163rd Rifle Division

E30060

The 163rd Rifle Division was a Red Army infantry formation best known for its disastrous defeat by Finnish forces during the Winter War, particularly in the Battle of Suomussalmi.

Aliases (1)
  • Soviet 163rd Rifle Division ×2

Statements (31)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Red Army unit
infantry division
rifle division
allegiance Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
belligerentSide Soviet side in the Winter War
casualties heavy losses in personnel
conflict Winter War
World War II
country Soviet Union
engagement Battle of Suomussalmi
Winter War operations in Kainuu
environment subarctic winter conditions
equipmentLosses heavy losses in heavy weapons and vehicles
era World War II era
fateInWinterWar largely destroyed
formationType rifle division
front Karelian front
historicalReputation example of Soviet failures in Winter War
logisticalIssue severe supply problems in winter conditions
militaryBranch Infantry
militaryDoctrineContext Soviet deep battle doctrine
notableEvent encirclement on roads near Suomussalmi
notableFor defeat at the Battle of Suomussalmi
encirclement and destruction in the Winter War
opponent Finnish Army
opponentCommander Hjalmar Siilasvuo
opponentTacticsFaced Finnish motti tactics
partOf Red Army
role offensive operations against Finland
theaterOfOperations Eastern Front
Finnish front

Referenced by (3)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
9th Division (Finland) ("Soviet 163rd Rifle Division")
faced
Battle of Raate Road ("Soviet 163rd Rifle Division")
opponent
Battle of Suomussalmi
SovietUnit

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