393rd Rifle Division
| 393rd Rifle Division (1 October 1941 – 30 June 1942) 393rd Rifle Division (22 November 1944 – 1946) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1941 - 1946 |
| Country | Soviet Union |
| Branch | Red Army |
| Type | Division |
| Role | Infantry |
| Engagements | Barvenkovo–Lozovaya Offensive Second Battle of Kharkov Soviet invasion of Manchuria |
| Decorations | Order of the Red Banner (2nd Formation) |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Col. Ivan Zinoviev Col. Filipp Anisimovich Isakov |
The 393rd Rifle Division was raised in 1941 as an infantry division of the Red Army, and fought against the German invasion Operation Barbarossa. In its first formation the division followed a very similar combat path to that of the 411th Rifle Division. It was first formed on 1 October in the Kharkov Military District, probably on the basis of militia units that had been raised there. It fought in the Barvenkovo–Lozovaya Offensive that created the Izium - Barvenkovo salient in January 1942 and was intended to play a leading role in a spring offensive aimed at the liberation of Kharkov. In the event a German counteroffensive cut off the salient; the division was deeply encircled and destroyed. In the buildup to the Soviet invasion of Manchuria a new 393rd was formed in the Far Eastern Front in late 1944. The new division fought into the northern part of the Korean peninsula, taking many ports and cities with enough distinction that it was awarded the Order of the Red Banner, and continued to serve briefly into the postwar period.