From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Military unit
The
18th Infantry Division
(
German
:
18. Infanterie-Division
) was formed on 1 October 1934 as
Infantry Command III
(
Infanteriefuhrer III
) in
Liegnitz
and renamed the 18th Infantry Division on 15 October 1935. Mobilized in August 1939, it participated in the
Invasion of Poland
and in 1940 in the
Battle of France
. After the French campaign, the division was motorized and redesignated
18th Motorized Infantry Division
on 1 November 1940 serving on the
Eastern Front
for the remainder of the war. In June 1943, the division was redesignated
18th Panzergrenadier Division
.
18th Infantry Division
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German 18th Infantry Division
18. Infanterie-Division
(15 October 1935 ? 1 November 1940)
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Parent unit
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Components
| Infantry Regiment 30
Infantry Regiment 51
Infantry Regiment 54
Divisional units 18
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18th Motorized Infantry Division
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German 18th Motorized Infantry Division
18. Infanterie-Division (mot.)
(1 November 1940 ? 23 June 1943)
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Parent unit
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Components
| Motorized Infantry Regiment 30
Motorized Infantry Regiment 51
Motorcycle Battalion 38
Divisional units 18
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Formed 1 November 1940
- Part of the
occupation force in France
from November 1940 until June 1941.
- Fought on the Eastern Front, central sector from June 1941 until January 1942.
- Fought on the Eastern front, northern sector from January 1942 until June 1943 when it was redesignated 18th Panzergrenadier Division.
18th Panzergrenadier Division
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German 18th Panzergrenadier Division
18. Panzergrenadier Division
(23 June 1943 ? 8 May 1945)
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Parent unit
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Components
| Grenadier Regiment 30
Grenadier Regiment 51
Panzer Battalion 118
Armored Reconnaissance Battalion 118
Divisional units 18
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Formed on 23 June 1943.
- Fought on the Eastern front, northern sector from June 1943 until October 1943.
- Fought on the Eastern front, central sector from October 1943 until September 1944. It was devastated in the Soviet
1944 summer offensive
.
- The remnants of the division fought in Eastern Prussia and in the
Battle of Berlin
. The survivors tried to fight their way out of Berlin on 2 May 1945 when Berlin surrendered to the Soviets.
Commanding officers
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18. Infanterie-Division
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18. Infanterie-Division (mot.)
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- Generalleutnant Friedrich-Carl Cranz, 1 November 1940 ? 24 March 1941
- General der Infanterie
Friedrich Herrlein
, 24 March ? 15 December 1941
- General der Infanterie
Werner von Erdmannsdorff
, 15 December 1941 ? 23 June 1943
18. Panzergrenadier-Division
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- General der Infanterie Werner von Erdmannsdorff, 23 June 1943 ? 9 August 1943
- Generalleutnant Karl Zutavern, 9 August 1943 ? 14 April 1944
- General der Artillerie
Curt Jahn
, 14 April 1944 ? 24 May 1944
- Generalleutnant Karl Zutavern, 24 May 1944 ? 6 July 1944
- Generalleutnant Dr.
Hans Boelsen
, 6 July 1944 ? 1 January 1945
- Generalmajor Josef Rauch, 1 January ? 8 May 1945
References
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- Muller-Hillebrand, Burkhard (1969).
Das Heer 1933?1945. Entwicklung des organisatorischen Aufbaues
(in German). Vol. III: Der Zweifrontenkrieg. Das Heer vom Beginn des Feldzuges gegen die Sowjetunion bis zum Kriegsende. Frankfurt am Main: Mittler. p. 286.
- Tessin, Georg (1970).
Verbande und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg, 1939?1945
(in German). Vol. IV: Die Landstreitkrafte 15?30. Frankfurt am Main: Mittler.