96th Rifle Division

The 96th Rifle Division, also designated the 96th Mountain Division, was a division of the Red Army, active from 1923.

96th Rifle Division
Active1923–1993
Disbanded1993
CountrySoviet Union
BranchArmy
Garrison/HQKazan
EngagementsSoviet invasion of Poland
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Pavel Belov
Ivan Shepetov
Grigory Khalyuzin

First formation

In December 1923, in the Ukrainian Military District in Vinnytsia the 96th Podolsky Territorial Rifle Division was formed. In 1924, the division became part of the 17th Rifle Corps.[1] On July 29, 1927, the honorary title changed to "Vinnytsia".

On September 1, 1929, it was named JF Fabricius (ru:Фабрициус, Ян Фрицевич) The full name of the division was now the 96th Rifle Division Vinnytsia named for JF Fabricius. In 1931, the division was transferred to cadre status.

On May 17, 1935, the division as part of 17th RC joined the Kiev Military District.

On July 26, 1938, the 96th Rifle Division, 17th RC, joined the Vinnytsia army group formed in the Kiev Special Military District.

On September 16, 1939, the headquarters of the Vinnytsia Army Group was renamed Headquarters Volotchisk Army Group with headquarters in Volochisk. The 96th Rifle Division (17th RC) became part of this group.

From September 17, 1939, the division took part in the Soviet invasion of Poland.

It was converted to a rifle division in October 1941.[2] Became 14th Guards Rifle Division January 1942.

Second creation

The division was recreated in July 1942 and fought at Stalingrad. It became the 68th Guards Rifle Division in February 1943.

Third creation

The 96th Rifle Division was recreated at Tula in March 1943. In mid July 1943 it was part of the 11th Army. During the Lublin-Brest Offensive, 350th Rifle Regiment company commander Mikhail Linnik distinguished himself and was subsequently awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.[3] The division fought in Belorussia, East Prussia, and near Berlin (Battle of Berlin). With 48th Army of the 3rd Belorussian Front May 1945.

In 1957 the division became the 96th Motor Rifle Division. From 1957 to 1989 it was served in the Volga Military District, with its headquarters at Kazan, and the headquarters was set up in the Kazan Kremlin at some point. In 1989 the division became the 5509th Base for Storage of Weapons and Equipment. The storage base disbanded in 1993.[4]

References
  1. Краснознамённый Киевский. Очерки истории Краснознамённого Киевского военного округа (1919-1979). Издание второе, исправленное и дополненное. Киев, издательство политической литературы Украины, 1979.С.с. 59-60, 65-66, 68, 76, 86-88, 90-94, 112-113. Командиры дивизии В.М. Поляков, 1936, - с.90-91. Командир корпуса Фабрициус Я.Ф., 1924, - с.59-60. Состав 17-го стрелкового корпуса - с.59-60.
  2. Poirer and Connor, Red Army Order of Battle
  3. "Линник Михаил Никифорович" [Linnik Mikhail Nikiforovich]. www.warheroes.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2016-01-23.
  4. Holm, Michael. "96th Motorised Rifle Division". www.ww2.dk. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
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