Ibrahim Ahmad Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Hello my friends, I recently bought a commemorative plate for the german 79th Infantry Division and would really welcome any information on the history of this unit. I did tried to google it but , came out the US 79th ID instead. I'll d really appreciate any help given. Thank You. Cheers, Ibrahim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ostprussenmann_new Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 The 79th Infantry Division (79. Infanterie-Division) was an infantry division of the German Wehrmacht during World War II. Creation and Early History The 79th Infantry Division began mobilization on March 1, 1939 as a part of the second German "wave" system (2. Welle) of mobilization. Welle was the German designation for groups of infantry divisions raised at approximately the same time, with approximately the same type of organization,equipment, personnel and training. Raised from Rheinlanders in German Military District (Wehrkreis) XII, headquartered in Wiesbaden,the home station of the 79th was Koblenz. It was designated as a Division on August 26, 1939. Assigned to the French-German border in the Saar region, the 79th trained and worked on the West Wall. The Division saw action against the French on the Saar Front on May 10, 1940 when they were a part of the invasion forces. In June, the division participated in attacks on the Maginot Line and the capture of Epinal. The Cross of Lorraine (Lothringer Kreuz) was designated as the symbol. Unteroffizier Werner Psaar stated that since the division's first combat was mainly in the Lorraine region, this is what led to the symbol. From June 1940 until April 1941, the division was on occupation duty and trained for Operation Sea Lion. The 79th was relocated to Klagenfurt in April 1941 but was too late for the invasion of Yugoslavia. Barbarossa It was assigned to Heeresgruppe Süd for Operation Barbarossa on June 26, 1941. From June 1941 until September 1942 the 79th fought in southern Russia at Korosten, Lutsk, Rovno, Piryatin, and Akhtyrka, Kharkov, Voronezh, Izyum and Kalack before being sent in October 1942 to the Battle of Stalingrad. Stalingrad The Sixth Army, including the 79th, began its attack on Stalingrad on October 17, 1942. The fighting in the Red October Tractor Factory was fiercely fought, hall by hall. When the Soviet Offensive started on November 19, 1942, the 79th was one of the units trapped in the "kessel" when they were surrounded on November 24. The Sixth Army surrendered on January 31, 1943. The division staff, including the Ia (Operations Officer) Oberst Hans Schwanbeck, were flown out of Stalingrad on January 8 - 9, 1943. This evacuation is still an issue with surviving veterans of the 79th. Most men were taken into Soviet captivity including Generalleutnant Alexander von Daniels, the commander. Second Life The 79th was quickly raised again by the surviving staff officers. On January 12, 1943, from remnants of other German units near Rostov. The division then took part in operations in the Novocherkassk area until relieved on March 13, 1943. They refitted in the Volnovakha area and in April 1943, returned to battle. They fought a number of defensive actions before reaching the Kuban Bridgehead in August 1943. The division was evacuated to the Ukraine and continued a slow movement west for almost a year. Romania 1944 found the 79th in Romania as a part of IV Korps, 6. Armee. By August, the 79th was one of the divisions attempting to hold the city of Jassy. On August 23, 1944, with Romania capitulated, 79th was once again encircled and virtually annihilated near Chitcani, Romania on the Berlad River. Less than 1,000 soldiers managed to escape. Generalleutnant Friedrich Weinknecht became the second commander of the 79th Infantry Division to be captured by the Soviets. Third Life - Volksgrenadier On October 27, 1944, the division was raised again outside of the Welle system, this time in West Prussia and now as the 79th Volksgrenadier Division (79. Volks-Grenadier-Division). It had only ten percent combat veterans and was largely made up by absorbing the 586th Volksgrenadier Division (Katzbach). On December 11, 1944, the 79th Volsgrenadier Division was assigned to 7. Armee a reserve force near Bitburg, Germany. Though at half strength, the 79th was to take part in Operation Herbstnebel. Luxembourg On December 21, 1944, the 79th VG towards its assembly area near Diekirch, Luxembourg. On December 24, 1944, the Volksgrenadiers in conjunction with the Führer Grenadier Brigade, launched a series of attacks against the Blue Ridge Division, the 80th Infantry Division (United States). The objective was to seize the town of Heiderscheid, a strategic bridge crossing along the Sure River. Both units suffered very heavy losses, particularly when on December 26 most of the 79th VG artillery and FGB armor was destroyed by American fighter bombers. The 79th VG begin falling back, unable to hold against the US 80th Infantry Division, towards the town of Baunscheid, to hold another strategic bridgehead there. 1945 After Heavy fighting continued in to January 1945, the Division fell to U.S. forces at Heidelberg and Darmstadt. Remains of the 79th fought in the vicinity of Rothenburg ob der Tauber under the name Battle Group (Kampfgruppe) "Hummel" in mid-April. This last organized unit of the 79th Volksgrenadier Division surrendered to US Forces on April 14, 1945. Grenadiers of the 79th Volksgrenadier Division fought small unit actions in the Alps. Commanders 79th Infantry Division (March 1939 - March 1945) General der Infanterie Karl Strecker March 1939 - January 1942 Generalleutnant Richard Graf von Schwerin January 1942 - August 1943 Generalmajor Heinrich Kreipe August 1943 - October 1943 Oberst von Aulock October 1943 Generalleutnant Friedrich-August Weinknecht October 1943 - August 29, 1944 (POW) Generalmajor Erich Weber 1944 Oberst Reinherr 1945 Oberst Hummel 1945 Oberstleutnant von Hobe 1945 Oberst Reymann 1945 Oberst Seeher 1945 Karl Strecker, Generalleutnant, Commanding Officer, October 26, 1941Friedrich Weinknecht, Generalleutnant, Commanding Officer, July 15, 1944208 Regiment Günter Goebel, Hauptmann, Fhr. einer Kampfgr. G.R. 208, January 18, 1943 with Oak LeavesRichard Wolf, Oberstleutnant, Kommandeur G.R. 208, April 19, 1945 with Oak LeavesFritz Müller, Oberstleutnant Kommandeur G.R. 208, May 14, 1944 with Oak LeavesJakob Roth, Unteroffizier, Zugführer 2./G.R. 208, June 4, 1944Gustav Woszella, Leutnant, Führer 8./G.R. 208, July 4, 1944212 Regiment Richard Eichler, Oberstleutnant, Kommandeur G.R. 212, January 20, 1943Volkhard Eitner, Hauptmann, Kommandeur I./G.R. 212, June 10, 1943Robert Nittler, Oberleutnant, 3./G.R. 212, January 20, 1943226 Regiment Andreas von Aulock, Oberst, Kommandeur G.R. 226, August 16, 1944 with Oak LeavesFritz Krück, Oberleutnant Führer II./G.R. 226, March 5, 1945Karl-Willi Lumpp, Oberleutnant, d. R. Führer 3./G.R.226, July 18, 1943Hans-Hermann Möckel, Hauptmann, Führer Kampfgruppe, April 17, 1945179 Panzerabwehr-Abteilung Josef Röder, Obergefreiter, January 20, 1943Orders of BattleOrder of Battle 1939Infanterie-Regiment 208Infanterie-Regiment 212Infanterie-Regiment 226Artillerie-Regiment 179Panzerabwehr-Abteilung 179Pionier-Battalion 179Aufklärungs-Abteilung 179Infanterie-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 179Infanterie-Divisions-Nachschubtruppen 179Order of Battle 1944 Grenadier-Regiment 208Grenadier-Regiment 212Grenadier-Regiment 226Divisions-Füsilier-Battalion 79Artillerie-Regiment 179Panzerjäger-Abteilung 179Pionier-Battalion 179Feldersatz-Battalion 179Infanterie-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 179Infanterie-Divisions-Nachschubtruppen 179Trivia The Cross of Lorraine was used as a divisional insignia by both the German 79th Infantry Division and its American counterpart. Printed references Quarrie, Bruce The Ardennes Offensive, I ARMEE & VII ARMEE (Order of Battle series book), Osprey Publishing Group, London, UK. 2001. ISBN 1 85532 913 1Hans Sänger Die 79. Infanterie-Division. 1939, ISBN 10 3895552135Unteroffizier Werner Psaar, Source: "Wiesbadener Soldatenkalender 1943" Rud. Bechtold & Comp. , Wiesbaden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ostprussenmann_new Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 German Insignia US 79th Infantry Division Insignia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibrahim Ahmad Posted January 4, 2011 Author Share Posted January 4, 2011 @ostprussenmann Thank you for the information my friend. Really appreciate it ;-) Cheers, Ibrahim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poulton Palmer Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Hello Ibrahim, I saw your request. I happen to have quite a lot divisional and regimental histories in my posession (German WWI and WWII). Also the 79.ID. I believe it has been mentioned in the post before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poulton Palmer Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 (edited) mistake. Edited January 4, 2011 by Poulton Palmer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poulton Palmer Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 Now with pictures: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul R Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 I saw a really nice and original 79th Reg Infantry Hauptmann tunic on Ebay last month. This unit saw a lot of action. I will be following this thread. :jumping: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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