256th Infantry Division (Germany)
Encyclopedia
The 256. Infanterie-Division was a German Infantry division in World War II
. They formed on August 1939 as part of the 4. Welle (wave). The division was destroyed at Vitebsk
in June 1944. The remnants formed Divisions-Gruppe 256 which was assigned to Korps-Abteilung H.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. They formed on August 1939 as part of the 4. Welle (wave). The division was destroyed at Vitebsk
Vitebsk
Vitebsk, also known as Viciebsk or Vitsyebsk , is a city in Belarus, near the border with Russia. The capital of the Vitebsk Oblast, in 2004 it had 342,381 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth largest city...
in June 1944. The remnants formed Divisions-Gruppe 256 which was assigned to Korps-Abteilung H.
Commanders
- Generalleutnant Josef Folttmann (1 Sep 1939 - 10 Jan 1940)
- Generalleutnant Gerhard Kauffmann (10 Jan 1940 - 4 Jan 1942)
- Generalleutnant Friedrich Weber (4 Jan 1942 - 14 Feb 1942)
- Generalleutnant Paul Dannhauser (14 Feb 1942 - 24 Nov 1943)
- Generalleutnant Albrecht Wüstenhagen (24 Nov 1943 - 26 June 1944) (KIA) (1)
Operations Officers (Ia)
- Hauptmann Otto Deyhle (?-1940)
- Major Albrecht von Warburg (Jun 1940-Nov 1942)
- Oberstleutnant Adolf Hornig (Nov 1942-10 Dec 1943)
Area of operations
- Germany (Sep 1939 - May 1940)
- Netherlands & Belgium (May 1940 - June 1941)
- Eastern front, central sector (June 1941 - July 1944)
Order of battle
- 456. Infantry Regiment
- 476. Infantry Regiment
- 481. Infantry Regiment
- 256. Artillery Regiment
- 256. Panzerjäger Battalion
- 256. Reconnaissance Battalion
- 256. Pioneer Battalion (mot)
- 256. Signals Battalion (mot)
- Supply Troops