Pskov Rifle Division

The Pskov Rifle Division (Russian: Псковская стрелковая дивизия), later renamed to the Lithuanian Rifle Division (Russian: Литовская стрелковая дивизия), was a Red Army rifle division during the Russian Civil War and Lithuanian–Soviet War.

Pskov Rifle Division
Active	May 3, 1918 – May 21, 1919
Country	Russian SFSR
Branch	Red Army
Type	Rifle division
Engagements	Russian Civil War Lithuanian–Soviet War
Commanders
First commander	Vladimir Olderogge

Formation

The Rifle Division was formed as the Novorzhevsky Rifle Division by the order of the Military Council of the Petrograd Defense District and the Northern Section of the Screen Detachments [ru] on May 3, 1918, from volunteer detachments of the Novorzhevsky combat section.^[1]

1918

May–October

From May 1918, it guarded Russia's western border on the Novorzhev-Idritsa-Nevel-Velikiye Luki-Toropets line.^[1] Initially, it fought in the ranks of the 7th Army in the vicinity of Petrograd, and then in the Western Army.^[2] It was renamed on June 14, 1918, to the Pskov Rifle Division.^[1]

November–December

In December 1918, due to the German retreat and the Soviet westward offensive of 1918–1919, the division occupied Polotsk (in Belarus), Ludza, Rēzekne, Daugavpils (in Latvia).^[1]

1919

In January–February 1919, it occupied Vilnius and Panevėžys (in Lithuania).^[1] From January 21, 1919, the division was renamed to the Lithuanian Rifle Division. In March 1919, it became part of the Lithuanian-Belorussian Army.^[1]

In March–May 1919, it fought with the Polish Army in the Vilnius Region and on the Daugava bridgehead.^[1][2] During its retreat to the Daugava line, it suffered heavy losses.^[1][2] It suffered heavy losses and on May 21 it was consolidated into a brigade, on the basis of which the 4th Rifle Division was formed.^[1][2]

Division names

• 3 May – 14 June 1918: Novorzhevsky Rifle Division.^[1]
• 14 June 1918 – 21 January 1919: Pskov Rifle Division.^[1]
• 21 January – 21 May 1919: Lithuanian Rifle Division.^[1]

Officers

Divisional commanders:^[1]

• Vladimir Olderogge (May 3, 1918 – March 7, 1919),
• A. I. Makulovich (March 7–27, 1919),
• M. V. Lezhinsky (March 27 – May 5, 1919),
• V. I. Solodukhin [ru] (May 5–21, 1919).

Political commissars:^[1]

• G.D. Khakhanyan (May 3 – August 4, 1918)
• A. I. Sedyakin (May 3 – August 4, 1918)
• V. A. Popov (August 4 – October 1, 1918)
• I. G. Grigoriev (August 4 – September 6, 1918; October 1, 1918 – March 19, 1919; March 30 – April 15, 1919)
• M. E. Sergeev (September 7 – December 12, 1918)
• L. D. Morozov (December 12, 1918 – March 30, 1919)
• Ya. L. Askoldov (March 19 – May 21, 1919)
• Ya. Khazanov (5–21 May 1919)