Formed in 1806 as the 5th Infantry Division, it was renumbered as the 2nd in 1820.[2]: 118
The division took part in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78, during which it participated in the battles of Łowicz and Plevna. During 1902 and 1903, Anton Denikin served as an adjutant with the division's staff.[3]: 322 Anatoly Stessel briefly commanded the division between May and August 1903. From at least 1903 to 1913 it was based in Brest-Litovsk and later in Novogeorgievsk.[4]
It later fought in World War I.[4][5] The division fought in the Battle of Tannenberg in late August 1914, under the command of Alexander Dushkevich. On 26 August, the 7th Revel Infantry Regiment of its 2nd Brigade suffered losses of 3,000 men, three-quarters of its strength, and was wiped out as a combat unit. The division was split in half and retreated in disorder.[6]: 166 On the next day it was again attacked by the German 37th Infantry Division and "collapsed", retreating to Neidenburg.[6]: 178 Dushkevich replaced Leonid Artamonov in command of the 1st Army Corps on 28 August after the latter was relieved of command.[6]: 182
Russian infantry divisions consisted of a staff, two infantry brigades, and one artillery brigade.[1] The 2nd Infantry Division was part of the 23rd Army Corps as of 1914.[5]
Russian Empire
