List of infantry divisions of the Soviet Union 1917–1957

By 1921 the establishment of the rifle division had changed substantially in accordance with TO&E N 1400/246 for peace-time, with two brigades and only 15,876 personnel, and the reduction of artillery to two battalions and one battery, and the cavalry from four to three squadron regiment.

The establishment of divisions stationed in the border areas was reduced to 8,705 personnel, and those in the interior regions to 6,725, including the reduction to a single cavalry squadron.

Due to increasing economic difficulties in the post-war USSR, the armed forces were substantially reduced, and from 8 August 1923 transferred to the territorial system of organisation.

The remainder consisted of regular officers and enlisted personnel serving two-year stints.

Most of the divisions that participated in the Russian Civil War were disbanded by 1927, however, Leon Trotsky initiated a formation of the new armed force with a professional cadre which was supported in its evolution even after his departure from Soviet Union.

During the 1930s the RKKA infantry forces were not only expanded, but also substantially reorganized, in part due to substantial input of military theorists into their doctrinal development, such as that of Mikhail Tukhachevsky whose 1934 report to the Defence Committee included 13 categories for divisional organization of the infantry.

On 29 November 1937 four types of structures for rifle forces were established: The territorial system was reorganized, with all remaining formations converted to 'cadre' divisions, in 1937 and 1938,[14] with the cadre divisions retaining one territorial regiment until reorganisation that followed 1938 restructuring of all armed forces.

In the course of the Second World War the Soviet Union's Red Army raised over four hundred and fifty numbered rifle divisions (infantry).

People's Militia divisions, listed in the order of creation, were hastily created in mid-1941 as the German advance neared Leningrad.

Although 25 Narodnoe Opolcheniye divisions were intended for formation, only 16 were formed due to demand for workers in building the fortifications for the defence of Moscow.

By 7 July 1941 140,000 volunteers had been accepted into the Moscow People's Militia, and organised into 12 divisions (of establishment (shtat) 11,633) named according to the city rayons.