The 33rd Infantry Division (german: 33. Infanterie-Division) was a

German Army The German Army (, "army") is the land component of the armed forces of Germany. The present-day German Army was founded in 1955 as part of the newly formed West German ''Bundeswehr'' together with the ''Marine'' (German Navy) and the ''Luftwaf ...

infantry division active in

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 World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

. It served in 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 German invasion of France during the Second Wor ...

and subsequently was converted into the 15th Panzer Division.

History

The 33rd Infantry Division was formed in 1936, as part of the ''

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 previo ...

s expansion to 36 divisions. It was mobilized in 1939, but remained on the defensive in the west and did not take part in the invasion of Poland. In May 1940 the division was attached to Panzer Group Kleist, and followed in reserve behind the advance into the Low Countries, through Luxembourg and Bastogne. Marching into France, it reached the battle front near St Quentin, and took up defensive positions along the Somme at PeronneWerner Haupt, Die deutschen Infanterie-division, p134-136 It built a bridgehead across the river, which was used by the armored divisions of XVI motorised Army Corps in the relaunch of the German offensive on 6 June 1940. Attacking alongside the panzers the division broke through the Weygand line, and advanced to the south. When the XVI Panzer Corps was withdrawn on 8 June for reassignment, the 33rd Infantry Division took over the 3rd Panzer Division sector, and continued the advance towards Paris. The division then accelerated its pace, crossing first the Marne, followed by the Seine and the Loire, finally reaching the

Cher Cher (; born Cherilyn Sarkisian; May 20, 1946) is an American singer, actress and television personality. Often referred to by the media as the Honorific nicknames in popular music, "Goddess of Pop", she has been described as embodying female ...

Montrichard Montrichard () is a town and former commune in the Loir-et-Cher department, Centre-Val de Loire, France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Montrichard Val de Cher. During the French Revolution, the commune was known as '' ...

Following the French surrender, it spent two months with the occupation forces until it was returned to Germany and in November 1940 was dissolved. The bulk of the division was reorganized as the 15th Panzer Division by incorporating the 8th Panzer Regiment from the 10th Panzer Division. Its surplus 110th Infantry Regiment went to the 112th Infantry Division and its horse drawn elements were incorporated into the newly forming 129th Infantry Division. Samuel W. Mitcham, German Order of Battle: Panzer, Panzer Grenadier, and Waffen SS Divisions in WWII v. 3, p41

Commanders

General der Infanterie General of the Infantry is a military rank of a General officer in the infantry and refers to: * General of the Infantry (Austria) * General of the Infantry (Bulgaria) * General of the Infantry (Germany) ('), a rank of a general in the German Imp ...

Eugen Ritter von Schobert Eugen Siegfried Erich Ritter von Schobert (13 March 1883 – 12 September 1941) was a German general during World War II. He commanded the 11th Army during Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. Schobert died when his observati ...

(1 April 1936 - 4 February 1938) *

Generalleutnant is the Germanic variant of lieutenant general, used in some German speaking countries. Austria Generalleutnant is the second highest general officer rank in the Austrian Armed Forces (''Bundesheer''), roughly equivalent to the NATO rank of ...

Hermann Ritter von Speck __NOTOC__ Hermann Ritter von Speck (8 August 1888 – 15 June 1940) was a German general during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Speck was killed by French machine gun fire on 15 June 1940 in ...

(1 March 1938 – 29 April 1940) * Generalleutnant

Rudolf Sintzenich __NOTOC__ Rudolf Sintzenich (13 July 1889 – 24 December 1948) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Awards and decoration ...

(29 April 1940 – 5 October 1940) *

Generalmajor is the Germanic variant of major general, used in a number of Central and Northern European countries. Austria Belgium Denmark is the second lowest general officer rank in the Royal Danish Army and Royal Danish Air Force. As a two-s ...

Friedrich Kühn General Friedrich Kühn (7 August 1889 – 15 February 1944) was a General der Panzertruppe in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. World War II At the start of World War ...

(5 October 1940 - 11 November 1940)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:33rd Infantry Division (Wehrmacht) 0*033 Military units and formations established in 1936 Military units and formations disestablished in 1940