The 91st Air Landing Division (German

German language

German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....

 91. Luftlande-Infanterie-Division) was a German Army

Heer (1935-1945)

The Heer was the Army land forces component of the German armed forces from 1935 to 1945, the latter also included the Navy and the Air Force...

 infantry division in 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...

.

History

The 91st Infantry Division was created in January 1944, and converted reorganized as the 91st Air Landing Division in the spring to take part in Operation Tanne, an aborted airborne operation in Scandinavia

Scandinavia

Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...

. It was stationed in the Cotentin Peninsula

Cotentin Peninsula

The Cotentin Peninsula, also known as the Cherbourg Peninsula, is a peninsula in Normandy, forming part of the north-western coast of France. It juts out north-westwards into the English Channel, towards Great Britain...

 when the Allies invaded in June, and was lost in the fall of Cherbourg

Battle of Cherbourg

The Battle of Cherbourg was part of the Battle of Normandy during World War II. It was fought immediately after the successful Allied landings on June 6, 1944...

. It was partially reconstituted in November, and then used to reconstitute the 344th Infantry Division. Its order of battle for 6 June 1944 included 6th Parachute Regiment attached, with von der Heydte

Friedrich August Freiherr von der Heydte

Dr. jur. Dr. rer. pol. Friedrich August Freiherr von der HeydteIn German a Doctor of Law is abbreviated as Dr. iur. or Dr. jur. and a Doctorate of Economics is abbreviated as Dr. rer. pol....

 commanding.

Commanders

• Generalleutnant Bruno Ortner (10 February 1944 - 25 April 1944)
• Generalleutnant Wilhelm Falley
  Wilhelm Falley
  Wilhelm Falley was the first German general to be killed during the Normandy Landings in France. He was commander of the 91st Infantry Division...
  
   (25 April 1944 - 6 June 1944) KIA
• Generalmajor Bernhard Klosterkemper
  Bernhard Klosterkemper
  Bernhard Klosterkemper 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...
  
   (6 June 1944 - 10 June 1944)
• Generalleutnant Eugen König
  Eugen König
  Eugen König was a Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful...
  
   (10 June 1944 - 10 August 1944)

Organization (June 1944)

• Command
• 1057th Grenadier Regiment
• 1058th Grenadier Regiment
• 191st Mountain Artillery Regiment
• 191st Engineer Battalion
• 191st Antitank Company
• 191st Field Replacement Battalion
• 191st Antiaircraft Company
• 191st Signals Battalion
• 6th Parachute Regiment (attached from the 2nd Parachute Division)
• 100th Panzer Replacement and Training Battalion (attached)

See also

• Airborne forces
  Airborne forces
  Airborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and 'dropped' into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have an ability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning...
  
  
• 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
• Heer
  German Army
  The 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...
  
  , Wehrmacht
  Wehrmacht
  The 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:...