The 268. Infanterie-Division (268th Infantry Division) was a division of the Heer

Heer (1935-1945)

The Heer was the Army land forces component of the German armed forces from 1935 to 1945, the latter also included the Navy and the Air Force...

 (German Army) during the Second World War.

The division was raised in August 1939, as part of the fourth mobilisation wave, commanded by Erich Straube

Erich Straube

Erich Straube 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...

.

It was assigned to XXIV Korps of 1 Armee, part of Army Group C

Army Group C

Army Group C was an army group of the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War.-Career:Army Group C was set up from Heeresgruppenkommando 2 in Frankfurt on 26 August 1939...

 along the French frontier in September, and was moved to XII Korps in June 1940. After the fall of France, in August, it was transferred to Poland as part of XXXXIV Korps (4 Armee, Army Group B

Army Group B

Army Group B was the name of three different German Army Groups that saw action during World War II.-Battle for France:The first was involved in the Western Campaign in 1940 in Belgium and the Netherlands which was to be aimed to conquer the Maas bridges after the German airborne actions in Rotterdam...

). After being briefly assigned to XXXV Korps in May 1941, it was assigned to VII Korps of Army Group Centre

Army Group Centre

Army Group Centre was the name of two distinct German strategic army groups that fought on the Eastern Front in World War II. The first Army Group Centre was created on 22 June 1941, as one of three German Army formations assigned to the invasion of the Soviet Union...

 for Operation Barbarossa

Operation Barbarossa

Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...

 in June, seeing action against Soviet forces in the Battle of Bialystok–Minsk.

In August it was assigned to XXXXIV Korps (part of Armeegruppe Guderian), fighting around 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...

, and the following month was reassigned to XX Korps. It fought with XX Korps through the early phases of the Battle of Moscow

Battle of Moscow

The Battle of Moscow is the name given by Soviet historians to two periods of strategically significant fighting on a sector of the Eastern Front during World War II. It took place between October 1941 and January 1942. The Soviet defensive effort frustrated Hitler's attack on Moscow, capital of...

, and was withdrawn to reserve near Vyazma

Vyazma

Vyazma is a town and the administrative center of Vyazemsky District of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Vyazma River, about halfway between Smolensk and Mozhaysk. Throughout its turbulent history, the city defended western approaches to the city of Moscow...

 in November 1941. In December it was assigned to XXIV Korps in 2 Panzerarmee, and in January 1942 to XIII Korps in 4 Armee. On 6 January, Heinz Greiner

Heinz Greiner

Heinrich "Heinz" Greiner was a highly decorated officer in the German Army 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...

 took over as divisional commander.

In February 1942 it was assigned to XII Korps, with which it served until August 1943. In September 1943 it was reduced to a kampfgruppe

Kampfgruppe

In military history and military slang, the German term Kampfgruppe can refer to a combat formation of any kind, but most usually to that employed by the German Wehrmacht and its allies during World War II and, to a lesser extent, in World War I...

 in heavy fighting around Bryansk

Bryansk

Bryansk is a city and the administrative center of Bryansk Oblast, Russia, located southwest of Moscow. Population: -History:The first written mention of Bryansk was in 1146, in the Hypatian Codex, as Debryansk...

, and was disbanded in November 1943, with the remnants transferred to the 36. Infanterie-Division.

The division was a standard triangular division

Triangular division

A triangular division is a designation given to the way divisions are organized. In a triangular organization, the division's main body is composed of three regimental maneuver elements. These regiments may be controlled by a brigade headquarters or directly subordinated to the division commander...

 with three infantry regiments (the 468th, 488th and 499th), an artillery regiment (the 268th), and antitank, reconnaissance, pioneer and support battalions.

Commanding officers

• General der Infanterie Erich Straube
  Erich Straube
  Erich Straube 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...
  
  , 1 September 1939 – 6 January 1942
• Generalleutnant Heinz Greiner
  Heinz Greiner
  Heinrich "Heinz" Greiner was a highly decorated officer in the German Army 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...
  
  , 6 January 1942 – Nov 1943