It drew its history from the World War II 16th Tank Corps.

The division was initially formed as 17th Tank Corps in the Kiev Military District.

From December 1943 to August 1944 it was commanded by Major General Ivan Vasilievich Dubovoy.

[1] It took part in the counter-attacks against the Germans advancing on Stalingrad in the later summer of 1942, the winter counter-offensives of 1942/43, the Battle of Kursk in July (as part of the Central Front), then across Ukraine with the Central, Belorussian, and 1st Belorussian Fronts.

In the summer of 1944, it was with the 2nd Tank Army, and took part in the offensives, reaching the outskirts of Warsaw.

As part of the occupation forces, it was assigned to the 2nd Guards Tank Army.

The 75th Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment moved to the 207th Motor Rifle Division in 1958.

In December 1990, the division moved to Vladikavkaz and became part of the North Caucasus Military District.

The 933rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment was directly subordinated to the 42nd Army Corps.

[2] In 1988, the division comprised the following major units:[2][4] The division is first mentioned in the Cold War novel, The Red Effect by author Harvey Black, and is commanded by the fictitious Major General Oleg Turbin.