36th Rifle Division

The 36th Rifle Division was a Soviet military formation established during the Russian Civil War and maintained for most of its existence in the Soviet Far East. It originated on 19 July 1919 from the 9th Army's expeditionary division and initially served with the Red Army's 9th Army during the Civil War. In the early 1920s it also participated in Soviet operations connected with Mongolia, including the campaign against Roman von Ungern-Sternberg's forces. On 4 June 1923 it received the honorary designation “Transbaikal,” reflecting its long association with the region. The division became involved in the 1929 Sino-Soviet conflict over the Chinese Eastern Railway. As part of the newly established Special Far Eastern Army, elements were deployed along the frontier during a period of escalating tension. In August, the division supported Soviet border forces during fighting near Abagaytuevsky and participated in attacks against Chinese positions. In November it took part in the Manchurian operation directed against the forces of the Mukden government. Its assigned objectives included the encirclement of Chinese troops at Dalainor and the capture of key positions around Manchouli and Hailar. Although coordination with artillery and attached tanks was imperfect, the division's 106th Rifle Regiment helped advance on Manchouli, where Soviet forces completed the encirclement of the garrison. Hailar was captured on 27 November, bringing the principal fighting to an end. During the interwar period the formation was progressively mechanized. Stationed at Chita in the early 1930s, it was redesignated the 36th Motorized Division on 20 August 1937 and later moved toward the Ude area. Its rifle regiments were renumbered as motor rifle regiments, becoming the 24th, 76th, and 149th. The division fought in the 1939 Battles of Khalkhin Gol against Japanese forces in Mongolia. Units arrived at different stages and were initially committed piecemeal, but the 24th and 149th Motor Rifle Regiments later participated in the Soviet-Mongolian counteroffensive as part of the Central Group. The division received the Order of Lenin for its performance, while subordinate regiments and artillery units received additional decorations. Several officers and commanders, including Ivan Remizov, Andrey Yermakov, and Alexander Rybkin, were recognized for battlefield actions; Remizov and Yermakov were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union posthumously. On 15 January 1940 the formation was designated a motor rifle division. At the beginning of the German-Soviet War it remained in the Transbaikal Front as part of the 17th Army, alongside the 57th Motor Rifle Division. It did not serve on the main European front. In August 1945 it participated in the Soviet invasion of Manchuria, initially attached to the 7th Mechanized Corps within the 6th Guards Tank Army. A fuel shortage led to its transfer to the army's second echelon on 12 August. After the Second World War the division underwent further organizational changes. In October 1945 it remained associated with the 6th Guards Tank Army, later transferring to the 86th Rifle Corps of the 36th Army. It reverted to rifle-division status in June 1946. The 86th Rifle Corps became the 26th Rifle Corps in July 1955, and the division was finally disbanded on 25 July 1956. Its history reflects the Soviet Union's effort to maintain a permanent military presence in the Transbaikal and Far Eastern regions, combining border defense, mechanization, and operations against Chinese and Japanese forces.

The 36th Rifle Division was created on 19 July 1919 from the 9th Army's expeditionary division during the Russian Civil War. It served with the 9th Army through 1920 and later participated in Soviet operations in Mongolia. The unit received the honorary designation “Transbaikal” in June 1923. In 1929 the division became part of the Special Far Eastern Army during the Sino-Soviet conflict. Its troops were deployed along the frontier and fought in engagements near Abagaytuevsky, Dalainor, Manchouli, and Hailar. The division helped encircle the Manchouli garrison and captured Hailar on 27 November, contributing to the Soviet victory in the operation against the Mukden forces. The division was stationed at Chita during the early 1930s. On 20 August 1937 it was transformed into the 36th Motorized Division, and its units were reorganized and renumbered. It became associated with the 57th Special Corps and later the 17th Army. In 1939 it fought at Khalkhin Gol, where its 24th and 149th Motor Rifle Regiments served in the Central Group during the Soviet-Mongolian counteroffensive. The division and several subordinate units received high Soviet decorations for their performance. A number of its personnel were killed in action and later honored, including regiment commander Ivan Remizov and battalion commander Andrey Yermakov. On 15 January 1940 the division formally became a motor rifle division. At the start of the German-Soviet War it was stationed in the Transbaikal region with the 17th Army and did not deploy to the European theater. In August 1945 it participated in the Soviet invasion of Manchuria as part of the 6th Guards Tank Army. It was attached to the 7th Mechanized Corps, but fuel shortages caused its reassignment to the second echelon on 12 August. In the postwar period the unit remained in the Soviet Far East. It belonged first to the 6th Guards Tank Army and subsequently to the 86th Rifle Corps of the 36th Army. It reverted to a rifle division in June 1946. Following the conversion of the 86th Rifle Corps into the 26th Rifle Corps in July 1955, the division was disbanded on 25 July 1956.

• 1956

  Disbandment

  [1]36th Rifle Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  The division was disbanded on 25 July while serving within the 26th Rifle Corps.

• 1946

  Return to rifle-division status

  [1]36th Rifle Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  After the war, the formation was converted back into a rifle division.

• 1945

  Soviet invasion of Manchuria

  [1]36th Rifle Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  The division participated in the August 1945 Soviet offensive against Japanese forces in Manchuria.

• 1940

  Motor rifle redesignation

  [1]36th Rifle Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  On 15 January the division became formally known as a motor rifle division.

• 1939

  Khalkhin Gol campaign

  [1]36th Rifle Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  The division's motor rifle regiments fought Japanese forces during the Battles of Khalkhin Gol.

• 1937

  Conversion to a motorized division

  [1]36th Rifle Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  On 20 August the unit was redesignated the 36th Motorized Division.

• 1929

  Sino-Soviet conflict

  [1]36th Rifle Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  The division fought in the Manchurian operation, helping encircle Manchouli and capture Hailar.

• 1923

  Receives the Transbaikal designation

  [1]36th Rifle Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  On 4 June the division received the honorary designation “Transbaikal,” marking its regional identity.

• 1919

  Formation during the Russian Civil War

  [1]36th Rifle Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  The formation was established on 19 July 1919 from the 9th Army's expeditionary division and served with the Red Army's 9th Army.

A Soviet Far Eastern combat formation focused on frontier security, mechanized warfare, and operations in Mongolia and Manchuria.

• 1945Soviet invasion of Manchuria

  Manchuria

  The division served with the 6th Guards Tank Army during the Soviet offensive against Japanese forces in Manchuria.

  Outcome. Fuel shortages moved the division to the army's second echelon during the operation.

  Source
• 1939Battles of Khalkhin Gol

  Mongolia

  The division reinforced Soviet and Mongolian forces against Japanese troops. Its 24th and 149th Motor Rifle Regiments later formed part of the Central Group during the counteroffensive.

  Outcome. The Soviet-Mongolian victory led to decorations for the division and several subordinate units.

  Source
• 1929Sino-Soviet conflict

  Soviet Far East · Manchuria

  The division fought along the Chinese Eastern Railway frontier and in the Manchurian operation against Mukden forces.

  Outcome. Soviet forces secured the railway area, captured Hailar, and ended the principal military operations.

  Source
• 1921Mongolian campaign

  Mongolia

  The division participated in a Soviet campaign against forces associated with Roman von Ungern-Sternberg.

  Outcome. The campaign strengthened Soviet influence and security in Mongolia.

  Source
• 1919Russian Civil War

  Soviet Russia

  The newly formed division served with the Red Army's 9th Army during the Civil War.

  Outcome. The division remained an active Red Army formation after the conflict.

  Source

• 1946

  Postwar reorganizationStrategy

  Background

  The Soviet Army reorganized Far Eastern forces after the defeat of Japan and the end of the Second World War.

  Action taken

  The division was converted back into a rifle division and transferred into postwar corps structures.

  Aftermath

  It continued regional service until its final disbandment in 1956.

  Source

• 1940

  Formal conversion to a motor rifle divisionGeneration change

  Background

  Following the 1939 fighting at Khalkhin Gol, the division's organization reflected the Red Army's increasing reliance on motorized formations.

  Action taken

  On 15 January the formation became a motor rifle division.

  Aftermath

  It entered the Second World War as a motor rifle formation in the Transbaikal Front.

  Source

• 1937

  Conversion to motorized organizationStrategy

  Background

  The Soviet military was expanding mechanized capabilities in the Far East during a period of heightened regional tensions.

  Action taken

  The division was redesignated the 36th Motorized Division and its regiments were reorganized and renumbered.

  Aftermath

  The new structure supported its later employment at Khalkhin Gol and its formal conversion to motor rifle status in 1940.

  Source

1. 136th Rifle Divisionen.wikipedia.org