| 249th Rifle Division (June 26, 1941 – February 16, 1942) 249th Estonian Rifle Division (February 28, 1942 – June 28, 1945) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1941 – 1945 |
| Country |  Soviet Union |
| Branch | &sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:Red_Army_flag_(Fictitious).svg){kind=small} Red Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Engagements | Battle of Moscow Toropets–Kholm Offensive Battle for Velikiye Luki Battle of Nevel Battle of Narva Baltic Offensive (1944) Courland Pocket |
| Decorations | &sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:Order_of_Lenin.svg){kind=small} Order of Lenin (1st Formation)&sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:Order_of_Red_Banner.svg){kind=small} Order of the Red Banner (2nd Formation) |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Maj. Gen. German Fyodorovich Tarasov Maj. Gen. Lembit Abramovich Pern Maj. Karl Karlovich Kanger Col. Artur-Aleksandr Yosipovich Saueselg Maj. Gen. Yogan Yakovlevich Lombak |
The 249th Rifle Division was the fifth of a group of 10 regular rifle divisions formed from cadres of NKVD border and internal troops as standard Red Army rifle divisions, very shortly after the German invasion, in the Moscow Military District. It was largely based on what would become the shtat (table of organization and equipment) of July 29, 1941, with several variations. It was initially assigned to 31st Army, which joined Reserve Front in July. By December it had been moved north to join 4th Shock Army in Northwestern Front. When that Front joined the winter counteroffensive in January 1942 the 249th played a leading role in the encirclement and destruction of a German infantry regiment that had just arrived by rail from France. It went on to help retake the German-held towns of Andreapol and Toropets, capturing significant supplies and deeply outflanking the German 9th Army. Later in the month it was transferred with 4th Shock to Kalinin Front and in early February made an abortive advance on Vitebsk. Despite this failure, on February 16 it was redesignated as the 16th Guards Rifle Division.
The second formation was largely made up of ethnic Estonians and was known as the 249th Estonian Rifle Division. It was formed for political, as well as military purposes, and it required permission from the STAVKA to be committed to combat. As part of 8th Estonian Rifle Corps it fought its first battle for the besieged city of Velikiye Luki during December 1942/January 1943, securing the victory at considerable cost. Due to the difficulty of obtaining Estonian recruits while that state was still under German occupation it took many months to rebuild. In November it took part in an effort to liberate the town of Novosokolniki, but this was unsuccessful and caused further losses. Shortly after, it was transferred to the 8th Army of Leningrad Front, which appeared to have the best chance to quickly enter Estonian territory. Under these commands the division staged several operations to clear the large islands at the mouth of the Gulf of Riga. Returning to the mainland it took part in retaking the Estonian capital, before joining the forces that contained the German troops trapped in the Courland Pocket for the duration of the war. Shortly after the German surrender the division was redesignated as the 122nd Guards Rifle Division.