The 5th Division traced its lineage back to the 1895 formation of the 1st East Siberian Line Brigade. On 4 July 1900 it was redesignated the 5th East Siberian Rifle Brigade, consisting of the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th East Siberian Rifle Regiments. The brigade fought in
Russian invasion of Manchuria during the
Boxer Rebellion. The 17th and 18th Regiments received cap badges for the
Sungari Campaign, and the 20th received a cap badge for "distinction in 1900." On 10 February 1904 it was upgraded into the 5th East Siberian Rifle Division. The division fought in the Russo-Japanese War as part of the
2nd Siberian Army Corps. Between 17 and 18 July 1904, it participated in the
Battle of Kangualin. The division fought in World War I. The division was disbanded in 1918 after the collapse of the Imperial Russian Army. == Commanders ==