242 Inf Div, 719 Inf Div, 189 Inf Div, 6 FJD June '44

[JeffF,]

As of D-Day were the 242nd and 719th Infantry Divisions considered 'static' divisions or mobile divisions (I don't mean motorized, mobile in the sense they were regular infantry like the 352nd Inf div and not ground holding divisions like the 711th Inf div).

Had the 189th division made its transition from training division to infantry division by that date? If not when was it ordered to make the transition?

The sources I have on the 6th Parachute Division all say it was formed at Amiens in June 1944. Was the division in existence on D-Day or was if formed later in the month?

thanks,
Jeff

[Roger Griffiths]

242 and 719 were 'Statics'. The term Bodensdandige was applied end of 1943 although 700 series divisions were effectively 'Statics' in the early war years.

189 Reserve was made 189 ID in Sept44.

6 FsJgD. was forming from June44 and a battle group was ready by August44 in ISSPzKorps.

Roger

[JeffF,]

Thanks as always Roger, is it safe to assume the 6FJD had not yet started forming by 6 June '44?

Jeff

[Roger Griffiths]

Hi Jeff,

Tessin does'nt give a specific date.

Roger

[Hans Weber]

Hello

What I have on secondary sources (Zetterling and Chazette) is apparently based on von der Heydte's report MS # B-839. These authors say that the decision to form FJR 6 was taken in November 1943 and that formation started in Jan 44 at Wahn near Cologne. Trainees actually received jump training, which I think was not obvious in this stage of the war. Its ties to 2. FJD were severed after it was ordered to France in May 44, Carentan sector. It acted as a reserve unit to LXXXXIV AK, together with 91. Luftlandedivision. It was better trained than the other elements of 2. FJD.

Cheers
Hans

[Roger Griffiths]

Hi Hans,

I think the point of interest here is 6FJD not 6FJR.

Regards,

Roger

[Hans Weber]

Sorry
I wouldn't have noticed, good you told me, Roger. In this case I only have a note that Generalleutnant Walter Lackner was in command on 1st June 1944 (Alain Chazette, Fallschirmjäger). Can't tell if he replaced Generalleutnant Rüdiger Heyking, as I have another source claiming him still beeing in command in August 44. If Chazette is correct, then the unit was just starting to form before D-Day.
Cheers
Hans

[JeffF,]

Thanks Hans,
Interesting that the division would have a commander on 1 June. Perhaps the division was forming and it had not yet completed its organization.
Jeff

[ducatim901]

I have never seen a order that the 719 I.D. was made a "regular I.D.".
But it seems that after the order to get mobile and move to Brussel to stop the Allied advance the 719 I.D. recieved Marders and RSO.
I have not seen any documents but in the book Einddoel Maas (written by Swarts and Didden) there are some pictures of a RSO with a 10.5cm gun and a Marder of which thay state that they were from 719 I.D..
Does someone have a order or note that the 719 I.D. was changed from Bod.Div. into a normal I.D.?
I think it was still a Bod.Div. but with active duty to hold Brabant as long as they could.
Greetings Jack.

[Roger Griffiths]

719 Static appears to have remained as 'static'. GOC from 16th December 1944 was Major General Gaede. He was captured 30th March 1945, presumably with his Division. 719 Static is not on the OKW Order of Battle of 12th April 1945.

Roger

[ducatim901]

Hi Roger,
Thats what i tought too, the division did not received a third Regiment, this would make it a normal I.D., they kept the 723 and the 743.
Greetings Jack.

[Roger Griffiths]

Hi Roger,
Thats what i tought too, the division did not received a third Regiment, this would make it a normal I.D., they kept the 723 and the 743.
Greetings Jack.

I wrote an additional bit to my Post but it does'nt seem to be there now. 719 was still existing 12th April 1945. LXXXIX Corps reserve of Army Group G.

Roger

[Alex Dekker]

At the end of February, begin March, a publication about Heeresgruppe G will be available. Helios Aachen will publish it.

[MadDog]

What dates does this book cover ? Is there an English version planned ?

thanks,

Mad Dog

[Jan-Hendrik]

Cheers, Tom

Thread on that book

Do you, after digging through so much german Material, really need an english translation?

Translations, if not done by artists like our dear Richard, are normally rather lousy, especially when the translator has only limited knowledgde of "our" topic



Jan-Hendrik