538th Frontier Guard Division
Active9 December 1939 – 18 April 1941
Country Nazi Germany
BranchArmy
TypeInfantry
RoleFrontier Guard
Sizeunderstrength Division
Garrison/HQSpittal, Klagenfurt and Graz
EngagementsInvasion of Yugoslavia (World War II)
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Emmerich von Nagy

The 538th Frontier Guard Division, also known as the Division z.b.V. 538. was a short-lived German division in World War II that participated in the invasion of Yugoslavia. It was disbanded immediately after the Yugoslav surrender.

History

The division was raised on 9 December 1939 in Klagenfurt within Wehrkreis XVIII using the 20th Border Defence Detachment which was stationed along the Reich-Italian border, and was commanded by Generalleutnant (Major General) Emmerich von Nagy.[1] It was called up for duty on 28 March 1941 for the invasion of Yugoslavia.[2] Along with the 1st Mountain Division, it was part of the XLIX Mountain Corps commanded by General der Infanterie (Lieutenant General) Ludwig Kübler.[3]

On the first day of the invasion, the division was stationed on the northwestern part of the border between the Reich and Yugoslavia, and seized important mountain passes, hills and tunnels on the Yugoslav side of the border. These successes enabled the spearheads of the 1st Mountain Division to quickly cross the border and push deep into Yugoslav territory.[3] The division was stood down after the invasion, and was disbanded on 18 April 1941.[2]

Composition

The division was created from the 20th Frontier Guard (German: Grenzschutz) Detachment, which included:[2][1]

On 1 April 1941, immediately prior to the invasion of Yugoslavia, the primary units of the division were:[4]

Elements of both the 194th Infantry Regiment and 139th Mountain Regiment were detached and placed under command of the 1st Mountain Division.[5]

Notes

  1. ^ a b Mitcham 2007, p. 92.
  2. ^ a b c Nafziger 1993, p. 35.
  3. ^ a b U.S. Army 1986, p. 41.
  4. ^ Nafziger 1998, p. 5.
  5. ^ Nafziger 1998, pp. 4–5.

References

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