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| 72nd Infantry Division | |
|---|---|
| 72. Infanterie-Division | |
 Divisional insignia | |
| Active | 19 September 1939 – 8 May 1945 |
| Country |  Nazi Germany |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Nickname(s) | Yellow Cross |
| Engagements | World War II |
The 72nd Infantry Division (German: 72. Infanterie-Division) was formed on 19 September 1939 in Trier from Grenz-Division Trier, a border security unit.
It was later refitted in Poland in March 1944 as part of the 24th wave (Aufstellungswelle).
On 1 January 1945, the division, then under command of the 4th Panzer Army of Army Group A, had a strength of 10,493 men.[1]: 504
The division surrendered to the Red Army in May 1945, after which Generalmajor Karl Arning was convicted of war crimes in the Soviet Union.
Commanding officers
[edit]- General der Infanterie Franz Mattenklott (19 September 1939 – 25 July 1940)
- General der Infanterie Helge Auleb (25 July 1940 – 4 September 1940)
- General der Infanterie Franz Mattenklott (4 September 1940 – 6 November 1940)
- Generalleutnant Philipp Müller-Gebhard (6 November 1940 – 10 July 1942)
- Generalmajor Curt Souchay (10 July 1942 – 24 November 1942)
- Generalleutnant Philipp Müller-Gebhard (24 November 1942 – 17 February 1943)
- Generalleutnant Ralph Graf von d'Oriola (17 February 1943 – 3 May 1943)
- Generalleutnant Philipp Müller-Gebhard (3 May 1943 – 1 November 1943)
- Generalleutnant Erwin Menny (1 November 1943 – 20 November 1943)
- Generalleutnant Dr. Hermann Hohn (20 November 1943 – 25 March 1944)
- Generalmajor Karl Arning (10 June 1944 – 19 June 1944)
- General der Kavallerie Gustav Harteneck (19 June 1944 – 1 July 1944)
- Generalleutnant Dr. Hermann Hohn (1 July 1944 – 20 April 1945)
- Generalleutnant Hugo Beißwänger (20 April 1945 – 8 May 1945)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- Citations
- ^ Lakowski, Richard (2008). "Der Zusammenbruch der deutschen Verteidigung zwischen Ostsee und Karpaten". In Müller, Rolf-Dieter (ed.). Die Militärische Niederwerfung der Wehrmacht. Das Deutsche Reich und der Zweite Weltkrieg (in German). Vol. 10/1. München: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt. pp. 491–681. ISBN 9783421062376.
- Bibliography
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