1943 - May 1944); army general, from September 1944 - Marshal Soviet Union Malinovsky R. Ya. (May 1944 - until the end of the war).
Members of the Military Council of the Front: Lieutenant General of the Tank Forces Susaykov I. 3. (October 1943 - March 1945); Lieutenant General Tevchenkov A. N. (March 1945 - until the end of the war).
Chief of Staff of the Front - Colonel General, from May 1945 - General of the Army Zakharov M.V. (October 1943 - until the end of the war).
Second Ukrainian Front - operational-strategic association Soviet troops during the Great Patriotic War, acted in 1943-1945 on the southern sector of the Soviet-German front; created on October 20, 1943 as a result of the renaming of the Steppe Front. Initially, the front included the 4th Guards Army, 5th Guards Army, 7th Guards Army, 37th Army, 52nd Army, 53rd Army, 57th Army, 5th Guards Tank Army, 5th Air Army, and later -27th, 40th, 46th Army, 9th Guards Army, 6th Guards Tank Army, 2nd Tank Army, 1st Romanian, 4th Romanian army. The Danube Flotilla was under operational control of the Second Ukrainian Front. The command of the front was taken by General of the Army I.S. Konev (from February 1944 - Marshal), Lieutenant General I.Z. became a member of the military council. Susaykov, chief of staff - Colonel General M.V. Zakharov.
In October-December 1943, the troops of the Second Ukrainian Front carried out the Pyatikhat and Znamenskaya operations to expand the bridgehead captured on the right bank of the Dnieper in the area from Kremenchug to Dnepropetrovsk, and by December 20 reached the approaches to Kirovograd and Krivoy Rog. During the strategic offensive of the Red Army in the Right-Bank Ukraine in the winter of 1944, the troops of the front carried out the Kirovograd operation, and then, in cooperation with the troops of the First Ukrainian Front, the Korsun-Shevchenko operation, as a result of which 10 enemy divisions were surrounded and destroyed. In the spring of 1944, the Second Ukrainian Front carried out the Uman-Botosha operation, defeating the German 8th Army and part of the forces of the 1st Tank Army. In cooperation with the First Ukrainian Front, the defense line of the German Army Group "South" was cut, a significant part of the Right-Bank Ukraine and Moldova was liberated, its troops entered Romania.
In May 1944, Army General R.Ya. took command of the Second Ukrainian Front. Malinovsky (from September 1944 - Marshal). In August 1944, the Second Ukrainian Front participated in the Iasi-Kishinev operation, during which 22 German divisions were destroyed, and Romania was withdrawn from the war on the side of Germany. Without stopping the offensive, in September 1944, the troops of the front, during the Bucharest-Arad operation, together with the Romanian troops, established control over the entire territory of Romania.
In October 1944, the troops of the Second Ukrainian Front carried out the Debrecen operation, and then, in cooperation with part of the forces of the Third Ukrainian Front and the Danube military flotilla, carried out the Budapest operation, surrounded and liquidated the 188,000 enemy grouping, occupied Budapest and created the conditions for an offensive in the direction of Vienna. In March 1945, Lieutenant General A.N. became a new member of the military council of the front. Tevchenkov. In March-April 1945, the troops of the left wing of the Second Ukrainian Front, participating in the Vienna operation, in cooperation with the Third Ukrainian Front, completed the liberation of Hungary, liberated a significant part of Czechoslovakia, the eastern regions of Austria and its capital Vienna. On May 6-11, 1945, the Second Ukrainian Front took part in the Prague operation, during which they completed the defeat of the German armed forces and completely liberated Czechoslovakia. On May 10, 1945, formations of the left wing of the front, developing the offensive, met with American troops in the areas of Pisek and Ceske Budejovice.
On June 10, 1945, the Second Ukrainian Front was disbanded, and the Odessa Military District was later created on the basis of the front administration.
2nd Ukrainian Front
It was formed in the southwestern direction on October 20, 1943 on the basis of the order of the Supreme Command Headquarters of October 16, 1943 by renaming the Steppe Front. It included the 4th, 5th and 7th guards, 37th, 52nd, 53rd, 57th armies, 5th guards tank and 5th air armies. Subsequently, it included the 9th Guards, 27th, 40th, 46th Armies, the 6th (since September 1944 the 6th Guards) and 2nd Tank Armies, a horse-mechanized group, the Romanian 1st and 4th -I army. The operational subordination of the 2nd Ukrainian Front was the Danube military flotilla.
In October-December 1943, the troops of the front carried out an operation to expand the bridgehead captured on the right bank of the Dnieper in the area from Kremenchug to Dnepropetrovsk, and by December 20 they reached the approaches to Kirovograd and Krivoy Rog.
During the strategic offensive of the Red Army on the Right-Bank Ukraine in the winter of 1944, they carried out the Kirovograd operation, and then, in cooperation with the troops of the 1st Ukrainian Front, the Korsun-Shevchenko operation, as a result of which 10 enemy divisions were surrounded and destroyed.
In the spring of 1944, the front carried out the Uman-Botosha operation, defeating the German 8th Army and part of the forces of the 1st Tank Army. In cooperation with the 1st Ukrainian Front, the defense line of the German Army Group "South" was cut, a significant part of the Right-Bank Ukraine and the Moldavian SSR was liberated, its troops entered Romania.
In August 1944, the 2nd Ukrainian Front participated in the Iasi-Kishinev strategic operation, during which 22 German divisions were destroyed and almost all Romanian divisions were defeated, and Romania was withdrawn from the war on the side of Germany.
In October 1944, the troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front carried out the Debrecen operation, defeated the German Army Group South, and took an advantageous position to defeat the enemy in the Budapest area. Then the troops of the front, in cooperation with part of the forces of the 3rd Ukrainian Front and the Danube military flotilla, carried out the Budapest strategic operation of 1944-1945, surrounded and liquidated the 188,000 enemy grouping, liberated Budapest and created conditions for an offensive in the direction of Vienna.
In March-April 1945, the troops of the left wing of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, participating in the strategic Vienna operation, in cooperation with the 3rd Ukrainian Front completed the liberation of Hungary, liberated a significant part of Czechoslovakia, the eastern regions of Austria, its capital Vienna.
On May 6-11, 1945, the 2nd Ukrainian Front took part in the Prague strategic operation, during which the defeat of the German armed forces was completed, Czechoslovakia was completely liberated. On May 10, formations of the left wing of the front, developing the offensive, met with American troops in the areas of Pisek and Ceske Budejovice.
On June 10, 1945, on the basis of the directive of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command of May 29, 1945, the 2nd Ukrainian Front was disbanded, the field command of the front was transferred to the reserve of the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command to form the headquarters of the Odessa Military District on its basis.
Commanders:
General of the Army, from February 1944 Marshal of the Soviet Union I.S. Konev (October 1943 - May 1944);
General of the Army, from September 1944 Marshal of the Soviet Union R.Ya. Malinovsky (May 1944 - until the end of the war).
Members of the Military Council:
Lieutenant General of Tank Troops I.Z. Susaykov (October 1943 - March 1945);
Lieutenant General A.N. Tevchenkov (March 1945 - until the end of the war).
Chief of staff:
Colonel General, since May 1945 Army General M.V. Zakharov (October 1943 - until the end of the war).
