HISTORY OF THE 13TH GUARDS MECHANIZED DIVISION AND THE 46TH GUARDS MECHANIZED REGIMENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A003100200007-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 30, 2005
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: December 10, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2005/12/23 : CIA-RDP80-O081piA003100200007-8
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY USSR/Austria (Soviet Zone)
SUBJECT
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DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
This Document contains Information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, 'within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the V.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
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History of the 13th Guards Mechanized DATE DISTR.
Division and the 46th Guards Mechanized
Regiment
10 December 1953
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
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History of the 13th Guards Mechanized Division
1. Before the beginning of World War II, the 13th Guards Mechanized Division was 25X1
stationed in the Far East. At the time, it was a rifle brigade, but I not
know the number. In 1941, when the battles with the advancing Germany Army were at
their peak, the brigade was moved from the Far East to the interior of the USSR, to
the town of Novo-Ukrainka, Kirovograd Oblast, Ukrainian SSR. There the brigade was
regrouped and named the 87th Rifle Division. At the end of 1941, the 87th Division,
under the command of Maj. General Rodimzev, was sent to Stalingrad. The division
participated in the battle of Stalingrad; forced the following rivers: Dnepr, Dnestr,
and Vistula; fought its way through Poland; participated in the battle for Prague;
and at the end of the war was in Austria. During the war, many of its soldiers and
officers were decorated. The division's chief mode of transportation throughout the
war was horses. After the war, in 1945, the division was redesignated the 13th
Guards Mechanized Division, and all horses were replaced by mechanized transport.
2. At present, the 13th Guards Mechanized Division consists of the following units:
44th Guards Mechanized Regiment, 45th Guards Mechanized Regiment, 46th Guards
Mechanized Regiment, 105th Heavy Tank Self-Propelled Regiment, 15th Tank Regiment,
mortar regiment, antiaircraft regiment, howitzer regiment, rocket launcher battalion,
engineer battalion, reconnaissance battalion, automobile battalion, and a medical
battalion.
3. The estimated strength of the 13th Guards Mechanized Division is 13,000 men and
1,500 vehicles. The transport is sufficient to move the entire division. Most of
the vehicles are of foreign make, ie., Ford, Chevrolet, Studebaker. The TOE of the
division is filled 100 percent and the division is maintained in constant readiness.
STATE ARMY %
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4. Since 1949, the commanding general of the division has been Maj. General Bobruk.
The divisional headquarters is located in 1 dling,Austria. The summer camp of
the division is located in Allensteig, Austria.
History of the 46th Guards Mechanized Regiment
5. In 1941, the 42nd Rifle Regiment was activated in Penza. It-was attached to the
87th Rifle Division and participated as a part of the division in all the battles
from Stalingrad to Austria. The regimental commander from the time of the
formation of the regiment until 1949 was H,=ro of the Soviet Union, Lt. Col. Polovetd,
In the same regiment served the now famous Hero of the Soviet Union, Master Sgt.
Pavlov. Pavlov became a hero during the German assaalt on Stalingrad. With a
handful of men, Pavlov heroically defended a house in Stalingrad against over-
whelming German troops. Now the house bears the name of its defender, Dom Pavlova.
After the war, Pavlov went back to Stalingrad, was elected there as representative
to the Supreme Soviet, and now works in the city council of Stalingrad. For
forcing the Vistula River, the regiment was decorated with the Order of the Red
Banner and was named "The Vistula Regiment". In 1945, in Klosterneuburg, Austria,
the regiment changed its name from the 42nd Rifle Regiment to the 46th Guards
Mechanized Vistula-Red Banner Regiment. In 1949, the regimental nnmmander, Lt. Col..
Polovets, went to Nikolayev, USSR, and was succeeded by Col. Vas .,A-7 Kirilovich
Yankovskiy from the 95th Mechanized Division, which was stationed or. the
Demarcation Line in Austria. Colonel Yankovskiy was regimental commander until
February 1952, at which time he was transferred to the town of Bolgrad in the
Odessa Military District. He was replaced by Col. Zverev who had come from Bolgrad.
Col. Zverev is the present commander of the 46th Guards Mechanized Regiment. Lt.
Col. Pugin is the chief of staff of the regiment. Major Lavrinovich is commander
of the Regiment Headquaters' Company. The 46th Guards Mechanized Regiment has
about 120 vehicles, primarily of foreign make.
Approved For Release 2005/12/23 : CIA-RDP80-00810A003100200007-8