83rd Rifle Division

The 83rd Rifle Division was a Soviet Red Army infantry formation created during the later stages of World War II. It began forming on 11 February 1944 under an order issued by the 26th Army two days earlier. The division was assembled from the 61st and 85th Naval Rifle Brigades and assigned to the 31st Rifle Corps of the 26th Army, within the Karelian Front. Its formation reflected the Soviet practice of converting and consolidating existing rifle brigades into larger divisional formations as the war progressed. The division's principal combat area was the Arctic sector near Kestenga, where it occupied positions facing the German 6th SS Mountain Division Nord. Its initial organization included the 11th, 26th, and 46th Rifle Regiments, the 588th Artillery Regiment, and supporting units. The infantry regiments were created from battalions of the two naval rifle brigades, while the artillery regiment was assembled from the brigades' 76 mm gun batteries. Lieutenant Colonel Aleksey Mikhailovich Alekseyev, previously commander of the 61st Naval Rifle Brigade, became the division's first commander. From 14 February 1944, the 26th Rifle Regiment took over the former positions of the 85th Brigade northwest of Lake Bolshoye Severnoye, between Ozero Nizhneye and Ozero Verkhneye Chernoye. The 83rd was the northernmost Soviet formation in its corps and army sector, with no other Soviet troops extending for more than 100 kilometers to the north. The 205th Rifle Division held positions to the south, while German forces occupied ground north of Kestenga. The division's early activity was primarily defensive. It conducted reconnaissance, exchanged machine-gun fire with German positions, and used mortars against opposing positions. On 16 February, elements of the 46th Rifle Regiment extended the division's right flank. During the night of 19–20 February, the 11th Rifle Regiment relieved the 26th Regiment and part of the 46th Regiment on the defensive line. On 25 February, three companies of the 11th advanced to positions only about 150 to 200 meters from the German line. The movement took place under intermittent small-arms fire and was followed by German artillery and mortar fire. Subsequent reconnaissance activity caused further losses, including missing personnel after a patrol was isolated by a German platoon. These operations illustrate the division's role in maintaining a remote, exposed defensive sector rather than conducting a large independent offensive during its first months. Later in 1944, the division participated in Soviet operations in the Arctic and was recognized for its role in the capture of Nikel and the surrounding area. On 14 November 1944, it received the Order of the Red Banner for this service. After the war, the formation was stationed in Murmansk with the 31st Rifle Corps from July 1945. It was disbanded in 1946 during the postwar reorganization of the Belomorsky Military District. The 83rd Rifle Division therefore existed for only about two years, but its history records the transformation of naval rifle brigades into a conventional infantry division, its defensive service in the Karelian Arctic, and its participation in the Soviet advance through the far north in 1944.

The 83rd Rifle Division was formed on 11 February 1944 from the 61st and 85th Naval Rifle Brigades pursuant to an order of the 26th Army dated 9 February. It became part of the 31st Rifle Corps of the 26th Army, Karelian Front. Its three rifle regiments were built from battalions of the two predecessor brigades: the 11th Rifle Regiment drew on the 1st and 3rd Separate Rifle Battalions of the 61st Brigade; the 26th Rifle Regiment used the 2nd and 3rd Separate Rifle Battalions of the 85th Brigade; and the 46th Rifle Regiment was formed from the 2nd Separate Rifle Battalion of the 61st Brigade and the 1st Separate Rifle Battalion of the 85th Brigade. The 588th Artillery Regiment was created from the brigades' 76 mm divisional-gun batteries. Lieutenant Colonel Aleksey Mikhailovich Alekseyev, commander of the 61st Brigade, was appointed division commander. The division entered a static Arctic front environment near Kestenga. Beginning on 14 February, the 26th Rifle Regiment occupied the former positions of the 85th Brigade northwest of Lake Bolshoye Severnoye, between Ozero Nizhneye and Ozero Verkhneye Chernoye. The formation faced the German 6th SS Mountain Division Nord, whose positions lay north of Kestenga. The 205th Rifle Division held the area farther south, leaving the 83rd as the northernmost Soviet unit in the corps and army sector. The isolation of the position made reconnaissance, patrol activity, and local fire support important aspects of its initial service. Combat during February was limited but persistent. Soviet mortars fired against German positions on an almost daily basis, while machine-gun exchanges and reconnaissance patrols occurred intermittently. On 16 February, the 1st Battalion of the 46th Rifle Regiment moved to the right of the 26th Regiment. During the night of 19–20 February, the 11th Regiment relieved the 26th Regiment and the 1st Battalion of the 46th on the forward line. On the morning of 25 February, three companies of the 11th advanced to a position close to the German defenses, reaching a line approximately 150–200 meters from the opposing troops. The advance met sporadic rifle and machine-gun fire, and German artillery and mortar fire wounded two soldiers. A reconnaissance group of riflemen and antitank riflemen sent forward later that day was cut off by a German platoon and reported missing. German artillery fire caused additional casualties on 27 February. The division later took part in Soviet operations in the Arctic during 1944, including the fighting associated with the capture of Nikel and nearby territory. Its contribution was formally recognized on 14 November 1944, when it received the Order of the Red Banner. After the end of the war in Europe, the division moved into a postwar garrison role. From July 1945 it was stationed in Murmansk with the 31st Rifle Corps. It did not remain a permanent postwar formation: the division was disbanded in 1946 as part of the reorganization of the Belomorsky Military District.

• 1946

  Disbandment

  [1]83rd Rifle Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  The formation was disbanded during the postwar reorganization of the Belomorsky Military District.

• 1945

  Postwar stationing in Murmansk

  [1]83rd Rifle Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  From July, the division was stationed in Murmansk with the 31st Rifle Corps.

• 1944

  Formation from naval rifle brigades

  [1]83rd Rifle Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  The division began forming on 11 February from the 61st and 85th Naval Rifle Brigades under an order of the 26th Army issued on 9 February.

• 1944

  Deployment near Kestenga

  [1]83rd Rifle Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  From 14 February, the 26th Rifle Regiment occupied defensive positions northwest of Lake Bolshoye Severnoye, facing the German 6th SS Mountain Division Nord.

• 1944

  Close defensive advance

  [1]83rd Rifle Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  On 25 February, companies of the 11th Rifle Regiment advanced to within roughly 150–200 meters of German positions.

• 1944

  Awarded the Order of the Red Banner

  [1]83rd Rifle Divisionen.wikipedia.org

  The division received the Order of the Red Banner on 14 November for its role in the capture of Nikel and the surrounding area.

A wartime Red Army infantry division organized for defensive and offensive operations in the Arctic sector of the Eastern Front.

• 1944Kestenga defensive sector

  Karelian Front · Arctic sector

  The division defended a remote position northwest of Lake Bolshoye Severnoye against the German 6th SS Mountain Division Nord. Its activity included mortar fire, patrols, local advances, and small-unit engagements.

  Outcome. The division maintained its assigned defensive sector and later participated in Soviet operations farther north.

  Source
• 1944Arctic operations and capture of Nikel

  Arctic Front

  The 83rd Rifle Division took part in Soviet operations that led to the capture of Nikel and the surrounding area during the 1944 advance in the Arctic.

  Outcome. The division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner on 14 November 1944.

  Source

1. 183rd Rifle Divisionen.wikipedia.org