27th Guards Rifle Division
Encyclopedia
The 27th Guards Rifle Division was a Red Army
rifle division
in World War II which later became a Soviet Army motor rifle division.
The division draws its history from the 75th Naval Rifle Brigade formed in the end of 1941. As part of the 3rd Shock Army
, Kalinin Front
in 1942 the brigade participated in the Demiansk operations - the Moscow counteroffensive. For its fighting performance it became the 3rd Guards Rifle Brigade in March 1942, having spent all its time in reserve, became the 27th Guards Rifle Division in April-May 1942. With a view to the preservation of fighting and revolutionary traditions of earlier formations, the name "Omsk" which 27th Rifle Division had during the Russian Civil War
had earlier was given to the new division. In the late summer of 1942, it was rushed south to help stop the German offensive into the northern Caucasus and Stalingrad. It took part in the destruction of the German 6th Army during the winter of 1942/43. During World War II the division was part of the 4th Tank Army
, 1st Guards Army, the 24th Army, the 66th Army, the 65th Army and since February 1943 the 62nd Army. In April 1942 the 62nd Army became the Eighth Guards Army. In July 1942 the Division was part of Kalinin Front
's 58th Army, alongside 16th Guards Rifle Division and two other rifle divisions. The Division was back with the 8th Guards Army of the 1st Belorussian Front
in May 1945.
The Division participated in the Battle of Stalingrad
, Izyum-Barvenkovo, Donbass, Zaporozhye, Nikopol-Krivoi Rog, Bereznegova-Snigirovka, Odessa, Lublin - Brest, Poznań
, Küstrin, Варшавско - Познанской and the Berlin offensive operation
. For services in battle the Division was awarded the honourable name "Novobug" (March 1944), then awarded the Order of the Red Banner
and Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky
2nd degrees. Over 10 thousand of its soldiers were awarded awards and medals, and 7 were awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union
. Its commanders included Colonel K.N. Vindushev (1942), and S.Glebov (1942–1945), Glebov was originally a Colonel but was made a General-Major in November 1942.
Since 1945 the Division remained as part of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany
where it became a Motor Rifle Division about 1957. It remained in Germany until after the fall of the Soviet Union, when it was withdrawn to Totskoye
in the Volga-Ural Military District. It has contributed many personnel for peacekeeping operations.
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
rifle division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
in World War II which later became a Soviet Army motor rifle division.
The division draws its history from the 75th Naval Rifle Brigade formed in the end of 1941. As part of the 3rd Shock Army
3rd Shock Army (Soviet Union)
The 3rd Shock Army was a field army of the Red Army formed during the Second World War. The 'Shock' armies were created with the specific structure to engage and destroy significant enemy forces, and were reinforced with more armoured and artillery assets than other combined arms armies...
, Kalinin Front
Kalinin Front
The Kalinin Front was a Front of the Soviet Army during the Second World War. This sense of the term is not identical with the more general usage of military front which indicates a geographic area in wartime, although a Soviet Front may operate within designated boundaries.The Kalinin Front was...
in 1942 the brigade participated in the Demiansk operations - the Moscow counteroffensive. For its fighting performance it became the 3rd Guards Rifle Brigade in March 1942, having spent all its time in reserve, became the 27th Guards Rifle Division in April-May 1942. With a view to the preservation of fighting and revolutionary traditions of earlier formations, the name "Omsk" which 27th Rifle Division had during the Russian Civil War
Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
had earlier was given to the new division. In the late summer of 1942, it was rushed south to help stop the German offensive into the northern Caucasus and Stalingrad. It took part in the destruction of the German 6th Army during the winter of 1942/43. During World War II the division was part of the 4th Tank Army
4th Tank Army (Soviet Union)
The 20th Guards Army, , is a field army, since 1991, part of the Russian Ground Forces.-1st Formation :It was first formed within the Stalingrad Front from July 1942 and...
, 1st Guards Army, the 24th Army, the 66th Army, the 65th Army and since February 1943 the 62nd Army. In April 1942 the 62nd Army became the Eighth Guards Army. In July 1942 the Division was part of Kalinin Front
Kalinin Front
The Kalinin Front was a Front of the Soviet Army during the Second World War. This sense of the term is not identical with the more general usage of military front which indicates a geographic area in wartime, although a Soviet Front may operate within designated boundaries.The Kalinin Front was...
's 58th Army, alongside 16th Guards Rifle Division and two other rifle divisions. The Division was back with the 8th Guards Army of the 1st Belorussian Front
1st Belorussian Front
The 1st Belorussian Front was a Front of the Soviet Army during World War II...
in May 1945.
The Division participated in the Battle of Stalingrad
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was a major battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad in southwestern Russia. The battle took place between 23 August 1942 and 2 February 1943...
, Izyum-Barvenkovo, Donbass, Zaporozhye, Nikopol-Krivoi Rog, Bereznegova-Snigirovka, Odessa, Lublin - Brest, Poznań
Battle of Poznan (1945)
The Battle of Poznań during World War II in 1945 was a massive assault by the Soviet Union's Red Army that had as its objective the elimination of the Nazi German garrison in the stronghold city of Poznań in occupied Poland...
, Küstrin, Варшавско - Познанской and the Berlin offensive operation
Battle of Berlin
The Battle of Berlin, designated the Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation by the Soviet Union, was the final major offensive of the European Theatre of World War II....
. For services in battle the Division was awarded the honourable name "Novobug" (March 1944), then awarded the Order of the Red Banner
Order of the Red Banner
The Soviet government of Russia established the Order of the Red Banner , a military decoration, on September 16, 1918 during the Russian Civil War...
and Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky
Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky
Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky may refer to:* Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky , state military award in the Soviet Union* Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky , state military award in Ukraine...
2nd degrees. Over 10 thousand of its soldiers were awarded awards and medals, and 7 were awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union
Hero of the Soviet Union
The title Hero of the Soviet Union was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society.-Overview:...
. Its commanders included Colonel K.N. Vindushev (1942), and S.Glebov (1942–1945), Glebov was originally a Colonel but was made a General-Major in November 1942.
Since 1945 the Division remained as part of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany
Group of Soviet Forces in Germany
The Group of Soviet Forces in Germany , also known as the Group of Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany and the Western Group of Forces were the troops of the Soviet Army in East Germany....
where it became a Motor Rifle Division about 1957. It remained in Germany until after the fall of the Soviet Union, when it was withdrawn to Totskoye
Totskoye
Totskoye is a village in Orenburg Oblast, Russia. It is the administrative center of Totsky District. Population: 7,201 ....
in the Volga-Ural Military District. It has contributed many personnel for peacekeeping operations.
Composition in Germany, 1989-90
Source: Craig Crofoot, GSFG manscript available at www.microarmormayhem.com- a. Division Headquarters – Halle 51° 29’ 40” North, 11° 55’ 40” East
- b. 68th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment (BMP) – Halle 51° 26’ 30” North, 11° 56’ 50” East
- c. 243rd Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment (BTR) – Halle 51° 29’ 40” North, 11° 55’ 40” East
- d. 244th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment (BTR) – Schlotheim 51° 15’ 50” North, 10° 38’ 30” East
- e. 28th Tank Regiment – Halle 51° 29’ 40” North, 11° 55’ 40” East
- f. 54th Guards Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment – Halle 51° 29’ 40” North, 11° 55’ 40” East
- g. 286th Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment – Halle 51° 29’ 40” North, 11° 55’ 40” East
- h. 488th Independent Anti-Tank Battalion – Halle 51° 29’ 40” North, 11° 55’ 40” East
- i. 5th Independent Reconnaissance & Radio EW Battalion – Mühlhausen 51° 12’ 20” North, 10° 27’ 00” East
- j. 35th Independent Guards Signals Battalion – Halle 51° 29’ 40” North, 11° 55’ 40” East
- k. 29th Independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion – Halle 51° 26’ 40” North, 11° 57’ 10” East
- l. 44th Repair-Reconstruction Battalion
- m. 367th Independent Chemical Defense Battalion
- n. 21st Independent Medical-Sanitation Battalion
- o. 1126th Independent Material Support Battalion
Current Composition
Source warfare.ru- HQ 27th Motorized-Rifle Division [2nd Combined-Arms Army]
- 81st Motorized Rifle Regiment, Samara [27th MRD](Agentstvo Voyennykh Novostey, 5 Mar 01; 21 Jan 03).
- 152nd Tank Regiment(Agentstvo Voyennykh Novostey, 13 Sep 01).
- 433rd Motorized-Rifle Regiment [27th MRD](Agentstvo Voyennykh Novostey, 13 Sep 01).
Sources
- http://samsv.narod.ru/Div/Sd/gvsd027/default.html
- Bonn, Slaughterhouse: Handbook of the Eastern Front, 2005, p. 365