Following the Soviet victory at Kursk the 342nd took part in the operation that eliminated that salient, and then in the further offensives that liberated Bryansk and pushed on towards Smolensk and the Dniepr River.

In November 1944, a new 342nd was formed in the Far East, and saw action against Japanese forces in northern Manchuria, assaulting across the Sungach river during the Soviet invasion of that region.

Colonel Popov was replaced in command by Col. Grigorii Ivanovich Kanachadze, who would lead the division through the winter battles and well into 1943.

The Army's commander, Lt. Gen. Pavel Belov, ascribed the setback to insufficient ammunition and blowing snow which hindered the fire of the tanks.

[6][7] On May 11, Col. Logvin Danilovich Chervony took command of the division from Colonel Kanachadze; the former would be promoted to Major General on September 1 and would later be named a Hero of the Soviet Union.

Following the German defeat at Kursk, the 342nd was finally able to advance into the Oryol salient, and on July 20 was awarded one of the first honorifics for the liberation of an occupied place, in this case, Mtsensk.

[8] During August it took part in the Soviet summer offensive that liberated Bryansk and drove to the Dniepr River between Bobruisk and Mogilev.