German 46th Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
The 46th Infantry Division was a division of the German
army from 1938 until 1945. It was formed in the latter part of 1938, and was constituted of recruits from the Sudetenland.
in 1939, and then was held in reserve until May 1940, when it was transferred to France
. The division fought in the Loire Valley
until the fall of France.
After the invasion of the Soviet Union
, the division was involved in the assault on the Crimea
late in 1941. While engaged in heavy fighting in the Kerch Peninsula
in December, and with Soviet landings both at the tip of the Kerch Peninsula and at Feodosiya, the 42nd Corps commander, General von Sponeck
gave the order to pull back. This order was countermanded by the 11th Army commander, von Manstein, but since von Sponeck had already disassembled his wireless set, the order to hold ground was not received. The 46th Infantry Division avoided encirclement and eventually helped stem the tide of the Red Army
landings at Feodosiya. General von Sponeck was dismissed and subject to a trial in which Reichsmarschall Göring
oversaw the proceedings. General von Sponeck was sentenced to death but this order was commuted by Adolf Hitler
and reduced to seven years imprisonment. When Feldmarschall von Reichenau took command of Army Group South, he relayed a message to the divisional commander, Lieutenant-General Himer which read
"Because of its slack reaction to the Russian landing on the Kerch Peninsula, as well as its precipitate withdrawal from the peninsula, I hereby declare 46th Division forfeit of soldierly honour. Decorations and promotions are in abeyance until countermanded. Signed: von Reichenau, Feldmarschall".
The 46th Infantry division was a part of 54th Army Corps, under the command of General Hansen.
In March 1945, the division was renamed the 46th Volksgrenadier
Division. With its numbers depleted, the division surrendered to the Soviets in May 1945.
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...
army from 1938 until 1945. It was formed in the latter part of 1938, and was constituted of recruits from the Sudetenland.
History
The division fought in the invasion of PolandPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
in 1939, and then was held in reserve until May 1940, when it was transferred to 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...
. The division fought in the Loire Valley
Loire Valley
The Loire Valley , spanning , is located in the middle stretch of the Loire River in central France. Its area comprises approximately . It is referred to as the Cradle of the French Language, and the Garden of France due to the abundance of vineyards, fruit orchards, and artichoke, asparagus, and...
until the fall of France.
After the invasion of the Soviet Union
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...
, the division was involved in the assault on the Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
late in 1941. While engaged in heavy fighting in the Kerch Peninsula
Kerch Peninsula
The Kerch Peninsula is a major and prominent geographic feature located at the eastern portion of Crimea. Stretching towards the Taman peninsula, it is reminiscent of an isthmus between two neighboring seas: Azov Sea and Black Sea...
in December, and with Soviet landings both at the tip of the Kerch Peninsula and at Feodosiya, the 42nd Corps commander, General von Sponeck
Hans Graf von Sponeck
Hans Graf von Sponeck or Hans Emil Otto Graf Sponeck was a German General-Leutnant during World War II who was imprisoned for disobeying orders and later executed. He was the father of Hans von Sponeck....
gave the order to pull back. This order was countermanded by the 11th Army commander, von Manstein, but since von Sponeck had already disassembled his wireless set, the order to hold ground was not received. The 46th Infantry Division avoided encirclement and eventually helped stem the tide of the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
landings at Feodosiya. General von Sponeck was dismissed and subject to a trial in which Reichsmarschall Göring
Göring
- People :* Albert Göring, a German businessman, brother of Hermann Göring* Carin Göring, first wife of Hermann Göring* Carl Göring, German master of chess and philosopher* Emmy Göring, German actress and second wife of Hermann Göring...
oversaw the proceedings. General von Sponeck was sentenced to death but this order was commuted by Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
and reduced to seven years imprisonment. When Feldmarschall von Reichenau took command of Army Group South, he relayed a message to the divisional commander, Lieutenant-General Himer which read
"Because of its slack reaction to the Russian landing on the Kerch Peninsula, as well as its precipitate withdrawal from the peninsula, I hereby declare 46th Division forfeit of soldierly honour. Decorations and promotions are in abeyance until countermanded. Signed: von Reichenau, Feldmarschall".
The 46th Infantry division was a part of 54th Army Corps, under the command of General Hansen.
In March 1945, the division was renamed the 46th Volksgrenadier
Volksgrenadier
Volksgrenadier was the name given to a type of German Army division formed in the Autumn of 1944 after the double loss of Army Group Center to the Soviets in Operation Bagration and the Fifth Panzer Army to the Allies in Normandy. The name itself was intended to build morale, appealing at once to...
Division. With its numbers depleted, the division surrendered to the Soviets in May 1945.
Commanding officers
- Generalleutnant Paul von HasePaul von HaseKarl Paul Immanuel von Hase was a German career soldier and figured among the members of the resistance against Adolf Hitler's Nazi régime.-Biography:Hase was born in Hanover...
(24 September 1938 – 24 July 1940) - Generalleutnant Karl KriebelKarl KriebelKarl Kriebel was a highly decorated General der Infanterie in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
(24 July 1940 – 17 September 1941) - Generalleutnant Kurt Himer (17 September 1941 – 26 March 1942)
- Generalmajor (Generalleutnant) Ernst HacciusErnst HacciusErnst Haccius was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the 46. Infanterie-Division. 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...
(5 April 1942 – 7 February 1943) - General Arthur HauffeArthur HauffeArthur Hauffe was a German career soldier. He became General der Infanterie in the Wehrmacht during World War II and commanded the XIII. Armeekorps. He was recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
(7 February 1943 – 13 February 1943) - General Karl von Le SuireKarl von Le SuireKarl Hans Maximilian von Le Suire was a highly decorated General der Gebirgstruppe in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded the XXXXIX. Gebirgs-Armeekorps. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
(13 February 1943 – 27 February 1943) - General Arthur HauffeArthur HauffeArthur Hauffe was a German career soldier. He became General der Infanterie in the Wehrmacht during World War II and commanded the XIII. Armeekorps. He was recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
(27 February 1943 – 20 August 1943) - General Kurt Röpke (1 May 1943 – 10 July 1944)
- Oberst Curt Ewrigmann (10 July 1944 – 26 August 1944)
- Generalleutnant Erich ReuterErich ReuterErich Reuter was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
(26 August 1944 – 8 May 1945)