The 298th Rifle Division was a infantry division of the Red Army during the Second World War. Formed twice, the division saw combat on the Eastern Front before being finally disbanded in the post‑war period.
Formation and First Formation (1941–1942)
- Date of formation: 12 July 1941, in the Oryol Oblast of the Moscow Military District.
- Initial order of battle: Included the 1011th, 1013th, and 1015th Rifle Regiments, the 837th Artillery Regiment, as well as standard support units (anti‑tank, reconnaissance, sappers, signal, and medical battalions).
- Commanders (first formation): Colonel V. A. Shulga (July–October 1941); subsequently Colonel M. I. Goncharov.
The division was assigned to the 10th Army of the Western Front and took part in the defensive battles following the German invasion (Operation Barbarossa). In October 1941 it participated in the fighting around Vyazma and was encircled during the Soviet “Vyazma Pocket” in early October. The division suffered heavy losses and was officially disbanded on 30 October 1941.
Second Formation (1942–1945)
- Date of re‑formation: 27 January 1942, at the Sverdlovsk‑Oblast in the Ural Military District, using the cadre of the 14th Rifle Brigade.
- Re‑established order of battle: Again comprised the 1011th, 1013th, and 1015th Rifle Regiments and the 837th Artillery Regiment, with revised support units.
- Commanders (second formation): Colonel A. V. Popov (January–August 1942); Major General A. N. Kuznetsov (August 1942–May 1944); Major General V. P. Shcherbakov (May 1944–war’s end).
During its second incarnation the division served with several front‑level formations:
- 1942–1943: Assigned to the 2nd Reserve Army, later transferred to the 20th Army of the Western Front; participated in the Rzhev–Vyazma offensives.
- 1943: Took part in the Smolensk offensive (Operation Suvorov), advancing toward the Western Dvina River.
- 1944: Joined the 31st Army of the 1st Belorussian Front and fought in Operation Bagration, contributing to the liberation of Vitebsk and Minsk.
- 1945: Assigned to the 3rd Shock Army in the final assault on Berlin; engaged in the Battle of the Oder–Neisse and subsequently entered the city in late April.
Post‑war Period and Disbandment
After the cessation of hostilities, the 298th Rifle Division was relocated to the Moscow Military District. In February 1946 it was reorganized as the 25th Motorized Rifle Division, reflecting the Red Army’s post‑war restructuring toward mechanized forces. The unit was ultimately disbanded in June 1955 during a series of reductions in the Soviet ground forces.
Legacy
The division’s battle honors include the Order of the Red Banner (awarded for actions in the Smolensk operation) and the honorary title “Vitebsk” for its role in the liberation of that city. Veterans of the 298th Rifle Division are commemorated by several memorials in Russia and Belarus, particularly in the towns of Vyazma and Vitebsk.