The 285th Security Division (''285. Sicherungs-Division'') was a rear-security division in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany. The unit was deployed in German-occupied areas of the Soviet Union, in the

Army Group North Rear Area Army Group North Rear Area (''Rückwärtiges Heeresgebiet Nord'') was one of the three Army Group Rear Area Commands, established during the 1941 German invasion of the Soviet Union. Initially commanded by General Franz von Roques, it was an area ...

Operational history

The division was formed in 1941, prior the German invasion of the Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa. It operated in the occupied Baltic States and

Northern Russia Russian North (russian: Русский Север) is an ethnocultural region situated in the northwestern part of Russia. It spans the regions of Arkhangelsk Oblast, the Republic of Karelia, Komi Republic, Vologda Oblast and Nenets Autonomous ...

behind Army Group North's front lines. Its duties included security of communications and supply lines, economic exploitation and combatting irregular fighters ( partisans) in Wehrmacht's rear areas. The division was subordinated to

Franz von Roques __NOTOC__ Franz von Roques (1 September 1877 – 7 August 1967) was a German general during World War II. He was the commander of Army Group North Rear Area behind Army Group North from March 1941 to April 1943. Biography Roques was the descendan ...

, commander of

. Along with other security and police forces in the occupied territories, the division participated in war crimes against prisoners of war and civilian population. For the period from 22 June to 1 December 1941, the division reported 1,500 enemies "killed in battle" or shot as "partisans", for the loss of seven dead and eleven wounded.

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