338th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)
| 338th Rifle Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1941–1946 |
| Country | Soviet Union |
| Branch | Red Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Engagements | Battle of Moscow Battles of Rzhev Battle of Smolensk (1943) Operation Bagration Baltic Offensive Riga Offensive (1944) Vistula-Oder Offensive Battle of Königsberg Samland Offensive Soviet invasion of Manchuria |
| Decorations | Order of the Red Banner 2nd Formation |
| Battle honours | Neman |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Col. Vladimir Georgievich Kuchinev Col. Nikolai Olimpievich Guz Maj. Gen. Hmayak Babayan Col. Fyodor Kharitonovich Polevoii Col. Yakov Filippovich Potekhin Maj. Gen. Leonid Nikolaievich Lozanovich |
The 338th Rifle Division was first formed in September 1941, as a standard Red Army rifle division, at Penza. This formation took part in the early stages of the winter counteroffensive and made gains in the direction of Vyazma before being cut off behind German lines in February and largely destroyed by May. The division was formed again in June, once again in the Western Front, and proved itself a stolid and reliable unit in the often frustrating battles east and west of Smolensk and into the Baltic states over the next two and a half years. After taking part in the conquest of East Prussia in 1945, the 338th, along with the rest of its 39th Army, was railed all the way to the far east to join in the Soviet invasion of Manchuria in August.