51st Rifle Division (Soviet Union)
The 51st Rifle Division was an infantry division of the Soviet Army, formed twice. Its first formation was formed during the Russian Civil War and fought in the Perekop-Chongar Offensive in 1920. It also fought in the Soviet invasion of Poland, Winter War and World War II. During World War II, it fought in the Battle of Rostov, Barvinkove-Losowaja Operation and Second Battle of Kharkov before being destroyed at the Battle of Voronezh. Officially disbanded on 28 November 1942, the division was reformed on 15 April 1943 from the 15th Rifle Brigade. The 2nd formation fought in Operation Bagration and the Battle of Königsberg. It was disbanded in an executive order by Premier Joseph Stalin in 1946.
| 51st Rifle Division | |
|---|---|
Army star of the USSR armed forces, here a version of the metallic five-pronged Soviet star, wore by the personnel of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (RA), and later Soviet Army (SA), since the 1920s. | |
| Active | 1919–1946 |
| Country | Soviet Union |
| Branch | Soviet Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Engagements | Russian Civil War
Soviet invasion of Poland
|
| Decorations | Order of Lenin (1st formation) Order of the Red Banner Order of Suvorov 2nd class (2nd formation) |
| Battle honours | Perekop (1st formation) Vitebsk (2nd formation) |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Vasily Blyukher Pavel Dybenko |