397th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)

rdf:langString 397th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)

rdf:langString 397th Rifle Division (December 1, 1941 – January 7, 1942)

rdf:langString 397th Rifle Division (January 14, 1942 – July 1945)

rdf:langString Sarny

rdf:langString Col. Boleslav Albinovich Kenevich

rdf:langString Col. Konstantin Timofeevich Ilin

rdf:langString Col. Rodion Nikanorovich Shabalin

rdf:langString Maj. Gen. Nikolai Fedorovich Andonev

rdf:langString Infantry

rdf:langString Division

rdf:langString The 397th Rifle Division was partially raised in 1941 as an infantry division of the Red Army but this formation was disbanded after about five weeks. A new formation began on January 14, 1942 in the Volga Military District and it remained in that role through the rest of the Great Patriotic War. It first went to the front in March, briefly assigned to the 3rd Shock Army before it was moved to the 1st Shock Army in Northwestern Front. It spent nearly a year in the dismal fighting around the Demyansk salient; during January, 1943 two of its rifle regiments were encircled and nearly destroyed during an unsuccessful offensive before escaping. During the last stages of the Demyansk battles it was in the 53rd Army. After rebuilding it moved to Bryansk Front in the new 63rd Army and took part in the summer offensive that liberated Smolensk. Late in the year it was briefly assigned to the Belorussian Front and then to the 1st Ukrainian Front; while serving under this command it won a battle honor. In late February, 1944 it became part of the 47th Army in 2nd Belorussian Front. Prior to the summer offensive it was moved again, now to the 61st Army, where it would remain for the duration. During the later stages of Operation Bagration it was decorated with the Order of the Red Banner and in the fall during the campaign in the Baltic states it would also receive the Order of Kutuzov. By the end of the year the 61st Army was assigned to 1st Belorussian Front and the 397th fought through Poland and eastern Germany during the winter and spring of 1945, eventually taking part in the offensive on Berlin. Its soldiers had by then compiled a distinguished record of service, but despite this the division was disbanded in July.