| 1st Polar (Polyarnaya) Division (September 5, 1941 - September 28, 1941) 186th Rifle Division (September 28, 1941 - June 26, 1943) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1941–1943 |
| Country |  Soviet Union |
| Branch | Red Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Engagements | Operation Barbarossa Operation Platinum Fox Continuation War |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Col. Stefan Vladimirovich Kolomiets Col. Fyodor Ivanovich Litvinov |
The 1941 formation of the 186th Rifle Division was based on the 1st Polar (Polyarnaya) Militia Division that had been formed in the Murmansk area early in September 1941. 1st Polar distinguished itself as part of 14th Army during the last stage of the offensive by Mountain Corps Norway toward Murmansk. As this came to an end the division was reformed as a regular Red Army rifle division and was designated as the 186th despite the existence of another division of the same number at that time. It continued to serve in Karelian Front through 1942 and into mid-1943, seeing little combat on this mostly static front apart from a partly successful offensive near Kestenga as part of 26th Army in April/May 1942. It remained in this Army until it was redesignated as the 2nd formation of the 205th Rifle Division in late June 1943.