Researching Red Army/Navy Units

[Norm Braddock]

Gratsey paisan!:thumbsup

[Alfred]

Dear members,

has somebody information were the 4th Shock Army, 334 Rifle Division was in July 1942.
The 4th Shock Army belonged to the Kalinin Front. In "The Red Army Order of Battle" from Robert Poirier and Albert Conner I found that,
the 334 Rifle Division was in
Januar 1942: Orel, Kursk Region mit 4th Shock Army

but that is to south for the Kalinin Front. Was the 4th Shock Army rapid displaced for a short time to another Front? I am looking to find the town "Gushchino" were the 334 Rifle Division was in July 1942. There is one town "гущино" 50 km south/east of Kursk.

best regards and thanks
Andreas

[Eryk]

I think it's simply an error in Poirier and Conner. Glantz (in "Slaughterhouse" and Colossus), and Sharp in his OBs place the 334th in the north pretty much the entire war. Never near Orel/Kursk.

*Edit* Wrong book referenced there...

[Alfred]

Thanks Eryk,

yes that sounds plausible.

So, I have to find another town "гущино"/Gushchino more north.
Has somebody a map with the position of the 4th Shock Army in July 1942?

best regrads
Andreas

[Eryk]

There was a town by that name about 15 km west of Velikiye Luki. (It’s not shown on this map, but is on war time military maps) That’s where 4th Shock Army fought as part of the Kalinin front. The town was right on the front lines, so it makes sense that it would be referenced in a cite. It also makes sense that it may no longer exist – the area was the front line for upwards of a year, and many places were leveled.

[Alfred]

Many thanks Eryk,

I think I found the little village "гущино" on a map near Velikiye Luki. Looks like a railway station?

It´s on the left rand of the map.

best regards
Andreas

[Norm Braddock]

Would the above fella be a tank commander in 45 pls?

Thanks,

N

[Eryk]

Nope. Horses through the entire war. A separate tank regiment was added to the cavalry divisions in 1943, but in that case he would have been in the 104th Tank Regiment, which was the regiment in 6th Guards Cavalry Division that the 25th belonged to.

[Norm Braddock]

Thanks Eryk! When I researched this fella, only the award card was available. However, Marco was good enough to find out that it was awarded in 51 for wounds received. Are these type of awards rare,ie., cavalry?

[Eryk]

Don't know. I know I don't have any in my smallish collection. The RKKA had a huge cavalry arm, especially early war; by the winter of 41/42 is was pretty much the only mobile force remaining. It was never disbanded, and used up until the end of the war, often in "Cavalry-Mechanized Groups." A cavalry corps was combined with a tank or mechanized corps under one commander for a specific mission of deep exploitation. (There were at least two used in operation Bagration.) Given their missions I'd be surprised if there weren't a whole lot of medal winners in them.