6th Rifle Division (Soviet Union) - First Formation

First Formation

The Division was first formed May 3, 1918 in the city of Gdov. It was made up of volunteers from East Dybenko, Petrograd, Red Guards from the regular Army, and workers from the city of Narva who formed the original unit. Its official designation upon activation was the Gatchina Infantry Division. From May into November 1918, the division was deployed in the vicinity of Ivangorod. In November 1919 the Division attacked Narva with the Red Army, starting the Estonian War of Independence. This was part of the Soviet westward offensive, a campaign to conquer the Baltic states and Belarus. The unit was redesignated twice during this campaign. First on July 24, 1918 to the 3rd Petrograd Infantry Division and then again on November 2, 1918 to the 6th Rifle Division.

The Division defended Petrograd alongside the Red Army. In May and June 1919, with forces under the command of Nikolay Yudenich, the first assault was repelled. Forces were then consolidated in preparation for a second wave of attacks. Defense of the Yamburg area was abandoned on August 5, 1919, favoring defense of the Petrograd. In autumn 1919, the rifle division repelled the Krasnaya Gorka offensive of the Estonian 1st division. The target of the operation serves as a fort for the Russian Army to this day.

The 6th Rifle Division then saw action in the campaign to conquer the city of Narva. This was a homecoming of sorts for the Division, as many of its members were workers from the city. The operation lasted from November through December 1919. The Estonian 1st Division and the White Russian Northwestern Division were pushed beyond the border between the Soviet Republic and Estonia, and the Division actively guarded the border from January until May 1920.

In May and June the Division was called to participate in an offensive against Poland. By July and August the fighting was intensifying in the Dokshitsy region. By September the offensive was deep into Poland around the Warsaw region. The battle had now moved to areas around the city of Grodno. On July 22, 1920 the division took part in forcing the Niemen River during the First Battle of the Niemen River. The division pushed back the Polish-led 1st Lithuanian-Belarusian Infantry Division in the vicinity of Mosty. Although ultimately stopped by the Polish 81st Grodno Rifles Infantry Regiment, the Russian unit forced the Poles to retreat and abandon their lines.

Following the Polish summer retreat towards Vistula, the division was in pursuit of the Polish forces. On August 9 it captured Wyszków and then advanced north of Bug, Narew and Vistula towards Łomża. The town fell to the Russians, but a successful counter-attack on Łomża carried out by Polish 59th Greater Polish Infantry Regiment recaptured the town. The Russian division lost many prisoners of war. Following the battle of Warsaw the 6th Rifle Division was defeated. Recreated as part of the Russian defences along the Niemen river, it took part in the Second Battle of the Niemen River. Defeated east of Wilejka by Polish cavalry, it was surrounded and completely eliminated. The Poles captured its' headquarters, tabor, 13 field kitchens and the remaining two pieces of artillery, as well as all commanding officers of the division's regiments.

The unit was later re-created behind the front. On December 6, 1921 the official designation for this unit became the 6th Oryol Rifle Division. They were recognized for their combat success and were awarded the Order of the Red Banner. This award is for Russian citizens who exhibit heroism in combat or other extraordinary accomplishments of military valor during combat operations. In 1939 the Division assumed a trainer status and split into separate cadres. They were responsible for training the 122nd and the 180th Rifle Divisions.