Zvezda 3606 Soviet Mountain Troops 1:35

Description

The Red Army in the 1930s, bearing in mind the need to defend the southern borders of the USSR, based for example on the Caucasus, but also preparing to conduct offensive operations in the mountain area, formed mountain infantry divisions. At the start of the German-Soviet war, on June 22, 1941, it set up several such formations (e.g. the 30th, 60th, 62 or 72nd Mountain Rifle Division), concentrating them primarily in the South-West and South Fronts. . Further units of this type were also formed during the Great Patriotic War – for example, the 302nd Mountain Rifle Division was formed in July 1941. Its main strength was comprised of four infantry regiments and a mountain artillery regiment. Due to the actions in the south of the USSR, it was smashed by the Germans, but in 1942 it was re-formed. This time it consisted of only three mountain infantry regiments, a mountain artillery regiment, battalions: anti-tank, communications, engineer and reconnaissance company. It is worth adding that the organization of another mountain infantry division – the 9th Mountain Rifle Division – was very unusual, which, moreover, in 1943 was transformed into a rifle division. This division included as many as five infantry regiments (from 1942), two towed artillery regiments, a self-propelled artillery regiment (from 1943) and numerous support units.