of the type used by the division during World War II The 65th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division of the
Reserve of the Supreme High Command (RVGK) began forming in late September 1943 at the Moscow Anti-Aircraft Artillery Training Camp in the
military townlet of Aminiyevo.
Lieutenant Colonel (promoted to colonel on 17 November)
Alexander Sakin was assigned as commander on 28 September; he led the division for the rest of the war. It included the 1980th, 1984th, 1988th, and the 1992nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiments, formed as part of the division, and was part of the
Moscow Military District. The 65th finished forming on 30 October. It remained there, conducting training, for the next several months. In February 1944, the division was transferred to the RVGK. It was directly subordinated to the
2nd Belorussian Front in March, but transferred to the
1st Belorussian Front in April. During April and May 1944, the division provided air defense for the railroad stations at
Sarny and
Manevychi, as well as facilities of the 1st Belorussian Front. In difficult conditions the 65th claimed to have downed 22 enemy aircraft conducting night raids. It then rejoined the 2nd Belorussian Front, with which it served for the rest of the war. The division fought in the fighting to capture and expanded the
Narew bridgehead from the summer onwards. From September it was part of the
48th Army. Between 14 January and 10 February 1945, it served with the 48th Army in the
East Prussian Offensive, with elements supporting the
8th Mechanized Corps' breakthrough of German lines. The 65th claimed 25 enemy aircraft downed during the offensive, as well as three ammunition and fuel depots, 20 halftracks and automobiles, eleven pillboxes, 45 wagons destroyed, and up to 400 enemy soldiers killed when it used its guns for artillery bombardments and counterattacks. Additionally, the division was credited with suppressing the fire of eight artillery and mortar batteries and capturing up to 30 settlements without the support of infantry units. During the offensive, it advanced into the cities of
Mława and
Osterode. The division was transferred to the
19th Army in February. In the subsequent
East Pomeranian Offensive, during the elimination of German troops around
Danzig, the 65th claimed ten German aircraft downed, more than 1,500 German soldiers killed, and up to 50 vehicles with cargo destroyed. For its "successful completion of command tasks" at Danzig, the 65th received the
Order of Kutuzov, 2nd class, on 17 May. From April, initially as part of the 19th Army, and then directly subordinated to the front, the division provided air defense for the crossing of the
Oder during the
Battle of Berlin. For "successful completion of command tasks", the division received the honorific
Pomerania and was awarded the
Order of Alexander Nevsky. == Postwar ==