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Odessa Military District

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Odessa Military District
Boundaries of the Odessa Military District (in red) on 1 January 1989
Active1862 - 1998
CountryRussian Empire(1862 - 1918)
Soviet Union(1939 - 1941), (1944 - 1991)
UkraineUkraine(1991 - 1998)
Moldova(1991 - 1992)
TypeMilitary district
HeadquartersOdessa (nowOdesa)
EngagementsInvasion of Poland(selected units),Invasion of Romania,World War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Georgy Zhukov(06/1946 - 02/1948)

TheOdessa Military District(‹See Tfd›Russian:Одесский военный округ, ОВО;Ukrainian:Червонопрапорний Одеський військовий округ,romanized:Chervonoprapornyi Odeskyi viiskovyi okruh,lit. 'Red Banner Odesa Military District', abbreviatedОдВО,OdVO) was a military administrative division of theArmed Forces of Ukraine.This district consisted ofMoldaviaand fiveUkrainian oblastsofOdesa(then spelledOdessa),Mykolaiv,Kherson,CrimeaandZaporizhzhia.In 1998 most of its territory was transformed into theSouthern Operational Command.

The district was originally established by theSoviet Armed Forces,and then was inherited by Ukraine. As the Soviet Union dissolved, the district's14th Guards Armywas split three ways. The army headquarters and some of its forces, stationed in Transnistria, as well as the 59th Guards Motor Rifle Division, came under the jurisdiction of Russia - the rest were divided between Ukraine and theArmed Forces of Moldova.[1]

An earlier district of the same name was established in 1864 by theImperial Russian Army.

History

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Map of military districts in 1913. OVO is in light green color on the far-left

Years of existence

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Russian Empire

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Odessa Military District

The Odessa Military District was established during the reforms of the Russian military ministerDmitry Milyutin.It was the second of two districts on the territory of the future Ukraine, the other beingKiev Military District.OVO existed from 1862–1918 as part of the Imperial Russian Armed Forces. It encompassed the territories ofKherson,Yekaterinoslav,Tauride,andBessarabiaguberniyas.The district borderedKingdom of Romania,Kiev Military District,Don Voisko Oblast,andBlack Sea.In the 1870s and 1880s (until August 12, 1889) the Commander of the district served as the interimGovernor GeneralofOdesa city(then spelledOdessa) concurrently. In January 1918 the Odessa Military District headquarters was transformed into the headquarters of the SovietRomanian Frontunder the jurisdiction ofRumcherod.With the establishment of the Ukrainian government on its territory, it was terminated. OVO was reinstated as the Ukrainian forces were pushed out the area in April to August 1919.

Soviet Union

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The district was reformed by the decision of October 11, 1939 specifically for the occupation of Bessarabia after the Soviet Union signedMolotov–Ribbentrop Pact.At that time its territory included the newly createdMoldovian SSR,six oblasts of theUkrainian SSR(Izmail,Odesa(then Odessa),Dnipropetrovsk,Zaporizhzhia,Mykolaiv,Kirovohrad) and also theCrimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republicas part of theRussian SFSR.TheOdessa MDwas reinforced by several units from theUkrainian Frontthat took part in theSoviet invasion of PolandandRomania,previously formed on base of the Odessa Army Group of theKiev Special Military District(reformed Kiev Military District).

By directivesOV/583andOV/584of the SovietPeople's Commissariat of Defense,units of the Odessa Military District, currently commanded by Mjr. Gen.I.V. Boldin,were ordered intobattle readystate in the spring of 1940. Soviet troop concentrations along the Romanian border took place between April 15 and June 10, 1940. In order to coordinate the efforts of the Kiev and Odessa Military districts in the preparation of action against Romania, the Soviet Army created theSouthern Frontunder GeneralGeorgy Zhukov,composed of the5th,9th and12th Armies.TheSouthern Fronthad 32 infantry divisions, 2 motorized infantry divisions, 6 cavalry divisions, 11 tank brigades, 3 paratrooper brigades, 30 artillery regiments, and smaller auxiliary units.

Two action plans were devised. The first plan was prepared for the case that Romania would not accept to evacuateBessarabiaandBukovina.The Soviet 12th Army was supposed in such a situation to strike Southward along thePrut rivertowardsIaşi,while Soviet 9th Army was supposed to strike East-to-West south ofChişinăutowardsHuşi.The target of this plan was to surround the Romanian troops in theBălţi-Iaşi area. The second plan took into consideration the case that Romania would succumb to Soviet demands and would evacuate its military. In such a situation, Soviet troops were given the mission to reach quickly the Prut river, and take charge of the evacuation process of the Romanian troops. The first plan was taken as the basis of action. Along the portions where the offensive was supposed to take place, Soviets prepared to have at least a triple superiority of men and means.

On June 22, 1941 primary combat formations included:[2]

In August 194151st Independent Armywas formed in theCrimea.

On September 10, 1941 the district was abolished as it was overran by the Armed Forces ofNazi Germanyand its allies.

Soviet Operations 19 August to 31 December 1944

Post World War II Development

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The District was reformed on April 23, 1944 with its headquarters atKirovohrad,which in October 1944 relocated to Odesa. In 1948,4th Guards Army,with10th Guards Budapest Rifle Corps(33rd Mech, 59, 86) and24th Guards Rifle Corps(35 Guards Mech,180th Rifle Division,51 Ind Rifle Brigade), plus82nd Rifle Corps(34th Guards Mech, 28th Guards Rifle, 52 Ind Rifle Brigade) were in the district.[3]

Marshal of the Soviet Union,Giorgi Zhukovwas assigned command of the Odessa Military District after the war, far from Moscow and lacking in strategic significance and troops. He arrived there on 13 June 1945. Zhukov suffered a heart attack in January 1948, spending a month in hospital. In February 1948, Zhukov was moved to another secondary posting, this time command of theUrals Military District.[4]General ColonelNikolay Pukhovtook command.

82nd Rifle Corpsexisted until 13 June 1955, when it was renamed25th Rifle Corps,and 25.6.57 it was renamed25th Army Corps.HQ in Nikolayev with the28th Guards Motor Rifle Division,34th Guards MRD and 95th MRD in the late 1950s. Disbanded in June 1960.[5]

In May 1955 the district's forces included the10th Guards Budapest Rifle Corps(35th,59th Guards,86th Guards Rifle Division),25th Rifle Corps(including the20th Rifle Division(Zaporozhia), and 28th Guards RDs) and32nd Rifle Corps,and the48th,and66th Guards Rifle Divisions.[6]In May 1957 the 20th Rifle Division became the 93rd Motor Rifle Division, but the division was disbanded in March 1959.[7]

In 1960 the 113th Guards Motor Rifle Division and 95th Motor Rifle Division were disbanded.

In April 1960 the Odessa Military District consisted of three oblasts (Mykolaiv Oblast,Izmail OblastandOdesa Oblast) as well as theMoldavian SSRand the three new oblasts from the disbandedTavria Military District:Zaporizhzhia Oblast,Crimean Oblast,andKherson Oblast.

From September 1984 the District came under command of the South-Western Strategic Direction, with its headquarters atKishinev.[8]

Later developments

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In the Odessa District's territory were additionally deployed the14th Guards Army(created on the basis of10th Guards Budapest Rifle Corps), the32nd Army Corps(possibly reformed on the basis of the headquarters units of the former Tauric Military District) in 1956,[9]complemented by the98th Guards Airborne Divisionas well as seven additional motor rifle divisions.

The5th Air Armyof theSoviet Air Forcesprovided tacticalair supportfor the District's units and the49th Air Defence Corps,8th Air Defence Armywas tasked with national air defence for the territory.

The Odessa Military District was transferred to the jurisdiction of Ukraine after thedissolution of the Soviet Unionon January 3, 1992 at 18:00.[citation needed]William E. Odomsays that 'in accordance with the Minsk agreements [from the CIS summit in Minsk of 30–31 December 1991],Shaposhnikovsent an order on 3 January 1992, formally transferring conventional forces to Ukraine. President Kravchuk then approved the firing of the three military district commanders (..). On 7–8 January each were removed, none resisting because within their headquarters Kravchuk's people had quietly created a network of officers loyal to his government.'[10]

Its units were split between theArmed Forces of Ukraineand some units, mostly from the14th Guards Army,in the formerMoldovian SSRthat became part of theArmed Forces of the Russian Federation.

The tombstone of General ColonelIvan Zakharkin(on the left) on the Second Christian Cemetery inOdesa

Commanders

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Commanders 1862-1914

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  • Paul Demetrius von KotzebueCount, General of Infantry (12.12.1862 — 11.01.1874)
  • Vladimir Savvich Semeka, Adjutant General, Lieutenant General (11.01.1874 — 01.04.1879)
  • Eduard Totleben,Count, Adjutant General, Engineer General, Interim Governor General (01.04.1879 — 18.05.1880)
  • Alexander DrentelnAdjutant General, General of Infantry, Interim Governor General (18.05.1880 — 14.01.1881)
  • Alexander Mikhailovich Dondukov-KorsakovPrince, General of the Cavalry, Adjutant General, Interim Governor General (14.01.1881 — 01.01.1882)
  • Iosif GurkoAdjutant-General, General of the Cavalry, Interim Governor-General (09.01.1882 — 07.07.1883)
  • Christopher RoopGeneral of Infantry, Provisional Governor General (21.10.1883 — 12.10.1890)
  • Alexander Ivanovich Musin-Pushkin, Count, General of the Cavalry (23.10.1890 — 19.12.1903)
  • Alexander von KaulbarsBaron, Lieutenant General (01.01.1904 — 22.10.1904)
  • Semyon Vasilievich Kakhanov, General of the cavalry (10.1904 - 27.08.1905)
  • Alexander von Kaulbars, Baron, General of the Cavalry (27.08.1905 — 23.12.1909)
  • Nikolai Zarubaev,General of Infantry (24.12.1909 — 10.06.1912)
  • Vladimir Nikolaevich Nikitin, General of artillery (13.06.1912 — 19.07.1914)

Commanders, 1939–1991

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Forces in the 1980s

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Around 1988, the District contained the following forces:[12]

Ukraine/Moldova

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Following thedissolution of the Soviet Unionthe 14th Guards Army became entangled in the laterWar of Transnistria.The98th Guards Airborne Divisionwas split between Russia and Ukraine; the Ukrainian half became the1st Airmobile Divisionand the Russian part was withdrawn toIvanovoin theMoscow Military Districtand became part of theRussian Airborne Troops.

The 5381st Equipment Storage Base with its headquarters atFlorești,the former 86th Guards Motor Rifle Division, was taken over by Moldova.[18]

The 5th Air Army was later redesignated the 5th Aviation Corps of theUkrainian Air Forcein 1994.[19]

Colonel GeneralVolodymyr Shkidchenkocommanded the Odessa Military District from December 1993 until it became theOperational Command Southin February 1998. Since January 3, 1998 the Odessa Military District was transformed into theSouthern Operational Commandof theUkrainian Ground Forcesaccording to the Decree ofMinistry of Defense of Ukrainefrom July 1, 1997.[citation needed]The command encompasses nineoblasts:Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kirovohrad, Kharkiv, and the autonomous republic of Crimea.

Commanders (Ukraine)

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Notes

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  1. ^abFeskov et al. 2013,p. 495.
  2. ^Orbat /Niehorster,Administrative Order of Battle 22 June 1941,accessed August 2009
  3. ^Feskov et al. 2013,p. 49.
  4. ^Tsouras 1994,pp. 43–44.
  5. ^Feskov et al. 2013,p. 491.
  6. ^Feskov et al 2004, 49.
  7. ^"93rd Motorised Rifle Division".
  8. ^Holm,High Command of the South-Western Direction,2015
  9. ^Feskov et al 2004, p.47
  10. ^William E. Odom,The Collapse of the Soviet Military,Yale University Press, 1998, p.383 citing 'Colonel General Ivan Bizhan, Deputy Minister of Defence in Ukraine, related this episode to me and others on 12 October 1996.'
  11. ^Курская Битва
  12. ^Feskov et al 2004., for most formations.
  13. ^Feskov et al 2004, 57.
  14. ^"126th Motorised Rifle Division".
  15. ^Feskov et al.
  16. ^Michael Holm,40th independent Landing-Assault Brigade
  17. ^Jane's Intelligence Review March 1992 for HQ location.
  18. ^"86th Guards Motorised Rifle Division".
  19. ^Lisitsa, Nikifor (2002).Шестидесятилетний юбилей отметил 5-й авиационный корпус[Diamond Jubilee of the 5th Aviation Corps].Narodnaya Armiya(in Russian). Archived fromthe originalon 10 May 2015.Retrieved29 May2017.

Further reading

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  • Lenskii, A. G. (2000).Sukhoputnye sily RKKA v predvoennye godyСухопутные силы РККА в предвоенные годы[Land forces of the Red Army in the pre-war years]. St. Petersburg: B&K.
  • Military Encyclopedic Dictionary.Moscow. 2002.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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