The 280th Infantry Division (german: 280. Infanterie-Division) was an

infantry division A division is a large military unit or formation, usually consisting of between 6,000 and 25,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades; in turn, several divisions typically make up a corps. Histo ...

of the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

Heer 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 opposing ...

. Initially, the deployment of the 280th Infantry Division was ordered in May 1940, but aborted in June of that same year. The division was deployed a second time in 1942 and served in

occupied Norway The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany during the Second World War began on 9 April 1940 after Operation Weserübung. Conventional armed resistance to the German invasion ended on 10 June 1940, and Nazi Germany controlled Norway until th ...

until 1945.

History

First deployment, 1940

On 22 May 1940, the divisions of the tenth Aufstellungswelle, including the 280th Infantry Division, were ordered to deploy by 1 July in anticipation of a prolonged campaign in the west. However, as France agreed to an armistice on 22 June, the divisions of the tenth wave were no longer necessary, and their deployment was aborted. The regiments initially intended for the 280th Infantry Division, the Infantry Regiments 556, 557, and 558, as well as the Artillery Detachment 280, returned to their reserve formations.

Second deployment, 1942 – 1945

Another division named 280th Infantry Division was deployed on 22 April 1942 in the west of

, in the Stavanger sector. The initial commander of the 280th Infantry Division was Karl Beeren, appointed on 27 April 1942. The division was poorly equipped throughout its history; it had no reconnaissance, ''

Panzerjäger ''Panzerjäger'' ( German "armour-hunters" or "tank-hunters", abbreviated to ''Pz.Jg.'' in German) was a branch of service of the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War. It was an anti-tank arm-of-service that operated self-propelled ...

'', or field replacement formations, and its artillery consisted of four captured French 100mm guns. In September 1943, the 280th Infantry Division consisted of the following elements: * Fortress Battalion 655 * Fortress Battalion 657 * Fortress Battalion 666 In September 1944, the divisional headquarters were moved from Stavanger to

Bergen Bergen (), historically Bjørgvin, is a city and municipality in Vestland county on the west coast of Norway. , its population is roughly 285,900. Bergen is the second-largest city in Norway. The municipality covers and is on the peninsula o ...

. On 10 November 1944, Beeren was replaced as divisional commander by Johann de Boer. In early 1945, the 280th Infantry Division consisted of the following elements: * Battalion 645 * Battalion 655 * Battalion 658 * Battalion 666 * Battalion 1015 * Fortress Battalion "A" * Signal Company 280 * Supply Troops 280 * Panzer Company Bergen On 9 May 1945, the day after

German surrender The German Instrument of Surrender (german: Bedingungslose Kapitulation der Wehrmacht, lit=Unconditional Capitulation of the "Wehrmacht"; russian: Акт о капитуляции Германии, Akt o kapitulyatsii Germanii, lit=Act of capit ...

, the division capitulated not having had seen any major combat between 1942 and 1945.

Superior formations

Noteworthy individuals

* Karl Beeren, divisional commander between 27 April 1942 and 10 November 1944. * Johann de Boer, divisional commander between 10 November 1944 and 9 May 1945.

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 1940 Military units and formations disestablished in 1940 Military units and formations established in 1942 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945