Arkhangelsk Military District
Архангельский Военный Округ / Arkhangel'skiy Voyennyy Okrug
Active1940–1944
1946–1951
Country Soviet Union
Branch Red Army
TypeMilitary District
Size35,515 personnel on mobilisation
District HQArkhangelsk, Arkhangelsk Oblast
Engagements
Commanders
Notable
commanders

The Arkhangelsk Military District (Russian: Архангельский Военный Округ, romanized: Arkhangel'skiy Voyennyy Okrug) was a regional military district of the Red Army which oversaw the North-Western part of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. The district was formed in 1940 during a reorganisation of the Army, but disbanded in 1944, reformed two years later, and finally disbanded in 1951.[1]

First Formation

Area of oversight of the Arkhangelsk Military District after 1st Formation in 1940.

In accordance with a decree dated 26 March 1940 from the Council of People's Commissars of the Soviet Union, the Arkhangelsk Military District was formed to oversee the Arkhangelsk Oblast, Murmansk Oblast, Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Vologda Oblast, and Komi Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. The new district's headquarters were established in Arkhangelsk on the basis of the 15th Army.[1][2]

Second World War

In July 1940 in Vologda the 29th Reserve Brigade was expanded into the 111th Rifle Division.

Sometime before the beginning of War on the Eastern Front, the Murmansk Oblast was transferred to the control of the Leningrad Military District along with the local air defences, air forces, and coastal defences. Personnel reports for 1 June 1941 report the district overseeing around 35,515 personnel.[1][2][3]

On mobilisation the district formed the headquarters of the 28th Army. This army would go on to serve on the front but was completely destroyed trying to relieve the Smolensk Pocket.[23]

The district was also due to form a Front however this order was cancelled at an unknown date.[1][2][3]

In October 1941, in accordance with a directive issued by the STAVKA, a new Headquarters, 39th Army was setup in Arkhangelsk from personnel of the district. By February 1942 however this army was completely destroyed in the Kalinin Front.[24]

Disbandment

On 15 December1944 as part of a reorganisation of the military districts, the Arkhangelsk Military District was disbanded and subsequently reformed as the White Sea (Belomorsky) Military District. The district was reorganised following end of the "Arctic Front" or Second Soviet-Finnish War, and now included the Arkhangelsk Oblast, Komi Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, and Vologda Oblast. Throughout the war the district had been in charge with training reserves, guarding the White Sea coast, and ensuring the safety of the Arctic convoys travelling to Arkhangelsk, in addition to dispatching those supplies. However, following the end of the above-mentioned war, the need for two separate districts was removed. So, eventually, the White Sea District also absorbed the Murmansk Oblast and Karelo-Finnish Soviet Socialist Republic into its area of control.[1][25]

Second Formation

Area of oversight of the Arkhangelsk Military District after 2nd formation in 1946.

Following the end of the Second World War, the military districts were once again reorganised. On 29 January 1946 the first commander of the reformed Arkhangelsk Military District was appointed. The district was reformed by once again redesignating an army headquarters, this time from the 2nd Shock Army.[1][26]

The district now consisted of the 69th Rifle Division and 77th Guards Rifle Division, both of which arrived back from Poland and East Germany respectively.[1] The district was organized as follows:[1]

As part of a decree dated 20 June 1951, the Arkhangelsk was finally disbanded when it was redesignated as the White Sea Military District. However, as part of a reform in 1956, which aimed to optimise the military districts, the minor districts were disbanded and reduced to "regional corps" part of a "larger district". Under this reorganisation, HQ White Sea Military District was disbanded and subsequently reformed as HQ, 44th Special Rifle Corps under control of the now expanded Leningrad Military District.[1][27][29][30]

Commanders

Commanders of the district included the following:[2]

First Formation

Second Formation[1][26]

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Феськов, pp. 572–586
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Pettibone, pp. 89–90
  3. 1 2 3 "Arkhangelskii Military District, Red Army, 22.06.41". niehorster.org. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  4. ↑ Nafziger, George. "Soviet Army and Air Forces: 22 June 1941" (PDF). United States Army Combined Arms Center. Nafziger Orders of Battle. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 Niehorster, Dr Leo. "Corps Heavy Artillery Regiment, GHQ Artillery, Soviet Army, 22 June 1941". niehorster.org. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  6. ↑ Pettibone, p. 395
  7. 1 2 "Soviet Rifle Division, Nos. 50 - 99, 22 June 1941". niehorster.org. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  8. 1 2 "Rifle Division, Soviet Army, 22 June 1941". niehorster.org. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  9. 1 2 "Reconnaissance Battalion, Soviet Rifle Division, 22 June 1941". niehorster.org. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  10. 1 2 "Light Artillery Regiment, Soviet Rifle Division, 22 June 1941". niehorster.org. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  11. 1 2 "Light Artillery Battalion, Soviet Light Artillery Regiment, 22 June 1941". niehorster.org. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  12. 1 2 "Antitank Artillery Battalion, Soviet Rifle Division, 22 June 1941". niehorster.org. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 "Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion, Soviet Rifle Division, 22 June 1941". niehorster.org. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 "37mm Antiaircraft Battery, Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion, Soviet Rifle Division, 22 June 1941". niehorster.org. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 "76mm Antiaircraft Battery, Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion, Soviet Rifle Division, 22 June 1941". niehorster.org. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  16. ↑ Pettibone, p. 406
  17. ↑ "Motorized 122mm Howitzer Battalion, Soviet Light Artillery Regiment, 22 June 1941". niehorster.org. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  18. ↑ "Motorized 122mm Howitzer Battery, Soviet Light Artillery Regiment, 22 June 1941". niehorster.org. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  19. ↑ "Motorized 152mm Howitzer Battalion, Soviet Light Artillery Regiment, 22 June 1941". niehorster.org. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  20. ↑ "Motorized 152mm Howitzer Battery, Soviet Howitzer Regiment, 22 June 1941". niehorster.org. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  21. ↑ "Motorized Howitzer Regiment, Soviet Rifle Division, 22 June 1941". niehorster.org. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  22. ↑ "Biography of Major-General Boris Andreevich Pogrebov - (Борис Андреевич Погребов) (1898 – 1942), Soviet Union". www.generals.dk. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  23. ↑ Pettibone, p. 212
  24. ↑ Pettibone, p. 221
  25. ↑ "ОБ ОРГАНИЗАЦИИ НОВЫХ ВОЕННЫХ ОКРУГОВ И ОБ ИЗМЕНЕНИИ ГРАНИЦ СУЩЕСТВУЮЩИХ ВОЕННЫХ ОКРУГОВ - Боевые действия Красной Армии в ВОВ". 19 October 2010. Archived from the original on 19 October 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  26. 1 2 "Arkhangelsk Military District". www.ww2.dk. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  27. 1 2 Феськов, pp. 149, 151, 153
  28. ↑ "77th Guards Motorised Rifle Division". www.ww2.dk. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  29. ↑ "29th Combined Arms Army". www.ww2.dk. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  30. ↑ "Беломорский военный округ - страница клуба "Память" Воронежского госуниверситета". samsv.narod.ru. Retrieved 15 September 2021.

Bibliography

  • Феськов, Виталий Иванович (2013). Вооруженные Силы СССР после Второй мировой войны: от Красной Армии к Советской. Ч. 1. Tomsk, Russian Federation: Томский государственный университет.
  • Pettibone, Charles D. (2009). The Organization and Order of Battle of Militaries in World War II. Vol. V, Book A: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Victoria, British Columbia, Canada: Trafford Publishing. ISBN 978-1426902819.
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