61st Infantry Division (Germany)

The German 61st Infantry Division was a combat division of the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War.

Established in August 1939 with its headquarters at Insterburg, the unit invaded Poland on September 1st, 1939 as part of von Küchler's 3rd Army under Army Group North. It engaged in heavy fighting at the Battle of Mława, afterwards crossing the Narew River near Pułtusk. Fighting its way across the Bug River, it approached the Polish capital at Warsaw on September 18th and remained in the vicinity until the end of the campaign.

In 1940 it fought in Belgium and at Dunkirk during the invasion of France, and served occupation duty in Brittany afterward. In early 1941 it was transferred to East Prussia, and in June it joined in the invasion of the Soviet Union as part of 18th Army (again commanded by von Küchler and once again under Army Group North). The division participated in the occupation of Tallinn and the Baltic Isles. Advancing on Leningrad, it took part in the siege of that city and remained in the area until January 1944, after which Soviet offensives forced it back into Estonia. Held in reserve, it was one of only two divisions considered "fully combat effective" by Army Group North in July of that year.

The division was redesignated as 61st Volksgrenadier Division in October 1944, and continued fighting in the East under Army Groups North and Center. Evacuated to East Prussia, the division fought in the so-called Heiligenbeil pocket, caught between the advancing Soviets and the Frisches Haff. Once the "cauldron" collapsed in March 1945 the division was written off as a loss and its remaining assets were taken over by the 21st Infantry Division while the division staff was withdrawn to Königsberg, all falling into Soviet hands at the end of the war.

Organization

The 61st Infantry Division consisted of the following units in 1940:

* 151st Infantry Regiment
* 162nd Infantry Regiment
* 176th Infantry Regiment
* 161st Artillery Regiment
* 161st Engineer Battalion
* 161st Tank Defense Battalion
* 161st Intelligence Battalion
* 161st Signals Battalion
* 161st Supply Command

By 1942 the division's composition had been somewhat altered to the following:

* 151st Grenadier Regiment
* 162nd Grenadier Regiment
* 176th Grenadier Regiment
* 161st Artillery Regiment
* 161st Engineer Battalion
* 161st Anti-Tank Battalion
* 161st Intelligence Battalion
* 161st Supply Troop Command

Once officially designated a Volksgrenadier Division in 1944, the unit was composed of the following:

* 151st Grenadier Regiment
* 162nd Grenadier Regiment
* 176th Grenadier Regiment
* 61st Fusilier Battalion
* 161st Artillery Regiment

Commanders

The following officers commanded the 61st Infantry Division:
* August 1939 - March 1942: General of Infantry Siegfried Haenicke
* March 1942 - April 1942: Major General Franz Scheidies
* April 1942 - February 1943: Lieutenant General Werner Hühner
* February 1943 - April 1943: Lieutenant General Günther Krappe
* April 1943 - May 1943: Lieutenant General Gottfried Weber
* May 1943 - December 1943: Lieutenant General Günther Krappe (2nd time)
* December 1943 - February 1944: Major General Joachim Albrecht von Blücher
* from February 1944: Lieutenant General Günther Krappe (3rd time)

Personnel

Thirty-seven of the division's personnel were Knight's Cross recipients, including commanders Siegfried Haenicke, Werner Hühner, Gottfried Weber (when commander of the 1st battalion of the 162nd Infantry Regiment), and Günther Krappe.

References

* Wendel, Marcus (2004). [http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=1461 61. Infanterie-Division] . Retrieved May 10, 2005.
* [http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanteriedivisionen/61ID-R.htm 61. Infanterie-Division] . German language article at www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de. Retrieved May 10, 2005.
* [http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Volksgrenadierdivisionen/61VGD.htm 61. Volks-Grenadier-Division] . German language article at www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de. Retrieved May 10, 2005.
* [http://www.feldgrau.com/InfDiv.php?ID=53 61.Infanterie-Division at Feldgrau.com] Retrieved May 23, 2006.
* Mitcham, Samuel W. Jr. "Crumbling Empire: The German Defeat in the East, 1944". Westport: Praeger, 2001. pp: 119, 125, 130 ISBN 0-275-96856-1

See also

* Volksgrenadier, Infantry, Fusilier
* Heer, List of German divisions in WWII