In the autumn of 1941, Ufa formed a new military force, which played an important role in liberating our Homeland from Nazi invaders — the 361st rifle division of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. The military personnel consisted of mobilised citizens of the Bashkir ASSR. As early as 28 December of the same year, the troops had their first battle at the Kalininsky front.
In March 1942, the force was reshaped to become the 21st division and conferred the honorary title of the Guards. In November, the troops liberated Velikie Luki as part of the 3rd Shock Army. During the military action, it took them about 10 days to clear about 70 German-occupied towns and villages from German invaders.
Late in September 1943, the 21st guards division as part of the 3rd Shock Army was preparing for Nevelsk operation in the northern wing of the front. On 6 October, its units were included in the breakthrough follow-up of the shock troops, who started fighting bound toward Vashchenichino and Stolbovo. They were to capture the terrain corridor between Lakes Vorotno, Melkot and then to liberate Nevel.
Tank battalions and machine gunners destroyed the enemy positions near the town and captured strategic facilities. Then, the troops of the 21 guards rifle division entered Nevel, with the town having been fully liberated by the evening of 6 October.
It took the troops of the 3rd Shock Army just one day to conduct the most difficult military operation, covering a distance of 35 km in fighting. It was a great success given the set defence, difficult terrain with woods and swamps, defensive posts and pockets of resistance.
On 7 October, Moscow conducted 124-gun military salute in honour of the troops involved in the military operation. Supreme Commander-in-Chief Joseph Stalin conferred the honorary name of Nevelsk on the division by the Order dated 7 November 1943 and issued a commendation to its troops. Colonel Denis Vasilyevich Mikhailov became its commander. He ended the war as major general of the guards.
On December 17, the Nevelsk division successfully barred Nazis’ counterattacks near the villages of Turki-Perevoz and Gatchino. The division continued its military campaign in the Baltic Republics and Belorussia. The troops of the 21st guards division covered many hundreds of kilometres with fierce battles. They made a tangible contribution to the liberation of 1535 human settlements, with 15 cities among them, from the enemy.
Within that time, the division destroyed 183 Nazi tanks, over 300 vehicles, 300 weapons and 1400 machine guns, captured 1500 German soldiers and officers. Three members of the guards became Heroes of the Soviet Union, four fighters were conferred the title of Cavaliers of the Order of Glory, with 15 thousand men awarded orders and medals.
In March 1942, the force was reshaped to become the 21st division and conferred the honorary title of the Guards. In November, the troops liberated Velikie Luki as part of the 3rd Shock Army. During the military action, it took them about 10 days to clear about 70 German-occupied towns and villages from German invaders.
Late in September 1943, the 21st guards division as part of the 3rd Shock Army was preparing for Nevelsk operation in the northern wing of the front. On 6 October, its units were included in the breakthrough follow-up of the shock troops, who started fighting bound toward Vashchenichino and Stolbovo. They were to capture the terrain corridor between Lakes Vorotno, Melkot and then to liberate Nevel.
Tank battalions and machine gunners destroyed the enemy positions near the town and captured strategic facilities. Then, the troops of the 21 guards rifle division entered Nevel, with the town having been fully liberated by the evening of 6 October.
It took the troops of the 3rd Shock Army just one day to conduct the most difficult military operation, covering a distance of 35 km in fighting. It was a great success given the set defence, difficult terrain with woods and swamps, defensive posts and pockets of resistance.
On 7 October, Moscow conducted 124-gun military salute in honour of the troops involved in the military operation. Supreme Commander-in-Chief Joseph Stalin conferred the honorary name of Nevelsk on the division by the Order dated 7 November 1943 and issued a commendation to its troops. Colonel Denis Vasilyevich Mikhailov became its commander. He ended the war as major general of the guards.
On December 17, the Nevelsk division successfully barred Nazis’ counterattacks near the villages of Turki-Perevoz and Gatchino. The division continued its military campaign in the Baltic Republics and Belorussia. The troops of the 21st guards division covered many hundreds of kilometres with fierce battles. They made a tangible contribution to the liberation of 1535 human settlements, with 15 cities among them, from the enemy.
Within that time, the division destroyed 183 Nazi tanks, over 300 vehicles, 300 weapons and 1400 machine guns, captured 1500 German soldiers and officers. Three members of the guards became Heroes of the Soviet Union, four fighters were conferred the title of Cavaliers of the Order of Glory, with 15 thousand men awarded orders and medals.
