151st Rifle Division

The 151st Rifle Division was originally formed as an infantry division of the Red Army on September 9, 1939, in the Kharkov Military District, based on the shtat (table of organization and equipment) of later that month. At the outbreak of the war it was still in this District, attempting to build up to wartime strength as part of the 67th Rifle Corps. It was immediately ordered to move west and concentrate with its Corps in the Gomel region and by July 2 it was assigned to 21st Army in Western Front, although it was briefly detached to 13th Army. On July 23 it joined Central Front with the 21st, after which it became encircled near Gomel and forced to break out at a heavy cost in casualties and equipment. The remnants were moved east to join Bryansk Front but by mid-September it was clear that local resources were not available to rebuild it, and the division was disbanded to provide replacements for other units in the Front.

A new 151st was formed just over a month later in Azerbaijan as part of the Transcaucasian Military District, based on a reserve rifle regiment. After spending the first seven months of 1942 forming up and then guarding the Turkish border as part of 45th Army, it was ordered north as German forces pressed east in their summer offensive. By mid-August it was in the 9th Army of Transcaucasus Front, defending along the Terek River against elements of 1st Panzer Army. In September it was transferred to 37th Army in the same Front and was holding along the same line in late October when 1st Panzer launched its last desperate effort to reach Ordzhonikidze. One regiment was effectively overrun, and the 151st had to be withdrawn into Front reserves for rebuilding. It returned to the front lines in early December, being assigned to 44th Army in North Caucasus Front during January 1943 as it took part in the pursuit of 1st Panzer toward Rostov-on-Don; in early February the division was transferred with its Army to Southern Front. After Rostov was recaptured that month the division advanced to the Mius River line where it remained into August. After an initial attempt to break this line failed in July a renewed offensive in August finally succeeded and the Front began an advance toward the lower Dniepr and Crimea, during which the 151st was transferred to 2nd Guards Army. After a series of moves to the northwest, including a period in the Reserve of the Supreme High Command, it ended up in 38th Army of 1st Ukrainian Front and took part in the March 1944 offensive to the west, during which it won a battle honor. During the Lvov-Sandomierz offensive in July-August it was part of 1st Guards Army, which played a secondary role, after which it was moved, with this Army, back to 4th Ukrainian (formerly Southern) Front. This Front was tasked with breaking through the Carpathian Mountains toward Hungary, and the 151st was serving with 18th Army when it was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for its part in taking Uzhhorod.