2nd Shock Army
| 2nd Shock Army | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1941–46 |
| Country |
 Soviet Union
|
| Branch | Regular Army |
| Type | Shock Army |
| Size | Varied throughout the years |
| Part of | Military District |
| Engagements |
Siege of Leningrad Battle of Narva Vistula–Oder Offensive |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Ivan Fedyuninsky |
The 2nd Shock Army (Russian: 2-я Ударная армия) was a field army of the Soviet Union during the Second World War. This type of formation was created in accordance with prewar doctrine that called for Shock Armies to overcome difficult defensive dispositions in order to create a tactical penetration of sufficient breadth and depth to permit the commitment of mobile formations for deeper exploitation. However, as the war went on, Shock Armies lost this specific role and reverted, in general, to ordinary frontline formations.
The 2nd Shock Army was formed from the 26th Army within the Volkhov Front in December 1941 and initially consisted of the 327th Rifle Division and eight separate rifle brigades. During the Lyuban Offensive Operation, the 2nd Shock Army broke through German lines, was cut off from reinforcement along the Volkhov River by a German counter-attack, and was not permitted to retreat. When the order for retreat finally came in, the 2nd was destroyed trying to escape. This happened again, during the Siniavino operation in which the 2nd Shock Army had to return to the Front's HQ for resupply and manpower.
By 1944, the 2nd Shock Army consisted of five rifle divisions (11th, 43rd Rifle Division, 90th Rifle Division, 131st, and 196th) along with 600 artillery pieces, a tank brigade, another tank regiment, two SPG regiments, and masses of ammunition and supplies. which was used during the Battle of Narva.
After the end of the war, until January 1946 2nd Shock remained in the northeast of Germany (with HQ at Schwerin), after which in full strength it was returned to the USSR, where its HQ was reorganized as HQ Arkhangel'sk Military District. It comprised 3 rifle corps by this time (9 divisions). After 2nd Shock was re-designated HQ Arkhangelsk MD 116th Rifle Corps and its divisions, 109th Rifle Corps (101st Guards, 46th and 372nd Rifle Division) went to the North Caucasus Military District, and 134th Rifle Corps (102nd Guards, the 90th and 272nd Rifle Divisions) - in the Voronezh Region.
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