The 47th Rifle Division was an infantry division of the Red Army. It was first formed in 1922 as the Georgian Rifle Division. In 1924, it became the 1st Georgian Mountain Division. The division became the 47th Georgian Mountain Rifle Division in 1936 and dropped the designation "Georgian" in 1940. It was disbanded in June 1942 after being wiped out at Izyum. In July 1942, the 47th Rifle Division was formed from the 21st Rifle Brigade. It fought in the Nevel Offensive, for which it was awarded the title "Nevel". The division was disbanded in the Baltic Military District in 1946. It was also awarded the Order of Lenin and the Order of Suvorov2nd class. The division was reformed a third time from the 277th Rifle Division in 1955 but disbanded in July 1956.
History
In 1922, the Georgian Rifle Division was formed. It was given the honorific "on behalf of Comrade Stalin" on 29 July 1930. In July 1936, it was renamed the 47th Georgian Mountain Rifle Division. On 16 July 1940, it became the 47th Mountain Rifle Division. On 22 June 1941, it was part of the 3rd Rifle Corps in Batum. Between 11 and 14 September, the division was sent by rail from Kupyansk to Sloviansk. On 20 September it was again transported to Iskrivka, Vodyanaya and Kovyahy. It was sent into battle near Chutovo on 26 September to participate in the attack on Poltava. As a result of a disorganized retreat, it lost 23 artillery guns and 7 mortars in October 1941. As part of the 6th Army, it fought in the Second Battle of Kharkov and was wiped out in the Izyum pocket during May 1942. It was officially disbanded on 30 June. The 47th Rifle Division was reformed in July 1942 from the 21st Rifle Brigade. The division fought in the Nevel Offensive in October 1943 as part of the 83rd Rifle Corps. On 7 October it was awarded the honorific "Nevel" for its actions in the capture of Nevel. The division was advancing towards Zheludok, Ovinische and Lobok on 8 November. It was awarded the Order of Suvorov 2nd class on 21 December. The division was awarded the Order of Lenin on 10 July 1944. In 1946, the division was disbanded in the Baltic Military District. In 1955, the division was reformed from the 277th Rifle Division at Iman with the 5th Red Banner Army. It inherited the honorifics "Roslavl Red Banner Order of Suvorov and Kutuzov". The division disbanded on 25 July 1956.
Commanders
The division was commanded by the following officers.