254. INFANTERIE-DIVISION - UNIT HISTORY 129 ACTIVITY. Activation of 254.ID (4.Welle) by conversion of 254.LdwD, formation, training

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1 254. INFANTERIE-DIVISION - UNIT HISTORY 129 DATE LOCATION ACTIVITY CHAIN OF COMMAND 1939/03/00 Lingen, Wehrkreis VI Activation of 254.ID (4.Welle) by conversion of 254.LdwD, formation, training 1939/09/01 Lingen Operational readiness (source: Potsdam catalog) 1939/09/05 Grevenbroich, Bedburg, Goch, Geilenkirchen, Geldern 1939/10/13 Goch, Cleves, Emmerich 1940/05/10 Grave, Netherlands Hertogenbosch, Breda 1940/05/18 Antwerp, Brussels, Ath, Renaix, Menin, Belgium 1940/05/30 Dunkirk, France 1940/06/05 Calais, Boulogne, Etaples, Berck, Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, Abbeville, Rue, Samer, Montreuil 1941/04/05 Preussisch Stargard (Starogard), Dirschau (Tczew), Poland 1941/05/13 Wormditt (Orneta) 1941/06/17 Insterburg (Chernyakhovsk) 1941/06/22 Taurage, Kelme, Seduva, Birzai, Pasvalys, Lithuania 1941/07/05 Plavinas, Jaunjelgava, Velena, Vecpiebalga, Ape, Latvia Aseri, Jogeva, Paide, Tapa, Kunde, Viljandi, Estonia Movement, training Border security, training (source: situation maps Lage West) Invasion, offensive engagements Advance, offensive engagements Battle for Offensive engagements, coastal defense, occupation duty Transfer, occupation duty, training Movement, preparations for the invasion of Russia Assembly Invasion, offensive engagements Advance, offensive engagements C.O.: Gen.Lt. Walter Behschnitt, 1940/04/ /03/23 Subordinate to: AK 38, 1941/05/ /07/03 AOK 18 (Armeereserve), 1941/07/ /07/14 AK 26, 1941/07/ /08/14

2 130 DATE LOCATION ACTIVITY CHAIN OF COMMAND 1941/08/12 Sonda, Reval (Tallinn) Mopping-up action, security AK 42, 1941/08/ /08/ /09/ /04/ /01/ /02/ /03/ /07/23 Narva-Joesuu, Estonia, Kingisepp, Krasnoye Selo, Russia Mga, Glazhevo, Volkhov River, Kirishi, Chudovo, Lyuban Babino, Apraksin Bor, Chervino, Finev Lug, Krivino, Rogavka, Spasskaya Polist 1 Chudovo to Demyansk pocket, Olkhovets, Zdrinoga, Fedorovo Pustoshka, Lyadiny, Soltsy Gatchina, Krasnoye Selo, Krasny Bor, Izhora River Mga Movement, defensive operations Movement, defensive operations, position defense Transfer, regrouping, defensive operations Disengagement movements Movement, position defense AOK 18, 1941/09/ /09/14 AK 26, 1941/09/ /09/16 AK 38, 1941/09/ /09/28 AK 39 Pz, 1941/09/ /10/12 AK 1, 1941/10/ /10/20 C.O.: Gen.Lt. Friedrich Koechling, 1942/04/ /08/15 Subordinate to: AK 38, 1942/10/ /01/14 Gruppe Hoehne (AK 2), 1943/01/ /02/26 AK 10, 1943/02/ /03/08 AOK 18, 1943/03/ /03/14 AK 50, 1943/03/ /03/21 AK 54, 1943/03/ /07/31 Records of the 254.ID are reproduced on rolls of Microfilm Publication T315 and are described following the unit history. Although no records of this division were available in the National Archives for 1940/10/ /06/09 (situation maps of Lage West and Ost were used covering that period), or after 1943/07/31, records of OKH/AHA, H37/85 (MR 1303), the general officer personnel files, and situation maps of Lage Ost show: 1943/08/01 Mga 1944/01/01 Vinnitsa 1944/01/11 Lipovets, Ilintsy, Nemirov 1944/03/16 Dzhurin, Bar, Olkhovets 1944/03/24 Borshchev, Chortkov, Buchach 1944/05/02 Monastyriska 1944/07/16 Podgaitsy, Vybranovka, Stry 1944/07/29 Sambor, Russia, Ustrzyki Dolne, Poland 1944/08/12 Sanok, Rymanow, Dukla, Snina, Slovakia 1944/10/30 Vysna, Radvan, Presov, Budimir, Bidovce, Gelnica, Levoca 1945/01/29 Strehlen (Strzelin), Lower Silesia 1945/03/01- Schweidnitz, Ziegenhals 1945/04/17 (Glucholazy) Position defense C.O.: Gen.Lt. Alfred Thielmann, 1943/08/ /03/21, and Transfer to the southern sector 1944/04/ /12/18 Defensive operations Disengagement movements Redesignation as Kpf.Gr. 254 Reorganization as 254.ID, disengagement movements Movement, defensive operations Redesignation as Kpf.Gr. 254, movement, defensive operations Reorganization as 254.ID movement, defensive operations Movement, defensive operations Gen.Maj. Richard Schmidt, 1944/12/ /03/01 Withdrawal, defense Withdrawal, defensive operations

3 254. INFANTERIE-DIVISION 131 JATS5 ITEIN ND. 1 sr la, <TB 2, H?ft 1«, Drders, reports, and maps pactaining to regrouping, training, border security, and preparations for the invasion of th<=» Netherlands ani Belgium in the Goch, Cleves, and Emmerich areas, b-21 Feb 1940; and the invasion of the Netherlands, 10 la/, and advance and offensive engagements in ftrave, Hartogenbosch, and Breda, May, and in the Antwerp, Brussels, Ath, Fenaix, and Menin areas of Belgium, May Special directives concerning supply, signal communications, use of engineers, and reconnaissance (damaged by fire). la, Anlagen zum KTB 2, Heft 3. Orders, reports, and maps pertaining to coastal defense, occupation duty, cagcoupina, and contact between infantry and artillery in the Boulogne, Etaples, Berck, Sal n t- Valery-sur-Somme, Abbeville, Rue, 3utrsau, Satner, and Montreuil areas (no records available for the parioi 1 Oct Jui 1941). Order-of-battie charts. la, Anlagen zum KTB 2. Conscript of daily radio messages. Ic, TB. Activity report concerning enemy operations in tn3 Netherlands from Srave to Breda, May, in from Antwerp to Ypres, Fay, and in France T\.,* \, 1 ~-\s ^ ^ ^ -. I_/UIII\J.I.A. ci i_ rm t.,,, «j u 11, Co. j. a IS, Boulogne, and Etaples areas, 5-16 Jun 1 Q 40. Ic, \nlagenband I zum TB. Orders, reports, and maps pertaining to the tactical disposition of enemy forces in tne Netherlands, Belgium, and France before and luring the western campaign; division and enemy oparations; surrender negotiations with the Belgian Arnei Forces, May; the battle for Dunkirk, France, 30 May-4 Jun; and advance, offensive engagements, and occupation of the French coast in th? Calais, Boulogne, and Etaples areas, 5 Jun-4 Jul Ic, \nlagenband TI zum TB. OKW bulletins citing 1940/02/ /J5/2"? 254.TO W6368/4 1940/07/39-13 '4 3/3 9/ /05/ /J 5/ in WM63/ /05/ /06/16 254oTP <i6b63/ /03/ /37/ TO 1 7 Si /04/ /0b/ TO W6368/

4 INFANTERIE-DTVISTON OATE5 N3. 15C information on the military situation and reports on troop recreation. la, XT3 4, Toil T. Quartering and trainina in the rfornditt (Orneta) area, Jan; assembly in the Insteuburg (Chernyakho/sk) area, Jun; invasion of Lithuania, 22 Jun, and offensive engagements in the rauraqc, Kelme, Seduv^, Pasvalys, and Rirzai areas, 23 Jun-4 J'll, in the J^kabpils, Jaunielgava, Plavinas, Ve^piabalqa, Velena, and Ape areas of Latvia, 5-12 Jul, and in the Voru, Vil-jandi, Jogeva, Paide, Tapa, <uaia, and Aseri area^ of Estonia, 13 Jul-11 A ug; mo/ament to and mopping-up action and security activity in tha Sonda and Peval (Tallinn) areas of Estonia, 12 Aug-8 Sep; movement to Krasnoye Solo, Russia, defensive op3rations; and movement to the Mga area, 26 Sep-25 Oct A register of officers and casualty and strength reports. la, KIB U, Teil TT. War -journal concerning defensive operations in the Mga, Glazhevo, and Podsol*ye areas south of Lake Ladoga aad along the Volkhov River. la, KT3 4, Teil ITT. War -journal concerning movement to ani defensive operations and regrouping in the Kiclshi, Chudovo, and Lyuban areas in the Volkhov Fiver sector south of Lake Ladoga. la, Abhandlunq u^ber die Kaempfe urn den Wolchow-Kesse1. Afteraction reports concerning the battles in the Volkhov River Docket. I~, PB. Activity report concerninq enemy operations, losses, and unit identification in the Volkhov River sector and troop entertainment; interrogation suanaries; and maps showing the location of enemv units fa-ing the 254.TD. la, KTB 5. War journal concerning defensive and assault operations in the Babino, Apraksin Bor, Chsrvino, Finev Lug, and Krivino areas, 1 Apr-31 Hay, 194 1/06/ /10/ /10/ /12/ /12/ /34/ /01/ /05/21 194?/04/D1-19'42/12/ /1 254.ID 21100/??54.T:> 21100/3 754.TD in TH 3415U/1 1!' > J 4S2

5 254. T?JFANTERT J?,-DIVISION 133 and in th» Pogavka area, 1-30 Jun; position defense in th2 Spasskaya Polist 1 area, 1 Jul-31 Dec; and planned md/e:nept of Gren.Rgt. '474 to Griqorovo, 2 Jan Reports on enemy operations, a reqister of officprs, ind casualty and strength reports. la, ^nlaqpnband 1 zu:n KT3 5. Daily roports concernina defensive operations, training, and th^ formation of?rupp? K'oechlina (consistinq of elements of the 254. TD and the 291. ID), 25 Anr; daily intelligence reports re.jardina pn^mv operations; and strenqth and status r e p D u t s. la, ^nlaqonhand 2 zura KTB c >. Daily reports concernirq defensive and assault operations and da^ly intelliqence reports reaardina enemy operations. [a, Anlagenhand 3 ZMTI KTB 5. Daily reports concerning iefansive operations and the disbandment of Gruppe KD33hling, 2 Jnr 1942, overlays showinq the tactical disposition of the division, and daily intelliqence reports regarding enemv op^r^ t i or s. la, Anlagenband U zum KT3 5. Daily reports concernina defensive, and assault operations ar.d construction of positions, training directives, status reports, a map showina the tactical disposition of the division, daily intelligence reports regarding enemy operations, and interrogation summaries. la, Anldgenband *> zum KTB 5. Daily reports concerninq defensive operations, preparations for the winter, and 3ngin9P.r activity; status reports; maps showing the tactical disposition of the division; daily incali igence reports regarding enemy operations; and int erroaation summaries. Ea, Anldqenba-nd 6 zu<n KTB 5. Daily reports concerning defensive, operations, regrouping, construction of winter positions, engiieer activities, and the formation of alert units; order-of- batt le charts; DATES /J 1 7 b 2 '47 19U 2/06/ /,) 7/2 2 >5U. T!^ /S 1 7 -> /07/ /08/31 19U2/09/) /10/ t[) 34954/

6 254. TNFANTERIE-DTVISION status reports; training directives; maps and overlays showing the tactical disposition of the division; daily intelligence reports regarding enemy operations; and interrogation summaries. la, Anlagenband 7 zum KTB 5. Daily reports concerning defensive operations, fortifying Spasskaya Polist 1, training, and engineer activity; status reports; maps showing the tactical disposition of the division; an appraisal of the enemy military situation; reports on enemy operations; and interrogation summaries. Ic, TB zum KTR 5. Activity reports concerning enemy operations, losses, unit identification and strength, probable intentions, the tactical situation, control of tha civilian population in rear areas, operations against partisans, counterintelligence, and troop indoctrination and entertainment. Maps and overlays showing the location of enemy units facing the 254.ID anl interrogation summaries. ta, KTB 6. War -journal concerning defensive operations in the Spasskaya Polist 1 area, 1-8 Jan, movement from Chuiovo to the Demyansk pocket, 9-14 Jan, relief of the 225.ID, 15 Jan, and its attachment to the 254.ID, defensive engagements in the Olkhovets, Zdrinoga, and Sa/kino areas, 16 Jan-23 Feb, disengagement movements to Lyadiny via Fedorovo and Pustoshka, 24 Feb-2 Mar, movement to and entraining at Utorgosh and Soltsy, 3-8 Mar, arrival at Gatchina 9-14 Mar, movement to and position defense in tha Krasnoye Selo, Krasny Bor, and Izhora River areas, 14 Mar-22 Jul, and movement to and defense of the fga area, Jul A register of officers and casualty reports. la, Anlagenband 1 zum KTB 6. Daily reports and messages concerning movements, defensive operations, anl construction of positions; order-of-battle charts; status reports; maps and overlays showing the tactical DAPE5 1942/11/ /12/ ID 34954/ /04/ /12/ ID 34954/9 1 75fa /01/ /37/ ID 37991/ /01/ /31/ ID 37991/

7 254. INFftNTERIE-PIVISION 135 3ATES ITEM NO. 1ST disposition of the division; and reports on enemy oparations. la, Anlagenband 2 zum KTB 6. Daily reports and messages pertaining to defensive operations and preparations for and execution of (Jnternehraen Ziethen (disengagement from the Demyansk pocket), orier-of-battle charts, status reports, special directives concerning supply, afteraction reports, maps ani overlays showing the tactical disposition of the division, and reports on enemy operations. la, Anlagenband 3 zum KTB 6. Daily reports and messages pertaining to the transfer to the Leningrad frdiit, position defense, regrouping, training, combat experience, construction of positions, and formation of alert units; order-of-battle charts; status reports; maps and overlays showing the tactical disposition of tha division; an afteraction critique relating to the closing of a Russian penetration in the sector between tha 58. and 254.TD, Apr; and reports on enemy operations. la, Anlagenband 4 zum KTB 6. Daily reports and messages pertaining to position defense on the Leningrad front, training, regrouping, formation of and mission of centers of resistance (Widerstandszentrum), tratfic control,officecs, and construction of positions. Order-of-battle charts; status reports; afteraction reports concerning an assault operation of Sran.rtgt. 474, 22 Jun, and an enemy attack on that regiment, May; maps showing the tactical disposition of the division; appraisal of the enemy military situation; and reports on enemy operations. la, Anlagenband 5 zutn KTB 6. Daily reports concerning position defense on the Leningrad front, training, regrouping, construction of positions and roads, and relief of the and part ot its sector, Jul. 1943/02/D /32/ ID 37991/3 17:>7 19U3/03/J1-1^43/04/ IH 37991/U /05/D1-1943/06/30 254o / /07/J1-1J43/07/ in 37991/6

8 136 25U. INFANTEKIE-DIVISION DATES ". NO. RJLL 1ST FRA1E 3r.ler-of-batt 1^ charts, status reports, maps showinq tha tactical disposition of the division, and Leports on 9nemy operations. Ic, TB init Anlaqen. Activity reports concerninq enemy operations, losses, unit identification, probable intantions, and tactical situation; German propaganda: ani troop entertainment and indoctrination. Appraisals of the enemy military situation in the Demyansk and Leainqrad areas and south of Lake Ilmen; and maps and overlays showinq the location of enemy units facing the division. 19U3/01/ /06/ /

RECORDS OF THE GERMAN FIELD COMMANDS : CORPS (Part V) XXVIII. Armeekorps ( XXVIII Army Corps)

RECORDS OF THE GERMAN FIELD COMMANDS : CORPS (Part V) XXVIII. Armeekorps ( XXVIII Army Corps) The XXVIII Army Corps was formed in May 9*4-0 in Berlin, Wehrkreis III, and was immediately moved to the western