16th Rifle Division

16th Rifle Division
(May 1918–July 1941)

16th 'Lithuanian' Rifle Division
(Dec 1941–1947; Dec 1950–Jul 1956)


44th Rifle Brigade
(1947 – Dec 1950)
Active
  • 1918–1941 (1st formation)
  • 1941–1956 (2nd formation)
Country Soviet Union
Branch Red Army
TypeInfantry
Size10,250
Nickname(s)'Jewish'
'Lithuanian'
'The division with the sixteen Lithuanians'
Engagements
DecorationsOrder of the Red Banner Order of the Red Banner (2nd formation)
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Valerian A. Frolov (1937–1939)
Feliksas Baltušis-Žemaitis (1943)
Adolfas Urbšas (1945)

The 16th Rifle Division (Russian: 16-я стрелковая Литовская Клайпедская Краснознамённая дивизия, romanized16-ya strelkovaya Litovskaya Klaypedskaya Krasnoznamonnaya diviziya; Hebrew: דיוויזיית הרובאים הליטאית ה-16; Lithuanian: 16-oji 'Lietuviškoji' divizija) was a formation in the Red Army created during World War II. The division was formed twice, and was given the title 'Lithuanian' during its second formation.

It was originally established at Tambov in May 1918. It was wiped out at Mga in July 1941. Reformed and given the title 'Lithuanian', the division participated in several battles against Nazi Germany, including Kursk, Belarus, and the Baltic. In the immediate post-war, the division became a brigade but re-became a division in 1950. It was disbanded in 1956.