309th Infantry Division explained

Unit Name:	309th Infantry Division
Native Name:	309. Infanterie-Division
Dates:	1 February 1945 – 29 April 1945
Branch:	Heer (Wehrmacht)
Specialization:	-->
Size:	Division
Colours:	-->
Colours Label:	-->
Battles:	World War II
Commander1:	Heinrich Voigtsberger
Commander1 Label:	Commander

Infantry Division 309, also known as the 309th Infantry Division, Infantry Division "Berlin", and Infantry Division "Greater Berlin", was an infantry division of the German Wehrmacht during World War II.

History

Infantry Division "Berlin" was formed on 1 February 1945 in Döberitz as an emergency formation in Wehrkreis III. It was assembled from two regiments of the 166th Infantry Division, hitherto in occupied Denmark. While the division received the ordinal number 309, it was usually just referred to as Infantry Division "Berlin" and, from April 1945, as Infantry Division "Greater Berlin".^[1] The division's only commander was Heinrich Voigtsberger, who initially held the rank of Oberst (colonel) and was promoted to Generalmajor on 1 April 1945.^[2]

After service in the Küstrin area, the Infantry Division "Berlin" was destroyed in the Halbe cauldron, around 29 April 1945.

Organization

Superior formations

Throughout its entire activity, the Infantry Division "Berlin" was part of CI Army Corps, which was in turn part of the 9th Army under Army Group Vistula.

Subordinate formations

The intended strength of Infantry Division "Berlin" at the point of formation was as follows:

• Guard Regiment "Greater Germany" (two battalions).
• Grenadier Regiment 652 (two battalions). Formed from Reserve Grenadier Regiment 86 (previously 166th Infantry Division).
• Grenadier Regiment 653 (two battalions). Formed from Reserve Grenadier Regiment 6 (previously 166th Infantry Division).
• Fusilier Battalion 309.^[3]
• Artillery Regiment 309 (one detachment).^[4]
• Division Units 309.^[5]

Notes

1. Book: Tessin, Georg. Die Landstreitkräfte 281–370. Biblio Verlag. 1974. 3764808721. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945. 9. Osnabrück. 105–108. de. 309.
2. Book: Mitcham, Samuel W.. German Order of Battle. Volume Two: 291st-999th Infantry Divisions, Named Infantry Divisions, and Special Divisions in WWII. Stackpole Books. 2007. 9780811734165. 220. Samuel W. Mitcham.
3. Added to the division in March, formed from Walküreeinheit 1/3/VII of Wehrkreis VII.
4. 2nd and 3rd detachments were intended to be formed from Luftwaffe materiel, but never saw deployment.
5. The Panzerjäger detachment of Division 309 became Panzerjäger Detachment 200 of the 21st Panzer Division.

References

1. Book: Tessin, Georg. Die Landstreitkräfte 281–370. Biblio Verlag. 1974. 3764808721. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945. 9. Osnabrück. 105–108. de. 309.
2. Book: Mitcham, Samuel W.. German Order of Battle. Volume Two: 291st-999th Infantry Divisions, Named Infantry Divisions, and Special Divisions in WWII. Stackpole Books. 2007. 9780811734165. 220. Samuel W. Mitcham.
3. Added to the division in March, formed from Walküreeinheit 1/3/VII of Wehrkreis VII.
4. 2nd and 3rd detachments were intended to be formed from Luftwaffe materiel, but never saw deployment.
5. The Panzerjäger detachment of Division 309 became Panzerjäger Detachment 200 of the 21st Panzer Division.