Combat actions of the 11th Artillery Division of the Supreme High Command Reserve during the liberation of Romania (April–October 1944)

Abstract

In the world wars of the 20th century, artillery became the branch of the armed forces whose actions inflicted the greatest damage on the enemy. During the Great Patriotic War, the specific weight and significance of the Soviet artillery of the Supreme High Command Reserve grew continuously, solving not only tactical but also operational combat tasks and, during the third period of the war, ensuring a breakthrough of the enemy defense in the offensive operations of the Red Army. The first European country liberated by Soviet troops was Romania. The main role in this was played by the troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, which in March–October 1944 carried out the Uman-Botoşani, Jassy-Kishinev, Bucharest-Arad and Debrecen offensive operations. They included the 11th artillery division of the Supreme High Command Reserve, which was operationally subordinate first to the 7th Guards and then to the 27th Army. The combat actions of the soldiers and officers of the 11th Artillery Division were distinguished by skill, courage and high efficiency. During the Jassy-Kishinev Operation, the fire of their guns crushed the Romanian defense and ensured its rapid breakthrough by infantry and tanks. The 11th Artillery Division acted just as effectively in defense during the September battles in Northern Transylvania during the Bucharest-Arad Operation. In both defensive and offensive combat actions during all four operations of the 2nd Ukrainian Front, which resulted in the complete liberation of Romania from the Nazis, the 11th Artillery Division of the Supreme High Command Reserve demonstrated firepower and high maneuverability, thereby making a significant contribution to the success of the front's troops.