252nd Rifle Division
The 252nd Rifle Division was a Soviet Red Army infantry division formed from NKVD border and internal-security cadres shortly after the German invasion in 1941.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
The 252nd Rifle Division was a regular Soviet Red Army rifle formation created during the emergency mobilization that followed Nazi Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union. It began organizing on 26 June 1941 at Serpukhov in the Moscow Military District, one of a series of divisions numbered from 240 to 260 that used experienced personnel transferred from the NKVD border and internal troops. The division was therefore not a commercial brand or company, but a military formation identified by its numerical designation and subordinate regiments. Its initial organization followed the prewar Soviet rifle-division establishment known as Shtat 04/400. The formation included the 924th, 928th, and 932nd Rifle Regiments, the 277th Artillery Regiment, the 270th Howitzer Regiment, the 309th Antitank Battalion, the 420th Sapper Battalion, the 332nd Reconnaissance Company, the 176th Signal Company, the 270th Medical/Sanitation Battalion, and the 303rd Field Bakery. Colonel Aleksandr Alekseevich Zabaluev, an NKVD officer, was appointed commander on 5 July 1941 and promoted to major general ten days later. After moving to Ostashkov, the division was assigned to the 29th Army in the Reserve of the Supreme High Command and soon entered the fighting on the Eastern Front. The division’s first combat came during the Battle of Smolensk in late July 1941. It operated in the Toropets and Western Dvina areas, attacking toward German positions and attempting to establish bridgeheads. German pressure repeatedly forced withdrawals, and the division performed both offensive and rearguard duties during the Soviet retreat. In the autumn it covered elements of the 29th Army during Operation Typhoon and was transferred to the Kalinin Front and then the 31st Army. It took part in the defense of Kalinin and in the Soviet winter counteroffensive, helping recapture Kalinin on 16 December 1941 and Staritsa on 1 January 1942. In January 1942 the 252nd fought with the 39th Army in the Rzhev–Vyazma offensives. It captured positions including Monchalovo and Popovka, but later became trapped in the German counteroffensive around Rzhev and Olenino. The division continued fighting in semi-encirclement for several months, supplied through a narrow corridor, before German forces completed the encirclement during Operation Seydlitz in July 1942. The division broke out on 22 July and regrouped near Selizharovo. After rebuilding in the Reserve of the Supreme High Command, the division was committed to the Battle of Stalingrad. It joined the Don Front and initially served with the 66th Army in attacks intended to reach the besieged Soviet forces in Stalingrad. In October 1942 it captured several tactical positions north of the city, including the Hill 130.7 area, a nearby road junction, a motor-tractor station, and Hill 139.7. By the end of those attacks it had suffered serious depletion and was placed in front reserve. The division was transferred to the 65th Army for Operation Uranus, the Soviet counteroffensive that encircled Axis forces at Stalingrad. It fought from the Kletskaya bridgehead against German and Romanian defenses, initially facing heavily fortified positions and counterattacks. On 20 November 1942 it helped widen a breakthrough between neighboring Soviet formations, allowing an armored mobile group to penetrate the Axis rear. The division continued advancing against German and Romanian resistance as the encirclement developed and participated in the reduction of the Axis salient west of the Don. In 1943 the 252nd participated in the Soviet advance through Ukraine and distinguished itself during the final liberation of Kharkov, receiving its first battle honor and the Order of the Red Banner. It subsequently fought across eastern and western Ukraine and into Moldova. During the Second Jassy–Kishinev Offensive in August 1944, it contributed to the Soviet victory that removed Romania from the Axis camp and brought it into the Allied coalition. The division then continued into Hungary and took part in the Siege of Budapest. In the final phase of the war it assisted in the liberation of Bratislava, for which it received a second battle honor. After the war the division was withdrawn to the North Caucasus. It was reduced to brigade size and ultimately disbanded in March 1947. Its historical significance lies in its continuous service from the opening months of the German-Soviet War through the liberation campaigns of 1943–45, rather than in any commercial activity.
History
The 252nd Rifle Division was organized at Serpukhov beginning on 26 June 1941, only days after Germany launched Operation Barbarossa. It belonged to a group of Soviet rifle divisions numbered between 240 and 260 and formed using cadres drawn from the NKVD’s border and internal troops. These personnel provided an experienced and disciplined core while the division expanded into a standard Red Army formation. Its organization included three rifle regiments, artillery and howitzer regiments, antitank, engineer, reconnaissance, communications, medical, and supply units. The division entered the front in July 1941 as part of the 29th Army and fought in the Smolensk region. It operated near Toropets and the Western Dvina, attempting attacks toward German-held positions and preparing river crossings. Repeated German attacks forced it to withdraw, but the division also conducted counterattacks and rear-guard actions. During the German advance toward Moscow in the autumn, it covered the retreat of the 29th Army and was moved to the Kalinin Front. In October it helped stop the German XXXXI Motorized Corps on the Torzhok road northwest of Kalinin. During the Soviet winter counteroffensive it participated in the recapture of Kalinin and Staritsa. From January 1942 the division fought in the Rzhev–Vyazma operations with the 39th Army. It advanced toward the Rzhev–Vyazma railway and captured several fortified localities, but German counterattacks isolated the formation with much of its army. The division remained in semi-encirclement for months, relying on a narrow supply corridor. German Operation Seydlitz in July completed the encirclement of the 39th Army area. The 252nd broke out on 22 July and regrouped near Selizharovo. The formation was rebuilt during the summer and early autumn of 1942. It returned to the front for the Battle of Stalingrad, joining the Don Front and the 66th Army. In October it attacked German defenses north of Stalingrad and captured a series of tactical objectives, but was heavily depleted and subsequently placed in reserve. It was then transferred to the 65th Army for Operation Uranus. Fighting from the Kletskaya bridgehead, it initially faced strong German positions and counterattacks. On 20 November it helped exploit a breach created between neighboring Soviet divisions, contributing to the advance that isolated Axis forces around Stalingrad. It continued operations west and east of the Don as the encirclement was consolidated. During 1943 the 252nd advanced through Ukraine and earned recognition in the final liberation of Kharkov, receiving a battle honor and the Order of the Red Banner. It continued through Ukrainian territory and into Moldova. In August 1944 it fought in the Second Jassy–Kishinev Offensive, a campaign that destroyed the Axis position in Romania and caused Romania to join the Allies. The division then advanced into Hungary and participated in the Siege of Budapest. Near the end of the war it took part in operations leading to the liberation of Bratislava and received a further battle honor. Following the war, the division was moved to the North Caucasus. Its strength and status were reduced to those of a rifle brigade, and the remaining formation was disbanded in March 1947.
- 1947
Disbandment
[1]After postwar reduction to rifle-brigade status in the North Caucasus, the formation was disbanded in March.
- 1945
Liberation of Bratislava
[1]In the final weeks of the war the division assisted in the liberation of Bratislava and received a second battle honor.
- 1944
Second Jassy–Kishinev Offensive
[1]It participated in the offensive that defeated the Axis position in Romania and contributed to the subsequent advance into Hungary.
- 1943
Recognition at Kharkov
[1]The division distinguished itself in the final liberation of Kharkov and received a battle honor and the Order of the Red Banner.
- 1942
Rzhev–Vyazma operations
[1]The division fought with the 39th Army, endured semi-encirclement, and broke out after the German Operation Seydlitz encirclement.
- 1942
Battle of Stalingrad
[1]After rebuilding, the division joined the Don Front and fought north of Stalingrad before taking part in Operation Uranus.
- 1941
Formation at Serpukhov
[1]The division began organizing on 26 June in the Moscow Military District from NKVD border and internal-troop cadres.
- 1941
First combat near Smolensk
[1]The division entered combat in late July during the Battle of Smolensk and operated around Toropets and the Western Dvina.
- 1941
Defense and recapture of Kalinin
[1]It fought in the Kalinin defensive battles and helped recapture Kalinin on 16 December during the Soviet winter counteroffensive.
Products and positioning
A wartime Soviet infantry formation designed for sustained front-line operations, initially built around experienced NKVD border and internal-security personnel and later employed in major Red Army campaigns from Smolensk to Central Europe.
Sources1 sources
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