3.Infanterie-Division

The 3. Infanterie-Division was formed in Frankfurt/Oder on 15 October 1935 from the cover name Kommandant von Frankfurt/Oder. The infantry regiments were formed from 8. (Preußisches) Infanterie-Regiment and 9. (Preußisches) Infanterie-Regiment of 3. Division of the Reichwehr.

The 3.Infanterie-Division was mobilized on August 1st, 1939 for operations in Poland. When the attack on Poland was launched on September 1st, 1939, the 3.Infanterie-Division was a part of II.Armee-Korps under 4.Armee, Heeresgruppe Nord. The 4.Armee was to attack into the Polish Corridor from the region of Pomerania in Germany in attempt to link up with the 3.Armee in East Prussia and to isolate the Polish coastal forces in the region of Danzig from the rest of the battle to the south. The 3.Infanterie-Division crossed into Poland in the van of the 4.Armee attack against the Polish Corridor. The region of its attack was known as the Tuchola Forest, an area defended only lightly by the Polish 9th Infantry Division and Pomorska Cavalry Brigade. It broke through the Polish defenses at Seenkette between Nandsburg and Mrotschen, and fought across the Brda (Braha) River west of Crone, where it pursued through the Tucheler Heide to the Vistula (Weichsel) River in the region of Topolno-Grabowko. The 3.Infanterie-Division then took part in pursuit combat over the Weichsel River in the direction of Modlin. It then took part in security operations against the Bzura Pocket between Woclawek and Wyscogrod, before fighting near Plock and advancing in the direction of Gostynin, ending its stint in Poland near Lowicz before being transfered to the Eifel region of Germany along the German-Luxembourg border.

When the attack on France and the Low Countries was launched in May, 1940 the 3.Infanterie-Division was under III.Armee-Korps, 12.Armee, Heeresgruppe A. It advanced though Luxembourg and Belgium to the Maas River at Nouzonville where it fought across. It then secured the area between Ewergnicourt and Balham before advancing over the Aisne to Asfeld, moving further on to the Canal du Centre in the region Digoin-Chalons, soon after ending the campaign in security operations along the demarkation-line.

In October 1940 after the Campaign in France had ended, the 3.Infanterie-Division was moved back into Germany and reorganized into the 3.Infanterie-Division (mot).


Source:Feldgrau.com