129th Guards Rifle Division
The 129th Guards Rifle Division was formed as an elite infantry division of the Red Army in October 1943, based on the 1st formation of the 176th Rifle Division. It was the highest-numbered Guards division designated by the Red Army, although not the last to be formed.
| 129th Guards Rifle Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1943–1946 |
| Country | Soviet Union |
| Branch | Red Army (1943-46) |
| Type | Division |
| Role | Infantry |
| Engagements | Zhitomir–Berdichev offensive Lvov–Sandomierz offensive Battle of the Dukla Pass Carpathian-Uzhgorod offensive Western Carpathian offensive Moravia–Ostrava offensive |
| Decorations | Order of the Red Banner Order of Suvorov |
| Battle honours | Zhitomir |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Maj. Gen. Sergei Mikhailovich Bushev Maj. Gen. Timofei Ustinovich Grinchenko |
Following the German 17th Army's evacuation of the Kuban bridgehead the Soviet 18th Army, where the 129th Guards was formed, was transferred to 1st Ukrainian Front which was in need of reinforcements during a partly-successful German counteroffensive west of Kiev. The division was instrumental in the re-capture of the city of Zhitomir on December 31, for which it was awarded a battle honor. In the spring it was moved to the 1st Guards Army and remained under that command for the duration of the war. During the Lvov–Sandomierz Offensive the division was transferred to the 107th Rifle Corps and would remain there for the duration; shortly after the 1st Guards Army became part of 4th Ukrainian Front. Under these commands the 129th Guards fought through the Carpathian Mountains into Slovakia and eventually southern Poland and its subunits won several battle honors and decorations in the course of this difficult campaigning, including the Order of Lenin by its artillery regiment. In spite of its fine record of service and many distinctions the division was disbanded in May 1946.