16th 'Lithuanian' Rifle Division(Dec 1941–1947; Dec 1950–Jul 1956) The 16th Rifle Division (Russian: 16-я стрелковая Литовская Клайпедская Краснознамённая дивизия, romanized: 16-ya strelkovaya Litovskaya Klaypedskaya Krasnoznamonnaya diviziya; Hebrew: דיוויזיית הרובאים הליטאית ה-16; Lithuanian: 16-oji 'Lietuviškoji' divizija) was a formation in the Red Army created during World War II.

Reformed and given the title 'Lithuanian', the division participated in several battles against Nazi Germany, including Kursk, Belarus, and the Baltic.

[3] The purpose of the divisions was not only military but also political as their members were important for the planned post-war Sovietization of the occupied Baltic states.

[8] The officers were recruited from among the Vilnius Infantry Academy's graduates, who the Soviet government immediately evacuated following the beginning of the German invasion to Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo Oblast.

The division fought in the Battle of Kursk, where it served with the 42nd Rifle Corps of the 48th Army, Soviet Central Front.

[10] During this battle a private named Viktoras Jacenevičius, was wounded, taken prisoner and then tortured to death by the Germans.

[citation needed] After Oryol was captured as part of Operation Kutuzov, the division was removed from the Central Front in August–September 1943.

[5] On 2 August 1944, division had arrived at Šiauliai's suburbs, which was home to their commander, Vladas Karvelis.

On 31 October the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for "courage and valor" in breaking through German defenses west of Šiauliai.

[13] On 31 January 1945, the Lithuanian division received orders to join the fight against the Germans in the Courland Pocket.

The German resistance was strong and elements of Army Group Courland did not surrender to the Soviets until 8–9 May at the end of World War II in Europe.

Initially, about 45% to 50% of the division was Jewish, with the Jews making up the absolute majority in the infantry regiments.

[20] Jews made 13% (136 persons) of all officers in the division and 34.2% of all soldiers in the infantry regiments.

[18] Following World War II, the division was made part of the Steppe Military District's 92nd Rifle Corps.