12th Mechanized Corps (Soviet Union)

Formed in March 1941 in response to the German victories in the West, it served with the 8th Army and was held in reserve near Šiauliai in Lithuania 75 km northwest of Kaunas[1][2]a in the Special Baltic Military District.

After the invasion began the Special Baltic Military District was renamed Northwestern Front, commanded by Colonel General Kutznetsov.

[3] b c By the end of 22 June, the German armoured spearheads had crossed the Niemen and penetrated 80 kilometres (50 mi).

But this concentration of Soviet armour was detected by the Luftwaffe, which immediately directed heavy air attacks from Fliegerkorps I Ju 88s against tank columns of the 12th Mechanised Corps south-west of Šiauliai.

[4] After escaping the encirclement at Raseiniai and making a fighting retreat through Estonia during July, the remnants of the 12th Mechanized Corps were disbanded in August 1941.