197th Infantry Division (Germany)
Encyclopedia
The 197th Infantry
Division (German: 197. Infanterie-Division) was a German
division
in World War II
. It was formed on 1 December 1939.
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: 197. 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 1 December 1939.
197. Infanterie-Division 1940
- Infanterie-Regiment 321
- Infanterie-Regiment 332
- Infanterie-Regiment 347
- Artillerie-Regiment 229
- Pionier-Battalion 229
- Panzerabwehr-Abteilung 229
- Infanterie-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 229
- Infanterie-Divisions-Nachschubführer 229
197. Infanterie-Division 1943
- Grenadier-Regiment 332
- Grenadier-Regiment 347
- Divisions-Battalion 229
- Artillerie-Regiment 229
- Feldersatz-Battalion 229
- Pionier-Battalion 229
- Panzerabwehr-Abteilung 229
- Infanterie-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 229
- Infanterie-Divisions-Nachschubführer 229
Commanding officers
- Generalleutnant Hermann Meyer-RabingenHermann Meyer-RabingenHermann Meyer-Rabingen 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...
, 1 December 1939 – 1 April 1942 - General der Infanterie Ehrenfried-Oskar BögeEhrenfried-Oskar BoegeEhrenfried-Oskar Boege was a German general who held several Corps level commands during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield...
, 1 April 1942 – 5 November 1943 - Generalleutnant Eugen Wößner, 5 November 1943 – 14 March 1944
- Generalmajor Hans HahneHans Hahne (General)Hans Hahne was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 197. Infanterie-Division. 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...
, 14 March 1944 – 24 June 1944