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Separate Operational Purpose Division
The Separate Operational Purpose Division (ODON; Russian: Отдельная дивизия оперативного назначения, romanized: Otdel'naya diviziya operativnogo naznacheniya) or OMSDON (a.k.a. Dzerzhinsky Division), is a rapid deployment internal security division of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR and then the Internal Troops of Russia Russian Federation, currently part of the National Guard Forces Command of the Russian Federation.
The precursor to the ODON was the 1st Automobile Fighting Detachment of the VTsIK (Russian: 1-й автобоевой отряд) which was created in February 1918. The detachment was tasked with guarding the members of the VTsIK and the Sovnarkom and providing them with passenger cars. After the relocation of the government to Moscow in March 1918, it was assigned to guarding the Kremlin, along with the Red Latvian Riflemen and later the "Kremlin cadets" (Russian: Кремлёвские курсанты). The detachment was renamed 1st Armored Car Detachment 'Ya. M. Sverdlov' in 1919, and was transferred to VChK in 1921. At the peak of its strength, the detachment had over 400 troops.
In April 1921, VChK created the OSNAZ battalion which consisted of 1st Armored Car Detachment, three rifle platoons, a cavalry squadron, and various auxiliary units, with a total strength of some 1,100 men. VChK became OGPU in 1922, and the OSNAZ was renamed accordingly.
On 17 June 1924, the OSNAZ battalion, an OGPU rifle battalion and an OGPU rifle regiments formed the Special-Purpose Division (DON) of the OGPU Troops. The DON included 4 rifle regiments with an Armored Car detachment. In August 1926, the division was renamed Special-Purpose Division 'F. E. Dzerzhinsky' of the OGPU Troops. Throughout 1926, one more regiment and five more battalions joined the DON, raising its total strength to some 4,500 troops.
In 1929, the DON was reorganized as a full army division. In 1931, the Armoured Car detachment was reorganized into an armoured regiment. In 1934, OGPU was transferred to the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs (the NKVD). The division fought on the front lines of the Winter War against Finland.
With the onset of World War II, parts of the division participated in the Battle of Moscow; the remaining unit guarded particularly important installations of the capital, patrolled the streets, and were involved in efforts to liquidate enemy infiltrator groups near the front and in the city.
Along with participation in hostilities, division elements in Moscow detained 485 enemy intelligence agents, 69,753 deserters, and over 320,000 offenders of the established regime.[citation needed]
The division took part in the 1941 October Revolution Parade on Moscow's Red Square.
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Separate Operational Purpose Division
The Separate Operational Purpose Division (ODON; Russian: Отдельная дивизия оперативного назначения, romanized: Otdel'naya diviziya operativnogo naznacheniya) or OMSDON (a.k.a. Dzerzhinsky Division), is a rapid deployment internal security division of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR and then the Internal Troops of Russia Russian Federation, currently part of the National Guard Forces Command of the Russian Federation.
The precursor to the ODON was the 1st Automobile Fighting Detachment of the VTsIK (Russian: 1-й автобоевой отряд) which was created in February 1918. The detachment was tasked with guarding the members of the VTsIK and the Sovnarkom and providing them with passenger cars. After the relocation of the government to Moscow in March 1918, it was assigned to guarding the Kremlin, along with the Red Latvian Riflemen and later the "Kremlin cadets" (Russian: Кремлёвские курсанты). The detachment was renamed 1st Armored Car Detachment 'Ya. M. Sverdlov' in 1919, and was transferred to VChK in 1921. At the peak of its strength, the detachment had over 400 troops.
In April 1921, VChK created the OSNAZ battalion which consisted of 1st Armored Car Detachment, three rifle platoons, a cavalry squadron, and various auxiliary units, with a total strength of some 1,100 men. VChK became OGPU in 1922, and the OSNAZ was renamed accordingly.
On 17 June 1924, the OSNAZ battalion, an OGPU rifle battalion and an OGPU rifle regiments formed the Special-Purpose Division (DON) of the OGPU Troops. The DON included 4 rifle regiments with an Armored Car detachment. In August 1926, the division was renamed Special-Purpose Division 'F. E. Dzerzhinsky' of the OGPU Troops. Throughout 1926, one more regiment and five more battalions joined the DON, raising its total strength to some 4,500 troops.
In 1929, the DON was reorganized as a full army division. In 1931, the Armoured Car detachment was reorganized into an armoured regiment. In 1934, OGPU was transferred to the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs (the NKVD). The division fought on the front lines of the Winter War against Finland.
With the onset of World War II, parts of the division participated in the Battle of Moscow; the remaining unit guarded particularly important installations of the capital, patrolled the streets, and were involved in efforts to liquidate enemy infiltrator groups near the front and in the city.
Along with participation in hostilities, division elements in Moscow detained 485 enemy intelligence agents, 69,753 deserters, and over 320,000 offenders of the established regime.[citation needed]
The division took part in the 1941 October Revolution Parade on Moscow's Red Square.