23rd Army (Soviet Union)
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23rd Army (Soviet Union) was a field army of the Red Army during World War II, formed in 1941 under the command of Lieutenant General Pavel Grigorenko and General of the Army Kirill Meretskov. The army played a significant role in the Continuation War against Finland, particularly in the Karelian Isthmus and Lake Ladoga regions, in coordination with the 7th Army (Soviet Union) and 32nd Army (Soviet Union). The 23rd Army was also involved in battles against the German Army and Finnish Army during the Leningrad-Novgorod Offensive and the Vyborg-Petrozavodsk Offensive, alongside the 21st Army (Soviet Union) and 59th Army (Soviet Union).
● History
The 23rd Army was formed on May 25, 1941, in the Leningrad Military District under the command of Lieutenant General Pavel Grigorenko, with its headquarters in the city of Petrozavodsk. Initially, the army consisted of the 43rd Rifle Corps, 50th Rifle Corps, and the 65th Rifle Corps, with support from the 7th Air Army and 13th Air Army. During the Winter War, the 23rd Army was involved in battles against the Finnish Army in the Karelian Isthmus and Lake Ladoga regions, in coordination with the 7th Army (Soviet Union) and 8th Army (Soviet Union). The army also participated in the Leningrad-Novgorod Offensive and the Vyborg-Petrozavodsk Offensive, alongside the 21st Army (Soviet Union) and 59th Army (Soviet Union).
● Organization
The 23rd Army was organized into several corps, including the 43rd Rifle Corps, 50th Rifle Corps, and the 65th Rifle Corps, with support from the 7th Air Army and 13th Air Army. The army also included several divisions, such as the 43rd Rifle Division, 115th Rifle Division, and the 198th Rifle Division, as well as artillery and tank units, including the 23rd Tank Corps and the 30th Tank Corps. The 23rd Army was also supported by the Baltic Fleet and the Lake Ladoga Flotilla, which provided naval gunfire support and transportation. The army's organization was influenced by the Stavka and the General Staff of the Soviet Armed Forces, with input from notable military leaders such as Georgy Zhukov, Konstantin Rokossovsky, and Ivan Konev.
● Commanders
The 23rd Army was commanded by several notable officers, including Lieutenant General Pavel Grigorenko, General of the Army Kirill Meretskov, and Colonel General Aleksandr Cherepanov. Other notable commanders included Lieutenant General Filipp Starikov, Major General Nikolai Gusev, and Major General Mikhail Panov, who played important roles in the army's operations during World War II. The commanders of the 23rd Army worked closely with other notable military leaders, such as Joseph Stalin, Georgy Zhukov, and Konstantin Rokossovsky, to coordinate the army's efforts with the overall Soviet war effort.
● Operations
The 23rd Army was involved in several key operations during World War II, including the Continuation War against Finland, the Leningrad-Novgorod Offensive, and the Vyborg-Petrozavodsk Offensive. The army also participated in the Battle of Tali-Ihantala, the Battle of Vuosalmi, and the Battle of Kiestinki, alongside the 7th Army (Soviet Union) and 32nd Army (Soviet Union). The 23rd Army worked closely with other Soviet armies, such as the 21st Army (Soviet Union) and 59th Army (Soviet Union), to achieve strategic objectives, including the capture of key cities such as Vyborg and Petrozavodsk. The army's operations were supported by the Soviet Air Forces and the Baltic Fleet, which provided air and naval support.
● Equipment
The 23rd Army was equipped with a range of military equipment, including T-34 tanks, KV-1 tanks, and IS-2 tanks, as well as BM-13 Katyusha rocket launchers and DShK machine guns. The army also used Il-2 aircraft and Yak-1 aircraft for air support, and G-5 torpedo boats and MO-4 patrol boats for naval operations. The 23rd Army's equipment was supplied by the Soviet defense industry, which included notable manufacturers such as the Kirov Plant and the Uralmash factory, with input from notable engineers and designers such as Joseph Kotin and Alexander Morozov. The army's equipment was also influenced by the Lend-Lease Act, which provided significant quantities of military equipment from the United States and other Allies of World War II.