361st Rifle Division

361st Rifle Division (August 1, 1941 – March 17, 1942) 361st Rifle Division (November 22, 1944 - 1946)
Active	1941–1946
Country	Soviet Union
Branch	Red Army
Type	Division
Role	Infantry
Engagements	Battles of Rzhev Sychyovka-Vyazma Offensive Soviet invasion of Manchuria
Commanders
Notable commanders	Col. Denis Vasilevich Mikhailov Lt. Col. Arakel Karapetovich Oganezov

The 361st Rifle Division formed in August 1941, as a standard Red Army rifle division, at Ufa. It may be considered a "sister" division to the 363rd Rifle Division. After forming, it was assigned to the 39th Army, and played a major role in the near-encirclement of the German 9th Army around Rzhev in the winter counteroffensive of 1941-42. In recognition of its successes it was reorganized as the 21st Guards Rifle Division in March 1942. A new 361st was formed in November 1944, in the far east of the USSR. It saw action during the Soviet invasion of Manchuria in August 1945, staging several crossing operations of the Amur and Songhua Rivers during the first days of the offensive, in recognition of which one regiment was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.