German 169th Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
The German 169th Infantry Division was a German
military unit during World War II
.
The division
was formed in 1939. It took part in Operation Fall Gelb and stayed in France
until being transferred to Finnish
Lapland in 1941. The division was part of the German XXXVI Corps which also included SS Division Nord and the Finnish 6th Division
. On July 1 the corps began its attack which was aimed at Kandalaksha
on the White Sea
coast. The division crossed the Finnish-Soviet Border just north of Salla
. During the heavy fighting against the Soviet 122nd Division the SS Division Nord broke and fled. On July 8 the 169th occupied Salla. With the help of the Finnish 6th Division the Soviets were pushed back beyond the pre-Winter War
borders.
In September the division had advanced to the River Verman (Vermanjoki), here the offensive finally stalled. During the fall of 1941 AOK Norwegen decided to shifts its attack to the area held by the Finnish 3rd Division
. The 169th Division stayed in the area around Salla until the beginning of the hostilities between Finland and Germany known as the Lapland War
in 1944. During 1944 the division withdrew back to Norway, then was transferred to Germany where it fought out the final few weeks of the war.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
military unit 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...
.
The division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
was formed in 1939. It took part in Operation Fall Gelb and stayed 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...
until being transferred to Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
Lapland in 1941. The division was part of the German XXXVI Corps which also included SS Division Nord and the Finnish 6th Division
Finnish 6th Division
There have been two Finnish 6th Divisions:* Finnish 6th Division * Finnish 6th Division...
. On July 1 the corps began its attack which was aimed at Kandalaksha
Kandalaksha
Kandalaksha is a town in Kandalakshsky District of Murmansk Oblast, Russia, located at the head of Kandalaksha Gulf on the White Sea, beyond the Arctic Circle. Population: 40,564 ; -History:The settlement has existed since the 11th century...
on the White Sea
White Sea
The White Sea is a southern inlet of the Barents Sea located on the northwest coast of Russia. It is surrounded by Karelia to the west, the Kola Peninsula to the north, and the Kanin Peninsula to the northeast. The whole of the White Sea is under Russian sovereignty and considered to be part of...
coast. The division crossed the Finnish-Soviet Border just north of Salla
Salla
Salla is a municipality of Finland, located in Lapland. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
. During the heavy fighting against the Soviet 122nd Division the SS Division Nord broke and fled. On July 8 the 169th occupied Salla. With the help of the Finnish 6th Division the Soviets were pushed back beyond the pre-Winter War
Winter War
The Winter War was a military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet offensive on 30 November 1939 – three months after the start of World War II and the Soviet invasion of Poland – and ended on 13 March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty...
borders.
In September the division had advanced to the River Verman (Vermanjoki), here the offensive finally stalled. During the fall of 1941 AOK Norwegen decided to shifts its attack to the area held by the Finnish 3rd Division
Finnish 3rd Division (Continuation War)
The 3rd Division was a unit of the Finnish Army during the Continuation War.-History:The 3rd division was the main component of the Finnish III Corps. During the war, the division fought mostly in the Uhtua and Kiestinki area, when it participated in Operation Arctic Fox...
. The 169th Division stayed in the area around Salla until the beginning of the hostilities between Finland and Germany known as the Lapland War
Lapland War
The Lapland War were the hostilities between Finland and Nazi Germany between September 1944 and April 1945, fought in Finland's northernmost Lapland Province. While the Finns saw this as a separate conflict much like the Continuation War, German forces considered their actions to be part of the...
in 1944. During 1944 the division withdrew back to Norway, then was transferred to Germany where it fought out the final few weeks of the war.
Commanders
- GeneralGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
leutnant Philipp Müller-GebhardPhilipp Müller-GebhardPhilipp Müller-Gebhard 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. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership...
(29 November 1939 - 1 December 1939) - Generalleutnant Heinrich KirchheimHeinrich KirchheimHeinrich Kirchheim was a German generalleutnant who served in both World War I and World War II. He is also one of few German officers who were awarded the Pour le Mérite and the Knight's Cross...
(1 December 1939 - 1 February 1941) - Generalleutnant Kurt DittmarKurt DittmarKurt Dittmar was a German general in World War II. He became a divisional commander in February 1941 and led the 169th Infantry Division, which was later stationed in Finland. In the summer of 1941, he participated in Operation Polarfuchs but was evacuated from Finland a few months later due to...
(1 February 1941 - 29 September 1941) - Generalleutnant Hermann Tittel (29 September 1941 - 22 June 1943)
- Generalleutnant Georg Radziej (22 June 1943 - N/A)
Organisation
- 378th Infantry Regiment
- 379th Infantry Regiment
- 392nd Infantry Regiment
- 230th Artillery Regiment
- 230th Anti-tank Battalion
- 230th Engineering Battalion
See also
- Continuation WarContinuation WarThe Continuation War was the second of two wars fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II.At the time of the war, the Finnish side used the name to make clear its perceived relationship to the preceding Winter War...
- German XXXVI Mountain Corps
- Division (military)Division (military)A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
, Military unit, List of German divisions in WWII - HeerGerman ArmyThe German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
, WehrmachtWehrmachtThe 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:...