Withdrawn from the bridgehead, 45th Guards took part in Operation Polar Star, attacking the German line held by the Spanish ’Blue’ Division at Krasny Bor on the 10th February. Once again the attack failed, however, the Blue Division was shattered and shortly afterwards, was withdrawn to Spain.

 

In April 1943, the 45th Guards, along with the 63rd and 64th Guards became the 30th Guards Rifle Corps. The main strike force of the Leningrad front. The Corps first operation was the successful capture of the Siniavino heights in September 1943, which finally freed the rail line into the city from German artillery.

14th January saw the 45th Guards at the forefront of the Leningrad-Novgorod Strategic offensive to fully liberate the city. The German army was driven back over 100 miles from the city, the 900 day siege, the worst in modern history was over.

 

During this time the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner to add to the Order of Lenin.

 

Pulled back to Leningrad in June, they attacked northwards to drive the Finnish forces back from the city. Returning to the west they were involved in the fighting around Narva. 1945 saw the 45th Guards driving the Germans back from Tallinn and along the Baltic coast of Estonia. Then mopping up the remaining German forces in Lithuania where they remained until the end of the war.

 

At the end of the war the division’s full honourific title was:

 

The 45th Krasnoselyskaya Guards Order of Lenin, Order of the Red Banner Rifle Division.

The History of the 45th Guards II

On the 13th January 1943 the 45th Guards attacked out of the 5 kopek Bridgehead as part of Operation Spark, the offensive to try and break the siege. Little ground was taken, however, German units were tied down allowing units to the north to break through to the city.

Badge worn by soldiers serving in Guards units in the Red Army.

 

Units were awarded Guards status as a result of outstanding performance on the field of battle. (In the case of the 45th Guards, the taking and holding of the 5 Kopek Bridgehead).

 

Guards units received  better pay and equipment, wounded soldiers belonging to  a Guards unit were always allowed to return to their old unit on discharge from hospital (the usual practise being to send soldiers to where they were most needed).