31st Guards Vitebskaya order of Lenin Red Banner order of Suvorov Motorised Rifle Division

31-я гвардейская мотострелковая Витебская ордена Ленина Краснознамённая ордена Суворова дивизия

Military Unit: 41134; from 1968: 44432

Activated 25.6.57 in Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR, as the 29th Guards Motorised Rifle Division, from the 29th Guards Mechanised Division.

Organisation 1960:

19.2.62 re-organised:

11.1.65 renamed 31st Guards Motorised Rifle Division.

In 1968 the 35th independent Guards Sapper Battalion was renamed 35th independent Guards Engineer-Sapper Battalion.

Organisation 1970:

In 1972 the 000 independent Chemical Defence Company was renamed 158th independent Chemical Defence Battalion.

15.11.72 re-organised:

16.5.77 converted to a tank division, and renamed 21st Guards Tank Division:

In 1980 the 389th independent Motor Transport Battalion was renamed 1138th independent Material Supply Battalion.

Organisation 1980:

Organisation 1988:

Headquarters:

Subordination:

Divisional coordinates:

The division was maintained as a Ready Division - Reduced Strength I (US terms: Category I).