20th Guards Prikarpatsko-Berlinskaya Red Banner order of Suvorov Motorised Rifle Division

20-я гвардейская мотострелковая Прикарпатско-Берлинская Краснознамённая ордена Суворова дивизия

Military Unit: 58550

Activated 17.5.57 in Grimma, East Germany, from the 8th Guards Mechanised Division.

Organisation 1957:

• 67th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Leipzig-Schönau, East Germany)
• 241st Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Wurzen, East Germany)
• 242nd Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Grimma, East Germany)
• 1st Guards Tank Regiment (Borna, East Germany)
• 944th Guards Artillery Regiment (Wurzen, East Germany)
• 358th Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Leisnig, East Germany)
• 68th independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion (Leipzig-Taucha, East Germany)
• 133rd independent Guards Sapper Battalion (Grimma, East Germany)
• 454th independent Guards Communications Battalion (Grimma, East Germany)
• 000 independent Chemical Defence Company (Grimma, East Germany)
• 347th independent Medical-Sanitary Battalion (Grimma, East Germany)
• 672nd independent Motor Transport Battalion (Leipzig-Taucha, East Germany)

In 1957 the 241st Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment was transferred to the 57th Guards Motorised Rifle Division, and was replaced by the 29th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment, while several other attached units changed locations.

Organisation 1960:

• 29th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Plauen, East Germany)
• 67th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Grimma, East Germany)
• 242nd Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Wurzen, East Germany)
• 1st Guards Tank Regiment (Glauchau, East Germany)
• 944th Guards Artillery Regiment (Leisnig, East Germany)
• 358th Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Leisnig, East Germany)
• 68th independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion (Plauen, East Germany)
• 133rd independent Guards Sapper Battalion (Leipzig, East Germany)
• 454th independent Guards Communications Battalion (Grimma, East Germany)
• 000 independent Chemical Defence Company (Grimma, East Germany)
• 347th independent Medical-Sanitary Battalion (Grimma, East Germany)
• 672nd independent Motor Transport Battalion (Grimma, East Germany)

In 1961 the 320th independent Missile Battalion was activated.

19.2.62 the 39th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion was activated.

In 5.62 the 20th independent Tank Battalion was activated.

In 1968 the 68th independent Guards Sapper Battalion was renamed 68th independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion, while the 487th independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion was activated.

Organisation 1970:

• 29th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Plauen, East Germany)
• 67th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Grimma, East Germany)
• 242nd Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Wurzen, East Germany)
• 1st Guards Tank Regiment (Glauchau, East Germany)
• 944th Guards Artillery Regiment (Leisnig, East Germany)
• 358th Guards Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Leisnig, East Germany)
• 20th independent Tank Battalion (Plauen, East Germany)
• 320th independent Missile Battalion (Leisnig, East Germany)
• 487th independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion (Leisnig, East Germany)
• 405th independent Reactive Artillery Battery (Wurzen, East Germany)
• 68th independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion (Plauen, East Germany)
• 133rd independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Leipzig, East Germany)
• 454th independent Guards Communications Battalion (Grimma, East Germany)
• 000 independent Chemical Defence Company (Grimma, East Germany)
• 39th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Leipzig, East Germany)
• 347th independent Medical-Sanitary Battalion (Grimma, East Germany)
• 672nd independent Motor Transport Battalion (Grimma, East Germany)

In 1972 the 000 independent Chemical Defence Company was renamed 153rd independent Chemical Defence Battalion.

In 1980 the 672nd independent Motor Transport Battalion was renamed 1124th independent Material Supply Battalion, and the 405th independent Reactive Artillery Battery was absorbed by the Artillery Regiment.

Organisation 1980:

• 29th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Plauen, East Germany)
• 67th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Grimma, East Germany)
• 242nd Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Wurzen, East Germany)
• 1st Guards Tank Regiment (Glauchau, East Germany)
• 944th Guards Artillery Regiment (Leisnig, East Germany)
• 358th Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Leisnig, East Germany)
• 20th independent Tank Battalion (Plauen, East Germany) - 1984 moved to Pommsen
• 320th independent Missile Battalion (Leisnig, East Germany)
• 487th independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion (Leisnig, East Germany) - 1984 moved to Pommsen
• 68th independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion (Plauen, East Germany)
• 133rd independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Leipzig, East Germany)
• 454th independent Guards Communications Battalion (Grimma, East Germany)
• 153rd independent Chemical Defence Battalion (Grimma, East Germany)
• 39th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Leipzig, East Germany)
• 347th independent Medical Battalion (Grimma, East Germany)
• 1124th independent Material Supply Battalion (Grimma, East Germany)

In 6.83 the 320th independent Missile Battalion was transferred to the new 432nd Missile Brigade.

Organisation 1988:

• 29th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Plauen, East Germany)
• 67th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Grimma, East Germany)
• 242nd Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Wurzen, East Germany)
• 1st Guards Tank Regiment (Glauchau, East Germany)
• 944th Guards Artillery Regiment (Leisnig, East Germany)
• 358th Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Leisnig, East Germany)
• 20th independent Tank Battalion (Pommsen, East Germany)
• 487th independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion (Pommsen, East Germany) - 1990? moved to Oschatz
• 68th independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion (Plauen, East Germany)
• 133rd independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Leipzig, East Germany)
• 454th independent Guards Communications Battalion (Grimma, East Germany)
• 153rd independent Chemical Defence Battalion (Grimma, East Germany)
• 39th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Leipzig, East Germany)
• 347th independent Medical Battalion (Grimma, East Germany)
• 1124th independent Material Supply Battalion (Grimma, East Germany)

7.89 the 1st Guards Tank Regiment was transferred to the 9th Tank Division, and was replaced by the 95th Tank Regiment.

11.89 the 95th Tank Regiment was renamed 576th Motorised Rifle Regiment.

11.91 re-organised:

• 29th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment was transferred to Shirokiy Lan, Nikolayev Oblast, and was replaced by the 33rd Motorised Rifle Regiment, from the 207th Motorised Rifle Division
• 67th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment was transferred to the 131st Motorised Rifle Division, and was replaced by the 41st Motorised Rifle Regiment, from the 207th Motorised Rifle Division
• 133rd independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion was disbanded, and was replaced by the 109th Engineer-Sapper Battalion from the 9th Tank Division
• 20th independent Tank Battalion was disbanded

In 1993 the 41st Motorised Rifle Regiment was renamed 21st independent Tank Battalion, and was replaced by the 255th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment.

12.94 to 2.95 deployed into Chechnya.

In 1995 the 21st independent Tank Battalion was renamed 182nd Tank Regiment.

In 1996 the 33rd Motorised Rifle Regiment was disbanded, and was replaced by the 56th Guards Landing-Assault (Airborne) Regiment.

In 5.98 the 182nd Tank Regiment was disbanded, and was replaced by the 498th independent Tank Battalion.

8.1999 deployed to Dagestan ASSR.

Organisation 2000:

• 242nd Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Kamyshin, Volgograd Oblast)
• 255th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment (Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast)
• 56th Guards Landing-Assault (Airborne) Regiment (Kamyshin, Volgograd Oblast)
• 498th independent Tank Battalion (Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast)
• 944th Guards Artillery Regiment (Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast)
• 358th Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast)
• 487th independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion (Stepnoy, Volgograd Oblast)
• 68th independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion (Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast)
• 109th independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion (Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast)
• 454th independent Guards Communications Battalion (Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast)
• 153rd independent Chemical Defence Battalion (Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast)
• 39th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion (Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast)
• 347th independent Medical Battalion (Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast)
• 1124th independent Material Supply Battalion (Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast)
• 539th independent Electronic Warfare Battalion (Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast)

2009 renamed 20th Guards Motorised Rifle Brigade.

Headquarters:

• Grimma. East Germany, 5.57 - 6.93 [51 13 50N, 12 42 28E]
• Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast, 6.93 - today [48 41 58N, 44 30 16E]

Subordination:

• 1st Guards Tank Army, 5.57 - 6.64
• 8th Guards Combined Arms Army, 6.64 - 5.83
• 1st Guards Tank Army, 5.83 - 6.93
• 8th Guards Army Corps, 6.93 - 5.98
• North Caucasus Military District, 5.98 - 9.2010
• Southern Military District, 9.2010 - today

Equipment:

• 1974: 255 T-54/55
• 1979: T-64 (19, 21 Gv.MSP and 1 Gv.TP), T-62 (20 Gv.MSP and 1 Gv.TP), T-55 (21 Gv.MSP), 152mm 2s3 (artillery regiment), SA-8 (SAM regiment)
• 12.85: 11300 men, 231 T-62, 40 T-80, 188 BMP-1, 257 BTR-60, 54 122mm 2s1, 18 122mm D-30, 54 152mm 2s3

Equipment 19.11.90 (CFE treaty holdings):

• 29th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment: 31 T-80, 61 BMP-2, 85 BMP-1, 7 BRM-1K, 18 2s1 Gvozdika, 18 2s12 Sani, 9 BMP-1KSh, 3 PRP-3/4, 2 RKhM, 3 BREM-2, 2 PU-12, 7 MT-LBT and 3 MT-55A
• 67th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment: 30 T-80, 59 BMP-2, 84 BMP-1, 7 BRM-1K, 7 BTR-70, 18 2s1 Gvozdika, 18 2s12 Sani, 9 BMP-1KSh, 3 PRP-3/4, 2 RKhM, 3 BREM-2, 2 PU-12, 7 MT-LBT and 2 MT-55A
• 242nd Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment: 31 T-80, 6 BMP-1, 4 BRM-1K, 148 BTR-60, 18 2s1 Gvozdika, 18 2s12 Sani, 8 R-145BM, 3 PRP-3/4, 2 BREM-2, 3 PU-12, 7 MT-LBT and 2 MT-55A
• 576th Motorised Rifle Regiment: 31 T-80, 6 BMP-1, 4 BRM-1K, 148 BTR-60, 18 2s1 Gvozdika, 18 2s12 Sani, 8 R-145BM, 3 PRP-3/4, 2 BREM-2, 2 PU-12, 2 BREM-2, 7 MT-LBT and 3 MT-55A
• 944th Guards Artillery Regiment: 54 2s3 Akatsiya, 18 BM-21 Grad, 5 PRP-3/4, 6 1V18, 2 1V19, 2 R-145BM and 1 R-156BTR
• 358th Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment: ZRK Osa (SA-8), 5 PU-12, 2 R-145BM and 1 R-156BTR
• 20th independent Tank Battalion: 31 T-80, 2 BMP-1, 1 BMP-1KSh and 1 MT-55A
• 487th independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion: 1 PRP-3 and 14 MT-LBT
• 68th independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion: 1 R-145BM, 1 BMP-1KSh, 17 BMP-1 and 7 BRM-1K
• 454th independent Guards Communications Battalion: 10 R-145BM and 1 R-2AM
• 133rd independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion: 1 IRM

Equipment 1.1.2000 (CFE treaty holdings):

• 242nd Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment: 70 BTR-70, 12 2s3 Akatsiya, 2400 men
• 255th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment: 125 BMP-2, 12 2s3 Akatsiya, 2200 men
• 56th Guards Landing-Assault (Airborne) Regiment: 20 MT-LB, 18 122mm D-30 and 2200 men
• 944th Guards Artillery Regiment: 4 PRP-4, 23 2s19 Msta-S, 12 BM-21 Grad and 900 men
• 358th Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment: 5 PU-12, ZRK Osa (SA-8), ZRK Tor (SA-15) and 400 men
• 487th independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion: 15 MT-LBT, 1 PRP-4, 1 RKhM and 193 men
• 68th independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion: 12 BMP-2, 11 BRM-1K, 6 BTR-80, 3 R-145BM, 1 R-156BTR and 345 men
• 454th independent Guards Communications Battalion: 8 R-145BM, 1 ZS-88 (BTR-80) and 265 men
• 153rd independent Chemical Defence Battalion: 3 RKhM, 4 MT-LB and 176 men
• 1124th independent Material Supply Battalion: 1 PRP-4, 1 R-145BM and 426 men
• 539th independent Electronic Warfare Battalion: 3 SPR-2, 1 RKhM and 171 men
• totals included 93 T-72 tanks

Divisional coordinates:

• Grimma barracks (Artillerie Kaserne) [US designation: Grimma Army Barracks 201]: 51 13 43N, 12 42 38E (Divisional HQ, 67th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment)
• Grimma barracks (Strassburg Kaserne) [US designation: Grimma Army Barracks 202]: 51 13 45N, 12 42 12E (67th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment, 454th independent Guards Communications Battalion, 153rd independent Chemical Defence Battalion and 1124th independent Material Supply Battalion)
• Grimma barracks [US designation: Grimma Barracks 507]: 51 14 16N, 12 43 05E (347th independent Medical Battalion)
• Plauen barracks (Hindenburg Kaserne) [US designation: Plauen Army Barracks 242]: 50 29 40N, 12 05 56E (29th Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment)
• Plauen barracks (Artillerie Kaserne Kaserne) [US designation: Plauen Army Barracks 241]: 50 30 04N, 12 05 55E (944th Guards Artillery Regiment and 20th independent Tank Battalion)
• Wurzen barracks (Flak Kaserne) [US designation: Wurzen Army Barracks 281]: 51 22 51N, 12 43 31E (242nd Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment and 405th independent Reactive Artillery Battery)
• Glauchau barracks (Hammer Kaserne) [US designation: Glauchau Army Barracks 261]: 50 48 39N, 12 33 07E (1st Guards Tank Regiment and 95th Tank Regiment)
• Leisnig barracks (Alte Kaserne) {US designation: Leisning Army Barracks 241]: 51 09 26N, 12 54 42E (358th Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment)
• Leisnig barracks (Artillerie Kaserne) {US designation: Leisning Army Barracks 242]: 51 09 15N, 12 55 06E (944th Guards Artillery Regiment, 487th independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion and 320th independent Missile Battalion)
• Leipzig barracks (Heiterblick Kaserne) [US designation: Leipzig Army Barracks 242]: 51 21 42N, 12 27 07E (133rd independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion and 39th independent Equipment Maintenance and Recovery Battalion)
• Pommsen barracks: 51 13 17N, 12 36 02E (20th independent Tank Battalion after 1984 and 487th independent Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion after 1984)
• Oschatz barracks: 51 17 37N, 13 07 39E

The division was maintained as a Ready Division - First Line (US terms: Category I) - manning was 100%. No data after 1993.