78th Tank Division (Soviet Union)

The 78th Tank Division was a tank division of the Soviet Union's Red Army and later the Soviet Army. It existed during World War II and the Cold War periods.

Formed in 1941, the division saw combat service during the Great Patriotic War (Eastern Front of World War II). Specific details regarding its battle record, operational deployments, and participation in major offensives are often found scattered across various sources and may lack comprehensive compilation in a single, easily accessible archive. Determining its precise combat path requires consulting Soviet military archives and detailed historical studies focused on specific fronts and battles.

Post-war, the 78th Tank Division remained part of the Soviet Army, typically stationed within various military districts. Like many Soviet armored formations, it underwent periods of reorganization, re-equipment, and changes in its operational doctrine, aligning with evolving Soviet military strategy. The specific locations of its garrisons and its subordination to particular army commands changed over time.

The division likely consisted of tank regiments, motorized rifle regiments, artillery units, and various support and logistical elements, consistent with the standard organization of Soviet tank divisions. Further details regarding the precise composition and equipment types during different periods of its existence require more specialized research.

The division's ultimate fate, including its disbandment or potential redesignation into another unit, and the exact year this occurred, would necessitate access to post-Soviet archival information. Without access to these sources, a precise determination of its final disposition is difficult.