17th Guards Rifle Division
| 17th Guards Rifle Division (17 Mar 1942 – 17 May 1957) 123rd Guards Motor Rifle Division (17 May 1957 – 1 Oct 1989) 129th Guards Machine-Gun Artillery Division (1 Oct 1989 – Sep 2001) 17th Guards Motor Rifle Division (Sep 2001 – Jun 2009) 70th Guards Motor Rifle Brigade (Jun 2009 – present) |
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|---|---|
| Active | 1942–present |
| Country |
 Soviet Union (1942–1991) Russia (1992–present) |
| Branch |
 Soviet Army (1942–1991)Russian Ground Forces (1992–present) |
| Type | Motorized infantry |
| Garrison/HQ | Ussuriysk |
| Engagements |
Battle of Smolensk (1943) Operation Bagration East Prussian Offensive Manchurian Strategic Offensive Operation |
| Decorations |
 Order of Suvorov 2nd class |
| Battle honours |
Dukhovshchina |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Mjr. Gen. A. D. Berezin Mjr. Gen. A. P. Kvashnin |
Order of the Red Banner
Order of the October Revolution
Dukhovshchina
The 17th Guards Rifle Division was created on March 17, 1942, from the first formation of the 119th Rifle Division, in recognition of that division's stalwart defense against German Army Group Center in the Battle of Moscow, and in the subsequent strategic offensive that threw the German forces back from the capital. The 17th Guards continued a record of distinguished service through the rest of the Great Patriotic War. It became the 123rd Guards Motor Rifle Division in 1957 and converted into the 129th Guards Machine-Gun Artillery Division in 1989. In 2001, it was converted to the 17th Guards Motor Rifle Division and became the 70th Guards Motor Rifle Brigade in 2009. The brigade is currently based in Ussuriysk.
The 17th Guards was one of four Guards rifle divisions created in Kalinin Front on the same date (along with 20th, 21st and 22nd Guards) in recognition of their role in driving in the left flank of Army Group Center during the winter of 1941–42. When formed, its order of battle was as follows:
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