98. Infanterie-Division

The 98. Infanterie-Division was formed in September 1939 at training ground Grafenwöhr, WK XIII, as part of the 5. Welle (wave). Personnel with combat experience gained in the Polish Campaign was sent by Heeresgruppe Süd (1 regimental cdr., 12 company chiefs, 120 NCOs). From August 1940 until February 1941 the division was granted leave. After its reformation in February 1941 and the following frontline service on the Eastern Front since July 1941 the division had to suffer a permanent down-sizing of its infantry strength. Consequently in 1942 three battalions were dissolved (II./282, III./289, III./290) and the division kept six infantry battalions only in its rows. This organisation was formalized when the division established a two regiments structure (organisational term of the time : "zweigleisig") in summer 1943. Gren.Rgt. 289 had been disbanded and the personnel was used to build again third battalions each for Gren.Rgt. 282 and Gren.Rgt. 290 ; additionally the Divisions-Bataillon 98 was newly formed from the remnants.
During its assignment to Heeresgruppe Mitte from October/November 1941 - May/June 1943 this division was equipped with a number of captured Russian light tanks - models T-26 and T-70 - also ("Beutepanzer"). During the last and heavy fightings on the Crimea Gren.(Feldausbildungs-)Rgt. 615 was incorporated per 1 March 1944 to strengthen the infantry component again (renamed Gren.Rgt. 289 shortly thereafter).

After being destroyed in the Crimea May 1944, the division was reformed 5 June 1944 in Croatia from its surviving elements and the staff of the 387. Infanterie-Division. The new theatre which did see the unit in frontline service was Italy. It was planned to assign the Grenadier-Lehr-Brigade, which was on the spot already, and to name it Gren.-Lehr-Rgt 290. A short-lived change of this plan, that was to give this Lehr brigade to the Reichsgrenadier-Division "Hoch- und Deutschmeister" instead, was cancelled, and the assignment was carried out on 28 Oct 1944 finally. The new regiment was given the designation Gren-Lehr-Rgt 117 and replaced the former Gren.Rgt 117, which was dissolved therefore. The division surrendered to US troops in Italy May 1945.

Source:axishistory.com