| Battle of Berezina | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Polish-Soviet War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Poland |  Russian SFSR | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Gen. Stanisław Szeptycki Gen. Władysław Sikorski | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | 1000 captured | ||||||
The First Battle of Berezina was fought around the Berezina in the Polish-Soviet war. It ended with a Polish victory and the capture of 1000 Soviet prisoners.
The Soviet Western Army retreated to the Rivers Dvina and Berezina following the successful capture of Wilno, Minsk and Lwow in the Borders region. Pilsudski's Polish Army, consisting of the Northern Group, commanded by General Stanisław Szeptycki, and the Southern Group, commanded by General Władysław Sikorski, were linked by the end of autumn. [1] : 59–61
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The 399th Rifle Division was an infantry division of the Red Army. Partially raised in 1941, this formation was abandoned until a second formation began in February 1942, this time in the far east of Siberia. The formation lasted until July, after which it was moved west to join the Stalingrad Front in the great bend of the Don River. Badly mauled in its first actions, it was rebuilt west of the Don in late July, and went on to contest the German advance right into the center of the city. The remnants of the division were pulled out and sent north to Bryansk Front, and the once-again rebuilt division went on to serve in the winter offensive against the German forces in the salient around Oryol. It was present on the right flank of the Kursk salient during the German offensive in July 1943 but saw little action until the Soviet forces went on the counterattack later that month. During the advance into western Russia it earned a battle honor. Through the winter of 1943-44 it helped to make incremental gains against the forces of Army Group Center, setting the stage for the summer offensive, during which the division would win its first decoration. Later that year it advanced into Poland and in early 1945 it took part in the battles for East Prussia, and won the Order of the Red Banner for its efforts. The division was disbanded shortly thereafter.
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