120th Guards Mechanised Brigade
Encyclopedia
The 120th Guards Mechanised Brigade is a mechanised infantry brigade
of the Belarusian Ground Forces. It is the heir to the traditions of the Red Army
120th Guards Rifle Division which became the 120th Guards Motor Rifle Division around 1957.
The 120th Guards Rifle Division was formed by redesignation of the Red Army's 308th Rifle Division (2nd formation). The 308th Rifle Division (2nd formation) was formed in accordance with Order Number 0044 of the Siberian Military District
dated 21 March 1942. It was formed at Omsk in the Siberian Military District, using 20% Red Army men (active duty), 25% returning wounded veterans, 25% reservists from industry, and 30% new recruits from the classes of 1922-23. Most of the recruits and reservists came from the Omsk and Krasnoyarsk oblasts.
As the 308th Rifle Division, the unit had two commanders. Colonel Leontii Nikolaevich Gurt'ev took over the division on 1 March 1942, was promoted to Major General on 7 December 1942, and was killed in action at Pamanlovo on 3 August 1943. For his actions in taking that town, he became a Hero of the Soviet Union
posthumously on 27 August 1943. His successor as division commander was Colonel Nikolai Kuz'mich Maslennikov, who took over officially on 4 August 1943 and was promoted to Major General on 22 September 1943. Maslennikov was commander until the 308th became the 120th Guards Rifle Division in September 1943.
The division had 12,133 officers and men when it was formed, and was initially assigned to the 8th Reserve Army in May 1942. On 1 June 1942 the division, still with the 8th Reserve Army, was at Saratov
. From August 29 to September 6, 1942 the division coveredt at least 300 km on foot. On 01/09/42 the 308th Rifle Division was part of the 24th Army in the area n.p Kotluban (районе н.п Котлубань).
The first fight in the division took the 24th Army on the territory of the state farm "Kotluban." Предстояло овладеть хутором Бородкин и высотами 133.4; 143.8 и 154.2. The division had to seize the hamlet of Borodkin and heights of 133.4, 143.8 and 154.2. Дивизию поддерживали войска 217 танковой бригады, 136 минометного, 1936 тяжелого артиллерийского полка, четырех дивизионов «PC». Division troops backed 217 Tank Brigade, 136 mortars, heavy artillery regiment in 1936, four battalions «PC». Противник обрушил на войска дивизии мощный огонь артиллерии, минометов, авиации, танков. The enemy forces unleashed on the division powerful artillery fire, mortars, aircraft and tanks.
By the second half of September the division had been reassigned to the 1st Guards Army. With the end of the September offensive fighting north of Stalingrad the 1st Guards Army was disbanded, which included the division. On the first of October 1942 it was part of 62nd Army. In the fighting at Stalingrad the division arrived came on the night of October 2, 1942 under Colonel Leontii Gurtev. As part of General VI Chuikov's 62nd Army, the division seized positions in the area of the "Barricades" plant.
For its actions at Stalingrad September to December 1942 it was awarded the Order of the Red Banner by an order dated 19 June 1943.
From May 1943 the division was part of the 3rd Army. On 29 September 1943 the division became the 120th Guards Rifle Division in accordance with NKO Order Number 285.
In mid-July 1944 the divisional commander, Major General Ia. Ia. Fogel, was killed in action. The 120th Guards was frequently assigned to the 41st Rifle Corps, 3rd Army, during the war.
By the end of the war the division had participated in the Battle of Stalingrad, Orel, Bryansk, Gomel - Rechitsa, Rogachev - Zhlobin
, Belarusian, the East Prussian and the Berlin offensive operation
s. For services in battle the division was awarded the honorary title "Rogachev" (February 1944), was awarded the Order of the Red Banner
, Suvorov 2nd Class and Kutuzov 2nd class, over 18 thousand of its soldiers awarded orders and medals, eight were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
It appears that the division was reorganised as the 120th Guards Motor Rifle Division around 1957. The division had its headquarters at Uruchche, and included the 335th Guards Tank Regiment, the 334th Guards and 339th Guards MRRs, the 356th MRR, the 310th Guards Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment, and the 1045th Guards Anti-Aircraft Rocket Regiment. And after the fall of the Soviet Union, it became part of the Belarusian Ground Forces. It is now stationed at Uruchcha, one of the microraions of Minsk. One of its regiments was reassigned to the Belarusian Internal Troops
. At some point during the 1990s it appears that the division was reorganised as the 120th Guards Mechanised Brigade.
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
of the Belarusian Ground Forces. It is the heir to the traditions of the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
120th Guards Rifle Division which became the 120th Guards Motor Rifle Division around 1957.
The 120th Guards Rifle Division was formed by redesignation of the Red Army's 308th Rifle Division (2nd formation). The 308th Rifle Division (2nd formation) was formed in accordance with Order Number 0044 of the Siberian Military District
Siberian Military District
The Siberian Military District was a Military district of the Russian Ground Forces. In 2010 it was divided between the two newly formed Central and Eastern Military Districts.- History :...
dated 21 March 1942. It was formed at Omsk in the Siberian Military District, using 20% Red Army men (active duty), 25% returning wounded veterans, 25% reservists from industry, and 30% new recruits from the classes of 1922-23. Most of the recruits and reservists came from the Omsk and Krasnoyarsk oblasts.
As the 308th Rifle Division, the unit had two commanders. Colonel Leontii Nikolaevich Gurt'ev took over the division on 1 March 1942, was promoted to Major General on 7 December 1942, and was killed in action at Pamanlovo on 3 August 1943. For his actions in taking that town, he became a Hero of the Soviet Union
Hero of the Soviet Union
The title Hero of the Soviet Union was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society.-Overview:...
posthumously on 27 August 1943. His successor as division commander was Colonel Nikolai Kuz'mich Maslennikov, who took over officially on 4 August 1943 and was promoted to Major General on 22 September 1943. Maslennikov was commander until the 308th became the 120th Guards Rifle Division in September 1943.
The division had 12,133 officers and men when it was formed, and was initially assigned to the 8th Reserve Army in May 1942. On 1 June 1942 the division, still with the 8th Reserve Army, was at Saratov
Saratov
-Modern Saratov:The Saratov region is highly industrialized, due in part to the rich in natural and industrial resources of the area. The region is also one of the more important and largest cultural and scientific centres in Russia...
. From August 29 to September 6, 1942 the division coveredt at least 300 km on foot. On 01/09/42 the 308th Rifle Division was part of the 24th Army in the area n.p Kotluban (районе н.п Котлубань).
The first fight in the division took the 24th Army on the territory of the state farm "Kotluban." Предстояло овладеть хутором Бородкин и высотами 133.4; 143.8 и 154.2. The division had to seize the hamlet of Borodkin and heights of 133.4, 143.8 and 154.2. Дивизию поддерживали войска 217 танковой бригады, 136 минометного, 1936 тяжелого артиллерийского полка, четырех дивизионов «PC». Division troops backed 217 Tank Brigade, 136 mortars, heavy artillery regiment in 1936, four battalions «PC». Противник обрушил на войска дивизии мощный огонь артиллерии, минометов, авиации, танков. The enemy forces unleashed on the division powerful artillery fire, mortars, aircraft and tanks.
By the second half of September the division had been reassigned to the 1st Guards Army. With the end of the September offensive fighting north of Stalingrad the 1st Guards Army was disbanded, which included the division. On the first of October 1942 it was part of 62nd Army. In the fighting at Stalingrad the division arrived came on the night of October 2, 1942 under Colonel Leontii Gurtev. As part of General VI Chuikov's 62nd Army, the division seized positions in the area of the "Barricades" plant.
For its actions at Stalingrad September to December 1942 it was awarded the Order of the Red Banner by an order dated 19 June 1943.
From May 1943 the division was part of the 3rd Army. On 29 September 1943 the division became the 120th Guards Rifle Division in accordance with NKO Order Number 285.
In mid-July 1944 the divisional commander, Major General Ia. Ia. Fogel, was killed in action. The 120th Guards was frequently assigned to the 41st Rifle Corps, 3rd Army, during the war.
By the end of the war the division had participated in the Battle of Stalingrad, Orel, Bryansk, Gomel - Rechitsa, Rogachev - Zhlobin
Zhlobin
Zhlobin is a city in the Homiel Voblast of Belarus, on the Dnieper river. As of 2005, the population is 75.866. The town was first mentioned in writing in 1492....
, Belarusian, the East Prussian and the Berlin offensive operation
Battle of Berlin
The Battle of Berlin, designated the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation by the Soviet Union, was the final major offensive of the European Theatre of World War II....
s. For services in battle the division was awarded the honorary title "Rogachev" (February 1944), was awarded the Order of the Red Banner
Order of the Red Banner
The Soviet government of Russia established the Order of the Red Banner , a military decoration, on September 16, 1918 during the Russian Civil War...
, Suvorov 2nd Class and Kutuzov 2nd class, over 18 thousand of its soldiers awarded orders and medals, eight were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
It appears that the division was reorganised as the 120th Guards Motor Rifle Division around 1957. The division had its headquarters at Uruchche, and included the 335th Guards Tank Regiment, the 334th Guards and 339th Guards MRRs, the 356th MRR, the 310th Guards Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment, and the 1045th Guards Anti-Aircraft Rocket Regiment. And after the fall of the Soviet Union, it became part of the Belarusian Ground Forces. It is now stationed at Uruchcha, one of the microraions of Minsk. One of its regiments was reassigned to the Belarusian Internal Troops
Internal Troops
The Internal Troops, full name Internal Troops of the Ministry for Internal Affairs ; alternatively translated as "Interior " is a paramilitary gendarmerie-like force in the now-defunct Soviet Union and its successor countries, particularly, in Russia, Ukraine, Georgia and Azerbaijan...
. At some point during the 1990s it appears that the division was reorganised as the 120th Guards Mechanised Brigade.