205th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)

The 205th Infantry Division (German: 205. Infanterie-Division) was a German division during the Second World War.

205. Infanterie-Division
German 205th Infantry Division
Insignia of the 205th Infantry Division
Active1 January 1940 – 8 May 1945
Country Nazi Germany
BranchArmy
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
Nickname(s)Mushroom Division
EngagementsWorld War II

Initially formed as the 14th Militia Division (German: 14. Landwehr-Division), the division was mobilized a few days before the invasion of Poland in 1939, and remained on garrison duty in Germany throughout that campaign. It was the only Landwehr unit mobilized during 1939–1945 (others that were mobilized were reorganized as 3rd-Wave-style divisions), though the 97th Landwehr Division had been mobilized for the 1938 Anschluss.

It was renamed the 205th Infantry Division on 1 January 1940 and sent to France near the end of the western campaign. It was demobilized in July, but mobilized again in early 1941, and served as a garrison against any potential Allied invasion until early 1942. It was then sent to the Eastern Front, where it served with Army Group Center in the "little Stalingrad" at Velikiye Luki over the winter of 1942–1943. The division was transferred to Army Group North in late 1943 and eventually trapped in the Courland Pocket, where it surrendered to the Soviets in 1945.

Commanding officers
  • Generalleutnant Ernst Richter (1 January 1940 – 1 March 1942)
  • Generalleutnant Paul Seyffardt (1 March 1942 – 5 November 1943)
  • Generalmajor Ernst Michael (5 November 1943 – 1 December 1943)
  • General der Artillerie Horst von Mellenthin (1 December 1943 – 19 October 1944)
  • Generalmajor Ernst Biehler (19 October 1944 – 15 November 1944)
  • General der Artillerie Horst von Mellenthin (15 November 1944 – 8 January 1945)
  • Generalmajor Karl-Hans Giese (8 January 1945 – 8 May 1945)

Order of battle

1940
  • Grenadier Regiment 335 (from Landwehr Infantry Regiment 40)
  • Grenadier Regiment 353 (from Landwehr Infantry Regiment 59)
  • Grenadier Regiment 358 (from Landwehr Infantry Regiment 182)
  • Artillery Regiment 205
  • I-IV Detachments
  • Divisions Units 205

April 1944
  • Grenadier Regiment 335
  • Grenadier Regiment 353
  • Grenadier Regiment 358
  • Artillery Regiment 205
  • I-IV Detachments
  • Panzerjäger Battalion 205
  • Reconnaissance Battalion 205
  • Engineer Battalion 205
  • Signal Battalion 205
  • Supply Troops

See also

References

Note: The Web references may require you to follow links to cover the unit's entire history.

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