During the Soviet invasion of Poland in September 1939, the division advanced into what was annexed as western Belarus with the second-echelon 10th Army.

[5][2] From the beginning of Operation Barbarossa, the 44th Rifle Corps became part of the 13th Army of the Western Front and was tasked with defending the northern sector of the Minsk Fortified Region.

Colonel Afanasy Gryaznov, who had been a staff officer at the Western Front headquarters, took command of the division on 15 July.

[8] Having completed rebuilding, the division conducted a forced march to the area of Yartsevo on 26 July to join the Battle of Smolensk.

The attack put the opposing German troops to flight, as they withdrew in disorder, abandoning weapons and ammunition.

By the end of the day on 19 August, the German troops, bringing up reserves, established a new defensive line on the Tsarevich river.

[2] The division was withdrawn to the front reserve on 12 September and concentrated in the area of Gorokhovka, south of Vadino station.