In consequence the division saw relatively uneventful service on this mostly quiet front until the autumn of 1942, when it was moved south to face German Army Group North, and took a leading role in Operation Iskra, which finally drove a land corridor through to besieged Leningrad in January 1943; a year later it also served prominently in the offensive that broke the enemy siege for good.

Its order of battle was as follows: In August, while still forming up, the division was being moved by railway towards Leningrad, and by September 8 it was arriving in the area assigned to the 7th Army east of Lake Ladoga.

Zaitsev would remain in this post until August 18, a remarkably long time for an officer of his rank to hold command of a division.

Thereafter the division was engaged in a rescue mission to give the pocketed units some means to escape, and while many did, the 2nd Shock was effectively destroyed for the second time that year.

[6] When the offensive began it was on the Army's extreme left flank, attacking between the villages of Gaitolovo and Gontovaia Lipta, making some progress towards Siniavino, although that strongpoint continued to hold out.

Following a revised artillery firing plan, the ruined village was taken in 30 minutes by the 30th Guards Rifle Corps, backed by the rest of 67th Army, although further efforts bogged down and the offensive was halted on the 18th.

Each of these rifle battalions, by March 1944, had the following composition: On January 14, 1944, 2nd Shock attacked out of the bridgehead as part of the offensive that finally drove Army Group North back from the gates of Leningrad for good.

In the event, after a crushing artillery preparation, the assault of the 122nd and the 43rd Rifle Corps shattered the 10th German Air Force Division and advanced 6 km on the first day.

On January 19, 122nd Corps liberated Ropsha, and hours later 2nd Shock and 42nd Armies linked up, encircling the remaining enemy forces to the north, which were soon destroyed.

The troops who participated in the liberation of Kingisepp, by the order of the Supreme High Command on February 1, 1944, and by a commendation in Moscow, are given a salute of 12 artillery salvoes from 124 guns.

In May, the 314th was assigned to the 23rd Army in the eastern sector of the Soviet-Finnish front in the Isthmus of Karelia, giving it a chance to rest and recuperate after the previous campaign.

The offensive opened on June 10 with a massive artillery preparation and overwhelming strength in men and equipment, and by the 14th the Finns were back in their second line.

When it began on March 15, the division was in the Oppeln - Ritterfere sector, and was tasked to launch a supporting attack to roll up the enemy's defense along the left bank of the Oder to the north.