II Formation: 1943–1945 Order of the Red Banner (1st and 2nd formations) Order of Suvorov (2nd formation) Ivan Sivakov Alexander Ignatievich Korolev Sergey Andryushchenko Ivan Basteyev The 23rd Rifle Division was an infantry division of the Red Army and Soviet Army, formed three times.

It was formed in July 1922 in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, inheriting the Order of the Red Banner from the predecessor Zavolzhskaya Rifle Brigade.

On 23 May 1932 the division was awarded the Order of Lenin for helping to construct the Kharkov Tractor Factory.

On 1 March 1943 it became the 71st Guards Rifle Division[1] for its actions in the Battle of Stalingrad.

[2] The division was reformed on 2 May 1943 on the bаsе of the 7th Rifle and 76th Naval Infantry Brigades in the Steppe Military District.