13th Guards Airborne Division
| 13th Guards Airborne Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1943-1944; 1948-1955 |
| Country |
 Soviet Union |
| Branch | Soviet airborne |
| Type | airborne |
| Size | division |
| Garrison/HQ | Svobodny, Amur Oblast |
| Engagements | World War II |
The 13th Guards Airborne Division was a division of the Soviet Airborne Troops which was part of the 37th Guards Airborne Corps.[1]
History
First formation
The 13th Guards Airborne Division was first formed on 20 December 1943 from the 18th, 19th and 20th Guards Airborne Brigades in Moscow Military District.[2] The division was redesignated as the 98th Guards Rifle Division on 19 January 1944.[3][4] However, some sources state that it was actually redesignated on 23 December 1943.[2][5]
Second formation
The division was reformed in October 1944 as part of the Separate Airborne Army's 37th Guards Airborne Corps[6] and was redesignated as the 103rd Guards Rifle Division on 18 December 1944.[7] The division became the 103rd Guards Airborne Division on 7 June 1946 in Seltsy, Ryazan Oblast.[8]
Third formation
The division was reformed on 1 October 1948 at Svobodny, Amur Oblast from the 296th Guards Airlanding Regiment, under the 37th Guards Airborne Corps. The Independent Landing Security Company was disbanded in 1949. The 116th Guards Airlanding Regiment was converted to an airborne unit at some point. On 15 November 1953, the Separate Communications Company became the Separate Guards Communications Battalion. The Separate Medical & Sanitary Company became the Separate Medical & Sanitary Battalion on the same day. The Separate Guards Antitank Artillery Battalion and the Separate Guards Reconnaissance Company were disbanded on the same day. The division was disbanded on 1 April 1955. Its 116th Guards Parachute Regiment was transferred to the 99th Guards Airborne Division and the 217th Guards Parachute Regiment was transferred to the 98th Guards Airborne Division.[9]
Composition
The division was composed of the following units in 1948.[9]
- 116th Guards Airlanding Regiment
- 217th Guards Airborne Regiment
- 1183rd Guards Artillery Regiment
- Separate Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion
- 100th Separate Guards Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion
- Separate Guards Antitank Artillery Battalion
- Separate Guards Reconnaissance Company
- Separate Communications Company
- Separate Guards Engineering Battalion
- Separate Supply Truck Battalion
- Separate Medical and Sanitary Company
- Separate Training Battalion
References
- ↑ David M. Glantz (November 1984). The Soviet Airborne Experience. Combat Studies Institute. p. 34. ISBN 1428915826.
- 1 2 Pettibone, Charles D. (2009-11-18). The Organization and Order of Battle of Militaries in World War II: Volume V - Book B Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Trafford Publishing. ISBN 9781426978159.
- ↑ "Виртуальный музей" [Virtual Museum of the 98th Guards Airborne Division]. old.co1601.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2015-11-25.
- ↑ "98-я гвардейская воздушно-десантная Свирская Краснознамённая ордена Кутузова 2-й степени дивизия : Министерство обороны Российской Федерации" [98th Guards Airborne Division Russian Ministry of Defence]. structure.mil.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2015-11-25.
- ↑ "Гвардейские воздушно-десантные |" [Guards Airborne Divisions]. myfront.in.ua (in Russian). Retrieved 2015-11-26.
- ↑ Glantz, David M. (1994-01-01). The History of Soviet Airborne Forces. Taylor & Francis. p. 68. ISBN 9780714641201.
- ↑ "Все о ВДВ, клубы десантников, фильмы о ВДВ, десантура, воздушно-десантные войска." [103rd Guards Airborne Division History]. sdrvdv.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2015-11-25.
- ↑ Holm, Michael. "103rd Guards Airborne Division". www.ww2.dk. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
- 1 2 Michael Holm, 13th Guards Airborne Division, accessed 25 November 2015.
Further reading
- Keith E. Bonn, Slaughterhouse: the Handbook of the Eastern Front, Aberjona Press, Bedford, PA, 2005