The Western Division was formed in August 1918 in the area of Moscow and Tambov at the initiative of Social Democracy of the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania (SDKPiL) and the Polish Socialist Party – Left (PPS-Lewica), part of the Moscow Military District.

During the Polish–Soviet War, it was part of the Western Army from November of that year, and it fought against the pro-Polish Self-Defence of Lithuania and Belarus units and later the Polish Army of the newly created Second Polish Republic in the opening phase of the Polish–Soviet War.

[3] Between March and July, the division fought against Polish troops in the area of Minsk and Molodechno.

It fought against Pyotr Wrangel's White Army in Crimea, advancing towards Melitopol between May and July.

In September it was transferred to the 6th Army, fighting in the Northern Taurida operation of the Southern Front in October and November.

During the operation, the 52nd fought in the area of Agayman and Nyzhni Sirohozy, and was temporarily directly subordinated to the front command in November.

Between 7 and 17 November, the division fought in the Perekop–Chongar operation, crossing the Sivash and helping to capture the Ishun fortified position.

In early 1921, the division participated in the suppression of anarchist leader Nestor Makhno's Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine in the Nikolayev area.

The 52nd Rifle Division took part in the invasion of Poland in 1939 and the Winter War with Finland[8] from November 1939 to March 1940.

The division remained in that region until late 1944, when it was transferred to 2nd Belorussian Front and took part in the invasion of Germany.

In August a new offensive was launched, and the 52nd played a role in the destruction of the German and Romanian forces in this southern sector.

After the capture of Belgrade on Oct. 20, due to losses the division again went into reserves in the town of Ruma, rebuilding to a strength of 6,000 men by the end of December.

[19] The division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner in recognition of its "courage and valor" in the capture of Belgrade on 14 November.

(Russian: 52-я стрелковая Шумлинская-Венская дважды Краснознамённая ордена Суворова дивизия) After the war, the division relocated with the 66th Rifle Corps to the Odessa Military District at Haivoron.