Krasnoarmeysk () is a town in Saratov Oblast, Russia, located south of Saratov, the administrative center of the oblast. Population:
It was founded in 1764âÂÂ1766 as the German colony of Baltser (; ); the last name of one of the colonists. The other name of the colony was Goly Karamysh (), after the river on which it was located. The "Karamysh" part in the river's name means muddy, silty, smudgy, while the "Goly" part alludes to the steppes and the lack of forests in the area; cf. Lesnoy Karamysh River (lit. the Karamysh River in the forests).
In the mid-19th century, the double name of Goly Karamysh (Balzer) () was officially used, but it was shortened to just Baltser in 1926. Town status was granted in 1918. During World War II, the region was cleansed of German geographic names, with Baltser renamed Krasnoarmeysk (after the Red Army) in 1942.
Within the framework of administrative divisions, Krasnoarmeysk serves as the administrative center of Krasnoarmeysky District, even though it is not a part of it. As an administrative division, it is incorporated separately as Krasnoarmeysk Town Under Oblast JurisdictionâÂÂan administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts. As a municipal division, Krasnoarmeysk Town Under Oblast Jurisdiction is incorporated within Krasnoarmeysky Municipal District as Krasnoarmeysk Urban Settlement.