First Formation It was attached to the Kiev Special Military District/
Soviet Southwestern Front at the outbreak of
World War II, as part of the 15th Rifle Corps,
5th Army. Under Colonel V.P. Solokov, it was earmarked to defend the mid-Volga River islands behind the hard-pressed
62nd Army on 7 October 1942. However it was deployed in the
Battle of Stalingrad proper on 26 October 1942, being ferried over from the east to the west bank of the Volga River to take up positions between the
Red October and the
Barrikady factories. On 1 January 1943 the division was re-designated the
74th Guards Rifle Division.
Second formation The division was re-formed on 5 May 1943 in the
Kareliya territory from the
67th Naval Rifle Brigade of the
Karelian Front, on defensive boundaries at
Loukhi Stations of the
Kirov railway. After its formation the division was concentrated towards
Kestenga (Kiestinki), and from 6 May until 19 August 1943 was retained in the reserve of the
31st Rifle Corps in defensive positions. The division's first combat was on 9 August 1943 with the
61st Rifle Regiment and
85th Naval Rifle Brigade were supported by the
178th Artillery Regiment. On 20 August 1943 the division replaced the 85th Motor Rifle Brigade and 205th Rifle Division in the first echelon, and on 7 September 1943 conducted defensive operations against the Nazi
7th Infantry Division and
6th SS Mountain Division Nord. On 8 September 1944 the division had gone over to the offensive and on 10 September seized the Kestenga settlement. It was later relocated in the
Kandalaksha direction to the area of Nyamozero Station. From 24 September till 28 September 1944, the 45th Rifle Division attacked the settlement of
Alakurtti. By 3 October 1944 the division had been relocated in the Murmansk direction and was a part of the army operations group, having the task to attack an auxiliary direction as part of the
14th Army. On 10 October 1944, 45th Rifle Division had broken through defense of its opponent on the
Zapadnaya Litsa River near the
Lake Chapr area. On 13 October 1944 the division joined
131st Rifle Corps (probably part of 14th Army) and on October 15 in cooperation with elements of 131st Rifle Corps seized
Petsamo (as part of the
Petsamo-Kirkenes Operation). From 16 October until 25 October 1944 it conducted operations for seizing the village of
Tornet and the Norwegian city of
Kirkenes. On 25 October 1944 the 61st Rifle Regiment and the 253rd Rifle Regiment of the division helped seize the port and city of Kirkenes. On 1 November 1944 it was part of
131st Rifle Corps (with
14th and
368th Rifle Divisions) as part of 14th Army,
Karelian Front. For actions on clearing
Pechenga (Petsamo) the divisional staff was thanked officially by the Supreme Commander in Chief
Joseph Stalin, and the division was given the honourable name "Pechenga". For taking Kirkenes, the staffs of the 61st Rifle Regiment and 253rd Rifle Regiment were given the honorary name "Kirkenes". On 6 January 1945 for valour and courage in combat with fascist aggressors the 61st Rifle Regiment of the division was awarded the
Military Order of the Red Banner. On 27 September 1945 parts of the division, following a decision of the Soviet government were withdrawn from Norway and billeted in Murmansk and the Pechenga area. ==Cold War service==