1st Guards Army (Soviet Union)

The 1st Guards Army was a prestigious and highly decorated field army of the Soviet Red Army during World War II and in the postwar period. Formed in the aftermath of the Battle of Stalingrad in January 1943 from the Stalingrad Front's operational group commanded by General V. I. Kuznetsov, it was initially composed of elite Guards rifle divisions, tank corps, and other supporting units.

Throughout the war, the 1st Guards Army participated in several major offensives, including:

• Donbass Strategic Offensive (1943): Played a key role in pushing the Wehrmacht out of the Donbass region.
• Lviv-Sandomierz Offensive (1944): Contributed to the liberation of western Ukraine and the establishment of a bridgehead across the Vistula River.
• Vistula-Oder Offensive (1945): Participated in the drive into Poland and towards the Oder River.
• Berlin Offensive (1945): Involved in the final assault on Berlin.

The army was known for its high level of training, discipline, and combat effectiveness. Its units often spearheaded major Soviet offensives, and it earned a reputation for resilience and tenacity in the face of determined German resistance.

Following the end of the war in Europe, the 1st Guards Army remained a part of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (GSFG). It was eventually reorganized and renamed. The lineage and traditions of the army continued through successor formations within the Soviet Armed Forces and later, the armed forces of post-Soviet states.