4th Rifle Division (Soviet Union)

It was first formed in 1919 from the remnants of the Lithuanian Rifle Division and fought in the Defence of Petrograd during the Russian Civil War.

It fought in the Winter War from December 1939 and suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Kelja.

During the 1930s the division was part of the 5th Rifle Corps, stationed in the Belorussian Military District.

It was moved north in 1939 and fought in the Winter War, including at the Battle of Kelja, later joining the newly formed 13th Army.

In the middle of April 1942 the division under Colonel Ivan Rosly was fighting as part of the 12th Army.

It was re-formed 1943 in the Moscow Military District and from April 1943 – May 1944 it was part of the Baltic Front's 11th Army.

Junior Politruk Aleksey Yeryomenko of the division's 220th Rifle Regiment rallies troops minutes before his death in an assault during operations on the Southern Front, 12 July 1942. Max Alpert 's photograph became famous as Kombat .