List of Soviet Union divisions 1917–1945

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Monument to the Red Army in Berlin
Monument to the Red Army in Berlin
See also: List of infantry divisions of the Soviet Union 1917–1957

The Soviet Union's Red Army raised over four hundred and fifty rifle divisions (infantry) during the Second World War, and over fifty cavalry divisions as well as many other artillery divisions and similar units. However in contrast to Wikipedia's reasonably complete descriptions of U.S., British, and German divisions, only a few Soviet divisions have articles here, mostly because the detailed histories have either not been translated from Russian or have not been fully released from the official archives. (See Wikipedia:WikiProject Countering systemic bias).

This page lists the divisions of the Red Army from their formation during the Russian Civil War and after, and their fates during and after the Second World War.

The territorial principle of manning the Red Army was introduced in the mid 1920s. In each region able-bodied men were called up for a limited period of active duty in territorial unit, which comprised about half the Army's strength, each year, for five years.[1] The first call-up period was for three months, with one month a year thereafter. A regular cadre provided a stable nucleus. By 1925 this system provided 46 of the 77 infantry divisions and one of the eleven cavalry divisions. The remainder consisted of regular officers and enlisted personnel serving two-year stints. The territorial system was finally abolished, with all remaining formations converted to the other 'cadre' divisions, in 1937 and 1938.[2]

The Red Army formed at least 42 divisions during the Second World War which had substantial ethnic majorities in their composition derived from location of initial formation rather then intentional "nationalisation" of the divisions, including four Azeri, five Armenian, and eight Georgian rifle divisions and a large number of cavalry divisions in the eastern Ukraine, Kuban region, and Central Asia, including five Uzbek cavalry divisions.

Contents

[edit] Rifle and Guards Rifle Divisions

See: List of infantry divisions of the Soviet Union 1917–1957

[edit] Airborne Divisions

  • 1st Guards Airborne Division (ex 4th Airborne Corps at Tejkovo Dec 1942). Fought at Vyazma, Demyansk, Starya Russa, Kremenchug, near Krivoi Rog, Budapest, Brno, and in Manchuria. With 53rd Army of the 2nd Ukrainian Front May 1945.
  • 2nd Guards Airborne Division — established at Zvenigorod Dec 1942. Fought at Ponyri, Kursk, Korsun, and in the Carpathians. With 1st Guards Army of the 4th Ukrainian Front 5.45. Disbanded, seemingly after loss of its divisional colours, soon after war ended.
  • 3rd Guards Airborne Division (ex 8th Airborne Corps at Shchelkovo Dec 1942). Fought at Demyansk, Ponyri, Kiev, Zhitomir, Debrecen, Budapest, and Vienna. With 27th Army of the 3rd Ukrainian Front 5.45.
  • 4th Guards Airborne Division (ex 1st Airborne Corps at Moscow Dec 1942). Fought at Kursk, Orel, Zhitomir, Korsun, Targul Frumos, Debrecen, Budapest, Bratislava and Prague. With 7th Guards Army of the 2nd Ukrainian Front 5.45.
  • 5th Guards Airborne Division — established at Kirshatsch Dec 1942. Fought at Demyansk, Voronezh, Korsun, on the Dniester River, and at Budapest. With 4th Guards Army of the 3rd Ukrainian Front 5.45.
  • 6th Guards Airborne Division (ex 6th Airborne Corps at Noginsk Dec 1942). Fought at Staraya Russa, Kursk, on the Dnieper River, and at Korsun, Targul Frumos, Debrecen, Budapest, Bratislava, and Prague. With Seventh Guards Army of the 2nd Ukrainian Front May 1945.
  • 7th Guards Airborne Division — established at Ramenskoye Dec 1942. Fought at Demyansk, Voronezh, Korsun, on the Dnieper River, and at Targul Frumos and Budapest. With 4th Guards Army of the 3rd Ukrainian Front 5.45.
  • 8th Guards Airborne Division — established in Moscow MD Dec 1942. Fought at Demyansk, Voronezh, Kirovograd, Targul Frumos, near Budapest, Vienna, and Prague. Became 107th Guards Rifle Division 12.44.
  • 9th Guards Airborne Division (ex 1st Airborne Corps in Moscow MD Dec 1942). Fought at Demyansk, Staraya Russa, Kursk, Poltava, Kremenchug, Kirovograd, Sandomir, and in the Berlin Operation. with 5th Guards Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front 5.45.
  • 10th Guards Airborne Division — established at Dimitrov Dec 1942. Fought at Demyansk, on the Dniester River, and in Hungary. With 57th Army of the 3rd Ukrainian Front 5.45.
  • 11th Guards Airborne Division — became 104th Guards Rifle Division Dec 1944.
  • 12th Guards Airborne Division — became 105th Guards Rifle Division Dec 1944.
  • 13th Guards Airborne Division — became 103rd Guards Rifle Division Dec 1944.
  • 14th Guards Airborne Division — became either 99th or 114th Guards Rifle Division Dec 1944.
  • 15th Guards Airborne Division — became 100th Guards Rifle Division Jan 1944.
  • 16th Guards Airborne Division — became 106th Guards Rifle Division December 1944. Now 106th Guards Tula Airborne Division of the Russian Airborne Troops.

[edit] NKVD Divisions

Not intended for front line combat, NKVD forces were used to guard borders, secure railways, and combat elements such as the Ukrainian Insurgent Army that posed threats to the rear areas and supply convoys of the Red Army. Notwithstanding the original intent of these units, many saw at least some front line combat, several were converted to regular divisions of the Red Army, and others were grouped into a field NKVD army that was later re-numbered as the 70th Army. There different types od divisions: Rifle Division (abbreviated to RD in this list), Railroad Security Division (RSD), Special Installation Security Division (SISD), and Convoy Forces Security Division (CFSD).

  • 1st NKVD Rifle Division (RD) — *9.41 at Mga, with Northwestern and Leningrad Fronts. 9.8.42 became 46th RD (third formation) of the Red Army.
  • 1st NKVD Motor RD — *23.6.38 at Moscow as Separate NKVD Motor RD, with Western Front and 56th Army. Still exists as MVD troops as of 2005.
  • 2nd NKVD Railroad Security Division (RSD) — *8.3.39 at Leningrad, with Leningrad and Special Baltic Military Districts. 11.2.42 became 23rd NKVD RSD.
  • 2nd NKVD Motor RD — *7.41 at Moscow, in Leningrad and Baltic regions. 10.45 disbanded.
  • 3rd NKVD RSD — *8.3.39 at Mogilev. Wiped out twice in 1941, with the Western and Bryansk Fronts. 11.2.42 became the 24th NKVD RSD.
  • 3rd NKVD RD — *1.42 at Leningrad, 8.42 disbanded.
  • 3rd NKVD RD — *9.42 at Tbilisi as the Tbilisi Division. With Trans-Caucasian Front. 6.44 renamed 3rd NKVD RD, with 2nd Far Eastern Front in Manchuria in 1945. Disbanded 1946.
  • 4th NKVD RSD — *8.3.39 in Kiev. 6.41 in the Odessa Military District and later with Southern Front. 11.2.42 became the 25th NKVD RSD.
  • 4th NKVD RD — *9.41 in the Crimea. With 51st Army and the Separate Coastal Army. 10.41 became the 184th RD (second formation) of the Red Army.
  • 4th NKVD Motor RD — *1.42 at Leningrad, 8.42 disbanded.
  • 4th NKVD RD — *10.10.43 at Moscow. In Baltic regions, 12.8.51 disbanded.
  • 5th NKVD RSD — *8.3.39 at Kharkov. With Southwestern Front. 11.2.42 became the 26th NKVD RSD.
  • 5th NKVD RD — *11.1.42 at Tikhvin. In Leningrad and Baltic regions. 15.9.51 disbanded.
  • 6th NKVD RSD — *8.3.39 at Khabarovsk. In the far east. Became the 37th NKVD RSD 11.2.42.
  • 6th NKVD Motor RD — *11.41 behind Southwestern Front. Became the 8th NKVD Motor RD 11.2.42.
  • 6th NKVD RD — *1.42 at Kalinin. With Kalinin and 2nd Baltic Fronts and later in the Belorussian Military District. 10.45 disbanded.
  • 7th NKVD RSD — *8.3.39 at Svobodnyi. 11.2.42 became the 28th NKVD RSD.
  • 7th NKVD Motor RD — *4.42 at Orel and Tula. With the Western, Bryansk, Central, Belorussian, and 1st Belorussian Fronts. Later in the Belorussian Military District. 13.9.51 disbanded.
  • 8th NKVD RSD — *8.3.39 in Chita. 11.2.42 became the 29th NKVD RSD.
  • 8th NKVD Motor RD — *1.42 at Voronezh from the 6th NKVD Motor RD. 7.42 became the 63rd RD of the Red Army, which then became the 52nd Guards RD 11.43.
  • 8th NKVD Motor RD — *1.42 at Voronezh (? see above) and 5.42 renumbered as the 13th NKVD Motor RD.
  • 9th NKVD RSD — *8.3.39 in Vilnius. With Special Baltic and Special Western Military Districts. Wiped out 1941, 25.9.41 disbanded.
  • 9th NKVD Motor RD — *1.42 in Rostov. 8.42 became the 31st RD of the Red Army.
  • 9th NKVD RD — *22.8.42 in Ordzhonikidze as NKVD RD with same name. Fought with Trans-Caucasian front during latter part of 1942. 5.44 became the 9th NKVD RD in Krasnodar. 10.44 disbanded.
  • 10th NKVD RSD — *14.11.39 at L'vov. With Southwestern Front. Wiped out at Kiev and 10.41 disbanded.
  • 10th NKVD RD — *7.42 at Saratov and Stalingrad. With Stalingrad Front. 10.42 became the 181st RD (third formation) of the Red Army and assigned to the NKVD Army which later was renamed the 70th Army.
  • 10th NKVD RD — *26.3.42 at Rostov as the 41st NKVD RSD. 9.42 renamed at Sukhumi as NKVD RD with same name. With 46th Army of the Trans-Caucasian Front. 4.44 became the 10th NKVD RD at Sarny. With Central, Belorussian, and 1st Belorussian Fronts, and then in the Belorussian Military District. 6.46 disbanded.
  • 11th NKVD RD — *1.42 at Nalchik and Krasnodar. With Crimean and Trans-Caucasus Fronts. 12.42 disbanded.
  • 11th NKVD SISD — *6.11.39 at Moscow. 31.1.42 merged with 12th NKVD SISD to become 15th NKVD SISD.
  • 12th NKVD SISD — *25.8.41 at Moscow. 31.1.42 merged with 11th NKVD SISD to become 15th NKVD SISD.
  • 12th NKVD Mountain RD — *29.6.41 at Saratov. 7.41 became the 268th RD of the Red Army.
  • 12th NKVD RD — *1.42 at Moscow. 9.42 converted to 22nd NKVD Rifle Brigade.
  • 13th NKVD CFSD — *11.39 at Kiev. With Southern and Southwestern Fronts until wiped out 9.41. Remnants became the 35th NKVD CFSD 2.42.
  • 13th NKVD Motor RD — *5.42 near Moscow from elements of the 8th NKVD Motor RD. With Voronezh Front. 8.42 became the second formation of the 95th RD of the Red Army.
  • 14th NKVD CFSD — *9.40 near Moscow. 2.42 became the 36th NKVD CFSD.
  • 14th NKVD SISD — *3.8.44 at Vilnius. 15.5.51 disbanded.
  • 15th NKVD Mountain RD — *29.6.41 at Moscow. With Southern Front. 7.42 became the 257th RD of the Red Army.
  • 15th NKVD SISD — *31.1.42 at Moscow. Formed by merger of 11th and 12th NKVD SISD. 15.5.51 disbanded.
  • 16th NKVD Mountain RD — *29.6.41 at Moscow. 7.42 became the 262nd RD of the Red Army.
  • 16th NKVD SISD — *31.1.42 at Moscow. 30.5.50 disbanded.
  • 17th NKVD SISD — *31.1.42 at Gorki. 15.5.51 disbanded.
  • 18th NKVD RSD — *24.6.41 at Tbilis. 11.2.42 became 30th NKVD RSD.
  • 18th NKVD SISD — *22.6.41 at Sverdlovsk as the 25th NKVD SISD. 31.1.42 became the 18th NKVD SISD. 15.5.51 disbanded.
  • 19th NKVD SISD — *1.42 at Vorishilovgrad. With Southern and Trans-Caucasus Fronts. 10.11.42 reformed as the 8th NKVD Brigade.
  • 19th NKVD Special Installation and Railroad Security Division — *24.6.41 at Gorki. 26.3.42 became the 31st NKVD SIRSD.
  • 19th NKVD RD — *8.42 near Grozni. With Trans-Caucasus Front, fought at Grozni.
  • 20th NKVD SIRSD — *24.6.41 at Leningrad. 5.9.41 became the 20th NKVD RD.
  • 20th NKVD RD — *5.9.41 at Tikhvin from the 20th NKVD SIRSD. With 8th and 23rd Armies. 8.42 became the 92nd RD of the Red Army.
  • 20th NKVD SISD — *10.11.42 at Novosibirsk and Kuibyshev. 15.5.51 disbanded.
  • 21st NKVD Motor RD — *6.41 at Leningrad. With 42nd Army. 1.9.41 became the 21st NKVD RD. 8.42 21st NKVD RD became the 109th RD of the Red Army.
  • 21st NKVD SISD — *28.7.43 at Novosibiirsk. 22.11.45 converted to 54th NKVD Brigade.
  • 22nd NKVD Motor RD — *23.6.41 in Northwestern Front area. With 10th Rifle Corps. 8.41 wiped out and disbanded 1.42.
  • 22nd NKVD RSD — *29.2.44 at Kuibyshev. 25.5.46 disbanded.
  • 23rd NKVD Motor RD — *6.41 in Kiev Special Military District. With Southwestern Front, 1.42 became the 8th NKVD Motor RD.
  • 23rd NKVD RSD — *11.2.42 at Leningrad. Fought in Leningrad area. 15.5.51 disbanded.
  • 24th NKVD RSD — *11.2.42 at Moscow (was the 3rd NKVD RSD). 21.12.46 disbanded.
  • 25th NKVD RSD — *11.2.42 at Saratov (was the 4th NKVD RSD). With Southwestern and 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts. 15.5.51 disbanded.
  • 25th NKVD SISD — *22.6.41 at Sverdlovsk. Became the 18th NKVD SISD 31.12.42.
  • 26th NKVD RSD — *11.2.42 at Liski (was the 5th NKVD RSD). 21.12.46 disbanded.
  • 26th NKVD Mountain RD — *29.6.41 at Moscow. 7.41 assigned to Red Army.
  • 27th NKVD RSD — *11.2.42 at Khabarovsk (was the 6th NKVD RSD). 15.5.51 disbanded.
  • 28th NKVD RSD — *11.2.42 at Svobodnyi (was the 7th NKVD RSD). 29.2.44 became the 32nd NKVD RS Brigade.
  • 29th NKVD RSD — *11.2.42 at Chita (was the 8th NKVD RSD). 21.12.46 disbanded.
  • 30th NKVD RSD — *11.2.42 at Tbilisi (was the 18th NKVD RSD). 16.12.46 disbanded.
  • 31st NKVD RSD — *26.3.42 at Gorki (was the 19th NKVD RSD). 25.5.46 disbanded.
  • 32nd NKVD RSD — *26.3.42 at Voroshilov. With Voronezh, Central, Belorussian, and 1st Ukrainian Fronts. 15.5.51 disbanded.
  • 33rd NKVD RSD — *26.3.42 at Kuibyshev. 8.1.47 disbanded.
  • 34th NKVD RSD — *26.3.42 at Sverdlovsk. 21.12.46 disbanded.
  • 35th NKVD CFSD — *2.42 near Voronezh (was the 13th NKVD CFSD). With Stalingrad and Central Asian Military Districts. 7.51 disbanded.
  • 36th NKVD CFSD — *2.42 near Krasnoiarsk (was the 14th NKVD CFSD). With Ukrainian Military District. 1.48 disbanded.
  • 37th NKVD CFSD — *3.42 near Volodarsk. With Western and 1st Belorussian Fronts. 7.51 disbanded.
  • 38th NKVD CFSD — *3.42 at Novosibirsk. 7.51 disbanded.
  • 39th NKVD CFSD — *8.43 at Sverdlovsk. 7.51 disbanded.
  • 41st NKVD RSD — *26.3.42 at Rostov. Successively renamed the Sukhumi Division and the 10th NKVD RD.
  • 45th NKVD CFSD — *8.44 at Beltsy. With 2nd Ukrainian Front. 9.55 disbanded.
  • 46th NKVD CFSD — *8.44 at Moscow. 9.55 disbanded.
  • 47th NKVD CFSD — *5.45 at Leningrad.
  • 48th NKVD CFSD — *5.45 at Riga.
  • 49th NKVD CFSD — *5.45 at Odessa.
  • 50th NKVD CFSD — *5.45 at Voronezh.
  • 51st NKVD CFSD — *5.45 at Kharkov.
  • 52nd NKVD CFSD — *5.45 at Voroshilovgrad.
  • 53rd NKVD CFSD — *5.45 at Rostov.
  • 56th NKVD CFSD — *5.45 at Alma-Ata.
  • 57th NKVD RD — *18.1.45 at Gaizhunai. With 3rd Belorussian Front. 10.45 disbanded.
  • 58th NKVD RD — *1.45 at Slonim. With 1st Belorussian Front. 6.45 disbanded.
  • 59th NKVD RD — *1.45 at L'vov. With 1st Ukrainian Front. 10.45 disbanded.
  • 60th NKVD RD — *22.2.45 at Vinnitsa. With 2nd Ukrainian Front. 4.10.46 disbanded.
  • 61st NKVD RD — *2.45 at Beltsy. With the Ukrainian fronts. 12.45 disbanded.
  • 62nd NKVD RD — *12.44 at Belgrade. With 3rd Ukrainian Front. 9.51 disbanded.
  • 63rd NKVD RD — *1.45 at Białystok. With 2nd Belorussian Front. 12.46 disbanded.
  • 64th NKVD RD — *10.44 at Lublin as the NKVD Composite Division. 12.44 became the 64th NKVD RD at Lvov. With 1st Ukrainian Front. 6.48 disbanded.
  • 65th NKVD RD — *23.1.45 at Stanisław. With 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts in Hungary. 18.7.46 disbanded.
  • 66th NKVD RD — *1.45 at Sibiu. With 3rd Ukrainian Front in Romania. 10.45 disbanded.
  • Grozny NKVD RD — *15.8.42 at Grozny. In combat with Trans-Caucasus Front until 12.42 and subsequently on security duties. 18.4.44 disbanded.
  • Makhachkala NKVD RD — *8.42 at Makhachkala. Fought with Red Army until 11.42. 1.43 disbanded.
  • Siberian NKVD RD — *10.42 in Siberia. 1.43 became the 140th RD of the Red Army and assigned to the 70th (NKVD) Army.
  • Central Asian NKVD RD — *10.42 in Siberia. 1.43 became the 161st RD of the Red Army and assigned to the 70th (NKVD) Army.
  • Far Eastern NKVD RD — *10.42 in Siberia. 1.43 became the 102nd RD of the Red Army and assigned to the 70th (NKVD) Army.
  • Trans-Baikal NKVD RD — *10.42 in Siberia. 1.43 became the 106th RD of the Red Army and assigned to the 70th (NKVD) Army.
  • Ural NKVD RD — *10.42 in Siberia. 1.43 became the 175th RD of the Red Army and assigned to the 70th (NKVD) Army.

[edit] Cavalry Divisions

At the time of the German invasion, there were nine regular cavalry divisions and four mountain cavalry divisions in the Red Army. The rapid destruction of Soviet mechanized forces in the summer and autumn of 1941 resulted in a rapid expansion of cavalry units to provide the Red Army a mobile, if not armored, force. This expansion produced some 87 new cavalry divisions by early 1942, many of which were later disbanded as the Red Army rebuilt its tank and mechanized formations. 17 of the cavalry divisions were granted Guards status and renumbered accordingly. At the start of the conflict, a cavalry division had some 9,000 men; by 1945, they were authorized 6,000 men and often organized into corps of three divisions that were reinforced by artillery, tank, and assault gun elements.[3]

  • 1st Guards Cavalry Division — (ex 5th Cavalry Division 26.11.41). Fought at Moscow, Kharkov, Kiev, and in the Lvov-Sandomir, Carpathian, Berlin, and Prague Operations. With 1st Guards Cavalry Corps of the 1st Ukrainian Front 5.45.
  • 1st Mountain Cavalry Division — with Trans-Caucasus Front 12.41 and 15th Cavalry Corps 7.44.
  • 2nd Cavalry Division — used to create the third formation of the 2nd Rifle Division on 23.11.41.
  • 2nd Guards Cavalry Division (ex 9th Cavalry Division 11.41). Fought at Kiev and Zhitomir. With 1st Guards Cavalry Corps of the 1st Ukrainian Front 5.45.
  • 3rd Cavalry Division — Formed in Odessa Military District prewar. 6.41 with 5th Cavalry Corps. Became the 5th Guards Cavalry Division 22.12.41.
  • 3rd Guards Cavalry Division (ex 50th Cavalry Division 11.41). With 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps of the 1st Belorussian Front 5.45.
  • 4th Cavalry Division — 6.41 with 9th Cavalry Corps.
  • 4th Guards Cavalry Division (ex 53rd Cavalry Division 11.41). Fought at Battle of Moscow. With 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps of the 1st Belorussian Front 5.45.
  • 5th Cavalry Division — (ex 2nd Cavalry Division 8.24). With 2nd Cavalry Corps, Ninth Army in 6.41. Became 1st Guards Cavalry Division 26.11.41.
  • 5th Guards Cavalry Division — (ex 3rd Cavalry Division 22.12.41). Fought near Stalingrad and in Kurland. With 3rd Guards Cavalry Corps of the 2nd Belorussian Front 5.45. Elements of division later used in postwar formation of the 1st (later the 18th) Tank Division. The 18th was later reorganised as the 5th Guards Tank Division, which remains active today, having been relocated to the Transbaikal Military District in 1965.
  • 6th Cavalry Division — with 6th Cavalry Corps in 6.41. Disbanded 19.9.41.
  • 6th Guards Cavalry Division (ex 14th Cavalry Division 12.41). Fought at Stalingrad, Smolensk, and in the Belorussian Operation, East Prussia, and Kurland. With 3rd Guards Cavalry Corps of the 2nd Belorussian Front 5.45.
  • 7th Cavalry Division — with 3rd Cavalry Corps in 5.37.
  • 7th Guards Cavalry Division (ex 31st Cavalry Division 5.1.42). Fought at Kaluga, Kharkov, Kiev, Sandomir, and in the Berlin Operation. With 1st Guards Cavalry Corps of the 1st Ukrainian Front 5.45.
  • 8th Cavalry Division — 6.41 with 1st Red Banner Army in Far East. With 6th Guards Cavalry Corps of the 2nd Ukrainian Front 5.45.
  • 8th Guards Cavalry Division (ex 11th Cavalry Division). With 6th Guards Cavalry Corps of the 2nd Ukrainian Front 5.45, near Stalingrad in 1946.
  • 9th Cavalry Division — formed in Odessa Military District prewar, with 2nd Cavalry Corps, Ninth Army 6.41. 11.41 became 2nd Guards Cavalry Division. Reformed, with 4th Guards Cavalry Corps of the 2nd Ukrainian Front 5.45.
  • 9th Guards Cavalry Division (ex 12th Cavalry Division 27.8.42). Fought near Mozdok, Stavropol, Melitopol, Odessa, Debrecen, Budapest, and Prague.
  • 10th Cavalry Division — formed 23.4.36. 4.42 remnants merged into 12th and 13th Cavalry Divisions.
  • 10th Guards Cavalry Division (ex 13th Cavalry Division 27.8.42). Fought near Mozdok, Stavropol, Melitopol, Odessa, Debrecen, Budapest, and Prague. With 4th Guards Cavalry Corps of the 2nd Ukrainian Front 5.45.
  • 11th Cavalry Division — with 3rd Cavalry Corps 5.37. 1.43 became 8th Guards Cavalry Division.
  • 11th Guards Cavalry Division (ex 15th Cavalry Division 8.42). Fought at Korsun and Targul Frumos. With the 5th Guards Cavalry Corps of the 3rd Ukrainian Front 5.45.
  • 12th Cavalry Division — 1.42 established at Krasnodar; with 17th Cavalry Corps 4.42. Became 9th Guards Cavalry Division on 27.8.42.
  • 12th Guards Cavalry Division (ex 116th Cavalry Division 8.42). Fought at Korsun and Targul Frumos. With the 5th Guards Cavalry Corps of the 3rd Ukrainian Front 5.45.
  • 13th Cavalry Division — established at Krasnodar 1.42; with 17th Cavalry Corps 4.42. Became 10th Guards Cavalry Division 27.8.42.
  • 13th Guards 'Ровенская' Cavalry Division (ex 83rd Mountain Cavalry Division 1.43). Fought at Dubno in 1944. With 6th Guards Cavalry Corps of the 2nd Ukrainian Front 5.45, became 30th Guards Tank Division in the Carpathian Military District, which became the 30th Mechanized Brigade in 2004 after the fall of the Soviet Union.
  • 14th Cavalry Division — 6.41 with 5th Cavalry Corps. Became 6th Guards Cavalry Division 12.41.
  • 14th Guards Cavalry Division (ex 21st Mountain Cavalry Division 14.2.43). Fought near Chernigov, and in the Lublin-Brest, East Pommerania, and Berlin Operations. With 7th Guards Cavalry Corps of the 1st Belorussian Front 5.45.
  • 15th Cavalry Division — 4.42 with 17th Cavalry Corps. 8.42 became 11th Guards Cavalry Division.
  • 15th Guards Cavalry Division (ex 55th Cavalry Division 14.2.43). Fought near Chernigov, and in the Lublin-Brest, East Pommeranian, and Berlin Operations. With 7th Guards Cavalry Corps of the 1st Belorussian Front 5.45. 15 GCD eventually became 15th Guards Tank Division, which served with the Central Group of Forces in Hungary postwar, before being withdrawn to Chebarkul in the Urals after 1990 and eventually being disbanded there circa 2002-4.
  • 16th Guards Cavalry Division (ex 112th Cavalry Division 14.2.43). Fought near Chernigov, and in the Lublin-Brest, East Pommerania, and Berlin Operations. With 7th Guards Cavalry Corps of the 1st Belorussian Front 5.45. 14th and 16 Guards Cavalry Divisions of 7th Guards Cavalry Corps together eventually became 23rd Motor Rifle Division, which ended up in the Trans-Caucasus region as part of 4th Army.
  • 17th Mountain Cavalry Division — 6.41 with Trans-Caucasus Military District. 7.42 disbanded.
  • 17th Guards Cavalry Division (ex 20th Mountain Cavalry Division 8.43). Fought near Brest 8.44. With 2nd Guards Cavalry Corps of the 1st Belorussian Front 5.45.
  • 18th Turkmen Mountain Cavalry Division — as 18th Cavalry Division, operated under Dmitri Zhloba during the Red Army invasion of Georgia 2.21. With 4th Cavalry Corps, Central Asia Military District 6.41. 7.42 disbanded.
  • 20th Tadjik Mountain Cavalry Division — 6.41 with 4th Cavalry Corps, Central Asia Military District. 8.43 became the 17th Guards Cavalry Division.
  • 21st Fergana Mountain Cavalry Division — 6.41 with 4th Cavalry Corps, Central Asia Military District. Became 14th Guards Cavalry Division 14.2.43.
  • 23rd Cavalry Division — with Trans-Caucasus Front 12.41 and 15th Cavalry Corps 7.44.
  • 24th Order of the Red Banner Cavalry Division — 6.41 with Transcaucasus Military District.
  • 25th Cavalry Division — 6.41 with 1st Mechanized Corps.
  • 26th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 6th Cavalry Corps.
  • 27th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 4th Army.
  • 28th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 6th Cavalry Corps.
  • 29th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Third Army (Soviet Union). 3.42 disbanded.
  • 30th Cavalry Division — 6.41 with 1st Mechanized Corps, and with 4th Guards Cavalry Corps of the 2nd Ukrainian Front 5.45.
  • 31st Cavalry Division — 7.41 established at Voronezh; 12.41 with 50th Army. 5.1.42 Became 7th Guards Cavalry Division.
  • 32nd Cavalry Division — Established in the Odessa Military District, 1941. Still with 9th Rifle Corps, Odessa MD 6.41. With 3rd Guards Cavalry Corps of the 2nd Belorussian Front 5.45.
  • 34th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 6th Army.
  • 35th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 37th Army.
  • 36th Cavalry Division — 6.41 with 6th Cavalry Corps under Gen. Maj. Efim Sergeevich Zybin. Disbanded 19.9.41.
  • 38th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Eighteenth Army.
  • 40th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Independent Coastal Army.
  • 41st Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 50th Army.
  • 43rd Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Southwestern (Юго-Эападный) Front.
  • 44th Cavalry Division — 6.41 with 9th Cavalry Corps. Noted as mountain cavalry division 12.41 while assigned to 16th Army. 4.42 merged into 17th Cavalry Division.
  • 46th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 30th Army.
  • 47th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Southwestern (Юго-Эападный) Front.
  • 49th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 6th Cavalry Corps.
  • 50th Cavalry Division — 6.41 — 7.41 formed in North Caucasus Military District. With 3rd Cavalry Corps 11.41. Became 3rd Guards Cavalry Division 11.41.
  • 51st Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 36th Army of Transbaikal Front.
  • 52nd Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 3rd Army.
  • 53rd Cavalry Division — 6.41 — 7.41 formed in North Caucasus Military District. With 3rd Cavalry Corps 11.41. Became 4th Guards Cavalry Division 11.41.
  • 54th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Kalinin Front.
  • 55th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 13th Army. 14.2.43 became 15th Guards Cavalry Division.
  • 56th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 37th Army.
  • 57th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 10th Army. In February 1942 it was merged into 1st Guards Cavalry Division.
  • 59th Cavalry Division — 5.45 with the Transbaikal Front.
  • 60th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 57th Army.
  • 61st Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 4th Cavalry Corps.
  • 62nd Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 56th Army.
  • 63rd Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 4th Cavalry Corps and 5.45 with the 5th Guards Cavalry Corps of the 3rd Ukrainian Front. Eventually became 6th Guards Tank Division postwar, and today the 6th Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Belarus.
  • 64th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 56th Army.
  • 66th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 9th Army (Soviet Union).
  • 68th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 9th Army (Soviet Union).
  • 70th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 56th Army.
  • 72nd Cavalry Division — 6.41 with 2nd Cavalry Corps.
  • 73rd Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 26th Army.
  • 74th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 26th Army.
  • 75th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 10th Army.
  • 76th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 39th Army.
  • 77th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 57th Army.
  • 78th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 59th Army.
  • 79th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 57th Army.
  • 80th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with RVGK (Stavka Reserve).
  • 81st Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 4th Cavalry Corps.
  • 82nd Cavalry Division — 1.42 with 11th Cavalry Corps.
  • 83rd Mountain Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 61st Army. 1.43 became 13th Guards Cavalry Division.
  • 84th Cavalry Division — 5.45 with the 1st Red Banner Army of the independent coastal group in the Far East.
  • 87th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 59th Army.
  • 91st Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 61st Army.
  • 94th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with 39th Army.
  • 97th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Central Asia Military District. 4.43 disbanded.
  • 98th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Central Asia Military District. 4.42 disbanded.
  • 99th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Central Asia Military District. 7.42 disbanded.
  • 100th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Central Asia Military District. Disbanded July 1942.
  • 101st Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Central Asia Military District. 7.42 disbanded.
  • 102nd Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Central Asia Military District. 6.42 disbanded.
  • 103rd Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Central Asia Military District. 3.42 disbanded.
  • 104th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Central Asia Military District. 7.42 disbanded.
  • 105th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Central Asia Military District. 7.42 disbanded.
  • 106th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Central Asia Military District. 3.42 disbanded.
  • 107th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Central Asia Military District. 8.42 disbanded.
  • 108th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Central Asia Military District. 3.42 disbanded.
  • 109th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Central Asia Military District. 5.42 disbanded.
  • 110th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Stalingrad Military District. 1.43 disbanded.
  • 111th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Stalingrad MD. 4.42 disbanded.
  • 112th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Southern Urals MD. Became 16th Guards Cavalry Division on Feb 14, 1943. [4]
  • 113th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Southern Urals MD. 3.42 disbanded.
  • 114th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Svir-Caucasus MD. 3.42 became 255th Rifle Regiment.
  • 115th Cavalry Division — 12.41 with Svir-Caucasus MD. 10.42 disbanded.
  • 116th Cavalry Division — 4.42 with 17th Cavalry Corps. 8.42 became 12th Guards Cavalry Division.
  • Independent Cavalry Division НО — 12.41 with 56th Army.

[edit] Tank Divisions

The Red Army tank divisions of the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) were short-lived. In the face of the German invasion of 1941, many poorly-maintained vehicles were abandoned, and those that did meet the Germans in battle were defeated by the superior training, doctrine, and radio communications of the Panzertruppe. The magnitude of the defeat was so great that the mechanized corps parent headquarters of the tank divisions were either inactivated or destroyed by July 1941. Most of the tank divisions facing the Germans had met a similar fate by the end of 1941. The Soviets opted to organize more easily controlled tank brigades instead, eventually combining many of these into three-brigade tank corps in 1942, an organizational structure that served them until the end of the war. Until late in the war, two tank divisions remained in the Far East, serving in the Transbaikal Military District.

  • 1st Tank Division — with 1st Mechanized Corps in Jun 1941.
  • 2nd Tank Division — with 3rd Mechanized Corps in Jun 1941.
  • 3rd Tank Division — with 1st Mechanized Corps in Jun 1941.
  • 4th Tank Division — with 6th Mechanized Corps in Jun 1941.
  • 5th Tank Division — with 3rd Mechanized Corps in Jun 1941.
  • 6th Tank Division — with 28th Mechanized Corps in June 1941. 6th Tank Division was part of the Transcaucasian Front when the Front moved into Iran, but was withdrawn from Iran in September 1941, whereas in November it was deployed by Novocherkassk with the 56th Army.
  • 7th Tank Division — with 6th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 8th Tank Division — with 4th Mechanized Corps in Jun 1941.
  • 9th Tank Division — with 27th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 10th Tank Division — with 15th Mechanized Corps in Jun 1941. Ground down to a strength of 20 vehicles while serving with 40th Army.
  • 11th Tank Division — with 2nd Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 12th Tank Division — with 8th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 13th Tank Division — with 5th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 14th Tank Division — with 7th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 15th Tank Division — with 16th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 16th Tank Division — with 2nd Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 17th Tank Division — with 5th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 18th Tank Division — with 7th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 19th Tank Division — with 22nd Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 20th Tank Division — with 9th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 21st Tank Division — with 10th Mechanized Corps in June 1941, with 201 or 217 tanks.[5] By 1 October 1941, part of 54th Army but had no tanks remaining.[6]
  • 22nd Tank Division — with 14th Mechanized Corps in Jun 1941.
  • 23rd Tank Division — with 12th Mechanized Corps in 6.41, disbanded by 8.41
  • 24th Tank Division — with 10th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 25th Tank Division — with 13th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 26th Tank Division — with 20th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 27th Tank Division — with 17th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 28th Tank Division — with 12th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 29th Tank Division — with 11th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 30th Tank Division — with 14th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 31st Tank Division — with 13th Mechanized Corps in June 1941. (in Shchuchyn area 1941)
  • 32nd Tank Division — with 4th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 33rd Tank Division — with 11th Mechanized Corps, 3rd Army in Jun 1941.
  • 34th Tank Division — with 8th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 35th Tank Division — with 9th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 36th Tank Division — with 17th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 37th Tank Division — with 15th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 38th Tank Division — with 20th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 39th Tank Division — with 16th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 40th Tank Division — with 19th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 41st Tank Division — with 22nd Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 42nd Tank Division — with 21st Mechanized Corps in 6.41, disbanded by 8.41.
  • 43rd Tank Division — with 19th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 44th Tank Division — with 18th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 45th Tank Division — with 24th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 46th Tank Division — with 21st Mechanized Corps in 6.41, disbanded by 8.41.
  • 47th Tank Division — with 18th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 48th Tank Division — with 23rd Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 49th Tank Division — with 24th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 50th Tank Division — with 25th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 51st Tank Division — with 23rd Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 52nd Tank Division — with 26th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 53rd Tank Division — with 27th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 54th Tank Division — with 28th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 55th Tank Division — with 25th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 56th Tank Division — with 26th Mechanized Corps in June 1941.
  • 57th Tank Division — with Transbaikal Military District in Jun 1941.
  • 58th Tank Division — with 30th Mechanized Corps in Far East in Jun 1941 becomes 58th Tank Brigade on 31 December 1941[7]
  • 59th Tank Division — with 2nd Red Banner Army in Far East in Jun 1941.
  • 60th Tank Division — with 30th Mechanized Corps in Far East in Jun 1941.[becomes 60th Tank Brigade on 20 January 1942]
  • 61st Tank Division — with Transbaikal Military District in Jun 1941, and still there in May 1945.
  • 101st Tank Division — formed after July 1941; with Western Front in August 1941.
  • 102nd Tank Division — formed after July 1941; with Reserve Front in August 1941.
  • 104th Tank Division — formed after July 1941; with Western Front in August 1941.
  • 105th Tank Division — formed after July 1941; with Reserve Front in August 1941.
  • 107th Tank Division — formed after July 1941; with Western Front in August 1941. Became 107th Motorized Rifle Division 16 September 1941, and, three months after that, 2nd Guards Motor Rifle Division on 12 January 1942.
  • 108th Tank Division — formed after July 1941; with Reserve Front in August 1941.[becomes 108th Tank Brigade on 2 December 1941]
  • 109th Tank Division — formed after July 1941; with Central Front in August 1941.
  • 110th Tank Division — formed after July 1941; with Reserve Front in August 1941.
  • 111th Tank Division — formed after July 1941; with the Transbaikal Front in May 1945.
  • 112th Tank Division — formed after July 1941; with the Far Eastern Front in Sep 1941.[becomes 112th Tank Brigade on 3 January 1942]

[edit] Artillery Divisions

[edit] Guards Mortar Divisions (Rocket Launcher Divisions)

  • 1st Guards Mortar Division — Formed Sep 1942; with Moscow Military District Jan 1945.
  • 2nd Guards Mortar Division — Formed Sep 1942; with 1st Baltic Front Jan 1945.
  • 3rd Guards Mortar Division — Formed Sep 1942; with 1st Ukrainian Front Jan 1945.
  • 4th Guards Mortar Division — Formed Sep 1942; with 2nd Belorussian Front Jan 1945.
  • 5th Guards Mortar Division — Formed Jan 1943; with 1st Belorussian Front Jan 1945.
  • 6th Guards Mortar Division — Formed Jan 1943; with 2nd Ukrainian Front 5.45.
  • 7th Guards Mortar Division — Formed Feb 1943; with 3rd Belorussian Front May 1945.

[edit] Antiaircraft Divisions

Note: These were divisions of the field antiaircraft forces, not those of the homeland air defense forces (PVO Strany).

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Scott and Scott, 1979, p.12
  2. ^ David Glantz, Colossus Reborn: The Red Army at War 1941–43, University Press of Kansas, 2005, p. 717 note 5.
  3. ^ Red Army Handbook, Chapter 3. For some postwar dispositions of the cavalry formations, see http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=23337. For 5 GCD, see also thread at Axis History Forum for more details
  4. ^ See also ru:112-я Башкирская кавалерийская дивизия.
  5. ^ 10th Mechanised Corps 1941
  6. ^ Erickson, Road to Stalingrad, Cassel Military Paperbacks, 2003, p.226
  7. ^ Axis History Forum • View topic - How many divisions were transferred from Far East in 1941?

[edit] References

All Russian source notes are via Lenskii.

  • Glantz, David M., Colossus Reborn, Lawrence: University of Kansas Press, 2005. ISBN 0-7006-1353-6.
  • Glantz, David M., Companion to Colossus Reborn, Lawrence: University of Kansas Press, 2005. ISBN 0-7006-1359-5.
  • А. Г. Ленский, Сухопутные силы РККА в предвоенные годы. Справочник. — Санкт-Петербург Б&К, 2000
  • Robert G. Poirier and Albert Z. Conner, The Red Army Order of Battle in the Great Patriotic War, Novato: Presidio Press, 1985. ISBN 0-89141-237-9.
  • Steven J. Zaloga and Leland S. Ness, Red Army Handbook 1941–1945, Phoenix Mill: Sutton Publishing, 1998. ISBN 0-7509-1740-7.
  • Боевой Состав Советской Армии 1941–1945 (Official Soviet Army Order of Battle from General Staff Archives).
  • http://samsv.narod.ru/
  • 223rd Rifle Division