216th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)
The 216th Infantry Division was a military major unit of the Wehrmacht.
Division history
Areas of application:
- West Wall: September 1939 to May 1940
- Netherlands, Belgium and France: May 1940 to January 1942
- Eastern front, central section: from January 1942 to November 1943
The 216 ID was set up as a division of the third wave formation in August 1939 in Hannover. In September 1939, she was moved to border security in the Eifel, from there into the Saar Palatinate and in November 1939 to the Lower Rhine. Before the attack on France in early 1940 were several reclassifications and duties of battalions. In May 1940, the 216th ID was used during the Fall Gelb as Army Reserve of the 6th Army at Antwerp. The unit was active during the Battle of Dunkirk and Furnes between the villages Adiokerke. After it was decommissioned as OKH Reserve and marched during the second battle of France to Paris. After the end of military operations, the 216th ID took over the coastal defenses at Cherbourg, Argentan and St. Lô.
In December 1941, she had to be moved to the Eastern Front in the express transport to support Army Group Center. To this end, the Division was divided into three battle groups, one of which was to secure "place Festen" Sukhinichi on, the other two had their combat mission at Medy, Rzhev, Kirov and on the taxiway between Juchnow and Roslawl. In July 1942, all three sub- units were returned to the 216th ID, shortly after marching orders took place after Schisdra - Judinowo where there was heavy fighting and high precipitation of the 216 ID in the area between Bryansk and Orel. In December 1942, the 216th ID had to be taken out of the HVAC and completely refreshed at Spas- Demensk. A new deployment order was made in January 1943 in the front arc of Rzhev, shortly before the operation buffalo movement in the spring of 1943. From February to June 1943, the 216th ID was Smiewka south of Orel in position until they bounce off the Soviet offensive in July 1943 been. She retired from Poniryi about Bryansk to Gomel back and had at the end of their rearguard actions only battle group strength. The last mission took place during the company's citadel, where the division lost about 1,000 soldiers. The losses could not be compensated so that the OKH the 216th ID on November 17, 1943 officially disbanded. From the remains of the 216 ID 272 ID has been set up for the Western Front.
The 102nd Infantry Division Few parts of the Division Group 216 were assumed, which should in vain to stop the Soviet advance between Pripet Marshes and Narew.