415th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)

rdf:langString 415th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)

rdf:langString 415th Rifle Division

rdf:langString Mozyr

rdf:langString Col. Georgii Aleksandrovich Latyshev

rdf:langString Col. Pavel Ivanovich Moshchalkov

rdf:langString Col. Vasilii Filippovich Samoplenko

rdf:langString Col. Vasilii Nikitovich Zatylkin

rdf:langString Lt. Col. Georntii Nesterovich Tzitaishvili

rdf:langString Maj. Gen. Pyotr Andreevich Aleksandrov

rdf:langString Infantry

rdf:langString Division

rdf:langString The 415th Rifle Division was formed as an infantry division of the Red Army in the autumn of 1941 in the Far Eastern Front. It was considered to be a "sister" division to the 413th, and was one of the divisions of Siberians sent west to help defend Moscow during the winter of 1941-42. It spent much of the next year in the same general area, west of the capital, taking part in the mostly futile battles against the German-held salient at Rzhev during late 1942. Following the evacuation of the salient in March, 1943 the 415th was assigned to the 61st Army, where it remained for most of the rest of the war. It took part in the summer offensives through western Russia and into eastern Belarus during the fall and winter, earning a battle honor in January, 1944. During the later stages of the next summer offensive, Operation Bagration, it distinguished itself in the liberation of Pinsk and was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. Following this it was redeployed northward, still in 61st Army, and took part in the offensives through the Baltic states. In the spring of 1945 the division also earned the Order of Suvorov, 2nd Degree, for its part in the capture of several towns in northeastern Germany. The 415th had a distinguished career as a combat unit, ending its combat path near Berlin, but was disbanded in the summer of 1945.