30th Urals Volunteer Tank Corps (1943) 10th Guards Tank Corps (1943-1945) 10th Guards Tank Division (1945-2009) |
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Ural Volunteer Tank Division Memorial in Perm
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Active | 1943 - 2009 |
Country | Russia |
Branch | Regular Army |
Type | Tank |
Size | Around 3-4,000 personnel (1990s) |
Garrison/HQ | Boguchar, Voronezh Oblast |
Nickname(s) | Ural Volunteer, Lvov |
Engagements | World War II |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders |
The 10th Guards Uralsko-Lvovskaya Volunteer Tank Division, also known at the Ural-Lvov Tank Division, is a tank division of the Russian Ground Forces and part of the Moscow Military District's 20th Guards Army. The division traces its heritage back to 1943, during World War II. It is headquartered and based at Boguchar, 160 kilometres south of Voronezh, Voronezh Oblast.
Its complete formal designation is: "The 10th Guards Tank Ural-L'vov the Order of October Revolution Red Banner, the Order of Suvorov and the Order of Kutuzov Volunteer division in the name of Marshal of the Soviet Union R.A. Malinovsky" (Russian: 10 гвардейская танковая Уральско-Львовская ордена Октябрьской революции Краснознаменная орденов Суворова и Кутузова добровольческая дивизия имени Маршала Советского Союза Р. А. Малиновского).
Reports indicate that the Division has been reduced in status to a mobilisable base for the storage of weapons and equipment, (which in wartime would become a tank brigade), during the 2009 Russian Ground Forces reorganisation. In 2015, it was reformed as the 1st Separate Ural-Lvov Tank Brigade.
The people of the Ural districts took the initiative to create the Urals voluntary tank corps which became an elite formation. Three tank brigades (including one from Perm) and one motor-rifle brigade and other military units were included in its structure. Colonel Vadim Sokolov oversaw the formation of the unit. On 28 March 1943, Major General Georgy Rodin took command. The formation was initially known as the 30th Uralsky Voluntary Tank Corps and was formed in April 1943 in the Ural Military District. Workers from the Ural tank factories were among its initial recruits. The Corps has the distinction of being entirely paid-for by the donations of the population of the Urals. This included its entire complement of T-34 tanks built by the Urals factories. 23 March 1943 is considered the "birthday" of the 243rd Perm Tank Brigade. On 1 June 1943, units of the corps were despatched to the front line for the first time.