Its staff was assembled from the former Division Command z.b.V. 426 at Nakel. It contained three infantry regiments: Infantry Regiment 628 was formed in Wehrkreis XVII using personnel from several Landesschützen Regiments, Infantry Regiment 629 in Wehrkreis XXI from Machine Gun Regiment 138, and Infantry Regiment 630 from various Landesschützen and infantry units in Ulm and Rinteln across Wehrkreis IX and Wehrkreis XI, drawing personnel from parts of the 214th Infantry Division and 216th Infantry Division, among others.[1]: 157 The infantry regiments contained three battalions each.[2]: 350 Additionally, the division contained Artillery Regiment 556, which consisted of three artillery detachments (I./, II./, and III./ (from military districts XI, X and XII, respectively)), Observation Detachment 556 (from military district XX), and the supporting Division Units 556 (without Panzerjäger, reconnaissance and pioneer units).[1]: 157 The division's personnel was mainly drawn from older conscripts that had been called up in September 1939, and the division's commander throughout its existence was Kurt von Berg.[3]
The 556th Division was assigned to frontier protection duty on the Franco-German border under supervision of Higher Command XXXIII of 7th Army in May and June 1940,[4]: 1123 along with the similar 554th Infantry Division.[5]: 207 On the Franco-German border, it guarded the Westwall fortifications (Allied parlance: "Siegfried Line").[6]: 290
It protected the German rear during the rapid advances by Wehrmacht troops during the Battle of France. The division was rendered superfluous by the German victory in the west, and the directive for the division's dissolution was issued on 26 July 1940. The division was officially dissolved on 13 August 1940 (through remnants remained until 1 October), and several of the infantry battalions (II./628, III./628, II./629, III./629, I./640, III./640) were reorganized into independent home guard battalions (German: Heimat-Wach-Bataillone), which were redesignated into the Landesschützen Battalions 784 through 789.[1]: 157
Referencesedit
^ abcdTessin, Georg (1975). Die Landstreitkräfte 501–630. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939–1945 (in German). Vol. 11. Biblio.
^Nafziger, George F. (2000). The German Order of Battle: Infantry in World War II. London: Greenhill Books. ISBN1853673935.
^Mitcham, Samuel W. (2007). "556th Infantry Division". German Order of Battle: 291st–999th Infantry Divisions, Named Infantry Divisions, and Special Divisions in World War II. Stackpole Books. ISBN9780811734370.
^Schramm, Percy E., ed. (2005). Kriegstagebuch des OKW (in German). Vol. 1. Augsburg: Verlagsgruppe Weltbild GmbH. ISBN3828905250.
^McCroden, William T.; Nutter, Thomas E. (2019). German Ground Forces of World War II: Complete Orders of Battle for Army Groups, Armies, Army Corps, and Other Commands of the Wehrmacht and Waffen SS, September 1, 1939 to May 8, 1945. Savas Beatie. ISBN9781611211092.
^Mitcham, Samuel W. (1985). Hitler's Legions: The German Army Order of Battle, World War II. Stein and Days Publishing. ISBN0812829921.
January 01, 1970
556th, infantry, division, german, infanterie, division, infantry, division, heer, ground, forces, nazi, germany, wehrmacht, active, several, months, year, 1940, german, infanterie, divisionactive11, february, 1940, august, 1940country, nazi, germanybranchheer. The 556th Infantry Division German 556 Infanterie Division was an infantry division of the Heer the ground forces of Nazi Germany s Wehrmacht It was active for several months in the year 1940 556th Infantry DivisionGerman 556 Infanterie DivisionActive11 February 1940 13 August 1940Country Nazi GermanyBranchHeer Wehrmacht TypeInfantrySizeDivisionEngagementsPhony WarCommandersCommanderKurt von BergHistory editThe 556th Infantry Division was formed in Posen West Prussia as a garrison for the Upper Rhine area in Wehrkreis XII roughly equivalent to the modern day Saarland and Rhineland Palatinate on the Franco German border 1 157 Its staff was assembled from the former Division Command z b V 426 at Nakel It contained three infantry regiments Infantry Regiment 628 was formed in Wehrkreis XVII using personnel from several Landesschutzen Regiments Infantry Regiment 629 in Wehrkreis XXI from Machine Gun Regiment 138 and Infantry Regiment 630 from various Landesschutzen and infantry units in Ulm and Rinteln across Wehrkreis IX and Wehrkreis XI drawing personnel from parts of the 214th Infantry Division and 216th Infantry Division among others 1 157 The infantry regiments contained three battalions each 2 350 Additionally the division contained Artillery Regiment 556 which consisted of three artillery detachments I II and III from military districts XI X and XII respectively Observation Detachment 556 from military district XX and the supporting Division Units 556 without Panzerjager reconnaissance and pioneer units 1 157 The division s personnel was mainly drawn from older conscripts that had been called up in September 1939 and the division s commander throughout its existence was Kurt von Berg 3 The 556th Division was assigned to frontier protection duty on the Franco German border under supervision of Higher Command XXXIII of 7th Army in May and June 1940 4 1123 along with the similar 554th Infantry Division 5 207 On the Franco German border it guarded the Westwall fortifications Allied parlance Siegfried Line 6 290 It protected the German rear during the rapid advances by Wehrmacht troops during the Battle of France The division was rendered superfluous by the German victory in the west and the directive for the division s dissolution was issued on 26 July 1940 The division was officially dissolved on 13 August 1940 through remnants remained until 1 October and several of the infantry battalions II 628 III 628 II 629 III 629 I 640 III 640 were reorganized into independent home guard battalions German Heimat Wach Bataillone which were redesignated into the Landesschutzen Battalions 784 through 789 1 157 References edit a b c d Tessin Georg 1975 Die Landstreitkrafte 501 630 Verbande und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939 1945 in German Vol 11 Biblio Nafziger George F 2000 The German Order of Battle Infantry in World War II London Greenhill Books ISBN 1853673935 Mitcham Samuel W 2007 556th Infantry Division German Order of Battle 291st 999th Infantry Divisions Named Infantry Divisions and Special Divisions in World War II Stackpole Books ISBN 9780811734370 Schramm Percy E ed 2005 Kriegstagebuch des OKW in German Vol 1 Augsburg Verlagsgruppe Weltbild GmbH ISBN 3828905250 McCroden William T Nutter Thomas E 2019 German Ground Forces of World War II Complete Orders of Battle for Army Groups Armies Army Corps and Other Commands of the Wehrmacht and Waffen SS September 1 1939 to May 8 1945 Savas Beatie ISBN 9781611211092 Mitcham Samuel W 1985 Hitler s Legions The German Army Order of Battle World War II Stein and Days Publishing ISBN 0812829921 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 556th Infantry Division amp oldid 1178035074, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
