45th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)
Encyclopedia
The 45th Rifle Division was a Red Army
infantry
division
formed originally during the Russian Civil War
that fought in World War II
and then served through the Cold War
in the Leningrad Military District
.
The division was originally formed 16 June 1919 in the Odessa raion from the 5th Ukrainian Rifle Division.
at the outbreak of World War II
, as part of the 15th Rifle Corps, 5th Army. Under Colonel V.P. Solokov, it was earmarked to defend the mid-Volga River islands behind the hard-pressed 62nd Army
on 7 October 1942. However it was deployed in the Battle of Stalingrad
proper on 26 October 1942, being ferried over from the east to the west bank of the Volga River to take up positions between the Red October and the Barrikady factories.
On 1 January 1943 the division was re-designated the 74th Guards Rifle Division
.
territory from the 67th Naval Rifle Brigade of the Karelian Front
, on defensive boundaries at Loukhi
Stations of the Kirov
railway. After its formation the division was concentrated towards Kestenga (Kiestinki), and from May 6 until August 19, 1943 was retained in the reserve of the 31st Rifle Corps in defensive positions. The division's first combat was on August 9, 1943 with the 61st Rifle Regiment and 85th Naval Rifle Brigade were supported by the 178th Artillery Regiment. On August 20, 1943 the division replaced the 85th Motor Rifle Brigade and 205th Rifle Division in the first echelon, and on September 7, 1943 conducted defensive operations against the Nazi 7th Infantry Division
and 6th SS Mountain Division Nord
. On September 8, 1944 the division had gone over to the offensive and on September 10 seized the Kestenga settlement. It was later relocated in the Kandalaksha
direction to the area of Nyamozero Station. From September 24 till September 28, 1944, the 45th Rifle Division attacked the settlement of Alakurtti
.
By October 3, 1944 the division had been relocated in the Murmansk direction and was a part of the army operations group, having the task to attack an auxiliary direction as part of the 14th Army
. On October 10, 1944, 45th Rifle Division had broken through defense of its opponent on the Zapadnaya Litsa
River near the Lake Chapr area. On October 13, 1944 the division joined 131st Rifle Corps (probably part of 14th Army) and on October 15 in cooperation with elements of 131st Rifle Corps seized Petsamo (as part of the Petsamo-Kirkenes Operation
).
From October 16 until October 25, 1944 it conducted operations for seizing the village of Tornet and the Norwegian city of Kirkenes
. On October 25, 1944 the 61st Rifle Regiment and the 253rd Rifle Regiment of the division helped seize the port and city of Kirkenes.
For actions on clearing Pechenga (Petsamo) the divisional staff was thanked officially by the Supreme Commander in Chief Stalin, and the division was given the honourable name "Pechenga". For taking Kirkenes, the staffs of the 61st Rifle Regiment and 253rd Rifle Regiment were given the honorary name "Kirkenes". On January 6, 1945 for valour and courage in combat with fascist aggressors the 61st Rifle Regiment of the division was awarded the Military Order of the Red Banner. On September 27, 1945 parts of the division, following a decision of the Soviet government were withdrawn from Norway and billeted in Murmansk and the Pechenga area.
, 2nd class.
.
Transition to professional contract status is planned to finish at the end of 2006. At the beginning of April 2006 the brigade had about 700 professional personnel, practically all sergeant positions having been filled by kontraktniks ( contracted professional soldiers). More than 180 military men and women have signed contracts for service in communications, medical, and rear services subunits. The brigade has about 10 professional soldiers from other CIS
states. At the beginning of 2006, during a trip to the Leningrad Military District
, the 200th Brigade was visited by the Minister of Defence, Sergey Ivanov.
The brigade has association links with the Norwegian 6th Division (Norway) and the Swedish Norrbottens Regiment
.
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...
infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
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...
formed originally 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...
that fought in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and then served through the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
in the Leningrad Military District
Leningrad Military District
The Leningrad Military District was a military district of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. In 2010 it was merged with the Moscow Military District, the Northern Fleet and the Baltic Fleet to form the new Western Military District.-History:...
.
The division was originally formed 16 June 1919 in the Odessa raion from the 5th Ukrainian Rifle Division.
Second World War service
It was attached to the Kiev Special Military District/Soviet Southwestern FrontSoviet Southwestern Front
The Southwestern Front was a name given to a Front by the Imperial Russian Army during the First World War, by the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic during the Russian Civil War, and by the Red Army during the Second World War.The Southwestern Front in this article describes several...
at the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, as part of the 15th Rifle Corps, 5th Army. Under Colonel V.P. Solokov, it was earmarked to defend the mid-Volga River islands behind the hard-pressed 62nd Army
62nd Army (Soviet Union)
The 62nd Order of Lenin Army was a field army established by the Soviet Union's Red Army during the Second World War. Formed as the 7th Reserve Army as part of the Stavka Reserve in May 1942, the formation was designated as the 62nd Rifle Army the following month...
on 7 October 1942. However it was deployed 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...
proper on 26 October 1942, being ferried over from the east to the west bank of the Volga River to take up positions between the Red October and the Barrikady factories.
On 1 January 1943 the division was re-designated the 74th Guards Rifle Division
74th Guards Rifle Division
The 74th Guards Rifle Division was an Guards infantry division of the Red Army during the Second World War. Its full formal name was the 74-я Guards Nizhnedneprovskiy Order of Lenin twice Red Banner Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky Rifle Division. It was formed from 45th Rifle Division on March 1, 1943...
.
Second formation
The division was re-formed on May, 5th, 1943 in the KareliyaRepublic of Karelia
The Republic of Karelia is a federal subject of Russia .-Geography:The republic is located in the northwestern part of Russia, taking intervening position between the basins of White and Baltic seas...
territory from the 67th Naval Rifle Brigade of the Karelian Front
Karelian Front
The Karelian Front was a Front of the Soviet Union's Red Army during World War II, and operated in Karelia.- Wartime :...
, on defensive boundaries at Loukhi
Loukhi
Loukhi is an urban locality and the administrative center of Loukhsky District of the Republic of Karelia, Russia, located on the shore of Lake Panovo, north of Petrozavodsk. Population:...
Stations of the Kirov
Kirov, Kirov Oblast
Kirov , formerly known as Vyatka and Khlynov, is a city in northeastern European Russia, on the Vyatka River, and the administrative center of Kirov Oblast. Population: -History:...
railway. After its formation the division was concentrated towards Kestenga (Kiestinki), and from May 6 until August 19, 1943 was retained in the reserve of the 31st Rifle Corps in defensive positions. The division's first combat was on August 9, 1943 with the 61st Rifle Regiment and 85th Naval Rifle Brigade were supported by the 178th Artillery Regiment. On August 20, 1943 the division replaced the 85th Motor Rifle Brigade and 205th Rifle Division in the first echelon, and on September 7, 1943 conducted defensive operations against the Nazi 7th Infantry Division
7th Infantry Division (Germany)
The 7th Infantry Division was a formation of the German Wehrmacht during World War II. It was formed 1 October 1934 in Munich from the Artillerieführer VII staff and renamed 7. Infanterie-Division with the disclosure of German rearmament on 15 October 1935...
and 6th SS Mountain Division Nord
6th SS Mountain Division Nord
The 6th SS Mountain Division "Nord" was a German unit of the Waffen SS during World War II, formed in February 1941 as SS Kampfgruppe Nord ....
. On September 8, 1944 the division had gone over to the offensive and on September 10 seized the Kestenga settlement. It was later relocated in the 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...
direction to the area of Nyamozero Station. From September 24 till September 28, 1944, the 45th Rifle Division attacked the settlement of Alakurtti
Alakurtti
Alakurtti may refer to:* Alakurtti , a naval air base in Murmansk Oblast, Russia* Alakurtti, Murmansk Oblast, a rural locality in Murmansk Oblast, Russia...
.
By October 3, 1944 the division had been relocated in the Murmansk direction and was a part of the army operations group, having the task to attack an auxiliary direction as part of the 14th Army
14th Army (Soviet Union)
The 14th Army was formed in October 1939 in the Leningrad Military District. It participated in the Soviet-Finnish war, during which its 52nd and 104th Rifle Divisions fought in the Battle of Petsamo.From 24 June 1941 the Army included...
. On October 10, 1944, 45th Rifle Division had broken through defense of its opponent on the Zapadnaya Litsa
Zapadnaya Litsa
Zapadnaya Litsa is the largest and most important Russian naval base built for the Northern Fleet. The base is located far in the north of Russia, on the Litsa Fjord at the westernmost point of the Kola Peninsula...
River near the Lake Chapr area. On October 13, 1944 the division joined 131st Rifle Corps (probably part of 14th Army) and on October 15 in cooperation with elements of 131st Rifle Corps seized Petsamo (as part of the Petsamo-Kirkenes Operation
Petsamo-Kirkenes Operation
The Petsamo–Kirkenes Offensive was a major military offensive during World War II, mounted by the Red Army against the Wehrmacht in 1944 in northern Finland and Norway. The offensive defeated the Wehrmachts forces in the Arctic, driving them back into Norway, and was called the "Tenth Shock" by...
).
From October 16 until October 25, 1944 it conducted operations for seizing the village of Tornet and the Norwegian city of Kirkenes
Kirkenes
is a town in the municipality of Sør-Varanger in the county of Finnmark in the far northeast of Norway...
. On October 25, 1944 the 61st Rifle Regiment and the 253rd Rifle Regiment of the division helped seize the port and city of Kirkenes.
For actions on clearing Pechenga (Petsamo) the divisional staff was thanked officially by the Supreme Commander in Chief Stalin, and the division was given the honourable name "Pechenga". For taking Kirkenes, the staffs of the 61st Rifle Regiment and 253rd Rifle Regiment were given the honorary name "Kirkenes". On January 6, 1945 for valour and courage in combat with fascist aggressors the 61st Rifle Regiment of the division was awarded the Military Order of the Red Banner. On September 27, 1945 parts of the division, following a decision of the Soviet government were withdrawn from Norway and billeted in Murmansk and the Pechenga area.
Cold War service
In 1957 the division was renamed the 131st Pechenga Motor-Rifle Division. In 1968, in days of celebrating the 25 anniversary of its 2nd formation, the division was awarded the Order of KutuzovOrder of Kutuzov
The Order of Kutuzov is a Soviet and Russian military award, named after famous Russian Field Marshal Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov ....
, 2nd class.
Russian Federation service
On December, 1st, 1997 the 131st MRD was reorganised as the 200th Pechenga Independent Motor-Rifle Brigade. The division, as the 200th Brigade, has been based for many years at Pechenga in Murmansk OblastMurmansk Oblast
Murmansk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia , located in the northwestern part of Russia. Its administrative center is the city of Murmansk.-Geography:...
.
Transition to professional contract status is planned to finish at the end of 2006. At the beginning of April 2006 the brigade had about 700 professional personnel, practically all sergeant positions having been filled by kontraktniks ( contracted professional soldiers). More than 180 military men and women have signed contracts for service in communications, medical, and rear services subunits. The brigade has about 10 professional soldiers from other CIS
CIS
CIS usually refers to the Commonwealth of Independent States, a modern political entity consisting of eleven former Soviet Union republics.The acronym CIS may also refer to:-Organizations:...
states. At the beginning of 2006, during a trip to the Leningrad Military District
Leningrad Military District
The Leningrad Military District was a military district of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. In 2010 it was merged with the Moscow Military District, the Northern Fleet and the Baltic Fleet to form the new Western Military District.-History:...
, the 200th Brigade was visited by the Minister of Defence, Sergey Ivanov.
The brigade has association links with the Norwegian 6th Division (Norway) and the Swedish Norrbottens Regiment
Norrbottens regemente
Norrbottens regemente , designation I 19, is a Swedish Army arctic armoured, light infantry and ranger regiment that traces its origins back to the 19th century. The regiment's soldiers were originally recruited from the province of Norrbotten, and it is currently garrisoned in Boden, Norrbotten...
.
Sources
- Machine translated from Russian official site
- V.I. Feskov et al. 2004, Lenskii et al.
- http://www.contract.mil.ru/56/226/1719/index.shtml (200th Pechenga Independent Motor Rifle Brigade, Pechenga, Murmansk Oblast)
- http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/954462/Main/954462 - Google EarthGoogle EarthGoogle Earth is a virtual globe, map and geographical information program that was originally called EarthViewer 3D, and was created by Keyhole, Inc, a Central Intelligence Agency funded company acquired by Google in 2004 . It maps the Earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite...
link