The 1st Infantry Division (Russian: 1-я пехотная дивизия, 1-ya Pekhotnaya Diviziya) was an infantry formation of the Russian Imperial Army that existed in various formations from 1811 until the end of World War I and the Russian Revolution. From at least 1903 to the end of its existence the division was based in Smolensk.[2]
| 1st Infantry Division | |
|---|---|
| 1-я пехотная дивизия | |
| Active | 1811 – 1918 |
| Country |  Russian Empire |
| Branch | Russian Imperial Army |
| Role | Infantry |
| Size | approx. 20,000[1] |
| Garrison/HQ | Smolensk |
| Engagements | |
History
editIt was initially formed in 1811 as the 25th Infantry Division, and renumbered as the 1st in 1820.[3]: 118 The division took part in the Russo-Japanese War and was located in Manchuria during that time. In August 1914 it was part of the 2nd Army of the Northwestern Front. It was completely destroyed during the Russian invasion of East Prussia by September of that year and was reformed in December 1914. In 1915–17 it was assigned to the 12th Army, 5th Army, and later the 1st Army. It was demobilized around the time of the Russian Revolution and the subsequent unrest.[2][4][5]
Organization
editRussian infantry divisions consisted of a staff, two infantry brigades, and one artillery brigade.[1] It was part of the 13th Army Corps as of 1914.[2][6]
- 1st Brigade
- 2nd Brigade
- 1st Artillery Brigade
Known commanders
edit| Name | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lieutenant General Nikolai Bardovsky | 1883 | 1887 |
| 2 | Lieutenant General Mikhail Shulgin | 24.08.1892 | 9.01.1900 |
| 3 | Lieutenant General Vladimir Pensky | 1900 | 1904 |
| 4 | Lieutenant General Alexander Brilevich | 6.12.1904 | 26.10.1905 |
| 5 | General of Infantry Dmitry Zuyev | 21.06.1907 | 16.06.1910 |
| 6 | Lieutenant General Andrei Ugryumov | 2.07.1910 | after 1.03.1916 |
| 7 | Major General Luka Kondratovich | 5.03.1916 | after 3.01.1917 |
| 8 | Major General Silvestras Žukauskas | 18.05.1917 | ? |
Known chiefs of staff
edit| Name | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colonel Mikhail Markov | 17.01.1878 | 27.05.1879 |
| 2 | Colonel Mikhail Ivanov | 10.05.1892 | 4.02.1898 |
| 3 | Colonel Baron Alexander von Taube | 25.10.1901 | 4.10.1904 |
| 4 | Colonel Alexander Davydov | 2.08.1910 | 19.06.1912 |
| 5 | Colonel Ivan Kashcheyev | 1913 | 1.07.1914 |
References
edit- ^ a b Handbook of the Russian Army, 1914. London: Imperial War Museum (originally British General Staff). 1996. p. 263. ISBN 978-1870423670.
- ^ a b c "1-я пехотная дивизия". Regiment.ru (in Russian). 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
- ^ Garkusha, Irina, ed. (2006). Российский государственный военно-исторический архив. Путеводитель [Russian State Military Archive Guidebook] (in Russian). Vol. 2. Moscow: ROSSPEN. ISBN 978-5-8243-0895-2. Archived from the original on 2017-03-03. Retrieved 2017-01-08.
- ^ Russian State Military History Archive. Tome 2 Archived 2014-07-16 at the Wayback Machine. 2006. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
- ^ Russian Army, 4 June 1916
- ^ Conrad, Mark (2001). "THE RUSSIAN ARMY, 1914". Retrieved 8 January 2017.