| 29th Rifle Division (1941-43) 72nd Guards Rifle Division (1943-57) 72nd Guards Motor Rifle Division (1957-1992) 72nd Guards Mechanized Division (1992-2001) 72nd Guards Mechanized Brigade (2002-present) |
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|---|---|
72nd Mechanized Brigade Sleeve Patch |
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| Active | December 5, 1941[1] - Present |
| Country | Ukraine |
| Branch | Ukrainian Army |
| Type | Brigade |
| Role | Mechanized |
| Size | ~3,000 |
| Part of | 8th Army Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | Bila Tserkva, Kiev Oblast |
| Equipment | T-64[2] |
| Engagements | World War II Soviet war in Afghanistan |
| Decorations | Order of the Red Banner |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Lieutenant General Sergiy Ostrovskiy[3] |
The 72nd Mechanized Brigade is a formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. It was previously named the 29th Rifle Division and then the 72nd Guards Rifle Division of the Soviet Ground Forces.
Contents |
On December 5, 1941 the 29th Rifle Division was being formed in Akmolinsk, Kazakhstan. By January 16, 1942 the division was finally formed.
Division was made up of 106th, 128th, 299th Rifle and 77th Artillery Regiments. Separate 125th Anti-Tank, separate 78th Saper, separate 124th Signal, 29th Medical Battalions. 104th Reconnaissance Company.
Until June 1942 it was held in reserve, until the men had received enough training.
In July 1943 29th Rifle Division was ordered to move to Stalingrad and join the 64th Army. In August 1942 units of the division first met with the Germans. During Battle of Stalingrad they killed 5,242 and took 13,447 captive.
On February 2, 1943 the Battle of Stalingrad was finally over. Due to the heroism of the soldiers the 29th Rifle Division was redesignated the 72nd Guard Rifle Division by Directorate of the General Staff order №104 on March 1, 1943.
| 29th Rifle Division | 72nd Guard Rifle Division |
|---|---|
| 106 Rifle Regiment | 222 Guards Rifle Regiment |
| 128 Rifle Regiment | 224 Guards Rifle Regiment |
| 77 Artillery Regiment | 155 Guards Artillery Regiment |
On March 3, 1943 72nd Guard Rifle Division was involved in battles for liberation of Belgorod. Soon they were near Kharkiv and Krasnohrad.
The 72nd Guards Rifle Division became a motor rifle division after the Second World War and after the collapse of the Soviet Union became part of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. It was later reduced in size to a mechanized brigade
Late Soviet Period Structure[4][5]
http://www.rkka.ru/handbook/reg/72gsd.htm