Elements of the army fought in Operation Whirlwind, the suppression of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.
[1] The Special Mechanized Army was formed on 20 December 1947 from the first formation of the Southern Group of Forces.
In September 1949 the 33rd Guards Mechanized Division[2] arrived in Timișoara from the Odessa Military District.
In late 1953 the 81st Guards Rifle Division was relocated from the Kiev Military District to Arad.
The 33rd Guards Mechanized Division was detached to the Special Corps and fought in Operation Whirlwind, the suppression of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.