The 359th Rifle Division was raised in 1941 as a standard Red Army rifle division, and served for the duration of the Great Patriotic War in that role. It took part in the costly battles around the German salient near Rzhev through 1942 and into 1943. Following this it served in the summer offensive towards Smolensk, also at considerable cost, but it won a battle honor for its role in the liberation of Yartsevo. After a brief rebuilding in the reserves, the division was moved south to the 1st Ukrainian Front, taking part in the liberation of Ukraine through 1944. Following the Vistula-Oder Offensive, the 359th gathered high honors during the fighting around Breslau in 1945, but along with many other distinguished Soviet formations it was disbanded with the coming of peace. Formation The division began forming in the Perm oblast of the Urals Military District in August 1941. At its formation, the basic order of battle was as follows: 1194th Rifle Regiment 1196th Rifle Regiment 1198th Rifle Regiment 924th Artillery Regiment 641st (later 443rd) Sapper Battalion 812th Signal Battalion (later 218th Signal Company) 423rd Reconnaissance Company The 221st Antitank Battalion would be added in 1942. The first divisional commander to be assigned was Col. Aleksandr Mikhailovich Filippov on 1 September. However, he was replaced on 3 October by Col. Zalman Ionovich Khotimsky. The unit began moving west in November and was first assigned to 28th Army which was forming up in the Reserve of the Supreme High Command. It went to the front in December as a separate division, joining Kalinin Front before being assigned to 31st Army. It was noted at that time as being at full strength for personnel, with 10,000 officers and men assigned. In February 1942, the 359th was reassigned to the 30th Army, in the same general area north - northwest of Rzhev. On 28 February, Colonel Khotimsky was replaced in command by Maj. Gen. Vladimir Romanovich Vashkevich, the only general officer who would command the division. In August it moved with 30th Army to Western Front. Operation Mars At the end of September General Vashkevich was appointed as chief of staff of 20th Army, while officially remaining in command of the division. On 20 November he was replaced by Col. Vasily Kuzmich Guryashin. In the first days of December it was becoming clear that the Second Rzhev-Sychyovka Strategic Offensive (a.k.a. Operation Mars) was