The new division fought into the northern part of the Korean peninsula, taking many ports and cities with enough distinction that it was awarded the Order of the Red Banner, and continued to serve briefly into the postwar period.

[4] When the Barvenkovo–Lozovaya Offensive began on 18 January 1942, the division was in this Army's first echelon,[5] and helped lead an advance of 90 - 100km by the end of the month.

By 1 April it was still under those commands, helping to defend the northern part of the Barvenkovo bridgehead along a 135km front from Balakleia to Samoilovka.

Due to coordination issues between Southwestern and Southern Fronts Group Bobkin did not receive any air support.

Despite this the 393rd penetrated the German defenses, held by elements of the 454th Security Division, to a depth of 4 - 6km during the morning, allowing Bobkin to commit his cavalry and tanks in the afternoon.

By the end of 16 May the 6th Cavalry had partly encircled Krasnograd but was hindered from taking the town by the shortage of support forces; meanwhile the 393rd had captured a line from Shkavrovoto to Mozharka.

As this was happening the 21st and 23rd Tank Brigades of 6th Army were still advancing to the west, while Group Bobkin was becoming bogged down in the fighting for Krasnograd.

[9] On 21 May the 393rd began pulling back towards Kegichevka, but with the 6th Cavalry retreating at a faster pace it was by now the westernmost Soviet unit in the salient.

[14] When the Manchurian operation began on 9 August the 393rd was a separate division located on the extreme southern flank of 25th Army, which was now part of the 1st Far Eastern Front.

Early the next morning the 393rd conducted a motorized attack through the lines of the 113th against the Japanese 101st Separate Infantry Regiment south of Chonghak, which withdrew westward.

Within hours, at 0900, the division's forward detachment assisted a naval task force in securing the port of Unggi.