4th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)
Encyclopedia
The 4th Rifle Division was an infantry division of the Soviet Union's Red Army
active from 1921 to 1946.
The Division was activated 1919 near Petrograd during the Russian Civil War
, and fought on the western front of that war and in the Soviet-Polish War. Until 1923 its headquarters was at Minsk
. During the 1930s the Division was part of the 5th Rifle Corps, stationed in the Belarussian Military District. It was moved north in 1939 and fought in the Winter War
, including at the Battle of Kelja
, later joining the newly formed 13th Army
. In July 1941 the Division was part of the 3rd Rifle Corps of the 46th Army, in the Transcaucasian Military District
. In the middle of April 1942 the Division under Colonel I.P.Roslogo was fighting as part of the 12th Army
. In August 1942 it participated in the Battle of the Caucasus
. The Division was disbanded after heavy combat in November 1942.
It was reformed 1943 in the Moscow Military District
and from April 1943-May 1944 it was part of the Baltic Front's 11th Army. Later reassigned to 48th Army. By January 1945, now part of the 25th Rifle Corps of the 69th Army, it took part in the fighting for the Puławy bridge in Poland; much weakened by the battle, its effective strength was reduced to not more than six battalions. In April 1945 : Still part of the 69th Army, it took part in the Battle of Berlin
. It was disbanded in June 1946.
The Division was reformed again in 1955 by renumbering the 160th Rifle Division in the Transcaucasian Military District but then disbanded 1956.
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...
active from 1921 to 1946.
The Division was activated 1919 near Petrograd 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...
, and fought on the western front of that war and in the Soviet-Polish War. Until 1923 its headquarters was at Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
. During the 1930s the Division was part of the 5th Rifle Corps, stationed in the Belarussian Military District. It was moved north in 1939 and fought in the Winter War
Winter War
The Winter War was a military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet offensive on 30 November 1939 – three months after the start of World War II and the Soviet invasion of Poland – and ended on 13 March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty...
, including at the Battle of Kelja
Battle of Kelja
The Battle of Kelja, fought from December 25 to December 27, 1939 in and around the village of Kelja , Finland, was a part of the Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union.-Prelude:...
, later joining the newly formed 13th Army
13th Army (Soviet Union)
The 13th Army was a name given to several field armies of the Soviet Union's Red Army, first created during the Russian Civil War...
. In July 1941 the Division was part of the 3rd Rifle Corps of the 46th Army, in the Transcaucasian Military District
Transcaucasian Military District
The Transcaucasian Military District, a military district of the Soviet Armed Forces, traces its history to May 1921 and the incorporation of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia into the USSR...
. In the middle of April 1942 the Division under Colonel I.P.Roslogo was fighting as part of the 12th Army
12th Army (Soviet Union)
The Soviet Union's 12th Army was a field army formed multiple times during the Russian Civil War and World War II.-Civil War & Polish-Soviet War:...
. In August 1942 it participated in the Battle of the Caucasus
Battle of the Caucasus
The Battle of Caucasus is a name given to a series of German and Soviet operations in the Caucasus area during the Soviet-German War.-1941 operations:...
. The Division was disbanded after heavy combat in November 1942.
It was reformed 1943 in the Moscow Military District
Moscow Military District
The Moscow Military District was a military district of the Soviet Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. In 2010 it was merged with the Leningrad Military District, the Northern Fleet and the Baltic Fleet to form the new Western Military District.-History:In the beginning of...
and from April 1943-May 1944 it was part of the Baltic Front's 11th Army. Later reassigned to 48th Army. By January 1945, now part of the 25th Rifle Corps of the 69th Army, it took part in the fighting for the Puławy bridge in Poland; much weakened by the battle, its effective strength was reduced to not more than six battalions. In April 1945 : Still part of the 69th Army, it took part in the Battle of Berlin
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....
. It was disbanded in June 1946.
The Division was reformed again in 1955 by renumbering the 160th Rifle Division in the Transcaucasian Military District but then disbanded 1956.
Order of Battle 1941-1945
- 39th Rifle Regiment
- 101st Rifle Regiment
- 220th Rifle Regiment
- 40th Artillery Regiment
Distinctions and Divisional Decorations
- 1923 : Received the honorific title "In the name of the German Prolétariat";
- 1945 : Name of "Beshitsa". inscribed on the Divisional banner.