| 258th Rifle Division (July 10, 1941 – January 5, 1942) 258th Rifle Division (April 25, 1942 – May 4, 1943) 258th Rifle Division (July 28, 1943 – August 1946) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1941–1946 |
| Country |  Soviet Union |
| Branch | Red Army Soviet Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Engagements | Battle of Bryansk (1941) Battle of Moscow Battle of Stalingrad Operation Uranus Battle of Rostov (1943) Soviet invasion of Manchuria |
| Decorations |  Order of the Red Banner (3rd Formation) |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Kombrig Kuzma Petrovich Trubnikov Maj. Gen. Mikhail Aleksandrovich Siyazov Col. Pyotr Selvestrovich Khaustovich Col. Ivan Yakovlevich Fursin Col. Semyon Samuilovich Levin  Col. Andrei Afanasievich Chartorizhskii Col. Afanasii Antonovich Zelenkov Col. Pyotr Vasilevich Dmitriev |
The 258th Rifle Division first began forming in the Central Asian Military District as one of the Red Army's first ethnic or "national" rifle divisions after the German invasion of the USSR. Based on a cadre of men of Uzbek nationality it was subsequently known as the "Uzbek" division. It was based on the shtat (table of organization and equipment) of April 5, 1941 with modifications due to the emergency. It was soon moved by rail to the Oryol Military District for further building and equipping, and entered the fighting front on August 3, assigned to 43rd Army of Reserve Front west of Bryansk. Within days it was reassigned to the Separate 2nd Rifle Corps, headquartered at Bryansk. On August 14 the entire Corps became the basis of the new 50th Army in Bryansk Front. After minor battles with 2nd Panzer Group into September, but mostly holding its positions, the division was loosely encircled during the German Operation Typhoon in October. It managed to escape with significant casualties, and took up part of the defense of the city of Tula into early December. It then joined the winter counteroffensive which took it to the city of Kaluga. The city was liberated on December 30, and the division was redesignated as the 12th Guards Rifle Division.
A new 258th was formed in late April 1942 based on the 1st formation of the 43rd Rifle Brigade. After several months of forming up and training, first in the Moscow area and later in the Don River area it was assigned to the 1st Guards Army in Stalingrad Front but soon moved to Don Front. During September and October it took part in two offensives attempting to break through to Stalingrad from the north, but these proved to be abortive and costly efforts. Later in October the division was briefly moved to 24th Army in the same Front, but was shifted to 65th Army prior to the start of the Soviet counteroffensive. After German 6th Army was encircled in late November the 258th shifted south, first to 5th Tank Army and later to the newly-formed 5th Shock Army, soon part of the re-created Southern Front. It remained under these commands for the duration of this formation, advancing westward along the Don River and into the eastern Donbas, reaching the Mius River in late February, 1943. For these accomplishments it became the 96th Guards Rifle Division on May 4.
A third 258th was formed in 25th Army of Far Eastern Front in July 1943, based on a separate rifle regiment. It remained under these commands for the remainder of the year, joining 88th Rifle Corps in August. When the Manchurian operation began on August 9, 1945 the division, with its Corps, was in the reserves of 1st Far Eastern Front and was committed two days later. During the remainder of the month it advanced into northern Korea, eventually reaching the 38th parallel. In recognition of its part in the victory, on September 19 it was awarded the Order of the Red Banner. It was disbanded in August 1946.