German 6th Mountain Division
Encyclopedia
The German 6th Mountain Division was established in June 1940, and was deployed to France for occupation
duties. In December it was relocated to Poland
, where it remained until the spring of 1941. It then took part in Operation Marita, the invasion of Greece
during the Balkans Campaign. In September it was relocated to northern Finland
, where it operated in Lapland (west of Murmansk
). From July 1942 onward it was part of the Twentieth Mountain Army
along the Arctic coast. It withdrew into Norway
when the Germans evacuated Finland in late 1944, and surrendered to the British at the end of the war in 1945.
German occupation of France in World War II
The Military Administration in France was an interim occupation authority established by Nazi Germany during World War II. It remained in existence from May 1940 to December 1944. As a result of the defeat of France and its Allies in the Battle of France, the French cabinet sought a cessation...
duties. In December it was relocated to Poland
Poland
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...
, where it remained until the spring of 1941. It then took part in Operation Marita, the invasion of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
during the Balkans Campaign. In September it was relocated to northern Finland
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...
, where it operated in Lapland (west of Murmansk
Murmansk
Murmansk is a city and the administrative center of Murmansk Oblast, Russia. It serves as a seaport and is located in the extreme northwest part of Russia, on the Kola Bay, from the Barents Sea on the northern shore of the Kola Peninsula, not far from Russia's borders with Norway and Finland...
). From July 1942 onward it was part of the Twentieth Mountain Army
German Twentieth Mountain Army
The German Lapland Army was one of the two army echelon headquarters controlling German troops in the far north of Norway and Finland during World War II. It was established in January 1942, and redesignated as the 20th Mountain Army The German Lapland Army (AOK Lappland) was one of the two army...
along the Arctic coast. It withdrew into Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
when the Germans evacuated Finland in late 1944, and surrendered to the British at the end of the war in 1945.
Commanding officers
- Generalmajor Ferdinand SchörnerFerdinand SchörnerFerdinand Schörner was a General and later Field Marshal in the German Army during World War II.-Early life:Schörner was born in Munich, Bavaria...
(1 June 1940 - 1 February 1942) - Generalleutnant Christian PhilippChristian PhilippChristian Philipp was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several divisions. 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...
(1 February 1942 - 20 August 1944) - Generalmajor Max-Josef PemselMax-Josef PemselMax-Josef Pemsel was a Generalleutnant in the German army during Second World War. After the war he became one of the very few Nazi senior officers to serve in the West German Army.-Biography:...
(20 August 1944 - 19 April 1945) - Oberst Josef Remold (20 April 1945 - Capitualation)
See also
- 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:...