331st Rifle Division
The 331st Rifle Division was formed as an infantry division of the Red Army in the summer of 1941, based on a cadre of volunteer workers and reservists from the Bryansk Oblast, and so was known from the beginning as the 331st Bryansk Proletarian Rifle Division. It fought to defend Moscow during the last stages of the German invasion, and then went over to the offensive in early December. It spent much of the next twelve months in the same general area, west of the capital, taking part in the mostly futile battles against the German-held salient at Rzhev. On September 25, 1943, the division shared credit with several other units for the liberation of the city of Smolensk and was given its name as an honorific. The 331st had a highly distinguished career as a combat unit, ending its combat path in Czechoslovakia, advancing on Prague.
| 331st Rifle Division (August 27, 1941 – July 15, 1945) | |
|---|---|
Division commander Maj. Gen. P. F. Berestov, postwar | |
| Active | 1941–1945 |
| Country | Soviet Union |
| Branch | Red Army |
| Type | Division |
| Role | Infantry |
| Engagements | Battle of Moscow Battles of Rzhev Battle of Smolensk (1943) Orsha Offensives Operation Bagration Vistula-Oder Offensive Battle of Königsberg Prague Offensive |
| Decorations | Order of the Red Banner (2) Order of Suvorov 2nd class |
| Battle honours | Proletarian Bryansk Smolensk |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Maj. Gen. Fyodor Petrovich Korol Maj. Gen. Pyotr Filippovich Berestov |