Feldgrau.com - research on the German armed forces 1918-1945
 61.Infanterie-Division by Jason Pipes
Unit Emblems

                

Lineage


Traditions


Absorbed


Mobilized


Campaigns


Notable Points


Nicknames


Fate


History

The 61.Infanterie-Division was formed on August 8th, 1939 in Insterburg as a training division of Wehrkries I through Artillerie-Kommandeur 1.

The 61.Infanterie-Division fought in the Polish Campaign in 1939, launching across the German border from East Prussia on September 1st, 1939 under the control of I.Armee-Korps, 3.Armee, Armeegruppe Nord. The Division crossed the German-Polish border very near Soldau, and headed south towards Mlawa, where it encountered heavy fighting against determined Polish defenders. From the 1st to the 5th of September, the 61.Infanterie-Division was engaged in fighting north of Mlawa. After the Poles were finally thrown back, the 61st headed south-east towards the Narew River, which it forced its was across near Pultusk on the 7th-8th. On the 9th of September the Division was located between the Narew and Bug Rivers. Around the 11th, the Division fought its way across the Bug River near Kamienczky, and headed south towards the region of Minsk Mazowiecki and Rembertow. Shortly there-after, begining around the 18th, the Division moved west towards Warsaw where it took part in the siege of its Polish defenders. From the 18th of September until the total capitulation of the Poles, the 61st remained at Warsaw on defensive, security and mopping-up operations against the Poles.

In May of 1940, the Division participated in the battle for France. In was transferred to the Eastern Front in the summer of 1941, under Heeresgruppe Nord.

In January of 1944, the 61.Infantrie-Division distinguished itself in battle during the German withdrawal from the Leningrad region. During the summer of 1944, the unit was transferred to Heeresgruppe Mitte. In January of 1945, the division participated in the defenses of East Prussia.

Organization


Commanders


Knights Cross Holders



War Service

Dates
Korps
Armee
Armeegrupp
Area
9.39 I 3. Armee Nord Nordpolen
12.39 XVI 6. Armee B Köln
1.40 IV 6. Armee B Köln
5.40 Reserve 6. Armee B Belgien
6.40 Reserve OKH Dünkirchen
7.40-8.40 XI 4. Armee B Bretagne
9.40-10.40 XI 6. Armee C Bretagne
11.40 XI 6. Armee D Bretagne
12.40-1.41 XXV 6. Armee D Bretagne
2.41 Reserve 18. Armee B Ostpreußen
3.41 I 18. Armee B Ostpreußen
4.41 XXVI 18. Armee B Ostpreußen
5.41 XXVI 18. Armee C Ostpreußen
6.41-7.41 XXVI 18. Armee Nord Memel, Riga
8.41-10.41 XXXXII 18. Armee Nord Reval, Baltic Inseln
11.41 Reserve 18. Armee Nord Reval, Baltic Inseln
12.41 XXXIX 16. Armee Nord Tichwin
1.42 XXXIX 16. Armee Nord Wolchow
2.42-10.42 I 18. Armee Nord Wolchow
11.42-1.43 XXVIII 18. Armee Nord Wolchow
2.43 XII 18. Armee Nord Wolchow
3.43-8.43 XXVIII 18. Armee Nord Wolchow
9.43-12.43 XXVI 18. Armee Nord Leningrad
1.44 XXVI 18. Armee Nord Oranienbaum
2.44 LIV 18. Armee Nord Kingisepp
3.44 LIV Narwa Nord Narwa
4.44 Reserve Narwa Nord Narwa
5.44 XXXXIII Narwa Nord Narwa
6.44 Reserve Narwa Nord Narwa
7.44 II 16. Armee Nord Dünaburg
8.44-9.44 XXVIII 18. Armee Nord Walk
10.44 XXXIX 18. Armee Nord Kurland

Bibliography


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  • Die deutschen Infanterie-Divisonen, Band 1-3, by Werner Haupt
  • Die deutsche Feldpostübersicht 1939-1945, Band 1-3, by Nobert Kannapin
  • Die Pflege der Tradition der alten Armee in Reichsheer und im der Wehrmacht, by Schirmer/Wiener
  • Die Truppenkennzeichen... der deutchen Wehrmacht u. Waffen-SS, Band 1-4, by Schmitz/Thies
  • Der Zweite Weltkrieg im Kartenbild, Band 1-3, by Klaus-Jurgen Thies
  • Deutsche Verbände und Truppen 1918-1939, by George Tessin
  • Verbände und Truppen der deutchen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS..., Band 1-14, by Georg Tessin
  • Formationsgeschichte und Stellenbesetzung 1815-1939, Teil 1, der deutschen Heer, Band 1-3, by Günter Wegner
  • Die Deutsche Wehrmacht u. Waffen-SS, Ihre Kommando. u. Großverbände... im Zweiten Weltkrieg, author unknown
  • Das Reichsheer und Seine Tradition, author unknown
  • Deutsche Rote Kreuz Suchdienst, Divisionsschicksale, author unknown

  • Reforging the Iron Cross, The Search for Tradition..., by Donald Abenheim
  • The German Infantry Handbook 1939-1945, by Alex Buchner
  • German Army Order of Battle: The Replacement Army 1939-1945, by Victor Madej
  • German Army Order of Battle: Field Army and Officer Corps 1939-1945, by Victor Madej
  • Hitler's Legions, by Samuel Mitcham
  • German Order of Battle World War II, Vol I, by George Nafziger
  • German Order of Battle 1944, author unknown

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