Formed in December 1942 from an airborne corps, it first saw combat as an infantry unit in the Staraya Russa in March 1943, then fought in the Battle of Kursk.

The division advanced westward into Hungary, fighting in the Battle of Debrecen and the Budapest Offensive in late 1944.

Before the division went into combat, Kirzimov was replaced by Colonel Mikhail Smirnov on 11 March 1943, who was promoted to major general on 16 October 1943; he would command the unit for the rest of the war.

As part of the 5th Guards Army, the division fought in the Battle of Kursk and the Belgorod-Kharkov Offensive Operation.

After the Battle of the Dnieper, the division captured Kremenchuk on 29 September and Znamianka on 9 December, for which it was awarded honorifics.

[3] For crossing the Dniester, the 6th Guards Airborne was awarded the Order of Suvorov 2nd class on 8 April.

On 5 December, the division broke through the northeastern defensive lines of Budapest as part of the 7th Guards Army, with which it remained for the rest of the war.

At the end of December it crossed the Hron, but was forced to retreat in the face of German resistance.

The brigade was subsequently moved to Yevpatoria in the Taurida Military District,[2] where it became a division again in October 1953.