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58th Infantry Division (Germany)
Encyclopedia
The 58th Infantry Division was a unit of the German Army (Wehrmacht
) during World War II
. It was formed in 1939, took part in the Battle of France
in 1940, and then Operation Barbarossa
in 1941. The 58th was then constantly engaged on the Eastern Front
until the end of the war in 1945.
veterans and a small active cadre supplied by regular Divisions, it was speedily dispatched to the French border on a defensive mission. Meanwhile it was training younger troops, who had been called up at the outbreak of war, in its home area around Lüneburg in Northern Germany.
, after which it served as part as of the German occupying forces in Belgium, until 20 April 1941.
In late April the 58th was transferred east where troops of the division assembled in East Prussia ready for the start of the campaign against the Soviet Union. Attacking with Army Group North
the 58th Infantry Division penetrated as far as Leningrad where the front lines stabilised into trench warfare.
This was followed by two and a half years of defensive fighting on the Volkhov , around the Demyansk Pocket
, at Krassny boron, at Mga, at Newel, Strugi Krassnyje. Engaged at the southern boundary of the army group, the division was rushed north when the red army finally cracked the siege lines around Leningrad. Partially committed near Luga, 2 infantry regiments had to be rescued from encirclement. The division was then shifted further north and fought in the Battle of Narva (1944)
.
The division ended the year trapped in a small bridgehead around Memel, with their only option was to retreat down the Spit towards Konigsburg.
There the last soldiers of the division under Colonel Eggemann went into Soviet captivity.
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
) during World War II
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...
. It was formed in 1939, took part in the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
in 1940, and then Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
in 1941. The 58th was then constantly engaged on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
until the end of the war in 1945.
Formation
The 58th Infantry formed in Wehrkreis X, as part of the general expansion of the Wehrmacht upon the declaration of war. Composed of reservists, including initially many World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
veterans and a small active cadre supplied by regular Divisions, it was speedily dispatched to the French border on a defensive mission. Meanwhile it was training younger troops, who had been called up at the outbreak of war, in its home area around Lüneburg in Northern Germany.
Organisation
| 1939 | 1944 |
|---|---|
Infantry-Regiment 154 Infantry-Regiment 209 Infantry-Regiment 220 |
Grenadier-Regiment 154 Grenadier-Regiment 209 |
| Divisions-Fusilier-Bataillon 58 | |
| Artillery-Regiment 158 | |
| Pionier-Bataillon 158 | |
| Anti-tank battalion 158 | Tank hunter Battalion 158 |
| Reconnaissance-Battalion 158 | |
| Field-replacement-Battalion 158 | |
| Infanterie-Divisions-Signal-Battalion 158 | |
| Infanterie-Divisions-Nachschubführer 158 | Divisions-Supply-Regiment 158 |
Combat History
The Division first saw combat in the West. From 10 May 1940 to 25 June 1940 it participated in the Battle of FranceBattle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
, after which it served as part as of the German occupying forces in Belgium, until 20 April 1941.
In late April the 58th was transferred east where troops of the division assembled in East Prussia ready for the start of the campaign against the Soviet Union. Attacking with Army Group North
Army Group North
Army Group North was a German strategic echelon formation commanding a grouping of Field Armies subordinated to the OKH during World War II. The army group coordinated the operations of attached separate army corps, reserve formations, rear services and logistics.- Formation :The Army Group North...
the 58th Infantry Division penetrated as far as Leningrad where the front lines stabilised into trench warfare.
This was followed by two and a half years of defensive fighting on the Volkhov , around the Demyansk Pocket
Demyansk Pocket
The Demyansk Pocket was the name given for the encirclement of German troops by the Red Army around Demyansk , south of Leningrad, during World War II on the Eastern Front. The pocket existed mainly from 8 February-21 April 1942. A much smaller pocket was simultaneously surrounded in Kholm, about ...
, at Krassny boron, at Mga, at Newel, Strugi Krassnyje. Engaged at the southern boundary of the army group, the division was rushed north when the red army finally cracked the siege lines around Leningrad. Partially committed near Luga, 2 infantry regiments had to be rescued from encirclement. The division was then shifted further north and fought in the Battle of Narva (1944)
Battle of Narva (1944)
The Battle of Narva was a military campaign between the German Army Detachment "Narwa" and the Soviet Leningrad Front fought for possession of the strategically important Narva Isthmus on 2 February – 10 August 1944 during World War II....
.
The division ended the year trapped in a small bridgehead around Memel, with their only option was to retreat down the Spit towards Konigsburg.
There the last soldiers of the division under Colonel Eggemann went into Soviet captivity.
Division Commanders
- Generalleutnant Iwan Heunert
- Generalleutnant Dr. Friedrich Altrichter
- Generalleutnant Karl von GraffenKarl von GraffenKarl von Graffen was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership...
- from April to June 1943 General der Artillerie Wilhelm BerlinWilhelm BerlinWilhelm Otto Julius Berlin was a highly decorated General der Artillerie in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership...
- Generalleutnant Curt SiewertCurt SiewertCurt Siewert as a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II and an Generalmajor in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful...
External links
See also
- WehrmachtWehrmachtThe Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
, List of German divisions in WWII