50th Army | |
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Active | August 1941 – October 1945 |
Country | Soviet Union |
Branch | Red Army |
Type | Infantry |
Part of | Bryansk Front Western Front Belorussian Front 1st Belorussian Front 2nd Belorussian Front 3rd Belorussian Front |
Engagements | Battle of Smolensk (1941) Operation Typhoon Battle of Moscow Operation Kutuzov Battle of Smolensk (1943) Operation Bagration East Prussian Offensive Battle of Königsberg |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Ivan Boldin |
The 50th Army was a Soviet field army during World War II. It was formed in mid-August, 1941 and deployed on the southwest approaches to Moscow. Partly encircled and destroyed by German Second Panzer Army in the opening stages of Operation Typhoon, enough of the army escaped that it could be reinforced to successfully defend the city of Tula in November. It was at this time that the 50th came under the command of Lt. Gen. Ivan Boldin, who continued in command until February, 1945. During most of its career the army was relatively small and accordingly served in secondary roles. It finished the war in East Prussia, under the command of Lt. Gen. Fyodor Ozerov, as part of 3rd Belorussian Front.