The County Divisions of 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...

 were raised by the British Army

British Army

The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...

 in 1941 as a defence against a planned German invasion of Britain

Operation Sealion

Operation Sea Lion was Germany's plan to invade the United Kingdom during the Second World War, beginning in 1940. To have had any chance of success, however, the operation would have required air and naval supremacy over the English Channel...

. They were static formations which were supposed to command the Independent Infantry Brigades (Home) which were on anti-invasion duties. Each coast in danger had its own County Division.

• Devon and Cornwall County Division
  British Devon and Cornwall County Division
  The Devon and Cornwall County Division of the British Army was a British County Division formed on 28 February 1941. The nucleus of its headquarters came from personnel taken out of Headquarters South-West Area in the Southern Command...
  
  
• Dorset County Division
  British Dorset County Division
  The Dorset County Division was formed on February 24, 1941. However it did not take over operational commitments from Southern Area until March 10 and it did not finally assume command of its allocated infantry brigades until April 24. It only had a short existence, being reduced to an...
  
  
• Durham and North Riding County Division
  British Durham and North Riding County Division
  The Durham and North Riding County Division was formed on 12 March 1941. It was only in existence until 1 December 1941 when it was redesignated Durham and North Riding Coastal Area. It had one commanding officer, Major General F. J. Shears, and commanded the 215th Independent Infantry Brigade ,...
  
  
• Essex County Division
  British Essex County Division
  The Essex County Division was formed on 18 February 1941 by the redesignation of the West Sussex County Division. It lasted until 7 October when it was disbanded. It had one commanding officer, Major General J. H. T. Priestman, and commanded the 207th Independent Infantry Brigade , 208th...
  
  
• Hampshire County Division
  British Hampshire County Division
  The Hampshire County Division was formed on February 28, 1941 by the redesignation of Hampshire Area. In addition to the 214th Independent Infantry Brigade , there were three sub-areas under the command of the division. On November 25 the division ceased to function and the headquarters was...
  
  
• Lincolnshire County Division
  British Lincolnshire County Division
  The Lincolnshire County Division was formed on 24 February 1941, however it did not become operational until 27 March. It ceased to function on 25 November and was disbanded on 3 December...
  
  
• Norfolk County Division
  British Norfolk County Division
  The Norfolk County Division was an infantry division of the British Army during the Second World War named after the County of Norfolk. It was formed on 24 December 1940. On 18 November 1941 it was redesignated as the 76th Infantry Division....
  
  
• Northumberland County Division
  British Northumberland County Division
  The Northumberland County Division was formed on 24 February 1941. It ceased to function on 1 December 1941, and was disbanded on 21 December 1941. It was commanded by Major General R. C. Money and consisted of the 202nd Independent Infantry Brigade , 216th Independent Infantry Brigade and 225th...
  
  
• West Sussex County Division
  British West Sussex County Division
  The West Sussex County Division was formed by the redesignation of Brocforce on 9 November 1940. It was redesignated on 18 February 1941, becoming the Essex County Division. It was commanded by four officers, Major General E. L. Morris from formation until 16 December, Brigadier A. E. Lawrence...
  
  
• Yorkshire County Division
  British Yorkshire County Division
  The Yorkshire County Division was activated on 24 February 1941, and became operation on 19 March. It was redesignated the East Riding District on 1 December 1941. It was commanded by three officers, Major General the Honourable E. F. Lawson until 11 September, Brigadier G. H. Gotto until 23...
  
  

These formations had none of the usual divisional units that other permanent divisions had. Any they commanded were temporarily on loan from other formations.