German 73rd Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
The German 73rd Infantry Division was a German military unit which served during World War II
. The division consisted of more than 10,000 soldiers, primarily of the infantry
branch, with supporting artillery
. The division was not motorized, but instead relied on marching for the infantry units and horse-drawn transport for the support equipment.
The division was designated 73. Infanterie-Division in Germany.
The 73rd Infantry participated in the Invasion of Poland
of 1939 as a reserve division of Army Group North
.
In 1941, it fought briefly in the Greek Campaign. It was on the Eastern Front
, in southern areas, from July 1941 through May 1944. As part of the 11th Army, it participated in the Crimean campaign in late 1941, including the initial assaults near Perekop
and the "Tartar Ditch" as well as Sevastopol
.
In the spring of 1944 it was cut-off by the Soviet forces in the Crimea and destroyed in Sevastopol in May 1944. Reformed soon after in Hungary, it participated in battles around Warsaw
in the summer, where it was destroyed by the Soviets during their assault on the Praga
suburb of Warsaw in September 1944. The Army Group Center requested that the division be dissolved permanently as punishment for bad battlefield performance, but the request was rejected. Reformed again, the division was completely destroyed for the final time in the fighting around Danzig (Gdańsk) in 1945. The division staff went down with the liner Goya
on 17 April 1945.
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 consisted of more than 10,000 soldiers, primarily of the infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
branch, with supporting artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
. The division was not motorized, but instead relied on marching for the infantry units and horse-drawn transport for the support equipment.
The division was designated 73. Infanterie-Division in Germany.
The 73rd Infantry participated in 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...
of 1939 as a reserve division of 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...
.
In 1941, it fought briefly in the Greek Campaign. It was on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front
Eastern Front may refer to one of the following:* Eastern Front * Eastern Front * Eastern Front * Eastern Front * Eastern Front * 1635: The Eastern Front...
, in southern areas, from July 1941 through May 1944. As part of the 11th Army, it participated in the Crimean campaign in late 1941, including the initial assaults near Perekop
Perekop
Perekop is a village located at the Perekop Isthmus connecting Crimean peninsula to the Ukrainian mainland. It is known for the Fortress Or Qapi that served as the gateway to Crimea...
and the "Tartar Ditch" as well as Sevastopol
Sevastopol
Sevastopol is a city on rights of administrative division of Ukraine, located on the Black Sea coast of the Crimea peninsula. It has a population of 342,451 . Sevastopol is the second largest port in Ukraine, after the Port of Odessa....
.
In the spring of 1944 it was cut-off by the Soviet forces in the Crimea and destroyed in Sevastopol in May 1944. Reformed soon after in Hungary, it participated in battles around Warsaw
Warsaw Uprising
The Warsaw Uprising was a major World War II operation by the Polish resistance Home Army , to liberate Warsaw from Nazi Germany. The rebellion was timed to coincide with the Soviet Union's Red Army approaching the eastern suburbs of the city and the retreat of German forces...
in the summer, where it was destroyed by the Soviets during their assault on the Praga
Praga
Praga is a historical borough of Warsaw, the capital of Poland. It is located on the east bank of the river Vistula. First mentioned in 1432, until 1791 it formed a separate town with its own city charter.- History :...
suburb of Warsaw in September 1944. The Army Group Center requested that the division be dissolved permanently as punishment for bad battlefield performance, but the request was rejected. Reformed again, the division was completely destroyed for the final time in the fighting around Danzig (Gdańsk) in 1945. The division staff went down with the liner Goya
Goya (ship)
The Goya was a German transport ship sunk by a Soviet submarine in the Baltic Sea, near the end of the Second World War, while carrying wounded Wehrmacht troops and civilians who were fleeing the advance of Soviet forces. Most of the crew and passengers died...
on 17 April 1945.
Commanding officers
- General der Artillerie Friedrich von RabenauFriedrich von RabenauFriedrich von Rabenau was a German career-soldier, general, theologian, and opponent of National Socialism.- Biography :Rabenau was born in Berlin to the physician Friedrich von Rabenau and Wally, née Noebel...
, 26 August 1939. - General der Infanterie Bruno BielerBruno BielerBruno Bieler was a German general who commanded the LII Corps during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
, 29 September 1939. - General der Infanterie Rudolf von Bünau, 1 November 1941.
- Generalmajor Johannes Nedtwig, 1 February 1943.
- Generalleutnant Dr. Friedrich FranekFriedrich FranekDr. rer. pol. Friedrich "Fritz" FranekIn German a Doctorate of Economics is abbreviated as Dr. rer. pol. . was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or...
, 26 June 1944. - Generalmajor Kurt HaehlingKurt HaehlingKurt Haehling 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. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership...
, 30 July 1944. - Generalmajor Franz Schlieper, 7 September 1944.