The German 10th Infantry Division was created in October 1934 under the cover name ''Wehrgauleitung Regensburg'' (later ''Kommandant von Regensburg'') to hide its violation of the
Treaty of Versailles. It was renamed the 10th Infantry Division when the establishment of the
Wehrmacht was announced publicly in October 1935.
The division participated in the
annexation of Austria in March 1938, the
invasion of Poland in September 1939, and the
invasion of France in May 1940. Thereafter it was upgraded to the 10th Motorized Infantry Division. It was later redesignated 10th Panzergrenadier Division in June 1943.
In August 1944 the division was destroyed in the
Jassy–Kishinev Offensive and ensuing defensive actions. It was partially reconstituted in Germany in October, and sent back to the front as an understrength ''
Kampfgruppe
In military history, the German term (pl. ; abbrev. KG, or KGr in usage during World War II, literally "fighting group" or "battle group") can refer to a combat formation of any kind, but most usually to that employed by the of Nazi Germa ...
'' ("battlegroup"). It was destroyed again in Poland in January 1945 and again partially reconstituted in February. The division finally surrendered to the Soviets in Czechoslovakia at the end of the war.
Involvement in war crimes
Elements of the division took part in atrocities against the civilian population during the invasion of Poland. Together with elements of the
17th Infantry Division, they took part in the murder of at least 14 civilians during the division's advance towards
Sieradz and
Łask.
Organisation (1939)
* ''Infanterie-Regiment 20.''
* ''Infanterie-Regiment 41.''
* ''Infanterie-Regiment 85.''
* ''Artillerie-Regiment 10.''
* ''I./Artillerie-Regiment 46.''
* 10th Divisional Support Units
** ''Beobachtungs-Abteilung 10.''
** ''Pionier-Bataillon 10.''
** ''Panzerabwehr-Abteilung 10.''
** ''Nachrichten-Abteilung 10.''
** ''Feldersatz-Bataillon 10.''
** ''Versorgungseinheiten 10.''
Commanding officers
* ''Generalleutnant''
Alfred Wäger
Alfred Wäger (17 August 1883 – 9 July 1956) was a General of the Infantry in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during the Second World War who commanded several units. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Career
After the ...
(October 1933 – March 1938)
* ''Generalleutnant'' Konrad von Cochenhausen (March 1938 – September 1940)
* ''Generalleutnant''
Friedrich-Wilhelm von Loeper (October 1940 – April 1942)
* ''Oberst''
Hans Traut April 1942 – April 1942
* ''Generalleutnant''
August Schmidt (May 1942 – September 1944)
* ''Generalmajor''
Walter Herold (October 1944 – November 1944)
* ''Oberst'' Alexander Vial (December 1944 – January 1945)
* ''Generalmajor''
Karl-Richard Koßmann (January 1945 – May 1945)
References
:(''Note: References may require you to follow links to cover the unit's entire history.'')
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Bibliography
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{{DEFAULTSORT:10th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)
Military units and formations established in 1934
1934 establishments in Germany
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Military units and formations disestablished in 1945