100th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)

The 100th Rifle Division was an infantry division of the Soviet Union's Red Army during World War II, formed twice.

100th Rifle Division
Active1924–1945
Country Soviet Union
BranchRed Army
TypeInfantry
EngagementsWinter War

World War II

Decorations Order of Lenin (1st formation)
Battle honoursLviv (2nd formation)
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Vasily Yushkevich
Arkady Yermakov

Ivan Russiyanov

Frants Perkhorovich
Nikolai Bezzubov

In November 1923 in the Belaya Tserkov area of the Ukrainian Military District, the 45th Territorial Rifle Division was established. On 24 April 1924 the 45th Territorial Rifle Division became the 100th Rifle Division (Territorial).

The division fought in the Winter War with Finland. When Operation Barbarossa began, it was part of 2nd Rifle Corps, with 2nd Rifle Corps immediately subordinate to Western Front (Soviet Union). It became 1st Guards Rifle Division on 18 September 1941, one of the first Guards units,[1] immediately after the Yelnya Offensive.

The second formation of the division began forming at Kushchuba station in Vologda Oblast on 5 February 1942. Predominantly Russian, it was primarily made up of conscripts from Vologda Oblast and Arkhangelsk Oblast. The formation of the division was completed by 15 May.[2] Fought near Stalingrad, and in Ukraine and Belorussia. It was awarded the honorific "Lviv" for its part in the capture of that city during July 1944. On 27 January 1945, the division liberated the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp.[3] During the Moravian-Ostrava Offensive, the division captured Ratibor and entered Czechoslovak territory. It then fought in the Prague Offensive. It was with 60th Army of the 4th Ukrainian Front in May 1945.[4] The division was disbanded in the final days of June and its personnel used to reinforce the 186th Rifle Division at Turek.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ Приказ о переименовании 100, 127, 153 И 161-й стрелковых дивизий в 1, 2, 3 И 4-ю гвардейские дивизии No. 308 18 сентября 1941 г (Сборник боевых документов Великой Отечественной войн ed.). М. 1947. pp. 5–6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ "Характеристика боевых действий 100 сд". pamyat-naroda.ru. p. 2. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  3. ^ Kates, Glenn (23 January 2015). "Auschwitz Ceremony Lays Bare Russian Tension With Europe". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Стрелковые 91-105" [Rifle 91-105]. myfront.in.ua (in Russian). Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  5. ^ "Журнал боевых действий 186 сд". pamyat-naroda.ru. pp. 10–11. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  • Poirer and Connor, Red Army Order of Battle in the Great Patriotic War, 1985