In the course of these campaigns the 307th compiled a battle record to rival a Guards unit (which it narrowly missed out on) but was nevertheless disbanded on the second-last day of 1945.

The division began organizing at Ivanovo in the Moscow Military District on July 12, 1941, and was at the front by the middle of the next month.

Yeryomenko, the Army commander, began ordering counterstrokes on August 27 against German forces of Second Panzer Group that had recently captured Starodub.

Over the following weeks the rifle divisions of 13th Army launched numerous attacks with limited armor support against the German flank in what was clearly an uneven contest to try to disrupt the enemy armored drive south to encircle the Red Army forces defending Kiev.

In these actions the 45th Rifle Corps made little progress while suffering significant losses, and on September 7 Yeryomenko wrote:"At that time, the [enemy] units conducting the offensive along the Starodub axis began a meeting engagement with 269th, 282nd, 155th, and 307th Rifle Divisions along the Sudost' River line.

Unable to withstand the attack by the motorized corps, these divisions began withdrawing in disorder behind the Desna River, while suffering heavy losses.

Soviet formations on the southern half of the front exploited the victory by thrusting westward, and on February 12, 1943, the 307th was pushing northwards from the area of Kursk in the general direction of Oryol, but a week later had been brought to a halt.

As was the case with many other successful Red Army formations during this period, the division was considered for elevation to Guards status, but the following report from the chief of the 13th Army's political department dashed that chance:"In connection with the proposed award of a guards banner to the 307th Rifle Division...

The division inadequately displays concern about the skillful fulfillment of combat missions... and, as a result... units are suffering excessive personnel losses...

During the following months the division fortified its positions, first as a matter of course, then more intensively as Stavka began to expect a German summer offensive against the Kursk salient.

Just days before the battle began, General Lazko was replaced by Maj. Gen. Mikhail Yenshin, and the division became part of the second echelon of the 29th Rifle Corps.

[9] As the battle began on July 5, the 307th strongly contested elements of the German 9th Army, particularly the 9th and 18th Panzer Divisions, both in the village and Hill 253.5 on its outskirts in what was described as the "Stalingrad of the Kursk Salient".

Back-and-forth fighting went on for several days, and while the Soviet forces were not able to immediately retake the village, the German thrust had been stymied far short of its goal, with significant losses, giving the Red Army, and the 307th, the victory, also at a large cost.

[12] During the Front's advance westwards towards the Dniepr the division distinguished itself in the liberation of the city of Novozybkov:"NOVOZYBKOV – Liberated on 25 September 1943 by troops of Central Front in the Bryansk and Chernigov-Pripyat operation... 307th Rifle Division (Maj. Gen. Yenshin, Mikhail Alexsandrovich)... By order of the Supreme High Command is given this name.

In three days of fighting the forces of 48th and 65th Armies managed to tear a gap 15-kilometres wide and from 8 – 12-kilometres deep in the German defenses, and were halfway to Rechitsa.

After six days of intense fighting, 48th Army's shock group managed to advance between five and ten kilometres on a front of roughly 20 km.

[24] On September 1 the division was recognized for its role in the Osovets Offensive with the award of the Order of Suvorov, 2nd Class.

The division would take part in the Siege of Königsberg, and would later join the Zemland Group of Forces, clearing the remaining German elements from the Baltic coast.

[26] On April 5, the day before the final battle for the city began, the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for the capture of Biała Piska and other nearby towns, and its general record of service.

[27] On the same day, it was also awarded the Order of Kutuzov, 2nd degree, for its role in the capture of Wormditt, Melzak, and the surrounding area.