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The '''75th Guards Rifle Division''' ({{Lang-ru|75-я гвардейская стрелковая дивизия|translit=75-ya gvardeyskaya strelkovaya diviziya}}) was a [[Red Army]] [[Division (military)|infantry division]] during [[World War II]] and afterwards, which later became the 75th Guards Tank Division and was finally disbanded in the 1990s.
The '''75th Guards Rifle Division''' ({{Lang-ru|75-я гвардейская стрелковая дивизия|translit=75-ya gvardeyskaya strelkovaya diviziya}}) was a [[Red Army]] [[Division (military)|infantry division]] during [[World War II]] and afterwards, which later became the 75th Guards Tank Division and was finally disbanded in the 1990s.


==Second World War==
==World War II==
The division was formed on 1 March 1943 by the redesignation of the [[95th Rifle Division|95th Rifle Division (Second formation)]], which was made a [[Guards unit]] for its courage and heroism in the [[Battle of Stalingrad|defense of Stalingrad]]. Its structure included the 90th, 161st, and 241st Rifle Regiments, and the 57th Artillery Regiment, which became the 212th, 231st, and 241st Guards Rifle Regiments, and the 159th Guards Artillery Regiment, respectively, and other smaller units. The division was commanded by Major General [[Vasily Gorishny]], who led the division for the rest of the war.{{Sfn|Grechko|1976|p=|pp=410–411}}
The division was formed on 1 March 1943 by the redesignation of the [[95th Rifle Division|95th Rifle Division (Second formation)]], which was made a [[Guards unit]] for its courage and heroism in the [[Battle of Stalingrad|defense of Stalingrad]]. Its structure included the 90th, 161st, and 241st Rifle Regiments, and the 57th Artillery Regiment, which became the 212th, 231st, and 241st Guards Rifle Regiments, and the 159th Guards Artillery Regiment, respectively, and other smaller units. The division was commanded by Major General [[Vasily Gorishny]], who led the division for the rest of the war.{{Sfn|Grechko|1976|p=|pp=410–411}}
[[File:585th (80) Medical Battalion of the 75th Guards Rifle Division. 1944.jpg|thumb|Personnel of the division's 585th Medical Battalion, 1944]]
[[File:585th (80) Medical Battalion of the 75th Guards Rifle Division. 1944.jpg|thumb|Personnel of the division's 585th Medical Battalion, 1944]]
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In October and November 1943, the division, part of the 60th Army of the [[1st Ukrainian Front]], fought in the [[Battle of Kiev (1943)|Kiev offensive operation]]. From January to July 1944 the division fought as part of the [[65th Army (Soviet Union)|65th Army]] of the Belarusian (from 17 February 1944 [[1st Belorussian Front|1st Belarusian]]) Front, and for exemplary fighting performance it was awarded the [[Order of Suvorov]], 2nd class, on 15 January 1944. During the [[Operation Bagration|Belorussian Strategic Offensive Operation]], operating as part of the first echelon of the [[65th Army (Soviet Union)|65th Army]], the division together with other formations broke the German defense and in stubborn fighting seized [[Parichi]]. The division then participated in the destruction of the German pocket in the [[Babruysk|Bobruisk]] area and captured the city of [[Baranovichi]]. It was given the [[Order of the Red Banner]] for a second time on 5 July 1944.{{Sfn|Grechko|1976|p=|pp=410–411}}
In October and November 1943, the division, part of the 60th Army of the [[1st Ukrainian Front]], fought in the [[Battle of Kiev (1943)|Kiev offensive operation]]. From January to July 1944 the division fought as part of the [[65th Army (Soviet Union)|65th Army]] of the Belarusian (from 17 February 1944 [[1st Belorussian Front|1st Belarusian]]) Front, and for exemplary fighting performance it was awarded the [[Order of Suvorov]], 2nd class, on 15 January 1944. During the [[Operation Bagration|Belorussian Strategic Offensive Operation]], operating as part of the first echelon of the [[65th Army (Soviet Union)|65th Army]], the division together with other formations broke the German defense and in stubborn fighting seized [[Parichi]]. The division then participated in the destruction of the German pocket in the [[Babruysk|Bobruisk]] area and captured the city of [[Baranovichi]]. It was given the [[Order of the Red Banner]] for a second time on 5 July 1944.{{Sfn|Grechko|1976|p=|pp=410–411}}


From August 1944 the division operated most of the time with 61st Army. As part of the [[3rd Baltic Front|3rd]] and [[1st Baltic Front]]s, the division participated in clearing the Soviet Baltic region, and then fought in the [[Vistula-Oder Offensive|Vistula-Oder]] operation. For courage shown in battle on the [[Vistula]], 3 officers and men of the division were made [[Hero of the Soviet Union|Heroes of the Soviet Union]], and hundreds recognized with awards and medals.
From August 1944 to the end of the war, the division was part of the [[61st Army (Soviet Union)|61st Army]]. As part of the [[3rd Baltic Front|3rd]] and [[1st Baltic Front]]s, the division participated in clearing the Baltic region. In December, along with the army, it was transferred back to the 1st Belorussian Front. During the [[Vistula–Oder Offensive]], the division advanced west across Poland.{{Sfn|Grechko|1976|p=|pp=410–411}} For courage shown in battle on the [[Vistula]], 3 officers and men of the division were made [[Hero of the Soviet Union|Heroes of the Soviet Union]], and hundreds recognized with awards and medals.


The division actively participated in the [[East Prussian Offensive|East Prussian]] operation as part of the [[1st Belorussian Front]]. For courage shown in battle on the [[Oder]], 8 officers and men of the division were made [[Hero of the Soviet Union|Heroes of the Soviet Union]], and 1317 recognized with awards and medals.
The division fought in the [[East Prussian Offensive]]. For courage shown in battle on the [[Oder]], 8 officers and men of the division were made [[Hero of the Soviet Union|Heroes of the Soviet Union]], and 1317 recognized with awards and medals. The last operation of the division in World War II was the [[Battle of Berlin]]. The division ended its fighting on 3 May 1945, when it linked up with troops from the [[Ninth United States Army]]'s [[102nd Infantry Division (United States)|102nd Infantry Division]] on the [[Elbe]] near [[Wittenberg]]. During the war, 13,824 of the division's officers and men were awarded awards and medals, including 74 who were made Heroes of the Soviet Union.{{Sfn|Grechko|1976|p=|pp=410–411}} The 75th Guards Division ranked third among the rifle divisions of the Red Army by the number of Heroes of the Soviet Union - the [[167th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)|167th Rifle Division]] had 108 Heroes and the [[25th Guards Rifle Division]] had 77 Heroes.

The last operation of the division in World War II was the [[Battle of Berlin]]. The division ended its fighting on 3 May 1945, when it linked up with troops from the [[Ninth United States Army]]'s [[102nd Infantry Division (United States)|102nd Infantry Division]] on the [[Elbe]] near [[Wittenberg]]. During the war, 13,824 of the division's officers and men were awarded awards and medals, including 74 who were made Heroes of the Soviet Union.{{Sfn|Grechko|1976|p=|pp=410–411}} The 75th Guards Division ranked third among the rifle divisions of the Red Army by the number of Heroes of the Soviet Union - the [[167th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)|167th Rifle Division]] had 108 Heroes and the [[25th Guards Rifle Division]] had 77 Heroes.


=== Composition ===
=== Composition ===

Revision as of 20:58, 20 October 2017

75th Guards Tank Division
(11 April 1965–1 July 1989)

75th Guards Heavy Tank Division
(11 January–11 April 1965)

14th Guards Heavy Tank Division
(18 November 1954–11 January 1965)

14th Guards Tank Division
(27 July–18 November 1954)

64th Guards Mechanized Division
(October 1953–27 July 1954)

17th Separate Guards Rifle Brigade
(1946–October 1953)

75th Guards Rifle Division
(1 March 1943 – 1946)
LandSoviet Union
BranchRed Army (Soviet Army from 1946)
TypInfantry (Mechanized from 1953, Tank from 1954)
Sizemore than 10,000 (Second World War)
Engagements
World War II
Decorations
Battle honoursBakhmach
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Major General Vasily Gorishny

The 75th Guards Rifle Division (Russian: 75-я гвардейская стрелковая дивизия, romanized: 75-ya gvardeyskaya strelkovaya diviziya) was a Red Army infantry division during World War II and afterwards, which later became the 75th Guards Tank Division and was finally disbanded in the 1990s.

World War II

The division was formed on 1 March 1943 by the redesignation of the 95th Rifle Division (Second formation), which was made a Guards unit for its courage and heroism in the defense of Stalingrad. Its structure included the 90th, 161st, and 241st Rifle Regiments, and the 57th Artillery Regiment, which became the 212th, 231st, and 241st Guards Rifle Regiments, and the 159th Guards Artillery Regiment, respectively, and other smaller units. The division was commanded by Major General Vasily Gorishny, who led the division for the rest of the war.[1]

Personnel of the division's 585th Medical Battalion, 1944

During July and August 1943, as part of the 17th Guards Rifle Corps of the 13th Army of the Central Front, the division fought in the Battle of Kursk. Facing one of the main German thrusts in the area of the Ponyri 2 sovkhoz, the 75th Guards helped repulse the German attack. For its exemplary fighting performance, the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner on 21 July 1943.[1] 5 soldiers of the division were made Heroes of the Soviet Union (all posthumously), and 173 officers and men recognized with awards and medals.

File:Воины 75-й гвардейской стрелковой дивизии принимают гвардейскую клятву. 1943.jpg
Officers and men of the division take the Guards oath. Near the banner Maj. Gen. Gorishnii V.A., left - Col. Vlasenko I.A. 1943.
Col. Vlasenko I.A., Gen. Gorishnii V.A., Col. Mukhin A.V., Lt.-Col. Simonov K.M. at the command post of the 75th Guards Rifle Division near Ponyri, Battle of Kursk, 1943

The division's soldiers then helped clear left-bank Ukraine during the Chernigov-Pripyat Offensive of the Central Front, part of the 70th Army and then the 60th Army. For helping to clear Bakhmach, the division was given the honorific "Bakhmach" on 9 September. On 25 September parts of the division crossed the Dnieper River in the Tarasovichi area and seized a bridgehead. During the subsequent weeks, the 75th Guards fought in fierce fighting to expand the bridgehead. For courage shown in battle, 63 officers and men of the division were made Heroes of the Soviet Union, and 829 recognized with awards and medals.[1]

In October and November 1943, the division, part of the 60th Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front, fought in the Kiev offensive operation. From January to July 1944 the division fought as part of the 65th Army of the Belarusian (from 17 February 1944 1st Belarusian) Front, and for exemplary fighting performance it was awarded the Order of Suvorov, 2nd class, on 15 January 1944. During the Belorussian Strategic Offensive Operation, operating as part of the first echelon of the 65th Army, the division together with other formations broke the German defense and in stubborn fighting seized Parichi. The division then participated in the destruction of the German pocket in the Bobruisk area and captured the city of Baranovichi. It was given the Order of the Red Banner for a second time on 5 July 1944.[1]

From August 1944 to the end of the war, the division was part of the 61st Army. As part of the 3rd and 1st Baltic Fronts, the division participated in clearing the Baltic region. In December, along with the army, it was transferred back to the 1st Belorussian Front. During the Vistula–Oder Offensive, the division advanced west across Poland.[1] For courage shown in battle on the Vistula, 3 officers and men of the division were made Heroes of the Soviet Union, and hundreds recognized with awards and medals.

The division fought in the East Prussian Offensive. For courage shown in battle on the Oder, 8 officers and men of the division were made Heroes of the Soviet Union, and 1317 recognized with awards and medals. The last operation of the division in World War II was the Battle of Berlin. The division ended its fighting on 3 May 1945, when it linked up with troops from the Ninth United States Army's 102nd Infantry Division on the Elbe near Wittenberg. During the war, 13,824 of the division's officers and men were awarded awards and medals, including 74 who were made Heroes of the Soviet Union.[1] The 75th Guards Division ranked third among the rifle divisions of the Red Army by the number of Heroes of the Soviet Union - the 167th Rifle Division had 108 Heroes and the 25th Guards Rifle Division had 77 Heroes.

Composition

The 75th Guards Rifle Division included the following units in April 1943: [2][3]

  • 212th Guards Rifle Regiment (former 90th RR of 95th RD)
  • 231st Guards Rifle Regiment (former 161st RR of 95th RD)
  • 241st Guards Rifle Regiment (former 241st RR of 95th RD)
  • 159th Guards Artillery Regiment (former 57th AR of 95th RD)
  • 84th Separate Guards Antitank Battalion (former 97th SATB of 95th RD)
  • 155th Machine-gun Battalion (to 15 April 1943)
  • 73rd Separate Guards Reconnaissance Company (former 13th RC of 95th RD)
  • 87th Separate Guards Sapper Battalion (former 48th SB of 95th RD)
  • 106th Separate Guards Communications Company (former 119th SCC of 95th RD)
  • 585th (80) Medical Battalion (former 103rd MB of 95th RD)
  • 77th Separate Guards Chemical Defence Company (former 30th SCDS of 95th RD)
  • 726th (79) Trucking Company (former 283rd TC of 95th RD)
  • 660th (74) Field Bakery (former 174th FB of 95th RD)
  • 678th (78) Divisional Veterinary Hospital (former 7th DVH of 95th RD)
  • 1593rd (25703) Field Post Office (former 1766th (2054) FPO of 95th RD)
  • 652nd (44705) Field Ticket Office of the State Bank (former 1723rd (652) FTO of 95th RD)

Awards and honorifics of the division units

Commanders

Commander of 75th GRD Gen. Gorishnii V. A. (in center) and Commanders of the Regiments, 1944
Division Commander
Deputy Division Commander for political affairs
Heads of the political department
  • Colonel Arkady Ryabov (1 March – May 1943)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Boris Pakin (January 1945 – May 1946)
Chiefs of Staff
  • Colonel Georgy Klymenko (February 1943 — end of 1943)
  • Colonel Boris Galperin (December 1944 — early 1946)
Division Artillery Commander
  • Colonel Aristo Dalakishvili (1 March 1943 — May 1946)

Regimental commanders

212th Guards Rifle Regiment
  • Colonel Mikhail Semyonovich Borisov [] (1 March 1943–Killed in action 9 February 1944)
  • Colonel Iosif Chusovitin (28 February – 28 November 1944)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Mikhail Trygubenko (acting; December 1944)
  • Lieutenant Colonel (promoted to Colonel) Afanasy Vorobiev (9 January 1945 – May 1946)
231st Guards Rifle Regiment
  • Lieutenant Colonel Fyodor Makovetsky [] (1 March 1943 – critically wounded January 1944)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Vasily Maksimov (13 January 1944 – 9 January 1945)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Adelzyan Zalialov (9 January – 4 June 1945)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Georgy Svyrydenko (4 June 1945 – May 1946)
241st Guards Rifle Regiment
  • Lieutenant Colonel Nikolay Budarin [] (1 March 1943 – Killed in action 6 November 1943)
  • Major Panteley Nechay (acting; November–December 1943)
  • Lieutenant Colonel (promoted to Colonel) Leonid Myroshnychenko (December 1943 – 22 November 1944)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Aleksandr Voloshanenko (22 November 1944 – May 1946)
159th Guards Artillery Regiment
  • Lieutenant Colonel Nikanor Lyovkin [] (1 March – November 1943)
  • Lieutenant Colonel (promtoed to Colonel) Pavel Rylkov (December 1943 – critically wounded 17 February 1945)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Subbotin (February–March 1945)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Korotkikh (April – 5 October 1945)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Grigory Zagorulko (5 October 1945 – May 1946)

Battalion commanders

84th Separate Guards Antitank Battalion
  • Major Ivan Yasko (1943 – May 1946)

Postwar

The division remained in Germany with the 47th Army's 9th Guards Rifle Corps, part of the Group of Soviet Occupation Forces in Germany. In February 1946 the army was disbanded and the division withdrawn to Ivanovo in the Moscow Military District.[4] After arriving in the district, it replaced the disbanded 267th Rifle Division as part of the 1st Guards Rifle Corps at Tula. In May, it was redesignated as the 17th Separate Guards Rifle Brigade and was subsequently transferred to the 13th Guards Rifle Corps. Around the same time the brigade moved to Kaluga. The 17th Guards moved to Ryazan in April 1947 and to Kharkov in the Kiev Military District in the fall of 1948.[5] From Kharkov the brigade relocated to Chuguyev, part of the 20th Guards Rifle Corps.[6]

In October 1953, it was converted into the 64th Guards Mechanized Division,[7] with the 159th, 205th, and 216th Guards Mechanized Regiments and the 380th Tank Regiment.[8] On 27 July 1954, the 64th Guards was converted into the 14th Guards Tank Division.[9] Simultaneously, the 205th Guards Mechanized Regiment was disbanded.[10] The 427th Guards Mechanized Regiment instead joined the division.[11] On 18 November, it became a heavy tank division. At the same time, the 159th and 216th Guards Mechanized Regiments became the 283rd and 389th Guards Heavy Tank Regiments, respectively.[10] In May 1957 it became part of the newly arrived 6th Guards Tank Army.[12]

By the early 1960s the division included the 283rd and 389th Guards and the 380th Heavy Tank Regiments. On 11 January 1965 it was renumbered as the 75th Guards to restore its World War II numbering, and on 11 April it became a regular tank division.[13] By the late 1980s, the division included the 358th Guards Motor Rifle Regiment, the 42nd Guards, 283rd Guards, and 380th Tank Regiments, and the 577th Artillery Regiment, all at Chuguyev. On 1 July 1989, as part of Gorbachev-inspired reductions, it was downsized into the 5362nd Weapons and Equipment Storage Base. The storage base was disbanded in June 1990.[12]

Sources and references

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f Grechko 1976, pp. 410–411.
  2. ^ "RKKA - 75-я Бахмачская дважды Краснознаменная гвардейская стрелковая дивизия" [75th Guards Rifle Division].
  3. ^ "Боевые действия Красной Армии в ВОВ" [75th Guards Rifle Division].
  4. ^ Feskov et al 2013, p. 381.
  5. ^ Feskov et al 2013, p. 499.
  6. ^ Feskov et al 2013, p. 478.
  7. ^ Feskov et al 2013, p. 149.
  8. ^ Feskov et al 2013, p. 208.
  9. ^ Feskov et al 2013, p. 205.
  10. ^ a b Feskov et al 2013, p. 214.
  11. ^ Feskov et al 2013, p. 200.
  12. ^ a b Feskov et al 2013, pp. 485–486.
  13. ^ Feskov et al 2013, p. 201.

Bibliography

  • Soldat.ru forum data on history of the division
  • Aberjona Press, "Slaughterhouse: The Handbook of the Eastern Front"
  • Feskov, V.I.; Golikov, V.I.; Kalashnikov, K.A.; Slugin, S.A. (2013). Вооруженные силы СССР после Второй Мировой войны: от Красной Армии к Советской [The Armed Forces of the USSR after World War II: From the Red Army to the Soviet: Part 1 Land Forces] (in Russian). Tomsk: Scientific and Technical Literature Publishing. ISBN 9785895035306.
  • Grechko, Andrei, ed. (1976). "Бахмачская стрелковая дивизия". Советская военная энциклопедия [Soviet Military Encyclopedia] (in Russian). Vol. 1: А - Бюро [A–Bureau]. Moscow: Voenizdat. pp. 410–411. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  • Werth A. "Russia At War, 1941-1945." London: Barrie & Rockliff, 1964.
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