The division suffered heavy casualties from the outset of these efforts, attacking across flat and open terrain against well dug-in opposition.

It did not see combat during the next two years but remained in this area, mostly as part of the 87th Rifle Corps of 1st Red Banner Army, observing the border with Japanese-occupied Manchuria.

[1] Its first commander, Col. Fyodor Maksimovich Rukhlenko, was not officially appointed until April 16 and it remained in the District training and equipping its units until May.

On August 21 the XIV Panzer Corps of German 6th Army struck eastward from a bridgehead over the Don River and by the 23rd had reached the Volga and the northern outskirts of Stalingrad in some strength.

This seemingly vulnerable corridor, which passed near the village of Kotluban and its railway station, would attract Soviet counterattacks into November.

At this time 8th Reserve was in the Kamyshin region roughly 150km north of Stalingrad and late the next day the STAVKA issued the following orders:1.

[6] A new offensive began on September 18 but this mainly involved the 24th and 1st Guards Armies farther to the west, with the 66th playing a supporting role.

This supporting attack was made primarily by the 38th and 41st Guards and 116th Rifle Divisions on the Army's right (west) flank; the 231st was initially still deployed southeast of Erzovka.

While the offensive was still going on the STAVKA reordered command arrangements in the region, creating Don Front on September 28 and subordinating six armies to it, including the 24th and 66th.

[11] Colonel Odaryuk was soon hospitalized but after his recovery in March 1943 he moved to a staff appointment and later to the training establishment, being promoted to the rank of major general in November of that year.

[12] Its shtat was that of December 10, 1942 and its order of battle was very similar to that of the 1st formation: Col. Yakov Efimovich Timoshenko was appointed to command on the day the division formed.

This officer had previously led the 2nd and 252nd Rifle Brigades; he would be promoted to the rank of major general on February 22, 1944 and would lead the 2nd formation for its entire existence.

[15] During the early months of 1945 the division received the 466th Self-Propelled Artillery Battalion of 12 SU-76s (plus one T-70 command tank) to supplement its mobile firepower in anticipation of operations in the difficult terrain of Manchuria.

As preparations continued, in April 1945 the Primorsk Group was re-established and 1st Army, with 87th Corps, left Far Eastern Front and came under its command.

The mission of the shock group was to penetrate the 10-15km, heavily forested, hilly region immediately facing the Army's sector and continue the attack along two axes across relatively open country to secure Pamientung and Lishuchen on the Muling River.

[20] On September 19 the 231st was awarded the Order of the Red Banner in recognition of its part in the crossing of the Ussuri River and the capture of Mishan, Jilin, Yanji and Harbin.