The 14th Infantry Division (German: 14. Infanterie-Division; nickname: the Sächsische Division or Saxonian Division) was a formation of the Germany Army (Wehrmacht) which fought during World War II.
The division was formed in 1934 in Leipzig, by expanding the 11th (Saxonian) Infantry Regiment of the 4th Division of the old Reichswehr. As this was a direct breach of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, its existence was initially concealed; it was formally designated as the 14th Infantry Division in October 1935. This history, particularly of Infantry Regiment 11, made it one of the prestige infantry divisions of the Wehrmacht.
Mobilised in the 1st wave in 1939, the division was involved in the German invasion of Poland, where it attacked towards Częstochowa and Lublin, and the following year's invasion of France. In October 1940 it was 'motorised', i.e. provided with motor transport as opposed to the usual horse and foot mobility of Wehrmacht infantry divisions, as the 14. Infanteriedivision (mot.), with the following organisation:
Infanterie-Regiment 11 (mot.)
Infanterie-Regiment 53 (mot.)
Artillerie-Regiment 14 (mot.)
Kradschützen-Abteilung 54
Divisionstruppen 14
During Operation Barbarossa, the division was involved in the encirclement of Minsk. In the winter of 1942/3 it was intended to reform the division as the 14th Panzergrenadier Division, but this process was stopped; in 1943 the formation was changed, having the following organisation:
1944 saw the division transferred to 3rd Panzer Army. In the summer of 1944 it was one of Army Group Centre's few reserve formations, and in this capacity was rushed into the line near Orekhovsk on 25 June in a desperate attempt to hold back the breakthrough of several Soviet divisions at Orsha during the Soviet summer offensive, Operation Bagration. Some elements made a last stand around Bogushevsk before being overwhelmed; Infantry Regiment 11 was left as a rearguard on the road to Minsk. Only a handful of troops were able to retreat to the German lines.
By the end of the year the remainders of the formation had been transferred to Second Army and was in the area of Ostrolenka, Poland; during the Soviet East Prussian Offensive of January 1945, the rebuilt 14th was one of the divisions pushed north and trapped in the Heiligenbeil pocket, where it attempted a breakout near Wormditt, before falling back on Braunsberg. The division was eventually destroyed in fighting in the kessel, most of its surviving troops entering Soviet captivity, while a few were evacuated via the Frisches Haff.
Burkhard Müller-Hillebrand: Das Heer 1933-1945. Entwicklung des organisatorischen Aufbaues. Vol.III: Der Zweifrontenkrieg. Das Heer vom Beginn des Feldzuges gegen die Sowjetunion bis zum Kriegsende. Mittler: Frankfurt am Main 1969, p. 285.
Georg Tessin: Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg, 1939 - 1945. Vol. III: Die Landstreitkräfte 6 -14. Mittler: Frankfurt am Main 1967.
14th, infantry, division, wehrmacht, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, 14th, infantry, division, wehrm. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources 14th Infantry Division Wehrmacht news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message The 14th Infantry Division German 14 Infanterie Division nickname the Sachsische Division or Saxonian Division was a formation of the Germany Army Wehrmacht which fought during World War II 14th Infantry Division14th Motorized Infantry Division14 Infanterie Division14 Infanterie Division mot Unit insigniaActive1 October 1934 8 May 1945Country Nazi GermanyBranch German ArmyTypeInfantryMotorized infantrySizeDivisionGarrison HQLeipzigNickname s Sachsische DivisionEngagementsWorld War IICommandersNotablecommandersLothar Rendulic Contents 1 History and Organisation 2 Commanders 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory and Organisation EditThe division was formed in 1934 in Leipzig by expanding the 11th Saxonian Infantry Regiment of the 4th Division of the old Reichswehr As this was a direct breach of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles its existence was initially concealed it was formally designated as the 14th Infantry Division in October 1935 This history particularly of Infantry Regiment 11 made it one of the prestige infantry divisions of the Wehrmacht Mobilised in the 1st wave in 1939 the division was involved in the German invasion of Poland where it attacked towards Czestochowa and Lublin and the following year s invasion of France In October 1940 it was motorised i e provided with motor transport as opposed to the usual horse and foot mobility of Wehrmacht infantry divisions as the 14 Infanteriedivision mot with the following organisation Infanterie Regiment 11 mot Infanterie Regiment 53 mot Artillerie Regiment 14 mot Kradschutzen Abteilung 54 Divisionstruppen 14During Operation Barbarossa the division was involved in the encirclement of Minsk In the winter of 1942 3 it was intended to reform the division as the 14th Panzergrenadier Division but this process was stopped in 1943 the formation was changed having the following organisation Infanterie Regiment 11 Infanterie Regiment 53 Infanterie Regiment 101 Artillerie Regiment 14 Fusilier Bataillon 14 Kradschutzen Bataillon 54 Divisionstruppen 14During this period the 14th Infantry Division was mostly assigned to Ninth Army with Army Group Centre on the Eastern Front it suffered heavy losses during the Battles of Rzhev and then in the defence against Operation Suvorov 1944 saw the division transferred to 3rd Panzer Army In the summer of 1944 it was one of Army Group Centre s few reserve formations and in this capacity was rushed into the line near Orekhovsk on 25 June in a desperate attempt to hold back the breakthrough of several Soviet divisions at Orsha during the Soviet summer offensive Operation Bagration Some elements made a last stand around Bogushevsk before being overwhelmed Infantry Regiment 11 was left as a rearguard on the road to Minsk Only a handful of troops were able to retreat to the German lines By the end of the year the remainders of the formation had been transferred to Second Army and was in the area of Ostrolenka Poland during the Soviet East Prussian Offensive of January 1945 the rebuilt 14th was one of the divisions pushed north and trapped in the Heiligenbeil pocket where it attempted a breakout near Wormditt before falling back on Braunsberg The division was eventually destroyed in fighting in the kessel most of its surviving troops entering Soviet captivity while a few were evacuated via the Frisches Haff Commanders EditLieutenant General Peter Weyer 1 September 1939 Major General Lothar Rendulic 15 June 1940 Lieutenant General Friedrich Furst 6 October 1940 Lieutenant General Heinrich Wosch 1 June 1942 Lieutenant General Walther Krause 1 October 1942 Lieutenant General Rudolf Holste 1 January 1943 Lieutenant General Hermann Florke 15 May 1943 Lieutenant General Erich Schneider 15 December 1944 Major General Paul von Below 1945 Colonel Kirch 1945 Major General Werner Schulze March April 1945 See also EditDivision military Military unit List of German divisions in World War II Army WehrmachtReferences EditBurkhard Muller Hillebrand Das Heer 1933 1945 Entwicklung des organisatorischen Aufbaues Vol III Der Zweifrontenkrieg Das Heer vom Beginn des Feldzuges gegen die Sowjetunion bis zum Kriegsende Mittler Frankfurt am Main 1969 p 285 Georg Tessin Verbande und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939 1945 Vol III Die Landstreitkrafte 6 14 Mittler Frankfurt am Main 1967 Portals Military of Germany World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 14th Infantry Division Wehrmacht amp oldid 1107767363, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
