86 251. INFANTERIE-DIVISION - UNIT HISTORY

DATE LOCATION

1939/03/00 Hanau, Wehrkreis IX

1939/08/26 Hanau

1939/09/06 Monschau, Simmerath, Heimbach

1940/05/10 Monschau, La Reid, Liege,Huy, Soree, Dinant

1940/05/22 Givet, Fourmies, Marcoing,Arras, Li Hers, Lille

1940/06/02 Lens, Combles, Grandvilliers,Louviers, Gace, Argentan, Brest

1940/07/05 Finistere Department (Landerneau,Quimper, Douarnenez,Morlaix, Le Faou)

1941/04/29 Grauidenz (Grudziadz), PolandAllenstein (Olsztyn),

1941/06/04 Insterburg (Chernyakhovsk)

1941/06/22 Neman River and Lithuania,Nevel, Novosokolniki,

1941/08/22 Velikiye Luki, Toropets,Andreapol, Selizharovo, Volga

1941/10/16 Volga River, Babino, Torzhok,Staritsa, Dmitriyeva, Salygino

1941/12/14 Kalinin,Pushkino, Oshurkovo,Gorodishche, Zubtsov

1942/01/27 Rzhev, Volga River sector,Bykovo, Bakhmutovo,

1942/07/01 Muzhishchevo

ACTIVITY CHAIN OF COMMAND

Activation of 251.ID (4.Welle) byconversion of 251.LdwD, formation, training

Operational readiness

Transfer, border security, training

Invasion of Belgium, attack,advance

Invasion of France,pursuit engagements

Movement

Coastal defense, occupation andsecurity duty,regrouping, training

Transfer,movement, preparations for theinvasion of Russia,assembly

Invasion of Russia, river crossing,battle, offensive engagements,advance

Pursuit and defensive engagements,offensive engagements

Evacuation,disengagement movements

Battle, defensive operations,operations against partisans,

position defense

C.O.: Gen.Lt. Hans Kratzert, 1939/08/26-1941/08/06

Subordinate to: AK 5, 1940/05/09-1940/05/22

AK 1, 1940/05/23-1940/06/01

AOK 18, 1940/06/02-1940/06/08AK 10, 1940/06/08-1940/06/13AK 28, 1940/06/13-1940/06/20AK 10, 1940/06/20-1940/06/30AK 28, 1940/06/30-1941/04/08

AK 25, 1941/04/09-1941/05/02AK 28, 1941/05/03-1941/05/16AK 23, 1941/05/16-1941/06/28

AK 50, 1941/06/28-1941/08/08

C.O.: Gen.Lt. Karl Burdach, 1941/08/07-1943/03/09

Subordinate to: AK 23, 1941/08/08-1941/12/09

AK 27, 1941/12/10-1942/01/26AK 6, 1942/01/27-1942/03/15AK 46 Pz, 1942/03/15-1942/04/28

AK 27, 1942/04/28-1942/07/15AK 6, 1942/07/15-1942/10/15

AK 27, 1942/10/15-1943/01/09

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DATE LOCATION

1943/01/01 Trushkovo, Chertolino, Sychevka

1943/03/07 Smolensk, Pogar, Gremyach,Novgorod-Severski, Sevsk,Seredina-Buda, Kholmy

1943/09/16 Kholmy, Lyubech

1943/10/21 Bragin

1943/11/03 Bragin

1943/11/04 Kotlovitsa, Beresnevka,Khoiniki, Yurevichi,Kalinovichi, Gorochichi,Bobrovichi, Lesets, Koreni

1943/12/31 Mozyr

ACTIVITY

Disengagement movements, defense

Movement,defensive and assault operations,disengagement movements

Reorganization as Kampfgruppe 251

Withdrawal, defensive operations

Disbandment of Kampfgruppe 251,reorganization as Div.Gr. 251

Movement, defensive operations,disengagement movements,defensive and offensive operations

CHAIN OF COMMAND 8?

Gruppe Burdach, 1943/01/09-1943/01/19AK 43, 1943/01/19-1943/01/23Gruppe Burdach, 1943/01/23-1943/02/06AK 27, 1943/02/06-1943/03/06HGr. Mitte, 1943/03/07-1943/03/10

C.O.: Gen.Lt. Maximilian Felzmann, 1943/03/10-1944/09/30

Subordinate to: AK 20, 1943/03/11-1943/03/30

AK 47 Pz, 1943/03/30-1943/04/01AK 20, 1943/04/01-1943/06/30

Korps-Abt. E, 1943/11/04-1943/11/26AK 56 Pz, 1943/11/27-1943/12/31

Withdrawal, incorporation of Div.Gr. 251into Korps-Abt. E

Records of the 251. ID are reproduced on rolls 1727-1739 of Microfilm Publication T315 and are described following the unit history.

Although no records of this division dated later than 1943/12/31 were available in the National Archives, situation maps of Lage Ost show:

1944/09/30

1945/01/15

1945/03/101945/03/111945/03/21

Warka, Poland Redesignation as 251.ID, position defense

Grojec, Sochaczew, Golub, Kulmsee Disengagement movements(Chelmza), Kulm (Chelmno) .Stargard, Karthaus (Kartuzy)

Schoeneck (Skarszewy) Reorganization as Kampfgruppe 251Gotenhafen (Gdynia) Withdrawal, defensive operations

Probably destroyed

C.O.: Geri.Maj. 'Vemci Heucke, 1944/10/01-1945/02/23

Obst. Ernst Mangold, mFb, 1945/02/28-1945/03/20

The Potsdam catalog, the general officer personnel files, records of OKH/GenStdH/Org.Abt., HI/38 (T78, roll 398), and situation maps ofLage West were also used for the unit history.

Manuscripts in the Foreign Military Studies series, prepared by former German officers for the Historical Division, Headquarters U.S.Army, Europe, between 1945 and 1959, contain references to the 251.ID as follows:

Russia, 1941: MS T-008, Part II, vol. 10 (Problems of supply in far-reaching operations, supply of the 251st Inf Div) by Gen.Maj . AlfredToppe and others;MS D-153, summer 1943 (The XX Corps in the defense of the area southwest of Orel) by Gen. Rudolf von Roman.

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88 251. I N F A N T E R I E - D I V I S I O N

C O N T E N T S

la, A n l a g e n zum K T B . Or l e r s and reports pe r t a in ing top r e p a r a t i o n s for the invas ion of the Low Countries;o f f e n s i v e e n g a g e m e n t s d u r i n g t h e western c a m p a i g n ;i n v a s i o n of B e l g i u m at M o n s c h a u ; a d v a n c e to La Reid,10-14 lay ; a t tack on Liege, 15-17 M a y ; advance t h r o u g hB e l g i u m via B u y , Soree, and D i n a n t , 18-21 M a y , and intoFrance near Givet and to Lille via Fourmies , Marco ing ,Ar ra s , Lillers, and Estree-Blanche, 22 M a y - 1 J u n ; andm o v e m e n t to Lens, Combles, Grandvi l l i c r s , Louviers ,Sa^e, A r g e n t a n , and D o m f r o n t and to Brest, 30 Jun 1940( d a m a g e d bv f i r e ) .

la, K T B . War journa l concern ing operat ions d u r i n g thewes te rn c a m p a i g n , i nc lud ing casual ty reports (damagedby f i r e ) .

la, K T B . War - journal concerning m o v e m e n t f r o m A r g e n t a nto Brest , 1-4 Jul 1940, coastal defense, security ofre i r areas, occupation d u t y , a i r ra id protection,reg roup ing , and t ra in ing in the Brest, Landerneau,^ u i m p e r , Doua rnenez , a n d M o r l a i x areas. Register ofo f f i ce r s .

la, A n l a g e A z u m KTB. Orders , direct ives, and mapsp e r t a i n i n g to p repara t ions fo r a n d m o v e m e n t f r o mA r j e n t a n to Brest, coastal and rear area security,occupa t ion d u t y , t r a i n i n g , and release of uni t s to f o r m11. Wel le divisions. Order-of-bat t le charts.

la, A n l a g e B zum KTB. Orders re la t ing to m o v e m e n t f r o mA r g e n t a n to Brest, securing and admin i s t r a t i on of theFin is te re D e p a r t m e n t , r e g r o u p i n g , and t r a in ing .Special supp ly directives.

Ic, TB. Ac t iv i ty report concerning control of theFrench civi l ian popu la t ion and troop indoctr inat ion ande n t e r t a i n m e n t . Notes on conferences between G e r m a nM i l i t a r y Government and French civilian authori t iesr a g a r d i n g the admin i s t ra t ion of the FinistereD e p a r t m e n t .

D A T E S

1940/04/34-19 40 /06/30

I T S M N O .

2 5 1 . T D 7 315/2

KOLL 1 S T ? R A H E

1 7 2 7 1

1940 /05 /15 -1940 /06 /30

1940 /07 /01 -1940 /12 /31

251.ID 7315 /1

251.ID 12436 /1

1 7 2 7

1 7 2 7

1 3 4

27 3

1 9 4 0 / 0 6 / 2 9 - 1 9 4 0 / L 1 / 0 3

1940 /07 /01 -1940 /12 /17

1 9 4 0 / 0 6 / 2 6 - 1 9 4 0 / 1 2 / 3 1

251 . ID 1 2 4 3 6 / 2

251.ID 1 2 4 3 6 / 3

251. ID 12436 /5

1 7 2 7

1 7 2 7

1 7 2 7

'416

3 3 2

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251. I N P A N T E R I E - D I V I S T O N 89

C O N T E N T S

Id , K T B . War - j ou rna l conce rn ing coastal defense, a i rr a i d protect ion, r e g r o u p i n g , and t r a i n i n g in the Brest,Le F a o u , Doua rnenez , Q u i r a p e r , a n d M o r l a i x areas, reliefoy the 2 1 1 . T D , and p l a n n e d m o v e m e n t to P o l a n d by 2 K a y1941.

la, A n l a g e A z u m KTB. Orders r e l a t ing to securing anda d m i n i s t r a t i o n of the en t i r e Finis tere D e p a r t m e n t byt h a d iv is ion , de fense aga ins t e n e m v l and ings , coastalde tense , t r a i n i n g , and the t r ans f e r of the d iv is ion toPo land , beainnina 2 May 1941. Maps showing thei D C d t i o n of 251.ID un i t s .

la , A n l a g e B zum KTB. Orders and messages p e r t a i n i n gto secur ing the ent i re Finis tere D e p a r t m e n t , defensea g a i n s t e n e m y landings, coastal defense , regrouping ,and t r a i n i n g . Maps s h o w i n g the loca t ion of d iv i s ionu n i t s ; and special directives concern ina signalc o m m u n i c a t i o n s .

Ic, T B . A c t i v i t y report concerning the relief of theS . P z D , 26 Jun 1940, and the 61. ID, 3 Feb 1941, and thes u o s e q u e n t secur ing of the en t i r e Finistere D e p a r t m e n tby the d iv is ion , enemy air operat ions, sabotagea c t i v i t y by the de Gaul le m o v e m e n t , control and m o r a l eof the c iv i l i an popula t ion , counter in te l l igence

3 A F E 3

1/01/3 1-1941/04 /27

; ~ f i ir -i * ir => n tr"OOD* ~ * * - . * . V . * . * - f , "

,. J. l i 111

90 251. I N F A N T E R I E - D I V T S I O N

C O N T E N T S S A T E S I T E M N 3 . R O L L 1ST F 8 A H E

Se l i zha rovo , 25 Aug-15 Oct, b r e a k t h r o u g h of the Volgaposi t ion , and p u r s u i t to the B a b i n o