246th Volksgrenadier Division (Germany)
Encyclopedia
The 246th Infantry Division was a Third Wave division of the Wehrmacht
formed in Trier
(Wkr. XII) and initially stationed on the Saar Line, later in South-western France
from August 1941 until January 1942.
On formation it consisted of:
The division lacked 50mm anti-tank guns, and used trophy French vehicles.
From February 1942 to January 1943 the division served in the area of Vitebsk
and was a part of the 9th Army). Most of the operations in which the division participated were in the area of Bely
and south-west of it, the sector extending to Smolensk
. The division's most active period was during the Winter-Spring of 1942, but from May it was transferred to the Kampfgruppe Esebeck (Generalleutenant Hans-Karl Freiherr von Esebeck
), and from March in Kampfgruppe Zeidlitz. During July 1942, in cooperation with the 2nd Panzer Division it was engaged in combat with the 17th Guards and 135th Rifle Divisions and the 21st Tank Brigade.
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
formed in Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
(Wkr. XII) and initially stationed on the Saar Line, later in South-western France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
from August 1941 until January 1942.
On formation it consisted of:
- 313th, 352nd and 404th infantry regiments
- 246th artillery regiment
- 246th pioneer regiment
- 246th anti-tank battalion
- 246th signals battalion
- other subunits
The division lacked 50mm anti-tank guns, and used trophy French vehicles.
From February 1942 to January 1943 the division served in the area of Vitebsk
Vitebsk
Vitebsk, also known as Viciebsk or Vitsyebsk , is a city in Belarus, near the border with Russia. The capital of the Vitebsk Oblast, in 2004 it had 342,381 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth largest city...
and was a part of the 9th Army). Most of the operations in which the division participated were in the area of Bely
Bely
Bely , Belaya , or Beloye , a Russian surname meaning "white" in Russian, may refer to:-People:*Andrei Bely , pseudonym of Boris Bugayev, a Russian novelist, poet, and literary critic...
and south-west of it, the sector extending to Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
. The division's most active period was during the Winter-Spring of 1942, but from May it was transferred to the Kampfgruppe Esebeck (Generalleutenant Hans-Karl Freiherr von Esebeck
Hans-Karl Freiherr von Esebeck
Hans-Karl Asmus Werner Freiherr von Esebeck was a German General who commanded the 15th Panzer Division in the Afrika Korps. He was also a conspirator against Adolf Hitler....
), and from March in Kampfgruppe Zeidlitz. During July 1942, in cooperation with the 2nd Panzer Division it was engaged in combat with the 17th Guards and 135th Rifle Divisions and the 21st Tank Brigade.
246th Infantry Division
- Generalleutnant Erich Denecke, 1 September 1939 – 13 December 1941
- Generalleutnant Maximilian Siry, 13 December 1941 – 16 May 1943
- Generalmajor Konrad von Alberti, 16 May 1943 – 12 September 1943
- Generalmajor Heinz Fiebig, 12 September 1943 – 5 October 1943
- Generalleutnant Wilhelm FalleyWilhelm FalleyWilhelm Falley was the first German general to be killed during the Normandy Landings in France. He was commander of the 91st Infantry Division...
, 5 October 1943 – 20 April 1944 - Generalmajor Claus Müller-Bülow, 20 April 1944 – 27 June 1944
246th Volks-Grenadier-Division
- Oberst Gerhard WilckGerhard WilckColonel Gerhard Wilck was the German commander who defended the German city Aachen in the Battle of Aachen. He surrendered on 22 October 1944 against the orders of Hitler, after a stubborn defence and bitter urban warfare.-References:* Ambrose, S. E. . Citizen soldiers : the U.S...
, 15 September 1944 – November 1944 - Generalmajor Peter KörtePeter KörtePeter Körte was a highly decorated Generalmajor 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...
, November 1944 – 1 January 1945 - Oberst List, 1 January 1945
- Generalmajor Dr. Walter Kühn, 1 January 1945 – 8 May 1945