German 709th Static Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
The 709th Static Infantry Division was a German Army static division in World War II.
until the Allied
invasion. It was on the Normandy coast when the invasion fell, and thus fought in the Battle of Normandy
. The division was trapped in the Cotentin Peninsula
and destroyed in the defense of Cherbourg
.
The Static Division occupied a rigid defence position usually on a broad front (for example in 1944, 2,000 km of atlantic coast line was covered by 23 Static Divisions), these Divisions were not trained in mobile warfare and as such possessed very limited transport, any transport assigned to the Division were usually horse drawn. Many of the officers, NCO's and men in these Divisions were either previously wounded, older men, lacking combat experience, with ailments or conscripted prisoners of war.
The 709th static infantry Division was a Coastal unit assigned to protected the Eastern, and Northern coast of the Cotentin Peninsula, including the Utah Beach
-head and the US airborne landing zones. Its sector was considered to be over a 250 km wide front and ran in a line the from the North East of Carentan, via Barfleur-Cherbourg-cap de la Hague to a point west of Barneville.This included the 65 km Land front of Cherbourg.
The Division comprised a number of "Ostlegionen
" - Eastern - units of various nationalities, mainly from the occupied countries such as eastern volunteers, conscripts and former Soviet prisoners-of-war who had chosen to fight in the German Army rather than suffer the harsh conditions as prisoners. Two battalions of the 739th Grenadier Regiment were Georgian Battalions and two other battalions were also designated as Ost units in the Divisional Order of Battle. These Battalions were led by German officers and NCOs.
The Commander of the Division at the time of the D-Day landings was General Karl-Wilhelm von Schlieben
who took command in December 1943 after two and a half years of continuous command of Eastern Front combat units including the 108th Panzer Grenadier Regiment, 4th Rifle Brigade, 208th Infantry Division and the 18th Panzer Division
The Quality of the Troops in the 709th had been reduced as personnel were constantly transferred to the Eastern front including entire Divisional combat units such as the 1st Battalion of its 739th Grenadier Regiment. A high percentage of the Division had no combat experience, however the 709th was well acquainted with its sector and well trained for defence though after months of sustained labour work on coastal defences the combat readiness of these troops was significantly reduced.
Elements of the 709th were heavily engaged on D-Day
, defending the peninsula against US airborne landings and also against the US 4th Infantry Division landing on Utah beach. 10 days later the Division reported that it had sustained around 4,000 casualties from a strength of over 12,000. General Schlieben surrendered ‘fortress’ Cherbourg to the Americans late June 1944.
History
The 709th Static Infantry Division was raised in May 1941 and used for occupation duties during the German occupation of France in World War IIGerman occupation of France in World War II
The Military Administration in France was an interim occupation authority established by Nazi Germany during World War II. It remained in existence from May 1940 to December 1944. As a result of the defeat of France and its Allies in the Battle of France, the French cabinet sought a cessation...
until the Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
invasion. It was on the Normandy coast when the invasion fell, and thus fought in the Battle of Normandy
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
. The division was trapped in the Cotentin Peninsula
Cotentin Peninsula
The Cotentin Peninsula, also known as the Cherbourg Peninsula, is a peninsula in Normandy, forming part of the north-western coast of France. It juts out north-westwards into the English Channel, towards Great Britain...
and destroyed in the defense of Cherbourg
Battle of Cherbourg
The Battle of Cherbourg was part of the Battle of Normandy during World War II. It was fought immediately after the successful Allied landings on June 6, 1944...
.
The Static Division occupied a rigid defence position usually on a broad front (for example in 1944, 2,000 km of atlantic coast line was covered by 23 Static Divisions), these Divisions were not trained in mobile warfare and as such possessed very limited transport, any transport assigned to the Division were usually horse drawn. Many of the officers, NCO's and men in these Divisions were either previously wounded, older men, lacking combat experience, with ailments or conscripted prisoners of war.
The 709th static infantry Division was a Coastal unit assigned to protected the Eastern, and Northern coast of the Cotentin Peninsula, including the Utah Beach
Utah Beach
Utah Beach was the code name for the right flank, or westernmost, of the Allied landing beaches during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, as part of Operation Overlord on 6 June 1944...
-head and the US airborne landing zones. Its sector was considered to be over a 250 km wide front and ran in a line the from the North East of Carentan, via Barfleur-Cherbourg-cap de la Hague to a point west of Barneville.This included the 65 km Land front of Cherbourg.
The Division comprised a number of "Ostlegionen
Ostlegionen
Ostlegionen or Osttruppen were conscripts and volunteers from the occupied eastern territories recruited into the German Army of the Third Reich during the Second World War....
" - Eastern - units of various nationalities, mainly from the occupied countries such as eastern volunteers, conscripts and former Soviet prisoners-of-war who had chosen to fight in the German Army rather than suffer the harsh conditions as prisoners. Two battalions of the 739th Grenadier Regiment were Georgian Battalions and two other battalions were also designated as Ost units in the Divisional Order of Battle. These Battalions were led by German officers and NCOs.
The Commander of the Division at the time of the D-Day landings was General Karl-Wilhelm von Schlieben
Karl-Wilhelm von Schlieben
Karl-Wilhelm von Schlieben was a German officer in World War I and World War II.- World War I career :Karl-Wilhelm von Schlieben joined the Prussian Army in August 1914 as a Fahnenjunker . He was assigned to the training and replacement Battalion of the 3rd Foot Guards...
who took command in December 1943 after two and a half years of continuous command of Eastern Front combat units including the 108th Panzer Grenadier Regiment, 4th Rifle Brigade, 208th Infantry Division and the 18th Panzer Division
18th Panzer Division (Germany)
The 18th Panzer Division was a German World War II armoured division that fought on the Eastern Front from 1941 until disbandment in 1943.- Commanding officers :*General der Panzertruppen Walther Nehring, 26 October 1940...
The Quality of the Troops in the 709th had been reduced as personnel were constantly transferred to the Eastern front including entire Divisional combat units such as the 1st Battalion of its 739th Grenadier Regiment. A high percentage of the Division had no combat experience, however the 709th was well acquainted with its sector and well trained for defence though after months of sustained labour work on coastal defences the combat readiness of these troops was significantly reduced.
Elements of the 709th were heavily engaged on D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
, defending the peninsula against US airborne landings and also against the US 4th Infantry Division landing on Utah beach. 10 days later the Division reported that it had sustained around 4,000 casualties from a strength of over 12,000. General Schlieben surrendered ‘fortress’ Cherbourg to the Americans late June 1944.
Commanders
- Generalmajor Arnold von Beßel (3 May 1941 - 15 July 1942)
- Generalleutnant Albin Nake (15 July 1942 - 15 March 1943)
- General der Artillerie Curt Jahn (15 March 1943 - 1 July 1943)
- Generalmajor Eckkard von Geyso (1 July 1943 - 12 December 1943)
- Generalleutnant Karl-Wilhelm von SchliebenKarl-Wilhelm von SchliebenKarl-Wilhelm von Schlieben was a German officer in World War I and World War II.- World War I career :Karl-Wilhelm von Schlieben joined the Prussian Army in August 1914 as a Fahnenjunker . He was assigned to the training and replacement Battalion of the 3rd Foot Guards...
(12 December 1943 - 23 June 1944)
Organization (June 1944)
- Command
- 729th Fortress Grenadier Regiment (with the 649th Ost Battalion attached)
- 739th Fortress Grenadier Regiment (with the 461st and 795th Georgian Battalions attached)
- 919th Grenadier Regiment (transferred from the 242nd Infantry Division242nd Infantry Division (Germany)The 242nd Infantry Division was a division of the German Army in the World War II.In 1944, the division was in southern France, and fought against the Western Allies in Operation Dragoon.-Order of Battle 1944:Commanders*Generalleutnant J...
in October 1943) - 1709th Artillery Regiment
- 709th Antitank Battalion
- 709th Engineer Battalion
- 709th Signals Battalion
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 World War II - 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:...