271st Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)
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The 271st Infantry Division (german: 271. 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 ...
. In total, three infantry formations used the ordinal number 271 within the Wehrmacht. The first 271st Infantry Division's deployment was aborted in May 1940, whereas the second iteration of the division saw its deployment completed in November 1943 and was destroyed in August 1944. Subsequently, a division designated 271st Volksgrenadier Division (german: 271. Volks-Grenadier-Division, link=no) was deployed in August 1944 and remained in combat until 1945.


History


First planned deployment, 1940

Initially, a division named 271st Infantry Division was assembled starting on 1 July 1940, following a directive of 22 May. After the German-French armistice, the assembly of the division was interrupted on 22 July. The division was planned to consist of the Infantry Regiments 562, 563, and 564, as well as the Artillery Detachment 271 and the Division Units 271.


Second deployment, 1943 – 1944

Another formation named 271st Infantry Division was assembled as part of the twenty-second ''Aufstellungswelle'' on 17 November 1943 in the occupied Netherlands under the supervision of '' Oberbefehlshaber West.'' It consisted of the Grenadier Regiments 977, 978, and 979, as well as the Division Fusilier Battalion 271, and the Artillery Regiment 271.'''' The personnel divisional staff and the 979th Regiment were provided by the 137th Infantry Division, whereas the 113th Infantry Division provided the men of the 977th Regiment, 271st Artillery Regiment and the 271st Division Fusilier Battalion, and the 102nd Infantry Division provided the personnel of the 978th Regiment. The division was destroyed in August 1944 in the Falaise Pocket in
Normandy Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...
, while under the supervision of the
5th Panzer Army 5th Panzer Army (german: 5. Panzerarmee) was the name of two different German armoured formations during World War II. The first of these was formed in 1942, during the North African campaign and surrendered to the Allies at Tunis in 1943. The ...
.'''' The 271st Infantry Division was commanded by Paul Danhauser between 10 December 1943 and its destruction in the Falaise Pocket.


271st Volksgrenadier Division, 1944 – 1945

On 25 August 1944, the 576th Volksgrenadier Division was deployed in Slovakia. This formation was redesignated 271st Volksgrenadier Division on 17 September 1944. It consisted of the reassembled Grenadier Regiments 977, 978, and 979 (previously Grenadier Regiments 1186, 1187, and 1188), as well as the Artillery Regiment 271, formerly Artillery Regiment 1576.'''' Unlike the 271st Infantry Division, the 271st Volksgrenadier Division was sent to the Eastern Front and was deployed to the defense against the Soviet-Romanian Budapest Offensive.'''' After Grenadier Regiment 978 saw combat in the Budapest area, the division was refreshed at
Nitra Nitra (; also known by other alternative names) is a city in western Slovakia, situated at the foot of Zobor Mountain in the valley of the river Nitra. It is located 95 km east of Bratislava. With a population of about 78,353, it is the fifth l ...
in February 1945. The 271st Volksgrenadier Division was subsequently captured by
Red Army The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army ( Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and, afte ...
forces in
Moravia Moravia ( , also , ; cs, Morava ; german: link=yes, Mähren ; pl, Morawy ; szl, Morawa; la, Moravia) is a historical region in the east of the Czech Republic and one of three historical Czech lands, with Bohemia and Czech Silesia. The m ...
in May 1945.'''' Throughout its service, the 271st Volksgrenadier Division was commanded by
Martin Bieber __NOTOC__ Martin Bieber (10 November 1900 – 19 October 1974) was a German general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II who commanded several divisions. Born in Tabarz,''Deutsches biographisches Generalregister: Bern-Bonzon''. ...
, who was appointed on 3 September 1944. Bieber was taken prisoner by the Red Army along his division in May 1945 and remained in Soviet captivity until 1955.


Superior formations


Noteworthy individuals

* Paul Danhauser, divisional commander of the 271st Infantry Division. *
Martin Bieber __NOTOC__ Martin Bieber (10 November 1900 – 19 October 1974) was a German general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II who commanded several divisions. Born in Tabarz,''Deutsches biographisches Generalregister: Bern-Bonzon''. ...
, divisional commander of the 271st Volksgrenadier Division.


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 1943 Military units and formations disestablished in 1944 Military units and formations established in 1944 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945