712th Infantry Division (Germany)
Encyclopedia
The 712th Infantry Division (German: 712. Infanteriedivision) was a German Army infantry division in World War II
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After suffering heavy casualties when the Allied forces made their way into the Netherlands, the 712th was reformed and sent to the eastern front. With the Red Army being supplied by an ever-increasing arsenal of weapons and vehicles, the division was unable to match them in Poland, and was decimated along the river Warthe in January 1945. Surviving soldiers were moved to the 45th
and 68th
divisions, who were also being quickly pushed back by soviet forces.
In March, the division was again reformed. With no more reserves, the Wehrmacht could only supply the 712th with survivors of divisions already destroyed by the Allied forces. The division was crushed in the Halbe pocket the following month.
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...
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History
The 712th Infantry Division was raised in May 1941, and was moved to occupied France in June to serve with standard occupational duties. The following June, the division was moved to the low countriesLow Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
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After suffering heavy casualties when the Allied forces made their way into the Netherlands, the 712th was reformed and sent to the eastern front. With the Red Army being supplied by an ever-increasing arsenal of weapons and vehicles, the division was unable to match them in Poland, and was decimated along the river Warthe in January 1945. Surviving soldiers were moved to the 45th
45th Infantry Division (Germany)
With the annexation in 1936 of Austria by Nazi Germany, what was once the 4th Austrian Division was incorporated into the Wehrmacht and re-designated the 45.Infanterie-Division...
and 68th
68th Infantry Division (Germany)
The 68th Infantry Division was a formation of the German Army during World War II. It was formed in 1939, and was initially committed to the German invasion of Poland. It took part in the Battle of France in 1940, and then Operation Barbarossa in 1941 as part of Army Group South. The 68th remained...
divisions, who were also being quickly pushed back by soviet forces.
In March, the division was again reformed. With no more reserves, the Wehrmacht could only supply the 712th with survivors of divisions already destroyed by the Allied forces. The division was crushed in the Halbe pocket the following month.
Commanders
- Generalmajor George von Döhren (3 May 1941 - 15 Apr 1942)
- Generalleutnant Friedrich-Wilhelm NeumannFriedrich-Wilhelm NeumannFriedrich-Wilhelm Neumann was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who held several divisional and corps level commands. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
(16 Apr 1942 - 25 Feb 1945) - Generalmajor Joachim von Siegroth (25 Feb 1945 - 2 Apr 1945)
See also
- Division (military)Division (military)A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
, Military unit, List of German divisions in WWII - HeerGerman ArmyThe German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
, 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:...