In March 1918, the Semyonovsky regiment returned from the front to Petrograd and was disbanded the same month. The 3rd Petrograd City Guard Regiment was created in its place. Many men enlisted in the regiment to avoid service in the Red Army itself. However, when Petrograd later was threatened by White Russian forces, many units from Petrograd were sent to the front, including the 3rd Regiment. In late May 1919, a large portion of the regiment (more than 600 men) switched sides to join the White movement; all communists who were present at the time were shot.