166th Infantry Division
166. Infanterie-Division
Active10 October 1939 – 8 May 1945
Country Nazi Germany
AllegianceWehrmacht
BranchInfantry
SizeDivision
Garrison/HQBiałystok

The 166th Infantry Division (German: 166. Infanterie-Division) was an infantry division of the German Heer during World War II. The unit, at times designated Commander of Reserve Troops 2 of Wehrkreis VI

German: Kommandeur der Ersatztruppen 2 des Wehrkreis VI), 166th Division (German: 166. Division), Division No. 166 (German: Division Nr. 166), and 166th Reserve Division (German: 166. Reserve-Division), was active between 1939 and 1945.

History

The original staff that would eventually become the 166th Division was the Commander of Reserve Troops 2 of Wehrkreis VI, which was formed in Bielefeld on 10 October 1939.[1] Initially, this staff served to assist the original Commander of Reserve Troops for the sixth Wehrkreis, which would eventually become the 154th Infantry Division.[2]

This staff was moved to the newly formed Wehrkreis XX, which was headquartered in Białystok in occupied Poland, on 15 November 1939. As part of this move, the staff became the 166th Division. The initial divisional forces consisted of several reserve formations from Wehrkreis VI.[1] The initial divisional commander was Walter Behschnitt, who served until May 1940.[3]

Division No. 166

On 21 December 1939, the division was renamed Division No. 166.[1]

In March 1940, Division No. 166 consisted of the following formations:[1]

On 25 August 1940, Division No. 166, now commanded by Otto Schellert,[3] was deployed back to Bielefeld. Several formations were reassigned, leaving the division with the following structure in August 1940:[1]

On 15 March 1941, Christian Friedrich, commonly known as Fritz Willich, took command of the division. He was in turn succeeded by Helmuth Castorf on 1 June 1942.[3]

As part of the reorganization of the Replacement Army on 1 October 1942, several formations of Division No. 166 were transferred to other units, mainly the Division No. 526. This resulted in the following structure for Division No. 166 as of 15 October 1942:[1]

In January 1943, the division staff was redeployed, along with its exercise units, to occupied Denmark, whereas the replacement units were transferred to the new Division No. 179.[1] The initial headquarters of the 166th in Denmark was in Copenhagen.[3]

166th Reserve Division

On 26 October 1943, Division No. 166, still in Denmark, was renamed 166th Reserve Division. The division, now headquartered at Holstebro, consisted of the following formations in December 1943:[1]

Eberhard von Fabrice took command of the division on 10 July 1944.[3]

The 166th Reserve Division, mostly unchanged but now headquartered at Lemvig, consisted of the following formations in December 1944:[1]

In January 1945, an additional regiment, Reserve Grenadier Regiment z.b.V. 166, was formed and assigned to the 166th Reserve Division.[1]

166th Infantry Division

On 9 March 1945, several Reserve Divisions, including the 166th, became full Infantry Divisions. Its subordinate reserve regiments were upgraded to full regiments, leaving the 166th Infantry Division with the following structure in March 1945:[1]

On 28 March 1945, Fabrice was briefly replaced as divisional commander by Helmuth Walter, but he assumed command once more on 31 March 1945. He remained in command until the end of the war.[3]

The 166th Infantry Division did not see combat until German surrender on 8 May 1945.[1] It was still in the Lemvig area at the time of surrender.[3]

Superior formations

Between February 1943 and May 1945, the 166th Division in its various iterations was directly subordinate to the Wehrmacht Commander in Denmark.[1]

Noteworthy individuals

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Tessin, Georg (1972). "166". Die Landstreitkräfte 131-200. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945 (in German). Vol. 7. Osnabrück: Biblio Verlag. pp. 147–150. ISBN 3764808721.
  2. ^ Tessin, Georg (1972). "154". Die Landstreitkräfte 131-200. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945 (in German). Vol. 7. Osnabrück: Biblio Verlag. pp. 89–91. ISBN 3764808721.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Mitcham, Samuel W. (2007). "166th Reserve (later Infantry) Division". German Order of Battle: 1st-290th Infantry Divisions in World War II. Stackpole Books. p. 218. ISBN 9780811734165.
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