153rd Grenadier Division
Division No. 153 153rd Reserve Division 153rd Field Training Division 153rd Grenadier Division | |
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Division Nr. 153 153. Reserve-Division 153. Feldausbildungs-Division 153. Grenadier-Division | |
Active | December 1939 – May 1945 |
Country | Army (Wehrmacht) |
Type | Infantry |
Size | Division |
The 153rd Grenadier Division (
Operational history
Formed on 26 August 1939 during German
The division was redesignated 153rd Reserve Division (153. Reserve-Division) on 11 September 1942. Until this point, the division had remained in Wehrkreis III, but was now prepared to be sent to the front.[2] The remaining replacements were moved for additional training to 463rd Division and the fighting units of the 153rd then transferred to Ukraine. This division was then soon renamed again as part of an order given on 10 December 1942. Parts of the division that were stationed in Crimea were transferred to the 258th Infantry Division, the remainders were merged to become 153rd Field Training Division (153. Feldausbildungs-Division). This division was first ready for operations, specifically the training of recruits for other divisions on the Eastern Front, on 15 January 1943.[1]
The 153rd Field Training Division, which had been assigned to XXXXIX Mountain Corps under 17th Army in October 1943, was destroyed by Red Army forces in March 1944.[1]
The 153rd Field Training Division was redeployed for a second iteration using its surviving staff officers in April under command of
Some parts of the division's second iteration fled to Bulgaria, but were then delivered into Soviet captivity by the Bulgarian leadership.[2] The division's commanding general, Friedrich Bayer, was among those delivered to the Red Army,[6] on 11 September 1944.[7]
The 153rd Field Training Division was deployed for a third iteration in October 1944 in the German rear area. On 14 December 1944, orders were given to refit the third iteration of the 153rd Field Training Division for frontline combat.[1] The division was fighting in Hungary at the time. There, it got trapped alongside the 1st and 23rd Panzer Divisions between the Danube and Lake Balaton. The 153rd Field Training Division was eventually overrun at Székesfehérvár and only parts of the division escaped.[2]
These remnants renamed 153. Grenadier-Division in February 1945.[1] This division remained in combat in the Německý Brod pocket until the end of the war.[2] It was assigned to XXIX Army Corps in April and then ended the war under command of XXXXIX Army Corps, both then part of 1st Panzer Army under Army Group Vistula. On 8 May, the day of German surrender, the 153rd Grenadier Division was captured by Soviet forces at Německý Brod.[1]
Noteworthy individuals
- Curt Schönheinz, divisional commander (August 1939 to December 1939).
- Otto Schröder, divisional commander (December 1939 to May 1942).
- Diether von Böhm-Bezing, divisional commander (May 1942 to December 1942).
- René de l'Homme de Courbière, divisional commander (January 1943 to June 1943).
- Kurt Gerok, divisional commander (June 1943 to June 1944).
- Friedrich Bayer, divisional commander (from June 1944 to August 1944). Taken prisoner by Bulgarian forces when attempting to enter Bulgaria while fleeing Romania. Later delivered into Soviet captivity.
Notes
- ^ Example list taken from March 1940.
- 10th Panzergrenadier, 13th Panzer. 7 assault gun brigades. Various command units.
References
- ^ ISBN 3764810971.
- ^ ISBN 9780811734165.
- ^ Mitcham, Samuel W. (2001). Crumbling Empire: The German Defeat in the East, 1944-1945. Praeger. p. 177.
- ^ Mitcham, Samuel W. (2001). Crumbling Empire: The German Defeat in the East, 1944-1945. Praeger. p. 188.
- ^ Mitcham, Samuel W. (2001). Crumbling Empire: The German Defeat in the East, 1944-1945. Praeger. p. 182.
- ^ Mitcham, Samuel W. (2001). Crumbling Empire: The German Defeat in the East, 1944-1945. Praeger. p. 189.
- ^ Mitcham, Samuel W. (2001). Crumbling Empire: The German Defeat in the East, 1944-1945. Praeger. p. 192.