34th Infantry Division was created in 1863 during Milutin's army reforms. From battalion of Modlin Infantry regiment was created a 133rd Simferopol Infantry regiment, 134th Feodosia Infantry regiment was created from battlaion of Pragskyi Infantry regiment. Two following regiments created a 1st Infantry Brigade within division. 2nd Brigade regiments - 135th Kerch-Enikalskiy Infantry and 136th Taganrog Infantry regiments were also created from merging of several garrison battalion with disbanded battalion and companies of infantry regiments. Divisional artillery - 34th Artillery brigade was created in the same year, and consisted of several battery companies, engineer-sapper battalion and two guarding companies.
The staff of 1st Infantry brigade was located in Ekaterinoslav (now Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine), however, the divisional staff also choosed that city for establishing divisional HQ. 2nd Brigade for first time was placed in Pavlograd and Novomoskovsk. But in 1903, after order of General staff of Russian Army, they moved their HQ to Elisavetgrad (now Kirovograd, Ukraine). In 1913 they switched headed to Rostov-Na-Donu. 34th Artillery brigade was station in Aleksandria and in 1913 they moved to Ekaterinoslav.
In the beginning of WWI division was fully prepared for moving out. The whole war 34th has passed in the ranks of 7th Army Corps. In august 1914, 8th Army (7th Corps belonged to it) went on attack to Lviv. On August 17, 1914 near town Yanchin happened the battle, which left in history as "Battle of Generals", because in vanguard of both armies were the commanders of troops. In that battle division captured 20 austrian cannons. In September-October 1914 8th Army under General Brusilov repulsed Austrian amries, who tried to return Galichina. Battle spreaded from Hirov to Strii. In battle of Huriv the 134th Feodosia Infantry regiment played a significant role. On 9th of October it entered Strii and captured that town. Feodosians took 3 thousands of Austrians captured, captured 2 field guns and 8 machineguns. From November 1914 till March 1915 division saw heavy fighting in Carpathian mountains. At that time the replacement - 71st Division (created in the previous 34th HQ as reserve force) arrived to front and merged with 34th Division. Together they continued fighting under 9th Army in Bukovina. In Bukovina both divisions suffered some losses, but they were still capable fighting force. During the Great Retreat in 1915, 9th army retreated to Volun and took a defensive position there. During heavy fighting in battles of Peremishl and Derazhno division took 5000 prisoners and even captured Austrian banner. Reinforced by 30th Corps, 9th Army kept defending, untill the winter 1915, when 7th Corps with 34th Division was moved to Bukovina and joined 11th Army there. During the famous attack on Eastern front in summer 1916, 134th Regiment charged river across the burning bridge and first entered enemy town. Later, 7th Corps remained charging forward to Dubno-Brodi-Zlochiv direction, during it 34th division captured Trostyanets and broke the front there.
In 1916, Romania declared war on Germany and Austro-Hungary, but in the same year was quickly defeated, that's why General Staff of Russian army decided to open Romanian front. Created there 4th Army contained 7th and 30th Corps. In middle of December 1916 division took defensive position near rivers Rimnik and Seret. Germans launched the major attack on russian positions in the battle which was called "Christmas battle". In the height 417, 34th Division repulsed attacks of 4 German divisions for 4 days and managed to hold position. Officers of 7th Corps called this battle as the hardest battle for the whole war.
The last battle of 34th and 71st divisions in World War I was the battle of Marasheshtam in July 1917. 34th Division defended the bank of the Seret river. The battle was very hard for both sides, the unknown soldier of 34th Division sacrificed himself and destroyed bridge. Division took 65% casualties. Side by side, brother - 71st Division died in clouds of german gas attack.
