247th Rifle Division
Military unit / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 247th Rifle Division was the fourth of a group of 10 regular rifle divisions formed from cadres of NKVD border and internal troops as standard Red Army rifle divisions, very shortly after the German invasion, in the Moscow Military District. It was largely based on what would become the shtat (table of organization and equipment) of July 29, 1941, with several variations. It was assigned to 31st Army, where it remained throughout its existence. As part of Reserve Front, the division, with its Army, was mostly involved in constructing rear-area defenses until the start of Operation Typhoon, becoming encircled in early October. Many of those who survived the breakout were incorporated into the 250th Rifle Division and the 247th was disbanded.
247th Rifle Division (June 29, 1941 – October 14, 1941) 247th Rifle Division (December 20, 1941 – July, 1945) | |
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Active | 1941–1945 |
Country | Soviet Union |
Branch | Red Army |
Type | Infantry |
Size | Division |
Engagements | Battle of Moscow Battles of Rzhev Operation Mars Zhizdra Offensive Battle of Smolensk (1943) Orsha offensives (1943) Operation Bagration Lublin–Brest offensive Vistula-Oder offensive Battle of Berlin |
Decorations | Order of the Red Banner (2nd Formation) |
Battle honours | Roslavl (2nd Formation) |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Col. Sergei Pavlovich Tarasov Maj. Gen. Grigorii Denisovich Mukhin |
A new 247th began forming on December 20 in the Moscow Military District, based on a separate motorized rifle brigade and a cadre of survivors of the 1st formation. After gradually being brought up to strength in 31st Army it took part in the desperate fighting on the east side of the Rzhev salient, in that Army in the summer and in 20th Army in November and December. At the start of that Army's drive across the Vazuza River on November 25 the division was the only one to attain its initial objectives; the failure of the remainder doomed the offensive on this sector and also soon led to very high casualties to the 247th. Soon after this offensive was shut down the division was transferred to 16th Army and took part in an abortive offensive toward Zhizdra, after which it was rebuilt for the summer offensive against Army Group Center. During this it won a battle honor, but in October became bogged down in the extensive fighting for Orsha, which continued into early 1944. It was withdrawn into the reserve and returned to the front as part of 61st Rifle Corps of 69th Army, where it remained for the duration. In the later stage of Operation Bagration it helped seize and hold a bridgehead over the Vistula River at Puławy and held there in the face of many German counterattacks. In January, 1945 the division broke out from there and advanced through western Poland into Germany. In the final battles for the German capital the 247th took part in the fighting that liquidated the German 9th Army and was rewarded with the Order of the Red Banner. Within weeks it was disbanded.