257th Rifle Division (July 1941 formation)
The 257th Rifle Division (July 1941 formation) was a Red Army infantry division formed in Tula during the opening weeks of the German invasion of the Soviet Union and destroyed during the 1941 fighting around Staraya Russa and Lake Seliger.
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Overview
The 257th Rifle Division (July 1941 formation) was a wartime infantry formation of the Soviet Red Army and the first of three unrelated World War II units to use the 257th Rifle Division designation. It was created shortly after Germany launched Operation Barbarossa. A 29 June 1941 State Defense Committee directive ordered the creation of fifteen rifle divisions from NKVD troops, and the new division was organized in Tula between 11 and 19 July. Its initial cadre consisted of approximately 500 officers and 1,000 other ranks drawn from the NKVD Border Troops. The formation was then expanded with residents of Tula, Kuybyshev, and Saratov Oblasts. Colonel Viktor Urbanovich, a staff officer from the border troops, commanded the division during its formation and early combat service. After organization, the division was assigned to the newly created 34th Army. It departed by rail on 18 July for the Mozhaisk Defense Line west of Maloyaroslavets, but the army was soon redirected toward the Valday–Staraya Russa area in preparation for a counteroffensive. By 1 August, the division had nearly reached its intended personnel strength, reporting 11,076 men and 3,319 horses. Its equipment, however, was uneven. It possessed adequate small arms but had very few trucks, insufficient saddles, almost no anti-aircraft capability, and fewer divisional artillery pieces than authorized. Its twelve 45 mm guns lacked sights. It was nevertheless unusual within the 34th Army in retaining its authorized tank battalion, equipped with ten light T-37, T-38, and T-40 tanks. The division concentrated northeast of Demyansk and initially served in the 34th Army reserve before being placed in the army's first echelon for the August counteroffensive toward Staraya Russa. The attack began on 12 August 1941. In its sector, the division encountered limited initial resistance and reached its first-day objectives. It advanced again on 13 August, but the broader army operation failed to strike the main German grouping and left the Soviet formations vulnerable to counterattack. German air attacks intensified, while the 34th Army lacked effective air cover and anti-aircraft weapons. The division continued attacking toward the Staraya Russa area under orders issued on 14 August. It reached positions around Bela, Ilovets, and Malovasilyevsky Bor while moving toward Tuleblya. It subsequently fought a series of severe defensive engagements around Drotino, Vzglyady, Rykanovo, and the Pola River. German forces broke through the front and reached the division's rear, forcing elements of the unit to fight their way out of encirclement near Lake Seliger on 11 September. The formation suffered catastrophic losses. On 20 September it had only 2,008 men and 1,755 rifles, with no other equipment recorded in the cited account. Its depletion was considered too severe for reconstruction, and the division was formally disbanded on 16 October 1941. The designation was later assigned to other, unrelated Soviet formations.
History
The 257th Rifle Division was established during the emergency Soviet mobilization that followed the German invasion of June 1941. A 29 June directive of the State Defense Committee called for fifteen new rifle divisions to be formed from NKVD troops. The 257th was organized in Tula, using a professional cadre from the NKVD Border Troops and recruits from several Soviet regions. Its formation took place between 11 and 19 July under Colonel Viktor Urbanovich. The division was one of three separate wartime formations that later carried the 257th Rifle Division designation; this article concerns the July 1941 formation only. The new division joined the 34th Army and left by rail on 18 July. Its initial destination was the Mozhaisk Defense Line west of Maloyaroslavets, but the wider army was redirected toward the Valday–Staraya Russa area for an offensive intended to recover ground and threaten German forces. By 1 August the division had 11,076 men and 3,319 horses, indicating that it was close to its nominal personnel strength. Its logistical and artillery condition was considerably weaker. It had only slightly more than one-third of its authorized trucks, too few saddles, no effective anti-aircraft armament, and only twelve 45 mm guns, themselves lacking sights. It did retain ten light tanks in its tank battalion, including T-37, T-38, and T-40 vehicles. The 34th Army completed its concentration in early August. The 257th initially remained in reserve but was then moved into the first echelon on the army's right flank. Its regiments and headquarters occupied wooded positions northeast of Demyansk, with objectives extending through Dretino, Mesyatsevo, and the Kamenka River. The Soviet assault began on 12 August. In the division's sector, German resistance was initially limited to small groups, allowing the division to meet its first-day objectives and continue advancing on 13 August. The early progress did not produce a decisive result. The 34th Army's attack bypassed the principal German forces, which then counterattacked the exposed Soviet formations. German aircraft operated against the army from 13 August, while the Soviet divisions lacked adequate fighter protection and anti-aircraft weapons. On 14 August, the army received orders to continue toward Gruzovo and to encircle German forces around Staraya Russa. The 257th was directed toward Markovo, Morilnitsa, and ultimately Tuleblya. It reached the Bela–Ilovets–Malovasilyevsky Bor line while continuing its advance. The division later became involved in heavy defensive fighting around Drotino, Vzglyady, Rykanovo, and the Pola River. German forces broke through the Soviet front and reached the division's rear, producing an encirclement crisis. On 11 September, surviving elements fought their way out near Lake Seliger. The losses were so extensive that by 20 September only 2,008 men and 1,755 rifles were reported, with no other equipment. The division could not be restored to operational strength and was disbanded on 16 October 1941. Its designation was subsequently reused for unrelated Soviet rifle divisions.
- 1941
State Defense Committee orders new NKVD-based rifle divisions
[1]A 29 June directive authorized the formation of fifteen rifle divisions from NKVD troops as part of the Soviet wartime mobilization.
- 1941
Division formed in Tula
[1]The 257th Rifle Division was organized in Tula between 11 and 19 July from NKVD Border Troops cadres and regional recruits.
- 1941
Transfer to the 34th Army
[1]The division was assigned to the 34th Army and departed by rail on 18 July for operations connected with the Mozhaisk Defense Line and the subsequent movement toward Staraya Russa.
- 1941
Strength and equipment report
[1]On 1 August the division reported 11,076 men and 3,319 horses, but major shortages affected trucks, saddles, anti-aircraft weapons, artillery, and artillery sights.
- 1941
Staraya Russa counteroffensive begins
[1]The division attacked with the 34th Army on 12 August and made initial gains before German counterattacks halted the broader advance.
- 1941
Breakout near Lake Seliger
[1]Elements of the division escaped encirclement near Lake Seliger on 11 September after intense defensive combat.
- 1941
Division disbanded
[1]After being reduced to a small remnant, the formation was formally disbanded on 16 October.
Products and positioning
A wartime Red Army infantry formation created from NKVD Border Troops cadres and rapidly mobilized Soviet personnel for front-line operations in the 1941 defensive and counteroffensive campaigns.
Marketing campaigns
- 1941Staraya Russa counteroffensive
Northwestern Soviet Union
As part of the 34th Army, the division attacked northeast of Demyansk from 12 August. It initially advanced through lightly defended positions, but the army's failure to engage the principal German grouping left it exposed to counterattack and air attack.
Outcome. The operation failed to achieve its wider objective. The division suffered severe casualties and later fought defensive actions while German forces penetrated its rear.
- 1941Defensive fighting around the Pola River and Lake Seliger
Northwestern Soviet Union
The division fought around Drotino, Vzglyady, Rykanovo, and the Pola River after the German counteroffensive disrupted the 34th Army's positions.
Outcome. Surviving elements broke out near Lake Seliger on 11 September, but the division was too depleted to reconstruct and was disbanded the following month.
Brand decisions
1941
Assignment to the Staraya Russa offensiveStrategyBackground
The 34th Army was redirected toward the Valday–Staraya Russa railway area as Soviet command prepared a counterattack against German forces.
Action taken
The division was moved from its initial connection with the Mozhaisk Defense Line and placed on the 34th Army's right flank for the offensive's first echelon.
Aftermath
The attack gained ground initially but failed to destroy the main German grouping, leaving the division vulnerable to counterattack and eventual encirclement.
1941
Disbandment after combat depletionOtherBackground
By 20 September, the division had been reduced to 2,008 men and 1,755 rifles and was reported without other equipment.
Action taken
Soviet authorities disbanded the formation on 16 October rather than rebuild it as an effective division.
Aftermath
The 257th designation was later used by other unrelated Soviet rifle divisions.
Recent events
- 1941
Formation of the 257th Rifle Division in Tula[1]
Other
The division was organized in Tula between 11 and 19 July 1941 under a State Defense Committee program to create rifle divisions from NKVD troops and rapidly mobilized regional personnel.
- 1941
Assignment to the 34th Army and movement toward Staraya Russa[1]
Other
After a brief assignment connected with the Mozhaisk Defense Line, the division moved with the 34th Army toward the Valday–Staraya Russa sector for a Soviet counteroffensive.
- 1941
Participation in the August 1941 Staraya Russa counteroffensive[1]
Other
The division entered the 34th Army attack on 12 August, initially advancing against weak resistance before becoming exposed to German counterattack and air attack.
- 1941
Breakout from encirclement near Lake Seliger[1]
Other
Elements of the division fought their way out of encirclement near Lake Seliger on 11 September after German forces penetrated the Soviet front and reached the division's rear.
- 1941
Disbandment after catastrophic wartime losses[1]
Other
With only 2,008 men and 1,755 rifles recorded on 20 September and no other equipment listed, the division was judged too depleted to rebuild and was disbanded on 16 October.
Sources1 sources
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