330th Rifle Division
The 330th Rifle Division was a Soviet Red Army infantry formation that fought from the defense of Tula in 1941 through the advance into Germany in 1945.
Last updated August 26, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
The 330th Rifle Division was a wartime infantry formation of the Red Army, created at Tula in August 1941 during the Soviet Union’s rapid expansion of its armed forces after the German invasion. It was organized under the wartime establishment for a rifle division and initially comprised the 1109th, 1111th, and 1113th Rifle Regiments together with the 890th Artillery Regiment. Like many formations raised during this period, it entered service with limited training and incomplete equipment. The division was assigned to the 10th Reserve Army in the autumn of 1941 and was committed during the Soviet counteroffensive associated with the Battle of Moscow. In December it fought south of Tula, helping to liberate Mikhaylov and then advancing toward Uzlovaya, Bogoroditsk, and neighboring positions. Its movement during the first week of operations was notably rapid for a newly formed unit. After the immediate crisis around Moscow, the division remained with the 10th Army through 1942 and 1943, serving for an extended period on a comparatively quieter sector where it could rebuild and improve its readiness. The 330th returned to major offensive operations in 1943 during Operation Suvorov, the Soviet drive toward Smolensk. It participated in the breakthrough of German positions near Kirov and contributed to the subsequent collapse and withdrawal of German formations in the area. During the winter of 1943–44 it fought in repeated, generally difficult attempts to advance around Chausy. These operations produced limited gains, but they formed part of the wider pressure that preceded the Soviet summer offensive of 1944. In June 1944 the division was transferred into the 62nd Rifle Corps of the 49th Army, 2nd Belorussian Front, for Operation Bagration. It helped liberate Chausy on June 25 and took part in the fighting that led to the capture of Mogilyov on June 28. In recognition of its role in the liberation of Mogilyov and other Belarusian cities, it received the honorific “Mogilyov” and was awarded the Order of the Red Banner in July. The formation subsequently moved through a succession of corps and army commands as Soviet forces advanced westward. During 1945 the division participated in the Vistula–Oder advance through Poland and the subsequent operations in Pomerania and northeastern Germany. It ended the war near Gransee, north of Berlin. Its wartime title became the 330th Rifle, Mogilyov, Order of the Red Banner Division. It later received the Order of Suvorov for operations around Stettin, Penkun, Gartz, Krzekow, and Schwedt, and was also awarded the Order of Kutuzov. Under a May 1945 Stavka directive, it was designated for disbandment in place and was dissolved in Germany during the summer of 1945. It was a military formation rather than a commercial brand; the requested brand taxonomy is therefore only a structural accommodation.
History
The division began forming in August 1941 at Tula under the Moscow Military District. Its initial organization followed the first wartime structure for Soviet rifle divisions, with three rifle regiments and an artillery regiment. Voevodin was briefly appointed commander on September 5 before Sokolov assumed the post. By October the partially trained division had been assigned to the 10th Reserve Army, which was deployed to protect approaches to Kolomna and Ryazan as the German 2nd Panzer Army threatened the wider Moscow region. The 330th entered combat in December 1941 during the Soviet counteroffensive south of Tula. It helped capture Mikhaylov and advanced through a series of positions toward the Uzlovaya–Bogoroditsk area. Between December 7 and 13 it covered an average of approximately nine kilometers per day, a particularly strong rate among the 10th Army’s divisions. The unit then remained with the army through 1942 and most of 1943. This period was comparatively quiet in operational terms, allowing the formation to address the training, equipment, and organizational weaknesses common to newly raised wartime divisions. In August 1943 the division entered the Soviet offensive toward Smolensk. During the attack launched by the 10th Army from the Kirov salient, it operated alongside the 247th and 290th Rifle Divisions against the flank of the German 321st Infantry Division. The breakthrough forced German formations to withdraw toward secondary positions, although Soviet forces lacked a mobile exploitation group capable of immediately turning the penetration into a deeper advance. The division later fought in the area southeast of Chausy and was temporarily withdrawn for rebuilding in November. It returned to the front in December 1943 and took part in difficult attempts to break through German defenses around Chausy in January and March 1944. The advances were limited. In the spring, the 10th Army was dissolved during the reorganization of the Belorussian fronts, and the 330th was transferred to the 49th Army. Before Operation Bagration began on June 23, it moved into the 62nd Rifle Corps. It helped capture Chausy on June 25 and participated in the liberation of Mogilyov three days later. The Soviet command recognized the division by granting it the Mogilyov honorific and, on July 10, the Order of the Red Banner. The division then served under several formations as the Soviet advance continued westward, including the 50th Army and different rifle corps, as well as reserve and supporting assignments within the 2nd Belorussian Front. In 1945 it fought through Poland and Pomerania and advanced into northeastern Germany. The war ended for the division at Gransee, north of Berlin. In the postwar honors process it received the Order of Suvorov for operations around Stettin and nearby towns and also the Order of Kutuzov. A May 29, 1945 Stavka directive designated it for disbandment in place. It was dissolved in Germany during the summer of 1945.
- 1945
Final operations in Poland and Germany
[1]The division advanced through Poland and Pomerania and ended the war near Gransee north of Berlin.
- 1945
Disbandment
[1]A Stavka directive designated the division for disbandment in place, and it was dissolved in Germany during the summer.
- 1944
Liberation of Chausy and Mogilyov
[1]The division helped capture Chausy on June 25 and Mogilyov on June 28 during Operation Bagration.
- 1944
Mogilyov honorific and Order of the Red Banner
[1]The formation received the Mogilyov title and was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for its role in the Belarusian offensive.
- 1943
Operation Suvorov
[1]It participated in the offensive toward Smolensk and helped rupture German positions near Kirov.
- 1941
Formation at Tula
[1]The division began forming in August at Tula in response to the Red Army’s wartime expansion.
- 1941
Commitment during the Battle of Moscow
[1]The division entered combat south of Tula in December and helped liberate Mikhaylov during the Soviet counteroffensive.
Products and positioning
A Soviet wartime infantry division organized for large-scale ground combat on the Eastern Front.
Marketing campaigns
- 1945Vistula–Oder and Pomeranian operations
Poland · Germany
The formation advanced through Poland and Pomerania and later fought in northeastern Germany during the final phase of the war.
Outcome. It ended the war near Gransee, north of Berlin, and received additional honors for operations around Stettin and neighboring areas.
- 1944Operation Bagration
Belarusian SSR · Eastern Poland · Eastern Front
The division served in the 49th Army and helped seize Chausy and Mogilyov during the destruction of German Army Group Center.
Outcome. Its participation was recognized with the Mogilyov honorific and the Order of the Red Banner.
- 1943Operation Suvorov
Soviet Union · Belarusian SSR
As part of the 10th Army, the division attacked German positions near Kirov and advanced during the Soviet drive toward Smolensk.
Outcome. The breakthrough contributed to the German withdrawal toward secondary defensive positions.
- 1941Battle of Moscow
Soviet Union
The division fought south of Tula during the Soviet counteroffensive, helping take Mikhaylov and pushing German covering forces southward.
Outcome. The unit contributed to the recovery of ground south of Moscow and continued with the 10th Army.
Brand decisions
1945
Disbandment in GermanyOtherBackground
After Germany’s defeat, Soviet authorities reorganized wartime formations and issued instructions identifying units to be dissolved.
Action taken
The division was listed for disbandment in place under a May 29 Stavka directive.
Aftermath
It was disbanded in Germany during the summer of 1945.
1944
Transfer for Operation BagrationStrategyBackground
The division was moved among Soviet corps and armies as preparations intensified for the summer offensive in Belarus.
Action taken
Before the offensive it was transferred to the 62nd Rifle Corps of the 49th Army in the 2nd Belorussian Front.
Aftermath
It participated in the capture of Chausy and Mogilyov and received prominent battle honors.
1941
Deployment to the 10th Reserve ArmyStrategyBackground
The newly created division was still incompletely trained when the worsening Moscow situation required additional Soviet formations.
Action taken
The division was assigned to the 10th Reserve Army and committed to defensive and counteroffensive operations south of Tula.
Aftermath
It entered combat during the Battle of Moscow and remained with the army for more than two years.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/330th-rifle-division · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled