later in december, while continuing the push towards rostov-na-donu and the donbass, the division, along with the rest of the 51st army, were transferred to the south front, remaining there until july, 1943. on january 12, 1943, colonel makarchuk was mortally wounded in a german airstrike; he was replaced by col. victor fyodorovich stenshinskiy who had been serving in the headquarters of southern front. the following day 51st army issued a combat report which gave the division's status as follows:the remaining rifle divisions in the army are shown in this report as even lower in terms of riflemen and sappers. colonel stenshinskiy was in turn replaced in command by col. aleksei pavlovich rodionov on february 2.