6th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)

The 6th Infantry Division (6. Infanterie-Division) was a unit of the German Army during World War II.

German 6th Infantry Division
6. Infanterie-Division
ActiveOctober 1934 – 25 July 1944
10 March – 8 May 1945
Country Germany
BranchArmy
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision

History

Formed in October 1934 from Infanterieführer VI in Bielefeld, the division was mobilized on 26 August 1939 for the upcoming invasion of Poland. At that time, it consisted of the usual German infantry division elements: three infantry regiments of three battalions each, one three-battalion regiment of light artillery, one battalion of heavy artillery (from a separate artillery regiment, but attached to the particular division), a Panzerjäger (anti-tank) Battalion, a reconnaissance (Aufklärungs) Battalion, a Signals Battalion, a Pioneer (Engineer) Battalion, and divisional supply, medical, and administrative units.

When the Soviets launched Operation Bagration on 23 June 1944, the division was surrounded during the Bobruysk Offensive and completely destroyed.

On 25 July 1944, the division was recreated 6. Grenadier-Division and renamed in 6. Volksgrenadier-Division (9 October 1944). The division was destroyed during the Soviet Vistula–Oder Offensive in January 1945 and reestablished as 6. Infanterie-Division (10 March 1945) using elements of Shadow Division Dresden.

Commanding officers

References
  • Burkhard Müller-Hillebrand: Das Heer 1933–1945. Entwicklung des organisatorischen Aufbaues. Vol.III: Der Zweifrontenkrieg. Das Heer vom Beginn des Feldzuges gegen die Sowjetunion bis zum Kriegsende. Mittler: Frankfurt am Main 1969, p. 285.
  • Georg Tessin: Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg, 1939 – 1945. Vol. III: Die Landstreitkräfte 6 – 14. Mittler: Frankfurt am Main 1967.

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