16.Infanterie-Division (mot)

Unit Emblems

Lineage

• Kommandant von Münster
• 16.Infanterie-Division
• 16.Infanterie-Division (mot)

Notable Points

• Reached Astrakhan along the delta of the Caspian Sea, farther east than any German unit during WWII

History

The 16.Infanterie-Division (mot) was formed in October of 1940 from parts of the 16.Infanterie-Division when it was split andformed into the 16.Panzer-Division. The portions not formed into the 16.Panzer-Divisionwere used as the basis for this division. Portions of the 228.Infanterie-Division were also used tohelp form this division.

The 16.Infanterie-Division (mot) fought in the campaign against theBalkans in April, 1941, and then later as a part of the southern sector ofthe Eastern Front in June, 1941. It fought there against the Soviets in the Ukraine whereit aided in helping to break the Stalin Line. Soon after the 16.Infanterie-Division(mot) fought in the Caucasus region before being pulled north to the areasouth of Stalingrad. While south of Stalingrad, the 16.Infanterie-Division (mot)helped to cover the lines between the 1.Panzer-Armee and the 4.Panzer-Armee.While located in this region Aufkälrung-Abteilung 341 managed to push the farthest eastward of any German unitduring WWII, pushing to within 20 miles of Astrakhan along the delta of the Caspian Sea.

After the brutal and fierce battles for Stalingrad, the 16.Infanterie-Division (mot),having managed to avoid encirclement, took part in defensive operations in thesouthern sector fighting against the Soviet offensives of the winter of1942-43. The 16.Infanterie-Division (mot) then took part in the fighting withdrawlto the Mius.

In May and June of 1943 the 16.Infanterie-Division (mot)was reformed as the 16.Panzergrenaider-Division.

Organization

Knights Cross Holders

• Werner Baumgartner-Crusius    2/22/1942

• Robert Borchardt    8/23/1941

• Johannes Eisermann    8/25/1942

• Siegfried Henrici    10/13/1941

• Norbert Holm    12/20/1941

• Günther Klappich    7/31/1942

• Werner Kleinschmidt    12/14/1941

• Walter Knoespel    1/17/1942

• Walter Koester    10/30/1941

• Josef Kulot    9/24/1942

• Erhard Kunze    2/22/1942

• Otto Lindner    3/19/1942

• Herbert Stoeckert    10/10/1941

• Karl Torley    11/23/1941

• Josef Vernhold    2/22/1942

• Alexander Vial    12/18/1942

War Service

German Bibliography

• 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