180th Rifle Division 180th Motor Rifle Division | |
---|---|
Active | 1940–1989 |
Country | Soviet Union |
Branch | Soviet Army |
Type | Infantry |
Role | Motorized Infantry |
Size | Division |
Garrison/HQ | Bilhorod-Dnistrovsky (2nd formation) |
Engagements | World War II |
Decorations | Order of the Red Banner (2nd formation)
Order of Suvorov 2nd class (2nd formation) |
Battle honours | Kiev (2nd formation) |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Serafim Merkulov |
The 180th Rifle Division was an infantry division of the Soviet Red Army, formed thrice.
The division was first formed in September 1939 but this unit was disbanded a few months later. It was reformed in August 1940 from Estonian personnel after the Soviet occupation of that country. The first wartime formation of the division became the 28th Guards Rifle Division in May 1942. The second wartime formation was formed in June 1942, and served through the rest of the war.
The division briefly became the 14th Rifle Division in 1955, then 88th Motor Rifle Division 1957, but became 180th Kiev Red Banner Orders of Suvorov and Kutuzov Motor Rifle Division in 1965 and remained under that title until the 1990s.[1] After 1992 became Ukrainian 27th Mechanized Brigade. The 27th Mechanized Brigade was disbanded, most likely in the early 2000s.