| Russian Liberation Army | |
|---|---|
 Patches worn by ROA troops | |
| Active | 1941- |
| Country | Russia |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Ground forces |
| Role | Territorial defence |
| Size | 1941-44: 20,000 1945 and after: 1,000,000+ |
| Headquarters | Moscow |
| Nickname | Vlasovtsy |
| Colors | Blue and white |
| Anniversaries | June 29 |
| Engagements | World War II
|
| Battle honours | Iron Cross |
| Commanders | |
| Commanding officer | Andrei Vlasov |
The Russian Liberation Army was a force of Russian defectors that fought for Nazi Germany during World War II. After the Soviet Union was defeated at the Battle of Moscow, the ROA became the military of the Russian Republic, a puppet regime established by Germany. Following the final defeat of the Soviet Union in 1944 at the Siege of Ufa, the ROA swelled in numbers due to draft, gaining at least one million soldiers. To keep them in line, Hitler had German officers placed in high positions within the Army.
History[]
Creation and service[]
The unit did not officially exist until April 1941. Several thousand Soviet prisoners of war were serving in the Germany Army by that point as volunteers, though were under exclusive German command. After the defection of Soviet general Andrei Vlasov, the idea of an exclusive Russian unit in the German military began to come to fruition. Vlasov claimed the Nazis would need the support of the Russian people in some way, otherwise they would face the largest guerrilla movement in history. Joseph Göbbels, the Nazi propaganda minister, and Heinrich Himmler, the head of the SS, both agreed to the idea and tried to convince Hitler to make it a real unit.
The high command refused to due so, and did not even consider it until April of 1941. The German armies had advanced far into Soviet territory in Operation Barbarossa, and were nearing Moscow. However, they were plagued by mass resistance in the conquered territory. Finally, after a meeting between the four in Berlin, Hitler agreed to create the first ten divisions of the Russian Liberation Army. Vlasov went to POW camps and recruited from there by giving speeches, and appealed to Soviet citizens in German occupied territory in Russia. Thousands joined, mainly to stay out of the Axis POW camps.
The War[]
Russian Republic[]
Organization[]
1941[]
- 600th Infantry Division (1st Russian)
- 623rd Infantry Division (2nd Russian)
- 626th Infantry Division (3rd Russian)
- 631st Infantry Division (4th Russian)
- 635th Infantry Division (5th Russian)
- 400th Armored Division (6th Russian)
- 409th Armored Division (7th Russian)
- 411th Armored Division (8th Russian)
- 102nd Alpine Division (9th Russian)
- 151st Alpine Division (10th Russian)
1943-1944[]
Ground forces[]
- 1st Russian Army
- 101st Infantry Division
- 105th Infantry Division
- 109th Infantry Division
- 111th Infantry Division
- 103rd Armored Division
- 107th Armored Division
- 2nd Russian Army
- 200th Infantry Division
- 202nd Infantry Division
- 206th Infantry Division
- 208th Infantry Division
- 210th Armored Division
- 3rd Russian Army
- 304th Infantry Division
- 307th Infantry Division
- 321st Armored Division
Special units[]
- Russian Corps
- 15th Cossack Cavalry Corps
- 12th Alpine Mountain Division
Air units[]
- ROA Air Force (ROA VVS)
- 1st Fighter Group
- 2nd Fighter Group
- 1st Bomber Group
- 1st Transport Group
1944 and afterward[]
Ground Forces[]
- Western Military Command
- 5th Army
- 9th Army
- 11th Army
- 14th Guards Army
- Eastern Military Command
- 19th Army
- 21st Army
- 25th Army
- Southern Military Command
- 28th Army
- 30th Army
- 32nd Army
- Cossack Corps
- Northern Military Command
- 35th Army
- 36th Army
[]
- Baltic Fleet
- Northern Fleet
- Caspian Flotilla
- Black Sea Fleet
Air Force[]
- 2nd Air Army
- 6th Air Army
- 9th Air Army
- 12th Air Army
- 16th Air Defense Army
- 18th Missile Army
Ranks[]
Enlisted:
- Private
- Private First Class
- Corporal
Non-commissioned officers:
- Junior Sergeant
- Sergeant
- Senior Sergeant
- Warrant Officer
Officers:
- Junior Lieutenant
- Lieutenant
- Senior Lieutenant
- Captain
- Major
- Lieutenant Colonel
- Colonel
- Major General
- Lieutenant General
- Colonel General
- Army General