6th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)
Encyclopedia
The 6th Rifle Division was a Soviet
military unit. They participated in several battles, most notably the Soviet westward offensive of 1918–1919 and Estonian War of Independence. From their inception the unit saw combat and had three periods of active service. They were also awarded the Order of the Red Banner
for combat valor.
, This is in a province known as Petrograd. It was volunteers from East Dybenko, Petrograd, Red Guards from the regular Army, and workers from the city of Narva
who formed the original unit. Its official designation upon activation was the Gatchina
Infantry Division. From May into November 1918, the division was deployed in the vicinity of Ivangorod
. In November 1919 the Division attacked Narva with the Red Army
, starting the Estonian War of Independence. This was part of the Soviet westward offensive, a campaign to conquer the Baltic states
and Belarus
. The unit was redesignated twice during this campaign. First on July 24, 1918 to the 3rd Petrograd Infantry Division and then again on November 2, 1918 to the 6th Rifle Division.
The Division defended Petrograd alongside the Red Army. In May and June 1919, with forces under the command of Nikolay Yudenich, the first assault was repelled. Forces were then consolidated in preparation for a second wave of attacks. Defense of the Yamburg area was abandoned on August 5, 1919, favoring defense of the Petrograd. In autumn 1919, the rifle division repelled the Krasnaya Gorka
offensive of the Estonian 1st division. The target of the operation serves as a fort for the Russian Army to this day.
The 6th Rifle Division then saw action in the campaign to conquer the city of Narva. This was a homecoming of sorts for the Division, as many of its members were workers from the city. The operation lasted from November through December 1919. The Estonian 1st Division and the White Russian
Northwestern Division were pushed beyond the border between the Soviet Republic and Estonia, and the Division actively guarded the border from January until May 1920.
In May and June the Division was called to participate in an offensive against Poland
. By July and August the fighting was intensifying in the Dokshitsy region. By September the offensive was deep into Poland around the Warsaw
region. The battle had now moved to areas around the city of Grodno. On July 22nd, 1920 the division took part in forcing the Niemen River during the First Battle of the Niemen River. The division pushed back the Polish-led 1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Infantry Division
in the vicinity of Mosty
. Although ultimately stopped by the Polish 81st Grodno Rifles Infantry Regiment, the Russian unit forced the Poles to retreat and abandon their lines.
Following the Polish summer retreat towards Vistula, the division was in pursuit of the Polish forces. On August 9th it captured Wyszków
and then advanced north of Bug, Narew and Vistula towards Łomża. The town fell to the Russians, but a successful counter-attack on Łomża carried out by Polish 59th Greater Polish Infantry Regiment recaptured the town. The Russian division lost many prisoners of war
. Following the battle of Warsaw
the 6th Rifle Division was defeated. Recreated as part of the Russian defences along the Niemen river, it took part in the Second Battle of the Niemen River
. Defeated east of Wilejka by Polish cavalry
, it was surrounded and completely eliminated. The Poles captured its' headquarters, tabor
, 13 field kitchen
s and the remaining two pieces of artillery, as well as all commanding officers of the division's regiments.
The unit was later re-created behind the front. On December 6, 1921 the official designation for this unit became the 6th Oryol Rifle Division. They were recognized for their combat success and were awarded the Order of the Red Banner
. This award is for Russian citizens who exhibit heroism in combat or other extraordinary accomplishments of military valor during combat operations. In 1939 the Division assumed a trainer status and split into separate cadres. They were responsible for training the 122nd and the 180th Rifle Divisions.
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic , commonly referred to as Soviet Russia, Bolshevik Russia, or simply Russia, was the largest, most populous and economically developed republic in the former Soviet Union....
military unit. They participated in several battles, most notably the Soviet westward offensive of 1918–1919 and Estonian War of Independence. From their inception the unit saw combat and had three periods of active service. They were also 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...
for combat valor.
First formation
The Division was first formed May 3, 1918 in the city of GdovGdov
Gdov is a town and the administrative center of Gdovsky District of Pskov Oblast, Russia, situated on the Gdovka River, just from its outflow into Lake Peipus. Population:...
, This is in a province known as Petrograd. It was volunteers from East Dybenko, Petrograd, Red Guards from the regular Army, and workers from the city of Narva
Narva
Narva is the third largest city in Estonia. It is located at the eastern extreme point of Estonia, by the Russian border, on the Narva River which drains Lake Peipus.-Early history:...
who formed the original unit. Its official designation upon activation was the Gatchina
Gatchina
Gatchina is a town and the administrative center of Gatchinsky District of Leningrad Oblast, Russia, located south of St. Petersburg by the road leading to Pskov...
Infantry Division. From May into November 1918, the division was deployed in the vicinity of Ivangorod
Ivangorod
Ivangorod is a town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, situated on the right bank of the Narva River by the Russian-Estonian border, west of St. Petersburg. Population: The town is known for the Ivangorod fortress....
. In November 1919 the Division attacked Narva with 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...
, starting the Estonian War of Independence. This was part of the Soviet westward offensive, a campaign to conquer the Baltic states
Baltic states
The term Baltic states refers to the Baltic territories which gained independence from the Russian Empire in the wake of World War I: primarily the contiguous trio of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania ; Finland also fell within the scope of the term after initially gaining independence in the 1920s.The...
and Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
. The unit was redesignated twice during this campaign. First on July 24, 1918 to the 3rd Petrograd Infantry Division and then again on November 2, 1918 to the 6th Rifle Division.
The Division defended Petrograd alongside the Red Army. In May and June 1919, with forces under the command of Nikolay Yudenich, the first assault was repelled. Forces were then consolidated in preparation for a second wave of attacks. Defense of the Yamburg area was abandoned on August 5, 1919, favoring defense of the Petrograd. In autumn 1919, the rifle division repelled the Krasnaya Gorka
Krasnaya Gorka fort
Krasnaya Gorka is a coastal artillery fortress west of Lomonosov, Russia on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, opposite Kotlin Island and the Baltic Fleet's base at Kronshtadt...
offensive of the Estonian 1st division. The target of the operation serves as a fort for the Russian Army to this day.
The 6th Rifle Division then saw action in the campaign to conquer the city of Narva. This was a homecoming of sorts for the Division, as many of its members were workers from the city. The operation lasted from November through December 1919. The Estonian 1st Division and the White Russian
White movement
The White movement and its military arm the White Army - known as the White Guard or the Whites - was a loose confederation of Anti-Communist forces.The movement comprised one of the politico-military Russian forces who fought...
Northwestern Division were pushed beyond the border between the Soviet Republic and Estonia, and the Division actively guarded the border from January until May 1920.
In May and June the Division was called to participate in an offensive against Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. By July and August the fighting was intensifying in the Dokshitsy region. By September the offensive was deep into Poland around the Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
region. The battle had now moved to areas around the city of Grodno. On July 22nd, 1920 the division took part in forcing the Niemen River during the First Battle of the Niemen River. The division pushed back the Polish-led 1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Infantry Division
1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Infantry Division
The 1st Lithuanian–Belarusian Division was a volunteer unit of the Polish Army formed around December 1918 and January 1919 during the Polish–Soviet War...
in the vicinity of Mosty
Mosty
Mosty may refer to:* Dlouhé Mosty, part of Františkovy Lázně, Czech Republic* Mosty u Českého Těšína, village near Český Těšín, Czech Republic, now part of that town* Mosty u Jablunkova, village in Frýdek-Místek District, Czech Republic...
. Although ultimately stopped by the Polish 81st Grodno Rifles Infantry Regiment, the Russian unit forced the Poles to retreat and abandon their lines.
Following the Polish summer retreat towards Vistula, the division was in pursuit of the Polish forces. On August 9th it captured Wyszków
Wyszków
Wyszków is a town in northeastern Poland with 26,500 inhabitants . It is the capital of Wyszków County . Wyszków is situated in the Masovian Voivodeship ; previously it was in Warsaw Voivodeship and Ostrołęka Voivodeship .-Description:The village of Wyszków was first documented in 1203. The town...
and then advanced north of Bug, Narew and Vistula towards Łomża. The town fell to the Russians, but a successful counter-attack on Łomża carried out by Polish 59th Greater Polish Infantry Regiment recaptured the town. The Russian division lost many prisoners of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
. Following the battle of Warsaw
Battle of Warsaw (1920)
The Battle of Warsaw sometimes referred to as the Miracle at the Vistula, was the decisive battle of the Polish–Soviet War. That war began soon after the end of World War I in 1918 and lasted until the Treaty of Riga resulted in the end of the hostilities between Poland and Russia in 1921.The...
the 6th Rifle Division was defeated. Recreated as part of the Russian defences along the Niemen river, it took part in the Second Battle of the Niemen River
Battle of the Niemen River
The Battle of the Niemen River was the second-greatest battle of the Polish-Soviet War. It took place near the middle Neman River between the cities of Suwałki, Grodno and Białystok...
. Defeated east of Wilejka by Polish cavalry
Polish cavalry
The Polish cavalry can trace its origins back to the days of Medieval mounted knights. Poland had always been a country of flatlands and fields and mounted forces operate well in this environment...
, it was surrounded and completely eliminated. The Poles captured its' headquarters, tabor
Tabor
-Places:* Mount Tabor * Tábor, Czech Republic** Taborite, member of a 15th century Czech religious group considered heretical by the Roman Catholic Church* Tabor, Slovenia, town and municipality...
, 13 field kitchen
Field kitchen
Field kitchen is a mobile kitchen, mobile canteens or food truck used primarily by military services to provide warm food to the troops near the frontline or in temporary encampments.-Form:...
s and the remaining two pieces of artillery, as well as all commanding officers of the division's regiments.
The unit was later re-created behind the front. On December 6, 1921 the official designation for this unit became the 6th Oryol Rifle Division. They were recognized for their combat success and were 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...
. This award is for Russian citizens who exhibit heroism in combat or other extraordinary accomplishments of military valor during combat operations. In 1939 the Division assumed a trainer status and split into separate cadres. They were responsible for training the 122nd and the 180th Rifle Divisions.