51st Guards Artillery Division

The 51st Guards Artillery Division was an artillery division of the Soviet Ground Forces.

History
On 7 August 1942 by order of the People's Commissariat of Defense the 83rd Artillery Regiment was formed in Kolomna. In April 1945 its fighting against the Nazi invaders was completed in the town of Gross-Blumenau in East Prussia.

On 12 September 1949, at the directive of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR № 1/120227 of 2 July 1949 in Grodno on the basis of the 83rd Guards regiment the 347th Corps Artillery Brigade was established.

On 25 May 1955, on the basis of directive number 1/463177 of 4 March 1955, the 347th Guards Corps Artillery Red Banner Order of Alexander Nevsky Brigade was renamed the 39th Guards Corps Orsha Red Banner Order of Alexander Nevsky Artillery Brigade.

On 1 December 1955, at the directive of the GC number N 1/1364207 ss from 1 September 1955, the unit changed its name to the 1127 Guards Corps Orsha Red Banner Order of Alexander Nevsky Artillery Regiment.

On 1 July 1956, at the directive of the GC number N 1/290044 of 19 April 1956, the regiment became the 121st Cannon Artillery Brigade. It was handed the banner of the 83rd Guards Howitzer Regiment. The brigade was stationed in Baranovichi.

1 July 1960, the 121st Gun Artillery Brigade by directive commander BVI number 03/00711 of 13 May 1960, was reformed in the 121st Artillery Brigade and relocated to Osipovichi.

By directive commander BVI number 03/00990 of 25 August 1972, the 121st Guards Artillery Brigade was reformed as the 51 Guards Artillery Division (reduced staff). In July 1984, it was handed a military banner of the 51st Artillery Guards Red Banner Order of Alexander Nevsky Division.

On 1 August 1996, the 51st Guards Artillery Division was reformed as the 51st Guards Artillery Central Group in Osipovichi.

Awards
10 August 1943, for its courage and heroism in the battle for the liberation of Vyazma, the regiment was awarded the honorary title of "Guards".

28 June 1944, for the regiment's great contribution to the liberation of Orshy, it was given the honorary title "Orsha".

25 July 1944, for its exemplary performance of command assignments during the liberation of Grodno and displaying courage and heroism of the regiment was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky.

In August 1944, for fighting initiative, heroism, courage, fortitude, in crossing the Neman River and hold a bridgehead, 83 Guards Howitzer Orsha Order of Alexander Nevsky Artillery Regiment was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

Source

 * 51-я гвардейская Центральная группа артиллерии усиления (51st Guards Artillery Central Group gain)