391st Rifle Division

rdf:langString 391st Rifle Division

rdf:langString 391st Rifle Division

rdf:langString Rezekne

rdf:langString Maj. Gen. Maksim Evseevich Kozyr 10px

rdf:langString Col. Andrei Kuzmich Kudryashov

rdf:langString Col. Anton Demyanovich Timoshenko

rdf:langString Col. Dmitrii Anatolevich Kovalenko

rdf:langString Maj. Gen. Nikolai Pavlovich Anisimov

rdf:langString Infantry

rdf:langString Division

rdf:langString The 391st Rifle Division was raised in 1941 as an infantry division of the Red Army, and served for the duration of the Great Patriotic War in that role. It began forming in August 1941, in the Central Asian Military District. It was first assigned to Southwestern Front but on its arrival it was seen to be far from combat-ready and so was moved north to the Moscow area for further training. It was finally assigned to the 3rd Shock Army in Kalinin Front and took part in the battle for the Kholm Pocket. Following this the division was moved to 1st Shock Army and took part in the dismal fighting for the Demyansk salient until it was finally evacuated by the German forces in March, 1943. The division moved on into the gradual advance across the Baltic states through 1943 and 1944, winning a battle honor along the way, until February, 1945, when it was transferred with its to 1st Ukrainian Front as part of 59th Army. In the last weeks of the war the 391st was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for its service in Upper Silesia, and ended the war 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.