German 208th Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
The German 208th Infantry Division, or 208.Infanterie-Division in German, was a large military unit that served during World War II
. Like most German infantry division
s, the bulk of its troops were leg-mobile infantry supported by horse-drawn artillery
.
The 208th Infantry served in the Invasion of Poland
of 1939 as a reserve division of Army Group North
and was commanded by General Moritz Andreas. During Fall Gelb it was a reserve division allocated to 18th Army
and was mainly active in the occupation of northern Belgium. From January 1942 it fought continuously on the Eastern Front
.
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...
. Like most German infantry division
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, the bulk of its troops were leg-mobile infantry supported by horse-drawn artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
.
The 208th Infantry served in the Invasion of Poland
Invasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
of 1939 as a reserve division of Army Group North
Army Group North
Army Group North was a German strategic echelon formation commanding a grouping of Field Armies subordinated to the OKH during World War II. The army group coordinated the operations of attached separate army corps, reserve formations, rear services and logistics.- Formation :The Army Group North...
and was commanded by General Moritz Andreas. During Fall Gelb it was a reserve division allocated to 18th Army
German Eighteenth Army
The 18th Army was a World War I and World War II field army.-World War I:The 18th Army was formed in 1918 by the German OHL and commanded by General Oskar von Hutier.-World War II:...
and was mainly active in the occupation of northern Belgium. From January 1942 it fought continuously on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
.
Commanding officers
- Generalleutnant Moritz Andreas, 1 September 1939
- General der Infanterie Hans-Karl von ScheeleHans-Karl von ScheeleHans-Karl von Scheele was a General der Infanterie 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...
, 13 December 1941 - Generalleutnant Karl-Wilhelm von SchliebenKarl-Wilhelm von SchliebenKarl-Wilhelm von Schlieben was a German officer in World War I and World War II.- World War I career :Karl-Wilhelm von Schlieben joined the Prussian Army in August 1914 as a Fahnenjunker . He was assigned to the training and replacement Battalion of the 3rd Foot Guards...
, 1 February 1943 - Generalmajor Georg Zwade, April 1943
- Generalleutnant Hans Pieckenbrock, 22 June 1943
See also
- German order of battle for Operation Fall WeissGerman order of battle for Operation Fall WeissThis article details the order of battle of German army units invading Poland in 1939.The German forces for the invasion of Poland with the codename Fall Weiss were divided into Army Group North and Army Group South .-Army...
- List of German military units of World War II