The 13th Motorized Rifle Division of the NKVD Internal Troops (Russian: 13-я мотострелковая дивизия внутренних войск НКВД СССР 13-y motostrelkovaya diviziya vnutrenikh voisk NKVD SSSR) was formed as a division of the NKVD, but was used as a division of the Red Army Rifle Division during short period of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. The Division was formed in Voronezh region in May 1942, using the management and part of the forces of 8th Motorized Rifle Division of the NKVD internal troops as the basis.

Subordinate Units

In May 1942 the division included: * 4th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the Red Banner * 266th Motorized Rifle Regiment * 274th Motorized Rifle Regiment Also in the Division was handed over to the 287th Rifle Regiment of the 3rd Rifle Division of the internal troops of the NKVD. As part of the 6th Army of the Southwestern Front, the Division participated in the

Second Battle of Kharkov The Second Battle of Kharkov or Operation Fredericus was an Axis powers, Axis counter-offensive in the region around Kharkov against the Red Army Izium bridgehead offensive conducted 12–28 May 1942, on the Eastern Front (World War II), Easter ...

. In March–May 1942, the Division was advancing, and then defended in the area of

Izium Izium or Izyum (, ; ) is a city on the Donets River in Kharkiv Oblast, eastern Ukraine that serves as the administrative center of Izium Raion and Izium urban hromada. It is about southeast of the city of Kharkiv, the oblast's administrative cen ...

, keep the defense on the rivers

Donets The Seversky Donets () or Siverskyi Donets (), usually simply called the Donets (), is a river on the south of the East European Plain. It originates in the Central Russian Upland, north of Belgorod, flows south-east through Ukraine (Kharkiv ...

and Oskol. As part of the 38th Army the Division was fighting in the area of

Kupiansk Kupiansk or Kupyansk (, ; , ) is a city in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine. It serves as the administrative center of Kupiansk Raion. It is also an important railroad junction for the oblast. Kupiansk hosts the administration of Kupiansk urban hromada, ...

, defending

Voronezh Voronezh ( ; , ) is a city and the administrative centre of Voronezh Oblast in southwestern Russia straddling the Voronezh River, located from where it flows into the Don River. The city sits on the Southeastern Railway, which connects wes ...

by the 287th Rifle Regiment, conducted heavy fights for

Ostrogozhsk Ostrogozhsk () is a town and the administrative center of Ostrogozhsky District in Voronezh Oblast, Russia, located on the Tikhaya Sosna River (a tributary of the Don), south of Voronezh, the administrative center of the oblast. As of the 20 ...

. The 287th Rifle Regiment defended

. The Division, moved on across the

Don River The Don () is the fifth-longest river in Europe. Flowing from Central Russia to the Sea of Azov in Southern Russia, it is one of Russia's largest rivers and played an important role for traders from the Byzantine Empire. Its basin is betwee ...

's by order, holding back the German offensive in the area Listky-Belogory. In June 1942, the Division kept a defensive along the river

Khopyor The Khopyor (, also transliterated as Khoper) is a river in European Russia, the biggest left tributary of the river Don.� ...

east of

Borisoglebsk Borisoglebsk () is a town in Voronezh Oblast, Russia, located on the left bank of the Vorona River near its confluence with the Khopyor. Population: 65,000 (1969). History Borisoglebsk was founded in 1646 and was named for the Russian s ...

, has suffered heavy losses in the battle, and was relocated to Tesnitskie camp (25 km north of Tula) for reorganization. By order of the NKVD of the USSR No. 001547 from July 28, 1942, in pursuance of the

State Defense Committee The State Defense Committee () was an extraordinary organ of state power in the Soviet Union during the German-Soviet War, also called the Great Patriotic War, with complete state power in the country. General scope The Soviets set up the GKO ...

Resolution number 2100-ss of 26 July 1942 the Division was handed over to the Red Army. According to the Directive the General Staff of the Red Army No. org/2/2172 on August 2, 1942, the Division was reorganized in the

95th Rifle Division The 95th Rifle Division (Russian: 95-я стрелковая дивизия 95-y strelkovaya diviziya) was a Red Army Division (military), Rifle Division during World War II, formed three times. The division was first formed in November 1923 with ...

of the Red Army. By the Order of the NKVD of the USSR from August 15, 1942 No. 001692 the 13th Motorized Rifle Division was excluded from the NKVD because was transferred into the Red Army.

Subordinate Units

On 15 August 1942 the division included: * 4th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the Red Banner * 266th Rifle Regiment * 274th Rifle Regiment * 289th Rifle Regiment * Separate Logistics Company * Separate Medical Company

Commanders

* The Division commander, Colonel Gorishnii V.A. * The military commissar of Division, Senior Battalion Commissar Vlasenko I.A.

References

{{NKVD Divisions Divisions of the NKVD in World War II Military units and formations established in 1942 Military units and formations disestablished in 1942 1942 establishments in the Soviet Union