3rd Division (Reichswehr)
Encyclopedia
Creation
In the Order of 31 July 1920 for the Reduction of the Army (to comply with the upper limits on the size of the military contained in the Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
), it was determined that in every Wehrkreis (military district
Military district (Germany)
During World War II Germany used the system of military districts to relieve field commanders of as much administrative work as possible and to provide a regular flow of trained recruits and supplies to the Field Army...
) a division would be established by 1 October 1920. The 3rd Division was formed in January 1921 out of the Reichswehr-Brigaden 3, 6 and 15, all part of the former Übergangsheer (Transition Army).
It consisted of 3 infantry regiments, an artillery regiment, an engineering battalion, a signals battalion, a transportation battalion and a medical battalion.
The commander of the Wehrkreis III was simultaneously the commander of the 3rd Division.
The unit ceased to exist as such after October 1934, and its subordinate units were transferred to one of the 21 Divisions newly created in that year.
Commanding officers
- General der Artillerie Hermann Rumschöttel, 1 October 1920 – 16 June 1921
- General der Infanterie Richard von Berendt, 16 June 1921 – 3 August 1921
- General der Kavallerie Rudolf von Horn, 3 August 1921 – 31 January 1926
- General der Infanterie Otto Hasse, 1 February 1926 – 1 April 1929
- General der Infanterie Rudolf Schniewindt, 1 April 1929 – 1 October 1929
- General der Infanterie Joachim von Stülpnagel, 1 October 1929 – 1 February 1932
- General der Infanterie Gerd von RundstedtGerd von RundstedtKarl Rudolf Gerd von Rundstedt was a Generalfeldmarschall of the German Army during World War II. He held some of the highest field commands in all phases of the war....
, 1 February 1932 – 1 October 1932 - Generalleutnant Werner Freiherr von Fritsch, 1 October 1932 – 1 February 1934