the 302nd rifle division began service as a specialized red army mountain rifle division, which saw service in the disastrous operations in the crimea in early 1942. it was later converted to serve for the balance of the war as a standard rifle division. the division played a leading role in the 51st army's breakthrough south of stalingrad in the opening stages of operation uranus, and then in the exploitation following this success; however, it was badly battered and routed in the initial stage of the german operation winter storm. after recovering from this, the division continued to turn in a creditable record of service in the southern sectors of the soviet-german front for the duration, and was especially recognized for its role in the liberation of the city of ternopol, for which it received that city's name as an honorific.