Simbirsk Operation

Simbirsk Operation
Part of the Russian Civil War
Date September 9 to 28, 1918 Location Simbirsk Result Red's Victory
Belligerents
Red Army	People Army of Komuch Czechoslovaks
Commanders and leaders
Mikhail Tukhachevsky	Vladimir Kappel Stanislav Čeček
Strength
about 8300	about 11500

Simbirsk Operation (September, 9-28, 1918) - Red Army's offensive against the People Army of Komuch during the Russian Civil War.

Background

After Capturing Kazan by White Army the frontline was not good for Whites: near the Kazan 2 - 2.5 thousand men had to hold the 100–120 km of front against about 10 thousand men in two armies (2nd and 5th) of Reds. But Whites tried to continue offensive to the railway bridge across the Volga River near Sviyazhsk. To support this advance Stanislav Čeček sent the Vladimir Kappel's detachment from the Simbirsk to Kazan. On August, 27, Kappel landed on the right bank of Volga near Sviyazhsk and tried to attack the positions of Reds, but was crushed by the counterattack of Latvian Riflemen.

The battle

Using the temporal weakness of White's Simbirsk Group, 1st Army of Reds (commander - Mikhail Tukhachevsky) on September, 9, began the offensive in Simbirsk direction. On September, 11, White's forces were pushed to the bank of Volga, and on September, 12, Simbirsk was captured by the attack from three sides. During the night of September, 14, Simbirsk Division of 1st Army crossed the Volga River and began to advance on the east.

On September, 18, Kappel's Detachment returned from Kazan (captured by Reds on September, 9) and counterattacked. Reds had to return on the right bank of Volga. During September, 18-24, Kappel tried to recapture Simbirsk, but his attacks were repulsed by Reds. After coming the 5th Army and Volga Fleet Red Forces crossed the Volga again, and crushed the Kappel's Detachment on September, 28.

Aftermath

After lossing Kazan and Simbirsk White Forces were demoralized. On September, 13, they left Volsk, and began to quickly retreat from the advancing 1st and 5th Armies of Reds. Simbirsk Group of Whites began its retreat on September, 29. Capturing of Kazan and Simbirsk were converted by Red's command into the strategic breakthrough of the whole front.

For the capturing Simbirsk the Simbirsk Division of Reds received the honour title "Iron".

Sources

• Н.Е.Какурин, И.И.Вацетис "Гражданская война. 1918-1921" (N.E.Kakurin, I.I.Vacietis "Civil War. 1918-1921") - Sankt-Peterburg, "Polygon" Publishing House, 2002. ISBN 5-89173-150-9