26th Infantry Division (Germany)

The 26th Infantry Division ("26. Infanterie-Division") was a pre war German Infantry Division of the 1st mobilisation wave ("1. Welle"). It was mobilised for World war II on September 26 1939, disbanded September 10 1944 near Radom, reformed as the 26th Volksgrenadier Division ("26. Volksgrenadier-Division") on September 17 1944 near Poznán by absorption of the new 582nd Volksgrenadier Division of the 32nd mobilisation wave ("32. Welle"). Remnants of the Division entered U.S. captivity in the Harz region in 1945.

Commanding officers

*General der Infanterie Sigismund von Forster, 1 September 1939
*Generaloberst Walter Weiss, 15 January 1941
*General der Infanterie Friedrich Wiese, 15 April 1942
*Generalleutnant Johann de Boer, 5 August 1943
*Generalmajor Heinz Kokott, 10 August 1944

Operational history

The 26th Infantry Division spent the first war years on the Western Front, taking part in the Battle of France in May/June 1940 first under the command of Sixteenth Army ("16. Armee") and later Twelfth Army. The division was transferred to the Eastern Front in June 1941 to serve under Army Group Centre ("Heeresgruppe Mitte"), In July 1943 it participated in the Battle of Kursk. After this battle the 26th Infantry Division absorbed the 174th Reserve Division ("174. Reserve-Division"). On September 10 1944 the division was disbanded after casualties taken near Kowel, remnants troops were transferred to 253rd Infantry Division ("253. Infanterie-Division").

A new 26th Volksgrenadier Division was formed on September 17 1944 in the Warthelager near Poznán by absorption of the 582nd Volksgrenadier Division and remnants of the old 26th Infantry Division. This new division spent the rest of the war on the Western Front under Army Group B ("Heeresgruppe B") until it entered U.S. captivity in the Harz in 1945.

Organisation

1939

* "Infanterie-Regiment 39", I-III Battalions
* "Infanterie-Regiment 77", I-III Battalions
* "Infanterie-Regiment 78", I-III Battalions
* "Artillerie-Regiment 26", I-III Battalions plus the Ist Battalion of "Artillerie-Regiment 62"
* "Aufklärungs-Abteilung 26"
* "Panzerjäger-Abteilung 26"
* "Pionier-Abteilung 26"
* "Infanterie-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 26"
* "Feldersatz-Bataillon 26"

1944

* "Füsilier Regiment 39", I and II Battalions
* "Grenadier Regiment 77", I and II Battalions
* "Füsilier Regiment 78", I and II Battalions
* "Artillerie-Regiment 26", I-IV Battalions
* "Divisions-Füsilier-Kompanie 26 " (later expanded to Füsilier-Bataillon 26)
* "Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 26"
* "Pionier-Abteilung 26"
* "Infanterie-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 26"
* "Feldersatz-Bataillon 26"

References

* Tessin, Georg. "Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS 1939 - 1945" Volume 4