18. střelecká divize [1918-1940]

18th Rifle Division

Decision of the Supreme Military Council of 4. August 1918 on the unification of the management of military operations in the area of Onega - Arkhangelsk - Severnaya Dvina and the defense of the Arkhangelsk - Vologda railway, the Arkhangelsk Defense Region was created with subordination first to the Military Council of the Northern Section of the Hanging Troops and the Petrograd District, and by the decision of the Supreme Military Council of August 10, 1918 - to the Northeastern Hanging Troops. By the order for the troops of the Northern Front No. 0173 of November 8, 1918 from the units of the Arkhangelsk, Veliky and partly Kotlassky districts the 18th Rifle Division was created, its headquarters was formed from the headquarters of the Arkhangelsk Defense District.

According to the order to the troops of the Caucasian Front No. 1360 of 9 May 1921, the 18th Rifle Division, the 20th Rifle Division and the 96th Brigade of the 32nd Rifle Division were merged into the 18th Rifle Division, the headquarters of the 18th Rifle Division was merged with the headquarters of the 20th Rifle Division and renamed the headquarters of the 18th Rifle Division. By Order No. 1042/246 of 12 August 1921, the 18th Rifle Division and the 53rd Rifle Division, which had come from the Caucasus to Yaroslavl, were merged into the 18th Rifle Division, which, by Order No. 2710/450 of 30 August 1921, was merged into the 18th Rifle Division, which, by Order No. 2710/450 of 30 August 1921, was merged into the 18th Rifle Division. November 1921 was given the name Yaroslavl Division.

The division took part in the defensive battles on the Arkhangelsk and Kotlas directions, in the Shenkur operation in 1919, and in the battles for Arkhangelsk and Onega. In the spring of 1920 it was subordinated to the Western Front, took part in the May, July, and Warsaw offensives, and after the retreat moved to the territory of East Prussia, where it was interned. In November 1920 the division was assigned to the Caucasus Front, took part in the fighting with the White-Greens in Kuban, took part in the Erivan operation.

Since 1921 it was stationed in Yaroslavl. On 29 February 1928, the division was awarded the Revolutionary Red Banner of Honour. It was a territorial division from 1923 to 1935. In 1936 it was reassigned to the Leningrad Military District and was stationed in Karelia.

From 30 November 1939 to March 1940 it participated in the 1939-1940 Soviet-Finnish War. It was part of the 56th Rifle Corps of the 8th Army, led the offensive at Uome - Kitela - Impilahti - Sortavala. At Lemetti it was surrounded and destroyed. The division lost 12,000 soldiers, the division commissioner M. Izraetski shot themselve, the commander of the G. F. Kondrashev he was seriously injured, later arrested and, based on the judgment of the Supreme Court, executed. The flag of the division was captured by the Finnish army. In April 1940, the division was disbanded due to the loss of the battle flag and fatal casualties. Currently, the division's flag is kept as a trophy in the collection of the Finnish Museum in Suomenlinna.

Sources:

ru.wikipedia.org

topwar.ru

guides.eastview.com