Front (military formation) explained

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a friendly front

a hostile front
A front (Russian: фронт|front) is a type of military formation that originated in the Russian Empire, and has been used by the Polish Army, the Red Army, the Soviet Army, and Turkey. It is roughly equivalent to an army group in the military of most other countries. It varies in size but in general contains three to five armies.[2] It should not be confused with the more general usage of military front, describing a geographic area in wartime.

Russian Empire

After the outbreak of the First World War, the Russian General Headquarters set up two Fronts: Northwestern Front, uniting forces deployed against German Empire, and Southwestern Front, uniting forces deployed against Austria-Hungary.

In August 1915, Northwestern Front was split into Northern Front and Western Front.

At the end of 1916 Romanian Front was established, which also included remnants of the Romanian army.

In April 1917, Caucasus Front was established by the reorganization of the Caucasus Army.

Soviet fronts in the Russian Civil War

The Soviet fronts were first raised during the Russian Civil War. They were wartime organizations only, in the peacetime the fronts were normally disbanded and their armies organized back into military districts. Usually a single district formed a single front at the start of the hostilities, or when hostilities were anticipated. Some military districts could not form a front. Fronts were also formed during the Polish-Soviet War of 1920.

The main fronts during the Russian Civil War and Polish-Soviet War were :

Soviet fronts in World War II

Army groups differ from fronts in that a Soviet front typically had its own army-sized tactical fixed-wing aviation organization.[3] According to Soviet military doctrine, the air army was directly subordinated to the front commander (typically a ground commander). The reform of 1935 established that in case of a war the peacetime military districts on the border would split upon mobilisation each into a Front Command (taking control of the district's peacetime military formations) and a Military District Command (which stayed behind with the mission of mobilising the reserve formations and putting them at the disposal of the Fronts as replacement troops). In that sense the Air Armies were under Air Force command in peacetime, but under the command of the Front HQs in wartime; and the Fronts were commanded by ground-forces generals. An entire Front might report either to the Stavka or to a theatre of military operations (TVD). A Front was mobilised for a specific operation, after which it could be reformed and tasked with another operation (including a change of the Front's designation) or it could be disbanded - with its formations dispersed among the other active Fronts and its HQ reintegrated into its original Military District HQ.

Soviet and Russian military doctrine calls the different levels in the command chain (including the Fronts) "Organs of Military Control" ().

Organs of Military Control!Level!Peacetime!Peacetime and wartime!Function!Examples
Highest political controlMain Military Council ()Stavka of the Supreme Main Command ()
  • General Staff
Exercises supreme party control over the armed forces. It could best be considered as the office for military matters of the head of state. During World War I this was the Stavka of the Supreme Commander () aiding Tsar Nicholas II. During World War II this was the Stavka of the Supreme Main Command () aiding Joseph Stalin, who took precedence over it after the launch of the German invasion into the Soviet Union.
Highest military controlGeneral Staff ()In wartime the General Staff became a department of the Stavka.
StrategicalMain Command of the Troops of a Strategic Direction ()The Main Command of the Troops of a Strategic Direction were organised in wartime in 1941 – 42, each to take control over several Fronts, Fleets, Separate Armies and / or Flotillas.

In 1979 in the years of high confrontation between the countries of the Western liberal democracies and those of the Socialist Bloc the Main Commands of the Troops of a Strategic Directions were reinstated covertly:

  • Main Command of the Troops of the Western Direction () in Legnica (Poland)
  • Main Command of the Troops of the South-Western Direction () in Chișinău
  • Main Command of the Troops of the Southern Direction () in Baku and the
  • Main Command of the Troops in the Far East () in Ulan-Ude.
Main Command of the Troops of the North-Western Direction(). Existed between 10 July and 27 August 1941 under the command of Marshal of the Soviet Union Kliment Voroshilov. It commanded the:

Main Command of the Troops of the Western Direction

(). Existed between 10 July and 10 September 1941 under the command of Marshal of the Soviet Union Semyon Timoshenko. It commanded the:

Main Command of the Troops of the South-Western Direction

(). Existed between 10 July 1941 and 21 June 1942 under the command of initially Marshal of the Soviet Union Semyon Budyonny, since September 1941 of Marshal of the Soviet Union Semyon Timoshenko. It commanded the:

Main Command of the Troops of the North Caucasus Direction

(). Existed between 21 April and 19 May 1942 under the command of Marshal of the Soviet Union Semyon Budyonny. It commanded the:

Main Command of the Soviet Troops in the Far East

(). Existed between 30 July and 17 December 1945 under the command of Marshal of the Soviet Union Aleksandr Vasilevsky. It commanded the:

Operational-StrategicalMilitary district ()FRONT ()The Military Districts were high military commands in charge of the combat readiness of troops, of training centers and schools, of support to the security services in cases of insurrections and of support to the population in case of disasters. Initially a distinction was made between border and internal () MDs. With a decree of the People's Commissariat for Defence dated 17 May 1935 the border districts were further divided between first-line and second-line () MDs. A provision was put in force, grouping a first-line district with two second-line districts, according to which in wartime the first-line MD would form a Frontal HQ and the rear districts would prepare replacements for it. This grouping was called a "Strategic Direction". Another decree of the PCD from 13 August 1940 introduced further changes in the war plans. The distinction between first- and second-line border districts was abolished. The 16 Military Districts were divided between 8 districts bordering potential enemy states, which would in case of a war form Frontal HQs and 8 internal MDs, which would form Separate Army commands.
Operational-StrategicalNone in peacetimeSeparate Army ()
OperationalArmy ()
Operational-TacticalSeparate Corps ()
Operational-TacticalCorpsCorps ()
TacticalSeparate DivisionSeparate Division ()
TacticalDivisionDivision ()
Tactical(Separate) Brigade(Separate) Brigade ()
The degree of change in the structure and performance of individual fronts can only be understood when seen in the context of the strategic operations of the Red Army in World War II.

Soviet fronts in the European Theatre during the Second World War from 1941 to 1945:

!Formed from!FRONT(time period)!Commanders!Reformed into
1941
Baltic Special Military DistrictNorthwestern Front

(22.6.41. – 20.11.43.)

Fyodor Kuznetsov, Pyotr Sobennikov,

Pavel Kurochkin,

Semyon Timoshenko, Ivan Konev

disbanded
Western Special Military DistrictWestern Front

(22.6.41. – 15.4.44.)

Dmitry Pavlov, Andrey Yeryomenko,

Semyon Timoshenko,

Ivan Konev,

Georgy Zhukov,

Vasily Sokolovsky,

Ivan Chernyakhovsky

3rd Belorussian Front
Kiev Special Military DistrictSouthwestern Front (I)(21.6.41. – 12.7.42.)Mikhail Kirponos, Semyon Timoshenko,

Fyodor Kostenko

split between theSouthern Front and the Stalingrad Front
Leningrad Military DistrictNorthern Front

(24.6.41. – 26.8.41.)

Markian Popovsplit between the Leningrad Front and the Karelian Front
mobilised peacetime formations of the Moscow Military DistrictSouthern Front (I)(25.6.41. – 28.7.41.)Ivan Tyulenev, Dmitry Ryabyshev,

Yakov Cherevichenko,

Rodion Malinovsky

North Caucasian Front
NKVD troops transferred to the Army (the STAVKA Reserve Armies Group)Reserve Armies Front

(14.7.41. – 29.7.41.)

Ivan Bogdanov(NKVD)split between the Western Front and the newly formed Reserve Front
Moscow Military DistrictMozhaysk Line of Defence Front

(18 – 30.7.41.)

Pavel Artemyev(NKVD)Reserve Front
Central Front (I)

(26.7.41. – 25.8.41.)

Fyodor Kuznetsov, Mikhail Yefremovheavy casualties inflicted by the main German spearhead, disbanded, what was left of the Central Front was absorbed into the Bryansk Front (I)
Reserve Armies FrontReserve Front (I)

(30.7.41. – 12.10.41.)

Georgy Zhukov,

Semyon Budyonny

merged with the Western Front
20th Rifle Corps and 25th Mechanized CorpsBryansk Front (I)

(16.8.41. – 10.11.41.)

Andrey Yeryomenko, Mikhail Petrov,

Georgiy Zakharov

disbanded
Transcaucasian Military District and Sevastopol Defensive AreaTranscaucasian Front (I)

(23.8.41. – 30.12.41.)

Dmitry Timofeyevich KozlovCaucasian Front
Northern FrontLeningrad Front

(27.8.41. – 24.7.45.)

Markian Popov, Kliment Voroshilov,

Georgy Zhukov,

Ivan Fedyuninski,

Mikhail Khozin,

Leonid Govorov

Leningrad Military District
Northern FrontKarelian Front

(1.9.41. – 15.11.44.)

Valerian Frolov, Kirill Meretskovdisbanded after Finland exited the war, Front HQ used for the formation of the Primorsky Army Group Field Command that would become the 1st Far Eastern Front for the liberation of Manchuria
Mozhaysk Line of Defence FrontMoscow Reserve Front(9.10.41. – 12.10.41.)Pavel Artemyev(NKVD)absorbed into the Western Front
22, 29, 30 and 31st Armies of the Western FrontKalinin Front

(19.10.41. – 20.10.43.)

Ivan Konev, Maksim Purkayev,

Andrey Yeryomenko

1st Baltic Front
mobilised reserves of the Moscow Military DistrictMoscow Defence Zone

(3.12.41. – 1.10.43.)

Pavel Artemyev(NKVD)after the German advance was stopped and the threat to Moscow was evaded, it became a training command for conscripts, its HQ was used to reestablish the Belorussian Military District in October 1943
left flank of the Leningrad Front and STAVKA Reserve formationsVolkhov Front (I)

(17.12.41. – 23.4.42.)

Kirill Meretskovreintegrated into the Leningrad Front as its Volkhov Direction Army Group
Lt.-Gen. Kostenko's Task GroupBryansk Front (II)

(24.12.41. – 12.3.43.)

Yakov Cherevichenko, Filipp Golikov,

Nikandr Chibisov,

Konstantin Rokossovsky,

Max Reyter

Reserve Front (II.)
Transcaucasian FrontCaucasian Front

(30.12.41. – 28.1.42.)

Dmitry Timofeyevich KozlovCrimean Front and Transcaucasian Military District
1942
Caucasian FrontCrimean Front

(28.1.42 – 19.5.42.)

Dmitry Timofeyevich Kozlovafter its destruction its remnants absorbed into the North Caucasian Front
Transcaucasian Military District re-mobilised after the destruction of the Crimean FrontTranscaucasian Front (II)

(15.5.42. – 25.8.45.)

Ivan TyulenevTbilisi Military District
remnants of the Crimean Front and the Southern FrontNorth Caucasian Front (I)

(20.5.42. – 3.9.42.)

Semyon BudyonnyBlack Sea Army Group
Volkhov Direction Army Group of the Leningrad FrontVolkhov Front (II)

(8.6.42. – 15.2.44.)

Kirill Meretskovdisbanded
part of the Bryansk Front (II)Voronezh Front

(9.7.42. – 20.10.43.)

Filipp Golikov, Nikolai Vatutin1st Ukrainian Front
part of the Southwestern Front (I)Stalingrad Front (I)(12.7.42. – 30.9.42.)Semyon Timoshenko, Vasiliy Gordov,

Andrey Yeryomenko

Don Front
part of the Stalingrad Front (I)Southeastern Front

(7.8.42. – 30.9.42.)

Andrey YeryomenkoStalingrad Front (II)
Stalingrad Front (I)Don Front

(30.9.42. – 15.2.43.)

Konstantin RokossovskyCentral Front (II)
Southeastern FrontStalingrad Front (II)

(30.9.42. – 31.12.42.)

Andrey YeryomenkoSouthern Front (II)
reserve formationsSouthwestern Front (II)

(25.10.42. – 20.10.43.)

Nikolai Vatutin3rd Ukrainian Front
1943
Stalingrad Front (II)Southern Front (II)

(1.1.43. – 20.10.43.)

Andrey Yeryomenko, Rodion Malinovsky,

Fyodor Tolbukhin

4th Ukrainian Front (I)
reserve formationsNorth Caucasian Front (II)(24.1.43. – 20.11.43.)Ivan Maslennikov, Ivan Yefimovich PetrovSeparate Coastal Army
Don FrontCentral Front (II)

(15.2.43. – 20.10.43.)

Konstantin RokossovskyBelorussian Front (I)
Bryansk Front (II)Reserve Front (II)

(12.3.43. – 23.3.43.)

Max ReyterKursk Front
Reserve Front (II)Kursk Front(23.3.43. – 27.3.43.)Max ReyterOryol Front
Kursk FrontOryol Front

(27.3.43 – 28.3.43.)

Max ReyterBryansk Front (III)
Oryol FrontBryansk Front (III)

(28.3.43. – 10.10.43.)

Max Reyter, Markian PopovBaltic Front
41st ArmyReserve Front (III)

(10.4.43. – 15.4.43.)

Markian PopovSteppe Military District
Steppe Military DistrictSteppe Front

(9.7.43. – 20.10.43.)

Ivan Konev2nd Ukrainian Front
Bryansk Front (III)Baltic Front(15.10.43. – 20.10.43)Markian Popov2nd Baltic Front
Kalinin Front1st Baltic Front(20.10.43. – 24.2.45.)Andrey Yeryomenko, Ivan BagramyanZemland Army Group under the 3rd Baltic Front
Baltic Front2nd Baltic Front(20.10.43. – 9.2.45.)Markian Popov, Andrey Yeryomenko,

Leonid Govorov

absorbed into the Leningrad Front
Central Front (II)Belorussian Front (I)(20.10.43. – 23.2.44.)Konstantin Rokossovsky1st Belorussian Front (I)
Voronezh Front1st Ukrainian Front(20.10.43. – 10.6.45.)Nikolai Vatutin, Georgy Zhukov,

Ivan Konev

Central Group of Forces
Steppe Front2nd Ukrainian Front(20.10.43. – 10.6.45.)Ivan Konev, Rodion MalinovskyOdessa Military District
Southwestern Front (II)3rd Ukrainian Front(20.10.43. – 15.6.45.)Rodion Malinovsky, Fyodor TolbukhinSouthern Group of Forces
Southern Front4th Ukrainian Front (I)

(20.10.43. – 15.5.44.)

Fyodor Tolbukhindisbanded, formations transferred to STAVKA Reserve
1944
Belorussian Front (I)1st Belorussian Front (I)

(24.2.44. – 5.4.44.)

Konstantin RokossovskyBelorussian Front (II)
Northwestern Front2nd Belorussian Front (I)(24.2.44. – 5.4.44.)Pavel Kurochkinabsorbed into Belorussian Front (II)
1st Belorussian Front (I)Belorussian Front (II)(6.4.44. – 16.4.44.)Konstantin Rokossovsky1st Belorussian Front (II)
Belorussian Front (II)1st Belorussian Front (II)(16.4.44. – 10.6.45.)Konstantin Rokossovsky, Georgy ZhukovGroup of Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany
left flank of the Leningrad Front3rd Baltic Front

(21.4.44. – 16.10.44.)

Ivan Maslennikov,disbanded, formations split between STAVKA Reserve, Leningrad Front, 1st Baltic Front and 2nd Baltic Front
10th Army2nd Belorussian Front (II)(24.4.44. – 10.6.45.)Ivan Yefimovich Petrov, Georgiy Zakharov,

Konstantin Rokossovsky

Northern Group of Forces
Western Front3rd Belorussian Front(24.4.44. – 15.8.45.)Ivan Chernyakhovsky, Aleksandr Vasilevsky,

Ivan Bagramyan

Baranovichy Military District
formations from STAVKA Reserve4th Ukrainian Front (II)

(5.8.44. – 31.7.45.)

Fyodor Tolbukhin,Ivan Yefimovich Petrov,

Andrey Yeryomenko

Carpathian Military District
Notes:(I), (II) and (III) represents the time the designation was used.

Formed from Kalinin Front late 1943.

Formed from Bryansk Front on 10 October 1943.

For constituent armies see List of Soviet armies.

Soviet fronts after World War II

The Soviet Army maintained contingencies for establishing fronts in the event of war. During the Cold War, fronts and their staffs became groups of Soviet forces in the Warsaw Pact organization. The front was to be the highest operational command during wartime. Though there was no front ever established during peacetime the basic building blocks were maintained the established Military Districts. A front generally comprised 3–4 Combined Arms Armies and 1–2 Tank Armies though there was no set organization.[6]

Poland

A number of fronts were created by the Second Polish Republic from 1918 to 1939, among them being the Polish Southern Front. See . In addition, the creation of a Polish Front was considered to group the First and Second Armies of the Polish Armed Forces in the East in 1944, and during the Warsaw Pact period, a Polish Front was created, seemingly as a mobilization-only organization.

References

Notes and References

  1. Book: APP-6C Joint Military Symbology . May 2011 . NATO . https://web.archive.org/web/20150921231042/http://armawiki.zumorc.de/files/NATO/APP-6(C).pdf . 2015-09-21 .
  2. FM 100-2-3, The Soviet Army: Troops, Organizations, and Equipment, June 1991
  3. [Viktor Suvorov]
  4. Erickson 1975
  5. Glantz, 2005, p.495
  6. US Army FM 100-2-3 The Soviet Army: Troops, Organization, and Equipment