1.Division

Lineage

Traditions

  • See Divisions organic components for traditions

History

The 1.Division was formed in January of 1921 from the Reichswehr-Brigade 1 and Reichswehr-Brigade 20, both of the former Übergangsheer. The 1.Division was based in Köningsburg. The commander of the 1.Division also served as the head of the regional Wehrkreiskommando of the same number, in this case, Wehrkreis I. It too was based in Köningsburg. There were seven Wehrkreiskommandos in the Reichswehr, each one relating to a specific Reichwehr division, numbers 1-7. The commander of each thus served a dual role as the commander of the Wehrkreis and the commander of the division in question.

In 1934, during the transition period of the Reichswehr into the Wehrmacht, all seven Wehrkreiskommandos were upgraded into Korp formations with the commander being transferred to serve as the CO of each. Thus the divisional formations of the original seven divisions ceased to exist, while their organic units were used as the basis for the formation of a series of 21 totally new divisions. The 21 Infanterie-Reigmenter of the Reichswehraided in the formation of 42 new Wehrmacht Infanterie-Regimenter, two being an organic part of each of the newly formed 21 Infanterie-Divisionen.At first, each of the newly formed 21 Infanterie-Divisionenwere known by cover names to prevent troubles with Germany’s detractors, but later in October of 1935, all cover names were dropped when the formation of the Wehrmacht and its new units were made public.

Thus, for the exact transitions and lineages of the 1.Division into the Wehrmacht, please see this unit’s specific organic components – the Reichswehr 1.Division itself ceased to exist as of October of 1934.

Organization

General
Infanterieführer I
1.(Preußisches) Infanterie-Regiment
2.(Preußisches) Infanterie-Regiment
3.(Preußisches) Infanterie-Regiment
Artillerieführer I
1.(Preußisches) Artillerie-Regiment
1.(Preußisches) Pionier-Bataillon
1.(Preußisches) Nachrichten-Bataillon
1.(Preußisches) Kraftfahr-Abteilung
1.(Preußisches) Sanitäts-Abteilung

Commanders

Gen.d.Inf. Johannes von Dassel 10.01.20 – 10.31.23
Gen.Oberst Wilhelm Heye 11.01.23 – 10.31.26
Gen.d.Inf. Friedrich Freiherr von Esebeck 11.01.26 – 9.30.29
Gen.d.Inf. Werner von Blomberg 10.01.29 – 1.30.33

Subordination

Gruppenkommando 1 / Wehrkreiskommando I

German Bibliography

  • Stellenbesetzung im Reichsheer, by U. von Gersdorff
  • Unsere Reichswehr, Das Buch von Heer und Flotte, by Oberstleutnant a.D. Benary
  • Deutsche Verbände und Truppen 1918-1939, by George Tessin
  • Formationsgeschichte und Stellenbesetzung 1815-1939, Teil 1, der deutschen Heer, Band 1-3, by Günter Wegner
  • Die Pflege der Tradition der alten Armee in Reichsheer und im der Wehrmacht, by Schirmer/Wiener
  • Das Reichsheer und Seine Tradition, author unknown