21st Infantry Division (Germany)
- 21st Infantry Division (Germany)
The 21st Infantry Division was a German military unit which fought during World War II.
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 the 21st Infantry Division in October 1935. Its East Prussian origin informed the adoption of the divisional symbol, a figure holding a shield bearing the black cross of the Teutonic Knights.
Mobilised in the 1st wave in 1939, the division took part in the German invasion of Poland and the following year's invasion of France. For the next four years, it fought on the Eastern Front, largely as part of Army Group North, assigned to Eighteenth Army.
After being involved in series of defensive battles and retreats to Riga as the Soviet army liberated their territory, late 1944 saw the 21st Infantry Division again in East Prussia, assigned to Third Panzer Army in the area of Tilsit before being reallocated to Fourth Army and deployed in the area of Insterburg, facing the Soviet East Prussian Offensive. Along with the bulk of Fourth Army it was encircled and largely destroyed in the Heiligenbeil pocket in the closing weeks of the war. Remnants of the division's forces were transported over the Frisches Haff to Pillau and Samland, where the unit was eventually dispersed in battle with Soviet troops, while some elements escaped along the Frische Nehrung to Hela and eventually by sea to Schleswig-Holstein.
Organisation
*Infanterie-Regiment 3
*Infanterie-Regiment 24
*Infanterie-Regiment 45
*Artillerie-Regiment 21
*I./Artillerie-Regiment 57
*Aufklärungs-Abteilung 21
*Panzerjäger-Abteilung 21
*Pionier-Bataillon 21
*Nachrichten-Abteilung 21
*Inf.Div.Nachschubführer 1
See also
* Division (military), Military unit, List of German divisions in WWII
* Heer, Wehrmacht
References
* " [http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanteriedivisionen/21ID.htm] ". German language article at www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de. Retrieved July 03, 2007.
* " [http://www.feldgrau.com/InfDiv.php?ID=21] ". Article at feldgrau.com. Retrieved July 03, 2007.
Wikimedia Foundation.
2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
21st Panzer Division (Germany) — The 21st Panzer Division was a German armoured division best known for its role in the battles of the North African Campaign from 1941 1943 during World War II when it was one of the two armoured divisions making up the Afrika Korps. Origins… … Wikipedia
61st Infantry Division (Germany) — The German 61st Infantry Division was a combat division of the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War.Established in August 1939 with its headquarters at Insterburg, the unit invaded Poland on September 1st, 1939 as part of von Küchler s… … Wikipedia
33rd Infantry Division (Germany) — The 33rd Infantry Division (later 15th Panzer Division and 15th Panzergrenadier Division) was a unit in the German Army during World War II.HistoryThis unit was created as the 33rd Infantry Division in 1936, and mobilized in 1939, but it did not… … Wikipedia
272nd Infantry Division (Germany) — Infobox Military Unit unit name= 272nd Infantry Division caption= dates= December 1943 September 1944 country= flagicon|Germany|Nazi Germany allegiance= branch= Army (das deutsche Heer) type= Infantry Division Type Kriegsetat 1944 size= 6… … Wikipedia
17th Infantry Division (Germany) — The 17th Infantry Division was an infantry division of Nazi Germany, active before and during the World War II. Formed in 1934, it took part in most of the campaigns of the Wehrmacht and was decimated in January of 1945. Reconstituted in Germany … Wikipedia
21st Reserve Division (German Empire) — Infobox Military Unit unit name=21st Reserve Division ( 21. Reserve Division ) dates=1914 1919 country=Germany branch=Army type=Infantry size=Approx. 15,000 battles=World War I: Great Retreat, First Battle of the Marne, Battle of Verdun, Second… … Wikipedia
1st Armoured Division (Germany) — Division Intervention Forces/ 1st Armoured Division 1. Panzerdivision 1st Armoured Division insignia Active 1956 present Country … Wikipedia
56th Infantry Division (German Empire) — Infobox Military Unit unit name=56th Infantry Division ( 56. Infanterie Division ) dates=1915 1919 country=Germany branch=Army type=Infantry size=Approx. 15,000 battles=World War I: Gorlice Tarnów Offensive, Lemberg (1915), 2nd Champagne, Verdun … Wikipedia
183rd Volksgrenadier Division (Germany) — The 183 Volksgrenadier Division was a German troop during the World War II.In September 1944 the 183 Volksgrenadier Division was formed of what was left of the 183rd Infantry Division, complemented by non fighting military personnel (from navy… … Wikipedia
116th Panzer Division (Germany) — The 116th Panzer Division, also known as the Greyhound Division , was assembled in the Rhineland and Westphalia areas of western Germany in 1944 from the remnants of the 16th Panzergrenadier Division, thus absorbing the 179th Reserve Division… … Wikipedia
