75th Guards Rifle Division
Encyclopedia
The 75th Guards Rifle Division (Russian
: 75-я гвардейская стрелковая дивизия 75-ya gvardyeĭskaya strelkovaya diviziya) was a Red Army
infantry division
during World War II
and afterwards, which later became the 75th Guards Tank Division and was finally disbanded in the 1990s.
area in September 1942 on the basis of units of the 13th Motor Rifle Division of the NKVD
, as the 95th Rifle Division (II Formation).
Its structure included the 90th, 161st, and 241st Rifle Regiments, the 57th Artillery Regiment and other smaller units.
with the Stalingrad Front
and South Eastern Front, in heavy street fighting. For courage and the heroism in this fighting, on 1 March 1943 the Division became 75th Guards Rifle Division (212, 231 and 241st Guards Rifle, 159th Guards Artillery Regiments and other smaller units).
In July - August 1943, as part of the 13th Army
of the Central Front the Division fought in the Battle of Kursk
. Facing one of the main German thrust (the Ponyri 2 area), several divisional units resisted the German attack effectively and persistently. For its exemplary fighting performance the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner
on 21 July 1943. The division's soldiers then successfully helped clear left-bank Ukraine during the Chernigov
-Pripyatsk (Черниговско-Припятской) operations of the Soviet Central Front
. For helping clear Bakhmach
the division was given the honourable name Bakhmach (Бахмачской) on 9 September 1943. On 25 September 1943 parts of the division forced the river Dnepr in the Tarasovichi area, seized a bridgehead and during October, fought intensely to expand it. For courage shown in battle 63 soldiers of the division were made Heroes of the Soviet Union
, and 829 recognised with awards and medals.
In November 1943, the division as part of the 60th Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front
took part in the Kiev offensive operation. From January to July 1944 the division fought as part of the 65th Army of the Belarus (from 17.2.1944 1st Belarussian
) Front, and for exemplary fighting performance it was awarded the Order of Suvorov
, 2nd class, on 15 January 1944. In the Belarus operation of 1944, operating as part of the first echelon of the 65th Army, the division together with other formations broke the German defense and in persistent fighting seized Parichami (Паричами). The division then participated in the destruction of the German pocket in the Bobruisk area, cleared the city of Baranovichi
and was given the Order of the Red Banner
for a second time on 5 July 1944. Since August 1944 the division operated most of the time with 61st Army. As part of the 3rd and 1st Baltic Fronts, the division participated in clearing the Soviet Baltic region, and then fought in in the Vistula-Oder
and East Prussian
operations and the Battle of Berlin
as part of the 1st Belorussian Front
.
During the war years, about 14,000 of the Division's soldiers were awarded awards and medals, including 74 which were made Heroes of the Soviet Union. Colonel V.A.Gorishny (made General-major on 1.3.1943) commanded the division throughout the war.
Order of Suvorov
Division has joined 75th Guards Rifle Division.
On June 12, 1946, 75th Guards Rifle Division was transformed into the 17th Guards Rifle Brigade.
The brigade, stationed at Tula, was transferred in the summer of 1946 to 13th Guards Rifle Кёнигсбергский Corps. The brigade was relocated from Tula to Kaluga. In the city of Tula the Brigade released barracks for he 106th Guards Airborne Division which had arrived from the Tejkovskogo area of the Ivanovo region. In May, 1946 the brigade was relocated from the city of Kaluga to the city of Dorogobuzh in the Smolensk area.
The headquarters of 13th Guards Rifle Corps was relocated in the summer of 1946 to the city of Moscow
. On April, 15th, 1947 the brigade has been relocated from the city of Kaluga
in the city of Ryazan
and was a part of 1st Guards Rifle Corps.
In August – October 1948, the brigade was sent from Ryazan to the cities of Kharkov and Chuguev in the Kiev Military District
, having released barracks areas for the 11th Guards Airborne Division.
In 1952 the Division was reformed from 17th Guards Rifle Brigade, and later became the 64th Guards Mechanised Division, incorporating the 160th, 205th, and 216th Guards Mechanised Regiments, and the 25th Tank Regiment. Later the Division
became the 75th Guards Tank Division, with the 187th MRR, 283rd Guards Tank Regiment, and 25th and 380th Tank Regiments. It served for years in the Kiev MD as part of the 6th Guards Tank Army
, and finally disbanded in the late 1980s as part of the Gorbachev-inspired reductions. It was disbanded by November 1989.
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
: 75-я гвардейская стрелковая дивизия 75-ya gvardyeĭskaya strelkovaya diviziya) was a 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...
infantry division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and afterwards, which later became the 75th Guards Tank Division and was finally disbanded in the 1990s.
Background
The Division was formed in the TulaTula, Russia
Tula is an industrial city and the administrative center of Tula Oblast, Russia. It is located south of Moscow, on the Upa River. Population: -History:...
area in September 1942 on the basis of units of the 13th Motor Rifle Division of the NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
, as the 95th Rifle Division (II Formation).
Its structure included the 90th, 161st, and 241st Rifle Regiments, the 57th Artillery Regiment and other smaller units.
World War II
On 18 September 1942 the division saw combat for the first time, at Stalingrad, where it fought for more than 4 months as part of the 62nd Army62nd Army (Soviet Union)
The 62nd Order of Lenin Army was a field army established by the Soviet Union's Red Army during the Second World War. Formed as the 7th Reserve Army as part of the Stavka Reserve in May 1942, the formation was designated as the 62nd Rifle Army the following month...
with the Stalingrad Front
Stalingrad Front
The Stalingrad Front was a front of the Soviet Union's Red Army during the Second World War. The name indicated the primary geographical region in which the Front first fought, based on the city of Stalingrad on the Volga River....
and South Eastern Front, in heavy street fighting. For courage and the heroism in this fighting, on 1 March 1943 the Division became 75th Guards Rifle Division (212, 231 and 241st Guards Rifle, 159th Guards Artillery Regiments and other smaller units).
In July - August 1943, as part of the 13th Army
13th Army (Soviet Union)
The 13th Army was a name given to several field armies of the Soviet Union's Red Army, first created during the Russian Civil War...
of the Central Front the Division fought in the Battle of Kursk
Battle of Kursk
The Battle of Kursk took place when German and Soviet forces confronted each other on the Eastern Front during World War II in the vicinity of the city of Kursk, in the Soviet Union in July and August 1943. It remains both the largest series of armored clashes, including the Battle of Prokhorovka,...
. Facing one of the main German thrust (the Ponyri 2 area), several divisional units resisted the German attack effectively and persistently. For its exemplary fighting performance the division 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...
on 21 July 1943. The division's soldiers then successfully helped clear left-bank Ukraine during the Chernigov
Chernihiv
Chernihiv or Chernigov is a historic city in northern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Chernihiv Oblast , as well as of the surrounding Chernihivskyi Raion within the oblast...
-Pripyatsk (Черниговско-Припятской) operations of the Soviet Central Front
Soviet Central Front
The Central Front was a Front of the Soviet Army during the Second World War.The Central Front describes either of two distinct organizations during the war...
. For helping clear Bakhmach
Bakhmach
Bakhmach is a city located in the Chernihiv Oblast , in northern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Bakhmatsky Raion , and is located at around . As of January 1, 2005, the city's population is 20,300.-History:...
the division was given the honourable name Bakhmach (Бахмачской) on 9 September 1943. On 25 September 1943 parts of the division forced the river Dnepr in the Tarasovichi area, seized a bridgehead and during October, fought intensely to expand it. For courage shown in battle 63 soldiers of the division were made Heroes 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:...
, and 829 recognised with awards and medals.
In November 1943, the division as part of the 60th Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front
1st Ukrainian Front
The 1st Ukrainian Front was a front—a force the size of a Western Army group—of the Soviet Union's Red Army during the Second World War.-Wartime:...
took part in the Kiev offensive operation. From January to July 1944 the division fought as part of the 65th Army of the Belarus (from 17.2.1944 1st Belarussian
1st Belorussian Front
The 1st Belorussian Front was a Front of the Soviet Army during World War II...
) Front, and for exemplary fighting performance it was awarded the Order of Suvorov
Order of Suvorov
The Order of Suvorov is a Soviet award, named after Aleksandr Suvorov , that was established on July 29, 1942 by a decision of the Presidium of Supreme Soviet of the USSR. This decoration was created to award senior army personnel for exceptional leadership in combat operations...
, 2nd class, on 15 January 1944. In the Belarus operation of 1944, operating as part of the first echelon of the 65th Army, the division together with other formations broke the German defense and in persistent fighting seized Parichami (Паричами). The division then participated in the destruction of the German pocket in the Bobruisk area, cleared the city of Baranovichi
Baranovichi
Baranovichi , is a city in the Brest Province of western Belarus with a population of 173,000. It is a significant railway junction and home to a state university.-Overview:...
and was given 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 a second time on 5 July 1944. Since August 1944 the division operated most of the time with 61st Army. As part of the 3rd and 1st Baltic Fronts, the division participated in clearing the Soviet Baltic region, and then fought in in the Vistula-Oder
Vistula-Oder Offensive
The Vistula–Oder Offensive was a successful Red Army operation on the Eastern Front in the European Theatre of World War II; it took place between 12 January and 2 February 1945...
and East Prussian
East Prussian Offensive
The East Prussian Offensive was a strategic offensive by the Red Army against the German Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front . It lasted from 13 January to 25 April 1945, though some German units did not surrender until 9 May...
operations and the Battle of Berlin
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....
as part of the 1st Belorussian Front
1st Belorussian Front
The 1st Belorussian Front was a Front of the Soviet Army during World War II...
.
During the war years, about 14,000 of the Division's soldiers were awarded awards and medals, including 74 which were made Heroes of the Soviet Union. Colonel V.A.Gorishny (made General-major on 1.3.1943) commanded the division throughout the war.
Postwar
Between February and April 1946, the Division was relocated in the cities of Tula and Plavsk in place of the disbanded 267th Rifle Division of 1st Guards Rifle Corps. The staff of 267th Rifle Сивашской Order of the Red BannerOrder 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...
Order of Suvorov
Order of Suvorov
The Order of Suvorov is a Soviet award, named after Aleksandr Suvorov , that was established on July 29, 1942 by a decision of the Presidium of Supreme Soviet of the USSR. This decoration was created to award senior army personnel for exceptional leadership in combat operations...
Division has joined 75th Guards Rifle Division.
On June 12, 1946, 75th Guards Rifle Division was transformed into the 17th Guards Rifle Brigade.
The brigade, stationed at Tula, was transferred in the summer of 1946 to 13th Guards Rifle Кёнигсбергский Corps. The brigade was relocated from Tula to Kaluga. In the city of Tula the Brigade released barracks for he 106th Guards Airborne Division which had arrived from the Tejkovskogo area of the Ivanovo region. In May, 1946 the brigade was relocated from the city of Kaluga to the city of Dorogobuzh in the Smolensk area.
The headquarters of 13th Guards Rifle Corps was relocated in the summer of 1946 to the city of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. On April, 15th, 1947 the brigade has been relocated from the city of Kaluga
Kaluga
Kaluga is a city and the administrative center of Kaluga Oblast, Russia, located on the Oka River southwest of Moscow. Population: It is served by Grabtsevo Airport.-History:...
in the city of Ryazan
Ryazan
Ryazan is a city and the administrative center of Ryazan Oblast, Russia. It is located on the Oka River southeast of Moscow. Population: The strategic bomber base Dyagilevo is just west of the city, and the air base of Alexandrovo is to the southeast as is the Ryazan Turlatovo Airport...
and was a part of 1st Guards Rifle Corps.
In August – October 1948, the brigade was sent from Ryazan to the cities of Kharkov and Chuguev in the Kiev Military District
Kiev Military District
The Kiev Military District was a Russian unit of military-administrative division of the Imperial Russian Army and subsequently of the Ukrainian Army, RKKA, and Soviet Armed Forces...
, having released barracks areas for the 11th Guards Airborne Division.
In 1952 the Division was reformed from 17th Guards Rifle Brigade, and later became the 64th Guards Mechanised Division, incorporating the 160th, 205th, and 216th Guards Mechanised Regiments, and the 25th Tank Regiment. Later the Division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
became the 75th Guards Tank Division, with the 187th MRR, 283rd Guards Tank Regiment, and 25th and 380th Tank Regiments. It served for years in the Kiev MD as part of the 6th Guards Tank Army
6th Guards Tank Army
The 6th Guards Order of Red Banner Tank Army was a tank army of the Soviet Union's Red Army, first formed during World War II and disbanded in Ukraine in the 1990s after the dissolution of the Soviet Union....
, and finally disbanded in the late 1980s as part of the Gorbachev-inspired reductions. It was disbanded by November 1989.
Sources and references
- Soldat.ru forum data on history of division
- Aberjona Press, 'Slaughterhouse: The Handbook of the Eastern Front'
- Feskov et al., 'The Soviet Army during the period of the Cold War'
- External reference for infobox - notable commanders part:http://www.generals.dk/general/Gorishnii/Vasilii_Akimovich/Soviet_Union.html