German 23rd Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
23rd Infantry Division
The German 23rd Infantry Division was a military unit operational during World War IIWorld 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...
. It was organized along standard lines for a German infantry division. It was non-motorised and relied on horse drawn wagons for its mobility. The unit carried the nickname Grenadierkopf.
The 23rd Infantry participated 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...
in 1939 as part of the reserve component of the 4th Army. The division was commanded by Walter Graf von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt
Walter von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt
Walter Graf von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt was a German general of the Infantry, serving during World War II....
and consisted of the 9th, 67th, and 68th infantry regiments.
Commanding officers
- Generalleutnant Ernst Busch, creation - 4 February 1938
- General der Infanterie Walter Graf von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt, 4 February 1938 - 1 June 1940
- Generalleutnant Heinz HellmichHeinz HellmichHeinz Hellmich was a German Generalleutnant during World War II. Awarded with a posthumous Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 September 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of the 243. Infanterie-Division....
, 1 June 1940 - 17 January 1942 - Generalleutnant Curt BadinskiCurt BadinskiCurt Badinski was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who held several divisional commands. 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...
, 17 January 1942 - 15 November 1942
26th Panzer Division
In July 1942, the division was reorganized as the 26th Panzer Division. It then served occupation duties in the west until mid-1943, whereupon it transferred to Italy to resist the Allied invasion, fought at Salerno, and remained in Italy for the rest of the war, surrendering to the British near BolognaBologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
at the end.
Commanding officers
- General der Panzertruppen Smilo Freiherr von LüttwitzSmilo Freiherr von LüttwitzSmilo Walther Hinko Oskar Constantin Wilhelm Freiherr von Lüttwitz was a German general of the Panzer troops, serving during World War II and son of Walther von Lüttwitz...
, 14 September 1942 - Generalmajor Hans HeckerHans HeckerHans Hecker was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several divisions. 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...
, 22 January 1944 - General der Panzertruppen Smilo Freiherr von Lüttwitz, 20 February 1944
- Oberst Dr. rer. pol. Dr. jur. Hans BoelsenHans BoelsenDr.jur. Dr.rer.pol. Hans Boelsen was a highly decorated Generalleutnant 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...
, 11 April 1944 – 7 May 1944 (deputy) - Generalleutnant Eduard CrasemannEduard CrasemannEduard Crasemann was a highly decorated General der Artillerie in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
, 6 July 1944 - Oberst Carl Stollbrock, 15 December 1944 - 15 January 1945 (deputy)
- Generalmajor Alfred Kuhnert, 29 January 1945
- Generalleutnant Viktor Linnarz, 19 April 1945
New 23rd Infantry Division
In November 1942 a new 23rd Infantry Division was formed, with the new 9th and 67th regiments called Grenadier to distinguish them from the original 9th and 67th regiments now called PanzergrenadierPanzergrenadier
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:...
in the 26th Panzer Division. This new division served on the Eastern Front for the remainder of the war, ultimately surrendering in East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
.
Commanding officers
- Generalmajor Friedrich von Schellwitz, re-creation - August 1943
- General der Artillerie Horst von MellenthinHorst von MellenthinHorst von Mellenthin was a highly decorated General der Artillerie in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several corps. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
, August 1943 - 1 September 1943 - Generalleutnant Paul GurranPaul GurranPaul Gurran was a highly decorated Generalleutnant 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...
, 1 September 1943 - 22 February 1944 - Generalleutnant Walter Charles de Beaulieu, 22 February 1944 - 1 August 1944
- Generalleutnant Hans Schirmer, 1 August 1944 - disbanded
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