81st Guards Rifle Division
| 81st Guards Rifle Division (March 1, 1943 – June 4, 1957) 81st Guards Motor Rifle Division (June 4, 1957 – June 1, 2009) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1943–2009 |
| Country | Soviet Union Russia |
| Branch | Red Army (1943–1946) Soviet Army (1946–1991) Russian Ground Forces (1991–present) |
| Type | Division |
| Role | Infantry |
| Engagements | |
| Decorations | Guards Order of the Red Banner Order of Suvorov |
| Battle honours | Krasnograd |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Maj. Gen. Ivan Konstantinovich Morozov Col. Sergei Grigorevich Nikolaiev Col. Mikhail Andreevich Orlov |
The 81st Guards Rifle Division was an infantry division of the Russian Ground Forces, previously serving in the Red Army and the Soviet Army. It was formed after the Battle of Stalingrad from the 422nd Rifle Division in recognition of that division's actions during the battle, specifically the encirclement and the siege of the German forces in the city. The 81st Guards continued a record of distinguished service through the rest of the Great Patriotic War, and continued to serve postwar, as a rifle division and later a motor rifle division, until being reorganized as the 57th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade in 2009 in the Russian Ground Forces. Most of its postwar service was in the Soviet (Russian) far east, where it was originally formed as the 422nd.