30th Army (Soviet Union)
| 30th Army | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1941–1943 |
| Country | Soviet Union |
| Branch | Red Army |
| Type | Field army |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Vladimir Kolpakchi |
The 30th Army was a Soviet field army of the Red Army active from 1941. It became the 10th Guards Army on 16 April 1943.
It was formed on 13 July 1941 based on the 52nd Rifle Corps in the Reserve of the Supreme High Command (Stavka). The army initially included the 119th Rifle Division, the 242nd Rifle Division, the 243rd Rifle Division, the 251st Rifle Division (Soviet Union) (both drawn from NKVD personnel), the 51st Tank Division, artillery and other units. The army was built around a solid core of NKVD border guard servicemen. The army's first commander, Major General Vasily Khomenko, was the former commander of the Ukrainian District of NKVD Border Guards.
On 15 July 1941 the army was transferred to the Front of the Reserve Armies and constructed defensive works on the defensive line running through Selizharovo, Olenino, and Vasilievo.
The army fought in the Battle of Smolensk from the end of July to August. It was part of the Western Front from 21 July. During the battle, 30th Army troops attacked Dukhovshchina from the region south-west of Bely. The army's attacks on the flanks of the German Ninth Army stopped and sapped the strength of the German forces. Between September and October the army fought in defensive operations in the region southwest of Bely on the Rzhev axis.
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