332nd Rifle Division (Soviet Union)

332nd Rifle Division (August 20, 1941 – 1946)
Active	1941–1946
Country	Soviet Union
Branch	Red Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Division
Engagements	Battle of Moscow Toropets-Kholm Offensive Battle of Smolensk (1943) Battle of Nevel (1943) Baltic Offensive Riga Offensive Battle of Memel Courland Pocket
Decorations	Order of Suvorov 2nd class
Battle honours	Ivanovo Polotsk
Commanders
Notable commanders	Col. Sergei Alekseevich Knyazkov Lt. Col. Tikhon Nikolaievich Nazarenko Maj. Gen. Tikhon Fyodorovich Yegoshin Col. Ivan Ivanovich Savchenko Col. Sergei Sergeiivich Ivanov

The 332nd Rifle Division was formed in August, 1941, as a standard Red Army rifle division, based on a militia division that had started forming about two weeks earlier; as a result it was known throughout the war as a "volunteer" division and carried the name "Ivanovo" after its place of formation. It served in the Battle of Moscow and during the winter counteroffensive was assigned to 4th Shock Army, where it would remain, apart from one brief reassignment, until the beginning of 1945, a remarkably long time under a single army's command. During this offensive it helped carve out Toropets Salient, where it would remain until late in 1943 when it made a limited breakthrough to the west, with its army, in the area of Nevel. Throughout this period it shared a similar combat path with 334th Rifle Division. Near the start of the 1944 summer offensive 332nd was given credit for its role in the liberation of Polotsk and got its name as an honorific. The unit continued to give very creditable service for the duration of the war, distinguishing itself in the fighting through the Baltic states, and completing its combat path there. It continued to serve briefly into the postwar period.