239th Rifle Division

rdf:langString 239th Rifle Division

rdf:langString 239th Rifle Division (July 12, 1941 – July 1945)

rdf:langString 239th Motorized Division (March 1941 – July 12, 1941)

rdf:langString Col. Aleksandr Yakovlevich Ordanovskii

rdf:langString Col. Gayk Oganesovich Martirosyan

rdf:langString Maj. Gen. Pyotr Nikolaevich Chernyshov

rdf:langString Maj. Gen. Sergei Borisovich Kozachek

rdf:langString Maj. Gen. Vladimir Stepanovich Potapenko

rdf:langString Motorized Infantry, Infantry

rdf:langString Division

rdf:langString The 239th Rifle Division was formed as an infantry division of the Red Army after a motorized division of that same number was reorganized in the first weeks of the German invasion of the Soviet Union. It was based on the shtat (table of organization and equipment) of July 29, 1941, and remained forming up and training in Far Eastern Front until early November when the strategic situation west of Moscow required it to be moved by rail to Tula Oblast where it became encircled in the last throes of the German offensive and suffered losses in the following breakout. When Western Front went over to the counteroffensive in the first days of December the division was in the second echelon of 10th Army and took part in the drive to the west against the weakened 2nd Panzer Army. As the offensive continued it took part in the fighting for Belyov and Sukhinichi before being subordinated to the 1st Guards Cavalry Corps in January 1942 to provide infantry support. It then became involved in the complicated and costly battles around the Rzhev salient as part of 50th, 10th and 31st Armies until December. It was then moved north to Volkhov Front, and took part in several operations to break the siege of Leningrad, mostly as part of 2nd Shock and 8th Armies. As part of 59th Army it helped to drive Army Group North away from the city and was rewarded with the Order of the Red Banner in January 1944. During the following months it continued to advance through northwestern Russia but was halted by the defenses of the Panther Line in April. The division took part in the advance through the Baltic states in the summer of 1944 but in February 1945 it was transferred to 1st Ukrainian Front, rejoining 59th Army as part of and fought in upper Silesia. In the last weeks of the war the 239th was advancing on Prague, but despite its distinguished record it was selected as one of the many divisions to be disbanded during the summer of 1945.