Großdeutschland Division
Encyclopedia
The Großdeutschland Division was an elite Heer combat unit of the Wehrmacht
. The Großdeutschland was considered to be the premier unit of the German Army and as such it was one of best-equipped unit of the German Armed Forces, receiving equipment before all other units.
. The Regiment GD saw action in France in 1940. It was attached to Panzer Group 2 in the opening phases of Barbarossa, being nearly annihilated in the vicious fighting outside of Moscow in late 1941. On the last day of February 1942, Rifle Battalion GD (all that was left of the original Regiment) was disbanded and two battalions formed a new GD Regiment out of reinforcements arriving from Neuruppin. The Regiment moved to Orel after a period in the front line, and on 1 Apr 1942, arising out of the need for new motorized formations for the summer offensives of 1942, an announcement was made at a regimental parade at Rjetschiza:
While resting and refitting near Orel, the Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland
reorganized and expanded to become Infanterie-Division Großdeutschland (mot). The existing Regiment became Infanterie-Regiment Großdeutschland 1, and was joined by the newly formed Infanterie-Regiment Großdeutschland 2. Supporting units in the form of a Panzer
battalion, an assault gun
battalion and increased flak, artillery
and engineers were added with the upgrade to divisional status.
After the reorganization, the Großdeutschland Division was assigned to XLVIII. Panzerkorps
during the opening phases of Fall Blau, the assault on Stalingrad. The division took part in the successful attacks to cross the upper Don river and to capture Voronezh
. In August, the division was pulled back to the north bank of the Donets and held as a mobile reserve and fire-brigade counterattack force. During the combined Soviet winter offensives Operation Uranus
and Operation Mars
, the Division was involved in heavy winter fighting near Rzhev
. The Division sustained heavy losses in the Rzhev
salient, effectively making the division combat ineffective. It was pulled out of the lines and refitted.
took part in the Third Battle of Kharkov
. The division fought alongside the 1.SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, 2.SS Division Das Reich and 3.SS Division Totenkopf during these battles. After the fall of Kharkov, the Großdeutschland was again pulled back and refitted. At this time, the division was equipped with a company of Tigers
, an unusual addition making GD the only Panzergrenadier division to have its own heavy tanks, and the only non-Waffen SS division at that time to have its own Tigers (they were normally deployed in independent heavy tank battalions).
of Generaloberst Hermann Hoth
, and was to take a major role (again paired with the SS-Panzerkorps) in Operation Citadel, the battles to sever the Kursk
salient. During the buildup period, a brigade of two battalions of new Panther Ausf. D
tanks came under the operational control of Großdeutschland. After the launch of Citadel, the division was heavily engaged in the fight to penetrate the southern flank of the salient. The new Panthers were plagued by technical problems, suffering from engine fires and mechanical breakdowns, many before reaching the battle. Contrary to popular belief, GD did not take part in the epic tank battle of Prokhovrovkha, and the Panther tanks were not engaged as most were broken down by the time the battle started. However they witnessed the battle as they were held in reserve. The division fought on until it was pulled back to Tomarovka on 18 July 1943.
before being transferred back to XLVIII Panzerkorps in late August. For the rest of 1943, Großdeutschland was engaged in the fighting withdrawal from the eastern Ukraine, taking part in battles around Kharkov, Belgorod
, and finally on the Dnieper, ending the year fighting strong enemy forces near Michurin-Rog, east of Krivoi-Rog. It was during this period that the division earned the nickname "die Feuerwehr" (The Fire Brigade).
Over the next months, the division continued moving from crisis-point to crisis-point across the front. Panzer Regiment Großdeutschland saw action in the battles to relieve the Cherkassy pocket in late January 1944 while the rest of the division was involved in heavy fighting from the Dniester
to Northern Bessarabia
. On 4 March 1944 the First, Second and Third Ukrainian Fronts launched a major attack on the north, central and southern flanks of Army Group South, and GD moved to Kirovgrad, bolstering weak parts of the line until withdrawn to Rovnoye to the southwest. On 16 March the division began the move to the Dniester River, and by the end of March had entered Romania.
In April 1944, GD. as a part of LVII.Panzerkorps. fought defensive battles near Iaşi
, including the First Battle of Târgu Frumos
, slowly retreating to Târgul Frumos in Moldavia. Fighting in the region raged for over a month. A renewed Soviet offensive began on 2 May, aimed at breaking through GD and onto the Romanian oil fields. The defensive action at the Second Battle of Târgu Frumos was the focus of several NATO studies during the Cold War
.
In mid May, the infantry and reconnaissance components of the division were equipped with armored personnel carriers (Schützenpanzerwagen
) and other armoured vehicles. The Füsilier regiments were downsized from four battalions to three. The division was then sent back to the front, where it was involved in the fighting around Podul Iloaiei. After a brief rest in early July, the division was again committed to heavy fighting in northern Romania
.
In late July, the division was transferred to East Prussia
. Over the next months, Großdeutschland was involved in heavy fighting in both East Prussia, including a successful counter-attack on
Wilkowischken
and the Baltic States
, suffering immense casualties in both men and materiel. The division was virtually annihilated during the battles in the Memel
bridgehead.
.jpg)
In November 1944, while the division retained its status as a Panzergrenadier division, several attached units were expanded to divisional status, and the Panzerkorps Großdeutschland was formed.
The Corps was made up primarily of two Divisions - Großdeutschland and the Brandenburg Division
, which had a lineage which was strongly linked to the Großdeutschland.
By March 1945, the Panzergrenadier Division Großdeutschland had been reduced to around 4,000 men. These escaped by ferry from the collapsing Memel bridgehead. They landed at Pillau and were put straight back into combat. By 25 April 1945, the division ceased to exist, having been completely destroyed in the battles around Pillau. Of the survivors only a few hundred were able to make their way to Schleswig-Holstein
and surrendered to British forces. The majority of the men were left behind and were forced to surrender to the Russians where they often faced a fatal and indefinite amount of time in Russian Labor Camps (Gulags).
Panzergrenadier Division Kurmark had been created out of Großdeutschland remnants in early 1945 and had fought throughout the last months of the war. Men of both the Brandenburg and Kurmark units were entitled to wear Großdeutschland insignia.
. Some examples of the green cuff title worn by Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland
were still seen late in the war, but the most common title was the pattern introduced in 1940, with Sütterlin script
on a black backing. All divisional elements were granted this cuff title. As an Army formation, Großdeutschland wore their cuff title on the right sleeve.
, by the Alsatian
veteran Guy Sajer
(a pseudonym), who served as a volunteer. The book was first published in 1967 in France as Le Soldat Oublié. While the historical accuracy of Sajer's autobiographical work has been questioned, it nevertheless offers a vivid and moving account of the horrors of war on the Eastern Front. A more recent account was written by Alfred Nowotny, entitled The Good Soldier, which focuses on both his experiences in Panzerfüsilier Regiment GD from 1944, but also his captivity in the Soviet Union after the German surrender. Jurgen Herbst, emeritus professor of history at the University of Wisconsin, recounts his experience as a young volunteer who joined the Division in 1945 in his book Requiem for a German Past.
maps and the divisional war diary, liaison with neighbouring units, and structuring component units of the division.
Military Police Troop - Numbering one platoon of men, the Military Police detachment (recruited like the rest of the Army's MPs from civilian police) were equipped with light cars and motorcycles. Almost all military policemen not holding officer rank were NCOs (Unteroffizier or higher) excepting some drivers, in order to provide authority for their duties - including maintenance of discipline, but most importantly collection of prisoners and traffic control duties. GD had several hundred motorized vehicles which had to be moved over great distances both rapidly and efficiently.
Responsible for recruitment and propaganda literature. GD was fairly unique in having its own correspondents permanently assigned to the division.
As for Panzergrenadier Regiment GD, above
Reorganizations in June 1943 involved renumbering the 3.7 FlaK batteries 1 and 2, and the addition of 6 Battery
Upon expansion to a panzergrenadier Division, this battalion adopted golden-yellow waffenfarbe and cavalry traditions for all its companies.
This company was outfitted with armoured personnel carriers after Kursk.
Formed from 16th Company, Infantry Regiment GD and the 192nd Assault Gun Battalion.
Formed from IR GD Signals Company and remnants of 309th Signals Battalion
Formed from IR GD Supply Services
Part of the photographic presentation for the book includes a photo where the GD cuff title on the officer is clearly visible. The official GD history by Helmuth Spaeter mentions only that "Draconian measures were occasionally required to halt looting by the civilian population" in Belgrade. The events of 21 April in Pancevo are not discussed directly, though many references are made to "security duties" in Yugoslavia.
The subject of Grossdeutschland's complicity in war crimes was the subject of the book by Omer Bartov The Eastern Front, 1941–45, German Troops, and the Barbarization of Warfare (1986, ISBN 0-312-22486-9). The link, however, between GD's and atrocities is never fully realized. A complete discussion is available at the GD for CM website.
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:...
. The Großdeutschland was considered to be the premier unit of the German Army and as such it was one of best-equipped unit of the German Armed Forces, receiving equipment before all other units.
Early history - Wachregiment Berlin
The roots of the unit go back to 1921 when the guard units of the city of Berlin (Wachregiment Berlin) was created. It became later Infantry Regiment GroßdeutschlandInfantry Regiment Großdeutschland
The Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland was an élite German Heer ceremonial and combat unit which saw action during World War II. The regiment served in the campaigns in France and the Low Countries in 1940. It then served exclusively on the Eastern Front until the end of the war...
. The Regiment GD saw action in France in 1940. It was attached to Panzer Group 2 in the opening phases of Barbarossa, being nearly annihilated in the vicious fighting outside of Moscow in late 1941. On the last day of February 1942, Rifle Battalion GD (all that was left of the original Regiment) was disbanded and two battalions formed a new GD Regiment out of reinforcements arriving from Neuruppin. The Regiment moved to Orel after a period in the front line, and on 1 Apr 1942, arising out of the need for new motorized formations for the summer offensives of 1942, an announcement was made at a regimental parade at Rjetschiza:
- "Effective immediately the former Infantry Regiment GroßdeutschlandInfantry Regiment GroßdeutschlandThe Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland was an élite German Heer ceremonial and combat unit which saw action during World War II. The regiment served in the campaigns in France and the Low Countries in 1940. It then served exclusively on the Eastern Front until the end of the war...
is expanded to the Infantry Division Großdeutschland."
Infantry Division Großdeutschland 1942
Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland
The Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland was an élite German Heer ceremonial and combat unit which saw action during World War II. The regiment served in the campaigns in France and the Low Countries in 1940. It then served exclusively on the Eastern Front until the end of the war...
reorganized and expanded to become Infanterie-Division Großdeutschland (mot). The existing Regiment became Infanterie-Regiment Großdeutschland 1, and was joined by the newly formed Infanterie-Regiment Großdeutschland 2. Supporting units in the form of a 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 :...
battalion, an assault gun
Assault gun
An assault gun is a gun or howitzer mounted on a motor vehicle or armored chassis, designed for use in the direct fire role in support of infantry when attacking other infantry or fortified positions....
battalion and increased flak, 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...
and engineers were added with the upgrade to divisional status.
After the reorganization, the Großdeutschland Division was assigned to XLVIII. Panzerkorps
German XLVIII Panzer Corps
The XLVIII Panzer Corps , originally called the XLVIII Motorized Corps, was a corps level formation of the German Heer which saw extensive action on both the eastern and western fronts during World War II.-History:The corps was originally formed on 15 December 1940 in Germany as the XLVIII Motorized...
during the opening phases of Fall Blau, the assault on Stalingrad. The division took part in the successful attacks to cross the upper Don river and to capture Voronezh
Voronezh
Voronezh is a city in southwestern Russia, the administrative center of Voronezh Oblast. It is located on both sides of the Voronezh River, away from where it flows into the Don. It is an operating center of the Southeastern Railway , as well as the center of the Don Highway...
. In August, the division was pulled back to the north bank of the Donets and held as a mobile reserve and fire-brigade counterattack force. During the combined Soviet winter offensives Operation Uranus
Operation Uranus
Operation Uranus was the codename of the Soviet strategic operation in World War II which led to the encirclement of the German Sixth Army, the Third and Fourth Romanian armies, and portions of the German Fourth Panzer Army. The operation formed part of the ongoing Battle of Stalingrad, and was...
and Operation Mars
Operation Mars
Operation Mars was the codename for the Rzhev offensive operation part of the Rzhev-Vyazma strategic offensive operation launched by Soviet forces against German forces during World War II. It took place between 25 November and 20 December 1942 in a salient in the vicinity of Moscow...
, the Division was involved in heavy winter fighting near Rzhev
Rzhev
Rzhev is a town in Tver Oblast, Russia, southwest of Staritsa and from Tver, on the highway and railway connecting Moscow and Riga. It is the uppermost town situated on the Volga River. Population:...
. The Division sustained heavy losses in the Rzhev
Rzhev
Rzhev is a town in Tver Oblast, Russia, southwest of Staritsa and from Tver, on the highway and railway connecting Moscow and Riga. It is the uppermost town situated on the Volga River. Population:...
salient, effectively making the division combat ineffective. It was pulled out of the lines and refitted.
Kharkov
In January-February 1943, Großdeutschland and XLVIII.Panzerkorps, along with the II SS Panzer CorpsII SS Panzer Corps
The II SS Panzer Corps was a Nazi German Waffen-SS armoured corps which saw action on both the Eastern and Western Fronts during World War II.- Formation - Kharkov :...
took part in the Third Battle of Kharkov
Third Battle of Kharkov
The Third Battle of Kharkov was a series of offensive operations on the Eastern Front of World War II, undertaken by the German Army Group South against the Red Army, around the city of Kharkov , between 19 February and 15 March 1943...
. The division fought alongside the 1.SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, 2.SS Division Das Reich and 3.SS Division Totenkopf during these battles. After the fall of Kharkov, the Großdeutschland was again pulled back and refitted. At this time, the division was equipped with a company of Tigers
Tiger I
Tiger I is the common name of a German heavy tank developed in 1942 and used in World War II. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. E, often shortened to Tiger. It was an answer to the unexpectedly formidable Soviet armour encountered in the initial months of...
, an unusual addition making GD the only Panzergrenadier division to have its own heavy tanks, and the only non-Waffen SS division at that time to have its own Tigers (they were normally deployed in independent heavy tank battalions).
Panzergrenadier Division Großdeutschland
In June 1943, with the addition of armoured personnel carriers and Tigers the division was redesignated Panzergrenadier-Division Großdeutschland, though in reality it now had more armoured vehicles than most full scale panzer divisions.Kursk
The newly re-equipped division was attached to the German Fourth Panzer ArmyGerman Fourth Panzer Army
The 4th Panzer Army was, before being designated a full army, the Panzer Group 4 , a German panzer army that saw action during World War II. Its units played a part in the invasion of France, and then on the Eastern Front.-Early history:The 4th Panzer Group's predecessor was the XVI Corps formed...
of Generaloberst Hermann Hoth
Hermann Hoth
Hermann "Papa" Hoth was an officer in the German military from 1903 to 1945. He attained the rank of Generaloberst during World War II. He fought in France, but is most noted for his later exploits as a panzer commander on the Eastern Front...
, and was to take a major role (again paired with the SS-Panzerkorps) in Operation Citadel, the battles to sever the Kursk
Kursk
Kursk is a city and the administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Kur, Tuskar, and Seym Rivers. The area around Kursk was site of a turning point in the Russian-German struggle during World War II and the site of the largest tank battle in history...
salient. During the buildup period, a brigade of two battalions of new Panther Ausf. D
Panther tank
Panther is the common name of a medium tank fielded by Nazi Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. It was intended as a counter to the T-34, and to replace the Panzer III and Panzer IV; while never replacing the latter, it served alongside it as...
tanks came under the operational control of Großdeutschland. After the launch of Citadel, the division was heavily engaged in the fight to penetrate the southern flank of the salient. The new Panthers were plagued by technical problems, suffering from engine fires and mechanical breakdowns, many before reaching the battle. Contrary to popular belief, GD did not take part in the epic tank battle of Prokhovrovkha, and the Panther tanks were not engaged as most were broken down by the time the battle started. However they witnessed the battle as they were held in reserve. The division fought on until it was pulled back to Tomarovka on 18 July 1943.
Defensive battles
After the canceled Kursk offensive, the division was transferred back to Heeresgruppe Mitte, and resumed its role as mobile reserve. The Tiger tank company was expanded to an entire battalion, becoming the III. Bataillon of the Panzer Regiment. GD saw heavy fighting around KarachevKarachev
Karachev is an old town in Karachevsky District of Bryansk Oblast, Russia. In the Middle Ages, it was the capital of one of the Upper Principalities, until its rulers moved their seat to Peremyshl. Its old architecture was heavily damaged during the World War II...
before being transferred back to XLVIII Panzerkorps in late August. For the rest of 1943, Großdeutschland was engaged in the fighting withdrawal from the eastern Ukraine, taking part in battles around Kharkov, Belgorod
Belgorod
-Twin towns/sister cities:Belgorod is twinned with: Wakefield, England, United Kingdom Herne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia Opole, Poland Vyshhorod, Ukraine Kharkiv, Ukraine-External links:...
, and finally on the Dnieper, ending the year fighting strong enemy forces near Michurin-Rog, east of Krivoi-Rog. It was during this period that the division earned the nickname "die Feuerwehr" (The Fire Brigade).
1944
Großdeutschland continued fighting in the area of Krivoi-Rog early in January 1944 until it was transferred west for rest and refit. During this period, 1./Panzer Regiment 26 (Panther) joined the Panzer Regiment GD, and GD's I. Bataillon moved to France to refit and train with the new tanks; they did not rejoin the Division until after the Normandy invasion.Over the next months, the division continued moving from crisis-point to crisis-point across the front. Panzer Regiment Großdeutschland saw action in the battles to relieve the Cherkassy pocket in late January 1944 while the rest of the division was involved in heavy fighting from the Dniester
Dniester
The Dniester is a river in Eastern Europe. It runs through Ukraine and Moldova and separates most of Moldova's territory from the breakaway de facto state of Transnistria.-Names:...
to Northern Bessarabia
Bessarabia
Bessarabia is a historical term for the geographic region in Eastern Europe bounded by the Dniester River on the east and the Prut River on the west....
. On 4 March 1944 the First, Second and Third Ukrainian Fronts launched a major attack on the north, central and southern flanks of Army Group South, and GD moved to Kirovgrad, bolstering weak parts of the line until withdrawn to Rovnoye to the southwest. On 16 March the division began the move to the Dniester River, and by the end of March had entered Romania.
In April 1944, GD. as a part of LVII.Panzerkorps. fought defensive battles near Iaşi
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
, including the First Battle of Târgu Frumos
First Battle of Târgu Frumos
The First Battle of Târgu Frumos was part of the First Jassy-Kishinev Offensive of World War II fought between Axis powers of World War II commanded by Otto Wöhler and Soviet forces led by Ivan Konev....
, slowly retreating to Târgul Frumos in Moldavia. Fighting in the region raged for over a month. A renewed Soviet offensive began on 2 May, aimed at breaking through GD and onto the Romanian oil fields. The defensive action at the Second Battle of Târgu Frumos was the focus of several NATO studies during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
.
In mid May, the infantry and reconnaissance components of the division were equipped with armored personnel carriers (Schützenpanzerwagen
SdKfz 251
The Sd.Kfz. 251 half-track was an armored fighting vehicle designed and first built by Hanomag company during World War II. The largest and best armored of the wartime half-tracks, the Sd.Kfz. 251 was designed to transport the panzergrenadiers of the German mechanized infantry corps into battle....
) and other armoured vehicles. The Füsilier regiments were downsized from four battalions to three. The division was then sent back to the front, where it was involved in the fighting around Podul Iloaiei. After a brief rest in early July, the division was again committed to heavy fighting in northern Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
.
In late July, the division was transferred to 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...
. Over the next months, Großdeutschland was involved in heavy fighting in both East Prussia, including a successful counter-attack on
Wilkowischken
Vilkaviškis
Vilkaviškis Until 1940 the city had a large Jewish Community which was annihilated by the Nazis and their local collaborators. The whole Jewish population was killed in a single day,, after the entry of the Germans into the city.-Names:...
and the Baltic States
Baltic states
The term Baltic states refers to the Baltic territories which gained independence from the Russian Empire in the wake of World War I: primarily the contiguous trio of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania ; Finland also fell within the scope of the term after initially gaining independence in the 1920s.The...
, suffering immense casualties in both men and materiel. The division was virtually annihilated during the battles in the Memel
Battle of Memel
The Battle of Memel or the Siege of Memel took place when the Soviets launched their Memel Offensive Operation in late 1944. The offensive led to a three-month siege against German forces in a small bridgehead in the town and its port....
bridgehead.
Panzerkorps "Großdeutschland"
The Corps was made up primarily of two Divisions - Großdeutschland and the Brandenburg Division
Brandenburgers
The 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,...
, which had a lineage which was strongly linked to the Großdeutschland.
By March 1945, the Panzergrenadier Division Großdeutschland had been reduced to around 4,000 men. These escaped by ferry from the collapsing Memel bridgehead. They landed at Pillau and were put straight back into combat. By 25 April 1945, the division ceased to exist, having been completely destroyed in the battles around Pillau. Of the survivors only a few hundred were able to make their way to Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
and surrendered to British forces. The majority of the men were left behind and were forced to surrender to the Russians where they often faced a fatal and indefinite amount of time in Russian Labor Camps (Gulags).
Panzergrenadier Division Kurmark had been created out of Großdeutschland remnants in early 1945 and had fought throughout the last months of the war. Men of both the Brandenburg and Kurmark units were entitled to wear Großdeutschland insignia.
Commanding officers
- OberstleutnantOberstleutnantOberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
Wilhelm-Hunold von Stockhausen, July 1939 - Feb 1940 - OberstleutnantOberstleutnantOberstleutnant is a German Army and Air Force rank equal to Lieutenant Colonel, above Major, and below Oberst.There are two paygrade associated to the rank of Oberstleutnant...
Gerhard Graf von Schwerin, Feb 1940 - Mar 1940 - OberstOberstOberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
Wilhelm-Hunold von Stockhausen, Mar 1940 - August 1941 - OberstOberstOberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
Walter HörnleinWalter HörnleinWalter "Papa" Hörnlein 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. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield...
, August 1941 - April 1942 - Generalmajor Walter HörnleinWalter HörnleinWalter "Papa" Hörnlein 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. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield...
, April 1942 - April 1944 - Generalleutnant Hasso von ManteuffelHasso von ManteuffelHasso-Eccard Freiherr von Manteuffel was a German soldier and liberal politician of the 20th century.He served in both world wars, and during World War II was a distinguished general...
, 1 February 1944 - August 1944 - Generalmajor Karl LorenzKarl LorenzKarl Lorenz was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or...
, 1 September 1944 till end of war
Insignia
Members of the Großdeutschland wore an intertwined GD on the shoulder straps and a cuff titleCuff title
A cuff title is a form of insignia placed on the sleeve, near the cuff of German military and paramilitary uniforms, most commonly seen in the Second World War but also seen postwar....
. Some examples of the green cuff title worn by Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland
Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland
The Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland was an élite German Heer ceremonial and combat unit which saw action during World War II. The regiment served in the campaigns in France and the Low Countries in 1940. It then served exclusively on the Eastern Front until the end of the war...
were still seen late in the war, but the most common title was the pattern introduced in 1940, with Sütterlin script
Sütterlin
Sütterlinschrift , or Sütterlin for short, is the last widely used form of the old German blackletter handwriting . In Germany, the old German cursive script developed in the 16th century, replacing the Gothic handwriting at the same time that bookletters developed into the Fraktur typeface...
on a black backing. All divisional elements were granted this cuff title. As an Army formation, Großdeutschland wore their cuff title on the right sleeve.
Personal accounts
The unit became known in the West through the book The Forgotten SoldierThe Forgotten Soldier
The Forgotten Soldier , originally published in French as Le Soldat Oublie, is presented as an autobiographical account of Guy Sajer, the pseudonym of Guy Mouminoux who was a well known french comics writer also known under the pseudonym of Dimitri...
, by the Alsatian
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
veteran Guy Sajer
Guy Sajer
Guy Sajer is a pseudonym of Guy Mouminoux , author of The Forgotten Soldier. The son of a French and German marriage, 'Sajer' is his mother's maiden name...
(a pseudonym), who served as a volunteer. The book was first published in 1967 in France as Le Soldat Oublié. While the historical accuracy of Sajer's autobiographical work has been questioned, it nevertheless offers a vivid and moving account of the horrors of war on the Eastern Front. A more recent account was written by Alfred Nowotny, entitled The Good Soldier, which focuses on both his experiences in Panzerfüsilier Regiment GD from 1944, but also his captivity in the Soviet Union after the German surrender. Jurgen Herbst, emeritus professor of history at the University of Wisconsin, recounts his experience as a young volunteer who joined the Division in 1945 in his book Requiem for a German Past.
Divisional Headquarters
Divisional Staff (32 Officers, 143 NCOs and enlisted)- Divisional Commander.
maps and the divisional war diary, liaison with neighbouring units, and structuring component units of the division.
- Ib (II General Staff Officer) (Supply and Administration) Directed the supply and workshop units of the division, field police, provost marshall and field post office units.
- O2 (1st Assistant Adjutant) Assisted the Ib and handled the organization of all back line services.
- Ib/WuG (Waffen und Geräte - Weapons and Equipment). Responsible for replacement, repair, supply, and maintenance of ammunition, weapons and non-specialized equipment.
- Ib/Kfz (Divisional Engineer). Provided for replacement and supply of motor vehicles, spare parts, tires, fuel, etc. as well as traffic control, the workshop companies, fuel points and columns.
- Ic (III General Staff Officer). Intelligence. Responsible for interrogation of POWs, radio intercept work, etc.
- O3 (Third Assistant Adjutant). Assisted the Ic, oversaw map unit and interpreters at division HQ.
- Id (Training)
- IIa (Adjutant) Handled administration such as loss and casualty reports, rosters, etc. as well as administration relating to officers - replacements, promotions, decorations, leaves, punishment.
- IIb (Division Assistant Adjutant) Handled administrative matters described above regarding the NCOs and men and oversaw the divisional orderly room.
- III (Chief of Feldjustizamt GD - legal branch). In charge of divisional courts-martial, civilian relations, legal matters.
- IVa (Head of Intendantur). Supplies, clothing, medical, dental, pay matters, canteens, housekeeping needs, etc.
- IVb (Divisional Surgeon) Commanded the medical services simultaneous with this position, responsible for sanitation and hygiene, movement and treatment of sick and injured soldiers, procurement and maintenance of medical equipment.
- IVz (Divisional Paymaster)
- IVe (Chief Chaplain). While regular divisions had 2 chaplains (one Catholic, one Protestant) GD was forbidden from having chaplains after holding mass at Notre Dame in 1940. Divisional level chaplain support was provided as needed from the Corps level.
- Map Section. Eight men charged with reproducing maps, overprinting captured maps, shot diagrams for the divisional artillery, etc. (Under O3, Divisions Assistant Nachrichten Officer)
- Headquarters Company (under Divisions O4)
Divisional Escort Company
On formation of GD as a Panzergrenadier Division, a 219 man Divisional Escort Company was added to Divisional headquarters. Modelled after the escort companies of Waffen SS Divisions, this unit was intended to guard divisional headquarters, serve as a mobile reserve, and was in essence a small battle group suited to all operational circumstances. It included, according to varying sources, some or all of the following:- Rifle Platoon
- Motorcycle Platoon
- Heavy Machinegun/Mortar Platoon
- Infantry Platoon
- Heavy Anti-Tank Platoon
- Self-Propelled Flak Platoon
- Mixed Anti-Tank (Panzerjäger) Platoon.
Feldgendarmerie (Military Police)
Military Police Troop - Numbering one platoon of men, the Military Police detachment (recruited like the rest of the Army's MPs from civilian police) were equipped with light cars and motorcycles. Almost all military policemen not holding officer rank were NCOs (Unteroffizier or higher) excepting some drivers, in order to provide authority for their duties - including maintenance of discipline, but most importantly collection of prisoners and traffic control duties. GD had several hundred motorized vehicles which had to be moved over great distances both rapidly and efficiently.
Kriegsberichter (War Correspondent Platoon)
Responsible for recruitment and propaganda literature. GD was fairly unique in having its own correspondents permanently assigned to the division.
Panzergrenadier Regiment "Großdeutschland"
- Regimental Headquarters
- Headquarters Company
- signals platoon
- pioneer platoon
- motorcycle platoon
- Headquarters Company
- I. (SPW) Battalion (At the beginning of June 1943, 83 SPW halftracks arrived to equip the first battalion of the Grenadier Regiment.)
- Headquarters
- 1. Company
- Headquarters
- Rifle Platoon - light anti-tank rifle team, three squads, each with 2 LMGs
- Rifle Platoon
- Rifle Platoon
- Heavy Platoon - 4 HMGs, two 81 mm mortars, heavy anti-tank rifle team
- Headquarters
- 2. Company - as above
- 3. Company - as above
- 4. (MG) Company
- HQ Platoon
- Mortar Platoon
- Light Infantry Support Platoon
- 5. (Heavy) Company
- II. (Motorized) Battalion
- 6. Company - as 1 above
- 7. Company - as 1 above
- 8. Company - as 1 above
- 9. (MG) Company - as 4 above
- 10. (Heavy) Company - as 5 above
- III. (Motorized) Battalion
- 11. Company - as 1 above
- 12. Company - as 1 above
- 13. Company - as 1 above
- 14. (MG) Company - as 4 above
- 15. (Heavy) Company - as 5 above
- IV. (Heavy) Battalion
- 16. (FlaK) Company
- 17. (Infantry Gun) Company
- 18. (Panzerjäger) Company
- 1st Platoon self-propelled
Panzerfüsilier Regiment "Großdeutschland"
As for Panzergrenadier Regiment GD, above
- Regimental Headquarters
- I. Battalion
- II. Battalion
- III. Battalion
- IV. (Heavy) Battalion
Artillery Regiment "Großdeutschland"
- Regimental Headquarters
- HQ Battery
- Observation Battery
- Self-propelled light FlaK platoon
- I. Battalion
- Headquarters Battery and Signals Platoon
- 1. Battery - 4 x l. FH. 18 (105 mm) howitzers
- 2. Battery - 4 x l. FH. 18 (105 mm) howitzers
- 3. Battery - 4 x s. FH. (150 mm) 18 howitzers
- II. Battalion
- Headquarters Battery and Signals Platoon
- 4. Battery - 6 x Wespe SP (105 mm) howitzers
- 5. Battery - 6 x Wespe SP (105 mm) howitzers
- 6. Battery - 6 x Hummel (150 mm) howitzers
- III. Battalion
- Headquarters Battery and Signals Platoon
- 7. Battery - 4 x s. FH. (150 mm) 18 howitzers
- 8. Battery - 4 x s. FH. (150 mm) 18 howitzers
- 9. Battery - 4 x K 18 10 cm howitzers
- IV. Battalion - formed upon reorganization
- Headquarters Battery and Signals Platoon
- 10. Battery - 105 mm howitzers
- 11. Battery - 105 mm howitzers
- 12 Battery - 6 x Nebelwerfer
- Armoured Observation Battery
- Sound Ranging Platoon
- 2 x Flash Spotting Platoon
- Survey Platoon
- Warning Platoon
- 2 x Analysis Platoons
Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion "Großdeutschland"
Reorganizations in June 1943 involved renumbering the 3.7 FlaK batteries 1 and 2, and the addition of 6 Battery
- 1. Battery - 3.7 cm self propelled
- 2. Battery - 3.7 cm self propelled
- 3. Battery - 4 x 8.8 cm - halftracked prime movers
- 4. Battery - 4 x 8.8 cm - halftracked prime movers
- 5. Battery - 4 x 8.8 cm - halftracked prime movers
- 6. Battery - Quadruple anti-aircraft guns
Panzerjäger (Anti-Tank) Battalion "Großdeutschland"
- 1. (Self Propelled) Company
- 1. Platoon - 3 x Marder
- 2. Platoon - 3 x Marder
- 3. Platoon - 3 x Marder
- 2. Company
- 4 x 5cm PaK 38 AT gun
- 4 x 5 cm PaK 38 AT gun
- 4 x 5 cm PaK 38 AT gun
- 3. Company
- 4 x 5 cm PaK 38 AT gun
- 4 x 5 cm PaK 38 AT gun
- 4 x 5 cm PaK 38 AT gun
Panzer Aufklärungs (Armoured Reconnaissance) Battalion "Großdeutschland"
Upon expansion to a panzergrenadier Division, this battalion adopted golden-yellow waffenfarbe and cavalry traditions for all its companies.
- Battalion HQ
- 8 motorcycles
- 2 Kfz 15 cars
- 1 Sd Kfz 247 armoured car
- Battalion Maint Det - 1 motorcycle/sidecar, 1 car (2/40), 1 light car, 2 x 3ton trucks
- Battalion train - 1 motorcycle, 2 light cars, 1 Kfz 15 car, 2 light trucks, 2 medium trucks, 1 medium (33 seat) bus
- Signal Platoon
- HQ Section - 1 mc, 1 mc with sidecar, 1 Kfz 15 car
- 2 x pack radio sections "b" each with Kfz 2
- 1 light armoured radio section "b" with 1 armoured car Sd Kfz 260
- 4 x light armoured radio section "c" with 1 armoured car Sd Kfz 261
- 3 x med armoured radio section "b" each with 1 car (Kfz 15) and 1 armoured car Sd Kfz 263
- 1. (Armd Car) Squadron
- Squadron HQ - 2 motorcycles, 5 motorcycle/sidecars, 1 Kfz 15 car
- Heavy Armoured Car platoon - 3 x Sd Kfz 231, 3 x Sd Kfz 232
- Light Armoured Car Platoon - 4 x Sd Kfz 222, 2 x Sd Kfz 223
- Light Armoured Car Platoon - 4 x Sd Kfz 222, 2 x Sd Kfz 223
- Light Armoured Car Platoon - 4 x Sd Kfz 222, 2 x Sd Kfz 223
- Maintenance Section - 1 mc/sidecar, 1 car (2/40) 2 x 2 ton truck
- Squadron Train - 1 Kfz 15 car, 3 x 2 ton truck, 1 med truck, 3 ton truck
- 2. (Armd Recon) Squadron
- Squadron HQ - 4 motorcycles, 1 mc/sidecar, 2 x SPW 250/3
- Recon Platoon
- HQ Sec - SPW 250, SPW 250/10
- Squad - 2 x SPW 250/1
- Squad - as above
- Squad - as above
- Squad - 2 x LMG
- Recon Platoon - as above
- Recon Platoon - as above
- Heavy Platoon
- HQ section - mc, SPW 250/1
- HMG section - 3 x SPW 250/1, 2 x HMG
- HMG section - as above
- Mtr section - 2 x SPW 250/7, 2 SPW 250/7 without mortar (ammo carrier?)
- Maintenance Section - 1 mc/sidecar, 2 x 2 ton trucks, 1 Kfz 10 halftrack, 1 x LMG
- Squadron train -Kfz 15 car, 2 ton truck, med truck, 2 x 3 ton truck
- 3. (Recon) Squadron (Volkswagen)
- Squadron HQ - 4 motorcycles, 2 x Kubelwagen (Kfz 1)
- Recon Platoon
- HQ section - 1 mc, 1 x Kubel (Kfz 1), 1 anti-tank rifle
- Squad - 4 x Kubel
- Squad - as above
- Squad - as above
- Recon Squad - 2 x LMG
- Recon Platoon - as above
- Recon Platoon - as above
- Heavy Platoon
- HQ section - mc, 3 x Kubel
- HMG sec - 7 x Kubel, 2 x HMG
- HMG sec - as above
- Mortar sec - 3 x trucks (Kfz 70) and 2 mortars (81 mm)
- Maintenance Section - 1 mc/sidecar, 1 car (2/40)
- Squadron train - Kubel (Kfz 1), 2 ton truck, med truck, 3 ton truck
- 4. (Recon) Squadron (Volkswagen) - As above
- 5. (Heavy) Squadron
- Squadron HQ 3 x mc, 2 x mc/sidecar, 1 Kfz 15
- Light telephone sec - 1 Kfz 15
- Maintenance section - mc/sidecar, 1 car (2/40)
- Anti-Tank Platoon - HQ sec - mc, mc/sidecar, Kfz 15
- Ammo sec - 2 Sd Kfz 10 halftracks, 2 ammo trailers
- Gun sect - 3 Sd Kfz 10 halftracks, 3 x 50 mm Anti-Tank guns, 3 x LMG
- Pionier Platoon - HQ sec - mc, mc/Sidecar, Kfz 15, 2 x 2 ton truck
- 4 x Engineer section (each with 2 ton truck)
- 1 x Engineer section with LMG
- Anti-Tank gun sec - mc/sidecar, 3 x Kfz 70 truck, 3 x 28 mm ATG, 3 x LMG
- Infantry Gun Platoon HQ sec - 1 mc, 1 mc/sidecar, 1 Kfz 69 truck
- Ammo sec - Kfz 69 truck, ammo trailer
- Gun sec - 2 x Kfz 69 trucks, 2 light 75 mm Infantry guns
- Squadron train - Kfz 15, 2 ton truck, med truck, 3 ton truck
- Motorized light column
- Column HQ - 3 x motorcycle, 4 x mc/sidecar, Kfz 15, 3 x LMG
- 1 Section - mc, 5 x 2 ton truck
- 2 Section - 4 x medium truck
- Column train - mc/sidecar, 2 x medium truck
- Motorized light column
- Squadron HQ 3 x mc, 2 x mc/sidecar, 1 Kfz 15
Panzer (Tank) Regiment "Großdeutschland"
- Regimental Headquarters
- HQ Company - 17 x PzKpfw IVPanzer IVThe Panzerkampfwagen IV , commonly known as the Panzer IV, was a medium tank developed in Nazi Germany in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz...
- I. Battalion
- Battalion Headquarters Company - 17 x PzKpfw IV
- 1. Company
- HQ Platoon - 3 x PzKpfw VPanther tankPanther is the common name of a medium tank fielded by Nazi Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. It was intended as a counter to the T-34, and to replace the Panzer III and Panzer IV; while never replacing the latter, it served alongside it as...
(Panther) - 1. Platoon - 5 x PzKpfw V
- 2. Platoon - 5 x PzKpfw V
- 3. Platoon - 5 x PzKpfw V
- HQ Platoon - 3 x PzKpfw V
- 2. Company
- HQ Platoon - 3 x PzKpfw IV
- 1. Platoon - 5 x PzKpfw IV
- 2. Platoon - 5 x PzKpfw IV
- 3. Platoon - 5 x PzKpfw IV
- 3. Company
- 4. Company
- II. Battalion (raised February 1943) as per I. Battalion
- Battalion Headquarters Company
- 5. Company
- 6. Company
- 7. Company
- 8. Company
- HQ Company - 17 x PzKpfw IV
-
- III. Battalion (joined Division August 1943)
- Battalion Headquarters
- Headquarters Company - signals platoon, scout platoon (motorcycles), pioneer platoon (2 x SPW, 4 trucks), flak platoon with 4 x quadruple guns, reconnaissance platoon with 7 x SPWSdKfz 251The Sd.Kfz. 251 half-track was an armored fighting vehicle designed and first built by Hanomag company during World War II. The largest and best armored of the wartime half-tracks, the Sd.Kfz. 251 was designed to transport the panzergrenadiers of the German mechanized infantry corps into battle....
- 9. Company - 14 TigersTiger ITiger I is the common name of a German heavy tank developed in 1942 and used in World War II. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. E, often shortened to Tiger. It was an answer to the unexpectedly formidable Soviet armour encountered in the initial months of...
- 10. Company -14 Tigers
- 11. Company - 14 Tigers
- 9. Company - 14 Tigers
- III. Battalion (joined Division August 1943)
- Heavy Workshop Company
- Maintenance Platoon - 3 Ton Trucks
Sturmpionier (Assault Pioneer) Battalion "Großdeutschland"
- Headquarters
- 1. Company - 219 Officers and Men
- 1 Platoon
- 2 Platoon
- 3 (Storm boat) Platoon - 27 assault boats
- 1. Company - 219 Officers and Men
This company was outfitted with armoured personnel carriers after Kursk.
-
- 2. Company - 219 Officers and Men
- 1 Platoon
- 2 Platoon
- 3 (Storm boat) Platoon - 27 assault boats
- 3.Company - 219 Officers and Men
- 1 Platoon
- 2 Platoon
- 3 (Storm boat) Platoon - 27 assault boats
- "K" Type Bridging Column - Transported "K" type bridges - assembly responsibility of the companies above.
- Light Pioneer Column
- detachment of SS - 10 SS snipers
- 2. Company - 219 Officers and Men
Sturmgeschütz (Assault Gun) Battalion "Großdeutschland"
Formed from 16th Company, Infantry Regiment GD and the 192nd Assault Gun Battalion.
- Headquarters
- 1. Battery - also includes Sd Kfz 252 or 260/6 ammunition carrier - 6 x StuG IIISturmgeschütz IIIThe Sturmgeschütz III assault gun was Germany's most produced armoured fighting vehicle during World War II. It was built on the chassis of the proven Panzer III tank...
(7.5 cm StuK gun) - 2. Battery - also includes Sd Kfz 252 or 260/6 ammunition carrier - 6 x StuG III (7.5 cm StuK gun)
- 3. Battery - also includes Sd Kfz 252 or 260/6 ammunition carrier - 6 x StuG III (7.5 cm StuK gun)
Panzer Nachrichten (Armoured Signals) Battalion "Großdeutschland"
Formed from IR GD Signals Company and remnants of 309th Signals Battalion
- Telephone Company
- Radio Company
Medical Battalion "Großdeutschland"
- Medical Company
- Heavy Platoon
- Light Platoon
- Pharmacy
- Dental Station
- Medical Company
- Heavy Platoon
- Light Platoon
- Pharmacy
- Dental Station
- GD Field Hospital
- 1. Ambulance Platoon
- 2. Ambulance Platoon
- 3. Ambulance Platoon
Supply Services
Formed from IR GD Supply Services
- Supply Services - 18 columns
- Field Workshop Company
- Field Workshop Company
- Field Workshop Company
- Replacement Parts Company
- Armourer-Artificer Platoon
- Administrative Services
- Bakery Company
- Butcher Company
- Division Ration Office
- Field Post Office
Commanders
|
|||
| Generalmajor (later Generalleutnant) Walter Hörnlein Walter Hörnlein Walter "Papa" Hörnlein 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. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield... |
1 April 1942 - 27 January 1944 | ||
| General der Panzertruppen Hermann Balck Hermann Balck Hermann Balck was a career German army officer who served in both World War I and World War II, rising to the rank of General der Panzertruppe. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds... (temporary command) |
3 Apr 1943 - 30 Jun 1943 | ||
| Generalleutnant Hasso von Manteuffel Hasso von Manteuffel Hasso-Eccard Freiherr von Manteuffel was a German soldier and liberal politician of the 20th century.He served in both world wars, and during World War II was a distinguished general... |
27 January 1944 - 1 September 1944 | ||
| Oberst (later Generlamajor) Karl Lorenz Karl Lorenz Karl Lorenz was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or... |
1 September 1944 - May 1945 | ||
| Artillery Regiment GD |
|||
| Oberst Georg Jauer Georg Jauer Georg Jauer was a Panzer General in the German army during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves... |
15 Mar 1942 - Dec 1942 | ||
| Oberst Reinke | |||
| Oberstleutnant Albrecht | |||
| Hauptmann Dr. Ritter | |||
| Burchardt | |||
| Panzer Regiment GD |
|||
| Oberst Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Gross-Zauche und Camminetz Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Gross-Zauche und Camminetz Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Groß-Zauche und Camminetz was a German Army officer. Strachwitz saw action in World War I, but rose to fame for his command of armored forces in World War II.-Early life:... |
January 1943 - November 1943 | ||
| Major Pfeffer (PanzerAbteilung 51, in temporary command of Pz Regt GD) | |||
| Oberst Otto Büsing Otto Büsing Otto Karl Gerd Lorenz Adolf Büsing was a highly decorated Generalmajor 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... |
(Killed in Action 8 March 1944) | ||
| Oberst Willy Langkeit Willy Langkeit Willy Langkeit was an Generalmajor 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. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful... |
1 March 1944 - 1 November 1944 | ||
| Oberstleutnant Bruno Kahl Bruno Kahl Bruno Kahl was an Oberstleutnant 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... |
1 November 1944 - May 1945 | ||
|
|||
| Oberst Köhler | 1 Apr 1942 - 1 Dec 1942 (Killed in Action) | ||
| Oberst Karl Lorenz | 1 Dec 1942 - 14 Dec 1942 | ||
| Oberst Kurt Moehring | 14 Dec 1942 - 14 Jan 1943 | ||
| Oberst Karl Lorenz | 14 Jan 1943 - 1 August 1944 | ||
| Major Hugo Schimmel | 1 August 1944 - August 1944 | ||
| Major Harald Kriegk (?) | October 1944 | ||
| Major Wolfgang Heesemann | November 1944 - Feb 1945 (Killed in Action) | ||
| Major Krützman | Feb 1945 - War's End | ||
|
|||
| Oberst Eugen Garski Eugen Garski Eugen Garski was a highly decorated Generalmajor 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. Eugen Garski was... |
1 Apr 1942 - 30 Sep 1942 (Killed in Action) | ||
| Oberst Erich Kahsnitz Erich Kahsnitz Erich Kahsnitz was a highly decorated Generalmajor 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... |
21 Oct 1942 - 3 July 1943 (fatally wounded and died of wounds on 29 July 1943 in Germany) | ||
| Oberst Hermann Schulte-Heuthaus Hermann Schulte-Heuthaus Hermann Schulte-Heuthaus was a highly decorated Generalmajor 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... |
7 July 1943 - 4 Sep 1943 (Wounded in action) | ||
| Major Rudolf Watjen | 4 Sep 1943 - 18 Sep 1943 | ||
| Major Wack | 18 Sep 1943 - 15 Oct 1943 | ||
| Oberst Horst Niemack Horst Niemack Horst Niemack was a German general in the infantry, serving during World War II and in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords... |
16 Oct 1943 - 24 August 1944 | ||
| Oberst Heinz Wittchow von Brese-Winiary Heinz Wittchow von Brese-Winiary Heinz Wittchow von Brese-Winiary was a highly decorated Oberst 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. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme... |
3 Sep 1944 - 13 Feb 1945 (Dismissed, captured 18 Feb 1945) | ||
| Oberstleutnant Maxemilian Fabich | 13 Feb 1945 - May 1945 | ||
War crimes
The book German Army and Genocide (ISBN 1-56584-525-0) mentions the following incident, from the invasion of Yugoslavia:Part of the photographic presentation for the book includes a photo where the GD cuff title on the officer is clearly visible. The official GD history by Helmuth Spaeter mentions only that "Draconian measures were occasionally required to halt looting by the civilian population" in Belgrade. The events of 21 April in Pancevo are not discussed directly, though many references are made to "security duties" in Yugoslavia.
The subject of Grossdeutschland's complicity in war crimes was the subject of the book by Omer Bartov The Eastern Front, 1941–45, German Troops, and the Barbarization of Warfare (1986, ISBN 0-312-22486-9). The link, however, between GD's and atrocities is never fully realized. A complete discussion is available at the GD for CM website.
Printed references
- de Lannoy, François and Jean-Claude Perrigault La division Grossdeutschland ("The Grossdeutschland Division from Regiment to Panzerkorps 1939-1945") French edition, Editions Heimdal
- Lee, Cyrus A. Soldat: The World War Two German Army Combat Uniform Collector's Guide (Volume V: Uniforms and Insignia of Panzerkorps Grossdeutschland 1939-1945) (Pictorial Histories Publishing Company, Missoula, MT, 1993) ISBN 0-929521-76-5
- Lucas, James Germany's Elite Panzer Force: Grossdeutschland (MacDonald's and Jane's, London, 1978) ISBN 0-354-01165-0
- Novotny, Alfred THE GOOD SOLDIER: FROM AUSTRIAN SOCIAL DEMOCRACY TO COMMUNIST CAPTIVITY WITH A SOLDIER OF PANZER-GRENADIER DIVISION "GROSSDEUTSCHLAND" (The Aberjona Press, 2002.) ISBN 0-9666389-9-9
- Quarrie, Bruce Panzer-Grenadier Division "Grossdeutschland" (VANGUARD series book, Osprey Publishing Group, London, UK. 1977. US version published in 1978 by Squadron/Signal Publications, Warren, MI.) ISBN 0-85045-055-1
- Scheibert, Horst (Bruce Culver Editor) Panzer Grenadier Division Grossdeutschland (English version by Squadron Signal Publications, Carrollton, TX, 1987) ISBN 089747061
- Sharpe, Michael and Brian L. Davis GROSSDEUTSCHLAND: Guderian's Eastern Front Elite, Compendium Publishing Ltd, 2001 ISBN 0-7110-2854-0.
- Solarz, Jacek. Division/Korps "Großdeutschland" 1943-1945 Vol. I and II. (Polish/English edition by Wydawnictwo "Militaria", Warsaw, 2005) ISBN 83-7219-237-5
Web resources
- Dorosh, Michael. Grossdeutschland for Combat Mission. Retrieved April 8, 2005.
- Pipes, Jason. "Panzergrenadier-Division Großdeutschland". Retrieved April 8, 2005.
- "Panzergrenadier Division Großdeutschland". German language article at www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de. (Follow links for Infanterie Division Großdeutschland (mot).) Retrieved April 8, 2005.
- Brandenburg Historica (2006). " Grossdeutschland: Von der Wachtruppe zum Panzerkorps". Updated May 8, 2006.
- Wendel, Marcus (2005). "Panzergrenadier Division Großdeutschland". Retrieved April 8, 2005.
- Großdeutschland USA, Living History Group. http://www.grossdeutschland.com/.
- 2\KP Pzr Grn Rgt Grossdeutschland, UK based Living History Group http://www.grossdeutschland.org
- Panzer-Füsilier Regiment Großdeutschland, UK based Living History Group http://www.germansoldier.co.uk
- 2/Pz.Aufkl.Abt.Grossdeutschland, UK based Living History Group http://www.gdrecon.co.uk