6th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)
| 6th Rifle Division | |
|---|---|
| Active |
I Formation: 1918-1945 II Formation: 1955-1957 |
| Country |
 Soviet Union
|
| Branch | Soviet Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Engagements | |
| Decorations |
 Order of Suvorov 2nd class (1st formation) |
| Battle honours | Orel (1st formation) |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Dmitri Parsky |
I Formation: 1918-1945
Estonian War of Independence Polish-Soviet War
Order of the Red Banner (2) (1st formation)
The 6th Rifle Division was an infantry division of the Soviet Union's Red Army, formed twice. It participated in several battles, most notably the Soviet westward offensive of 1918–1919 and the Estonian War of Independence. The division's first formation was also awarded the Order of the Red Banner twice and the Order of Suvorov 2nd class for its valor in combat. In November 1945, the division was disbanded. It was briefly reformed in 1955 but disbanded again in 1957.
The Division was first formed on May 3, 1918 in the city of Gdov. It was made up of volunteers from Petrograd, from soldiers of Pavel Dybenko's volunteer detachment, Red Guards from the regular Army, and workers from the city of Narva who formed the original unit. Its official designation upon activation was the Gatchina Infantry Division. From May to November 1918, the division was deployed in the vicinity of Ivangorod. In November 1919 the Division attacked Narva with the Red Army, starting the Estonian War of Independence. This was part of the Soviet westward offensive, a campaign to conquer the Baltic states and Belarus. The unit was redesignated twice during this campaign. On 24 July 1918 it became the 3rd Petrograd Infantry Division. On November 2, 1918, it became the 6th Rifle Division.
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