180th Rifle Division

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180th Rifle Division
180th Motor Rifle Division
Active1940–1989
Country 
Bilhorod-Dnistrovsky (2nd formation)
EngagementsWorld War II
Decorations Order of the Red Banner (2nd formation)

Order of Suvorov 2nd class (2nd formation)

Order of Kutuzov 2nd class (2nd formation)
Battle honoursKiev (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.

First formation

The 180th Rifle Division was formed in September 1939 by the expansion of a regiment of the

Oryol Military District, but was disbanded in January 1940.[2][3]

The 180th Rifle Division was formed again during August and September 1940 in the

28th Guards Rifle Division for its actions.[6]

Second formation

The second formation of the division was created at

Budapest.[8] The division was part of the 53rd Army of the 2nd Ukrainian Front in May 1945. During the war, the division was awarded the honorific Kiev for its actions during the 1943 capture of Kiev. It was awarded the Order of the Red Banner, the Order of Suvorov 2nd class and the Order of Kutuzov
2nd class.

Postwar

In 1955, it became the

14th Guards Army.[10] On 19 February 1962, the 276th Separate Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion was activated along with the 244th Separate Missile Battalion.[1]

On 17 November 1964, the 88th Motor Rifle Division became the 180th Motor Rifle Division, restoring its World War II numbering. In 1967, the 14th Army became the

T-54 tanks and 12 BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers, among other equipment. In January 1992, the storage base was taken over by Ukraine.[1]

It became the 27th Separate Mechanized Brigade and was subordinated to the 1st Airmobile Division. The brigade was disbanded in 2004.[11]

Composition