255th Rifle Division
Military unit / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 255th Rifle Division was formed in the Odessa Military District as a reserve infantry division of the Red Army about two weeks after the German invasion of the USSR. It was based on the shtat (table of organization and equipment) of April 5, 1941 with modifications due to the emergency. Once formed, in late August it was assigned to the 2nd formation of the 6th Army in Southern Front; this Army was soon reassigned to Southwestern Front. The division saw its first major combat in the Barvenkovo–Lozovaya offensive in January 1942 which carved out the Izium salient, but it suffered significant losses which were never adequately replaced. Due to its low strength it was removed from the salient and served as a reserve formation until the beginning of the German summer offensive. In the second week of July, while serving in 9th Army, it was largely encircled by elements of German 6th Army near Millerovo. While a cadre was able to escape and retreat south toward the Caucasus the division was too badly damaged to be rebuilt and it was disbanded.
255th Rifle Division (July 10, 1941 – August 3, 1942) 255th Rifle Division (July 6, 1943 – April 30, 1955) | |
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Active | 1941–1955 |
Country | Soviet Union |
Branch | Red Army Soviet Army |
Type | Infantry |
Size | Division |
Engagements | Battle of Kiev (1941) Battle of Rostov (1941) Barvenkovo–Lozovaya offensive Second Battle of Kharkov Case Blue Soviet invasion of Manchuria |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Maj. Gen. Ivan Terentievich Zamertsev Col. Fyodor Aristarovich Makulkin Maj. Gen. Yakov Filippovich Yeryomenko Col. Ivan Matveevich Sukhov |
A new 255th was formed in July 1943 in the 15th Army of Far Eastern Front. It remained under these commands on this quiet sector until the buildup to the Soviet invasion of Manchuria in August 1945. In the event the division was given a defensive assignment while being on call as a possible reserve for 15th Army, but it saw no combat before the Japanese surrender. Despite its undistinguished career the 255th continued to serve in the Far East until April 1955, when it was redesignated as the 2nd formation of the 35th Rifle Division.