Feldgrau.com - research on the German armed forces 1918-1945
 716.Infanterie-Division by Jason Pipes
Unit Emblems

                

Lineage

  • 716.Infanterie-Division

    Traditions

  • None

    Absorbed


    Mobilized


    Campaigns

  • Western Occupation 1941-1944
  • Western Front 1944-1945

    Notable Points


    Nicknames


    Fate


    History

    The 716.Infanterie-Division was formed as an occupation unit from units of the Replacement Army on May 2nd, 1941. After formation and transfer to Occupied France it took part in coastal defense operations, security duties, training, air raid protection, construction of defensive fortifications, and alert exercises along the Coast of France and Belgium, mainly in the regions of Saint-Lo, later Soissons, and still later in and around Caen where it was stationed when the Allied forces invaded the Normandy Coast on June 6th, 1944.

    The 716.Infanterie-Division first fought against the Allied air drops at Breville, Ranville and Bavent, and also in the defense of the Battery positions at Merville. The 716.Infanterie-Division also fought in fierce defensive combat at Villers Bocage, along the Caen-Bayeux road and in the region of Caen. After being heavily engaged for the duration of the Allied D-Day invasion, the 716.Infanterie-Division took very high losses that forced it, along with the rest of the German forces in the region, to withdraw.

    Moving into southern France the Division took up coastal security positions in the region of Salses-Perpignan-Elne to the French-Spanish border. Thereafter, the 716.Infanterie-Division retreated through Languedoc, over the Cevennen and through the Rhonental to the region of Lyon. After this movement the Division was engaged by French partisan units before later arriving in the area of Schlettstadt.

    In October of 1944 the 716.Infanterie-Division was in the region of Oberrhein near Kolmar where it fought at Neunkirch-Obenhein and was nearly destroyed in very heavy fighting. The remains of the Division formed "Kampfgruppe 716.Infanterie-Division" near Todtmoos and withdrew through the southern portion of the Schwarzwald being taken by American units at Kempten.

    Organization

    1941
    Infanterie-Regiment 726
    Infanterie-Regiment 736
    Artillerie-Abteilung 656
    Pionier-Kompanie 716
    Nachrichten-Kompanie 716

    Commanders


    Knights Cross Holders



    War Service

    Dates
    Korps
    Armee
    Armeegrupp
    Area
    5.41 Forming in WK VI BdE
    6.41 XXXII 15. Armee B Rouen
    7.41-12.41 LX 15. Armee B Normandie
    1.42 XXXII 15. Armee B Soissons
    2.42-3.42 XXXVII 15. Armee B Belgium
    4.42-5.42 LX 15. Armee B Belgium
    6.42-5.44 LXXXIV 7. Armee B Caen
    6.44 I. SS 7. Armee B Normandie
    7.44 Reserve 7. Armee B Normandie
    8.44 IV. Lw. 19. Armee G southern France
    9.44-1.45 LXIV 19. Armee G Elsaß

    Dates
    Korps
    Armee
    Armeegrupp
    Area
    4.45 LXIV 19. Armee West Schwaben

    Bibliography


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  • Die deutschen Infanterie-Divisonen, Band 1-3, by Werner Haupt
  • Die deutsche Feldpostübersicht 1939-1945, Band 1-3, by Nobert Kannapin
  • Die Pflege der Tradition der alten Armee in Reichsheer und im der Wehrmacht, by Schirmer/Wiener
  • Die Truppenkennzeichen... der deutchen Wehrmacht u. Waffen-SS, Band 1-4, by Schmitz/Thies
  • Der Zweite Weltkrieg im Kartenbild, Band 1-3, by Klaus-Jurgen Thies
  • Deutsche Verbände und Truppen 1918-1939, by George Tessin
  • Verbände und Truppen der deutchen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS..., Band 1-14, by Georg Tessin
  • Formationsgeschichte und Stellenbesetzung 1815-1939, Teil 1, der deutschen Heer, Band 1-3, by Günter Wegner
  • Die Deutsche Wehrmacht u. Waffen-SS, Ihre Kommando. u. Großverbände... im Zweiten Weltkrieg, author unknown
  • Das Reichsheer und Seine Tradition, author unknown
  • Deutsche Rote Kreuz Suchdienst, Divisionsschicksale, author unknown

  • Reforging the Iron Cross, The Search for Tradition..., by Donald Abenheim
  • The German Infantry Handbook 1939-1945, by Alex Buchner
  • German Army Order of Battle: The Replacement Army 1939-1945, by Victor Madej
  • German Army Order of Battle: Field Army and Officer Corps 1939-1945, by Victor Madej
  • Hitler's Legions, by Samuel Mitcham
  • German Order of Battle World War II, Vol I, by George Nafziger
  • German Order of Battle 1944, author unknown

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