Historical Dictionary of the Russian Civil Wars, 1916-1926

3RD ARMY. This White force was created on 22 July 1919, following the collapse of the spring offensive of the Russian Army of Admiral A. V. Kolchak. It was constructed from elements of the former Western Army (chiefly the Volga, Ufa, and Urals Groups) and, with an initial complement of around 50,000 men, would henceforth constitute one of the mainstays of Kolchak’s newly reorganized Eastern Front. The 3rd Army was spectacularly defeated by the Red Army at Cheliabinsk in July–August 1919 and was routed again on the Tobol′ River the following month. It thereafter retreated in some disarray, and its remnants subsequently joined the Great Siberian (Ice) March. The surviving units of the 3rd Army reached Chita, in Transbaikalia, in February–March 1920, where they were reconstituted as the 3rd Corps of the Far Eastern (White) Army of Ataman G. M. Semenov.

Commanders of the 3rd Army were General K. V. Sakharov (22 July–4 November 1919 and 23 January–20 March 1920); General K. O. Kappel′ (4 November–10 December 1919); and General P. P. Petrov (14 December 1919–23 January 1920). Its chief of staff was General V. I. Oberiukhtin (22 July–10 October 1919).

3RD RED ARMY. This was the name given to three formations of forces of the Red Army in the course of the civil wars.

The first 3rd Red Army was created in early March 1918, as Red Guards and other units coalesced in southern Ukraine, along the left bank of the Dnestr, to resist Romanian forces (that were threatening to invade Bessarabia) and the forces of the Austro-German intervention. This force, which was loosely affiliated to Rumcherod, was also sometimes variously referred to as the “Special Revolutionary Army of the Odessa Region,” the “Odessa Army,” and the “3rd Revolutionary Army.” By April 1918, concentrated around the town of Lozovaia, it had reached a strength of some 5,000 men. The 3rd Red Army was then driven back into the Donbass by advancing German forces. Many of its members then moved to Tsaritsyn, where they were absorbed into the 5th Red Army. Commanders of the first 3rd Red Army were P. S. Lazarev (from March 1918) and (from 18 April 1918) E. I. Chikvanaia.

The second (and more substantial) 3rd Red Army was formed on 20 July 1918, according to the directives of the commander of the Eastern Front, from Soviet units in the region of Perm′, Ekaterinburg, and Ishim, to resist the revolt of the Czechoslovak Legion. Included in this 3rd Red Army at various times were the Eastern (from 25 August 1918, the 1st Urals) Infantry Division (July–October 1918); the 2nd Urals Infantry Division (July–October 1918); the 3rd Urals Division (August–November 1918); the 4th Urals Rifle Division (December 1918); the 5th Urals Infantry Division (September–December 1918); the 21st Infantry Division (July–September 1919); the Urals Independent Infantry (from 11 November 1918, 29th Rifle) Division (October 1918–January 1920); the 4th Urals (from 11 November 1918, the 30th Rifle) Division (July 1918–November 1919); the 51st Rifle Division (July–November 1919); the 62nd Rifle Division (November–December 1918); the Special Division (November–December 1918); the Urals Rifle Division (November 1919–January 1920); and the 10th Cavalry Division (November 1919–January 1920). In 1918, this 3rd Red Army operated against the Czechs and the Whites’ Siberian Army around Zlatoust, Ekaterinburg, and Perm′, all of which were lost (Perm′ on 24 December 1918). In early 1919, it resisted the spring advance of Admiral A. V. Kolchak’s Northern Army, finally halting it before Viatka. The force then participated in the advance of Red forces into Siberia, recapturing Perm′ (30 June 1919) and participating in the capture of Petropavlovsk and Omsk in September–November 1919. On 15 January 1920, this 3rd Red Army was transformed into one of the first Labor Armies, as the 1st Revolutionary Army of Labor. Commanders of the 3rd Red Army were R. I. Berzin (20 July–29 November 1918); M. M. Lashevich (30 November 1918–5 March 1919); S. A. Mezheninov (5 March–26 August 1919); M. I. Alafuzo (temporary, 26 August–6 October 1919); and M. S. Matiiasevich (7 October 1919–15 January 1920). Its chiefs of staff were V. F. Orel (28 July–4 August 1918); M. M. Lashevich (5–7 August 1918); Iu. Iu. Aplok (7–31 August 1918); M. I. Alafuzo (31 August 1918–26 August 1919 and 7 October–9 November 1919); I. I. Gerasimov (temporary, 26 August–6 October and 10–26 November 1919); V. V. Liubimov (temporary, 27 November–19 December 1919); and E. N. Sergeev (19 December 1919–15 January 1920).