Central Group of Forces

The Central Group of Forces was a Soviet military formation created on two separate occasions to command Soviet troops outside the Soviet Union in Central Europe. It was not a commercial brand or an independent company, but an overseas command structure of the Soviet Armed Forces. Its first incarnation operated in Austria and Hungary after the Second World War, while its second and longer-lasting incarnation was established in Czechoslovakia after the Soviet-led invasion that ended the Prague Spring in 1968. The first Central Group of Forces emerged from the postwar reorganization of Soviet formations deployed in territories liberated from, or occupied after, Nazi Germany. A Soviet High Command directive of 10 June 1945 created several Groups of Forces, which functioned in many respects like military districts but were located beyond the borders of the Soviet Union. The Central Group was formed principally from elements of the 1st Ukrainian Front and was responsible for Soviet troops in Austria and Hungary. Its initial headquarters was at Baden bei Wien. The first commander was Marshal of the Soviet Union Ivan Konev. At its creation, the group controlled a large and changing collection of ground and air formations, including Guards armies, tank armies, cavalry and artillery corps, mechanized formations, and the 2nd Air Army. Many of these units were progressively withdrawn, disbanded, renumbered, or transferred as the immediate postwar military structure was reduced. The group’s composition therefore changed substantially between 1945 and 1955. By the final phase of its first existence, it included rifle and mechanized divisions in Austria and Hungary, a heavy tank regiment, anti-aircraft forces, rear services, and the 59th Air Army with subordinate aviation units. The first formation ended after Austria regained full sovereignty under the Austrian State Treaty. Soviet forces were withdrawn from Austria in 1955, and the Central Group of Forces was formally disbanded in September of that year. Some units stationed in Hungary were placed under a newly created Special Corps, while other formations were transferred to Soviet military districts or dissolved. The second formation was created in August 1968 following the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia. Its immediate purpose was to provide a permanent Soviet command for forces stationed in Czechoslovak territory after the suppression of the Prague Spring reform movement. Before 1968, the Soviet Union did not maintain a permanent garrison in Czechoslovakia. The re-established group had its headquarters at Milovice, northeast of Prague, and included the headquarters of the 28th Army Corps, several tank and motor-rifle divisions, missile and artillery brigades, an airborne assault brigade, air formations, and supporting units. The second Central Group had approximately 85,000 personnel at its height. Four of its five principal ground divisions were stationed in the Czech lands, while one was based in Slovakia. Its forces represented a substantial Soviet military presence in Czechoslovakia and formed part of the broader Soviet strategic posture in Central Europe during the Cold War. The group remained in place through the period of détente, the later Cold War, and the political changes of 1989. After the fall of communist rule in Czechoslovakia and the end of the Cold War, Soviet troops were withdrawn. Units departed for destinations across the Soviet Union, including military districts and garrisons in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Central Asia. The withdrawal involved the relocation, reduction, reorganization, or dissolution of individual divisions and support units. The Central Group of Forces was formally disbanded on 19 June 1991, shortly before the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Its historical significance lies in its role as an instrument of Soviet military administration, occupation, deterrence, and political control in Central Europe rather than in any commercial activity.

The Central Group of Forces was one of the Soviet Union’s Groups of Forces, overseas military commands established to administer and control Soviet formations stationed outside the country. Its history consists of two distinct periods separated by thirteen years. Although both formations used the same name, they responded to different strategic circumstances: the first was a postwar occupation and transition command in Austria and Hungary, while the second was a Cold War garrison command in Czechoslovakia. The first formation was created by Soviet High Command Directive No. 11097 of 10 June 1945. The directive reorganized Soviet forces in territories liberated from German occupation and in areas where the Soviet Union retained military responsibilities after the war. The Central Group was assembled largely from the 1st Ukrainian Front and was assigned responsibility for Soviet forces in Austria and Hungary. Marshal of the Soviet Union Ivan Konev became its first commander, and headquarters was established at Baden bei Wien. In its initial configuration, the group included the 4th, 5th, 7th, and 9th Guards Armies; the 1st Guards Cavalry Corps; the 7th and 10th Breakthrough Artillery Corps; the 3rd and 4th Guards Tank Armies; the 2nd Air Army; and additional tank and mechanized corps. This large wartime structure was soon reduced. The 7th and 9th Guards Armies returned to the Soviet Union during 1945, and other corps-level formations were also withdrawn. The 4th Guards Army left in 1946, the 5th Guards Army was disbanded in 1947, and the former tank armies were reduced and transferred to the Group of Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany. In 1949, the 2nd Air Army was renumbered as the 59th Air Army. By June 1955, the group retained a mixed force of Soviet ground, air, air-defense, armored, and rear-service formations. Its Austrian component included the headquarters, the 95th Guards Rifle Division, the 13th Guards Mechanized Division, the 23rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division, extensive service units, and most of the 59th Air Army’s aviation and support structure. In Hungary, the 2nd and 17th Guards Mechanized Divisions and the 152nd Separate Heavy Tank Regiment formed important elements of the deployment. The Austrian State Treaty restored Austrian sovereignty and required the departure of occupying forces. Soviet troops withdrew, and the first Central Group was dissolved in September 1955. Units remaining in Hungary were transferred to a newly created Special Corps or otherwise reassigned. The second formation arose from the crisis surrounding the Prague Spring. In August 1968, Warsaw Pact forces invaded Czechoslovakia to end the reform program associated with Alexander Dubček. The Soviet Union had not previously maintained a permanent troop presence in Czechoslovakia, but the intervention was followed by the creation of a lasting Soviet command. The Central Group of Forces was re-established with headquarters at Milovice, approximately northeast of Prague, and the 28th Army Corps headquarters was moved forward from the Carpathian Military District. At its height, the second formation numbered approximately 85,000 personnel. Its order of battle included two tank divisions, three motor-rifle divisions, three missile brigades, an artillery brigade, an airborne assault brigade, aviation formations, and numerous communications, engineering, reconnaissance, transport, and maintenance units. Four principal ground divisions were located in the Czech lands: the 15th Guards Tank Division at Milovice, the 18th Guards Motor Rifle Division at Mladá Boleslav, the 48th Motor Rifle Division at Vysoké Mýto, and the 31st Tank Division at Bruntál. The 30th Guards Motor Rifle Division was headquartered at Zvolen in Slovakia. The 131st Mixed Aviation Division was also based at Milovice after arriving from the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1968. The group remained a major Soviet military presence during the Cold War. Its forces served strategic, political, and operational purposes, including the defense of Soviet influence in Czechoslovakia and the maintenance of Warsaw Pact military capabilities in Central Europe. After the political changes of 1989, negotiations and troop withdrawals reduced the Soviet presence. The 48th Motor Rifle Division was among the earliest major formations to leave, departing Czechoslovakia during 1990–1991. Other formations moved to Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Central Asia, and other Soviet locations, where some were reduced, converted to storage bases, transferred to other security organizations, or disbanded. The Central Group of Forces was formally dissolved on 19 June 1991. Its end reflected the collapse of the Soviet military position in Czechoslovakia and the wider breakdown of the Cold War order. The Soviet Union itself ceased to exist later that year, leaving its former formations divided among successor states and successor armed forces.

• 1991

  Second formation dissolved

  [1]Central Group of Forcesen.wikipedia.org

  The Central Group of Forces was formally disbanded on 19 June after its forces were withdrawn or reassigned.

• 1990

  Withdrawal from Czechoslovakia begins

  [1]Central Group of Forcesen.wikipedia.org

  Soviet divisions and support units began leaving Czechoslovakia during the post-communist transition.

• 1968

  Second formation re-established

  [1]Central Group of Forcesen.wikipedia.org

  The group was recreated in Czechoslovakia after the Warsaw Pact intervention that ended the Prague Spring.

• 1955

  First formation disbanded

  [1]Central Group of Forcesen.wikipedia.org

  The withdrawal of Soviet troops from Austria under the Austrian State Treaty led to the dissolution of the first Central Group in September.

• 1949

  2nd Air Army renumbered

  [1]Central Group of Forcesen.wikipedia.org

  The group’s 2nd Air Army was redesignated as the 59th Air Army.

• 1945

  First formation established

  [1]Central Group of Forcesen.wikipedia.org

  Soviet High Command Directive No. 11097 created the Central Group of Forces to command Soviet troops in Austria and Hungary.

• 1945

  Headquarters established at Baden bei Wien

  [1]Central Group of Forcesen.wikipedia.org

  The first formation established its headquarters in Baden bei Wien, Austria, under Marshal Ivan Konev.

A Soviet overseas military command responsible for organizing and directing Soviet forces in strategically important Central European states.

• Military administration · 1945

  Overseas military command

  The group’s core function was the command and administration of Soviet formations deployed beyond the Soviet Union. It coordinated ground, air, air-defense, missile, artillery, engineering, communications, transport, and rear-service units under a unified headquarters.

• Ground forces · 1945

  Armored and mechanized formations

  Across its two formations, the group controlled tank divisions, mechanized divisions, motor-rifle divisions, tank regiments, and associated combat-support units. These formations provided the principal land component of the Soviet presence in Austria, Hungary, and later Czechoslovakia.

• Air forces · 1945

  Military aviation and air defense

  The first formation controlled the 2nd Air Army, later the 59th Air Army, with fighter, bomber, reconnaissance, and support elements. The second formation included mixed aviation and helicopter units together with anti-aircraft and missile defenses.

• Combat support · 1968

  Missile, artillery, and support units

  The second formation included missile brigades, artillery units, an airborne assault brigade, engineer-sapper forces, radio-engineering units, helicopter regiments, and logistical organizations. These elements supported the group’s operational readiness and regional strategic role.

• 1968Occupation and permanent garrisoning of Czechoslovakia

  Czechoslovakia

  Following the Warsaw Pact intervention against the Prague Spring, the re-established group organized and commanded the permanent Soviet military presence in Czechoslovakia.

  Outcome. The group remained in Czechoslovakia until the withdrawal of Soviet forces in 1990–1991 and its formal dissolution in June 1991.

  Source
• 1945Postwar occupation and force reorganization in Austria and Hungary

  Austria · Hungary

  The first Central Group administered Soviet forces stationed in Austria and Hungary after the Second World War while the Soviet military structure was reduced from its wartime scale.

  Outcome. The formation remained in existence until the Soviet withdrawal from Austria in 1955.

  Source

• 1990

  Withdraw and redistribute the Czechoslovak garrisonStrategy

  Background

  The collapse of communist rule in Czechoslovakia and the end of the Cold War made the continued Soviet garrison politically and strategically unsustainable.

  Action taken

  Soviet divisions and independent units were withdrawn to destinations including Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Central Asia, and other Soviet military districts, where they were reorganized, reduced, transferred, or dissolved.

  Aftermath

  The Central Group was formally disbanded on 19 June 1991.

  Source

• 1968

  Re-establish the group in CzechoslovakiaStrategy

  Background

  The Soviet Union sought a permanent command for forces left in Czechoslovakia after the Warsaw Pact intervention that ended the Prague Spring.

  Action taken

  The group was recreated with headquarters at Milovice and placed in charge of Soviet ground, air, missile, artillery, and support formations in Czechoslovakia.

  Aftermath

  The resulting command became a central instrument of the Soviet military presence in Czechoslovakia throughout the Cold War.

  Source

• 1955

  Disband the first formation after the Austrian withdrawalStrategy

  Background

  The Austrian State Treaty restored Austrian sovereignty and provided the political basis for the departure of Soviet occupation forces.

  Action taken

  The Central Group was dissolved in September 1955 after Soviet troops left Austria; units in Hungary and other remaining formations were transferred or disbanded.

  Aftermath

  Soviet military administration in Austria ended, while Soviet forces in Hungary continued under a different command arrangement.

  Source

• 1945

  Create an overseas Central Group of ForcesStrategy

  Background

  The Soviet High Command needed permanent command structures for forces remaining in Central European territories after the Second World War.

  Action taken

  A directive dated 10 June 1945 established the group from formations associated with the 1st Ukrainian Front and assigned it responsibility for Austria and Hungary.

  Aftermath

  The group’s wartime-scale order of battle was gradually reduced as units returned to the Soviet Union, were reassigned, or were disbanded.

  Source

1. 1Central Group of Forcesen.wikipedia.org