Pěchota

INFANTRY[/heading]


Infantry division and regiments
In general
The numbering of the divisions
At the time of mobilization existed 1.-36. and 44.-46. infantry division, 1.-3. mountain division, 1.-5. panzer division and 1.-4. the lightweight division. This division of the peace troops we refer to collectively in division 1. waves. The concept of the wave (Welle) refers to a group of divisions that took shape at the same time and under the same classification. Systematizací we mean it, that they had the same broken down according to the regulation called Kriegsstärkenachweisung (KStN) and the same armament as per the prescription called Kriegsausrüstungsnachweisung (KAN). Division renamed first to the infantry division (motorized) and later on the division of the panzer grenadiers to maintain numbers, which bore as an infantry division.

Division 2. wool received numbers 50-100, division 3. the wave numbers 200-250, for division 4. wool was reserved numbers 251-300. Not all the numbers but it was used. Numbers 141-200 was (with exceptions) intended for spare and backup of the division and numbers 401-500 for the divisional staffs for special uses. In the group of numbers 501-600 are in the year 1940 constituted a division of the provincial riflemen on the Upper Rhine, and in 1944 the grenadier and the people's grenadier division. In the sixth hundred to the end of the war we meet with divisions created from the divisions for special uses. In the seventh hundred there were of division 15. waves designed to defend large-scale defensive positions (the so-called bodenständige Divisionen). The numbers above the 801 was allocated in the short term the existing bodies created in the british and american camps for prisoners of war. The number 999. received light african division. The resulting gap, especially the group numbers 300-400, were zacelovány divisions, which were set up according to the needs after the outbreak of world war ii.

Next to the numbered divisions existed in the infantry division with the name. It was a division such as the Großdeutschland, führer's division or division Brandenburg. This includes imperial the grenadier division Hoch - und zur wiener staatsoper resulting from the renaming of the 44. infantry division. A series of ac hoc formations named according to the name of the commander was a time etatizována and numbered. The names bear even a shadow of division 24., 26. and 28. the waves, which should replace the worn out division. They were assigned the names of the local or the names of the training area.

Towards the end of the war were under the influence of the SS and RAD set up infantry division, bearing the names of eminent personalities of German history (e.g., Friedrich Ludwig Jahn) and also people's grenadier divisions bearing names referring to the famous places of prussian military history (e.g. Möckern).


The numbering of the regiments (and separate battalions)
At the time of mobilization carried active infantry regiments, regiments of mountain hunters and frontier infantry regiments of continuous numbers starting with the number 1. Regiments 2. the wave numbers from 151. regiments of the 3. the wave numbers from 301 and regiments of 4 waves from the numbers 451. Not but used all the numbers and the gaps were zaplňovány in other war years. If he was some kind of regiment changed from infantry to rifles, it wasn't his number again obsazováno any newly created regiment. An exception represent the numbers from 541 10. waves. Significant numbers bear some non-standard units - 500 had a probation battalion, 600 replacement battalion Altenburg, 800 construction regiment Brandenburg and 900 infantry instruction regiment. The last number should be the number 999, but gradually it was used even higher numbers. Between the formations with the highest order numbers were strength infantry battalions or in Vlasov units.

When some of the waves marked the last digit number of the military district in which the regiment had been formed. Towards the end of the war it was again occupied by the numbers belonging to the previously annulled or transformed regiments. Just sometimes happen for reasons of traditional, mostly not these units relationship to their predecessors of the same numbers. In 1945 appear regiments bearing the name. It was either the names of their commanders, names of German history or the names of the places, in which the regiment had been established.

To the order of the infantry regiments were infantry regiments, grenadier regiments, fyzilírské regiments, hunting regiments, regiments of mountain hunters, the assault regiments, a motorized infantry regiments, motorized grenadier regiments, regiments of panzer grenadiers in assemblies infantry divisions (motorized) and later divisions of the panzer grenadiers (until their transfer to the ranks of the tank troops of the 1. April 1943), the strength of infantry regiments, field braneckých regiments and field training regiments. This was also true about the brigades and separate battalions.

On the contrary, it didn't affect the ski regiments, the jäger regiments (L), spare regiments, reserve regiments, zeměbraneckých regiments, field replacement regiments and field replacement battalions. Outside of the standard infantry continuous numbering were kept and fyzilírské flags, division flags, hunting flags, machine-gun battalions, mortar battalions and anti-aircraft artillery battalions.

FLESHED out.

1939

Mobilization 1. waves in August 1939
Aside from infantry regiments (motorized), regiments of mountain hunters and frontier infantry regiments, to which we'll get to later, existed before August mobilization of 104 infantry regiments in the 35 infantry divisions, which during the mobilization arrived in Karlovy Vary, infantry regiment 97, which became the third regiment 46. infantry division. For a number of regiments were now formed yet missing battalions. Regiments consisted of staff with a cavalry platoon and later a sapper squad, three battalions of three rifle company and one machine-gun company, a platoon of infantry guns and anti-tank company (motorized). Rifle company should have in the arsenal first nine-light and two heavy machine guns, later, twelve light machine guns and three light mortars. Machine-gun platoon was armed with eight, later twelve heavy machine guns and six medium mortars. Company field guns had two heavy and six light infantry guns and anti-tank company (motorized) twelve anti-tank guns. This systematization was more or less applied in other waves until 1944.

The subordination of infantry regiments infantry divisions:



Mobilization 2. waves in August 1939
48 regiments zmobilizovaných during 2. the waves in the 16 divisions was in earlier mobilization plans referred to as auxiliary regiments. Their formation took place in the framework of active regiments, which at them at the same time supervise. Simply, we can say that each regiment stood one battalion and each division, one regiment. Part of the divisions of the second wave were drawn up in the form of a so-called training division (Übungs-Divisionen a) already during the sudeten crisis and also in the spring of 1939. Vienna and salzburg military precinct nesestavovaly no regiments 2. waves, because there wasn't enough trained reservists. On the contrary, berlin, dresden and münsterský military district formed after the six regiments of this wave.

An overview of the divisions and regiments 2. waves:




Mobilization 3. waves in August 1939
Sixty regiments 3. waves were in the mobilization plans of the subject as zeměbranecké regiments and had different numbers. Various other regiments on the Upper Rhine and in the fortresses were not yet renamed. Regiments were set up via the individual command of defence, which served as the divisional headquarters. The men were mostly veterans of the first world war. 42 percent of men fall within the defence and 46 percent to the advance II. instance. Battalions of these regiments were not in the assembly of the machine-gun company, on the other hand, consisted of four shooting rot with a larger number of machine guns than was common in the shooting rot 1. waves. Regiments had initially ženijními companies, which already in the winter of 1939/1940 came, for of them were created by the new engineer battalions. However, one rifle company in each battalion was at the same time changed to a machine gun platoon, which had mortars. Twenty-seven regiments, which during the French campaign, remained in the east, built for training purposes IV. battalions, the so-called field branecké battalions, of three columns.

An overview of the divisions and regiments 3. waves:



Mobilization 4. waves in August 1939
42 regiments of the fourth wave was created from 126 replenishment of the battalions. These battalions, with the exception of three východopruských, were created for the purpose of training the so-called white grades, i.e. grades that have not undergone basic military training for service in the imperial army, these men were too young, and then in the years 1919-1935 there was no obligation to the military service. These were the years 1901-1913. 46 percent of the men accounted for midfielders II. instance, 21 percent of the midfielders as well. degrees, respectively, zeměbranci. Armament fit of the regiment of the second wave.


An overview of the divisions and regiments 3. waves:




Construction 5. waves in September 1939
Already before the outbreak of war in mobilisation plans were envisaged with the creation of five additional divisions in case of war on two fronts. To their formation should occur immediately after the mobilization of the previous waves. The division should be armed with czechoslovak military material. Each military district probably contributed men to one regiment, however, their doformování occurred in military areas III., IV., IX., XI. and XIII. circuit. The commanders of regiments were appointed to the 25. September 1939. The order for the formation of the divisions was issued 8. September 1939 and on 1. November 1939, these were the division ready for field service. In addition to the Infantry school in Döberitz provided the officer cadres as well as the two group armies stationed in Poland. For each division 5. the waves were two commanders of the battalions, twelve company commanders and a hundred and twenty experienced non-commissioned officers and svobodníků. Army group North has provided the cadres of 93. and 94. infantry division, army Group South 95., 96. and 98. infantry division. Military district III received for the 93. infantry division part of the Standard SA Feldherrnhalle, which was created III. battalion of the infantry regiment 271. Systematization of the regiments of this wave resembled the first wave. The difference was the absence of a company of infantry works by replacing the platoon of heavy mortars with eight heavy mortars. These troops were in front of the Russian drag exchanged for a platoon of infantry guns from the cancelled division 3. waves. The men of the regiments 5. the waves accounted for the older vintages.

An overview of the divisions and regiments 5. waves:





Construction of division 6. the waves in November 1939
With the construction of the other five divisions for the use of a captured czechoslovak material was envisaged in the second month of the war. Order to form a has been issued 11. November 1939. Systematization of regiments match the previous wave. All four divisions were formed on 1. December 1939. The men of the regiments came from different military districts. The division has been operational eligible in February 1940.

An overview of the divisions and regiments 6. waves:



the Construction of other divisions and regiments
From hraničářský infantry regiments were in September 1939, formed by infantry regiment 121, 122 and 123. To 1. December 1939 was similarly exposed to infantry regiment 124 and a little later even infantry regiment 125, which after its inception served as a unit of the general staff without a permanent subordination of the particular infantry division. Infantry regiments 243 and 244 have incurred 15. October 1939 from the police regiments I and II Eberhardovy group, which was deployed in the battles of Gdansk. The men of the first regiment were veterans from the first world war, the men of the second regiment of the members of the gdansk provincial police. For the 72. infantry division would be formed infantry regiment 266. Further, it was established infantry regiment 253, who received 34. infantry division (division 1. wool) in exchange for its infantry regiment 105, which got a 72. division. To 1. December 1939 were zeměbranecké infantry regiments 161, 152 and 162 transformed in infantry regiments 247, 249 and 250. To 1. January 1940 then were changed zeměbranecké infantry regiments 40, 59 and 182 to the infantry regiments 335, 353 and 358. The same fate in mid-January meet and zeměbranecké infantry regiments 33 and 183, which were converted to infantry regiments 326 and 347, but you have already been identified for division 7. waves.


An overview of the divisions and regiments in 1939 out of the waves:
.

1940

Construction of division 7. waves in January 1940
19. November 1939 was ordered to the establishment of the thirteen infantry divisions of the seventh wave. The division should initially have just two regiments. 30. December 1939 was the these divisions assigned to the 31st field replacement battalions and two zeměbranecké infantry regiments (the last waves of the said regiments 33 and 183). Of them have been compiled other infantry regiments, so the number of regiments divisions of this wave could be increased from 26 to 39. The division had achieved operational capability at the end of February. Commanders were appointed between 13. January and 6. February. In march 1940 the division have appeared in the overview of the units of the armed forces (Schematische Kriegsgliederung). Each military district was in charge of the assembling of a division, the exception were the austrian circuit, which in this wave, no division do not create. Except for the divisions of 196, 197 and 198, which have been assembled from the spare units of the military circle V, VI and XII stationed in West Prussia, Povartí and Protectorate, received a division 161-183 numbers originally intended for the crews of the replacement units. As for the serial numbers of infantry regiments, filled up the gaps that are left between numerals 301 and 450 after the entry of the regiments 3. waves. Breakdown of the infantry regiments was based on the breakdown regiments 1. the waves, however, lacked mortars and a platoon of infantry guns were initially only four light cannon.

An overview of the divisions and regiments 7. waves:




Construction of division 8. waves from January 1940
At the end of January 1940 was ordered to the establishment of the other ten infantry divisions, which were to be assembled by the end of April of the same year. The construction involved ten military districts of the fifteen. The western circuits of the wave did not participate for the reason that were built of trench division for the area of the Upper Rhine and the circuits VII and XVIII should assemble mountain division. The construction of divisions took place in February 1940, with a cadre provided as a backup, so full of troops. The division were involved in the second phase of the French campaign. The internal breakdown of the regiments in principle, based on the breakdown of the regiments of the first wave.

An overview of the divisions and regiments 8. waves:




Hornorýnské division
In February 1940, were compiled four positional division designed to ensure hornorýnské the border with France. Three divisions were assembled in the western military districts, one in the dresden circle. The headquarters of the division was formed by the transformation of the divisional staffs for special use 426, 427, 441 and 443. Regiments of this group divisions consisted only of a battalion of four columns, no regimental unit in the assembly not. As for the weaponry had only light machine guns and twelve heavy machine guns in three machine-gun company.

An overview of the divisions and regiments of this group:




Construction of division 9. waves from the march 1940
At the end of January 1940 was the planned establishment of eight infantry divisions, which were sometimes referred to also as a division of the provincial shooters. These divisions should serve as the locking units in the occupied Polish territory in subordination to the Main headquarters of the East, and to replace eight here stationed the divisions of the 3. waves. Four divisions should be set up by mid-April, four more to mid-may. To these the eight divisions have been added yet 395. infantry division, which was to replace the 311. infantry division. Infantry regiments were set up in march. Their staffs were created by transforming the 18 staffs of regiments of provincial shooters, 6 staffs a field command, the position of the section 128 and the regiments of border guards 51 and 61. Battalions of these regiments were set up from the 63 battalions of the provincial scorers, guard battalions 521, 532, 572, 601 and 608, two battalions of the position of the section 128 and the six battalions of the two regiments of border guards. Five battalions were established newly. The flags were the regiments drawn up according to where exactly in Poland were, thus, regardless of affiliation to military circuits. Regiments consisted of twelve rot in three battalions, one heavy battalion with four light infantry guns and a platoon of anti-tank guns, as well as a sapper company and a field branecké company.


Next, formation of a division of the character in Poland
To 1. June 1940 were on the occupied Polish territories established four headquarters of the replacement units, which were basically the replacement of the division with security tasks. Field branecké infantry regiments were assembled from various spare and field braneckých units. At the beginning of August 1940 these were divisional structure be abolished.



Construction of division 10. wool
22. may 194 was ordered the establishment of nine mobile spare divisions (and 4. the mountain division). Their formation occurred in June, the process had to be terminated 1. July. The basis were the third company a variety of replacement battalions. To their full doformování but not as the battle of France is over faster than expected. Individual companies are then returned to their replacement battalions.


Slimming down of the army after the French campaign
After a surprisingly quick and successful campaign against France ordered by Hitler for 15. June reduction of the field army for a total of 120 divisions. The ongoing construction divisions 10. the wave was stopped. However, against the abolition of the 35 divisions will be pitted OKH, and so was team 18 divisions only sent on vacation, which meant that they remained their staffs and 60 percent of their members moved on to temp work in agriculture and the arms industry. These 18 divisions (81, 82, 83, 88, 93, 94, 95, 96, 98, 205, 206, 207, 212, 213, 218, 221, 239 and 246), which accounted for 54 regiments, was called back up in late February and early march 1941. Division 10. wool and 27 of their regiments was completely cleared. Of the 27 regiments intended for division 9. waves was created by the 48 battalions of the provincial shooters, and in military districts, for which they have been allocated for the purpose of cancellation, i.e., without relation to previous numbers of the battalions of the provincial riflemen, which had previously served as basis for the creation of regiments. Next to the 48 battalions of the provincial shooters of them create even the two guards battalions. Five battalions were later used in 13. and 14. wave. The rest was canceled. Thirteen regiments hornorýnských divisions were abolished and their 13 regiments were transformed to 29 battalions of the provincial shooters and II. battalion of infantry regiment 117. From the third wave was seven regiments completely cleared, the staffs of the two regiments were used for the construction of others regiments in 2. and 3. tank division. Abolished was also the danzig regiment 243 and the same fate befell the three regiments of 311. infantry division. A total of slim down ground troops suffered 80 regiments.


Remodeling from October 1940
15. June has been ordered to increase the number of fast volumes on the 30. Several infantry divisions were-seamless on the armored division or infantry division (motorized). Some of the infantry regiments during this process became the infantry regiments (motorized) and some of the regiments of the shooting. Three regiments, which during this process have become redundant, have been reorganized in regiments of mountain hunters..

HORŠTÍ MYSLIVCI, MYSLIVCI A LYŽAŘI

Číslování
Pluky horských myslivců a myslivecké pluky byly co se týče jejich číslování vedeny v rámci pěchoty. Naopak lyžařské pluky měly vlastní číslování. Stejné to pak bylo s mysliveckými pluky (L), jež byly přejaty od letectva a ponechaly svá původní čísla. Zatímco pluky horských myslivců měly čísla v pořadí pěchoty, horské divize měly vlastní čísla. Myslivecké divize naopak spadaly do číslování pěchoty, stejěn jako jejich pluky. A lyžařská divize zase obdržela číslo 1, ačkoliv 1. pěší divize existovala, takže i zde došlo k zavedení vlastního číslování. Polní divize letectva, jež byly převedeny pod pozemní vojsko si nejprve ponechaly původní čísla a ke změně došlo až při jejich reorganizaci.



Mobilizace 1939
V době moblizace existovaly tři horské divize s celkem sedmi pluky horských myslivců. Navíc existoval pluky horských myslivců 140, který měl ale pouze jeden prapor. Pluky horských myslivců měl cyklistickou četu, tři prapory, každý s třemi rotami horských myslivců (9 lehkých kulometů, 2 těžké kulomety a 3 lehké minomety), dvě těžké roty (jedna s ženijní četou a 4 těžkými kulomety, druhá s 6 středními minomety a 2 lehkými pěchotními děly), a 16. rotu s 12 protitankovými děly.


Přehled divizí a pluků v době mobilizace:




Léto 1940
V souvislosti s výstavbou divizí 10. vlny došlo v létě 1940 ke zřízení Mysliveckého pluku 141 a pluků horských myslivců 142 a 143. K předpokládanému zřízení 4. horské divize ale zatím nedošlo. Pluk horských myslivců 142 byl po čase opět zrušen, Myslivecký pluk 141 byl reorganizován na pluk horských myslivců a v červnu 1940 byla na Horním Rýnu zřízena 6. horská divize.



Podzim 1940
Ke kompletní výstavbě horských divizí došlo na podzim 1940. Pěší pluky 13, 85 a 91 byly uvolněny, neboť jejich dosavadní nadřízené divize byly změněny na tankové divize. Tyto pluky byly přetransformovány na pluky horských myslivců, a tak mohlo dojít ke vzniku dalších horských divizí. Během toho procesu byl pluk horských myslivců 100 přesunut od 1. horské divize, která měla jako jediná tři pluky, k 5. horské divizi.


Přehled pluků a divizí z roku 1940:




Reorganizace lehkých pěších divizí 1942
V prosinci 1940 byly v rámci 12. vlny postaveno čtyři lehké pěší divize, jež byly určeny pro boj ve středohorských polohách, tedy jakýsi mezistupeň mezi pěšími divizemi a horskými divizemi. K těmto čtyřem divizím přibyly v zimě 1941-1942 ještě další tři, které vznikly z 5., 8. a 28. pěší divize, jež utrpěly těžké ztráty u Moskvy. 99. lehká pěší divize byla na podzim 1941 změněna na 7. horskou divizi. K 28. červnu 1942 bylo zbývajících šest lehkých pěších divizí reorganizováno na myslivecké divize. Pluky horských myslivců 139, který se nacházel ve Finsku, se stal samostatným plukem. Později byl rozšířen na brigádu horských myslivců.


Přehled změn lehkých pěších divizí:




Změny pěších divizí na myslivecké divize na podzim 1942
Čtyři pěší divize 15. vlny, které se nacházely v Chorvatsku (704, 714, 717, 718), byly na podzim 1942 reorganizovány na myslivecké divize (104, 114, 117, 118). Pluk horských myslivců 756 podřízený 334. pěší divizi nesl sice označení pluk horských myslivců, neboť byl zřízen z náhradních jednotek horských myslivců, avšak jeho členění odpovídalo granátnickému pluku.



Stalingrad a Tunisko
U Stalingradu byla zničena 100. myslivecká divize, včetně podřízených mysliveckých pluků 54 a 227 a přiděleného chorvatského granátnického pluku 369. Divize byla obnovena v zázemí v podobě bojové skupiny v síle pluku. V Tunisku byl zase zničen zmíněný pluk horských myslivců 756.



Převzetí polních divizí letectva
V zimě 1942-1943 byly zřízeny polní divize letectva, avšak příliš se neosvědčily. Byly sice obsazeny relativně kvalitními kádry, avšak neprošly dostatečným výcvikem a nebyly vhodně nasazeny, takže utrpěly zbytečně vysoké ztráty. Jako řešení bylo zvoleno převedení pod pozemní vojsko, kte kterému došlo v listopadu 1943. Divize byly následně reorganizovány podle organizačního schématu tzv. divize nového typu 44. Myslivecké pluky letectva byly přejmenovány na myslivecké pluky (L), zachovaly si ale vlastní číslování a členění podle tzv. granátnického pluku nového typu.


Přehled polních divizí (L) a Mysliveckých pluků (L):