111th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)
The 111th Infantry Division was a major unit of the Army of the Wehrmacht.
Division history
Areas of application:
- Germany: November 1940-June 1941
- Eastern front, southern sector: June 1941 to May 1944
The 111th Infantry Division was set up in November 1940 as part of the 12th wave formation in Fallingbostel, Military District XI.
During the Russian campaign the 111th Infantry Division of Army Group South and Army Group A was assumed.
In August 1942, the 111th Infantry Division marched together with the LII. Army Corps under General der Infanterie Eugen Ott on the Caucasus. On 1 September 1942, she was able to establish a bridgehead on the Terek along with the 370th Infantry Division at Mozdok. Captain Lyme from Infantry Regiment 70 was able to secure the bridgehead across the mountain river. For a more offensive power was not enough. It was not until 25 September 1942 took the III. Panzer Corps along with the 23rd Panzer Division and 111th Infantry Division under General Eberhard von Mackensen of cavalry to attack Ordzhonikidze, which, however, failed. From 31 December 1942, the 111th Infantry Division of the Terek River in the Caucasus in the direction of Don / Ukraine withdrew. Major Friedrich musculus, commander of the anti-tank division 111, defended along with grenadiers and pioneers a locked position on the river Kuma, to prevent the advancing Soviet organizations from destroying the 1st Panzer Army. In a marshy area on the adjacent river Solka battle took place between Soviet cavalry and German defenders, and involved a battle group of the 111th Infantry Division was included, but were lifted later in the melee again. By delaying battles of the withdrawal of the army could be covered successfully until February 1943.
In August 1943, the XXIX was. Army Corps temporarily included with the 111th Infantry Division, 17th Infantry Division and 13th Panzer Division on the Azov Sea, the 111th Infantry Division under the command of Lieutenant General Hermann Recknagel could break out in the direction of Mariupol Melitopol - at great cost. The 51st Soviet army gave the command, Recknagel capture, but this failed.
The battles between the Sea of Azov and Zaporozhye on the lower reaches of the Dnieper began to expand, to Melitopol fell on 23 October 1943 and the way to seal off the Crimea for the Red Army was free. In defense of the Crimea the 111th Infantry Division was formed in March 1944, the Army Reserve and had on April 7, 1944 at the " Tartar Wall" on the northern front the major Soviet attack on the Crimea encounter.
On April 16, 1944, the fighting began around Sevastopol and on April 27, 1944 collapsed the front line of the 111th Infantry Division, the losses rose into the evening hours on 5000 men. The division was completely destroyed on May 12, 1944 in Sevastopol in the Crimea. Only parts of the Grenadier Regiment 117 were evacuated by ship, the rest of the division arrived on the steep bank killed. From April 8 to May 13, 1944, the Wehrmacht had to complain to the Crimea 57,500 losses ( 25,800 Romanians and 31,700 German ). The division was disbanded, the Division staff used later for the 226th Infantry Division.
People
- Otto Herfurth ( born January 22, 1893 in Hasserode; † September 29, 1944 in Berlin- Plotzensee )
Awards
A total of 12 members of the 111th Infantry Division were awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and 60 with the German Cross in Gold.
Structure
- Infantry Regiment 50
- Infantry Regiment 70
- Infantry Regiment 117
- Artillery Regiment 117
- Tank Destroyer Division 111
- Reconnaissance Battalion 111
- News department 111
- Engineer Battalion 111
- Supply troops