German 206th Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
The German 206th Infantry Division (German designation 206. Infanterie-Division, nickname Pique As, 'Ace of spades', after the divisional emblem), was a military unit that served during World War II
. Like most German infantry units it had no motorization, and relied on leg and horse mobility.
. It served during the Invasion of Poland
in 1939 as a reserve division for Army Group North
.
The 206th Infantry Division participated in Operation Typhoon
as part of the XXIII Corps
under the Ninth Army. At this time, the division was under the command of Lieutenant General
Hugo Höfl
.
At the time of the soviet Rzhev-Vyazma strategic offensive operation (08.01-20.04.42), Operation Mars
, the division now led by Lieutenant General Alfons Hitter
was again serving in XXIII Corps
under the Ninth Army in the Molodoi Tud sector of the Rzhev salient. Here it came under attack by the Soviet 39th army of the Kalinin Front
.
The division is known to have used Marder I
s from January 1943 to December 1943.
In mid-1944, the division, still under the command of Lieutenant General Alfons Hitter
, was one of those defending the Vitebsk
salient as part of 3rd Panzer Army's LIII Corps. The Soviet offensive, Operation Bagration, which commenced on 22 June, saw the entire corps encircled within a matter of days, after Soviet breakthroughs around the city. While the Oberkommando des Heeres
, after realising the situation was hopeless, reluctantly authorised a breakout operation by the other three divisions involved, the 206th was ordered to stay in Vitebsk and fight to the last man.
By 26 June Soviet forces had fought their way into the city, and General Gollwitzer, LIII Corps' commander, ordered the 206th to withdraw in defiance of the OKH orders. It was too late, however, and the division was almost entirely killed or taken prisoner. Its commander, Lt-Gen Hitter, went on to join the NKFD in Soviet captivity.
1 September 1939 Generalleutnant Hugo Höfl
10 July 1942 Generalleutnant Alfons Hitter
13 July 1943 Generalmajor Carl André
14 September 1943 Generalleutnant Alfons Hitter
Changes to composition:
By late 1943 the division was formed:
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...
. Like most German infantry units it had no motorization, and relied on leg and horse mobility.
History
The 206th Infantry Division was raised on 17 August 1939 in Insterburg, East PrussiaEast Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
. It served during the Invasion of Poland
Invasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
in 1939 as a reserve division for Army Group North
Army Group North
Army Group North was a German strategic echelon formation commanding a grouping of Field Armies subordinated to the OKH during World War II. The army group coordinated the operations of attached separate army corps, reserve formations, rear services and logistics.- Formation :The Army Group North...
.
The 206th Infantry Division participated in Operation Typhoon
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...
as part of the XXIII Corps
XXIII Army Corps (Germany)
German XXIII. Corps was a corps in the German Army during World War II.-Commanders:* Infantry General Erich Raschick, April 1939 – 26 October 1939...
under the Ninth Army. At this time, the division was under the command of Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Hugo Höfl
Hugo Höfl
Hugo Höfl 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...
.
At the time of the soviet Rzhev-Vyazma strategic offensive operation (08.01-20.04.42), Operation Mars
Operation Mars
Operation Mars was the codename for the Rzhev offensive operation part of the Rzhev-Vyazma strategic offensive operation launched by Soviet forces against German forces during World War II. It took place between 25 November and 20 December 1942 in a salient in the vicinity of Moscow...
, the division now led by Lieutenant General Alfons Hitter
Alfons Hitter
Alfons Hitter was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 206. Infanterie-Division. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
was again serving in XXIII Corps
XXIII Army Corps (Germany)
German XXIII. Corps was a corps in the German Army during World War II.-Commanders:* Infantry General Erich Raschick, April 1939 – 26 October 1939...
under the Ninth Army in the Molodoi Tud sector of the Rzhev salient. Here it came under attack by the Soviet 39th army of the Kalinin Front
Kalinin Front
The Kalinin Front was a Front of the Soviet Army during the Second World War. This sense of the term is not identical with the more general usage of military front which indicates a geographic area in wartime, although a Soviet Front may operate within designated boundaries.The Kalinin Front was...
.
The division is known to have used Marder I
Marder I
The Marder I "Marten" was a German World War II tank destroyer, armed with the 75 mm anti-tank gun. Most Marder I's were built on the base of the Tracteur Blindé 37L , a French artillery tractor/armoured personnel carrier of which the Germans had acquired more than three hundred after the Fall of...
s from January 1943 to December 1943.
In mid-1944, the division, still under the command of Lieutenant General Alfons Hitter
Alfons Hitter
Alfons Hitter was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 206. Infanterie-Division. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
, was one of those defending the Vitebsk
Vitebsk
Vitebsk, also known as Viciebsk or Vitsyebsk , is a city in Belarus, near the border with Russia. The capital of the Vitebsk Oblast, in 2004 it had 342,381 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth largest city...
salient as part of 3rd Panzer Army's LIII Corps. The Soviet offensive, Operation Bagration, which commenced on 22 June, saw the entire corps encircled within a matter of days, after Soviet breakthroughs around the city. While the Oberkommando des Heeres
Oberkommando des Heeres
The Oberkommando des Heeres was Nazi Germany's High Command of the Army from 1936 to 1945. The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht commanded OKH only in theory...
, after realising the situation was hopeless, reluctantly authorised a breakout operation by the other three divisions involved, the 206th was ordered to stay in Vitebsk and fight to the last man.
Commanders
From:1 September 1939 Generalleutnant Hugo Höfl
Hugo Höfl
Hugo Höfl 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...
10 July 1942 Generalleutnant Alfons Hitter
Alfons Hitter
Alfons Hitter was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 206. Infanterie-Division. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
13 July 1943 Generalmajor Carl André
14 September 1943 Generalleutnant Alfons Hitter
Component units
On formation:- 301st, 312th, and 413th Infantry Regiments
- Artillery Regiment (Artillerie-Regiment) 206
- Engineer Battalion (Pionier-Bataillon) 206
- Anti Tank Battalion (Panzerabwehr-Abteilung) 206
- Reconnaissance Battalion (Aufklärungs-Abteilung) 206
- Infantry Division Signals Battalion(Infanterie-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung) 206
- Infantry Division Chief Supply Staff (Infanterie-Divisions-Nachschubführer) 206
Changes to composition:
- 5 January 1940 the Anti-Tank Battalion was dissolved leaving a single Anti-Tank company.
- July 1942 Mobile Battalion (Schnelle Abteilung) 206 was added, becoming Fusilier Battalion 206 (Füsilier-Bataillon) 206 on 10 September 1943.
- 15 October 1942 Infanterie-Regiments 301, 312 and 413 became the Grenadier-Regiments 301, 312 and 413.
- 24 April 1943 Grenadier-Regiment 312 was dissolved and the assets distributed to the other regiments of the division which were maintained at three battalions each.
- 1 December 1943 a new anti-tank battalion(Panzerjäger-Abteilung) was added.
By late 1943 the division was formed:
- Grenadier-Regiment 301, Grenadier-Regiment 413
- Artillerie-Regiment 206
- Füsilier-Bataillon 206
- Pionier-Bataillon 206
- Panzerjäger-Abteilung 206
- Infanterie-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 206
- Infanterie-Divisions-Nachschubführer 206
See also
- List of German divisions in World War II
- Order of battle of the German Ninth Army, October 1941Order of battle of the German Ninth Army, October 1941Order of battle of the German Ninth Army, October 1941 represents the order of battle for the German Ninth Army during Operation Typhoon as part of the German Army Group Center as it attempted to capture Moscow during World War II.-Ninth Army:...