323rd Rifle Division (Soviet Union)
| 323rd Rifle Division (1 August 1941 - 1945) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1941–1945 |
| Country |
 Soviet Union
|
| Branch |
 Red Army
|
| Type | Division |
| Role | Infantry |
| Engagements |
Battle of Moscow Battle of Smolensk (1943) Operation Bagration Vistula-Oder Offensive Berlin Strategic Offensive Operation |
| Decorations |
 Order of Suvorov 2nd class |
| Battle honours | Bryansk |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Mjr. Gen. V.T. Maslov |
The 323rd Rifle Division was formed as a standard Red Army rifle division late in the summer of 1941, as part of the massive buildup of new Soviet fighting formations at that time. After a difficult start in the Soviet winter counteroffensive the division served on relatively quiet sectors into 1943, after which it joined the offensive push into German-occupied western Russia through the rest of that year, then in the destruction of Army Group Center in the summer of 1944, distinguishing itself in the liberation of Bialystok in July. In 1945 the men and women of the 323rd took part in the Vistula-Oder Offensive through Poland and into Pomerania, and then finally in the Battle of Berlin, ending the war with distinction, but being disbanded soon after.
The 323rd Rifle Division began forming on Aug. 1, 1941, in the Tambov Oblast of the Oryol Military District. Its primary order of battle was as follows:
The division was assigned to the 10th (Reserve) Army in the Reserve of the Supreme High Command in October. This army was deployed in the last week of November west of the Oka River, downstream from Kashira, to defend both Kolomna and Ryazan from the German 2nd Panzer Army. The 323rd went into action in December, during the Soviet counteroffensive, while it was still short of equipment and inadequately trained, and therefore suffered terrible casualties in these attacks. From Dec. 17 - 19 the division lost 4,138 officers and men, with 1,200 missing, the remainder being killed, wounded or sick. Only 70 of these were sick or frostbitten, demonstrating that they were at least well dressed for the conditions. Still, this was 40 percent losses in just 72 hours, and it was a long time in recovering.
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