132nd Infantry Division (Germany)
Encyclopedia
The 132nd Infantry
Division (German: 132. Infanterie-Division) was a German
division
in World War II
. It was formed on 5 October 1940 in Landshut
and was destroyed in the Courland Pocket
in 1945.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
Division (German: 132. Infanterie-Division) was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was formed on 5 October 1940 in Landshut
Landshut
Landshut is a city in Bavaria in the south-east of Germany, belonging to both Eastern and Southern Bavaria. Situated on the banks of the River Isar, Landshut is the capital of Lower Bavaria, one of the seven administrative regions of the Free State of Bavaria. It is also the seat of the...
and was destroyed in the Courland Pocket
Courland Pocket
The Courland Pocket referred to the Red Army's blockade or encirclement of Axis forces on the Courland peninsula during the closing months of World War II...
in 1945.
Commanding officers
- Generalleutnant Rudolf SintzenichRudolf SintzenichRudolf Sintzenich was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful...
, 5 October 1940 – 11 January 1942 - General der Artillerie Fritz LindemannFritz LindemannGeneral Fritz Lindemann was a German Artillery officer and member of the resistance to Adolf Hitler.He was born in Charlottenburg, Berlin. After service in the World War I he was a temporary member of the German peace delegation in Versailles...
, 11 January 1942 – 12 August 1943 - Generalleutnant Herbert WagnerHerbert Wagner (general)Herbert Wagner was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership...
, 12 August 1943 – 8 January 1945 - Generalmajor Rudolf DemmeRudolf DemmeRudolf August Demme was a German General during World War II.-Biography:Demme was born in Mühlhausen in Thuringia. He entered Army Service on September 15, 1914 as a volunteer in the 1st Recruitment-Depot of the 11th Pioneer Replacement Battalion. During the first years of World War I he served...
, 8 January – 8 May 1945