Volkhov Front
The Volkhov Front ( Russian Волховский фронт ) was a military formation of the Red Army during the Second World War . The main task of the front was the defense of the positions on the Volkhov east of Leningrad and the lifting of the Leningrad blockade .
history
The front existed from December 1941 to the end of February 1944 with a brief interruption between April and June 1942. At the beginning the 26th Army (later the 2nd Shock Army ) under General Sokolow and the 59th Army were subordinate to the front command. Later the 4th and 52nd Armies also belonged to the front. In February 1944, the front command was finally disbanded and incorporated into the Leningrad Front . In the battle for Leningrad the front faced the German Army Group North .
In March 1942, the 2nd shock army under Lieutenant General Andrei Andrejewitsch Vlasow managed to break through the German positions in the Battle of the Volkhov . However, the breakthrough was sealed off by German reserves and the 2nd shock army cut off. She was able to stay in the German hinterland for several weeks before she was worn out. Vlasov went into captivity, where he built the Russian Liberation Army , which fought on the German side against the Red Army.
Front command
1. Formation
The Volkhov Front was established on December 17, 1941, during the Battle of Tikhvin . On April 23, 1942, the front was disbanded and its units were incorporated into the Leningrad Front .
- Army General Kirill Afanassjewitsch Merezkow (December 1941 - April 1942)
- Army Commissar 1st rank AI Zaporozhez ( Member of the Military Council , December 1941 - April 1942)
- Brigade Commander GD Stelmach (Chief of Staff, December 1941 - April 1942) (since December 28, 1941 Major General)
2. Formation
On June 9, 1942, the front was re-established with its units assigned to the Leningrad Front until it was finally incorporated into the Leningrad Front on February 15, 1944.
- Army General Kirill Afanassjewitsch Merezkow (June 1942 - February 1944)
- Army Commissioner 1st rank AI Zaporozhez (Member of the Military Council, June - October 1942)
- Corps Commissioner Lev Sakharovich Mechlis (Member of the Military Council, October 1942 - March 1943)
- Major General TF Shtykow (member of the Military Council, April 1943 - February 1944) (since August 1943 Lieutenant General)
- Major General GD Stelmach (Chief of Staff, June - October 1942)
- Lieutenant General Mikhail Nikolajewitsch Sharochin (Chief of Staff, October 1942 - June 1943)
- Major General FP Oserow (Chief of Staff, June 1943 - February 1944) (since September 1943 Lieutenant General)
Operations
- Battle of Tikhvin (December 1941): The German advance is stopped.
- Battle of the Volkhov (January - April 1942): Unsuccessful attempt to blow up the Leningrad blockade.
- First Ladoga battle (August - October 1942): Another unsuccessful attempt to break the Leningrad blockade.
- Second Ladoga battle (January 1943): A narrow corridor to Leningrad could be opened.
- Third Battle of Ladoga (July - September 1943): Unsuccessful attempt to widen the corridor.
- Leningrad-Novgorod Operation (January-April 1944): Final lifting of the Leningrad blockade.
literature
- John Erickson : The Road to Stalingrad. 1975, pp. 278, 332.
- William Lubbeck, David B. Hurt: At Leningrad's Gates: The Story of a Soldier with Army Group North. PA: Casemate, Philadelphia 2006, ISBN 1-932033-55-6 .