169th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)

169th Rifle Division (25 August 1939 - 1946)
Major General Ivan Evdokimovich Turunov
Active	1939–1946
Country	Soviet Union
Branch	Red Army
Type	Division
Role	Infantry
Engagements	Soviet Occupation of Western Ukraine Operation Barbarossa Second Battle of Kharkov Battle of Stalingrad Operation Uranus Operation Ring Operation Kutuzov Battle of the Dniepr Rogachyov-Zhlobin Operation Operation Bagration Vistula-Oder Offensive East Prussian Offensive
Decorations	Order of the Red Banner
Battle honours	Rogachyov
Commanders
Notable commanders	Mjr. Gen. I.E Turunov Mjr. Gen. S.M. Rogachevski Mjr. Gen. Ya.F. Yeryomenko Mjr. Gen. F.A. Veryovkin

The 169th Rifle Division was formed as a standard Red Army rifle division beginning in late August, 1939, as part of the pre-war Soviet military build-up. It saw service in the occupation force in western Ukraine in September. The German invasion found it still in Ukraine, fighting back to the Dniepr until it was nearly destroyed. The partly-rebuilt division fought again at Kharkov, then was pulled back into reserve and sent deep into the Caucasus where it fought south of Stalingrad throughout that battle. Following another major redeployment the division helped in the liberation of Oryol, and the following race to the Dniepr. In 1944 and 1945 it was in 1st and 2nd Belorussian Fronts, participating successfully in the offensives that liberated Belarus, Poland, and conquered eastern Germany. It ended the war on the Elbe River.

The 169th was based on a cadre from the 45th Rifle Regiment, and began forming on Aug. 25 and into September, 1939 at Kherson and Nikolaeyev in the Ukrainian Military District (later, the Odessa Military District). While still forming up it was officially in the third echelon of the Soviet forces occupying the western Ukrainian territories that had been held by Poland.

On June 22, 1941, the order of battle of the 169th was as follows:

As the enemy offensive began the division was spread over 65 kilometres in peacetime garrisons around Lipkany, Mogilev-Podolsk, and Grushka along the Dniestr River. On the 25th it was assigned to South Front, and fought under command of either the 9th or the 18th Army through June and July in 55th Rifle Corps. While in 18th Army the 169th was attempting to aid the breakout of the Soviet forces encircled in the Uman pocket. While directing his troops from his command post in the Pervomaisk area, Mjr. Gen. I.E. Turunov, commander of the division, was severely wounded by a shell fragment. He was evacuated by air to Kharkov, but died in hospital on Aug. 3.