308th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)

The 308th Rifle Division was a rifle division of the Soviet Red Army during World War II. The division was formed three separate times during the course of the war.

First Formation
The 308th Rifle Division first started forming on 25 December 1941 at Ivanovo in the Moscow Military District. On 7 January 1942, while still forming the division was redeisignated the 117th Rifle Division. See the 117th Rifle Division's entry for more information.

Second Formation
The 308th Rifle Division (2nd formation) was formed in accordance with Order Number 0044 of the Siberian Military District dated 21 March 1942. It was formed at Omsk in the Siberian Military District, using 20% Red Army men (active duty), 25% returning wounded veterans, 25% reservists from industry, and 30% new recruits from the classes of 1922-23. Most of the recruits and reservists came from the Omsk and Krasnoyarsk oblasts. When the division left for the west it had 12,133 officers and men assigned.

For details on the divisions actions see 120th Guards Rifle Division.

Third Formation
This division was organized as a Red Army national unit from 5 June to 7 July 1944 from the 1st Latvian Riflemen Reserve Regiment at Gorkiy in the Moscow Military District. The division was the last national, "ethnic' division formed during the war. The division was formed as a Latvian Division under the 130th Latvian Rifle Corps. The 130th Rifle Corps was assigned to the 2nd Baltic Front's 22nd Army from July to October 1944.  They were then reassigned to the Leningrad Front's 67th Army.  They fought at Aiviekste River, Jēkabpils, Olaine, Džūkste and Blīdene.  By the end of the month the Corps was back with the 22nd Army and from March 1945  to the end of the war in Latvia, assigned to the Kurland Group on the Baltic Coast.

Gorokhovets district to 1st Latvian Riflemen Reserve Regiment. It contained 319th, 323rd, and 355th Riflemen and 677th Artillery Regiment, 301st Sapper Battalion, 899th Communications Battalion and Reconnaissance Company. Divisions beginning strength was about 7,300 men. The commanders were: Major General Voldemar Dambergs and Regiment Commander M. Kalniņš. On July 12, 1944, the Division headed to the front as part of the 130th Latvian Rifle Corps. First combat happened on August 5. They fought at Aiviekste River, Jēkabpils, Olaine, Džūkste and Blīdene.

Subordinate Units

 * 319th Rifle Regiment
 * 323rd Rifle Regiment
 * 355th Rifle Regiment
 * 677th Artillery Regiment
 * 377th Antitank Battalion
 * 309th Sapper Battalion
 * 326th Medical Battalion
 * 899th Signal Battalion