Award Ceremony of the 2nd Guards Rifle Division, Krymskaya 1943

September 16, 2025 - Reading time: 4 minutes

Award ceremony of the 2nd Guards Rifle Division with the Order of the Red Banner, Krymskaya, June 1943.

Field ceremony in Krymskaya, June 19, 1943: 2nd Guards Rifle Division awarded the Order of the Red Banner; General V. F. Zakharov and Colonel V. M. Pilipenko present.

This historic photograph captures a solemn field ceremony of the 2nd Guards Rifle Division of the Red Army, held on June 19, 1943, in the village of Krymskaya (today the city of Krymsk, Krasnodar Krai). The division was formally awarded the prestigious Order of the Red Banner for its crucial role in the liberation of the North Caucasus and Kuban from German occupation.

On the right of the photo stands Guards Major General Vasily F. Zakharov, commander of the division, while on the left is Guards Colonel Vasily M. Pilipenko, head of the division’s political department. Their presence underlines the unity of military leadership and political guidance in the Red Army during the Great Patriotic War.

The 2nd Guards Rifle Division, later known as the famed Taman Division, was one of the most battle-hardened Soviet formations. Its soldiers had already proven their skill and resilience in the defense of Moscow and later in the fierce fighting of the Caucasus campaign. The awarding of the Red Banner was both recognition of their valor and a symbol of the Soviet Union’s determination to push the invaders out of its southern territories.

Such ceremonies served not only as official recognition but also as powerful morale boosters, reminding troops of their achievements and strengthening their resolve for the battles to come. This rare image provides a window into the Red Army’s traditions of honor and the enduring legacy of its Guards units.

Technical photo data:
📍 Location: Krymskaya (now Krymsk), Krasnodar Krai, USSR
📅 Date of photo: June 19, 1943
📝 Event: Presentation of the Order of the Red Banner to the 2nd Guards Rifle Division
📷 Source: Soviet WWII photo archives