93rd Infantry Division (Germany)
Encyclopedia
The 93rd Infantry Division (German 93.Infanterie-Division) was a German infantry
division
that was formed in the fall of 1939. The division fought in the Second World War
in both the Battle of France
and on the Eastern Front
. It was ultimately destroyed by the Red Army
in March 1945 while defending East
Prussia
.
Division fought and hold its lines throughout 1942.In August 1942. 271.Infanterie-regiment was given honorable title "Feldherrnhalle" due to its outstanding performance during the Campaign in France and Soviet Union.
In Summer 1943 division was pulled out of the line and send to Poland to rest and refit. While resting in Poland the 271 infanterie-regiment "Feldherrnhalle" was removed from division and become a nucleous of the new 60.Panzergrenadier-Division "Feldherrnhalle".
Refitted division was once again attached to the Army Group North where it took part in desperate attempts to maintain the siege of Leningrad. The 93.infanterie was pushed back with the rest of Army Group North and by late 1944 it was trapped in Kurland Pocket with the now renamed Army Group Kurland.
In the beginning of 1945 division was evacuated from Kurland and after short rest was send in to Samland in Eastern Prussia, where it was destroyed by Red Army in march 1945.
1943
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
division
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...
that was formed in the fall of 1939. The division fought in the Second World War
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...
in both 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...
and 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...
. It was ultimately destroyed by the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
in March 1945 while defending East
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
.
France
In the spring and early summer 1940 division was located near Maginot Line in Saarbrücken.On June 15, 1940 division launched its attack in the area south of Saarbrücken, against the French Maginot Line, where it broke through it and continued its advance across the River Seille and the River Meurthe south to the region of the River Moseille between Nancy and Epinal where it was ordered to stop on 25 June.Eastern Front
After the Campaign in France the division was stationed along the French coast until June 1941 when it was reatached to the Army Group North (Heeresgruppe Nord) in preparation for operation Barbarossa. Division fought heavily during its advance on Leningrad, and then in the subsequent defensive battles against the Soviet Winter offensive.Division fought and hold its lines throughout 1942.In August 1942. 271.Infanterie-regiment was given honorable title "Feldherrnhalle" due to its outstanding performance during the Campaign in France and Soviet Union.
In Summer 1943 division was pulled out of the line and send to Poland to rest and refit. While resting in Poland the 271 infanterie-regiment "Feldherrnhalle" was removed from division and become a nucleous of the new 60.Panzergrenadier-Division "Feldherrnhalle".
Refitted division was once again attached to the Army Group North where it took part in desperate attempts to maintain the siege of Leningrad. The 93.infanterie was pushed back with the rest of Army Group North and by late 1944 it was trapped in Kurland Pocket with the now renamed Army Group Kurland.
In the beginning of 1945 division was evacuated from Kurland and after short rest was send in to Samland in Eastern Prussia, where it was destroyed by Red Army in march 1945.
Organisation
1939- Infanterie-Regiment 270
- Infanterie-Regiment 271
- Infanterie-Regiment 272
- Artillerie-Regiment 193
- Aufklärungs-Abteilung 193
- Panzerjäger-Abteilung 193
- Pioniere-Abteilung 193
- Nachrichten-Abteilung 193
1943
- Grenadier-Regiment 270
- Grenadier-Regiment 272
- Grenadier-Regiment 273
- Artillerie-Regiment 193
- Fusilier-Abteilung 91
Commanding officers
- General der Pionere Otto TiemannOtto TiemannOtto Tiemann was a highly decorated General der Pioniere in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several corps. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
, 1 September 1939 - 1 May 1943 - Generalleutnant Gottfried WeberGottfried Weber (general)Gottfried Weber was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II and a Generalmajor in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
, 1 May 1943 - 31 May 1943 - General der Pionere Otto Tiemann, 31 May 1943 - September 1943
- General der Artillerie Horst von MellenthinHorst von MellenthinHorst von Mellenthin was a highly decorated General der Artillerie in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several corps. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
, September 1943 - 1 October 1943 - Generalleutnant Karl LöwrickKarl LöwrickKarl Löwrick was a Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful...
, 1 October 1943 - 20 June 1944 - Generalleutnant Erich Hofmann, 20 June 1944 - 27 July 1944
- Oberst Hermann, 27 July 1944 - 1 September 1944
- Generalmajor Kurt Domansky, 1 September 1944 - March 1945