That army's defenses were pierced by the German XXXIX Motorized Corps in late August, forcing the 48th to withdraw and abandon the key railroad station at Mga.

The assaulting forces penetrated the 4th Army's fragile defenses in four days of heavy fighting in roadless terrain covered by 9 – 10 cm of snow.

[5] On November 8 Tikhvin fell, while another German thrust towards Volkhov was slowly forcing four rifle divisions back towards that city, driving a wedge between the 4th and 54th Armies.

Army Group North ordered its 8th Panzer Division to support the advance but a desperate counterattack by the 310th at Zelenets Station thwarted the outflanking attempt east of the town.

By this time the German offensive was stalled due to losses, overextension, Soviet resistance and severe winter weather.

[8] In March, Colonel (later Major General) Boris Aleksandrovich Vladimirov took command of the division, which he led until the end of the war.

While this offensive finally liberated Siniavino, 8th Army made few gains in three days of heavy fighting, and this effort was soon shut down.

[14] In the second week of July it was in the vicinity of Sharkovshchina, advancing into the so-called "Baltic Gap" between German Army Groups Center and North.

As a result of a well thought-out and skillfully organized battle plan the 311th successfully broke through the deep defenses of the German forces at the Magnuszev bridgehead over the Vistula river.

[20] In pursuit of the enemy, from January 16 to 28 the division advanced about 400 km against scattered resistance, with minor losses in manpower and materiel.

Vladimirov's troops were among the first to enter the main territory of Nazi Germany (west of East Prussia) and took the city of Schneidemuhl on February 14.

In the process, the division captured a large number of trophies, including 30 trains loaded with food and military equipment.

In recognition of this:"For exemplary performance of his command assignments at the front of the struggle against the German invaders, and for displaying courage and heroism, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of April 6, 1945, Major General Vladimirov, Boris Aleksandrovich, is awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

[21] On April 26 the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for its role in the defeat of German forces around Stargard.