21st Rifle Division (Soviet Union)
Encyclopedia
The 21st Rifle Division was a tactical unit of the Bolshevist Russia
and then the USSR, active between 1918 and 1945. Organised during the Russian Civil War
on September 3, 1918 out of several smaller partisan detachment of Perm Governorate
. Soon it was reinforced with a single artillery battery from Sankt Petersburg and two Workers' Brigades from the Arkhangelsk
Front. Initially known as the 5th Ural Infantry Division, it was renamed on March 19, 1919.
Commanded by Ivan Smolin, the division took part in the ill-fated Russian summer offensive of 1920, which ended with the Battle of Warsaw
. Despite initial successes, the division was ultimately defeated in the Battle of Radzymin
and annihilated in the following days.
Reformed in Russia, it was activated on June 22, 1941 in the Far East (in Spassk-Dalny
). Following the German invasion of the Soviet Union
and a string of Soviet defeats early in the war, on September 11, 1941 the division was transported to Ivanovo
, where it received its' heavy equipment and assumed defensive positions along Svir River
. Not attacked directly by German forces, the division remained in the area until March 1944, when it was moved to the Arctic theatre of operations, to Kandalaksha
. As part of the 19th Army
it took part in defeating a group of German forces in the area of Allakurti and reached the pre-war Soviet-Finnish
border.
In January 1945 it was transferred to Hungary, to defend against a German attack across the Leitha. Surrounded on January 20 in the vicinity of Aba
and Jakabszállás
, the following day it broke through and reached friendly lines. On January 28 it received reinforcements and took part in the Soviet counter-offensive between Leithe and Danube
.
It later took part in defence against the Balaton Offensive
and then the Vienna Offensive
, operating from the town of Nagykanizsa.
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 1945. Organised 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 September 3, 1918 out of several smaller partisan detachment of Perm Governorate
Perm Governorate
Perm Governorate - an administrative unit of the Russian Empire and the USSR in 1781-1923 years. Located on both slopes of the Ural Mountains...
. Soon it was reinforced with a single artillery battery from Sankt Petersburg and two Workers' Brigades from the Arkhangelsk
Arkhangelsk
Arkhangelsk , formerly known as Archangel in English, is a city and the administrative center of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. It lies on both banks of the Northern Dvina River near its exit into the White Sea in the north of European Russia. The city spreads for over along the banks of the river...
Front. Initially known as the 5th Ural Infantry Division, it was renamed on March 19, 1919.
Commanded by Ivan Smolin, the division took part in the ill-fated Russian summer offensive of 1920, which ended with 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...
. Despite initial successes, the division was ultimately defeated in the Battle 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 annihilated in the following days.
Reformed in Russia, it was activated on June 22, 1941 in the Far East (in Spassk-Dalny
Spassk-Dalny
Spassk-Dalny , sometimes called Spassk, is a town in Primorsky Krai, Russia, situated on the Prikhankayskaya Flatland on the coast of Khanka Lake. Population:...
). Following the German invasion of the Soviet Union
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...
and a string of Soviet defeats early in the war, on September 11, 1941 the division was transported to Ivanovo
Ivanovo
Ivanovo is a city and the administrative center of Ivanovo Oblast, Russia. Population: Ivanovo has traditionally been called the textile capital of Russia. Since most textile workers are women, it has also been known as the "City of Brides"...
, where it received its' heavy equipment and assumed defensive positions along Svir River
Svir River
Svir is a river in the north-east of Leningrad Oblast, Russia. It flows from Lake Onega west to Lake Ladoga, thus connecting the two largest lakes of Europe. It is the largest river flowing into Lake Ladoga....
. Not attacked directly by German forces, the division remained in the area until March 1944, when it was moved to the Arctic theatre of operations, to Kandalaksha
Kandalaksha
Kandalaksha is a town in Kandalakshsky District of Murmansk Oblast, Russia, located at the head of Kandalaksha Gulf on the White Sea, beyond the Arctic Circle. Population: 40,564 ; -History:The settlement has existed since the 11th century...
. As part of the 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:...
it took part in defeating a group of German forces in the area of Allakurti and reached the pre-war Soviet-Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
border.
In January 1945 it was transferred to Hungary, to defend against a German attack across the Leitha. Surrounded on January 20 in the vicinity of Aba
Aba, Hungary
Aba is a village in Fejér county, Hungary.In 1559 it was property of Mihály Cseszneky and Balázs Baranyai.-Sources:* Szíj Rezső: Várpalota* Fejér megyei történeti évkönyv* Hofkammerarchiv Wien*...
and Jakabszállás
Jakabszállás
Jakabszállás is a village in Bács-Kiskun county, in the Southern Great Plain region of Hungary.-Geography:It covers an area of and has a population of 2634 people ....
, the following day it broke through and reached friendly lines. On January 28 it received reinforcements and took part in the Soviet counter-offensive between Leithe and Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
.
It later took part in defence against the Balaton Offensive
Operation Frühlingserwachen
Operation Frühlingserwachen was the last major German offensive launched during World War II. The offensive was launched in Hungary on the Eastern Front...
and then the Vienna Offensive
Vienna Offensive
The Vienna Offensive was launched by the Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front in order to capture Vienna, Austria. The offensive lasted from 2–13 April 1945...
, operating from the town of Nagykanizsa.