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 253rd Rifle Regiment
The 45th Rifle Division was formed in the autumn of 1935 in the Novgorod Volynsk region. In the autumn of 1939 the division participated in the invasion of Poland. Before the beginning of the Great Patriotic War the division deployed in the Kovel region. In July 1941 the division participated in battles alongside German units in Kovel. In August 1941 the division departed for Kiev. In September the division relocated to Voronezh to receive replacements for the large number of losses they suffered at the front. In December the newly refitted division was made part of the 40th Army and participated in the battles around Kursk. From April to July 1942 the division made a defensive stand at the Seim River. In July, with the German 6th Army approaching Stalingrad, the division was ordered to join the defense of the city. On July 12 a small number of the divisions soldiers (731 out of 11,000) managed to escape for the German encirclement of the city. The tattered remains of the division was relocated to the region of Kuibyshev to be reinforced and reequipped. By the end of September 1942 the division was back to full strength and was sent back to Stalingrad in October. Between October 25-30 the division moved into Stalingrad and fought around the "Red October" metal works. The division remained in Stalingrad until the German Army surrendered in February 1943. For the heroism and determination shown by the division during the Battle of Stalingrad, on 1 March 1943 the division was renamed the 74th Guards Rifle Division. The division ended the war by storming the Reichstag in Berlin. Division Commander - Lieutenant Colonel Sokolov Chief of Headquarters - Lieutenant Colonel Mileev Military Commissar - Regiment Commissar Glamazda DIVISION STRUCTURE Division Headquarters 10th Donetsk Rifle Regiment - Major Mazheiko 61st Bogunsky Rifle Regiment - Lieutenant Colonel Senkov 253rd Tarashansky Rifle Regiment - Major Bocharov 178th Artillery Regiment - Major Rostovtzev 69th Anti-Tank Battalion 52nd Pioneer Battalion 34th Signal Battalion 408th Tank Battalion 100th Reconnaissance Battalion 43rd Medical Battalion 49th Division Supply Uniform and Equipment 
 Pilotka (overseas cap) M40 helmet M35 or M43 gymnastiorka (shirt) M35 or M43 galife (trousers) Boots, leather with impregnated canvas uppers Equipment belt, leather, open face buckle Canteen with cover Ammo pouches Gas mask bag Plash palatka (Rain poncho/shelter quarter) Mess kit and spoon Telogreika (padded winter jacket) Vatnie sharovari (padded winter pants) Wool overcoat Ushanka (fur cap) Weapons authorized for use: Mosin Nagant M91/30 rifle (standard issue) Mosin Nagant M38 carbine Mosin Nagant M44 carbine Ppsh-41 sub machine gun Ppsh-43 sub machine gun Pistols and Captured weapons at the discretion of Sgt. Schmachinov Event Photos  
 
 
 The members of the 253rd do not support, subscribe to, or promote the idealogical or politcal beliefs of Stalin and/or Communism. Our mission is to honor the men and women who fought and died defending their Motherland from the Nazi invaders during the Great Patriotic War, and to educate the public on the contributions of the Red Army to the eventual defeat of Fascism in Europe during this terrible period of history. |
