Both of these German positions were evacuated in March 1943, and, after rebuilding, the division returned to the front to take part in the summer offensive along the Smolensk axis.

In 1945 it helped to liberate northern Poland during the Vistula-Oder Offensive, before being reassigned to 3rd Belorussian Front in East Prussia.

During the Second Rzhev-Sychevka Offensive Operation, 39th Army was positioned at the apex of the Rzhev Salient, roughly along the line of the upper Volga River.

Maj. Gen. A. I. Zygin, commander of 39th Army, had been assigned a rather simple mission which was largely diversionary while the main effort to pinch out the salient took place farther south.

[6] When the attack opened on November 25, the other forces of 39th Army did make some initial progress against the thinly-held German lines, and expanded their bridgeheads across the Volga on each side of the 206th Division.

Between them they were able to assist the 206th to contain and even push back the Soviet bridgeheads across the Volga, so the battle became a frontal offensive, and the 348th would remain in reserve until greater progress was made.

While this move freed up German forces for service elsewhere, it did the same for the Red Army, and on March 11, in the face of a deteriorating situation in the Kursk region, the STAVKA issued the following directive (No.

Breaking through German positions the division bypassed Oryol from the south before entering street fighting in conjunction with other Soviet forces which subsided on August 5 with the city's full liberation.

After receiving reconnaissance reports from this company, Grigorevskii ordered two battalions of the 1174th Rifle Regiment to begin clearing operations; during the day further reserves were committed to the fighting and by evening Starodub was freed.

[16] On the eve of the 1944 summer offensive, General Grigorevskii was reassigned to command of the 61st Rifle Corps, which he would hold for the duration of the war.

On November 2 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, and on April 6, 1945, he was awarded the Gold Star of a Hero of the Soviet Union for his services.

On the same day, while this operation continued, the division was recognized for its role in the liberation of the city, and received its name as an honorific:"BOBRUISK - ...348th Rifle Division (Major General Nikitin, Nikolai Aleksandrovich)... By order of the Supreme High Command of 29 June 1944 and a commendation in Moscow, the troops who participated in the battles for the liberation of Bobruisk are given a salute of 20 artillery salvoes from 224 guns.

"[19]As the Soviet advance continued through Belorussia and into Poland the division was further recognized for its service on August 9 with the award of the Order of the Red Banner for participation in the liberation of Byalistok.

However, on the next day, the Army's units ran into armor of the Grossdeutchland Panzer Division, halting the advance and even losing some ground.

On January 23, elements of the Army captured the important center of Willenberg, but spent the next three days fighting off repeated counterattacks.

Following this, the advance continued on Guttstadt, while other elements of the Front reached the Baltic and cut off the German forces in East Prussia.

[23] On April 5, the division was awarded the Order of Kutuzov, 2nd degree, for its role in the capture of Wormditt, Melzak, and the surrounding area, during the East Prussian campaign.