68th Infantry Division (Germany)
Encyclopedia
The 68th Infantry Division was a formation of the German Army (Wehrmacht
) during World War II
. It was formed in 1939, and was initially committed to the German invasion of Poland. It took part in the Battle of France
in 1940, and then Operation Barbarossa
in 1941 as part of Army Group South. The 68th remained in southern Russia until refitted in Poland in early 1944. Returned to action the 68th fought for rest of the war in the East, in Russia, Slovakia, in the defence of German until finally surrendering to the Soviets in Czechoslovakia.
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:...
) during 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 in 1939, and was initially committed to the German invasion of Poland. It took part in the Battle of 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...
in 1940, and then 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 1941 as part of Army Group South. The 68th remained in southern Russia until refitted in Poland in early 1944. Returned to action the 68th fought for rest of the war in the East, in Russia, Slovakia, in the defence of German until finally surrendering to the Soviets in Czechoslovakia.
Commanding officers
- Generalleutnant Georg Braun, 26 August 1939 - 14 November 1941
- Generalleutnant Robert Meißner, 16 November 1941 - 26 January 1943
- Generalleutnant Hans SchmidtHans Schmidt (general)Hans Schmidt 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...
, 27 January 1943 - 25 October 1943 - Generalleutnant Paul ScheuerpflugPaul ScheuerpflugPaul Scheuerpflug was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 68th Infantry Division. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
, 25 October 1943 - 8 May 1945