1st Infantry Division (Russian Empire) explained

Unit Name:1st Infantry Division
Native Name:1-я пехотная дивизия
Dates:1811 – 1918
Branch: Russian Imperial Army
Role:Infantry
Size:approx. 20,000[1]
Garrison:Smolensk
Battles:

The 1st Infantry Division (Russian: 1-я пехотная дивизия, 1-ya Pekhotnaya Diviziya) was an infantry formation of the Russian Imperial Army that existed in various formations from 1811 until the end of World War I and the Russian Revolution. From at least 1903 to the end of its existence the division was based in Smolensk.[2]

History

It was initially formed in 1811 as the 25th Infantry Division, and renumbered as the 1st in 1820.[3] The division took part in the Russo-Japanese War and was located in Manchuria during that time. In August 1914 it was part of the 2nd Army of the Northwestern Front. It was completely destroyed during the Russian invasion of East Prussia by September of that year and was reformed in December 1914. In 1915–17 it was assigned to the 12th Army, 5th Army, and later the 1st Army. It was demobilized around the time of the Russian Revolution and the subsequent unrest.[4] [5]

Organization

Russian infantry divisions consisted of a staff, two infantry brigades, and one artillery brigade. It was part of the 13th Army Corps as of 1914.[6]

Known commanders

Name From To
11883 1887
224.08.1892 9.01.1900
31900 1904
46.12.1904 26.10.1905
521.06.1907 16.06.1910
62.07.1910 after 1.03.1916
75.03.1916 after 3.01.1917
818.05.1917 ?

Known chiefs of staff

Name From To
117.01.1878 27.05.1879
210.05.1892 4.02.1898
325.10.1901 4.10.1904
42.08.1910 19.06.1912
51913 1.07.1914

Notes and References

  1. Book: 1996 . Handbook of the Russian Army, 1914. Imperial War Museum (originally British General Staff). London. 978-1870423670. 263.
  2. Web site: 1-я пехотная дивизия . ru . Regiment.ru . 2016 . 8 January 2017.
  3. Book: Российский государственный военно-исторический архив. Путеводитель.. ROSSPEN. 2006. 978-5-8243-0895-2. Garkusha. Irina. 2. Moscow. ru. Russian State Military Archive Guidebook. 2017-01-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20170303202746/http://guides.rusarchives.ru/browse/guidebook.html?bid=239. 2017-03-03. dead.
  4. http://guides.rusarchives.ru/browse/guidebook.html?bid=239&sid=829131#refid829126 Russian State Military History Archive. Tome 2
  5. http://www.314th.org/Nafziger-Collection-of-Orders-of-Battle/916RFAA.pdf Russian Army, 4 June 1916
  6. Web site: THE RUSSIAN ARMY, 1914 . Conrad . Mark . 2001 . 8 January 2017.