. Russian PTRD Sniper rifle. The 2nd Guards Motor Rifle Division was formed in 1941, seeing extensive combat during World War II for which it became one of the most famous and decorated formations in the Soviet military. It was named in honor of Mikhail Kalinin and the town of Taman, remaining intact until it was disbanded in 2009, before being reformed in 2013. The 127th Rifle Division was formed 8 June 1940 in Kharkiv, on the base of the 23rd Rifle Division which was just transferred to participate in the imminent Soviet occupation of the Baltic states (1940).
The division was initially garrisoning Kharkiv, Chuhuiv and Bohodukhiv. It was transferred to Rzhyshchiv in May 1941. The 127th Rifle Division was with 19th Army’s 25th Rifle Corps, along with 134th and 162nd Rifle Divisions on June 22, 1941. It formed part of the High Command reserve.[5] By August, it was with the Front troops of the Soviet Reserve Front. After the other division of the 25th Rifle Corps (134th and 162nd) were shattered on arrival to south-east outskirts of Vitebsk during 11–16 July 1941, the 127th was re-routed to south-east of Smolensk and reassigned to the 34th Rifle Corps. At that time, the 535th Rifle Regiment has lost its way and ended up being incorporated into the Leningrad Front. On 4 August 1941, the 127th Division traversed the Dnieper River 13 km south of Yartsevo as part of the general Soviet retreat. Afterwards, it was relieved of front line duty and sent to Dorogobuzh for replenishment, where it received the 875th Rifle Regiment from the 158th Rifle Division.
As the 2nd Guards Rifle Division
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For distinguished combat service, the division was renamed as the 2nd Guards Rifle Division on 18 September 1941, attaining “Guards” status. At the end of September 1941, it fought in Hlukhiv area, retreating toward Kleven river as part of General Arkady Yermakov’s operational group of the Bryansk Front. Transferred to the Kursk area on 3 October 1941, it fought a defensive battle around the town of Tim.
On 22 December 1941, the division started to advance during the Winter Campaign of 1941–42. Acting together with the 1st Guards Rifle Division and 87th Rifle Division, it advanced through Cheremisinovo and Sovetsky districts of the Kursk Oblast. By 28 January 1942, the division was located in Stary Oskol.
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2nd Guards Rifle Division (September 1942)
As the 2nd Guards Tamanskaya Rifle Division
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After participating in the Novorossiysk-Taman offensive in September–October 1943, the division was renamed to 2nd Guards Tamanskaya Rifle Division after the city of Taman, Russia. Starting from 3 November 1943, the division acted in the spearhead of Kerch-Eltigen Operation in northern Yenikale (Ganikale) beachhead, under the command of the 56th Army.
During the Crimean Offensive the division captured the city of Alushta on 15 April 1944, acting under the command of the Separate Coastal Army. 19 May 1944 it was relieved from the front line duty, reassigned to the Soviet Strategic Reserve, 2nd Guards Army and transferred to Dorogobuzh for replenishment. It restarted combat operations 8 July 1944 after the 2nd Guards Army was given to the 1st Baltic Front. The division participated in Šiauliai Offensive and later in October 1944 – in Battle of Memel. In December 1944, the entire army including the 2nd Guards Motor Rifle Division was transferred to 3rd Belorussian Front and participated in the East Prussian Offensive, ending the war in middle April 1945 on the Baltic Sea coast north of Primorsk.
In September 1945, while it was serving with the 11th Guards Rifle Corps, the division was moved back into the Moscow Military District.[6] 
