36th Motor Rifle Division (Soviet Union)

36th Rifle Division (I) (1918-1934)
36th Motor Rifle Division
Active 1918-1957
Country  Soviet Union
Branch Red Army
Type Infantry
Size Division
Engagements

Russian Civil War
Sino-Soviet conflict (1929)
Battles of Khalkhin Gol
World War II

Battle honours

Transbaikal

Khingan

The 36th Motor Rifle Division was a Red Army division of World War II.

History

The division was first formed as the 36th Rifle Division (ru: 36-я стрелковая дивизия) based on the 9th Army's expeditionary division in 1918. It fought in the Russian Civil War and was part of the 9th Army between 1919 and 1920. In summer 1921, the division participated in the campaign against Roman von Ungern-Sternberg's forces in Mongolia. On 4 June 1923, the division was given the honorary designation "Transbaikal".[1]

The Special Far Eastern Army was formed on 6 August 1929, and the 36th RD became part of then newly formed army.[2] In the second half of August, alleged Chinese provocations on the border of the Soviet Far East increased. The commander of the troops of the army ordered elements of the division to positions on the border. The division, without the 106th Rifle Regiment, was positioned in Borzya. Due to the tense border situation, the 108th Rifle Regiment was transported to the site of a possible incident. On 16 August, one platoon of the regiment repulsed a Chinese attack near the vilalge of Abagaytuevsky. A major incident occurred on 18 August in the 108th Rifle Regiment sector. During the early morning hours of that day, Chinese artillery reportedly began shelling Soviet territory. By 1100, three companies of Chinese infantry were attacking. To aid Soviet border guards, infantry and artillery were sent in. Soviet troops attacked the Chinese trenches on the other side of the border and reportedly captured them. With Soviet troops in their rear, the attacking Chinese troops were reportedly routed and the Soviet troops returned to the border.[2]

In November, the division fought in the Manchurian operation. The objective of the operation was to defeat the Chinese Manchurian group of the Mukden army, establish Soviet border security and secure Soviet access to the Chinese Eastern Railway. During the operation, the Special Far Eastern Army was commanded by Vasily Blyukher.[1] To accomplish these objectives, the Transbaikal Group was established within the army.

On 20 August 1937, it became the 36th Motor Rifle Division.[1] (ru: 36-я мотострелковая дивизия)

The division fought during the Battles of Khalkhin Gol.[3]

On 22 June 1941, the division, along with the 57th Motor Rifle Division, was with the 17th Army, part of the Transbaikal Front.[4] In the last year of World War II, it fought in the Soviet invasion of Manchuria.[5]

In October 1945 the division was part of 6th Guards Tank Army, but joined 86th Rifle Corps within 36th Army by August 1946-April 1947.[6] On 2 July 1955 86th Rifle Corps became 26th Rifle Corps.[7] After having been converted back into a rifle division in 1946, the division disbanded while in 26th Rifle Corps in 1956-57.[8]

Commanders

Composition

The division was composed of the following units on 22 June 1941.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Website Mechanized Corps of the Red Army 36th Motor Rifle Division Transbaikal Order of Lenin
  2. 1 2 Fedyuninsky, Ivan (1985). На Востоке [In the East] (in Russian). Moscow: Voenizdat.
  3. ↑ Erickson, John (2013-07-04). The Soviet High Command: a Military-political History, 1918-1941: A Military Political History, 1918-1941. Routledge. p. 242. ISBN 9781136339523.
  4. ↑ "17th Army, Transbaikal Military District, Red Army, 22.06.41". niehorster.org. Retrieved 2015-11-26.
  5. ↑ Glantz, David (2004-08-02). The Soviet Strategic Offensive in Manchuria, 1945: 'August Storm'. Routledge. p. 390. ISBN 9781135774998.
  6. ↑ Feskov et al 2013, 565.
  7. ↑ Feskov et al 2013, 567
  8. ↑ Feskov et al 2013, 566-7.
  9. 1 2 "Motorized Rifle Division, Soviet Army, 22 June 1941". niehorster.org. Retrieved 2015-11-26.
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