90th Guards Lvov Tank Division

The 90th Guards Lvov Tank Division was a Soviet Army armored formation and, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a unit of the Russian Ground Forces. The formation covered by the canonical article was created on 8 February 1985 when the 6th Guards Motor Rifle Division in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany was redesignated as the 90th Guards Tank Division. Its lineage was considerably older: it began as the 82nd Territorial Rifle Division, formed in the Perm area in 1932 from personnel associated with the 57th Rifle Division's 169th Rifle Regiment. The division first gained combat distinction in the Far East during the 1939 Battles of Khalkhin Gol against Japanese forces. Its artillery and rifle regiments received the Order of the Red Banner for their performance. In 1940 it became the 82nd Motor Rifle Division and was later reorganized as a motorized division. After Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, the formation moved from the Far East to the Western Front. It reached the front in October and fought with the 5th Army during the Battle of Moscow, including actions around Dorokhovo and Mozhaysk. On 17 March 1942 it was elevated to Guards status as the 3rd Guards Motor Rifle Division and received the Order of the Red Banner. In June 1943 the formation was reorganized as the 6th Guards Mechanized Corps after being combined with the 49th Mechanised Brigade. The corps served within the 4th Tank Army and fought in the Orel counteroffensive during Operation Kutuzov, following the Battle of Kursk. It subsequently participated in the Soviet advance through Ukraine and Poland, including the Proskurov-Chernovitsy and Lvov-Sandomierz operations, and later fought in the Lower Silesian, Upper Silesian, Berlin, and Prague operations. The honorary designation “Lvov” was awarded in August 1944 in recognition of the liberation of Lvov. After the war, the corps became the 6th Guards Mechanised Division in 1945 and the 6th Guards Motor Rifle Division in 1957. During the Cold War it was stationed at Bernau in East Germany and assigned to the 20th Guards Army. The division underwent repeated reorganizations, including changes to its artillery, air-defense, engineer, missile, anti-tank, maintenance, and logistics units. Its conversion into the 90th Guards Tank Division in 1985 reflected the Soviet emphasis on armored formations in the forward deployment area in Central Europe. During its final years in Germany, the division included the 6th and 68th Guards Tank Regiments, the 81st Guards Motor Rifle Regiment, the 803rd Motor Rifle Regiment, the 400th self-propelled artillery regiment, the 288th air-defense missile regiment, and supporting units. The 803rd Regiment returned to the Soviet Union in 1991 and was replaced by the 69th Motor Rifle Regiment. The division became part of the 2nd Guards Tank Army in May 1991. In August 1992 it moved to Chernorechye in Samara Oblast and joined the Volga Military District. Its strength declined substantially during the post-Soviet military contraction. The 81st Guards Motor Rifle Regiment took part in the First Chechen War from December 1994 to April 1995. In 1997 the division was converted into the 5968th Guards Weapons and Equipment Storage Base, ending its existence as an operational tank division. The storage base was ultimately disbanded in 2005. Its final honors included Lvov, the Order of the Red Banner, the Order of Lenin, and the Order of Suvorov.

The formation's institutional lineage began in 1932 with the creation of the 82nd Territorial Rifle Division in the Perm area. It moved to the Ural Military District in 1935 and was mobilized to the Transbaikal region in 1939. During the Battles of Khalkhin Gol it fought Japanese forces, and two of its regiments received the Order of the Red Banner. In 1940 the formation was converted into the 82nd Motor Rifle Division and then briefly reorganized as the 82nd Motorized Division. Following the German invasion of the Soviet Union, the division moved from the Far East to the Western Front in October 1941. It fought in the Battle of Moscow with the 5th Army, including operations around Dorokhovo and Mozhaysk. Its performance led to Guards status on 17 March 1942, when it became the 3rd Guards Motor Rifle Division. In June 1943 it was transformed into the 6th Guards Mechanized Corps through consolidation with the 49th Mechanised Brigade. The corps served in the 4th Tank Army and fought at Orel during Operation Kutuzov, then took part in the Soviet campaigns in Ukraine and Central Europe. It participated in the Lvov-Sandomierz, Lower Silesian, Upper Silesian, Berlin, and Prague operations. The honorary title “Lvov” was awarded in August 1944. The postwar corps became the 6th Guards Mechanised Division in 1945 and the 6th Guards Motor Rifle Division in 1957. Stationed at Bernau in East Germany, it formed part of the 20th Guards Army and was repeatedly reorganized during the Cold War. Changes affected its artillery, air-defense, missile, engineer, anti-tank, maintenance, chemical-defense, and transport elements. On 8 February 1985 the 6th Guards Motor Rifle Division was redesignated the 90th Guards Tank Division. The new division served in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. In 1989, the 215th Guards Tank Regiment was replaced by the 803rd Motor Rifle Regiment, and in 1991 the 803rd moved back to the Soviet Union and was replaced by the 69th Motor Rifle Regiment. The division joined the 2nd Guards Tank Army in May 1991. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the division moved to Chernorechye in Samara Oblast in August 1992 and became part of the Volga Military District. Its strength fell sharply during the Russian military drawdown. The 81st Guards Motor Rifle Regiment served in the First Chechen War from December 1994 to April 1995. In 1997 the division was converted into the 5968th Guards Weapons and Equipment Storage Base. The base ceased operations and was disbanded in 2005.

• 2005

  Disbandment of the storage base

  [1]90th Guards Lvov Tank Division (1985–1997)en.wikipedia.org

  The successor storage base was disbanded.

• 1997

  Conversion to a storage base

  [1]90th Guards Lvov Tank Division (1985–1997)en.wikipedia.org

  The division was converted into the 5968th Guards Weapons and Equipment Storage Base, ending its operational divisional role.

• 1992

  Relocation to Samara Oblast

  [1]90th Guards Lvov Tank Division (1985–1997)en.wikipedia.org

  In August, the division moved to Chernorechye and joined the Volga Military District.

• 1985

  Redesignation as the 90th Guards Tank Division

  [1]90th Guards Lvov Tank Division (1985–1997)en.wikipedia.org

  On 8 February, the 6th Guards Motor Rifle Division in East Germany became the 90th Guards Tank Division.

• 1944

  Award of the Lvov honorific

  [1]90th Guards Lvov Tank Division (1985–1997)en.wikipedia.org

  The formation received the honorary designation Lvov for its role in the liberation of that city during the Lvov-Sandomierz campaign.

• 1943

  Creation of the 6th Guards Mechanized Corps

  [1]90th Guards Lvov Tank Division (1985–1997)en.wikipedia.org

  On 28 June, the formation was reorganized into the 6th Guards Mechanized Corps after incorporation of the 49th Mechanised Brigade.

• 1942

  Elevation to Guards status

  [1]90th Guards Lvov Tank Division (1985–1997)en.wikipedia.org

  On 17 March, the 82nd Motor Rifle Division became the 3rd Guards Motor Rifle Division and received the Order of the Red Banner.

• 1941

  Deployment to the Western Front

  [1]90th Guards Lvov Tank Division (1985–1997)en.wikipedia.org

  The formation moved from the Far East to the Western Front and entered the Battle of Moscow with the 5th Army.

• 1939

  Khalkhin Gol campaign

  [1]90th Guards Lvov Tank Division (1985–1997)en.wikipedia.org

  The division fought Japanese forces in the Battles of Khalkhin Gol; two regiments were later awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

• 1932

  Formation of the 82nd Territorial Rifle Division

  [1]90th Guards Lvov Tank Division (1985–1997)en.wikipedia.org

  The formation's lineage began with the establishment of the 82nd Territorial Rifle Division in the Perm area.

A Soviet and Russian armored formation rather than a commercial brand; its institutional identity rested on Guards status, armored warfare capability, wartime honors, and a lineage associated with the liberation of Lvov and the defeat of Nazi Germany.

• 1994First Chechen War

  Chechnya

  The division's 81st Guards Motor Rifle Regiment fought in the First Chechen War from December 1994 through April 1995.

  Source
• 1945Berlin and Prague operations

  Germany · Czechoslovakia

  The mechanized corps participated in the Lower Silesian, Upper Silesian, Berlin, and Prague operations during the final phase of the Second World War in Europe.

  Outcome. The operations contributed to the defeat of Nazi Germany and the liberation of Prague.

  Source
• 1944Lvov-Sandomierz Operation

  Ukraine · Poland

  The formation took part in the Soviet offensive through western Ukraine and southeastern Poland, including the liberation of Lvov.

  Outcome. The formation received the honorary name Lvov in August 1944.

  Source
• 1943Operation Kutuzov

  Orel region

  As the 6th Guards Mechanized Corps within the 4th Tank Army, the formation participated in the Soviet counteroffensive around Orel after the German defeat at Kursk.

  Outcome. The corps continued operations and later moved into reserve for the remainder of 1943.

  Source
• 1941Battle of Moscow

  Western Soviet Union

  After transferring from the Far East, the division fought with the 5th Army in the defense and counteroffensive around Moscow, including actions at Dorokhovo and Mozhaysk.

  Outcome. The formation was elevated to Guards status in recognition of its wartime performance.

  Source
• 1939Battles of Khalkhin Gol

  Mongolia · Soviet Far East

  The 82nd Rifle Division fought Japanese forces in the Khalkhin Gol battles. Its 601st Rifle Regiment and 82nd Artillery Regiment received the Order of the Red Banner after the campaign.

  Outcome. Soviet victory and unit decorations.

  Source

• 1997

  Conversion to weapons and equipment storage baseStrategy

  Background

  Russian military restructuring reduced the need for a full-strength tank division after the end of the Cold War.

  Action taken

  The division became the 5968th Guards Weapons and Equipment Storage Base for tank troops.

  Aftermath

  The operational division ceased to exist, and the storage base was eventually disbanded in 2005.

  Source

• 1992

  Post-Soviet relocation and contractionStrategy

  Background

  Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the withdrawal of forces from Germany, the division was reassigned within the Russian military structure.

  Action taken

  It moved to Chernorechye in Samara Oblast and became part of the Volga Military District, while declining to very low strength.

  Aftermath

  The reduction preceded its conversion into a weapons and equipment storage base in 1997.

  Source

• 1985

  Conversion from motor rifle to tank divisionGeneration change

  Background

  The Soviet Army reorganized the East German-based 6th Guards Motor Rifle Division amid continuing emphasis on armored formations in the forward theater.

  Action taken

  The division was redesignated the 90th Guards Tank Division, with changes to several regimental and supporting-unit assignments.

  Aftermath

  It continued serving in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany until the post-Soviet withdrawal and reorganization.

  Source

1. 190th Guards Lvov Tank Division (1985–1997)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Soviet Army in the Years of the Cold War (1945–1991)books.google.com