1st Rifle Division (Soviet Union)

The Soviet 1st Rifle Division was an infantry division of the Soviet Union's Red Army, it is unclear when the division was first established. Some sources indicate 1918, some 1924 and some 1927. The division was formed from units already stationed in Moscow as the 1st Moscow Rifle Division. The division was finally disbanded in the mid-1950s. Over the course of thirty years it was reformed four or possibly five times.

First Formation
The division was initially placed on "cadre" status, but in 1932 it was upgraded to a "shock" division and tank and motorizied elements were added. In August 1939, as the Soviet Union began to mobilize and expand the army, the division was broken up to provide cadres for two new divisions. The 2nd Rifle Regiment was used to form the 115th Rifle Division and the 3rd Rifle Regiment was used to form the 126th Rifle Division. The 1st Rifle Regiment was then used to form new 1st Rifle Division.

Subordinate Units

 * 1st Rifle Regiment
 * 2nd Rifle Regiment
 * 3rd Rifle Regiment
 * 1st Artilley Regiment (probable, but not confirmed)

Second Formation
The division was formed from he remaining cadre of the division. The division was assigned as the garrison for the city of Moscow. In December 1939 the division was ordered to convert to a motorizied division and in January 1940 was redesignated the 1st Motorizied Division.

Subordinate Units

 * 6th Rifle Regiment
 * 176th Rifle Regiment
 * 375th Rifle Regiment
 * 13th Artillery Regiment

Third Formation
It was reformed for the third time on 13 March 1942 at Kuibyshev (though a second source, probably Poirer and Connor, says June 1942 was also a possibility). After completion of training the Division was transferred to the 5th Reserve Army. Assigned to 63rd Army from August to November 1942, and fought at Stalingrad. It became the 58th Guards Rifle Division on 31 December 1942.

Subordinate Units
Units were awarded their 'Guards' designation on 27 February 1943
 * 408th Rifle Regiment (I)                          becomes 173rd Guards Rifle Regiment
 * 412th Rifle Regiment (I)                          becomes 175th Guards Rifle Regiment
 * 415th Rifle Regiment (I)                          becomes 178th Guards Rifle Regiment
 * 1026th Artillery Regiment                         becomes 130th Guards Artillery Regiment
 * 339th Separate Antitank Artillery Battalion       becomes 66th Guards Sep. Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion
 * 1st Reconnaissance Company                        becomes 61st Guards Reconnaissance Company
 * 55th Sapper Battalion                             becomes 69th Guards Sapper Battalion
 * 332nd Separate Signals Battalion                  becomes 87th Guards Separate Signal Battalion
 * 81st Medical Battalion                            becomes 348th Medical Battalion
 * 24th Decontamination Company                      becomes 62nd Guards Decontamination Company
 * 525th Auto-Transport Company                      becomes 349th Auto-Transport Company
 * 369th Field Bakery                                becomes 238th Field Bakery
 * 745th Veterinary Field Hospital                   becomes 348th Veterinary Field Hospital
 * 1825th Field Postal Station                       no change
 * 1148th Field Cash Office of the State Bank        no change

Fourth Formation
The Division was reformed for the fourth time in December 1943, or January 1944, at Nevel in the rear areas of 6th Guards Army. The 31st and 100th Rifle Brigades provided the basis for the new formation. It was transferred to 70th Army, 2nd Belorussian Front, and with that Army took Brest, Belarus, winning the title 'Brest'. It later advanced into Poland, fighting at Gdynia. It became part of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany briefly, but with the rest of 70th Army and 114th Rifle Corps moved to the South Urals region and was disbanded on 24 July 1945.

Subordinate Units

 * 408th Rifle Regiment (II)
 * 412th Rifle Regiment (II)
 * 415th Rifle Regiment (II)
 * 226th Artillery Regiment
 * 339th Separate Antitank Artillery Battalion
 * 1st Reconnaissance Company
 * 55th Sapper Battalion
 * 30th Separate Signals Battalion (formally the 306th Sep. Signals Company)
 * 81st Medical Battalion (formally the 79th Medical Battalion)
 * 24th Decontamination Company
 * 525th Auto-Transport Company
 * 369th Field Bakery
 * 745th Veterinary Field Hospital
 * 1644th Field Postal Station
 * 1634th Field Cash Office of the State Bank

The Division may have been reformed 1953-55 in the South Urals Military District.

The 1st Rifle Division should not be confused with the 1st Guards Rifle Division (the former 100th Rifle Division) that ended the war in East Prussia and served during the Cold War with 11th Guards Army. 1st Guards Motor Rifle Division, as it became after conversion in 1957, finally disbanded in 2002.