A second division began forming in the Transcaucasus in August, and served for the duration in the southern regions of the Soviet-German front.

It distinguished itself in the liberation of Yenakiyevo in March 1943, but also suffered massive losses, including the death of the division's commanding officer, along the Dniestr River in May 1944.

During January and February 1942 the division was rebuilt in the North Caucasus Military District, and in March returned to the Kerch Peninsula following the successful Soviet amphibious landings there.

As the German forces withdrew northwards following their defeat at Stalingrad, the division followed up in the 44th Army, liberating the town of Azov on February 7, 1943.

In July, Kribulin was succeeded briefly by another colonel before Maj. Gen. Ivan Ivanovich Shvygin took command, which he would hold until he was killed in action on May 13, 1944.

The troops who participated in the liberation of the Donbass, during which they captured Ordzhonikidze and other cities, by order of the Supreme High Command on September 8, 1943, and a commendation in Moscow, are given a salute of 20 artillery volleys out of 224 guns.

During this period, the division's antitank battalion was completely reequipped with ZIS-3 76mm cannon, replacing the 45mm pieces it had had previously.

[11] By May, the Soviet offensive to break into Romanian territory towards the cities of Iași (Jassy) and Chișinău (Kishinev) had bogged down along the Dniestr River.

Units of 3rd and 4th Ukrainian Fronts had seized bridgeheads at several points in April, but they were shallow, marshy, and, in some cases, untenable against serious attack.

the defenders found themselves literally with their backs to the river, with no room to maneuver and increasingly vulnerable to enemy fire.

During the next four hours, while attempting to defend themselves, the rifle regiments were destroyed, with only a few stragglers managing to swim the river.

[15] This event finally brought the Soviet offensive to a halt, and it would not be renewed until August,[16] which in part gave time for the 320th to recover from its mauling.

The following month, in preparation for the final offensive on Vienna, the 320th and its corps became part of 27th Army, back in 3rd Ukrainian Front.

[20] The 320th Rifle Division is featured extensively in Multi-Man Publishing's 2011 Historical Advanced Squad Leader module Festung Budapest.