The 348th Rifle Division was first formed in August 1941, as a standard
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and, after ...
rifle division, at
Kuibyshev. It was assigned to 60th Reserve Army shortly after forming and took part in the winter counteroffensive in front of Moscow. Until the end of 1942 it was involved in the dismal and costly battles around the Rzhev Salient, until it was shifted to take part in the equally difficult fighting around the Demyansk Salient. Both of these German positions were evacuated in March 1943, and, after rebuilding, the division returned to the front to take part in the summer offensive along the Smolensk axis. During Operation Bagration the 348th distinguished itself in the liberation of
Bobruisk
Babruysk, Babrujsk or Bobruisk ( be, Бабруйск , Łacinka: , rus, Бобруйск, Bobrujsk, bɐˈbruɪ̯s̪k, yi, באָברויסק ) is a city in the Mogilev Region of eastern Belarus on the Berezina River. , its population was 2 ...
, and received the name of that city as an honorific. Not long after it was also decorated for its role in the liberation of
Bialystok. In 1945 it helped to liberate northern Poland during the Vistula-Oder Offensive, before being reassigned to 3rd Belorussian Front in East Prussia. In the last weeks of the war it formed part of the reserves of 1st Belorussian Front during the Berlin Operation.
Formation
The division officially formed on August 15, 1941 in the
Volga Military District
The Volga Military District (PriVO) was a military district of the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation that existed from 1918 to 1989 and 1992 to 2001.
The district headquarters was located at Kazan, Saratov and Kuibyshev (Samara) at different ...
at Kuibyshev. Its order of battle was as follows:
* 1170th Rifle Regiment
* 1172nd Rifle Regiment
* 1174th Rifle Regiment
* 916th Artillery Regiment
* 472nd Sapper Battalion
Colonel Anisim Stefanovich Liukhtikov was assigned to command of the division on the day it began forming, and he continued in command until September 21, 1942, being promoted to the rank of Major General on August 4 of that year.
In November the division was transferred to the
Moscow Military District
The Order of Lenin Moscow Military District was a military district of the Soviet Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The district was awarded the Order of Lenin in 1968. In 2010 it was merged with the Leningrad Military Di ...
and added to the
60th (Reserve) Army which was forming there. On November 29 it was assigned to the
30th Army in
Western Front. On December 1 it unloaded and concentrated in the area of Zaprudnaya. At the outset of the Moscow counteroffensive on December 6 the division, along with the
18th
18 (eighteen) is the natural number following 17 and preceding 19.
In mathematics
* Eighteen is a composite number, its divisors being 1, 2, 3, 6 and 9. Three of these divisors (3, 6 and 9) add up to 18, hence 18 is a semiperfect number. ...
and
24th Cavalry Divisions, was directed to make a secondary attack toward Rogachevo. In late December the division, along with 30th Army, was shifted to
Kalinin Front The Kalinin Front was a major formation of the Red Army active in the Eastern Front of World War II, named for the city of Kalinin. It was formally established by Stavka directive on 17 October 1941 and allocated three armies: 22nd, 29th Army a ...
, and the 348th remained there until the end of 1942. For most of the year it was under command of 30th Army, but in August it was one of the first formations assigned to the re-forming
39th Army, and served in it until December. In September, General Liukhtikov was appointed to command of 39th Army rear services, and Col. Ivan Afanasevich Ilichev was given command of the 348th, which he would hold until April 21, 1943.
Operation Mars
During the
Second Rzhev-Sychevka Offensive Operation
Operation Mars (Russian: Операция «Марс»), also known as the Second Rzhev-Sychevka Offensive Operation (Russian: Вторая Ржевско-Сычёвская наступательная операция), was the codename fo ...
, 39th Army was positioned at the apex of the Rzhev Salient, roughly along the line of the upper
Volga River
The Volga (; russian: Во́лга, a=Ru-Волга.ogg, p=ˈvoɫɡə) is the List of rivers of Europe#Rivers of Europe by length, longest river in Europe. Situated in Russia, it flows through Central Russia to Southern Russia and into the Cas ...
. The 348th, which had been in Front reserve for rebuilding for about one month, was the Army's reserve formation. Maj. Gen. A. I. Zygin, commander of 39th Army, had been assigned a rather simple mission which was largely diversionary while the main effort to pinch out the salient took place farther south. His plan was to pinch out a salient of his own, using his
135th,
158th, and
373rd Rifle Divisions, plus two tank brigades, to encircle the German
206th Infantry Division, allowing him to commit the 348th to advance on the town of
Olenino Olenino (russian: Оленино) is the name of several inhabited localities in Russia.
Urban localities
*Olenino, Tver Oblast, an urban-type settlement in Oleninsky District of Tver Oblast
Rural localities
* Olenino, Ilyinsky District, Ivanovo ...
beginning on the third day. The key to the operation was seizing the fortified village of Urdom.
When the attack opened on November 25, the other forces of 39th Army did make some initial progress against the thinly-held German lines, and expanded their bridgeheads across the Volga on each side of the 206th Division. Zygin, however, was not fully aware of the presence of elements of
14th Motorized and
Grossdeutchland Divisions in reserve. Between them they were able to assist the 206th to contain and even push back the Soviet bridgeheads across the Volga, so the battle became a frontal offensive, and the 348th would remain in reserve until greater progress was made. On November 28, 39th Army tried to renew the offensive, but by the end of the next day Urdom was still in German hands. On November 30, the division was finally committed to the fight for Urdom, and with the help of the remnants of 135th and 373rd Rifle Divisions and a handful of
KV heavy tanks to reduce German pillboxes, the village finally fell. However, the German lines held, and this advance marked the end of 39th Army's progress during the operation.
After Operation Mars was closed down, the 348th was re-assigned to
Northwestern Front
The Northwestern Front (Russian: ''Северо-Западный фронт'') was a military formation of the Red Army during the Winter War and World War II. It was operational with the 7th and 13th Armies during the Winter War. It was re-cre ...
, first, briefly, to
1st Shock Army, then to the Front reserves, and finally to
53rd Army, where it was intended to take part in the
final liquidation of the Demyansk Pocket. This was forestalled by Hitler's decision to abandon the pocket voluntarily, which began on February 17, 1943. While this move freed up German forces for service elsewhere, it did the same for the Red Army, and on March 11, in the face of a deteriorating situation in the
Kursk
Kursk ( rus, Курск, p=ˈkursk) is a city and the administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Kur, Tuskar, and Seym rivers. The area around Kursk was the site of a turning point in the Soviet–German stru ...
region, the ''STAVKA'' issued the following directive (No. 30071), in part: This Army was under the command of Lt. Gen. V.I. Morozov. It would become the 2nd formation of
63rd Army on April 27, which was soon assigned to
Bryansk Front
The Bryansk Front (russian: Брянский фронт) was a major formation of the Red Army during the Second World War.
First Formation (August - November 1941)
General Andrei Yeremenko was designated commander of the Front when it first fo ...
. On April 25, Col. I. V. Mokhin took command of the division from Colonel Ilichev, but he would only hold it for about a month, until he was succeeded by Col. Ivan Fyodorovich Grigorevskii. This officer would be promoted to the rank of Major General on September 15.
Summer Offensive 1943
Following the
German offensive at Kursk the 348th, along with the rest of 63rd Army, took part in
Operation Kutuzov
Operation Kutuzov was the first of the two counteroffensives launched by the Red Army as part of the Kursk Strategic Offensive Operation. It commenced on 12 July 1943, in the Central Russian Upland, against Army Group Center of the German '' He ...
, the Soviet offensive against the German forces in the
Oryol
Oryol ( rus, Орёл, p=ɐˈrʲɵl, lit. ''eagle''), also transliterated as Orel or Oriol, is a city and the administrative center of Oryol Oblast situated on the Oka River, approximately south-southwest of Moscow. It is part of the Central Fed ...
salient north of Kursk. The division began its attack on July 12 from the area of the village of Zalegoshch. Breaking through German positions the division bypassed Oryol from the south before entering street fighting in conjunction with other Soviet forces which subsided on August 5 with the city's full liberation. In recognition of this success, Colonel Grigorevskii was awarded the
Order of the Red Banner
The Order of the Red Banner (russian: Орден Красного Знамени, Orden Krasnogo Znameni) was the first Soviet military decoration. The Order was established on 16 September 1918, during the Russian Civil War by decree of th ...
. During September, Bryansk Front advanced in the direction of
its namesake city during the
Smolensk Campaign, and liberated it on September 17. In the following days the 348th pressed on. On the morning of September 22 the sub-machinegun company of Lieutenant Sorokin entered the outskirts of
Starodub
Starodub ( rus, links=no, Староду́б, p=stərɐˈdup, ''old oak'') is a town in Bryansk Oblast, Russia, on the Babinets River (the Dnieper basin), southwest of Bryansk. Population: 16,000 (1975).
History
Starodub has been known ...
. After receiving reconnaissance reports from this company, Grigorevskii ordered two battalions of the 1174th Rifle Regiment to begin clearing operations; during the day further reserves were committed to the fighting and by evening Starodub was freed.
As of October 1, the division was in
40th Rifle Corps of 63rd Army in Bryansk Front. Ten days later that Front was disbanded and 63rd Army was transferred to Central (later Belorussian) Front. During that Front's
Gomel-Rechitsa Offensive, on September 30, just north of
Gomel
Gomel (russian: Гомель, ) or Homiel ( be, Гомель, ) is the administrative centre of Gomel Region and the second-largest city in Belarus with 526,872 inhabitants (2015 census).
Etymology
There are at least six narratives of the ori ...
, two divisions of
35th Rifle Corps liberated the town of
Vetka
Vietka ( be, Ветка, pl, Wietka) is a small, historical town in Belarus, situated on the bank of the Sozh River. It is the principal centre in Vietka Rajon in Gomel Region.
It was established in 1685 by the Old Believer Priest Group (a branch ...
and seized a small bridgehead across the
Sozh River
The Sozh, or Sož ( be, Сож, ; russian: Сож, uk, Сож) is an international river flowing in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. It is a left bank tributary of the Dnieper. The Sozh passes through Gomel, the second largest city in Belarus.
T ...
from the
253rd Infantry Division of
XXIII Army Corps. The 348th and
287th Rifle Division
The 287th Rifle Division () was an infantry division of the Soviet Union's Red Army during World War II, formed twice. It was first formed in the summer of 1941 and destroyed in the Bryansk pocket in the fall of 1941. The division was reformed in ...
s of 40 Corps were quickly ordered to reinforce the bridgehead. By December 1, both these divisions had been transferred to 35th Corps. When 63rd Army was disbanded in February 1944, the division and its Corps were transferred to
3rd Army, now in
1st Belorussian Front
The 1st Belorussian Front (Russian: Пéрвый Белорусский фронт, ''Perviy Belorusskiy front'', also romanized " Byelorussian") was a major formation of the Soviet Army during World War II, being equivalent to a Western army ...
, although the division was soon moved to
41st Rifle Corps. The 348th would remain in this Army for the duration, and a month later returned to 35th Corps, where it would also remain for the duration.
On the eve of the 1944 summer offensive, General Grigorevskii was reassigned to command of the
61st Rifle Corps
The 61st Rifle Corps (Russian: 61-й стрелковый корпус '' '') was a Red Army infantry corps during World War II, formed twice. The 61st Rifle Corps was formed firmed in Tula during September 1939. After Operation Barbarossa, it was ...
, which he would hold for the duration of the war. On November 2 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, and on April 6, 1945, he was awarded the Gold Star of a
Hero of the Soviet Union
The title Hero of the Soviet Union (russian: Герой Советского Союза, translit=Geroy Sovietskogo Soyuza) was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded together with the Order of Lenin personally or collectively for ...
for his services. He was replaced in command of the 348th for about two months by Maj. Gen. Nikolai Aleksandrovich Nikitin.
Operation Bagration and Into Germany
In the plan for Bagration, the 348th's 35th Rifle Corps was chosen as one of two assault corps of 3rd Army, facing the German
134th and
296th Infantry Divisions of
XXXV Army Corps north of
Rogachev
Rahachow or Rahačoŭ ( be, Рагачо́ў, ; russian: Рогачёв, Rogachyov, also transliterated Rogachev; pl, Rohaczów; yi, ראגאטשאוו, ''Rogatshov'', ) is a town in the Gomel Region of Belarus. It is center of Rahachow District ...
on the Dniepr. On the first two days the advance was slow, but at 1000 hrs. on June 25 the 35th Corps attacked the German 134th Infantry, and was joined by
9th Tank Corps, which helped open a 15 km gap between XXXV Corps and the
57th Infantry Division to the north. By midnight the German corps was falling apart, and six divisions were threatened with encirclement southwest of Bobruisk. On the next day, 9th Tank crossed the rear of XXXV Corps and began destroying the retreating German transport, while 35th and
41st Rifle Corps followed close behind. By nightfall on June 27 Bobriusk was surrounded, and the Soviet forces were reducing the pocket. Between 40,000 and 70,000 were trapped, and forces of 3rd Army were pressing in from the north. At 1000 hrs. on June 29, elements of three Soviet Armies began mopping up the city, which was completed by day's end.
On the same day, while this operation continued, the division was recognized for its role in the liberation of the city, and received its name as an honorific:
As the Soviet advance continued through Belorussia and into Poland the division was further recognized for its service on August 9 with the award of the Order of the Red Banner for participation in the liberation of Byalistok. On August 30, General Nikitin was replaced in command by Col. Mikhail Andreevich Grekov, who would remain in command for the duration of the war. In September, 3rd Army was re-assigned to
2nd Belorussian Front
The 2nd Belorussian Front (Russian: Второй Белорусский фронт, alternative spellings are 2nd Byelorussian Front) was a military formation, of Army group size, of the Soviet Army during the Second World War. Soviet army g ...
, and the division would take part in the Oder-Vistula Offensive under that command.
At the start of that operation on January 14, 1945, 3rd Army was deployed along the line
Mlynarz - the height southeast of
Dombrowka. 35th Corps shared duties with
41st Rifle Corps in launching the main attack in the direction of
Krasnosielc
Krasnosielc is a village in Maków County (Masovian Voivodeship), on the river Orzyc, in east-central Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district ('' gmina'') called Gmina Krasnosielc. It lies approximately north of Maków Mazowiecki ...
. By the end of the first day, 3rd Army had crushed the defending German
292nd and
129th Infantry Divisions and had broken through to a depth of 5 km on a 10 km front. However, on the next day, the Army's units ran into armor of the
Grossdeutchland Panzer Division, halting the advance and even losing some ground. The advance continued on the 17th against strong resistance, and by the end of the day Krasnosielc was being contested. On January 23, elements of the Army captured the important center of
Willenberg, but spent the next three days fighting off repeated counterattacks. Following this, the advance continued on
Guttstadt, while other elements of the Front reached the Baltic and cut off the German forces in East Prussia.
On April 5, the division was awarded the
Order of Kutuzov
The Order of Kutuzov (russian: орден Кутузова ''orden Kutuzova'') is a military decoration of the Russian Federation named after famous Russian Field Marshal Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov (1745–1813). The Order was established du ...
, 2nd degree, for its role in the capture of
Wormditt,
Melzak, and the surrounding area, during the East Prussian campaign. In the Berlin Operation, 3rd Army formed the second echelon of 1st Belorussian Front, employed along the main direction. The 348th ended the war advancing on Berlin.
Postwar
The 348th concluded hostilities with the full title of ''348th Rifle, Bobruisk, Order of the Red Banner,
Order of Kutuzov
The Order of Kutuzov (russian: орден Кутузова ''orden Kutuzova'') is a military decoration of the Russian Federation named after famous Russian Field Marshal Mikhail Illarionovich Kutuzov (1745–1813). The Order was established du ...
Division''. (Russian: 348-я стрелковая Бобруйская Краснознамённая ордена Кутузова дивизия.)
[Sharp states that the division was also awarded the ]Order of Suvorov
The Order of Suvorov () is a military decoration of the Russian Federation named in honor of Russian Generalissimo Prince Alexander Suvorov (1729–1800).
History
The Order of Suvorov was originally a Soviet award established on July 29, 1942 ...
, but this is contradicted by . With the 35th Rifle Corps, the division was withdrawn to Mogilev postwar, and was transferred back to the 40th Rifle Corps. The 348th was disbanded with the corps in June 1946.
References
Citations
Bibliography
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External links
Anisim Stefanovich LiukhtikovHSU Ivan Fyodorovich Grigorevskii
{{Soviet Union divisions before 1945
348
Military units and formations established in 1941
Military units and formations disestablished in 1946
Military units and formations awarded the Order of the Red Banner