| 73rd Rifle Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1st Formation 2nd Formation 3rd Formation Oct 1942 – 1993 |
| Country | Soviet Union |
| Branch | .svg){kind=small} Red Army (1942-1946) Soviet Army (1946-1991) Russian Ground Forces (1991-1993) |
| Type | Infantry |
| Engagements | Operation Kutuzov Battle of the Dnieper Gomel-Rechitsa Offensive Operation Bagration Bobruysk Offensive East Prussian Offensive |
| Battle honours | Order of the Red Banner Order of Lenin Order of Suvorov |
The 73rd Rifle Division was a formation of the Great Patriotic War Soviet Army. The division began assigned to the 20th Army at the beginning of the war and was destroyed and rebuilt twice before the war ended.
According to research in the Soviet archives published by Michael Avanzini and Craig Crofoot, the division was formed five times from 1930 to the late 1940s.[1] Its first formation was established at Omsk in the Siberian Military District in 1930, and reformed a second time in September 1939 after serving as the cadre for the 109th Rifle Division and the 194th Rifle Division. Disbanded for unknown reasons in October 1939.
- ^ Michael Avanzini and Craig Crofoot, 'Armies of the Bear,' Vol I, Part 3.