45th Infantry Division (Germany)
Encyclopedia
With the annexation in 1936 of Austria by Nazi Germany
, what was once the 4th Austrian Division was incorporated into the Wehrmacht (German Army) and re-designated the 45.Infanterie-Division (Infantry Division). In the 1939 Polish Campaign, the division was on the right wing of von Rundstedt's Heeresgruppe Sud (Army Group South).
On 22 June the 45 Infantry Division began the siege of the Brest Fortress
. In March 1942 the Red Army defeated the division by Livny
, Russia and captured the archive of the division. That was the first time the Red Army learned about the defense of Brest Fortress
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
, what was once the 4th Austrian Division was incorporated into the Wehrmacht (German Army) and re-designated the 45.Infanterie-Division (Infantry Division). In the 1939 Polish Campaign, the division was on the right wing of von Rundstedt's Heeresgruppe Sud (Army Group South).
On 22 June the 45 Infantry Division began the siege of the Brest Fortress
Defense of Brest Fortress
The defence of Brest Fortress took place 22–30 June 1941. It was one of the first battles of Operation Barbarossa. The Brest Fortress was defended by the Red Army against the Wehrmacht, held out longer than expected, and became a symbol of Soviet resistance during the Second World War...
. In March 1942 the Red Army defeated the division by Livny
Livny
Livny is a town in Oryol Oblast, Russia. Population: The town apparently originated in 1586 as Ust-Livny, a wooden fort on the bank of the Livenka River, although some believe that a town had existed on the spot previous to the Mongol invasion of Rus...
, Russia and captured the archive of the division. That was the first time the Red Army learned about the defense of Brest Fortress
Commanding officers
- Generalleutnant Friedrich MaternaFriedrich MaternaFriedrich Materna was a General in the Bundesheer in the 1930s and the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War....
1 April 1938 – 25 October 1940 - Generalmajor Gerhard Körner, 25 October 1940 – 27 April 1941
- Generalleutnant Fritz SchlieperFritz SchlieperFritz Schlieper was a German military officer who served during World War I and World War II, eventually gaining the rank of Generalleutnant.-Biography:...
, 27 April 1941 – 27 February 1942 - Generalleutnant Fritz Kühlwein, 27 February 1942 – 25 April 1943
- Generalleutnant Hans Freiherr von Falkenstein, 25 April 1943 – 30 November 1943
- Generalmajor Joachim Engel, 30 November 1943 – 27 February 1944
- Generalmajor Gustav GihrGustav GihrGustav Gihr was the German commander of the 707th Infantry division during the Bobruisk Offensive.-World War I:...
, 27 February 1944 – 9 April 1944 - Generalmajor Joachim Engel, 9 April 1944 –