557th Infantry Division

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557th Infantry Division
557. Infanterie-Division
Active15 February 1940 – 31 August 1940
Country 
Heer (Wehrmacht)
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
EngagementsPhoney War
Commanders
CommanderHermann Kuprion

The 557th Infantry Division (

infantry division of the Heer, the ground forces of Nazi Germany's Wehrmacht
. It was active for several months in the year 1940.

History

The 557th Infantry Division was formed on 15 February 1940 as a positional division for defensive duties in the

Wehrkreis IV, and its staff was initially formed using personnel from Division Command z.b.V. 427.[2]: 160  The sole commander of 557th Infantry Division throughout its history was Hermann Kuprion.[3]

The division initially consisted of three regiments: Infantry Regiment 632 was formed using personnel of the II./425 battalion of 223rd Infantry Division as well as half of II./412 of 227th Infantry Division; Infantry Regiment 633 was formed using personnel of the II./306 battalion of 211th Infantry Division and the other half of II./412 battalion of 227th Division; Infantry Regiment 634 was formed (in Leoben) using personnel from II./335 battalion of 205th Infantry Division. Additionally, the 557th Infantry Division also contained Artillery Regiment 557 with three detachments, the Observation Detachment 557 and the Division Units 557.[2]: 160 

The division served as part of

555th Infantry Division.[4]: 49–56  It served across the French defensive lines, the Maginot Line.[5]
: 290 

Following a directive on 19 July, the 557th Infantry Division was formally dissolved on 31 August 1940 in the

Wehrkreis II to guard prisoners of war, whereas battalion III./634 was deployed to the Protectorate of Bohemia-Moravia. The battalions were designated as the Landesschützen Battalions 975 through 983 on 1 January 1941.[2]
: 160 

References

  1. ISBN 1853673935
    .
  2. ^ a b c d Tessin, Georg (1975). Die Landstreitkräfte 501–630. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939–1945 (in German). Vol. 11. Osnabrück: Biblio.
  3. ISBN 9780811746540
    .
  4. ISBN 3764810971
    .
  5. ISBN 0812829921
    .
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