"Polar" Rifle Division

[panzerhan]

I have been reading David Glantz's "Colossus Reborn" and it is full of new information for me. In the part about the conscription of the convicts and political prisoners it says:


"The first recorded large-scale combat employment of these prisoners in the Red Army occured in the late summer of 1941, when 'Polar' Rifle Division, which was on the whole, made up of prisoners, including its command cadre, helped defend Murmansk in the far north. These troops wore the numerical designations of the Vorkuta camps instead of swords and diamonds and even now they basically remain anonymous."


It sounded interesting to me, especially the part "Including its command cadre". Are there any known pictures of this formation or the designation of the Vorkuta Camp they wear? Or more detail about this formation?

[Art]

See an old thread beginning from the end of the first page:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=52117

[Marcus]

Copying the revenant post from that thread, hopefully there are some additions.

The division in question is the 1st Polar divison which was a militia unit raised in the Murmansk region in September 1941. In August-September 5 715 Murmansk workers and 7 650 former prisoners were enlisted to the division. In all 12 456 prisoners were conscripted to the Soviet Army in the Murmansk region alone from 23.06.1941 to 1.04.1944. Source:
http://www.gov.karelia.ru/Karelia/1051/13.html
At least two regiments participated in battles at West Litza river west of Murmansk on September 1941, in November the whole division fought at Kandalaksha against the Finnish II ICorps. On 28 September 1941 the division was renamed 186 Rifle Divison (although there was already another 186 Division), on 26 June 1942 - 205 Rifle Division. See also:
http://rkkaww2.armchairgeneral.com/formation/DNO.htm
Regarding vokhras as officers, I somehow doubt that.

/Marcus