The 57th Cavalry Division (russian: 57-я кавалерийская дивизия) was a

cavalry division Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who Horses in warfare, fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating a ...

of the

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, afte ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

History

It was formed between 1 August and October 1941 at Ferghana in the

Central Asian Military District The Red Banner Central Asian Military District was a military district of the Soviet Armed Forces, which existed in 1926–1945 and 1969–1989, with its headquarters at Tashkent (1926–1945) and Almaty (1969–1989). By USSR Order No.304 of 4 ...

, with the 212th, 218th, and 225th Cavalry Regiments. The division was part of the second wave of cavalry division formed during the war. The division spent almost three months in the rear before being deployed to the front. In October, the division moved to 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 ...

to join the 10th Army. The division, along with the 41st and

75th Cavalry Division The 75th Cavalry Division was a cavalry formation of the Red Army which fought during World War II. History It was formed in September and October 1941 in Novosibirsk, Siberian Military District. The compound was formed as part of the rulin ...

s, was assigned to Mishulin's Cavalry Group, the mobile group for the 10th Army. The group minus the 41st Cavalry Division was assigned to attack the flank of the German

2nd Panzer Army The 2nd Panzer Army (german: 2. Panzerarmee) was a German armoured formation during World War II, formed from the 2nd Panzer Group on October 5, 1941. Organisation Panzer Group Guderian (german: Panzergruppe Guderian) was formed on 5 June 19 ...

south of Tula. Before it was fully committed, the group was assigned to the

1st Guards Cavalry Corps 1st Guards Cavalry Zhytomyr Red Banner Corps (Russian: 1-й гвардейский кавалерийский Житомирский Краснознаменный корпус) was a military unit of the Soviet Red Army which was renamed from ...

. It was then transferred to the 1st Guards Cavalry Corps of the Western Front – January 1942 to 21 March 1942. Then the division participated in one of the greatest cavalry raids of the war. On the night of 26–27 January 1942, the corps slipped across the lines into the German 4th Army's rear areas and began what would be a six-month operation against the German supply lines. The division was dissolved on 3 February 1942, and portions were used to replenish the 1st Guards Cavalry Division.

Composition

* 212th Cavalry Regiment * 218th Cavalry Regiment * 225th Cavalry Regiment

Commanders

The following officer commanded the division during its existence: * Colonel Ivan Murov (1 August 1941 – 3 February 1942)

References

Citations

Bibliography

* {{Soviet Union divisions before 1945 057 057 Military units and formations established in 1941 Military units and formations disestablished in 1942