| 31st Guards Airborne Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1948–1959 |
| Country |  Soviet Union |
| Branch | Soviet airborne |
| Type | Airborne |
| Size | Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Novohrad-Volynskyi |
| Engagements | Hungarian Revolution of 1956 |
| Decorations |  Order of Kutuzov |
The31st Guards Airborne Division was an airborne division of theSoviet airborne from 1948 to 1959. Originally part of the39th Guards Airborne Corps, it was directly subordinated to Soviet airborne headquarters after the corps was disbanded in 1955.[1] The division's only combat occurred in Operation Whirlwind, the suppression of theHungarian Revolution of 1956.
The 31st Guards Airborne Division was formed on 15 October 1948 from the298th Guards Airborne Regiment of the100th Guards Airborne Division inNovohrad-Volynskyi, part of the39th Guards Airborne Corps. The division inherited theOrder of Kutuzov from the regiment.[2] Its 381st Guards Air Landing Regiment was converted to an airborne regiment at some point. The division's Separate Air Landing Security Company was disbanded in 1949. On 15 November 1953, its 716th Separate Guards Communications Company became a battalion, along with the Separate Medical & Sanitary Company. The Separate Guards Antitank Battalion and Separate Guards Reconnaissance Company were disbanded on the same date. On 30 April 1955, the109th Guards Airborne Regiment became part of the division after its original parent unit, the100th Guards Airborne Division was disbanded. The 152nd Separate Tank Destroyer Battalion was activated on the same day.[1]
Due to theHungarian Revolution of 1956, two regiments of the division were placed on alert. On 1 November, the 114th and 381st Guards Airborne Regiments of the division landed atVeszprém airport andTököl airport, along with the7th Guards Airborne Division. It helped suppress the Hungarian uprising during Operation Whirlwind[3] and took part in fighting inBudapest between 4–7 November.[4] The division left Hungary in late November.[5] During Operation Whirlwind, the division was commanded by P.M. Ryabov.[6][7] 24 soldiers from the division were killed during the crushing of the Hungarian uprising.[8] 114th Guards Airborne Regiment company commanderMikhail Zinukov,[9] 381st Guards Airborne Regiment deputy company commanderNikolai Muravlev,[10] and 381st Guards Airborne Regiment platoon commanderPyotr Volokytin were posthumously awarded the titleHero of the Soviet Union for their actions.[11] The division was relocated toChernivtsi after leaving Hungary, with its 1295th Artillery Regiment inKolomyia. On 30 April 1959, the 31st Guards Airborne Division was disbanded.[1][12]
In 1955, the division was composed of the following units.[13]
