If you were placed in the Soviet penal battalion(Shtrafbat) in WW2, were you ever able to get out of the battalion to join in the normal forces, if so, did this happen often and what made it happen?
Grounds for release of persons serving their sentences in punitive military units:
Serving the sentence (not more than three months): convicts for 10 years - three months, from 5 to 8 years - two months, up to 5 years - one month. For penalty squadrons - number and results of combat sorties.
Receipt by a serviceman serving a sentence of a moderate or severe wound requiring hospitalization.
Early release by decision of the military council of the army on the petition of the commander of a punitive military unit as an encouragement in respect of servicemen who have shown exceptional courage and bravery.