Post by Oberleutnant on Jan 22, 2017 10:08:10 GMT
21.Infanterie History
History
The 21st Infantry Division (Germany) was formed in 1934 in Elbing, East Prussia, by expanding the 3rd Prussian Infantry Regiment of the 1st Division of the old Reichswehr. As this was a direct breach of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, its existence was initially concealed; it was formally designated as the 21st Infantry Division in October 1935. Its East Prussian origin informed the adoption of the divisional symbol, a figure holding a shield bearing the black cross of the Teutonic Knights.
1939, the division took part in the German invasion of Poland
1940 the invasion of France.
1941- 1945, it fought on the Eastern Front, largely as part of Army Group North, assigned to Eighteenth Army.
After being involved in series of defensive battles and retreats to Riga as the Soviet army liberated their territory, late 1944 saw the 21st Infantry Division again in East Prussia, assigned to Third Panzer Army in the area of Tilsit before being reallocated to Fourth Army and deployed in the area of Insterburg, facing the Soviet East Prussian Offensive. Along with the bulk of Fourth Army it was encircled and largely destroyed in the Heiligenbeil pocket in the closing weeks of the war. Remnants of the division's forces were transported over the Frisches Haff to Pillau and Samland, where the unit was eventually dispersed in battle with Soviet troops, while some elements escaped along the Frische Nehrung to Hela and eventually by sea to Schleswig-Holstein.
Commanding officers
Generalleutnant Albert Wodrig, 1 October 1934 – 10 November 1938
Generalleutnant Kuno-Hans von Both, 10 November 1938 – 20 October 1939
Generalleutnant Otto Sponheimer, 1 November 1939 – April 1942
Generalleutnant Wilhelm Bohnstedt, April 1942
Generalleutnant Otto Sponheimer, April 1942 – 10 January 1943
Generalleutnant Gerhard Matzky, 10 Januar 1943 – 1 October 1943
Oberst Hubertus Lamey, 1 October 1943 – December 1943
Generalleutnant Gerhard Matzky, December 1943 – 1 March 1944
Generalmajor Franz Sensfuß, 1–28 March 1944
Generalleutnant Hermann Foertsch, 28 March – 22 August 1944
Generalmajor Heinrich Götz, 22 August 1944 – 25 September 1944
Oberst Hengersdorff, 25 September 1944 – October 1944
Oberst Eberhard Scharenberg, October 1944 – 12 December 1944
Oberst Beyse, 12 December 1944 – 14 January 1945
Generalmajor Heinrich Götz, 14 January 1945 – 1 April 1945
Generalmajor Karl Koetz, 1 April 1945 – 8 May 1945
Order of battle (1944-1945)
Grenadier-Regiment 3
Grenadier-Regiment 24
Grenadier-Regiment 45
Füsilier-Bataillon 21
Artillerie-Regiment 21
Pionier-Bataillon 21
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 21
Nachrichten-Abteilung 21
Feldersatz-Bataillon 21
Versorgungseinheiten 21
History
The 21st Infantry Division (Germany) was formed in 1934 in Elbing, East Prussia, by expanding the 3rd Prussian Infantry Regiment of the 1st Division of the old Reichswehr. As this was a direct breach of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, its existence was initially concealed; it was formally designated as the 21st Infantry Division in October 1935. Its East Prussian origin informed the adoption of the divisional symbol, a figure holding a shield bearing the black cross of the Teutonic Knights.
1939, the division took part in the German invasion of Poland
1940 the invasion of France.
1941- 1945, it fought on the Eastern Front, largely as part of Army Group North, assigned to Eighteenth Army.
After being involved in series of defensive battles and retreats to Riga as the Soviet army liberated their territory, late 1944 saw the 21st Infantry Division again in East Prussia, assigned to Third Panzer Army in the area of Tilsit before being reallocated to Fourth Army and deployed in the area of Insterburg, facing the Soviet East Prussian Offensive. Along with the bulk of Fourth Army it was encircled and largely destroyed in the Heiligenbeil pocket in the closing weeks of the war. Remnants of the division's forces were transported over the Frisches Haff to Pillau and Samland, where the unit was eventually dispersed in battle with Soviet troops, while some elements escaped along the Frische Nehrung to Hela and eventually by sea to Schleswig-Holstein.
Commanding officers
Generalleutnant Albert Wodrig, 1 October 1934 – 10 November 1938
Generalleutnant Kuno-Hans von Both, 10 November 1938 – 20 October 1939
Generalleutnant Otto Sponheimer, 1 November 1939 – April 1942
Generalleutnant Wilhelm Bohnstedt, April 1942
Generalleutnant Otto Sponheimer, April 1942 – 10 January 1943
Generalleutnant Gerhard Matzky, 10 Januar 1943 – 1 October 1943
Oberst Hubertus Lamey, 1 October 1943 – December 1943
Generalleutnant Gerhard Matzky, December 1943 – 1 March 1944
Generalmajor Franz Sensfuß, 1–28 March 1944
Generalleutnant Hermann Foertsch, 28 March – 22 August 1944
Generalmajor Heinrich Götz, 22 August 1944 – 25 September 1944
Oberst Hengersdorff, 25 September 1944 – October 1944
Oberst Eberhard Scharenberg, October 1944 – 12 December 1944
Oberst Beyse, 12 December 1944 – 14 January 1945
Generalmajor Heinrich Götz, 14 January 1945 – 1 April 1945
Generalmajor Karl Koetz, 1 April 1945 – 8 May 1945
Order of battle (1944-1945)
Grenadier-Regiment 3
Grenadier-Regiment 24
Grenadier-Regiment 45
Füsilier-Bataillon 21
Artillerie-Regiment 21
Pionier-Bataillon 21
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 21
Nachrichten-Abteilung 21
Feldersatz-Bataillon 21
Versorgungseinheiten 21