Soviet Cavalry after 1945

[Starinov]

Can anybody tell me how many cavalry corps/divisions the Russians had at the end of World War II, that is in 1944/45? How long after the end of the war, were those units disbanded or motorised.

Thank you

[daveh]

Horsed Cavalry formations remained in the Soviet order of battle until 1955.

[Starinov]

Can you point toward a book or a website?

[daveh]

The 1955 date is noted in S Zaloga and L Ness Red Army Handbook 1939 - 1945 ISBN 0 7509 1740 7
This work details the organisation of the Soviet cavalry units but not OOB.

I have seen reference to but have not read

SOVIET ORDER OF BATTLE IN WWII 5) RED SABRES Cavalry Corps, Divisions & Independent Brigades by Charles C Sharp, publishers I believe are Nafziger.

The Red Army Order of Battle Robert G Priorier and Albert Z Conner
ISBN 0 89141 237 9
does NOT detail cavalry divisions but does mention them if subordinated to higher ie Corps and Army level units. Guard Cavalry and Cavalry corps are mentioned.

[Craig Crofoot]

Here's some of the information I have. These were the Cavalry Division active at the end of the war, their assignments on 1 May 1945 and their fate. Still digging into the other units.

Kavalerii Divizii [Cavalry Divisions]:
1st Cavalry Division/15 Cavalry Corps, 4 Army
8th Cavalry Division/6 Guards Cavalry Corps, 1 Guards Cavalry-Mechanized Group (becomes 13 Mechanized Division 07.1945)
23rd Cavalry Division/15 Cavalry Corps, 4 Army
30th Cavalry Division/4 Guards Cavalry Corps, 1 Guards Cavalry-Mechanized Group (becomes 11 Mechanized Division 07.1945)
32nd Cavalry Division/ 3 Guards Cavalry Corps, 2 Belorussian Front
39th Cavalry Division/15 Cavalry Corps, 4 Army
59th Cavalry Division/Transbaikal Front
63rd Cavalry Division/5 Guards Cavalry Corps, 3 Ukrainian Front(becomes 12 Mechanized Division 07.1945)
84th Cavalry Division/1 Army, Coastal Group of Forces

Gvardeiskaya Kavalerii Divizii [Guards Cavalry Divisions]:
1st Guards Cavalry Division/1 Guards Cavalry Corps, 1 Ukrainian Front
2nd Guards Cavalry Division/1 Guards Cavalry Corps, 1 Ukrainian Front
3rd Guards Cavalry Division/2 Guards Cavalry Corps, 1 Belorussian Front
4th Guards Cavalry Division/2 Guards Cavalry Corps, 1 Belorussian Front
5th Guards Cavalry Division/3 Guards Cavalry Corps, 2 Belorussian Front
6th Guards Cavalry Division/3 Guards Cavalry Corps, 2 Belorussian Front (Disbanded 07.1946)
7th Guards Cavalry Division/1 Guards Cavalry Corps, 1 Ukrainian Front
8th Guards Cavalry Division/6 Guards Cavalry Corps, 1 Guards CMG (becomes 10 Guards Mechanized Division 07.1945)
9th Guards Cavalry Division/4 Guards Cavalry Corps, 1 Guards CMG
10th Guards Cavalry Division/4 Guards Cavalry Corps, 1 Guards CMG
11th Guards Cavalry Division/5 Guards Cavalry Corps, 3 Ukrainian Front
12th Guards Cavalry Division/5 Guards Cavalry Corps, 3 Ukrainian Front
13th Guards Cavalry Division/6 Guards Cavalry Corps, 1 Guards CMG (becomes 11 Guards Mechanized Division 07.1945)
14th Guards Cavalry Division/7 Guards Cavalry Corps, 1 Belorussian Front (becomes ½ 31 Guards Mechanized Division 07.1945)
15th Guards Cavalry Division/7 Guards Cavalry Corps, 1 Belorussian Front (becomes 12 Guards Mechanized Division 07.1945)
16th Guards Cavalry Division/7 Guards Cavalry Corps, 1 Belorussian Front (becomes ½ 31 Guards Mechanized Division 07.1945)
17th Guards Cavalry Division/2 Guards Cavalry Corps, 1 Belorussian Front (becomes 28 Guards Mechanized Division 07.1945)

Regards,

Craig Crofoot
Editor
THE JOURNAL OF THE SOVIET ARMY