Guards unit (USSR)

An unit of the Belarusian 38th Guards Air Assault Brigade at the 2017 Minsk Independence Day Parade.

Guards units (Belarusian: Гвардыя, romanized: Hvardyya, Russian: Гвардия, romanized: Gvardiya, Ukrainian: Гвардія, romanized: Hvardiya) are elite units and formations in the armed forces of the former Soviet Union and currently in the armed forces of Belarus and Russia. These units were awarded Guards status after distinguishing themselves in service, and are considered to have elite status. The Guards designation originated during the Great Patriotic War of 1941–45, its name coming from the Russian Imperial Guard.^[1]

History[]

The title of Soviet Guards was first introduced on September 18, 1941, at the direction of the Headquarters of the Soviet Supreme Commander-in-Chief (Stavka Verkhovnogo Glavnokomanduyuschego). By order №308 of the People's Commissar of Defense, the 100th, 127th, 153rd and 161st Rifle Divisions were renamed the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Guards Divisions, respectively, for their distinguished service during the 1941 Yelnya Offensive. The Soviet 316th Rifle Division was renamed the 8th Guards Rifle Division on November 18, 1941, following the actions of the Panfilovtsy and was given the Panfilovskaya title in honor of its late commander Ivan Panfilov. By December 31, 1941, the , 120th, 64th, 316th, 78th, and 52nd Rifle Divisions had become the 5th through 10th Guards Rifle Divisions.^[2]

All artillery units equipped with Katyusha multiple rocket launchers were designated Guards Mortars Units.^[3] Some twenty Guards Airborne Brigades were converted into the 11th–16th Guards Rifle Divisions in December 1943.^[4]

The units and formations nominated for the Soviet Guard title received special Guards Colours in accordance with the decision of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. On May 21, 1942, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR introduced Guards ranks and Guards badges to be worn of the right side of the chest in all orders of dress. In June 1943, the Presidum resolved to officially introduce to the Red Army, Air Force and NKVD's Police, Internal Troops and Border Guards the Guards Red Banners (regimental colours) and in February 1944 the Guards Red Banners for the Soviet Navy (including naval infantry and Aviation) for those Guards units decorated with the Order of the Red Banner.

After the Second World War a number of Guards troops were stationed in Eastern Europe, for example, in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany.

Since the break-up of the Soviet Union, Guards designations for military units have been retained by Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan. Ukraine retained the Guards designations until 2016.^[5] A number of former Soviet republics have national guard branches of their armed forces, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan (2,500 Republican Guards in 1994), Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

Badges[]

• 

  Former Soviet Guards badge (1942–1992)

• 

  Former Russian Guards badge (1992–2010)

• 

  Current Russian Guards badge (2010–present)

• 

  Belarusian Guards badge

• 

  Soviet Guards emblem on an SU-122 self-propelled gun

• 

  Ukrainian Guards badge (Until 2016)

• 

  Korean People's Army Guards badge

See also[]

• List of Soviet divisions 1917–45 has an almost complete list of Soviet Guards divisions.
• List of army units called Guards
• List of guards units of Russia
• List of guards units of Ukraine
• Russian Guards

Notes[]

References[]

• David Glantz (2005). Colossus Reborn: The Red Army at War 1941–43. University Press of Kansas. ISBN 978-0-7006-1353-3.
• Richard Overy (1997). Russia's War: A History of the Soviet Effort: 1941–1945. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-027169-4.
• Steven J. Zaloga and James Grandsen (1984). Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War Two. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 0-85368-606-8.

External links[]

• Red Army Guards, from the U.S. Military Intelligence Bulletin, March 1946