List of German divisions in WWII
Encyclopedia
This article lists division
s of the Wehrmacht
(German armed forces), including the Heer, Luftwaffe
, and Kriegsmarine
, active during World War II
.
Upgrades and reorganizations are shown only to identify the variant names for what is notionally a single unit; other upgrades and reorganizations are deferred to the individual articles. Due to the scope of this list pre-war changes are not shown, nor are upgrades from units smaller than a division. Most of these divisions trained in Berlin which is also where new military technology was kept and tested.
: A traditional term for heavy infantry. (Translated "Infantryman")
Jäger
: A traditional term for light infantry (Translated "Hunter").
Gebirgsjäger
: Traditional term for mountain and ski troops.
Lehr: A demonstration/training unit (Translated "Teach").
Nummer: "Number" (See description in Infantry Series Divisions, below).
Panzer
: Armored (Translated "Tank").
Sturm: "Storm" or "Assault" (Translated "Storm").
Volks: "of the People" (Translated "People's").
zbV
: Abbreviation for "zur besonderen Verwendung" Meaning "Special Purpose" (Translated "For Special Employment").
Volks, Sturm, and Grenadier were sometimes used simply as morale-building adjectives, often without any significance to a unit's organization or capabilities.
Various other divisions were dubbed "Light" for other reasons, and are listed among the Infantry Series Divisions.
German infantry divisions had a variety of designations and specializations, though numbered in a single series. The major variations are as follows:
Fortress (Festung): Divisions of non-standard organization used to garrison critical sites. The smaller ones might consist of only two or three battalions.
Grenadier: A morale-building honorific usually indicative of reduced strength when used alone.
Light, Jäger
: Provided with partial horse or motor transport and usually lighter artillery, and reduced in size compared to an ordinary infantry division. Some of these were essentially identical to mountain divisions, and these were referred to as Gebirgsjäger ("Mountain Light Infantry") divisions.
Motorized: Provided with full motor transport for all infantry and weapons systems. Usually reduced in size compared to an ordinary infantry division. Motorized infantry divisions were renamed Panzergrenadier
(armored infantry) divisions in 1943.
Division Nummer: A sort of placeholder division, with a number (Nummer) and staff but few if any combat assets. These divisions started out without any type in their name (e.g., Division Nr. 179), though some acquired a type later on (e.g., Panzer Division Nr. 179).
Panzergrenadier: As motorized, but with more self-propelled weapons and an added battalion of tanks or fully armored assault guns. What motorized divisions were referred to from 1943 forward.
Static (bodenständige): Deficient in transport, even enough to move its own artillery. Many of these were divisions that had been mauled on the Russian Front and were sent west to serve as coastal defense garrisons until sufficient resources were available to rehabilitate them.
Volksgrenadier
: A late-war reorganization with reduced size and increased short-range firepower. Many previously destroyed or badly mauled infantry divisions were reconstituted as Volksgrenadier divisions, and new ones were raised as well. Their fighting worth varied widely depending on unit experience and equipment. Not to be confused with Volkssturm
a national militia in which units were supposed to be organized by local Nazi party leaders; trained by the SS; and come under Wehrmacht command in combat.
zbV: ("zbV" is an abbreviation meaning "for special employment") An ad hoc division created to meet a special requirement. (E.g., Division zbV Afrika)
Most of the size reductions listed above were by about a third, either by the removal of an infantry regiment or the removal of one infantry battalion from each of the three regiments.
Infantry divisions were raised in waves, sets of divisions with a standardized table of organization and equipment. In general the later waves (i.e., the higher-numbered divisions) were of lower quality than the earlier ones.
and the Cossack divisions were "true cavalry
", modelled on the Russian cavalry divisions.
formations grew from a single police detachment to an entire armored corps
over the course of the war. The later epithet Fallschirm ("parachute") was purely honorific.
division was named as if a Flieger ("flier") division in the series of Luftwaffe divisions that controlled air assets rather than ground troops-named 7th Flieger Division (often translated 7th Air Division-see 1st Parachute Division (Germany)
) The division was later reorganized to start a series of nominally airborne divisions. Though named Fallschirmjäger
("paratrooper") divisions, only some of them participated in airdrop
s in the early part of the war, and in practice most operated as ordinary infantry throughout their existence. The lower-numbered ones earned and maintained an élite status, but quality generally declined among the higher-numbered divisions.
s were ordinary infantry
divisions organized from Luftwaffe personnel made available after mid-war due to the manpower crunch. They were originally Luftwaffe
units but were later handed over to the Heer
, retaining their numbering but with Luftwaffe attached to distinguish them from similarly numbered divisions already existing in the Heer.
divisions organized for ground combat.
were ordered in a single series up to 38th, regardless of type. Those tagged with nationalities were at least nominally recruited from those nationalities. Many of the higher-numbered units were small battlegroups (Kampfgruppe
n), i.e. divisions in name only.
Also Panzer Division Kempf
, a temporary unit of mixed Heer and Waffen-SS components.
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...
s of the 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:...
(German armed forces), including the Heer, Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
, and Kriegsmarine
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
, active during 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...
.
Upgrades and reorganizations are shown only to identify the variant names for what is notionally a single unit; other upgrades and reorganizations are deferred to the individual articles. Due to the scope of this list pre-war changes are not shown, nor are upgrades from units smaller than a division. Most of these divisions trained in Berlin which is also where new military technology was kept and tested.
Name elements not usually translated
GrenadierGrenadier (soldier)
A grenadier was originally a specialized soldier, first established as a distinct role in the mid-to-late 17th century, for the throwing of grenades and sometimes assault operations. At this time grenadiers were chosen from the strongest and largest soldiers...
: A traditional term for heavy infantry. (Translated "Infantryman")
Jäger
Jäger (military)
Jäger is a term that was adopted in the Enlightenment era in German-speaking states and others influenced by German military practice to describe a kind of light infantry, and it has continued in that use since then....
: A traditional term for light infantry (Translated "Hunter").
Gebirgsjäger
Gebirgsjäger
Gebirgsjäger, in English Mountain Riflemen, is the German designation for mountain infantry. The word Jäger is the traditional German term for rifleman...
: Traditional term for mountain and ski troops.
Lehr: A demonstration/training unit (Translated "Teach").
Nummer: "Number" (See description in Infantry Series Divisions, below).
Panzer
Panzer
A Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
: Armored (Translated "Tank").
Sturm: "Storm" or "Assault" (Translated "Storm").
Volks: "of the People" (Translated "People's").
zbV
ZbV
zbV is an abbreviation for the German term "zur besonderen Verwendung" meaning "Special Purpose". It is usually translated "For Special Employment"....
: Abbreviation for "zur besonderen Verwendung" Meaning "Special Purpose" (Translated "For Special Employment").
Volks, Sturm, and Grenadier were sometimes used simply as morale-building adjectives, often without any significance to a unit's organization or capabilities.
Numbered panzer divisions
- 1st Panzer Division
- 2nd Panzer Division
- 3rd Panzer Division
- 4th Panzer Division
- 5th Panzer Division
- 6th Panzer Division (previously 1st Light Division)
- 7th Panzer Division (previously 2nd Light Division)
- 8th Panzer Division8th Panzer Division (Germany)The 8th Panzer Division was a panzer division of the Wehrmacht Heer. The division was only active during World War II, and came into existence after 3rd Light Division was reorganized in January 1940...
(previously 3rd Light Division) - 9th Panzer Division (previously 4th Light Division)
- 10th Panzer Division
- 11th Panzer Division
- 12th Panzer Division (previously 2nd Motorized Infantry Division)
- 13th Panzer Division13th Panzer Division (Germany)The 13th Panzer Division was originally created in 1934 under the cover name Infanterieführer IV; it was unveiled as the 13th Infantry Division in 1935 when the creation of the Wehrmacht was announced...
(previously 13th Infantry Division, 13th Motorized Infantry Division; later Panzer Division Feldherrnhalle 2) - 14th Panzer Division14th Panzer Division (Germany)The German 14th Panzer Division was an armoured division in the German Army during World War II. It was created in 1940 by the conversion of the 4th Infantry Division.- Commanding officers :...
(previously 4th Infantry Division) - 15th Panzer Division (previously 33rd Infantry Division; later 15th Panzergrenadier Division)
- 16th Panzer Division (previously 16th Infantry Division)
- 17th Panzer Division (previously 27th Infantry Division)
- 18th Panzer Division18th Panzer Division (Germany)The 18th Panzer Division was a German World War II armoured division that fought on the Eastern Front from 1941 until disbandment in 1943.- Commanding officers :*General der Panzertruppen Walther Nehring, 26 October 1940...
(later 18th Artillery Division) - 19th Panzer Division19th Panzer Division (Germany)The German 19th Panzer Division was created from the 19th Infantry Division and was formed on 1 November 1940.In July 1941 it moved to the central sector of the Eastern front until December 1942 when it was transferred south...
(previously 19th Infantry Division) - 20th Panzer Division
- 21st Panzer Division (previously 5th Light Division)
- 22nd Panzer Division
- 23rd Panzer Division23rd Panzer Division (Germany)The 23rd Panzer Division was established on the 14th of March 1942 in France. It was built around the 101 Panzer-Brigade and two infantry regiments. The units worked with "booty tanks"....
- 24th Panzer Division24th Panzer Division (Germany)The 24th Panzer Division was formed in 1942 from the 1st Cavalry Division based at Königsberg.-Service:It served under the Fourth Panzer Army in Army Group South of the Eastern Front. In late December 1942 it was encircled in the Battle of Stalingrad and destroyed...
(previously 1st Cavalry Division) - 25th Panzer Division25th Panzer Division (Germany)The 25th Panzer Division was a German tank formation during World War II. It was one of the many understrength panzer divisions the Germans formed during the last years of the war.- Highlights :*1942-1943 Training and garrison activities in Norway...
- 26th Panzer Division (formerly 23rd Infantry Division)
- 27th Panzer Division
- 116th Panzer Division Windhund116th Panzer Division (Germany)The 116th Panzer Division, also known as the "Greyhound 'Windhund' Division", was a German panzer division that saw combat during World War II. It was reconstituted in the Rhineland and Westphalia areas of western Germany in March 1944 from the remnants of the 16th Panzergrenadier Division, and...
(previously 16th Infantry Division, 16th Motorized Infantry Division, and 16th Panzergrenadier Division)
- 155th Reserve Panzer Division155th Reserve Panzer Division (Germany)The 155th Reserve Panzer Division was formed by redesignation of Panzer-division Nr.155 in Aug 1943. The division was stationed in France from August 1943 to April 1944 when it was absorbed by 9.Panzer-division....
(previously Division Nr. 155, Division Nr. 155 (mot.), Panzer Division Nr. 155) - Panzer Division Nr. 178 (previously Division Nr. 178)
- 179th Reserve Panzer Division179th Reserve Panzer Division (Germany)The 179th Reserve Panzer Division of the German army in World War II was formed in July 1943. The division was stationed in France from July 1943 to May 1944 when it was disbanded and absorbed by the 116th Panzer Division.- Order of battle :...
(previously Division Nr. 179, Division Nr. 179 (mot.), and Panzer Division Nr. 179) - 232nd Panzer Division (previously Panzer Division Tatra, Panzer Training Division Tatra)
- 233rd Reserve Panzer Division (previously Division Nr. 233 (mot.), Panzergrenadier Division Nr. 233, and Panzer Division Nr. 233; later Panzer Division Clausewitz)
- 273rd Reserve Panzer Division
Named panzer divisions
- Panzer Division ClausewitzPanzer Division ClausewitzPanzer-Division Clausewitz was a German panzer division during World War II, named for Carl von Clausewitz.It was formed in central Germany area at the beginning of April 1945 under the command of Martin Unrein, from the 233rd Panzergrenadier Division and also drawing Panzergrenadier troops from...
(previously Division Nr. 233 (mot.), Panzergrenadier Division Nr. 233, and Panzer Division Nr. 233, Reserve Panzer Division 233) - Panzer Division Feldherrnhalle 1 (previously 60th Infantry Division, 60th Motorized Infantry Division, and Panzergrenadier Division Feldherrnhalle)
- Panzer Division Feldherrnhalle 2Panzer Division Feldherrnhalle 2Panzer Division Feldherrnhalle 2, commanded by Dr. Franz Bake, was a late World War II Wehrmacht armoured division. It was formed in March 1945 of the remnants of other divisions and stationed with a home base at Wehrkreis XX. It was moved to Slovakia in 1945 where it fought its only battles...
(previously 13th Infantry Division, 13th Motorized Infantry Division, and 13th Panzer Division) - Panzer Division Holstein
- Panzer Division Jüterbog
- Panzer Division Kempf (part Heer, part Waffen-SS)
- Panzer Division Kurmark
- Panzer-Lehr-Division (sometimes identified as 130th Panzer-Lehr-Division)
- Panzer Division Müncheberg
- Panzer Division Döberitz, later renamed Panzer Division Schlesien
- Panzer Division TatraPanzer Division TatraThe Panzer Division Tatra was an armored division of the German Wehrmacht formed in Moravia in August 1944. The division was hastily formed during the Slovak National Uprising of 1944 when the Germans feared that Slovakia might break away from the Axis powers and open the road to the advancing Red...
(later Panzer Training Division Tatra, 232nd Panzer Division)
Light divisions
The designation "Light" (leichte) had various meanings in the German Army of World War II. There was a series of 5 Light divisions; the first four were pre-war mechanized formations organized for use as mechanized cavalry, and the fifth was an ad hoc collection of mechanized elements rushed to Africa to bail the Italians out and organized into a division once there. All five were eventually converted to ordinary Panzer divisions.- 1st Light Division (later 6th Panzer Division)
- 2nd Light Division (later 7th Panzer Division)
- 3rd Light Division (later 8th Panzer Division)
- 4th Light Division (later 9th Panzer Division)
- 5th Light Afrika Division (later 21st Panzer Division)
Various other divisions were dubbed "Light" for other reasons, and are listed among the Infantry Series Divisions.
Types of division in the series
The backbone of the Wehrmacht Heer (Germany's Army) was the infantry division. Of the 154 divisions deployed against Soviet Union in 1941, including reserves, there were 100 infantry, 19 panzer (tank), 11 motorised, 9 security, 5 Waffen-SS, 4 "light", 4 mountain, 1 SS police, and 1 cavalry. A typical infantry division in June 1941 had 17,734 men organized into the following sub-units:- three infantry regiments with staff, communications units
- three battalions with:
- three light MG companies
- one heavy MG company
- one PAK company (mot.)
- one artillery company
- one reconnaissance unit
- three battalions with:
- one Panzerjager battalion with:
- three companies (each with twelve 3.7 cm guns)
- one artillery regiment
- three battalions
- three batteries
- three battalions
- one pioneer battalion
- one communications unit
- one field replacement battalion
- Supply, medical, veterinary, mail, and police
German infantry divisions had a variety of designations and specializations, though numbered in a single series. The major variations are as follows:
Fortress (Festung): Divisions of non-standard organization used to garrison critical sites. The smaller ones might consist of only two or three battalions.
Grenadier: A morale-building honorific usually indicative of reduced strength when used alone.
Light, Jäger
Jäger (military)
Jäger is a term that was adopted in the Enlightenment era in German-speaking states and others influenced by German military practice to describe a kind of light infantry, and it has continued in that use since then....
: Provided with partial horse or motor transport and usually lighter artillery, and reduced in size compared to an ordinary infantry division. Some of these were essentially identical to mountain divisions, and these were referred to as Gebirgsjäger ("Mountain Light Infantry") divisions.
- This description does not apply to the Light divisions in Africa (5th, 90th, 164th, 999th), nor to the five Light mechanized divisions listed in their own subsection.
Motorized: Provided with full motor transport for all infantry and weapons systems. Usually reduced in size compared to an ordinary infantry division. Motorized infantry divisions were renamed Panzergrenadier
Panzergrenadier
is a German term for motorised or mechanized infantry, as introduced during World War II. It is used in the armies of Austria, Chile, Germany and Switzerland.-Forerunners:...
(armored infantry) divisions in 1943.
Division Nummer: A sort of placeholder division, with a number (Nummer) and staff but few if any combat assets. These divisions started out without any type in their name (e.g., Division Nr. 179), though some acquired a type later on (e.g., Panzer Division Nr. 179).
Panzergrenadier: As motorized, but with more self-propelled weapons and an added battalion of tanks or fully armored assault guns. What motorized divisions were referred to from 1943 forward.
Static (bodenständige): Deficient in transport, even enough to move its own artillery. Many of these were divisions that had been mauled on the Russian Front and were sent west to serve as coastal defense garrisons until sufficient resources were available to rehabilitate them.
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...
: A late-war reorganization with reduced size and increased short-range firepower. Many previously destroyed or badly mauled infantry divisions were reconstituted as Volksgrenadier divisions, and new ones were raised as well. Their fighting worth varied widely depending on unit experience and equipment. Not to be confused with Volkssturm
Volkssturm
The Volkssturm was a German national militia of the last months of World War II. It was founded on Adolf Hitler's orders on October 18, 1944 and conscripted males between the ages of 16 to 60 years who were not already serving in some military unit as part of a German Home Guard.-Origins and...
a national militia in which units were supposed to be organized by local Nazi party leaders; trained by the SS; and come under Wehrmacht command in combat.
zbV: ("zbV" is an abbreviation meaning "for special employment") An ad hoc division created to meet a special requirement. (E.g., Division zbV Afrika)
Most of the size reductions listed above were by about a third, either by the removal of an infantry regiment or the removal of one infantry battalion from each of the three regiments.
Infantry divisions were raised in waves, sets of divisions with a standardized table of organization and equipment. In general the later waves (i.e., the higher-numbered divisions) were of lower quality than the earlier ones.
1st to 99th
- 1st Infantry Division
- 2nd Motorized Infantry Division (later 12th Panzer Division)
- 3rd Motorized Infantry Division (later 3rd Panzergrenadier Division)
- 4th Infantry Division (later 14th Panzer Division14th Panzer Division (Germany)The German 14th Panzer Division was an armoured division in the German Army during World War II. It was created in 1940 by the conversion of the 4th Infantry Division.- Commanding officers :...
) - 5th Infantry Division (later 5th Light Infantry Division, 5th Jäger Division)
- Not related to the 5th Light Division.
- 6th Infantry Division (later 6th Grenadier Division, 6th Volksgrenadier Division)
- 7th Infantry Division7th Infantry Division (Germany)The 7th Infantry Division was a formation of the German Wehrmacht during World War II. It was formed 1 October 1934 in Munich from the Artillerieführer VII staff and renamed 7. Infanterie-Division with the disclosure of German rearmament on 15 October 1935...
- 8th Infantry Division (later 8th Light Infantry Division, 8th Jäger Division8th Jäger DivisionThe German 8th Infantry Division was formed in Oppeln on 1 October 1934 under the cover name Artillerieführer III which was used until 15 October 1935. It was mobilized in August 1939 and took part in the Polish Campaign, the Battle of France and the invasion of the Soviet Union...
) - 9th Infantry Division9th Infantry Division (Germany)The German 9th Infantry Division was a formation of the German Wehrmacht. The division was formed on 1 October 1934 in Gießen as Infanterieführer V. With the uncovering of German rearmament on 15 October 1935 the division was renamed 9...
(later 9th Volksgrenadier Division) - 10th Infantry Division (later 10th Motorized Infantry Division, 10th Panzergrenadier Division)
- 11th Infantry Division11th Infantry Division (Germany)The 11th Infantry Division was a formation of the German Wehrmacht during World War II. Formed 1 October 1934 as Infanterieführer I in Allenstein it was renamed 11. Infanterie-Division on 15...
- 12th Infantry Division (later 12th Volksgrenadier Division)
- 13th Motorized Infantry Division (later 13th Panzer Division13th Panzer Division (Germany)The 13th Panzer Division was originally created in 1934 under the cover name Infanterieführer IV; it was unveiled as the 13th Infantry Division in 1935 when the creation of the Wehrmacht was announced...
, Panzer Division Feldherrnhalle 2Panzer Division Feldherrnhalle 2Panzer Division Feldherrnhalle 2, commanded by Dr. Franz Bake, was a late World War II Wehrmacht armoured division. It was formed in March 1945 of the remnants of other divisions and stationed with a home base at Wehrkreis XX. It was moved to Slovakia in 1945 where it fought its only battles...
) - 14th Infantry Division14th Infantry Division (Germany)The 14th Infantry Division was a German military unit which fought during World War II.-History and Organisation:...
(later 14th Motorized Infantry Division, then 14th Infantry Division again) - 14th Luftwaffe Infantry Division
- This unit was originally in the Luftwaffe as the 14th Luftwaffe Field Division.
- 15th Infantry Division15th Infantry Division (Germany)The German 15th Infantry Division was formed on 1 October 1934 in Würzburg under the cover name Artillerieführer V. With the announcement of German rearmament the division was renamed on 15 October 1935. Mobilzied on 25 August 1939 the division took part in the Invasion of Poland 1939 and the...
- 15th Panzergrenadier Division (previously 33rd Infantry Division, 15th Panzer Division)
- Not related to 15th Infantry Division.
- 16th Infantry Division (later split into –)
- 16th Panzer Division, and
- 16th Motorized Infantry Division (later 16th Panzergrenadier Division, 116th Panzer Division116th Panzer Division (Germany)The 116th Panzer Division, also known as the "Greyhound 'Windhund' Division", was a German panzer division that saw combat during World War II. It was reconstituted in the Rhineland and Westphalia areas of western Germany in March 1944 from the remnants of the 16th Panzergrenadier Division, and...
)
- 16th Luftwaffe Infantry Division (later 16th Volksgrenadier Division)
- This unit was originally in the Luftwaffe as the 16th Luftwaffe Field Division.
- 17th Infantry Division
- 18th Infantry Division (later 18th Motorised Infantry Division, 18th Panzergrenadier Division)
- 18th Volksgrenadier Division18th Volksgrenadier Division (Germany)The 18th Volksgrenadier Division was a volksgrenadier division of the German Army during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945....
- Not related to the 18th Infantry Division.
- 19th Infantry Division19th Infantry Division (Germany)The 19th Infantry Division was a formation of the German Wehrmacht during World War II. Originally formed 1 October 1934 as Artillerieführer VI in Hannover, the division was renamed 19. Infanterie-Division on 15 October 1935. Mobilized on 25 August 1939 the division participated in the Invasion of...
(later 19th Panzer Division19th Panzer Division (Germany)The German 19th Panzer Division was created from the 19th Infantry Division and was formed on 1 November 1940.In July 1941 it moved to the central sector of the Eastern front until December 1942 when it was transferred south...
) - 19th Grenadier Division19th Grenadier Division (Germany)The 19th Grenadier Division of the German Army in World War II was formed from remnants of the 19. Luftwaffen-Sturm-Division and was renamed 19...
(later 19th Volksgrenadier Division)- This unit was originally in the Luftwaffe as the 19th Luftwaffe Field Division (later 19th Luftwaffe Sturm Division)
- 20th Motorized Infantry Division (later 20th Panzergrenadier Division)
- 21st Infantry Division21st Infantry Division (Germany)-History:The division was formed in 1934 in Elbing, East Prussia, by expanding the 3rd Prussian Infantry Regiment of the 1st Division of the old Reichswehr. As this was a direct breach of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, its existence was initially concealed; it was formally designated as...
- 22nd Infantry Division (later 22nd Air Landing Division, 22nd Volksgrenadier Division)
- 23rd Infantry Division (later 26th Panzer Division)
- After being reorganized as the 26th Panzer Division, some of the 23rd Infantry Division's original components were used to create a new 23rd Infantry Division.
- 24th Infantry Division24th Infantry Division (Germany)The 24th Infantry Division was a German Army infantry division in World War II.-Formation and the Polish Campaign:...
- 25th Infantry Division (later 25th Motorized Infantry Division, 25th Panzergrenadier Division)
- 26th Infantry Division26th Infantry Division (Germany)The 26th Infantry Division was a pre-Second World war German Infantry Division of the 1st mobilisation wave . It was mobilised for World War II on September 26, 1939, disbanded September 10, 1944 near Radom, reformed as the 26th Volksgrenadier Division The 26th Infantry Division (26....
(later 26th Volksgrenadier Division) - 27th Infantry Division (later 17th Panzer Division)
- 28th Light Infantry Division (later 28th Jäger Division28th Jäger Division (Germany)The 28th Jäger Division was a German military unit during World War II.-Background:The main purpose of the German Jäger Divisions was to fight in adverse terrain where smaller, coordinated units were...
) - 29th Motorized Infantry Division (later 29th Panzergrenadier Division)
- 30th Infantry Division30th Infantry Division (Germany)The 30nd Infantry Division of the German Army was created on 1 October 1936 in Lübeck and mobilized on 26 August 1939 for the upcoming invasion of Poland...
- 31st Infantry Division31st Infantry Division (Germany)The German 31st Infantry Division, formed in October 1936, was made up of recruits from the Brunswick region of north-central Germany. The division’s emblem was a standing lion. The 31st Division saw combat in Poland in 1939, and then heavy fighting in Belgium and France in 1940...
(later 31st Grenadier Division, 31st Volksgrenadier Division) - 32nd Infantry Division32nd Infantry Division (Germany)The 32nd Infantry Division of the German Army was mobilized on August 1, 1939 for the upcoming invasion of Poland. At that time, it consisted of the usual German infantry division elements: three infantry regiments of three battalions each, one three-battalion regiment of light artillery, one...
- 33rd Infantry Division (later 15th Panzer Division, 15th Panzergrenadier Division)
- 34th Infantry Division34th Infantry Division (Germany)The 34th Infantry Division, , was a German military unit that fought in the Battle of France and on the Eastern Front during World War II.-Commanding officers:*Generalleutnant Erich Lüdke, 1 April 1936 – 1 October 1937...
- 35th Infantry Division35th Infantry Division (Germany)The 35th Infantry Division was a German Army infantry division in World War II.- History :The 35th Infantry Division was raised in October 1936 in Germany's re-militarisation...
(later 35th Volksgrenadier Division) - 36th Infantry Division (later 36th Motorized Infantry Division, then 36th Infantry Division again, 36th Grenadier Division, and finally 36th Volksgrenadier Division)
- 38th Infantry Division
- 39th Infantry Division (later 41st Fortress Division, 41st Infantry Division41st Infantry Division (Germany)The 41st Infantry Division was a German Army infantry division in World War II.- History :The 41st Infantry Division was raised in January 1945 under the command of Major Werner Honeck when Germany's desperation for defence became grave as the Red Army raced to Berlin from the east and the...
)
- 41st Infantry Division41st Infantry Division (Germany)The 41st Infantry Division was a German Army infantry division in World War II.- History :The 41st Infantry Division was raised in January 1945 under the command of Major Werner Honeck when Germany's desperation for defence became grave as the Red Army raced to Berlin from the east and the...
(previously 39th Infantry Division, 41st Fortress Division) - 42nd Jäger Division (previously 187th Reserve Division)
- 44th Infantry Division (later 44th Reichsgrenadier Division Hoch und Deutschmeister)
- 45th Infantry Division45th Infantry Division (Germany)With the annexation in 1936 of Austria by Nazi Germany, what was once the 4th Austrian Division was incorporated into the Wehrmacht and re-designated the 45.Infanterie-Division...
(later 45th Grenadier Division, 45th Volksgrenadier Division) - 46th Infantry Division
- 47th Infantry Division (previously Division Nr. 156, 156th Reserve Division; later 47th Volksgrenadier Division)
- 48th Infantry Division (later 48th Volksgrenadier Division)
- 49th Infantry Division
- 50th Infantry Division50th Infantry Division (Germany)The 50th Infantry Division was a German division in World War II. It was formed on 26 August 1939 from the Grenzkommandantur Küstrin.-50. Infanterie-Division 1939:*Infanterie-Regiment 121*Infanterie-Regiment 122...
- 52nd Infantry Division52nd Infantry Division (Germany)The 52nd Infantry Division served in southern Poland, close to Katowice and were primarily a division for training with a lot of young cadets.The officials were especially selected for training young boys...
(later 52nd Field Training Division, 52nd Security Division) - 56th Infantry Division56th Infantry Division (Germany)-History and Organisation:The division was formed in 1939 in Dresden, in the second wave of mobilisation . After taking part in the Invasion of France in 1940, it spent the remainder of its existence on the Eastern Front, mostly with Army Group Centre...
- 57th Infantry Division57th Infantry Division (Germany)The 57th Infantry Division was a German division in World War II. It was formed on 26 August 1939 in Landshut.-History:...
- 58th Infantry Division58th Infantry Division (Germany)The 58th Infantry Division was a unit of the German Army during World War II. It was formed in 1939, took part in the Battle of France in 1940, and then Operation Barbarossa in 1941...
- 59th Infantry Division
- 60th Infantry Division (later 60th Motorized Infantry Division, Panzergrenadier Division Feldherrnhalle, and Panzer Division Feldherrnhalle 1)
- 61st Infantry Division (later 61st Volksgrenadier Division)
- 62nd Infantry Division (later 62nd Volksgrenadier Division)
- 64th Infantry Division
- 65th Infantry Division65th Infantry Division (Germany)The 65th Infantry Division was a German division in World War II. It was formed in July 1942.-65. Infanterie-Division 1943:*Infanterie-Regiment 145*Infanterie-Regiment 146*Panzerjäger- und Aufklärungs-Abteilung 165...
- 68th Infantry Division68th Infantry Division (Germany)The 68th Infantry Division was a formation of the German Army during World War II. It was formed in 1939, and was initially committed to the German invasion of Poland. It took part in the Battle of France in 1940, and then Operation Barbarossa in 1941 as part of Army Group South. The 68th remained...
- 69th Infantry Division
- 70th Static Infantry Division
- 71st Infantry Division
- 72nd Infantry Division72nd Infantry Division (Germany)The 72nd Infantry Division was created on 19 September 1939 in Trier from Grenz-Division Trier, which was a border security unit. It was destroyed on the Eastern front 25 March 1944 and reformed June 1944.-Commanding officers:...
- 73rd Infantry Division
- 75th Infantry Division75th Infantry Division (Germany)The 75th Infantry Division was a German division in World War II. It was formed on 26 August 1939.-75. Infanterie-Division 1939:*Infanterie-Regiment 172*Infanterie-Regiment 202*Infanterie-Regiment 222...
- 76th Infantry Division76th Infantry Division (Germany)The 76th Infantry Division was created on 26 August 1939 together with the 23rd Infantry Division in Potsdam. The division was annihilated in the Battle of Stalingrad and reformed by the OB West on 17 February 1943.-Commanding officers:...
- 77th Infantry Division77th Infantry Division (Germany)The 77th Infantry Division was a German military unit which served during World War II.-Operational history:...
- 78th Infantry Division (later 78th Sturm Division, 78th Grenadier Division, 78th Volksgrenadier Division, and finally 78 Volks-Sturm Division)
- 79th Infantry Division79th Infantry Division (Germany)The 79th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the German Wehrmacht during World War II.- Creation and Early History :...
(later 79th Volksgrenadier Division) - 80th Infantry Division
- 81st Infantry Division81st Infantry Division (Germany)The 81st Infantry Division was a German division in World War II. It was formed on 1 December 1939.-81. Infanterie-Division 1939:*Infanterie-Regiment 161*Infanterie-Regiment 174*Infanterie-Regiment 189...
- 82nd Infantry Division82nd Infantry Division (Germany)The 82nd Infantry Division was a German Army infantry division in World War II. The 82nd was part of the sixth wave The 82nd Infantry Division (German: 82. Infanteriedivision) was a German Army infantry division in World War II. The 82nd was part of the sixth wave The 82nd Infantry Division...
- 83rd Infantry Division83rd Infantry Division (Germany)The 83rd Infantry Division, , was a German military unit that fought in several notable actions during World War II.-Formation:The division was formed December 1, 1939, at Bergen, and consisted of reservists from the north of Germany .It had the following organisation:*Infanterie-Regiment...
- 84th Infantry Division
- 85th Infantry Division85th Infantry Division (Germany)The 85th Infantry Division, designated 85. Infantriedivision in German, was a Wehrmacht division used in the Second World War.- History :...
- 86th Infantry Division
- 87th Infantry Division87th Infantry Division (Germany)The German 87th Infantry Division was created on 26 August 1939 in Altenburg. The division went into captivity in the Courland pocket.-Commanding officers:*Generalleutnant Bogislav von Studnitz, 26 August 1939...
- 88th Infantry Division88th Infantry Division (Germany)The 88th Infantry Division of the German Army was created in December 1939, as a unit of the 6th wave of army mobilisation. The 6th wave had much wepons and equipment of Czech origin. In May 1940 the division was tranfered to the west and subsiquesly took part in the later balles in france until...
- 89th Infantry Division
- 90th Light Infantry Division (previously the Division zbV Afrika; later 90th Light Afrika Division, 90th Panzergrenadier Division)
- 91st Infantry Division (later 91st Air Landing Division)
- 92nd Infantry Division
- 93rd Infantry Division93rd Infantry Division (Germany)The 93rd Infantry Division was a German infantry division that was formed in the fall of 1939. The division fought in the Second World War in both the Battle of France and on the Eastern Front...
- 94th Infantry Division94th Infantry Division (Germany)The 94th Infantry Division was a German Army infantry division in World War II.-Formation and the west campaign:...
- 95th Infantry Division95th Infantry Division (Germany)The 95th Infantry Division was a German division in World War II. It was formed on 19 September 1939 in Wildflecken and Hammelburg.-Commanding officers:...
(later 95th Volksgrenadier Division) - 96th Infantry Division96th Infantry Division (Germany)The 96th Infantry Division was a German division in World War II. It was formed on 25 September 1939 in Bergen near Celle.-Commanding officers:* General der Infanterie Erwin Vierow, 15 September 1939 – 5 August 1940...
- 97th Light Infantry Division (later 97th Jäger Division)
- 98th Infantry Division98th Infantry Division (Germany)The 98th Infantry Division was created on 18 September 1939 in Grafenwöhr. It was destroyed on the Crimea in May 1944 and reformed on 5 June 1944.-Commanding officers:* Generalleutnant Erich Schröck, 1 September 1939 - 11 April 1940...
- 99th Light Infantry Division (later 7th Mountain Division)
100th to 199th
- 100th Light Infantry Division (later 100th Jäger Division)
- 101st Light Infantry Division (later 101st Jäger Division)
- 102nd Infantry Division102nd Infantry Division (Germany)-Organisation and history:The division was formed on 15 December 1940 in Wehrkreis II , in the 12th mobilisation wave, using elements of the 8th Infantry Division and the 28th Infantry Division....
- 104th Jäger Division
- 106th Infantry Division106th Infantry Division (Germany)The 106th Infantry Division was a German division in World War II. It was formed on 22 November 1940 in Wahn.-Commanding officers:*General der Infanterie Ernst Dehner, 28 November 1940 – 3 May 1942...
- 110th Infantry Division
- 114th Jäger Division
- 117th Jäger Division
- 118th Jäger Division
- 121st Infantry Division121st Infantry Division (Germany)The 121st Infantry Division was a German division in World War II. It was a part of the German XXVIII Army Corps.-Commanding officers:*General der Artillerie Curt Jahn, 5 October 1940 – 6 May 1941...
- 122nd Infantry Division122nd Infantry Division (Germany)The 122nd Infantry Division was a German division in World War II. It was formed on 5 October 1940- Organisation :-Commanding officers:*Generalleutnant Siegfried Macholz, 5 October 1940 – 8 December 1941...
- 126nd Infantry Division
- 133rd Fortress Division
- Division zbV 140 (also 9th Mountain Division)
- 141st Reserve Division
- 143rd Reserve Division
- 147th Reserve Division
- 148th Reserve Division148th Reserve Division (Germany)The German 148th Reserve Division was a German reserve infantry division during the Second World War, made up of three infantry regiments and an artillery regiment.- History :...
redesignated 148th Infantry Division in September 1944 - 149th Field Training Division
- 150th Field Training Division
- Division Nr. 151 (later 151st Reserve Division)
- Division Nr. 152
- Division Nr. 153 (later 153rd Reserve Division, 153rd Field Training Division, 153rd Grenadier Division)
- Division Nr. 154 (later 154th Reserve Division, 154th Field Training Division, 154th Infantry Division)
- Division Nr. 155 (later Division Nr. 155 (mot.), Panzer Division Nr. 155, 155th Reserve Panzer Division)
- 155th Field Training Division (later 155th Infantry Division)
- Not related to Division Nr. 155.
- Division Nr. 156 (later 156th Reserve Division, 47th Infantry Division, 47th Volksgrenadier Division)
- 156th Field Replacement Division (later 156th Infantry Division)
- Division Nr. 157 (later 157th Reserve Division, 157th Mountain Division, 8th Mountain Division)
- Division Nr. 158 (later 158th Reserve Division)
- 158th Infantry Division158th Infantry Division (Germany)The 158th Infantry Division was a German Army infantry division in World War II.- History :The 158th Infantry Division was raised in April 1945, where it was sent to the eastern front, which was approaching westwards to the German border.- See also :* Division , Military unit, List of German...
- Not related to Division Nr. 158.
- Division Nr. 159 (later 159th Reserve Division, 159th Infantry Division)
- Division Nr. 160 (later 160th Reserve Division, 160th Infantry Division)
- 162nd Infantry Division (later 162nd Turkoman Division162nd Turkoman DivisionThe 162nd Turkoman Division was a military division that was formed by the German Army during the Second World War. It drew its men from prisoners of war or refugees who came from the Caucasus and from Turkic lands further east. The soldiers were trained at Neuhammer...
, with foreign troops) - 163rd Infantry Division
- 164th Infantry Division (later Fortress Division Kreta, which split into –)
- Fortress Brigade Kreta
- 164th Light Afrika Division
- 165th Reserve Division
- 166th Reserve Division
- 167th Volksgrenadier Division
- 169th Infantry Division
- 170th Infantry Division170th Infantry Division (Germany)The 170th Infantry Division was a German division in World War II. It was formed on 1 December 1939.-170...
- 171st Reserve Division
- 172nd Reserve Division
- 173rd Reserve Division
- 174th Reserve Division
- 176th Infantry Division
- 181st Infantry Division181st Infantry Division (Germany)The 181st Infantry Division was a German division in World War II. It was formed on 1 December 1939.-181...
- 182nd Reserve Division
- 183rd Volksgrenadier Division
- 187th Reserve Division (later 42nd Jäger Division)
- Division Nr. 188 (later 188th Reserve Mountain Division, 188th Mountain Division)
- 189th Reserve Division (later 189th Infantry Division)
- 191st Reserve Division
- 196th Infantry Division
- 197th Infantry Division197th Infantry Division (Germany)The 197th Infantry Division was a German division in World War II. It was formed on 1 December 1939.-197...
- 198th Infantry Division
- 199th Infantry Division
201st to 999th
- 201st Security Division
- 203rd Security Division
- 205th Infantry Division205th Infantry Division (Germany)The 205th Infantry Division was a German division during the Second World War.Initially formed as the 14th Militia Division , the division was mobilized a few days before the invasion of Poland in 1939, and remained on garrison duty in Germany throughout that campaign...
(previously 14th Landwehr Division) - 206th Infantry Division
- 207th Infantry Division (later 207th Security Division)
- 208th Infantry Division
- 210th Coastal Defense Division
- 211th Volksgrenadier Division
- 212th Infantry Division (later 578th Volksgrenadier Division, then renamed 212th Volksgrenadier Division)
- 213th Security Division
- 214th Infantry Division214th Infantry Division (Germany)The 214th Infantry Division was a German division in World War II. It was formed on 26 August 1939.-214...
- 216th Infantry Division216th Infantry Division (Germany)The 216th Infantry Division was created on 26 August 1939 by reorganizing several Border Defense and Army Reserve units from Lower Saxony, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Hannover...
- 217th Infantry Division
- 218th Infantry Division
- 221st Security Division
- 227th Infantry Division227th Infantry Division (Germany)The 227th Infantry Division named "Rheinisch-Westfälische" was created on 26 August 1939 in Krefeld. The Division was deployed for the last time in February 1945 in the Tuchola Forest.-Commanding officers:...
- 228th Infantry Division
- 230th Coastal Defense Division
- 232nd Infantry Division
- 233rd Panzergrenadier Division
- 237th Infantry Division
- 242nd Static Infantry Division
- 243rd Static Infantry Division
- 246th Volksgrenadier Division246th Volksgrenadier Division (Germany)The 246th Infantry Division was a Third Wave division of the Wehrmacht formed in Trier and initially stationed on the Saar Line, later in South-western France from August 1941 until January 1942....
- 250th Infantry Division (División Azul, the Spanish "Blue" Division in German service)
- 256th Infantry Division256th Infantry Division (Germany)The 256. Infanterie-Division was a German Infantry division in World War II. They formed on August 1939 as part of the 4. Welle . The division was destroyed at Vitebsk in June 1944...
(Later 256th Volksgrenadier Division - 257th Volksgrenadier Division
- 258th Infantry Division
- 264th Infantry Division
- 267th Infantry Division267th Infantry Division (Germany)The 267th Infantry Division was a German division in World War II. It was formed on 26 August 1939 in Hanover.-Commanding officers:* General der Panzertruppen Ernst Feßmann, 1 September 1939 – 1 June 1941...
- 268th Infantry Division268th Infantry Division (Germany)The 268. Infanterie-Division was a division of the Heer during the Second World War.The division was raised in August 1939, as part of the fourth mobilisation wave, commanded by Erich Straube....
- 269th Infantry Division
- 270th Fortress Infantry Division
- 271st Volksgrenadier Division
- 272nd Volksgrenadier Division272nd Volksgrenadier Division (Germany)The 272nd Volksgrenadier Division , was a German Army volksgrenadier division formed following the defeats of the Normandy Campaign in 1944...
- 274th Static Infantry Division
- 275th Infantry Division
- 276th Volksgrenadier Division276th Volksgrenadier Division (Germany)The 276th Volksgrenadier Division was a volksgrenadier division of the Heer during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945....
- 277th Infantry Division277th Infantry Division (Germany)A first 277th Infantry Division was ordered to form on May 22, 1940 as part of the 10th mobilisation wave , but this order was rescinded after the French Surrender. A new 277th Infantry Division was formed in Croatia on November 17, 1943 as part of the 22nd mobilisation wave A first 277th Infantry...
(later 277th Volksgrenadier Division) - 278th Infantry Division
- 280th Fortress Infantry Division
- 281st Security Division (later 281st Infantry Division281st Infantry Division (Germany)The German 281st Infantry Division, was formed in January 1945 in Courland by conversion of the 281st Security Division The German 281st Infantry Division, (281. Infanterie-Division) was formed in January 1945 in Courland by conversion of the 281st Security Division The German 281st Infantry...
) - 285th Security Division
- 286th Security Division286th Security Division (Germany)The 286th Security Division was a German military formation which fought in World War II.-History and organisation:The 286th Security Division was formed on 15 March 1941 around elements of the 213th Infantry Division...
- 291st Infantry Division
- 295th Infantry Division (later 295th Fortress Infantry Division)
- 297th Infantry Division297th Infantry Division (Germany)The 297th Infantry Division, designated 297. Infantriedivision in German, was one of the components of the 6th Army during its failed attack on Stalingrad.- History :...
- 300th Special Infantry Division
- 302nd Static Infantry Division (later 302nd Infantry Division)
- 305th Infantry Division305th Infantry Division (Germany)The 305th Infantry Division was a German Army unit that saw extensive, front-line action during World War II. This division was present at the Battle of Stalingrad, the Battle of Monte Cassino, and surrendered to U.S...
- 319th Infantry Division319th Static Infantry Division (Germany)The 319th Static Infantry Division was a German Army static division during World War II. It was raised in November 1940 from units of the 87th, 169th and the 299th Infantry Divisions...
- 320th Infantry Division320th Infantry Division (Germany)The 320th Infantry Division was created on 2 December 1940 in Lübeck from parts of the 58th Infantry Division and 254th Infantry Division. The Division was formally disbanded on 9 October 1944 and reformed as 320th Volks Grenadier Division....
later 320th Volksgrenadier Division - 325th Security Division
- 326th Infantry Division326th Infantry Division (Germany)The 326th Infantry Division was formed on November 9, 1942 to serve as an occupation force in France. On May 5, 1943 the division was transformed into a static division. The 326th Infantry Division was destroyed during the Battle of Normandy. A new 326th Volksgrenadier Division The 326th Infantry...
(later 326th Volksgrenadier Division) - 331st Infantry Division
- 332nd Static Infantry Division (later 332nd Infantry Division)
- 334th Infantry Division
- 337th Volksgrenadier Division
- 338th Infantry Division338th Infantry Division (Germany)The 338th Infantry Division was a division of the German Army in World War II.In 1944, the division was in southern France, and fought against the Western Allies in Operation Dragoon.-Order of Battle 1944:*757th Fortress Grenadier Regiment...
- 340th Volksgrenadier Division340th Volksgrenadier Division (Germany)The 340th Volksgrenadier Division was a volksgrenadier division of the Heer during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945....
- 344th Static Infantry Division (later 344th Infantry Division)
- 345th Motorized Infantry Division
- 346th Infantry Division
- 347th Volksgrenadier Division
- 349th Volksgrenadier Division
- 352nd Infantry Division (later 352nd Volksgrenadier Division)
- 356th Infantry Division
- 361st Volksgrenadier Division
- 362nd Infantry Division
- 363rd Volksgrenadier Division363rd Volksgrenadier Division (Germany)The 363rd Volksgrenadier Division was a volksgrenadier division of the Heer during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945....
- 367th Infantry Division
- 369th (Croat) Infantry Division369th (Croat) Infantry DivisionThe 369th Infantry Division was a division of the Wehrmacht which accepted volunteers from the Independent State of Croatia...
- 371st Infantry Division
- 373rd Infantry Division
- 376th Infantry Division
- 381st Field Training Division
- 382nd Field Training Division
- 384th Infantry Division
- 385th Infantry Division385th Infantry Division (Germany)The 385th Infantry Division, also known as a "Rheingold" Division, was created on 10 January 1942 in Fallingbostel. The division was annihilated in early 1943 while subordinated to the 8th Italian Army...
- 386th Motorized Infantry Division
- 388th Field Training Division
- 389th Static Infantry Division389th Infantry Division (Germany)The 389th Infantry Division was a German division of the Wehrmacht in the Second World War, which fought for example in the Battle of Stalingrad. It was formed on the 27 January 1942 in Milowitz.-History:...
- 390th Security Division
- 390th Field Training Division
- 391st Security Division
- 391st Field Training Division
- 392nd Infantry Division
- 402nd Training Division
- 403rd Security Division
- 416th Infantry Division
- 444th Security Division
- 454th Security Division
- 462nd Volksgrenadier Division
- 526th Reserve Division
- 541st Grenadier Division (later 541st Volksgrenadier Division)
- 542nd Grenadier Division (later 542nd Volksgrenadier Division)
- 543rd Grenadier Division
- 544th Grenadier Division (later 544th Volksgrenadier Division)
- 545th Grenadier Division (later 545th Volksgrenadier Division)
- 546th Grenadier Division
- 547th Grenadier Division (later 547th Volksgrenadier Division)
- 548th Grenadier Division (later 548th Volksgrenadier Division)
- 549th Grenadier Division (later 549th Volksgrenadier Division)
- 550th Grenadier Division
- 551st Grenadier Division (later 551st Volksgrenadier Division)
- 552nd Grenadier Division
- 553rd Grenadier Division (later 553rd Volksgrenadier Division)
- 558th Grenadier Division (later 558th Volksgrenadier Division)
- 559th Grenadier Division (later 559th Volksgrenadier Division)
- 560th Grenadier Division (later 560th Volksgrenadier Division)
- 561st Grenadier Division Ostpreußen 1 (later 561st Volksgrenadier Division)
- 562nd Grenadier Division Ostpreußen 2562nd Grenadier Division (Germany)-Organisation and history:The division was formed in July 1944 at Stablack near Preußisch Eylau, East Prussia, in the 29th mobilisation wave, with the following organisation:*Grenadier-Regiment Ostpreußen 3*Grenadier-Regiment Ostpreußen 4...
(later 562nd Volksgrenadier Division) - 563rd Grenadier Division (later 563rd Volksgrenadier Division)
- 564th Grenadier Division (later 564th Volksgrenadier Division)
- 565th Volksgrenadier Division
- 566th Volksgrenadier Division
- 567th Volksgrenadier Division
- 568th Volksgrenadier Division
- 569th Volksgrenadier Division
- 570th Volksgrenadier Division
- 571st Volksgrenadier Division
- 572nd Volksgrenadier Division
- 573rd Volksgrenadier Division
- 574th Volksgrenadier Division
- 575th Volksgrenadier Division
- 576th Volksgrenadier Division
- 577th Volksgrenadier Division
- 578th Volksgrenadier Division (previously 212th Infantry Division; later 212th Volksgrenadier Division)
- 579th Volksgrenadier Division
- 580th Volksgrenadier Division
- 581st Volksgrenadier Division
- 582nd Volksgrenadier Division
- 583rd Volksgrenadier Division
- 584th Volksgrenadier Division
- 585th Volksgrenadier Division
- 586th Volksgrenadier Division
- 587th Volksgrenadier Division
- 588th Volksgrenadier Division
- 702nd Static Infantry Division
- 707th Security Division
- 708th Static Infantry Division (later 708th Coastal Defense Division, 708th Volksgrenadier Division)
- 709th Static Infantry Division
- 710th Static Infantry Division
- 715th Infantry Division715th Infantry Division (Germany)The 715th Infantry Division was a German infantry division which fought during World War II.-Composition:As of 1942, the composition of the 715th Infantry Division was as follows:*715th Infantry Regiment*735th Infantry Regiment*671st Artillery Battalion...
- 716th Static Infantry Division (later 716th Volksgrenadier Division)
- 719th Infantry Division
- Division Nr. 805
- 999th Light Afrika Division
Named divisions
- Führer Begleit DivisionFührer Begleit BrigadeThe Führerbegleitbrigade was a German armoured brigade and later armoured division , in World War II...
Escort Battalion formed to protect Hitler's Eastern Front Headquarters. - Führer Grenadier DivisionFührer Grenadier BrigadeThe Führer Grenadier Brigade was an élite German Heer combat unit which saw action during World War II. The Führer Grenadier Brigade is sometimes mistakenly perceived as being a part of the Waffen-SS, whereas it was actually a Heer unit and technically assigned to the Großdeutschland Division...
- Panzergrenadier Division BrandenburgBrandenburgersThe Brandenburgers were members of the Brandenburg German Special Forces unit during World War II.Units of Brandenburgers operated in almost all fronts - the invasion of Poland, Denmark and Norway, in the Battle of France, in Operation Barbarossa, in Finland, Greece and the invasion of Crete,...
- Panzergrenadier Division FeldherrnhallePanzer Corps FeldherrnhalleThe Panzerkorps Feldherrnhalle was a German panzer corps formed in October 1944 from the remaining troops of the IV. Armeekorps, the Storm Division Rhodos and Panzer-Grenadier-Brigade 17 formed mostly of SA recruits....
(previously 60th Infantry Division, 60th Motorized Infantry Division; later Panzer Division Feldherrnhalle 1) - Panzergrenadier Division Großdeutschland
- Grenadier Division Lehr
- Not related to Panzer Lehr.
- Jäger Division Alpen
- Division von Broich/von ManteuffelDivision von Broich/von ManteuffelDivision von Broich was a German provisional infantry division active in 1942-43 in North Africa.It was created on 15 November 1942 by renaming Schützen-Brigade von Broich, a provisional unit formed from Ortskommandeur II/960 on 10 November specifically for the command and control of miscellaneous...
Tunisia November 1942 - May 1943
Mountain divisions
- 1st Mountain Division (later 1st Volksgebirgs Division)
- 2nd Mountain Division
- 3rd Mountain Division
- 4th Mountain Division
- 5th Mountain Division
- 6th Mountain Division
- 7th Mountain Division7th Mountain Division7 Mountain Division or 7 Gebirgs Division was formed through the redesignation of 99 Light Infantry Division which had fought on the southern sector of the Eastern Front until being withdrawn to Germany and redesignated the 7 Mountain Division in October 1941. In 1942, it was sent to Finland and...
(previously 99th Light Infantry Division) - 8th Mountain Division8th Mountain Division8th Mountain Division or 8. Gebirgs-Division was formed on 27 February 1945 by the redesignation of the 157th Mountain Division. Which itself had been formed from the 157th Infantry Division in September 1944. The division was stationed in France until the Italian surrender when it then moved to...
(previously Division Nr. 157, 157th Reserve Division, 157th Mountain Division) - 9th Mountain Division (previously Shadow Division Steiermark and Division zbV 140)
- 188th Mountain Division (previously Division Nr. 188, 188th Reserve Mountain Division)
Cavalry divisions
According to Davies, the Cavalry divisions were mounted infantryMounted infantry
Mounted infantry were soldiers who rode horses instead of marching, but actually fought on foot . The original dragoons were essentially mounted infantry...
and the Cossack divisions were "true cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
", modelled on the Russian cavalry divisions.
- 1st Cavalry Division1st Cavalry Division (Germany)The 1st Cavalry Division was formed in October 1939. It fought in Holland, Belgium, France and on the Eastern Front. It was officially transformed into the 24th Panzer Division in late 1941.- Formation :...
(later 24th Panzer Division) - 3rd Cavalry Division
- 4th Cavalry Division
- Cossack Cavalry Division (This unit was transferred to the Waffen-SS, where it was split to form the 1st & 2nd Cossack Cavalry Divisions as part of the XV SS Cossack Cavalry Corps.)
Landwehr divisions
- 14th Landwehr Division (later 205th Infantry Division)
- 97th Landwehr Division
Artillery divisions
- 18th Artillery Division18th Artillery Division (Germany)The 18th Artillery Division was established by the end of 1943 after disbanding the 18th Panzer Division. The unit was planned as a mobile artillery force, but due to lack of equipment it was never raised to its planned strength...
(formerly 18th Panzer Division) - 309th Artillery Division
- 310th Artillery Division
- 311th Artillery Division
- 312th Artillery Division
- 397th Artillery Division
Named fortress divisions
- Fortress Division Danzig
- Fortress Division Frankfurt/Oder
- Fortress Division Gotenhafen
- Fortress Division Kreta (previously 164th Infantry Division; later 164th Light Afrika Division)
- Fortress Division Stettin
- Fortress Division Swinemünde
- Fortress Division Warschau
Named training divisions
- Training Division Bayern
- Training Division Kurland
- Training Division Nord
Field replacement divisions
- Field Replacement Division A
- Field Replacement Division B
- Field Replacement Division C
- Field Replacement Division D
- Field Replacement Division E
- Field Replacement Division F
Naval infantry divisions
- 1st Naval Infantry Division
- 2nd Naval Infantry Division
- 3rd Naval Infantry Division
- 11th Naval Infantry Division
- 16th Naval Infantry Division
- Naval Infantry Division Gotenhafen
Hermann Göring divisions
The Hermann GöringHermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
formations grew from a single police detachment to an entire armored corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
over the course of the war. The later epithet Fallschirm ("parachute") was purely honorific.
- Hermann Göring Division (later Panzer Division Hermann Göring, Parachute Panzer Division 1 Hermann Göring)
- Parachute Panzergrenadier Division 2 Hermann GöringFallschirm-Panzergrenadier Division 2 Hermann GöringFallschirm-Panzergrenadier-Division 2 "Hermann Göring" was formed on 24 September 1944 in the area of Radom.-Commanding officers:*Generalmajor Erich Walther, 24 September 1944 - November 1944*Oberst Wilhelm Söth, November 1944 - January 1945...
Airborne divisions
To keep its existence secret, the first German airborneAirborne 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 was named as if a Flieger ("flier") division in the series of Luftwaffe divisions that controlled air assets rather than ground troops-named 7th Flieger Division (often translated 7th Air Division-see 1st Parachute Division (Germany)
1st Parachute Division (Germany)
The German 1st Parachute Division was a German elite military parachute-landing Division that fought during World War II. A division of paratroopers was termed a Fallschirmjäger Division...
) The division was later reorganized to start a series of nominally airborne divisions. Though named Fallschirmjäger
Fallschirmjäger
are German paratroopers. Together with the Gebirgsjäger they are perceived as the elite infantry units of the German Army....
("paratrooper") divisions, only some of them participated in airdrop
Airdrop
An airdrop is a type of airlift, developed during World War II to resupply otherwise inaccessible troops, who themselves may have been airborne forces. In some cases, it is used to refer to the airborne assault itself. Early airdrops were conducted by dropping or pushing padded bundles from...
s in the early part of the war, and in practice most operated as ordinary infantry throughout their existence. The lower-numbered ones earned and maintained an élite status, but quality generally declined among the higher-numbered divisions.
- 1st Parachute Division1st Parachute Division (Germany)The German 1st Parachute Division was a German elite military parachute-landing Division that fought during World War II. A division of paratroopers was termed a Fallschirmjäger Division...
(April 1943 7th Flieger becomes 1st Fallschirmjäger) - 2nd Parachute Division
- 3rd Parachute Division3rd Parachute Division (Germany)The 3rd Parachute Division was a German military unit that was active during World War II. Its formation began in October 1943 in France near Reims. From February 1944 near Brest...
- 4th Parachute Division4th Parachute Division (Germany)The 4th Parachute Division, , was a formation in the Luftwaffe during World War II. It was formed in Venice, Italy, in November 1943, from elements of 2 Fallschirmjäger Division and volunteers from the Italian 184 and 185 Airborne Division Folgore parachute divisions...
- 5th Parachute Division5th Parachute Division (Germany)The 5. Fallschirmjäger-Division was a fallschirmjäger division of the German military during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945.The division was formed in France in early 1944, commanded by Gustav Wilke...
- 6th Parachute Division
- 7th Parachute Division7th Parachute Division (Germany)The 7. Fallschirmjäger-Division was a fallschirmjäger division of the German military during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945....
(previously Group ErdmannWolfgang ErdmannDipl.-Ing. Wolfgang ErdmannIn German an engineer's degree is called Diplom-Ingenieur was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Fallschirmjäger during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
, an ad hoc collection of Luftwaffe assets on the western front) - 8th Parachute Division8th Parachute Division (Germany)The 8. Fallschirmjäger-Division was a fallschirmjäger division of the German military during the Second World War, active in 1945....
- 9th Parachute Division
- 10th Parachute Division10th Parachute Division (Germany)The 10. Fallschirmjäger-Division was a fallschirmjäger division of the German military during the Second World War, active in 1945....
- 11th Parachute Division11th Parachute Division (Germany)The 11. Fallschirmjäger-Division was a fallschirmjäger division of the German military during the Second World War, active in 1945....
(started to be formed March 1945. fought as battle groups only) - 20th Parachute Division20th Parachute Division (Germany)The 20. Fallschirmjäger-Division was a fallschirmjäger division of the German military during the Second World War, active in 1945....
(Formation ordered 20 March 1945 in the Netherlands, from Parachute Training and Replacement Division. However formation was not completed beyond cadre.) - 21st Parachute Division21st Parachute Division (Germany)The 21. Fallschirmjäger-Division was a fallschirmjäger division of the German military during the Second World War, active in 1945....
(Formation ordered 5 April 1945 in the Netherlands, as a Field-Training Division. However formation was not completed beyond cadre.)
Field divisions
Luftwaffe Field DivisionLuftwaffe Field Division
The Luftwaffe Field Divisions were German military formations which fought during World War II.-History:...
s were ordinary 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...
divisions organized from Luftwaffe personnel made available after mid-war due to the manpower crunch. They were originally Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
units but were later handed over to the Heer
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
, retaining their numbering but with Luftwaffe attached to distinguish them from similarly numbered divisions already existing in the Heer.
- 1st Luftwaffe Field Division
- 2nd Luftwaffe Field Division
- 3rd Luftwaffe Field Division
- 4th Luftwaffe Field Division4th Luftwaffe Field Division (Germany)The 4th Luftwaffe Field Division was a German infantry formation which fought during World War II.-History and organisation:The division was formed in 1942 in the area of Third Air Command . In November 1942, it was assigned to Army Group Centre on the Eastern Front. By 1943 it had the following...
- 5th Luftwaffe Field Division
- 6th Luftwaffe Field Division6th Luftwaffe Field Division (Germany)The 6th Luftwaffe Field Division was a German infantry formation which fought during World War II.-History and organisation:The division was formed in 1942 in the area of Third Air Command , with the following organisation:*I.-IV...
- 7th Luftwaffe Field Division
- 8th Luftwaffe Field Division
- 9th Luftwaffe Field Division
- 10th Luftwaffe Field Division
- 11th Luftwaffe Field Division
- 12th Luftwaffe Field Division
- 13th Luftwaffe Field Division
- 14th Luftwaffe Field Division
- 15th Luftwaffe Field Division
- 16th Luftwaffe Field Division
- Eventually transferred to the Heer as 16th Luftwaffe Infantry Division (later 16th Volksgrenadier Division)
- 17th Luftwaffe Field Division
- 18th Luftwaffe Field Division
- 19th Luftwaffe Field Division (later 19th Luftwaffe Sturm Division)
- Eventually transferred to the Heer as 19th Grenadier Division (later 19th Volksgrenadier Division)
- 20th Luftwaffe Field Division (later 20th Luftwaffe Sturm Division)
- 21st Luftwaffe Field Division (previously the MeindlEugen MeindlEugen Meindl was a highly decorated German Fallschirmjäger and general during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
Division, an ad hoc collection of Luftwaffe resources) - 22nd Luftwaffe Field Division Not actually formed, its sub-units were attached to other divisions as needed.
Training divisions
- 1st Luftwaffe Training Division
- Parachute Training and Replacement Division-see 20th Parachute Division (Germany)20th Parachute Division (Germany)The 20. Fallschirmjäger-Division was a fallschirmjäger division of the German military during the Second World War, active in 1945....
Anti-Aircraft divisions
These were headquarters for controlling aggregates of flak ("anti-aircraft artillery") assets rather than ordinary combined armsCombined arms
Combined arms is an approach to warfare which seeks to integrate different branches of a military to achieve mutually complementary effects...
divisions organized for ground combat.
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Waffen-SS divisions
All divisions in the Waffen-SSWaffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
were ordered in a single series up to 38th, regardless of type. Those tagged with nationalities were at least nominally recruited from those nationalities. Many of the higher-numbered units were small battlegroups (Kampfgruppe
Kampfgruppe
In military history and military slang, the German term Kampfgruppe can refer to a combat formation of any kind, but most usually to that employed by the German Wehrmacht and its allies during World War II and, to a lesser extent, in World War I...
n), i.e. divisions in name only.
Also Panzer Division Kempf
German Panzer Division Kempf
The East Prussia Panzer Unit was an ad hoc combined arms unit created for operations out of East Prussia during the Invasion of Poland in 1939...
, a temporary unit of mixed Heer and Waffen-SS components.
See also
- List of German corps in WWII
- List of German military units of World War II
- Glossary of WWII German military termsGlossary of WWII German military termsThis is a list of words, terms, concepts, and slogans that were have been or are used by the German military. Ranks and translations of nicknames for vehicles are included. Also included are some general terms from the German language found frequently in military jargon...
- 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 - 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:...
, German ArmyGerman 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...
, LuftwaffeLuftwaffeLuftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
, KriegsmarineKriegsmarineThe Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
(Navy), Waffen-SSWaffen-SSThe Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside... - PanzerPanzerA Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
, Panzer DivisionPanzer DivisionA panzer division was an armored division in the army and air force branches of the Wehrmacht as well as the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II....
, Armored warfare - PanzergrenadierPanzergrenadieris a German term for motorised or mechanized infantry, as introduced during World War II. It is used in the armies of Austria, Chile, Germany and Switzerland.-Forerunners:...
, Mechanized infantryMechanized infantryMechanized infantry are infantry equipped with armored personnel carriers , or infantry fighting vehicles for transport and combat .... - FallschirmjägerFallschirmjägerare German paratroopers. Together with the Gebirgsjäger they are perceived as the elite infantry units of the German Army....
, Airborne forcesAirborne forcesAirborne 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... - VolksgrenadierVolksgrenadierVolksgrenadier 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...
- VolkssturmVolkssturmThe Volkssturm was a German national militia of the last months of World War II. It was founded on Adolf Hitler's orders on October 18, 1944 and conscripted males between the ages of 16 to 60 years who were not already serving in some military unit as part of a German Home Guard.-Origins and...
Further reading
- German unit database at axishistory.com
- feldgrau.com - research on the German armed forces 1918-1945
- lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de (German language site)