96th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)

The 96th Infantry Division (German: 96. Infanterie-Division) was a German division deployed during World War II. It was formed on 25 September 1939 in Bergen as part of the 5th wave (aufstellungswelle).

96th Infantry Division
96. Infanterie-Division
Active25 September 1939 – 8 May 1945
Country Nazi Germany
BranchArmy
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
Nickname(s)Watzmann Division
EngagementsWorld War II

The division was equipped with captured Czech weapons and In 1942, 40-45% of the division's soldiers were Polish.[1] It later surrendered to the US forces at the end of the war, but some elements of the division were handed over to the Red Army

Commanding officers

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  • General der Infanterie Erwin Vierow (29 September 1939 – 1 August 1940)
  • Generalleutnant Wolf Schede (1 August 1940 – 10 April 1942)
  • Generalleutnant Joachim Freiherr von Schleinitz (10 April 1942 – 6 October 1942)
  • Generalleutnant Ferdinand Nöldechen (10 October 1942 – ?? March 1943)
  • Oberst Rudolf Noack (?? March 1943) (deputize)
  • Generalleutnant Ferdinand Nöldechen (?? March 1943 – 1 May 1943)
  • Oberst Gottfried Weber (1 May 1943 – 31 May 1943) (deputize)
  • Generalleutnant Ferdinand Nöldechen (31 May 1943 – 28 July 1943)
  • Generalleutnant Richard Wirtz (28 July 1943 – 30 November 1943)
  • Generalmajor Johann Albrecht von Blücher (1 December 1943 – ?? January 1944) (deputize)
  • Generalleutnant Richard Wirtz (?? January 1944 – 3 March 1943)
  • Oberst Adolf Fischer (3 March 1944 – 10 April 1944) (deputize)
  • Generalleutnant Richard Wirtz (10 April 1944 – 7 September 1943)
  • Generalleutnant Werner Dürking (7 September 1944 – 11 September 1944)
  • Oberst Kobolt (12 September 1944 – 10 November 1944) (deputize)
  • Generalleutnant Richard Wirtz (10 September 1944 – 1 December 1944)
  • Generalmajor Hermann Harrendorf (1 December 1944 – 8 May 1945)

References

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  1. ^ Справочник боевых характеристик немецких дивизий (на 1.6.1943): Главное разведывательное Красной армии (in Russian). Moscow. 1943. pp. 13, 21, 31, 49, 53.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Tessin, Georg (1972). "Die Landstreitkräfte 71—130". Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939—1945 (in German). Vol. 6. Frankfurt/Main: E.S. Mittler. pp. 142–143.