1st Guards Tank Army (Soviet Union)
| 1st Tank Army (1942 - April 1944) 1st Guards Tank Army (1944 - 1998, 2014-) – XXXX – |
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Unit patch to «Veterans of the 1st Guards Tank Army».
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| Active | 1942 - 1998, reinstated 2014 |
| Country |
 Soviet Union (1942 - 1991) Russia (1991 - 1998, 2014-) |
| Type | Armoured |
| Role | Breakthrough and Exploitation in Deep Operations |
| Size | 500 - 800 tanks |
| Engagements | |
| Decorations | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Kirill Moskalenko Mikhail Katukov |
The 1st Tank Army was a Soviet armoured formation that fought as part of the Red Army on the Eastern Front during World War II. The army was commanded throughout most of the war by Mikhail Katukov. It fought in the early defense during the Battle of Stalingrad, and Operation Uranus, also participating at the Battle of Kursk.
The 1st Tank Army (Ist formation) was raised within the Stalingrad Front from 38th Army in July 1942, but was encircled and partially destroyed. It was disbanded in August 1942, its headquarters forming the Southeastern Front. It was commanded by Major General K.S. Moskalenko.
The 1st Tank Army (IInd formation) was formed on 30 January 1943 (order No.46021) on the basis of HQ 29th Army, under the command of famous armoured troops commander Lt. Gen. Tank Tr. Mikhail Katukov personally appointed by Stalin, and transferred to the North-Western Front. 3rd Mechanised Corps (later to become 8th Guards Mechanised Corps) and 6th Tank Corps (later to become 11th Guards Tank Corps) joined it on formation, and served with the army throughout the war. It was quickly transferred to Voronezh Front for the defense of the Kursk salient's southern shoulder. It was awarded a Guards title and became the 1st Guards Tank Army in April 1944 and Katukov was promoted Col. Gen. Tank Tr.
On 1 January 1945, the Army's principal combat formations were:
It participated in the Battle of Kursk, the Lvov-Sandomierz Operation, the Vistula-Oder Offensive, and the Battle of Berlin.
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