Brief summary of the combat career of the 191st Order of the Red Banner Rifle Division (by Colonel Dressen, 1944)
Brief summary of the combat career of the 191st Order of the Red Banner Rifle Division
The 191st Order of the Red Banner Rifle Division was formed between December 1940 and March 1941 in Levashevo, Agalatovo, and Akalula districts (Karelian isthmus, north of Leningrad) from the reorganized 4th Motomechanized Brigade (military unit 2118).
The division was transferred to Kingisepp on May 18th, 1941.
The Great Patriotic War began when the division was still in this area. It lacked 50% of authorized strength in personnel, 75% of materiel, and 25% of horses.
The division was filled with new personnel on June 22nd, 1941. The 546th Rifle Regiment and one artillery battalion were deployed to the Gulf of Finland (port Kunda) to liquidate an enemy landing force. The 156 km long march was completed in two days.
The fighting formations of the division were fully formed on June 26th. The rear formations were formed between June 27th and July 18th, 1941. The division took up defenses at Chudskoye lake at Narva in the second echelon, preparing a path for the retreating 8th Army.
On July 13th, the 546th Rifle Regiment with one artillery battalion was deployed in the Loseva Gora region of the Kingisepp district to liquidate enemy spearheads and engaged motorized units on July 15th. The numerically superior enemy force was stopped and the lines were held for three days.
On July 18th, Marshal of the USSR K.Ye. Voroshilov ordered the division to send one rifle regiment and one artillery regiment to strike at the enemy rear near the river Dolgaya. An attack at dawn on July 20th along the river was aimed at spoiling the German offensive on Leningrad in the Ivanovskoye – Weimarn station area.
On July 26th, 1914, the 546th Rifle Regiment and 1081st Artillery Regiment took their initial positions on the western bank of the river Dolgaya and began their offensive, as a result of which 17 cars and 7 tanks were destroyed, an ammunition warehouse was demolished, supply and fuel warehouses were destroyed, and an air unit warehouse was destroyed. A fascist Lieutenant General of aviation was killed. His dagger and documents were sent to comrade Voroshilov. Comrade Voroshilov expressed gratitude for the succession completion of this operation.
Comrade Voroshilov’s order was completed within two days. The enemy offensive at Ivanovskoye – Weimarn station was spoiled.
On July 28th the division received orders to defend Narva and Kingisepp. Defenses were taken on a 40 km wide front. The enemy began a large-scale offensive towards Kingisepp on July 27th. The division held its defenses and deflected the enemy attack, killing over 300 fascists, 2 tanks, destroying over 10 strongholds and 2 artillery batteries.
The enemy attempted numerous fierce attacks at Narva and Kingisepp from July 27th to August 17th, 1941. The division staunchly held its defenses, inflicting colossal losses in personnel and vehicles on the enemy.
On August 18th, the enemy bypassed the division along its flanks. The division received orders from the Kingisepp sector command to retreat to the river Luga. The division exhausted the enemy with a fighting retreat, destroying his personnel and equipment.
On August 22nd, 1941, the division was included in the 8th Army. Retreating along through the Luga region, it exhausted the enemy in combat. From September 7th to September 15th the division held the line at Habina Roscha, keeping the enemy from reaching Petergof.
On September 18th the division received orders to defend Oranienbaum. The enemy’s attempts to capture it between September 19th and October 17th were beaten and heavy losses inflicted. Oranienbaum held.
The division was transferred to the reserve of the Leningrad Front and transported across the Gulf of Finland to Leningrad where it regrouped and received reinforcements on October 20th. Its artillery regiment is included in the Neva group and supports the crossing across the Neva river to Mga from October 17th to October 25th.
On October 26th, the division received orders to defend Tikhvin, transferring to the 4th Army. Rifle units are moved by airplanes, equipment is moved by barges across Lake Ladoga.
Rifle regiments arriving on October 26th formed a line of defense along the river Hvoshnya. Heavy fighting ensued, despite a lack of artillery.
The artillery arrived on November 3rd, 1941. The enemy concentrated his forces in front of the 44th Rifle Division and punched through our defenses on November 6th. The enemy simultaneously struck our division in the flank, rear, and front with a large force of tanks on November 7th. Retreating towards Tikhvin, the division exhausted the enemy, destroying personnel and vehicles.
On November 8th, 1941, the division was ordered to retreat to the northern outskirts of Tikhvin and take up defenses. By the end of the day, the enemy bypassed our units and occupied Tikhvin.
The division remained on the defensive on the outskirts of Tikhvin from November 9th to December 9th. The enemy’s progress was stopped and the division prioritized depleting their numbers.
An offensive on the night of December 9th resulted in the liberation of Tikhvin. The retreating enemy was pursued towards the river Volkhov. For the liberation of Tikhvin, the division was awarded the Order of the Red Star. Up to 20% of the troops received orders and medals for their outstanding performance.
In pursuit and destruction of the retreating enemy, the division took many trophies (artillery, cars, machine guns, other military hardware).
A stronghold of resistance was encountered near Maliye Zelentsy and Bolshiye Zelentsy. It was destroyed in two days. Having taken Maliye Zelentsy, Bolshiye Zelentsy, and Krovotynya, the division continued its pursuit of the enemy.
On January 1st, 1942, the division carried out the 4th Army’s order to gather at Lezno.
From January 2nd to January 22nd the division fought fiercely near Lezno as a part of the 4th Army. On January 23rd it received orders to transfer to the 2nd Shock Army.
The division gathered at Myasnoy Bor on January 27s, where it received orders from the 2nd Shock Army to move to Novaya Derevnya through the enemy rear following the route through Olkhovatka, Vditsko, Novaya Derevnya. Despite strong bomb and mortar fire, the division completed a difficult cross-country march and gathered at Novaya Derevnya on February 3rd, where it spoiled the enemy’s attempt to attack in the direction of Vditsko-Olkhovka.
On February 13th, 1942, the division was ordered to move to Chervino-Tigoda. The division gathered there by February 17th. On that day, orders were given to fortify Chervino with the 559th Rifle Regiment and the 552nd Rifle Regiment, 546th Rifle Regiment, and division HQ to move through the forest to Dubovoye with the objective of capturing Pomeran station.
On February 21st, having moved into the enemy rear in Apraksin Bor, the division’s rifle regiments and HQ were cut off and had to fight their way through superior enemy forces. Special units of the division set up a defense at Bronitsa-Dubovoye, preventing the enemy from flanking the 559th Rifle Regiment.
Only several small groups of troops fought their way out of the encirclement a few days later. Most of the division’s rifle regiments and special units as well as officers including acting division commander Colonel Starunin, military commissar Sr. Battalion Commissar Alekseyev, acting chief of staff Battalion Commissar Krokhin, and political department chief Sr. Battalion Commissar Glazkov did not escape.
The division proceeded to fight offensively from February 23rd to April 15th, 1942. Chervinskaya Luka and Malaya Bronitsa were taken and many enemy vehicles and personnel were destroyed. The division then took up defensive positions near Ruchyi, where an attempt by the enemy to reach Vditsko through Ruchyi was deflected.
On May15th the division concentrated in the second echelon of the 59th Army and took up defenses around Myasnoy Bor and Teremets-Kruglyanskiy while awaiting reinforcements.
The 2nd Shock Army’s supply lines were cut on May 20th, 1942. The 559th and 552nd Rifle Regiments were cut off from the HQ and temporarily reallocated to the 2nd Shock Army. The 546th Rifle Regiment, artillery regiment, and special units fought for 26 days to restore the 2nd Shock Army’s supply lines, spoiling multiple enemy attempts to break through to the Novgorod-Chudovo highway.
On June 28th, 1942, the division concentrated near Dubtsy station and took up defenses along the east bank of the Volkhov river. It remained on the defensive until August 1st, fighting to clear the east bank near the Oktyabrskaya railroad bridge. The enemy in this region was destroyed and the bank was cleared. The division then crossed the river, taking part in the operation to take Dymno.
On August 13th, having been refilled with personnel to 70% authorized strength over the course of 6 days, the division moved to Sinyavino. On September 5th the division concentrated at Gaitalovo with just 20% of its authorized horse and mechanized transport. Without time to organize its forces, the division went into battle on the approach to Sinyavino on September 6th.
On the night of September 6th, the enemy flanked the attacking units at Sinyavino, aiming to reach the river Chernaya and encircle them.
On the night of September 6th, the division entered combat, stopped the enemy with a counterattack, and destroyed many enemy troops and materiel on September 7-8th, pushing him behind the Sinyavino swamp.
The division fought constant fierce battles until September 29th. Constantly under fire from bombers and artillery, the division defeated numerous enemy attempts to begin an offensive at Sinyavino, destroying a large amount of enemy personnel and vehicles.
On September 29th, the enemy broke through the defenses of the division’s neighbour, reaching Gaitalovo and cutting off its supply lines. On September 29th the division received orders to retreat from the Chernaya river area. On the night of September 30th, the division fought its way south of Gaitalovo. With the HQ leading, the division broke through to Apraksin Gorodok and settled in the second echelon of the 2nd Shock Army by October 1st.
With few fighting men remaining (200 riflemen), the division attacked to liquidate an enemy force that broke through in the vicinity of Workers’ Village #6 northeast of Sinyavino. The division defeated the enemy vanguard in a crash action and reached his defenses at the outskirts of Workers’ Village #6, stopping the offensive.
Over the course of the fighting at Sinyavino, the division was a part of the 8th Army for three days and was later moved to the 2nd Shock Army. On November 3rd, the division concentrated at Bolshaya Vishera in the reserve of the 59th Army. Its goal was to re-equip its units. It remained here until December 7th, 1942.
On December 7th, 1942, the 191st Order of the Red Banner Rifle Division embarked on trains at Malaya and Bolshaya Vishera according to order of the Volkhov Front #165.OP issued on December 4th and a directive from the 59th Army HQ. Units disembarked at Pupyshevo and Noviy Byt on December 10-11th and 18th.
On December 18th, the division positioned itself at Kuti, Nurma, Poli, Goltolovo, Monastyrek, Rechka, Vydrino.
On December 19th, the division entered into the 2nd Shock Army and began to organize itself, conducting regular combat and political training.
As ordered by the Training Department of the Volkhov Front and NKS order #306, units of the division worked on training and cohesion building from December 20th to January 5th, 1943 according to the 1942 field manuals.
On January 6th, 1943, the division (less the 1081st Artillery Regiment) conducted a march along the route Gnilki, Vydrino, Chaplino, Gorodok, Dusevo and further to the south-west in execution of order #S05 issued by the 2nd Shock Army on January 3rd, settling in waiting positions at Nikolskoye, Gorodische, Podolye.
The division’s rear units pulled up between January 7th and 11th. The division restocked its ammunition and repaired its materiel, waiting for an offensive.
According to order #001/SP from the 2nd Shock Army, the division moved to the Nazia river area near mark 13.7 and Krutoy on January 11th, 1943, with the goal of preparing for a vigorous attack past the right flank of the 256th Rifle Division from the second echelon of the 2nd Shock Army in the direction of Workers’ Village #5, mark 22.4, and Moskovskaya Dubrovka, developing the offensive until it linked up with elements of the Leningrad Front.
As of January 14th, 1943, the division contained 7156 men, 608 horses, 3784 rifles, 103 light machine guns, 49 heavy machine guns, 190 mortars, 55 field guns of various types, 16 anti-tank guns, 159 anti-tank rifles and 43 cars between its three rifle regiments, 1081st Artillery Regiment, and training, machine gun, ski, and engineering battalions. In execution of order #108/SP of the 2nd Shock Army issued on January 14th, the division moved to sectors /3799-AV/ and /3699-A/ with the objective of advancing between the 256th and 327nd Rifle Divisions towards Workers’ Village #7 with a further objective of attacking towards Sinyavino.
In execution of division commander’s order #002 issued on January 14th, 1943, the division attacked at 12:00 between mark 19.9, swamp “Bear”, /3677-G/, mark 50.1 to the right of mark 15.7, Workers’ Village #7.
The 552nd Rifle Regiment, 2/1081 Artillery Regiment, 502nd Mortar Regiment moved out at 12:00 towards the Sinyavino church, and having overcome the enemy’s resistance reached a line north of the highway with the front facing west. The 559th Rifle Regiment, 1/1081 Artillery Regiment, and 503rd Mortar Regiment with support from the 1164th Light Artillery Regiment and 1225th Howitzer Artillery Regiment attacked towards Sinyavino at 12:00, and overcoming the enemy’s resistance reached a line 200 meters north-east of Sinyavino with the front facing south-west.
The 546th Rifle Regiment (less 3rd battalion) in the second echelon of the division supported by the 3/1081 Artillery Regiment concentrated south-west of mark 19.7 with the goal of being ready to advance between the 552nd and 559th Rifle Regiments. The ski battalion was ready in the second echelon of the division 1 km south of mark 15.7 at 9:00 with the goal of attacking from behind the 559th Rifle Regiment’s left flank.
The engineer and training battalions, 8th Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion, 3/546 Rifle Regiment remained in the reserve of the division commander, concentrating near the north-eastern outskirts of the “Kruglaya” grove /3600/.
The division’s first echelon began its attack at 12:00 and advanced by 3-4 km by the end of the day, slightly deviating from the intended direction to the north.
The division fought from January 15th to January 21st in the direction of Sinyavino, but failed to advance due to meeting with heavy resistance and counterattacks from enemy infantry and tanks.
On January 21st, 1943, the division shifted to a decisive offensive along its entire front, overcame enemy resistance and counterattacks, and moved forward, cutting off the Sinyavino-Gontovaya Lipka highway.
The division continued to fight off enemy counterattacks and hold its ground from January 21st to January 31st. The enemy was determined to recover possession of this important road at any cost. The division’s combat reached peak intensity from January 21st to January 31st. The enemy moved in reserves and attempted to restore his positions without regard for losses.
In this period, up to 4500 enemy soldiers and officers were killed, 6 tanks, 30 machine guns, 10 individual mortars or guns, and 8 mortar or artillery batteries were destroyed.
The division resumed its advance from February 1st to February 13th, deflecting enemy counterattacks daily. Due to few remaining fighters, these attacks were unsuccessful.
Without the ability to advance on a wide front, this period was characterized by attacks in small groups on individual sectors of the front, nighttime screens against enemy scouts, and harassing fire. Scouts and recce in force groups studied the enemy’s defenses, his strength, and tracked the grouping and regrouping of forces.
The division held on to a strategically vital road, binding the enemy’s forces and making it impossible for them to move troops from one part of the front to the other. Attacks by small groups spoiled enemy counterattacks and forced them to bring in reinforcements, pulling troops away from other areas where the 2nd Shock Army was fighting in liberation of Leningrad.
In execution of order #061/OP from the 2nd Shock Army issued on February 13th, 1942, the 191s Rifle Division left its positions to the 188th and 18th Rifle Divisions on the night of February 14th and by 8:00 concentrated near the river Nazia, Kamenskiy stream, and Zadavlenniy.
As of February 15th, the division numbered 2730 men, 516 horses, 16 heavy machine guns, 18 light machine guns, 445 SMGs, 50 mortars, 46 field guns, 15 anti-tank guns, 29 anti-tank rifles, and 46 cars.
In execution of order #065/OP given by the 2nd Shock Army on February 14th, the division marched through mark 17.0 /4008/, mark 15.9 /4011/, Gornaya Shaldikha, Petrovschina, Muchihino, Troitskoye, Syrokaska, Volgala, and concentrated in Siesla, Obsala, Ovdokalo by 8:00 on February 16th.
On January 16th, 1943, the division left the 2nd Shock Army and was under direct subordination to the Volkhov Front.
In carrying out orders of the Volkhov Front, the 191st Rifle Division moved from its location to Bolshaya Vishera by rail. The 191st Rifle Division embarked at Voybokalo and Noviy Byt stations on February 18th and disembarked at Malaya Vishera and Bolshaya Vishera.
From February 21st to February 24th the division prepared quarters, built housing, repaired its materiel, and prepared for receiving and training reinforcements.
Division units conducted combat and political training from February 24th to March 7th, as well as prepared 360 degree defenses of their positions.
In carrying out preliminary orders of the 59th Army, the division ceased training on March 7th and began preparations for a march.
On the night of March 8th, the division marched from Bolshaya Vishera and by the end of the day reached Gryady-Suvorovka.
Entering the 14th Rifle Corps of the 59th Army, the division prepared defenses along the east bank of the Volkhov river from March 9th, 1943, to January 14th, 1944. Division personnel took part in defensive combat, improved fortifications, and prepared for an attack.
From January 15th to January 30th, 1944, as a part of the same formation, the division penetrated enemy defenses on the western bank of the Volkhov river, took Novgorod, and fought its way to Shimsk, a distance of some 90 km.
Temporarily transferred to the 7th Rifle Corps of the 8th Army, the division was moved to Bolshiye Ugorody where it fought to take Razkchera, Turskaya Gorka, Zakibye, Uskibye from February 1st to February 20th. The attack was unsuccessful and on February 20th the division handed off its positions and rejoined the 14th Rifle Corps.
From February 21st to March 13th the division, still a part of the 14th Corps, moved by rail from Chudovo to Pulkovo (Estonian SSR) where it joined the 2nd Shock Army of the Leningrad Front.
The division defended the eastern bank of the river Narva from March 14th to March 20th while unsuccessfully trying to capture the city of Narva on March 17th and 18th.
From March 20th to July 24th the division defended the eastern bank of the Volkhov river as a part of the 2nd Shock Army.
From July 25th to July 28th, the division forded the river Narva, taking the Narva city and fortress, penetrating 12 km into enemy defenses. Success in these battles earned the division a statement of gratitude from Commander in Chief comrade Stalin.
From July 29th to August 10th the division moved to the city of Gdov, where it joined the 3rd Army and prepared to cross Chudskoye Lake.
From August 10th to August 14th the division moved to the region of Zabolotye, where it prepared to cross the gulf between lakes Chudskoye and Pskovskoye.
The division forded the gulf between August 15th and 26th. It penetrated 50 km into enemy defenses, liberating the cities of Valga and Tartu (for which it earned another gratitude from the Commander in Chief) and 70 other settlements.
From August 26th to September 1st the division rested in the reserve of the 3rd Baltic Front.
From September 1st to September 10th, as a part of the 67th Army, the division defended on the line between Layeva, Reku, and continuing down the Emajõgi river. The division fiercely fought against an enemy counterattack that managed to push back some of our units. Previous positions were restored and the enemy was dealt heavy casualties.
From September 11th to September 18th the division joined the 122nd Rifle Corps of the 67th Army of the 3rd Baltic Front, moved to the region of lake Võrtsjärv, and prepared its personnel for an offensive.
From September 18th to September 30th, the division developed the success of the 111th Rifle Corps from its second echelon along the river Väike Emajõgi, finally routing the enemy and pursuing him for 100 km into Soviet Estonia and Latvia, liberating 200 settlements in its path including the town of Rūjiena.
The division spent October 1st through October 3rd in the reserve of the 67th Army.
From October 4th to October 7th the division returned to the 112th Rifle Corps and took part in defensive battles.
From October 7th to October 15th, having knocked the enemy off their defensive positions, elements of the division began a pursuit that penetrated 40 km into enemy territory, liberating up to 70 settlements including Jaunciems, Vecmīlgrāvis, and the capital of Soviet Latvia, Riga.
From October 16th to October 23rd, the division marched to Purviai (Lithuanian SSR) where it joined the 14th Rifle Corps, 4th Shock Army, 1st Baltic Front.
From October 24th to October 30th, the division took up defensive positions along the Venta river and prepared for an attack.
From October 31st to November 1st the division knocked the enemy out of his defensive positions and advanced 10 km, liberating 25 settlements.
From November 2nd to November 20th, the division was a part of the 84th Rifle Corps of the same Army, fighting defensive battles holding the line at the southern bank of the Vadakstis river.
From November 21st to November 23rd, having penetrated enemy defenses along a 9 km wide front, the division fought its way to a depth of 13 kilometers, liberating up to 90 settlements.
From November 24th to November 28th the division was a part of the 34th Rifle Corps in defensive positions.
Bloodied from nonstop fighting without reinforcements since August, the division was moved to the reserve of the 50th Army, 2nd Belorussian Front, to reorganize and prepare for new battles on November 29-30th.
In reserve of the 50th Army, 2nd Belorussian Front from December 2nd to December 14th.
Chief of Staff of the 191st Order of the Red Banner Rifle Division, Colonel Dressen
December 14th, 1944
