The 20th Guards Tank Brigade, of the 5th Tank Guards Corps, traces its origins back to the 40th Tank Division, formed from separate tank battalions in the Kiev Special Military District on March 11, 1941. After attempting to stop the Germans near Dubno, the remnants were withdrawn to the Caucasus to form the 45th Tank Brigade. After nearly a year of reorganizing and training, the 45th participated in the battles of Voronezh and Stalingrad. Again being assigned to the Voronezh Front, the brigade earned Guards status asthe 20th Guards Tank Brigade. Freeing Kharkov and taking part in the Kursk battles, the brigade continued to advance westward. The brigade would eventually play a key role in liberating Budapest and Vienna from the Axis.