The 239th Infantry Division (german: 239. Infanterie-Division) was an infantry division of the German
Heer
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during
World War II. The division was activated in 1939 and remained in active duty until December 1941. Its staff was formally dissolved in 1942.
Operational history
The 239th Infantry Division was created on 26 August 1939 as part of the third
Aufstellungswelle
In the German Wehrmacht before and during World War II, infantry divisions were raised as part of a designated ''Aufstellungswelle'' (deployment wave) or ''Welle'' (wave), sometimes translated as "draft". The ''Aufstellungswelle'' system was adopte ...
in
Gleiwitz
Gliwice (; german: Gleiwitz) is a city in Upper Silesia, in southern Poland. The city is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Kłodnica river (a tributary of the Oder River, Oder). It lies approximately 25 km west from Katowice, the re ...
in
Wehrkreis VIII. The division initially consisted of the Infantry Regiments 372 (
Cosel), 372 (
Beuthen
Bytom (Polish pronunciation: ; Silesian: ''Bytōm, Bytōń'', german: Beuthen O.S.) is a city in Upper Silesia, in southern Poland. Located in the Silesian Voivodeship of Poland, the city is 7 km northwest of Katowice, the regional capit ...
) and 444 (
Oppeln), as well as the Artillery Regiment 239.
The division's only commander throughout its lifespan was
Ferdinand Neuling.
During the
Invasion of Poland, the 239th Infantry Division served on the border between
Poland and
Slovakia, but did not see any fighting.
It was part of the reserves of
Army Group South (
von Rundstedt
Karl Rudolf Gerd von Rundstedt (12 December 1875 – 24 February 1953) was a German field marshal in the '' Heer'' (Army) of Nazi Germany during World War II.
Born into a Prussian family with a long military tradition, Rundstedt entered t ...
),
as part of
VIII Army Corps (
Busch) under
14th Army Fourteenth Army or 14th Army may refer to:
* 14th Army (German Empire), a World War I field Army
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(
List).
By November 1939, it had joined
XXXIV Army Corps under ''Grenz-Abschnittskommando Süd'' along the German-Soviet demarcation line.
In June 1940 the division stood by as part of the
7th Army's (
Dollmann) reserves under
Army Group C (
von Leeb) during the
Battle of France
The Battle of France (french: bataille de France) (10 May – 25 June 1940), also known as the Western Campaign ('), the French Campaign (german: Frankreichfeldzug, ) and the Fall of France, was the Nazi Germany, German invasion of French Third Rep ...
.
The 239th Infantry Division was dissolved in December 1941 while part of the
6th Army on the
Eastern Front,
as a result of irrecoverable casualties.
The divisional personnel was distributed to neighboring divisions. The staff officers of the 239th Infantry Division remained on duty as a
z.b.V. divisional staff with 6th Army. This z.b.V. staff was eventually dissolved on 26 March 1942 and its members integrated into the
294th Infantry Division, marking the end of the 239th Infantry Division as a military unit.
The division's commander, Neuling, would go on to command the
LXII Reserve Corps from September 1942 until its surrender in
Marseille in August 1944.
Noteworthy individuals
*
Ferdinand Neuling, divisional commander from 1939 to 1942.
References
{{Subject bar, portal1=Military of Germany, portal2=World War II
Infantry divisions of Germany during World War II
Military units and formations established in 1939
Military units and formations disestablished in 1942