299th Infantry Division (Germany)
Encyclopedia
The German 299th Infantry Division was a World War II
infantry
formation, which fought in France
and the Russian Front
until February 1945.
The 299th Infantry Division was formed in March and April 1940 from men from Hesse
and Thuringia
. The 299th Infantry Division first saw action in the 1940 campaign in France
, staying in France until June 1941. From June 1941 the 299th Infantry Division then fought on the Eastern Front at the Southern and Central sectors of the front. The 299th Infantry Division gained distinction while fighting on the Eastern Front in the summer of 1943. In July 1944 the 299th Infantry Division was destroyed in fighting on the Eastern Front, reformed in September 1944. The 299th Infantry Division was sent back to the Eastern Front and destroyed in Eastern Prussia
in February 1945.
(Other support units all numbered 299th)
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...
infantry
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...
formation, which fought in 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...
and the Russian Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
until February 1945.
The 299th Infantry Division was formed in March and April 1940 from men from Hesse
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
and Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
. The 299th Infantry Division first saw action in the 1940 campaign in France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
, staying in France until June 1941. From June 1941 the 299th Infantry Division then fought on the Eastern Front at the Southern and Central sectors of the front. The 299th Infantry Division gained distinction while fighting on the Eastern Front in the summer of 1943. In July 1944 the 299th Infantry Division was destroyed in fighting on the Eastern Front, reformed in September 1944. The 299th Infantry Division was sent back to the Eastern Front and destroyed in Eastern Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
in February 1945.
Commanding officers
- General der Artillerie Willi MoserWilli MoserWilli Albin Moser was a highly decorated General der Artillerie in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the LXXI. Armeekorps. 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...
(6 April 1940 - 1 November 1942) - Generalleutnant Viktor Koch (1 November 1942 - 5 November 1942)
- Generalleutnant Hans BergenHans BergenHans Bergen 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 November 1942 - 3 May 1943) - Generalleutnant Ralph Graf von OriolaRalph Graf von OriolaRalph Georg Edgar Joachim Eddo Graf von Oriola was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the XIII. Armeekorps. 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...
(3 May 1943 - 15 January 1944) - Generalleutnant Paul ReicheltPaul ReicheltPaul Reichelt was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II and in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
(15 January 1944 - 13 March 1944) - Generalleutnant Ralph Graf von OriolaRalph Graf von OriolaRalph Georg Edgar Joachim Eddo Graf von Oriola was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the XIII. Armeekorps. 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...
(13 March 1944 - 28 June 1944) - Generalleutnant Hans Junck (28 June 1944 - 31 July 1944)
- Generalmajor Karl GöbelKarl GöbelKarl Göbel was a Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients 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 bravery or successful...
(1 September 1944 - 16 February 1945)
Division composition
- 528th, 529th, and 530th Infantry regiments
- 299th Artillery regiment
- 299th Engineering battalion
- 299th Anti-tank battalion
- 299th Reconnaissance battalion
- 299th Signals battalion
(Other support units all numbered 299th)