Rostov-Novocherkassk operation of the Red Army
January 3–10, 1920
The offensive operation of Red Army’s Southern and Southeastern Fronts aimed at cutting the front of the Armed Forces of the South of Russia (AFSR) and liberating Rostov-on-Don and Novocherkassk.
AFSR main forces under the command of Anton Denikin defeated in the area of Kharkov and Donbass, withdrew to Rostov-on-Don and Novocherkassk. The Red Army command engaged the forces of the First Cavalry Army (commander Semyon Budyonny) and the 8th Army of the Southern Front (commander Aleksander Yegorov, members of the Revolutionary Military Council Joseph Stalin, Mikhail Lashevich) in the offensive on Rostov-on-Don and Nakhichevan-on-Don. An auxiliary blow was delivered to Novocherkassk. The offensive was large-scale (the front of more than 250 km long, 100–130 km deep) and rapid (completed in 7 days). During the operation, large cavalry units were widely used. By the evening of January 9, Rostov-on-Don and Nakhichevan had been captured by the Reds.
As a result, AFSR was split into two isolated parts. One of them retreated to Odessa and the Crimea, the other one – to the North Caucasus.
Military parade of Red Army units in Rostov-on-Don. A member of the Caucasus front Military Revolutionary Council Grigory Ordzhonikidze addressing the lined-up troops. 1920.
SMPHR. F.III-6390
Semyon Budyonny and the top commanding staff of the First Cavalry Army at a military parade. Rostov-on-Don. 1920.
SMPHR. F.III-11382
The building of Astoria Hotel destroyed in Rostov-on-Don (the house of Dombrovsky and Perlin).
January 1920.
SMPHR. F.III-11844/3
The commanders of the 1st Cavalry Army (from left to right): Oka Gorodovikov, Sergey Minin, Kliment Voroshilov, Semyon Budyonny with the soldiers of the Army. 1919–1920.
SMPHR. F.IX Vs-4167
Oka Gorodovikov (1879–1960),
Soviet military leader. In August 1919 – April 1920 the Commander of the 4th Cavalry Division, in October 1920 – October 1921 the Commander of the 6th Cavalry Division of the 1st Cavalry Army.
Sergey Minin (1882–1962),
revolutionary, Soviet politician, publicist. Since May 1920, a member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the First Cavalry Army.
Kliment Voroshilov (1881–1969),
Soviet commander and statesman. From November 1919 to March 1921, he was a member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the First Cavalry Army.
Semyon Budyonny (1883–1973),
Soviet commander and statesman. Commander of the First Cavalry Army.
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