27th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)
Encyclopedia
The 27th Rifle Division was a tactical unit of the Bolshevist Russia
and then the USSR, active between 1918 and 1941. First formed during the Russian Civil War
on November 3, 1918 as part of 5th Red Army. Commanded by Vitovt Putna
, it was transferred to the 16th Red Army in May 1920, and took part in the Polish-Bolshevist War. Defeated in the battles of Radzymin
and Ossów
(collectively known as the Battle of Warsaw
, it practically ceased to exist.
Reformed in Russia, it returned to Poland in 1939 and took part in the joint Nazi and Soviet invasion of Poland as part of the 3rd Army's 4th Rifle Corps, reaching Parafianów and the line of Serwecz River on September 18, 1939. It was then stationed in Soviet-occupied Poland with its' headquarters in Suchowola
and regiments stationed in Augustów
, Grajewo
and Suchowola
. By 2 October 1939, the division had been subordinated to the 16th Rifle Corps of the 11th Army.
On 22 June 1941, the division was part of 4th Rifle Corps, 3rd Army (Soviet Union), itself part of the Western Special Military District which quickly became the Western Front. During Operation Barbarossa
, the division was attacked by Nazi German 256th Infantry Division and German 162nd Infantry Division. Its' regiments fought separately and retreated eastwards, towards Sokółka. By June 24 the division lost 40% of its' soldiers and the following day unsuccessfully tried to defend the Swisłocz river line. In accordance with Order No. 227, which prohibited any retreats, it defended the line until the end of the day when it was annihilated. Only small groups of soldiers from the division reached Soviet lines in July and early August. The division was officially disbanded on September 19, 1941.
The second formation of the division was recreated Aug 1941 at Arkhangelsk, and the division subsequently fought against the Finnish Army. (Was renamed from Rebolsky Direction Division on Sept 24, 1941) The division was subordinated to the 26th Army of the Karelian Front in January 1944. Fought near Danzig in 1945. With 19th Army
of the 2nd Belorussian Front May 1945.
Bolshevist Russia
Bolshevist Russia, Bolshevik Russia or Soviet Russia refers to Russia under the government by the Bolshevik party after the October Revolution...
and then the USSR, active between 1918 and 1941. First formed 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...
on November 3, 1918 as part of 5th Red Army. Commanded by Vitovt Putna
Vitovt Putna
Vitovt Kazimirovich Putna was a Soviet Red Army officer of Lithuanian origin. A World War I veteran of the Imperial Russian Army and Bolshevik since 1917, Putna was a komdiv during the Polish-Soviet War and commanded a variety of divisions...
, it was transferred to the 16th Red Army in May 1920, and took part in the Polish-Bolshevist War. Defeated in the battles of Radzymin
Battle of Radzymin
In the 19th century there was one major battle fought in the vicinity of the town of Radzymin, a suburb of Warsaw:* Battle of Radzymin , a Polish-Austrian battle following the Battle of Raszyn...
and Ossów
Battle of Ossów
The Battle of Ossów took place in the fields near Wołomin on August 14, 1920. It was a part of a much larger battle on the outskirts of Warsaw during the Polish-Bolshevist War . During the day Russian units managed to capture the strategically important village of Ossów, but were repelled in the...
(collectively known as the Battle of Warsaw
Battle of Warsaw (1920)
The Battle of Warsaw sometimes referred to as the Miracle at the Vistula, was the decisive battle of the Polish–Soviet War. That war began soon after the end of World War I in 1918 and lasted until the Treaty of Riga resulted in the end of the hostilities between Poland and Russia in 1921.The...
, it practically ceased to exist.
Reformed in Russia, it returned to Poland in 1939 and took part in the joint Nazi and Soviet invasion of Poland as part of the 3rd Army's 4th Rifle Corps, reaching Parafianów and the line of Serwecz River on September 18, 1939. It was then stationed in Soviet-occupied Poland with its' headquarters in Suchowola
Suchowola
Suchowola is a town in north-eastern Poland in Sokółka county, located on both banks of the Olszanka River. Its population is 2,500 ....
and regiments stationed in Augustów
Augustów
Augustów is a town in north-eastern Poland with 29,600 inhabitants . It lies on the Netta River and the Augustów Canal. It is situated in the Podlaskie Voivodeship , having previously been in Suwałki Voivodeship . It is the seat of Augustów County and of Gmina Augustów.In 1970 Augustów became...
, Grajewo
Grajewo
Grajewo , is a town in north-eastern Poland with 23,302 inhabitants .It is situated in the Podlaskie Voivodeship ; previously, it was in Łomża Voivodeship...
and Suchowola
Suchowola
Suchowola is a town in north-eastern Poland in Sokółka county, located on both banks of the Olszanka River. Its population is 2,500 ....
. By 2 October 1939, the division had been subordinated to the 16th Rifle Corps of the 11th Army.
On 22 June 1941, the division was part of 4th Rifle Corps, 3rd Army (Soviet Union), itself part of the Western Special Military District which quickly became the Western Front. During Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
, the division was attacked by Nazi German 256th Infantry Division and German 162nd Infantry Division. Its' regiments fought separately and retreated eastwards, towards Sokółka. By June 24 the division lost 40% of its' soldiers and the following day unsuccessfully tried to defend the Swisłocz river line. In accordance with Order No. 227, which prohibited any retreats, it defended the line until the end of the day when it was annihilated. Only small groups of soldiers from the division reached Soviet lines in July and early August. The division was officially disbanded on September 19, 1941.
The second formation of the division was recreated Aug 1941 at Arkhangelsk, and the division subsequently fought against the Finnish Army. (Was renamed from Rebolsky Direction Division on Sept 24, 1941) The division was subordinated to the 26th Army of the Karelian Front in January 1944. Fought near Danzig in 1945. With 19th Army
19th Army (Soviet Union)
The 19th Army was a field army of the Soviet Union's Red Army, formed in 1941 and active during the Second World War. It was disbanded in 1945 or 1947.-First Formation:...
of the 2nd Belorussian Front May 1945.