13th Guards Airborne Division
The 13th Guards Airborne Division was a division of the Soviet Airborne Troops. Its first formation was formed in December 1943 from airborne brigades and was quickly redesignated the 98th Guards Rifle Division without seeing combat in World War II. The division was reformed in 1944 as part of the 37th Guards Airborne Corps, and was reorganized as the 103rd Guards Rifle Division within a year, again without seeing combat. The division was reformed for the third and last time in 1948. The division served in Amur Oblast in the Soviet Far East until its disbandment in 1955. History First formation The 13th Guards Airborne Division was first formed on 20 December 1943 from the 18th, 19th and 20th Guards Airborne Brigades, part of the Reserve of the Supreme High Command. The division included the 18, 19th, and 20th Guards Airborne Brigades, and was commanded by Colonel Konstantin Nikolaevich Vindushev. The division was redesignated as the 98th Guards Rifle Division on 19 January 1944, and became part of the 37th Guards Rifle Corps. Second formation The division was reformed between February and March 1944 in the Moscow Military District from the 3rd, 8th, and 21st Guards Airborne Brigades. In October,