343rd Rifle Division (Soviet Union)
| 343rd Rifle Division (August 23, 1941 – May 4, 1943) 343rd Rifle Division (June 27, 1944 – 1945) |
|
|---|---|
| Active | 1941–1945 |
| Country |  Soviet Union |
| Branch |  Red Army |
| Type | Division |
| Role | Infantry |
| Engagements | Battle of Rostov (1941) Second Battle of Kharkov Operation Blue Battle of Stalingrad Operation Koltso Operation Bagration Vistula-Oder Offensive East Prussian Offensive Battle of Königsberg |
| Battle honours | Belostock |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Col. P.P. Chuvashev Maj. Gen. M.A. Usenko Maj. Gen. A.I. Yakimovich Maj. Gen. A.L. Kronik |
The 343rd Rifle Division was first formed in late August, 1941, as a standard Red Army rifle division, at Stavropol, in the Caucasus region. Its first major operation was in the liberation of Rostov in December, 1941. Following this, it was nearly caught up in the debacle near Kharkov in May, 1942, but managed to evade the German spearheads during Operation Blue to join the forces defending the Stalingrad region during the summer and fall. Following the German surrender at Stalingrad, on May 4, 1943, it was re-designated as the 97th Guards Rifle Division. Over a year later, a new 343rd Rifle Division was formed, based on the personnel and equipment of a Fortified Region, just after the start of Operation Bagration, the destruction of German Army Group Center. This new division went on to distinguish itself by helping to liberate the Polish city of Białystok, and ended the war in East Prussia, near Königsberg.
Formation
The division was formed in August and September, 1941 in the North Caucasus Military District.[1] Its order of battle was as follows:
- 1151st Rifle Regiment
- 1153rd Rifle Regiment
- 1155th Rifle Regiment
- 903rd Artillery Regiment
- 620th Sapper Battalion
- 791st Signal Battalion
- 402nd Reconnaissance Company
In December the 567th Antitank Battalion was added. The division had a political cadre of 413 Communist Party members and 315 Komsomols (Young Communists).[2] The division's first commander, Col. P.P. Chuvashev, was assigned on August 23, and he would remain in command until nearly the end of 1942.
References
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