63rd Army (Soviet Union)

The 63rd Army was a field army of the Soviet Red Army during World War II. It was formed multiple times during the war, and its composition and areas of operation varied considerably.

The first formation of the 63rd Army was created in July 1942 as part of the Stalingrad Front, primarily from the 5th Reserve Army. Its initial role was to defend the approaches to Stalingrad against the advancing German 6th Army as part of Operation Blue. Under the command of General V.I. Kuznetsov, it engaged in heavy defensive fighting in the great bend of the Don River. It suffered heavy losses and was eventually encircled and largely destroyed during the initial stages of the Battle of Stalingrad. The remnants were absorbed into other formations.

A second formation of the 63rd Army was established in December 1942 from elements of the 1st Guards Army, still under the command of V.I. Kuznetsov. It participated in Operation Little Saturn, a counteroffensive operation to encircle and destroy Axis forces attempting to relieve the trapped German 6th Army at Stalingrad. Following the success of this operation, the 63rd Army continued to participate in offensive operations aimed at pushing back the German lines on the Eastern Front.

Later, it was renamed the 4th Guards Army in April 1943.