237th Rifle Division

The 237th Rifle Division was an infantry division of the Red Army, originally formed in the months just before the start of the German invasion, based on the shtat (table of organization and equipment) of September 13, 1939. At the opening of Operation Barbarossa it was in the Leningrad Military District where it had formed near the Finnish border but was soon moved south to defend against German Army Group North. As part of 16th Rifle Corps in 11th Army it took part in the battle of Soltsy, which imposed a significant delay on the German advance toward Leningrad. In August it was encircled while serving with 48th Army and suffered such heavy losses that it was disbanded on September 17.

A new division, originally numbered as the 455th, began forming in the Siberian Military District in early December and was soon redesignated as the 2nd formation of the 237th. After training and equipping it entered the fighting front northwest of Voronezh in late July as part of a counteroffensive by Bryansk Front against the advancing German Army Group B but suffered heavy losses in just two days of combat and was rendered ineffective. After rebuilding during the autumn the 237th took part in the Voronezh–Kastornoye Offensive in January-February 1943, during which it took part in the destruction of one column of Axis troops attempting to escape the encirclement. It played a minor role in the battle of Kursk, after which it went over to the summer offensive into eastern Ukraine as part of 40th Army, winning a battle honor on its way to the Dniepr River. In this Army, as part of 1st Ukrainian Front, it was involved in the ultimately futile battles for the Bukryn bridgehead. Following the liberation of Kyiv it took part in the defense against the following German counteroffensive and then went over to the offensive itself, winning the Order of the Red Banner for the liberation of Zhmerynka while serving in 38th Army.