Its first formation was formed in December 1943 from airborne brigades and was quickly redesignated the 98th Guards Rifle Division without seeing combat in World War II.

The division served in Amur Oblast in the Soviet Far East until its disbandment in 1955.

[1] The division included the 18, 19th, and 20th Guards Airborne Brigades, and was commanded by Colonel Konstantin Nikolaevich Vindushev.

[5] The division was reformed between February and March 1944 in the Moscow Military District[6] from the 3rd, 8th, and 21st Guards Airborne Brigades.

The 116th Guards Airlanding Regiment was converted to an airborne unit at some point.