17th Mechanized Corps (Soviet Union)

17th Mechanized Corps 1941 Soviet Union Red Army Mechanized Corps Battle of Białystok–Minsk Mikhail Petrovich Petrov The 17th Mechanized Corps (Military Unit Number 9406)http://mechcorps.rkka.ru/files/mechcorps/pages/17_meh.htm 17 механизированный корпус Drig Yevgeny 18 March 2009 mechcorps.rkka.ru ru 17th Mechanized Corps https://web.archive.org/web/20110601170214/http://mechcorps.rkka.ru/files/mechcorps/pages/17_meh.htm 1 June 2011 20 August 2016 dead was a mechanised unit of the Red Army. Formed in March 1941, the corps was destroyed in the Battle of Białystok–Minsk and reduced in size to the 147th Tank Brigade.Glantz 2010 591 History Formation thumb|A destroyed BT-7 tank of the type used by the corps The 17th Mechanized Corps was formed in March 1941 at Baranovichi under the command of Mikhail Petrovich Petrov. It was part of the Western Special Military District's reserve at Slonim.Glantz 2010 31 The corps included the 27th and 36th Tank Divisions, and the 209th Motorized Division. The 17th Mechanized Corps was a cadre-strength formation equipped with only 36 tanks,Forczyk 2014 31 which included 24 BT tanks, a T-26 tank, and eleven T-37, T-38, and T-40 amphibious tanks. Battle of Białystok–Minsk Following the German invasion of the Soviet Union, the 17th Mechanized corps fought in the Battle of Białystok–Minsk. The corps was initially stationed in the rear but was moved forward to Baranovichi to stop the German advance.Forczyk 2014 52 On 26 June it fought in defensive battles around Baranovichi, Stowbtsy, and Minsk.1162 Mikhail Petrovich Petrov Its positions were broken through by the German XLVII Army Corps (Motorized). The outnumbered 17th Mechanized Corps was unable to offer much resistance to the attack and its remnants retreated eastwards to the Berezina, where they linked up with other Soviet units.Beshanov 2000 266 By 3 July it was still mostly fighting on the western bank of the Dnieper.Glantz 2010 68 It suffered heavy losses in the fighting and on 5 July was allocated to the 21st Army after being ordered to Babruysk on the previous day.Glantz 2010 49 On 7 July the corps' strength returns (lists of equipment) showed no armored vehicles. On 14 July the 16th Army was ordered to attack south towards Gorki alongside the 17th Mechanized Corps to destroy the German advance troops.Glantz 2010 110 The corps increased its resistance as it retreated, fighting against the German 10th Panzer Division as it advanced towards Pochinok on 16 July.Glantz 2010 187 On 18 July, the 16th Army was again ordered to attack south towards Gorki with the corps.Glantz 2010 172 On 21 July the corps ordered to withdraw to the Sukhinichi area with 4th Army.Glantz 2010 200 On 24 July it was regrouping from Yartsevo to support the 16th Army with a strength of 1,600, according to Western Front commander Semyon Timoshenko's situation report on that day.Glantz 2010 207 The corps became the 147th Tank Brigade on 1 August.Glantz 2010 591 Its 27th and 36th Tank Divisions were disbanded on the same date.Glantz 2010 156 References 30em Танковый погром 1941 года Beshanov Vladimir Vasilievich AST 2000 9851302775 Moscow ru Tank Mayhem 1941 https://books.google.com/books?id=-2ptBQAAQBAJ Tank Warfare on the Eastern Front 1941–1942: Schwerpunkt Forczyk Robert Pen & Sword 2014 9781781590089 Barnsley, South Yorkshire https://books.google.com/books?id=SDfInc6Gb40C Barbarossa Derailed: The German Advance to Smolensk, the Encirclement Battle, and the First and Second Soviet Counteroffensives, 10 July – 24 August 1941 Glantz David M. Casemate 2010 9781906033729 Philadelphia Category:Mechanized corps of the Soviet Union Category:Military units and formations established in 1941 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1941