The 246th Infantry (later ''Volksgrenadier'') Division (german: 246. Infanterie-Division later ) was a

division Division or divider may refer to: Mathematics *Division (mathematics), the inverse of multiplication *Division algorithm, a method for computing the result of mathematical division Military *Division (military), a formation typically consisting ...

of the German

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the ''Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previous ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

Operational history

The 246th Infantry Division was formed in

Trier Trier ( , ; lb, Tréier ), formerly known in English as Trèves ( ;) and Triers (see also names in other languages), is a city on the banks of the Moselle in Germany. It lies in a valley between low vine-covered hills of red sandstone in the ...

(Wkr. XII) and initially stationed on the Saar Line, later in South-western

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

from August 1941 until January 1942. On formation, it consisted of 313th, 352nd and 404th infantry regiments; an artillery regiment; a pioneer battalion; an anti-tank battalion; a signals battalion, and other subunits. The division lacked 50mm anti-tank guns, and used trophy French vehicles. From February 1942 to January 1943 the division served in the area of

Vitebsk Vitebsk or Viciebsk (russian: Витебск, ; be, Ві́цебск, ; , ''Vitebsk'', lt, Vitebskas, pl, Witebsk), is a city in Belarus. The capital of the Vitebsk Region, it has 366,299 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth-largest ci ...

and was a part of the 9th Army. Most of the operations in which the division participated were in the area of Bely and south-west of it, the sector extending to

Smolensk Smolensk ( rus, Смоленск, p=smɐˈlʲensk, a=smolensk_ru.ogg) is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River, west-southwest of Moscow. First mentioned in 863, it is one of the oldest c ...

. The division's most active period was during the Winter-Spring of 1942, but from May it was transferred to the ''Kampfgruppe Esebeck'' (Generalleutenant

Hans-Karl Freiherr von Esebeck Hans-Karl Freiherr von Esebeck (10 July 1892 – 5 January 1955) was a German general who commanded the 15th Panzer Division in the Afrika Korps. Esebeck had knowledge of and was sympathetic to the anti-Hitler conspiracy in the military. He was ...

),K14, Ian V. Hogg ed., ''German Order of Battle, Arms and Armour Press'', London, 1975 and from March in ''Kampfgruppe Zeidlitz''. During July 1942, in cooperation with the

2nd Panzer Division The 2nd Panzer Division ( en, 2nd Tank Division) was an armoured division in the German Army, the Heer, during World War II. Created as one of the original three German tank divisions in 1935, it was stationed in Austria after the Anschluss an ...

it was engaged in combat with the 17th Guards and 135th Rifle Divisions and the 21st Tank Brigade.
The division was encircled and destroyed during the Vitebsk–Orsha offensive in June 1944, and its commander was taken prisoner by the Soviets.

246th Volksgrenadier Division

On 15 September 1944, a new 246th Volksgrenadier Division (short: 246th V.G.D.) was established at the military training area Milowitz northeast of Prague, by renaming the 565th Volksgrenadier Division, which had been created only 3 weeks earlier . Subsequently, the division was used in the Ardennes offensive.

Commanders

246th Infantry Division

*Generalleutnant

Erich Denecke The given name Eric, Erich, Erikk, Erik, Erick, or Eirik is derived from the Old Norse name ''Eiríkr'' (or ''Eríkr'' in Old East Norse due to monophthongization). The first element, ''ei-'' may be derived from the older Proto-Norse ''* ain ...

, 1 September 1939 – 13 December 1941 *Generalleutnant

Maximilian Siry Maximilian, Maximillian or Maximiliaan (Maximilien in French) is a male given name. The name " Max" is considered a shortening of "Maximilian" as well as of several other names. List of people Monarchs *Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor (1459� ...

, 13 December 1941 – 16 May 1943 *Generalmajor

Konrad von Alberti Konrad is a German (with variants ''Kunz'' and ''Kunze'') given name and surname that means "bold counselor" and may refer to: People Given name Surname *Alexander Konrad (1890–1940), Russian explorer *Antoine Konrad (born 1975), birth name o ...

, 16 May 1943 – 12 September 1943 *Generalmajor

Heinz Fiebig __NOTOC__ Heinz Fiebig (23 March 1897 – 30 March 1964) was a German general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II who may have been a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Awards * Nominated for the ...

, 12 September 1943 – 5 October 1943 *Generalleutnant

Wilhelm Falley __NOTOC__ Wilhelm Falley (25 September 1897 – 6 June 1944) was the first German general to be killed during the Normandy landings in France. He was commander of the 91st Infantry Division. Career Promoted to major general in December 1943, and ...

, 5 October 1943 – 20 April 1944 *Generalmajor Claus Müller-Bülow, 20 April 1944 – 27 June 1944 (POW)

246th Volksgrenadier-Division

*Oberst

Gerhard Wilck Gerhard Wilck (17 June 1898 – 5 April 1985) was the German commander who defended the German city of Aachen in the Battle of Aachen. He surrendered on 21 October 1944 against the orders of Hitler, after a stubborn defence and bitter urban wa ...

, 15 September 1944 – November 1944 *Generalmajor

Peter Körte Peter Körte (26 June 1896 – 13 January 1947) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Awards and decorations * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 27 Ju ...

, November 1944 – 1 January 1945 *Generalmajor Walter Kühn, 1 January 1945 – 8 May 1945

References

Volksgrenadier divisions Military units and formations established in 1941 1939 establishments in Germany Military units and formations disestablished in 1945 {{Germany-mil-unit-stub