1.Infanterie-Division

The 1. Infanterie-Division was formed in in Königsberg on 15 October 1935 from the cover name Artillerieführer I.  The infantry regiments were formed from 1. (Preußisches) Infanterie-Regiment of 1. Division of the Reichwehr. 


In 1939, during the invasion of Poland, the division was part of XXVI.Armee-Korp (Armee-Korps Wodrig), which in turn was part of General von Kuchler's 3.Armee beneath von Bock's Heeresgruppe Nord. The 1.Infanterie-Division first saw combat when the 3.Armee launched across the East Prussian border. The 3.Armee was attempting to break through the Polish lines north of Warsaw, and in so doing, had to first crush the strong Polish defensive positions in and around the Polish city of Mlawa. Mlawa was one of the few heavily defended Polish fortifications, and was being held by the Polish 20th Infantry Division and the near-by Mazowiecka Cavalry Brigade. The 1.Infanterie-Division attacked the right wing of the Polish 20th Infantry Division in an attempt to take Mlawa and thus help open the way for the advance of the rest of the 3.Armee towards Warsaw. The Poles held back the attacks of 1.Infanterie-Division though, until German units to the east created a dangerous gap in the lines between the 20th and the Mazowiecka Cavalry Brigade, effectively comprimising the defensive positions it held, and causing it to pull out of Mlawa to new defensive position along the Vistula River to the south, just north of Warsaw. After the heavy engagements between September 1st and 4th along the border, the 1.Infanterie-Division pushed south and east where it crossed over the Narew and Bug Rivers, fighting near Wegrow and Garwolin, finally ending the Campaign to the east of Warsaw near Siedice.

The division took part in the 1940 invasion of France, though only being lightly engaged. 

In June,1941, the 1.Infanterie-Divison invaded Russia as part of Heeresgruppe Nord, and was heavily engaged during the drive on Leningrad. While suffering very heavy losses in the first campaigns of 1941, it would remain as part of 1.Armeekorps, a staple of the Leningrad fighting, taking part in the battles of Lake Peipus and Lake Ladoga, until October 1943 when it was seconded to Heeresgruppe Süd as part of XXXXVIII.Panzer-Korps. Here the Division saw heavy action in the battle of Krivoi Rog in the Dnieper campaign, and was later encircled with 1.Panzer-Armee between the Bug and the Dnestr rivers in March 1944. The Division managed to breakout as rear-guard of XLVI.Panzer Corps, suffering heavy casualties.

Rested and refitted, the Division was next sent to the Central sector of Heeresgruppe Mitte. Escaping piecemeal from the overwhelming Soviet Summer 1944 offensive, but still relatively intact, it remained with what was left of Heeresgruppe Mitte, later ending the war in early 1945 fighting in it's native East Prussia.


Source:Feldgrau.com