9th Infantry Division (Soviet Union)
Encyclopedia
The 9th Kursk Infantry Division was created on the 20 July 1918 as one of the first divisions of the Soviet Union during the Russian Civil War
. The division was stationed in the Caucasus region, later the Transcaucasian Military District
and soon renamed 9th Infantry, and later 9th Rifle division. In 1922 the division was renamed the 1st Caucasus ('Kavkaz') Rifle Division.
After service during the Civil War, during which the division changed its name numerous times, the division was awarded the honorific name "of the Central Executive Committee of the Georgian Soviet Socialist" in 1928.
For the 10th anniversary of Red Army on February 29, 1928 the division was awarded the Honored Revolutionary Order of the Red Banner
and added the Red Banner (Krasnoznamennaya) to its title.
During 1931 the division was reorganised into a mountain rifle division.
On 23 February 1936 the division was awarded the Order of Red Star and on the 23 February the name was slightly changed to "of the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic". In July of the same year the division was renamed again as the 9th Red Banner Mountain Rifle Division.
The division begun the war in the Transcaucasian Military District with the 40th Rifle Corps alongside the 31st Rifle Division.
During the war the division was at various times serving as part of the 46th, 37th, 56th, Separate Coastal
, 69th, 18th
, 5th Guards and 60th Armies. The division took part in the Battle of the Caucasus
. The division participated in the fighting for Feodosiya, Tuapse
, in the Kuban
and Taman Peninsula
, and Krakow
.
On September 3, 1943 for liberation of Kuban region and the capitol of the region, Krasnodar
, the division was awarded the honorary name “Krasnodarskaya”, and the division was reformed again and became known as the 9th Plastun
skaya Krasnodar Red Banner, Order of Red Star Rifle Division . Its enlisted and non-commissioned personnel came largely from the cossacks of the Kuban region.
During the period 1944 - 1945 the division participated in the Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive
(13.07-29.08.1944 also known as the 6th Stalin's Shock), and the liberation of Poland and Czechoslovakia for which in April 1945 the division was awarded the Order of Kutuzov
2nd class.
With 60th Army of the 4th Ukrainian Front
in May 1945.
Its full title in 1945 was Кrasnodar Red Banner, Order of Kutuzov
, Red Star им ВС Georgian SSR.
for many years.
On 12 September 1992 the division was reorganised as the 131st Separate Motor Rifle order of Kutuzov and Red Star Brigade of the 67th Army Corps, North Caucasus Military District
. The brigade participated in the First Chechen War
of 1994-96, including the New Year 1995 assault on Grozniy during the combat for the railway terminal where it suffered severe casualties in dead and wounded following an ambush by superior enemy numbers. The battle for Grozny
cost 157 casualties, including 24 officers (including Colonel Savin), one warrant officer and 60 NCOs and soldiers killed and 12 officers, one warrant officer and 59 NCOs and soldiers missing (presumed dead). The brigade also lost 22 T-72 tranks, 45 BMP-2s, and 37 cars and trucks. although other sources give higher losses attributed to the 81st Motor Rife Regiment which participated in the operation. The brigade was forced to withdraw from combat, was surrounded, and forced to abandon all of its equipment, with the personnel escaping individually or in small groups. From March 1995 the brigade participates in the Gudermes operation. In all the brigade suffered 1,282 casualties during the campaign.
On 26 April 1995 the brigade returned to Adygeya but was recalled to combat service three months later to participate in further operations in Chechnya, eventually as two manoeuvre groups from 20 February to 7 October 1996.
Since the Chechnya campaigns the brigade has remained in the Caucasus region, and has again changed its name to 131st Separate Motor-Rifle Krasnodar Red Banner, Order of Kutuzov and Red Star Kuban cossack brigade Two of its battalions are participating in the peace-keeping missions in Georgia in the regions of Urta and along the Abkhazian-Georgian border. These battalions and the brigade's tank battalion are staffed completely with professional service personnel serving under the new contracts. The brigade has achieved first place in the performance assessment within the military district during 2005.
Colonel V.S. Dzabakhidze (1941–42)
Colonel M.V.Yevstigneyev (1942–43)
Colonel A.E.Shapovalov (1943)
Colonel S.M. Chorniy (1943)
Colonel, from October 1943, General-Major P.I. Metal'nikov (1943–45)
Colonel I.A. Savin (1994–95)
Colonel Oleg Kozlov (1995–96)
Major-General S.G. Sudakov (from August 2004)
Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
. The division was stationed in the Caucasus region, later the Transcaucasian Military District
Transcaucasian Military District
The Transcaucasian Military District, a military district of the Soviet Armed Forces, traces its history to May 1921 and the incorporation of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia into the USSR...
and soon renamed 9th Infantry, and later 9th Rifle division. In 1922 the division was renamed the 1st Caucasus ('Kavkaz') Rifle Division.
After service during the Civil War, during which the division changed its name numerous times, the division was awarded the honorific name "of the Central Executive Committee of the Georgian Soviet Socialist" in 1928.
For the 10th anniversary of Red Army on February 29, 1928 the division was awarded the Honored Revolutionary 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...
and added the Red Banner (Krasnoznamennaya) to its title.
During 1931 the division was reorganised into a mountain rifle division.
On 23 February 1936 the division was awarded the Order of Red Star and on the 23 February the name was slightly changed to "of the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic". In July of the same year the division was renamed again as the 9th Red Banner Mountain Rifle Division.
Second World War combat history
Before the war the division consisted of the following units:- 36th infantry regiment (later, as the 36th Motor Rifle Regiment, a Georgian national unit. Originally 309th Caucasian infantry regiment.)
- 121st infantry regiment
- 93rd infantry regiment
- 256th artillery regiment
- 1448th self-propelled gun regiment
- 55th separate anti-tank destroyer divizion (battalion)
- 26th reconnaissance company
- 140th self-propelled artillery gun battalion
- 232nd separate communications battalion (and 1432nd separate communications company)
- 123rd medical-sanitary battalion
- 553rd separate company of chemical defence
- 161st auto-transportation company
- 104th field bread bakery
- 156th divisional veterinary treatment station
- 203rd field post station
- 216th field pay branch of the State Bank
The division begun the war in the Transcaucasian Military District with the 40th Rifle Corps alongside the 31st Rifle Division.
During the war the division was at various times serving as part of the 46th, 37th, 56th, Separate Coastal
Separate Coastal Army
The Separate Coastal Army was an army-level unit in the Red Army that fought in the World War II. It was ordered to be established on July 18, 1941 by the order of the Southern Front from the forces of 9th Army’s Coastal Group and was stood up on July 20, 1941....
, 69th, 18th
18th Army (Soviet Union)
The 18th Army of the Soviet Union's Red Army was formed on 21 June 1941 on the basis of HQ Kharkov Military District and armies of the Kiev Special Military District.The Army's commander in 1941 was General-Leitenant Andrew Kirilovych Smirnov...
, 5th Guards and 60th Armies. The division took part in the Battle of the Caucasus
Battle of the Caucasus
The Battle of Caucasus is a name given to a series of German and Soviet operations in the Caucasus area during the Soviet-German War.-1941 operations:...
. The division participated in the fighting for Feodosiya, Tuapse
Tuapse
Tuapse is a town in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, situated on the northeast shore of the Black Sea, south of Gelendzhik and north of Sochi. It serves as the administrative center of Tuapsinsky District, although administratively it is separate from it...
, in the Kuban
Kuban
Kuban is a geographic region of Southern Russia surrounding the Kuban River, on the Black Sea between the Don Steppe, Volga Delta and the Caucasus...
and Taman Peninsula
Taman peninsula
The Taman Peninsula is a peninsula in the present-day Krasnodar Krai of Russia. It is bounded on the north by the Sea of Azov, on the west by the Strait of Kerch and on the south by the Black Sea. The peninsula has evolved over the past two millennia from a chain of islands into the peninsula it is...
, and Krakow
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
.
On September 3, 1943 for liberation of Kuban region and the capitol of the region, Krasnodar
Krasnodar
Krasnodar is a city in Southern Russia, located on the Kuban River about northeast of the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. It is the administrative center of Krasnodar Krai . Population: -Name:...
, the division was awarded the honorary name “Krasnodarskaya”, and the division was reformed again and became known as the 9th Plastun
Plastun
A Plastun or plastoon was a Cossack foot scouting and sentry military unit. Originally they were part of the Black Sea Cossack Host and then later in the 19th and 20th centuries Kuban Cossack Host.-Early History:...
skaya Krasnodar Red Banner, Order of Red Star Rifle Division . Its enlisted and non-commissioned personnel came largely from the cossacks of the Kuban region.
During the period 1944 - 1945 the division participated in the Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive
Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive
The Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive or the L'vov-Sandomierz Strategic Offensive Operation was a major Red Army operation to force the German troops from Ukraine and Eastern Poland...
(13.07-29.08.1944 also known as the 6th Stalin's Shock), and the liberation of Poland and Czechoslovakia for which in April 1945 the division was awarded the Order of Kutuzov
Order of Kutuzov
The Order of Kutuzov is a Soviet and Russian military award, named after famous Russian Field Marshal Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov ....
2nd class.
With 60th Army of the 4th Ukrainian Front
4th Ukrainian Front
The 4th Ukrainian Front was a front of the Red Army during World War II...
in May 1945.
Its full title in 1945 was Кrasnodar Red Banner, Order of Kutuzov
Order of Kutuzov
The Order of Kutuzov is a Soviet and Russian military award, named after famous Russian Field Marshal Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov ....
, Red Star им ВС Georgian SSR.
Post-war service history
After the war the division was returned to Krasnodar, and in 1950 the division was relocated to Maykop. After the reforms of 1956 the division became the 9th Motor Rifle Division and was based at MaykopMaykop
Maykop is the capital city of the Republic of Adygea, Russia, located on the right bank of the Belaya River . Population: -History:...
for many years.
On 12 September 1992 the division was reorganised as the 131st Separate Motor Rifle order of Kutuzov and Red Star Brigade of the 67th Army Corps, North Caucasus Military District
North Caucasus Military District
The North Caucasus Military District was a military district of the Russian Ground Forces, which became in 2010 the Southern Military District and lately also includes the Black Sea Fleet and Caspian Flotilla....
. The brigade participated in the First Chechen War
First Chechen War
The First Chechen War, also known as the War in Chechnya, was a conflict between the Russian Federation and the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, fought from December 1994 to August 1996...
of 1994-96, including the New Year 1995 assault on Grozniy during the combat for the railway terminal where it suffered severe casualties in dead and wounded following an ambush by superior enemy numbers. The battle for Grozny
Grozny
Grozny is the capital city of the Chechen Republic, Russia. The city lies on the Sunzha River. According to the preliminary results of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 271,596; up from 210,720 recorded in the 2002 Census. but still only about two-thirds of 399,688 recorded in the 1989...
cost 157 casualties, including 24 officers (including Colonel Savin), one warrant officer and 60 NCOs and soldiers killed and 12 officers, one warrant officer and 59 NCOs and soldiers missing (presumed dead). The brigade also lost 22 T-72 tranks, 45 BMP-2s, and 37 cars and trucks. although other sources give higher losses attributed to the 81st Motor Rife Regiment which participated in the operation. The brigade was forced to withdraw from combat, was surrounded, and forced to abandon all of its equipment, with the personnel escaping individually or in small groups. From March 1995 the brigade participates in the Gudermes operation. In all the brigade suffered 1,282 casualties during the campaign.
On 26 April 1995 the brigade returned to Adygeya but was recalled to combat service three months later to participate in further operations in Chechnya, eventually as two manoeuvre groups from 20 February to 7 October 1996.
Since the Chechnya campaigns the brigade has remained in the Caucasus region, and has again changed its name to 131st Separate Motor-Rifle Krasnodar Red Banner, Order of Kutuzov and Red Star Kuban cossack brigade Two of its battalions are participating in the peace-keeping missions in Georgia in the regions of Urta and along the Abkhazian-Georgian border. These battalions and the brigade's tank battalion are staffed completely with professional service personnel serving under the new contracts. The brigade has achieved first place in the performance assessment within the military district during 2005.
Composition Today
- 526th Separate Motor Rifle Battalion - Military Unit No.03768,
- 527th Separate Motor Rifle Battalion - Military Unit No.03769,
- 529th Separate Motor Rifle Battalion (омсб) - Military Unit No.03841,
- 558th Separate Motor Rifle Battalion - Military Unit No.03833,
- 9th Separate Tank Battalion - Military Unit No.03842
- other lighter support units
Division Commanders
Colonel V.T. Maslov (1941)Colonel V.S. Dzabakhidze (1941–42)
Colonel M.V.Yevstigneyev (1942–43)
Colonel A.E.Shapovalov (1943)
Colonel S.M. Chorniy (1943)
Colonel, from October 1943, General-Major P.I. Metal'nikov (1943–45)
Colonel I.A. Savin (1994–95)
Colonel Oleg Kozlov (1995–96)
Major-General S.G. Sudakov (from August 2004)
Sources
- Шевченко И. Н., Калиновский П. Н., Девятая пластунская, М., 1970; (Shevchenko, I.N., Kalinovsky P.N., Ninth plastun, Moscow, 1970
- Петрашин И. М., Пластуны Кубани, Краснодар, 1977. (Petrashin I.M., Plastuns of Kuban, Krasnodar, 1977)