356th Rifle Division

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356th Rifle Division (August, 1941 – 1945)
Active1941–1945
CountryFlag of the USSR (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
Branch Red Army flag.svg Red Army
TypeDivision
RoleInfantry
Engagements Battle of Moscow
Operation Kutuzov
Battle of the Dniepr
Gomel–Rechitsa Offensive
Kalinkovichi-Mozyr Offensive
Ozarichi-Ptich Offensive
Operation Bagration
Bobruisk Offensive
Lublin-Brest Offensive
Riga Offensive (1944)
Vistula-Oder Offensive
Operation Solstice
Battle of Berlin
Decorations Order of Red Banner.svg   Order of the Red Banner
Order of Suvorov 2nd class.png   Order of Suvorov
Battle honours Kalinkovichi
Riga
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Maj. Gen. Pyotr Vasilevich Pererva
Maj. Gen. Mikhail Grigorevich Makarov

The 356th Rifle Division formed in August, 1941, as a standard Red Army rifle division, in the Kuibyshev Oblast. After reaching the front it played a minor role in the defense of Moscow and the winter counteroffensive and remained in the line north and east of the Oryol salient through 1942 and into 1943. It then took part in the offensive to reduce this salient, Operation Kutuzov, after which it advanced towards the Dniepr River through the summer and autumn before becoming involved in the complex fighting in eastern Belarus in the winter of 1943/44, during which it won a battle honor. In the early stages of Operation Bagration the 356th was instrumental in the liberation of Bobruisk, for which it received the Order of the Red Banner. Later during this offensive the division advanced into the Baltic states before being reassigned to 1st Belorussian Front for the final offensive on Germany. Remarkably, the division was assigned to the 61st Army for nearly its entire wartime path. It ended the war north of Berlin, along the Elbe River, but in spite of a fine record of service it was disbanded shortly thereafter.

Contents

Formation

The division began forming in August, 1941, near Kuibyshev in the Volga Military District. [1] Its partial order of battle was as follows:

The division went through the war with only two commanding officers, the first of which, Col. Pyotr Vasilevich Pererva, was assigned on September 17. While completing its formation the division was assigned to the newly-forming 61st Army in the same District, in the Reserve of the Supreme High Command. In December it was assigned, with its Army, to the Bryansk Front, where it first saw combat. [2]

Battle of Moscow

In mid-January, 1942, 61st Army was reassigned to Western Front, which was encountering resistance from the German 112th and 167th Infantry Divisions, plus elements of other units, grouped around the town of Bolkhov. By January 20 the 356th, on the left flank of its Army, was fighting defensively along the line of the Oka River from Budgovishche to Chergodaevo. The fighting against the Bolkhov Group went on for the next ten days; during this time the division made an unsuccessful attack on the village of Khmelevaya before returning to the defense along its previous line. [3]

Into Western Russia and Belarus

In April, 61st Army returned to Bryansk Front. [4] Through the rest of the year and the first half of 1943 it remained along much the same lines it had reached during the winter counteroffensive. On November 17, Colonel Pererva was promoted to the rank of Major General, but was replaced ten days later by Col. Mikhail Grigorevich Makarov. Makarov would remain in command for the duration of the war, being promoted to Major General on September 15, 1943, while Pererva would go on to serve as deputy commander of 61st Army through much of the late-war period.

Following the Soviet victory at Stalingrad, Bryansk Front joined in the general winter offensive along the southern half of the front, in its case against positions held by elements of German Second Panzer Army. On February 12, 61st Army launched a dawn attack with 12th Guards, 342nd Rifle Division and the 356th, backed by the 68th Tank Brigade, against the defenses of the 112th Infantry Division north of Bolkhov, but within hours the assault faltered in the face of withering German fire. The Army's commander, Lt. Gen. P.A. Belov, ascribed the setback to insufficient ammunition and blowing snow which hindered the fire of the tanks. A further effort was made on this sector beginning on February 22, with the main attack being made by Western Front's 16th Army, supported by 61st and 3rd Armies. The intention was to collapse the German-held salient around Oryol in concert with attacks from the south by 13th and 48th Armies. Once again, the 12th Guards and 68th Tanks were sent in against 112th Infantry, and were repelled with serious losses for the guardsmen. Acknowledging defeat on this sector, Bryansk Front commander Col. Gen. M.A. Reiter ordered the 356th, plus the 342nd and 12th Guards, to be transferred to 3rd Army, where they were to reinforce that Army's bridgehead on the west bank of the Oka. This reinforcement helped to contain the numerous German counterattacks against this bridgehead between February 27 and March 1, but continued pressure finally forced 3rd Army to abandon the bridgehead by March 12, and the division reverted to 61st Army. [5] [6]

In July the division took part in Operation Kutuzov in Bryansk Front before being transferred to Central Front on September 23. On October 20 this Front was renamed Belorussian Front. [7]

As of September 30, the 356th was in the 89th Rifle Corps, which reached the Dniepr on this date on a wide front south of Radul but was unable to gain any footholds on the west bank due to strong German resistance and well-organized artillery and mortar fire. In preparation for the Gomel - Rechitsa Offensive Central Front underwent a major regrouping from October 8–14, during which 89 Corps was redeployed into new positions south of Liubech. However, it was the other two corps of 61st Army, (29th Rifle Corps and 9th Guards Rifle Corps) which were to form the shock group when the offensive began on October 22. In heavy fighting over the next week the Soviet attackers forced elements of German 2nd Army to make a phased withdrawal to new positions in the rear and advanced as much as 20 km, but neither of the primary objectives were taken. [8]

The renamed Belorussian Front launched a new effort to take Gomel and Rechitsa on November 10. By this time the 356th's former corps-mates, 336th and 415th Rifle Divisions, had been transferred to the 13th Army, so it was acting as a separate division in 61st Army. It was assigned to defend its Army's extended left flank from Domamerki to Liubech, facing the 251st Division Group of XXXXVI Panzer Corps' composite Corps Detachment E. On the first day the Front's forces broke out of their bridgehead at Loev and within three days had torn a gap 15 km wide and 8–12 km deep in the German defenses. By the end of the month 61st Army had advanced to within 15 km of Kalinkovichi. [9]

On January 8, 1944, Belorussian Front launched the Kalinkovichi - Mozyr Offensive. For its role in the liberation of the former town the 356th was awarded a divisional honorific:

"KALINKOVICHI"... 356th Rifle Division (Major General Makarov, Mikhail Grigorevich)... The troops who participated in the liberation of Mozyr and Kalinkovichi, by the order of the Supreme High Command of January 14, 1944, and a commendation in Moscow, are given a salute of 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns. [10]

The Ozarichi - Ptich Offensive immediately followed. This began on 61st Army's sector on January 15 when 9th Guards Rifle Corps was tasked with eliminating Corps Detachment E's bridgehead east of the Ipa River at Klinsk. This effort was unsuccessful, and on the next day the Guards were replaced by the 356th and 55th Rifle Divisions to contain the bridgehead. On the 18th, as the offensive developed, the German forces withdrew from the bridgehead which was no longer tenable due to Soviet advances elsewhere. [11]

Operation Bagration

In April the division was withdrawn into the reserves of 1st Belorussian Front for rebuilding. When it returned to the line in June it was assigned to the 105th Rifle Corps of 65th Army; the next two months would be its only service outside 61st Army. [12] At the start of the summer offensive the 105th Corps was in the first echelon of its Army along with 18th Rifle Corps and with 1st Guards Tank Corps and massive quantities of artillery in support, facing the German 35th and 36th Infantry Divisions of 9th Army. [13] The immediate objective of 105th Corps was to defeat the enemy in the area of Parichi by the end of the third day, and then to advance to the northwest towards Bobruisk, cutting the enemy's communications from there to the southwest and west. At the outset the 356th and the 115th Rifle Brigade formed the 65th Army's reserve. [14] The 15th Guards Tank Brigade of 1st Guards Tank Corps was attached to the division, with 65 T-34/85 tanks and a motorized rifle battalion. [15] [16]

On June 28 the division was again assigned to 105th Rifle Corps from the Army reserve, and moved up to a line from south of Yeloviki to the south bank of the Berezina; it was assigned, with its attached armor, to break into Bobruisk from the north. Shortly past noon that day Hitler finally gave permission for all German units to abandon Bobriusk. The breakout, led by 20th Panzer Division with 383rd Infantry Division serving as rearguard, began at 2300 hrs. that night. The German force had from 10,000 to 15,000 formed troops plus about 12 assault guns and tanks [17] in the first echelon, followed by numerous stragglers. This advance struck the 356th and the 1st Guards Motorized Brigade at 2330 hrs. and, despite the arrival of Soviet reinforcements, achieved a breakthrough on the division's sector. While suffering severe casualties, the German force won a mostly temporary reprieve. At 1000 hrs. on June 29 the final attack on the city was launched, with the 356th and 354th Divisions leading the way in crossing the Berezina from the east. [18] In the fighting for the city itself the German forces lost more than 7,000 officers and men killed and 2,000 taken prisoner, while their other losses amounted to 12 trainloads of food, forage and equipment; 400 artillery pieces of which 100 were in working order; 60 knocked-out tanks and self-propelled guns; more than 500 motor vehicles; and six depots of military stores. [19] The division was recognized for its role in the liberation of Bobruisk on July 5 with the award of the Order of the Red Banner. [20]

In July the division was transferred to 80th Rifle Corps, still in 65th Army. On July 20 the division assembled in a forest 3 km southeast of Bitovo on the approaches to the Bug River north of Brest, where the German forces were desperately trying to restore a defensive front. During the morning 75th Guards Rifle Division led the advance, with 115th Rifle Brigade in second echelon while the 356th took up the rear. At noon the 115th came under air attack from up to 20 enemy bombers; three vehicles were destroyed and Corps commander Maj. Gen. Ivan Leotevich Ragulia was severely wounded. He was evacuated to the medical base of the 356th and operated on, but died of his wounds two days later. [21]

During August, 80th Corps was moved to 61st Army which was back in the Reserve of the Supreme High Command. [22] By mid-September 61st Army was part of 3rd Baltic Front, and was advancing into southeastern Estonia. In early October the division fought west past Valmiera, Latvia as its Army pushed on towards Riga, helping to seal off the Courland pocket following the liberation of that city. [23] On October 13 the division received its second battle honor:

"RIGA"... 356th Rifle Division (Major General Makarov, Mikhail Grigorevich)... The troops who participated in the liberation of Riga, by the order of the Supreme High Command of October 13, 1944, and a commendation in Moscow, are given a salute of 24 artillery salvoes from 324 guns. [24]

On October 31 it was further honored for its role in the battle for Riga with the award to the Order of Suvorov, 2nd degree. [25]

Into Germany

Following the Riga campaign, 3rd Baltic Front was dissolved, and on November 29, 61st Army was reassigned to 1st Belorussian Front. In orders to the commander of that Front, the Army was expected to arrive by rail at Łuków between December 9 and January 1, 1945. When the Vistula-Oder Offensive began on January 12, 61st Army attacked out of the bridgehead over the Vistula at Magnuszew, but faced slow going on the first day despite massive artillery support due to effective enemy resistance along the Pilica River line. More successful advances on the Army's flanks soon forced these German forces to fall back, and through the rest of January the 356th, along with its 80th Corps, joined in the massive advance across western Poland and into Germany; by January 26, 61st Army was receiving orders to reach the Oder River six days later and force a crossing. In mid-February 61st Army was redirected northwards in the direction of Stettin in response to a German armored counter-offensive, Operation Solstice. [26]

At the start of the Berlin operation, 61st Army was deployed along the east bank of the Oder on a sector from Nipperwiese to Alt Rudnitz; the 356th was in Army reserve. Although the main offensive began on April 16, 61st Army did not attack until the next day, when it won a bridgehead 3 km wide and up to 1,000m deep. By the 22nd the 61st had cleared the Oder and Alte Oder and had turned its front completely to the north and three days later had reached points 55 km west of the Oder. On April 29 it forced the Havel River in the area of Zehdenick against minimal resistance. Finally, on May 2, having advanced 60 km during the day against no resistance, reached the Elbe River in the area of Havelberg, and the next day met up with elements of the U.S. 84th Infantry Division near Gnefsdorf. It was here that the 356th and its Army ended its combat path. [27]

Postwar

According to STAVKA Order No. 11095 of May 29, 1945, part 6, the 356th is listed as one of the rifle divisions to be "disbanded in place". [28] It was disbanded in Germany in accordance with the directive during the summer of 1945. [29]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">354th Rifle Division</span> Military unit

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The 415th Rifle Division was formed as an infantry division of the Red Army in the autumn of 1941 in the Far Eastern Front. It was considered to be a "sister" division to the 413th, and was one of the divisions of Siberians sent west to help defend Moscow during the winter of 1941-42. It spent much of the next year in the same general area, west of the capital, taking part in the mostly futile battles against the German-held salient at Rzhev during late 1942. Following the evacuation of the salient in March, 1943 the 415th was assigned to the 61st Army, where it remained for most of the rest of the war. It took part in the summer offensives through western Russia and into eastern Belarus during the fall and winter, earning a battle honor in January, 1944. During the later stages of the next summer offensive, Operation Bagration, it distinguished itself in the liberation of Pinsk and was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. Following this it was redeployed northward, still in 61st Army, and took part in the offensives through the Baltic states. In the spring of 1945 the division also earned the Order of Suvorov, 2nd Degree, for its part in the capture of several towns in northeastern Germany. The 415th had a distinguished career as a combat unit, ending its combat path near Berlin, but was disbanded in the summer of 1945.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">346th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">348th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)</span> Military unit

The 348th Rifle Division was first formed in August 1941, as a standard Red Army rifle division, at Kuibyshev. It was assigned to 60th Reserve Army shortly after forming and took part in the winter counteroffensive in front of Moscow. Until the end of 1942 it was involved in the dismal and costly battles around the Rzhev Salient, until it was shifted to take part in the equally difficult fighting around the Demyansk Salient. Both of these German positions were evacuated in March 1943, and, after rebuilding, the division returned to the front to take part in the summer offensive along the Smolensk axis. During Operation Bagration the 348th distinguished itself in the liberation of Bobruisk, and received the name of that city as an honorific. Not long after it was also decorated for its role in the liberation of Bialystok. In 1945 it helped to liberate northern Poland during the Vistula-Oder Offensive, before being reassigned to 3rd Belorussian Front in East Prussia. In the last weeks of the war it formed part of the reserves of 1st Belorussian Front during the Berlin Operation.

The 362nd Rifle Division began forming on 10 August 1941, as a standard Red Army rifle division, at Omsk. It did not reach the front until March 1942, assigned to the 22nd Army in Kalinin Front. It served under these commands for the next year, then was pulled out of the line for rebuilding before being moved south to 3rd Army of Bryansk Front, and later Belorussian Front, for the 1943 summer offensive, during which it was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. It served in 50th Army during Operation Bagration, and earned a battle honor during the crossings of the upper Dniepr River near Shklov, but was soon reassigned to 33rd Army, where it remained for the duration of the war. The 362nd ended the war deep into Germany with 1st Belorussian Front, but in spite of an exemplary record of service, including three unit decorations, it was disbanded shortly thereafter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">369th Rifle Division</span> Military unit

The 369th Rifle Division began forming on 1 August 1941, as a standard Red Army rifle division, in the Chelyabinsk Oblast. After forming, it was assigned to the 39th Army which soon became part of Kalinin Front, and it participated in the near-encirclement of the German 9th Army around Rzhev in the winter counteroffensive of 1941-42. In late January 1942, it was transferred to the 29th Army of the same Front, which was very soon after encircled by German forces near Sychevka, and while it was written off by German intelligence in February, enough of the division escaped that it was not officially disbanded. By August it returned to battle, now in 30th Army of Western Front, still fighting near Rzhev. After the salient was finally evacuated in the spring of 1943 the division was moved to Bryansk Front, first in 11th Army and then in 50th Army, under which it served for most of the war. In the summer counteroffensive the 369th was awarded the battle honor "Karachev" for its part in the liberation of that city. At the start of Operation Bagration the division was in 2nd Belorussian Front and its commander, Maj. Gen. I. S. Lazarenko, was killed a few days later; despite this loss it was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for its successful crossing of the Dniepr River and the liberation of Mogilev. The division continued to advance through Belarus and into Poland and eastern Germany over the following months, but despite a fine record of service was disbanded soon after the German surrender.

The 370th Rifle Division was raised in 1941 as a standard Red Army rifle division, and served for the duration of the Great Patriotic War in that role. It began forming in August 1941 in the Siberian Military District. After forming, it was initially assigned to the 58th (Reserve) Army, but was soon reassigned to 34th Army in Northwestern Front, and until March 1943, was involved in the dismal fighting around the Demyansk salient. After this was evacuated the division took part in equally difficult combat for the city of Staraya Russa. Near the end of that year the division was reassigned to 2nd Baltic Front, and spent several months in operations near Nevel and north of Vitebsk. In the spring of 1944, its combat path shifted southwards when it was moved to 69th Army in 1st Belorussian Front, south of the Pripet Marshes. In August it was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for its part in the liberation of Kovel. It went on to help form and hold the bridgehead over the Vistula at Puławy, and in January 1945, joined the drive of 1st Belorussian Front across Poland and into eastern Germany, earning the battle honor "Brandenburg". It was disbanded later that year.

The 397th Rifle Division was an infantry division of the Red Army, active twice during 1941-45, fighting the German Operation Barbarossa.

The 12th Guards Rifle Division was reformed as an elite infantry division of the Red Army in January, 1942, based on the 1st formation of the 258th Rifle Division and served in that role until after the end of the Great Patriotic War. It was in 50th Army when it was redesignated but was soon assigned to the 49th Army, then to the 10th Army and finally to the 16th Army near the end of that month. In June it was assigned to the 9th Guards Rifle Corps of 61st Army where it remained almost continually for the duration of the war, serving under several Front commands but always on the central sector of the front. During the summer offensive in 1943 it fought through western Russia and into Belarus during the winter campaigns there. Along with the rest of 61st Army it took part in the second stage of Operation Bagration in the summer of 1944, advancing into the Pripyat marshes region, winning a battle honor and shortly thereafter the Order of the Red Banner. After a short time in the Reserve of the Supreme High Command it was moved to the 3rd Baltic and later the 1st Baltic Front driving into Latvia and Lithuania, being decorated with the Order of Suvorov for its part in the occupation of Riga. In December it was returned to the 1st Belorussian Front and took part in the offensives that propelled the Red Army into Poland and eastern Germany. After the fall of Berlin the division advanced to the Elbe River where it linked up with the US 84th Infantry Division. Following the German surrender it was disbanded in July, 1946.

The 83rd Guards Rifle Division was reformed as an elite infantry division of the Red Army in April 1943, based on the 2nd formation of the 97th Rifle Division, and served in that role until after the end of the Great Patriotic War. Throughout its combat path it was considered a "sister" to the 84th Guards Rifle Division.

The 212th Rifle Division was formed as an infantry division of the Red Army after a motorized division of that same number was badly damaged and then redesignated about five weeks after the start of the German invasion of the Soviet Union.

The 217th Rifle Division was an infantry division of the Red Army, originally formed in the months just before the start of the German invasion, based on the shtat of September 13, 1939. It was formed at Voronezh and was considered a "sister" to the 222nd Rifle Division. When Operation Barbarossa began it was in 28th Army but soon after moving to the front it helped form the 43rd Army before being reassigned to 50th Army in Bryansk Front. After barely escaping disbandment during Operation Typhoon it took part in the defense of Tula; in the following counteroffensive one of its rifle regiments was so reduced by casualties that it had to be replaced by a Tula militia regiment. During the rest of 1942 and into 1943 it served in a largely defensive role as part of 49th Army and 16th Army although it took part in one abortive offensive in March 1943 north of Zhizdra. It remained in the latter Army when it was redesignated 11th Guards and fought under its command in the July-August offensive against the German-held Oryol salient before being transferred to 11th Army and winning an honorific in the advance through western Russia. In recognition of its role in the battle for Gomel it was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. After winter battles in eastern Belarus the 217th played leading roles in the liberation of Zhlobin and Bobruisk in the early stages of Operation Bagration as part of 48th Army. During the Vistula-Oder offensive it took part in the liberation of Mława and then crossed into the western part of East Prussia, winning the rare distinction of the Order of Lenin in the process. It ended the war in East Prussia and remained in the Königsberg area until the spring of 1946 when it was converted to the 3rd Rifle Brigade.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Walter S. Dunn, Jr., Stalin's Keys to Victory, Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, PA, 2006, p. 79
  2. ↑ Charles C. Sharp, "Red Tide", Soviet Rifle Divisions Formed From June to December 1941, Soviet Order of Battle World War II, Vol. IX, Nafziger, 1996, p. 91
  3. ↑ Soviet General Staff, The Battle of Moscow, ed. & trans. R. W. Harrison, Helion & Co., Ltd., Solihull, UK, 2015, Kindle ed., pt. V, ch. 8
  4. ↑ Combat Composition of the Soviet Army, 1942, p. 84
  5. ↑ David M. Glantz, After Stalingrad, Helion & Co., Ltd., Solihull, UK, 2009, pp. 246-47, 291, 295, 300
  6. ↑ Combat Composition of the Soviet Army, 1943, p. 85
  7. ↑ Sharp, "Red Tide", p. 91
  8. ↑ Glantz, Battle for Belorussia, University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 2016, pp. 28, 99, 106, 116-17
  9. ↑ Glantz, Belorussia, pp. 181-83
  10. ↑ "Освобождение городов".
  11. ↑ Glantz, Belorussia, p. 458
  12. ↑ Combat Composition of the Soviet Army, 1944, pp. 133, 164, 193
  13. ↑ Dunn, Jr., Soviet Blitzkrieg, Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, PA, 2008, p. 186
  14. ↑ Soviet General Staff, Operation Bagration, ed. & trans. R.W. Harrison, Helion & Co., Ltd., Solihull, UK, 2016, Kindle ed., vol. 1, part 2, ch. 3
  15. ↑ Dunn, Jr., Soviet Blitzkrieg, p. 183
  16. ↑ Sharp, "Red Storm", Soviet Mechanized Corps and Guards Armored Units, 1942 to 1945, Soviet Order of Battle World War II, Vol. III, Nafziger, 1995, pp. 38, 69
  17. ↑ The Soviet General Staff study gives a figure of 42 tanks and self-propelled guns; Operation Bagration, Kindle ed., vol. 2, part 1, ch. 5
  18. ↑ Dunn, Jr., Soviet Blitzkrieg, pp. 198-99
  19. ↑ Operation Bagration, Kindle ed., vol. 2, part 1, ch. 5
  20. ↑ Affairs Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Soviet Union 1967, p. 377.
  21. ↑ Aleksander A. Maslov, Fallen Soviet Generals, trans. and ed. D.M. Glantz, Frank Cass Publishers, London, UK, 1998, p. 154
  22. ↑ Combat Composition of the Soviet Army, 1944, pp. 223, 270
  23. ↑ The Gamers, Inc., Baltic Gap, Multi-Man Publishing, Inc., Millersville, MD, 2009, pp. 29, 36
  24. ↑ "Освобождение городов". www.soldat.ru. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  25. ↑ Affairs Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Soviet Union 1967, p. 543.
  26. ↑ Soviet General Staff, Prelude to Berlin, ed. & trans. R. W. Harrison, Helion & Co., Ltd., Solihull, UK, 2016, pp. 73, 80, 550, 573, 589–90, 599
  27. ↑ Soviet General Staff, The Berlin Operation, 1945, ed. & trans. R. W. Harrison, Helion & Co., Ltd., Solihull, UK, 2016, Kindle ed., ch. 11, 12, 15, 20, 22
  28. ↑ Stavka Order No. 11095
  29. ↑ Feskov et al 2013, pp. 380–381

Bibliography

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