254. pěší divize [1939-1945]

254. Infanterie-Division.

Velitel:
General der Infanterie Fritz Koch (1.9. 1939 - 30.4. 1940)
Generalleutnant Walter Behschnitt (30.4. 1940 - 22.3. 1942)
General der Infanterie Friedrich Köchling (22.3. 1942 - 5.9. 1942)
Generalmajor Hellmuth Reymann (5.9. 1942 - 19.11. 1942)
General der Infanterie Friedrich Köchling (19.11. 1942 - 16.8. 1943)
Generalleutnant Alfred Thielmann (16.8. 1943 - 20.3. 1944)
Generalmajor Richard Schmidt (31.12. 1944 - 8.5. 1945)


Operace:
Německo (09/ 1939 - 05/ 1940)
Nizozemí, Belgie a Francie (05/ 1940 - 06/ 1941)
Východní frotna, severní sektor (06/ 1941 - 02/ 1944)
Východní fronta, jižní sektor (02/ 1944 - 02/ 1945)
ČSR (02/ 1945 - 05/ 1945)

Organizace:


454. Infantry Regiment - 454.pěší pluk
474. Infantry Regiment - 474.pěší pluk
484. Infantry Regiment - 484.pěší pluk
254. Artillery Regiment - 254.dělostřelecký pluk
1. Battalion - 1.prapor
2. Battalion - 2.prapor
3. Battalion - 3.prapor
4. Battalion - 4.prapor
254. Panzerabwehr Battalion - 254.tankový abwehr prapor
254. Reconnaissance Battalion - 254.průzkumný prapor
254. Pioneer Battalion - 254.ženijní prapor
254. Signals Battalion - 254.spojovací prapor

Nositelé Rytířského kříže kteří byli příslušníci 254. Infanterie Division:


Carl Anders 5/4/1944
Alfred Feldmann 8/20/1942
Erich Glaeser 8/20/1942
Friedrich Koechling 7/31/1942
Ernst Otto 2/10/1943
Joachim Quassowski 10/18/1943
Walter Risse 9/22/1941

Prapor 484. pěšího pluku této divize se účastnil v 04/ 1945 obranných bojů západně od obcí Slavkov a Pustá Polom na Severní Moravě.

The division was formed on 26.8.1939 as Division 4.
In the Polish campaign 254. Infanterie Division commanded by Genpor. Fritz Koch and during the fighting in 1941-1942 the Division was commanded by Gen. Behschnitt.
On 17 November 1940 the Division received one third of the 320th Pd - and reinforced its regiments with them: the headquarters of the 454th Infantry Regiment, the third battalions of the 454th Pd, the 474th Pd, the 484th Pd, and one detachment was also given to the 254th Artillery Regiment.
It fought in the Lower Rhineland, Holland, France, East Prussia, crossed from the Baltic republics through Russia and the Ukraine, was in the Carpathians in July 1944, fought at
Košice, in February 1945 from Liptovský Mikuláš it went to Silesia and from there to Moravia.
Its commander during the fighting in Slovakia was Lieutenant General Alfred Tielmann (20.07.1892 - 1988), but from 31.12.1944 to 8.5.1945 - during the fighting at Liptovský Mikuláš
The division was commanded by Major General Richard Schmidt (29.04.1899 - 07.11.1977).In 1951 he was convicted of war crimes on the territory of Czechoslovakia, in 1953 he was pardoned by
President A. Zápotocký.


At the time of its formation the division was composed of :
-Infantry Regiments 454, 474, 484
-Artillery Regiment 254
-Genry Battalion 254
-Tank Troop 254
-Research Detachment 254
-Divisional Intelligence Detachment 254
-Tylous (supply) Headquarters 254


In the period 1941-1942 its basic organization was the same. In 1943 a rifle detachment (Division-Füsilier-Abteilung) was built.
On 10 May 1944, the original 474th Grenadier Regiment (which was replaced by the 1238th Grenadier Regiment) and III Troop of the 254th Artillery Regiment were disbanded on 4 July 1944
replaced by Division Group 82 from the remnants of the disbanded 82nd Infantry Division. Thus the new 474th Infantry Regiment was formed.


In 1944 (4 July) the composition of the division changed considerably. It consisted of:
-Grenadier Regiments 454, 474, 484 à I., II. pr
-Divisional Rifle Battalion 254
-Field Replacement Battalion 254
-Artillery Battalion 254 with I.-III. dodd
-Military Battalion 254
-Tank Fighter Detachment 254
-Divisional Intelligence Detachment 254
-Divisional Supply Command 254


In January 1945, it was part of the XI Army Corps of the 1st Panzer Army of Army Group "A" and fought in the Košice area. In February and March subordinated to XVII. and VIII. respectively.
Army Corps of the 17th Army of Army Group "Stred" and was deployed in the Silesia area.
In April, as part of the XXVIth Army Corps, it again belonged to the 1st Panzer Army of Army Group "Centre" and was deployed in the Upper Silesia area. In May it fought in Moravia
and Bohemia as part of the LXXII Army Corps of the 1st Panzer Army of Army Group "Centre".
At the end of the war, the division fell into Soviet captivity in the area of Havlickuv Brod, east of
from Prague.


Source: http://www.liponet.sk/obv_szpb/Boje/V.pdf