The 132nd Rifle Brigade had been formed between December 1941 and March 1942 in the Ural Military District before being sent to 30th Army in Kalinin Front in April.

It remained under these commands into August when it was transferred with its Army to Western Front.

The following month the Army began to reorganize the unit as the 49th Ski Brigade in preparation for the expected winter offensive (Operation Mars).

As with the several other ski brigades formed in the Front’s armies at this time, the 49th was intended to act as a forward detachment in the event of mobile operations.

In December all or most of the Army’s various ski units were consolidated under its command and by the end of the year it consisted of: This gave it nearly three times the strength of a typical ski brigade of the time.