228th Rifle Division
| 228th Rifle Division (March 14, 1941 - December 27, 1941) 228th Rifle Division (December 1941 - September 1, 1942) 228th Rifle Division (June 29, 1943 - July 1945) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1941–1945 |
| Country |  Soviet Union |
| Branch |  Red Army |
| Type | Division |
| Role | Infantry |
| Engagements | Operation Barbarossa Battle of Kiev (1941) |
| Decorations |  Order of Suvorov (3rd formation) |
| Battle honours | Voznesensk (3rd formation) |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Col. Aleksandr Mikhailovich Ilyin Col. Viktor Georgievich Chernov Col. Nikolai Ivanovich Dementev Col. Pavel Grigorevich Kulikov Maj. Gen. Ivan Nikitovich Esin |
The 228th Rifle Division was an infantry division of the Red Army, originally formed in the months just before the start of the German invasion, based on the shtat (table of organization and equipment) of September 13, 1939. After being formed in the Kiev Special Military District it soon took part in the fighting in northern Ukraine where it joined the 5th Army north of Kyiv. The presence of this Army in the fastnesses of the eastern Pripyat area influenced German strategy as it appeared to threaten both the left flank of Army Group South and the right flank of Army Group Center. In September the latter Group was turned south to encircle the Soviet forces defending Kyiv and in the process the 228th was cut off and destroyed.
1st Formation[edit]
The division began forming on March 14, 1941, at Zhytomyr in the Kiev Special Military District. When completed it had the following order of battle:
- 792nd Rifle Regiment
- 795th Rifle Regiment
- 799th Rifle Regiment
- 669th Light Artillery Regiment
- 366th Howitzer Artillery Regiment[1]
- 10th Antitank Battalion
- 9th Antiaircraft Battalion
- 304th Reconnaissance Battalion
- 383rd Sapper Battalion
- 605th Signal Battalion
- 378th Medical/Sanitation Battalion
- 324th Chemical Defense (Anti-gas) Platoon
- 701st Motor Transport Battalion
- 485th Field Bakery
- 659th Field Postal Station
- 531st Field Office of the State Bank
Col. Aleksandr Mikhailovich Ilyin was appointed to command on the day the division began forming. On June 22 it was in the 36th Rifle Corps in the reserves of Southwestern Front,[2] and was located at Shepetivka.[3]
References[edit]
Citations[edit]
- ^ Charles C. Sharp, "Red Legions", Soviet Rifle Divisions Formed Before June 1941, Soviet Order of Battle World War II, vol. VIII, Nafziger, 1996, p. 98. This source misnumbers the 366th as the 485th.
- ^ Combat Composition of the Soviet Army, 1941, p. 9
- ^ Sharp, "Red Legions", p. 98.
Bibliography[edit]
- Affairs Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Soviet Union (1967b). Сборник приказов РВСР, РВС СССР, НКО и Указов Президиума Верховного Совета СССР о награждении орденами СССР частей, соединениий и учреждений ВС СССР. Часть II. 1945 – 1966 гг [Collection of orders of the RVSR, RVS USSR and NKO on awarding orders to units, formations and establishments of the Armed Forces of the USSR. Part II. 1945–1966] (in Russian). Moscow.
- Grylev, A. N. (1970). Перечень № 5. Стрелковых, горнострелковых, мотострелковых и моторизованных дивизии, входивших в состав Действующей армии в годы Великой Отечественной войны 1941-1945 гг [List (Perechen) No. 5: Rifle, Mountain Rifle, Motor Rifle and Motorized divisions, part of the active army during the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945] (in Russian). Moscow: Voenizdat. p. 105
- Main Personnel Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Soviet Union (1964). Командование корпусного и дивизионного звена советских вооруженных сил периода Великой Отечественной войны 1941–1945 гг [Commanders of Corps and Divisions in the Great Patriotic War, 1941–1945] (in Russian). Moscow: Frunze Military Academy. p. 216
External links[edit]
- Aleksandr Mikhailovich Ilyin
- Viktor Georgievich Chernov
- Nikolai Ivanovich Dementev
- Ivan Nikitovich Esin
