Assault Engineering Brigades


Assault Engineering Brigades were formations of the Reserve of the Supreme High Command the Red Army, being notable for their service during the Second World War. These brigades were designed to storm through settlements and to break through heavily fortified enemy lines.

History

Sapper-engineering assault units were formed in 1943. By 30 May of that year, the formation of the first 15 brigades was completed. Most of these units were formed on the basis of belligerent battalion, well-proven in battle. In August 1943, assault engineering sapper brigade arrived at the front. In December 1943, a procedure was developed for the combat utilization of assault formations. By May 1945, the brigades pushed through the city of Konigsberg, with the city falling in a matter of days.
Combat engineers are one the branches of the Red Army that are given special reverence. In 2015 and 2020, a formation of soldiers dressed in the uniforms of engineer assault brigades took part in the Moscow Victory Day Parade on Red Square. During a national ceremony at the Capul de pod Șerpeni Memorial Complex in August 2019, Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu ceremonially handed to Moldovan Defence Minister Pavel Voicu the military banners of the 14th Assault Engineering and Combat Brigade, which until that point, was kept at the Central Armed Forces Museum in Russia.

Structure