Infanterie-Division Scharnhorst

[Alpha Alpha Dawg]

What units made up this division? Also, was this an infantry division or a volksgrenadier division (I've seen it called both)? Thanks in advance.

[Christoph Awender]

Hello!

It was a Infanteriedivision and was formed out of elements of 340.Inf.Div., 167.Inf.Div. and Führer-Nachwuchsschulen in Wehrkreis XI in the area Rosslau.

regards,
Christoph

[Alpha Alpha Dawg]

Hello Christoph. Do you know if it had only one infantry regiment like ID Potsdam and ID Ulrich von Hutten, or did it have multiple inf regiments? Thanks.

[Commissar D, the Evil]

I hope this helps, sorry it's in German, but it is an excerpt from a book about Wenck's Army by Gellerman:


DIE INFANTERIEDIVISION SHARNHORST

Diese Division ist ab 30. marz 1945 weitgehend im Raum Dessau/RoBlau in der Gliederung einer Inf.Div 45 aufgestellt worden. Die grundlegeden Befehle hierfur
Ergingen am 23. Marz, 4., 8., 12. und 15, April 1945.
Es sollten folgende Zufuhrungen erfolgen: der Div.Stab mit Versorgungs-Teilen von der 340 I.D. sowie die Reste der 167. Infanteriedivision.
Volgende Verbande standen zur Stammbildung der Regimenter bzw. Der Battalione zur
Verfugung:
Das Pionier-Btl. Von Pionier-Schule Dessau/RoBlau:
Stab, I. Und IV Abt. Des Volksartillerie-Korps 412:
Stab und Stabskompanie der Pz.Jg. Abt. Magdeburg:
Teile des Nachr. Lehrregimentes Halle.
Der Werkreis Bohmen und Mahren stellte die Karenstelle. Intwieweit die letzegenannten Zufurhrungen tatsachlich erfolgt sind, konne nicht mehr ermittel werden.
Die Fuhrerwuchsschulen des Wehrkreiss XI stellen das weitere Personal.
Die drei Grenadierregimenter wurden in folgenden Orten aufgestellt: I in RoBlau, 2 in der Pionierkassern RoBlau, 3 in Dessau, in GroB- und Klein-Kuhnau sowie in Alten.
Sie bestanden zu 80 Prozent aus Fahnenjuunkern, Unterofffizierschulern und Unteroffiziervorschulern. Das Gren. Rgt. 2 setze sich zun Teil aus hochdekorierten Luftwaffenangehorigen zusammen. Die ifanteristische Ausrustung bestand aus Karabiner, Sturmgewehr 44, MG 34 und 42, Panzerfaust und Panzerschreck. Granatwerfer, PaK und Infanteriegeschutze waren in Sollhohe vorhanden. Die Pz.Jgr. Abt. Wurde in Dessau/RoBlau aufgestellt. Ihre Starke betrug 427 Soldaten und 14—18 Ofiziere. Folgende Ausrustungsgegenstande wurden aus dem Bereich des Fleigerhorstes Oranienbaum beschafft: ein Tieflader, einige 3-t-Zugmaschinen , Zwillings- und Vieringsflakgeschutze, 20 Flieger-MGs sowie einige VW-Gelande- bzw.Schwimmwagen. Die zugewiesene Pz. Kp. War mit Panjewagen und Pferden, nicht aber mit Panzern ausgerustet. Fur die Jgd,Pz.Kp., standen etwa 7 Jagdpanzer zur Verfugung.

Best Regards, Commissar D, the EviL

[David Gregory]

Hi,

I've put a translation in the appropriate thread in the "Translation Requests" forum.

All the best,

David

[Commissar D, the Evil]

Here is David Gregory's excellent translation of the passage from the Wenck Army book:

Trust this will do the trick.

All the best,

David Gregory,
Germany


Translation:

INFANTERIEDIVISION SHARNHORST

The division was raised as of 30 March 1945 largely in the Dessau/RoBlau area in the form of an Inf.Div 45. The basic orders for this were issued on 23 March, 4, 8, 12 and 15 April 1945.
The following assignments were to be effected: Divisional staff with supply elements from 340 I.D. as well as the remains of 167. Infanteriedivision.
The following formations were available for the creation of cadres for the regiments and batallions:
Pionier-Btl. from Pionier-Schule Dessau/RoBlau:
Staff, I. and IV batallions (you can argue the toss about the correct English term for this one in an artillery formation) of Volksartillerie-Korps 412:
Staff and staff company of Pz.Jg. Abt. Magdeburg:
Parts of Nachr. Lehrregiment Halle.
Military District Böhmen und Mähren provided the "Karenstelle" (German typo? May be map unit- "Kartenstelle"). It is no longer possible to determine to what extent the above-mentioned assignments actually took place.
The Fuhrerwuchsschulen (German typo? May be "Führernachwuchsschulen" - officer cadet schools) of Military District XI provided the remaining personnel.
The three Grenadier regiments were raised in the following locations: I in RoBlau, 2 in the RoBlau Pionier barracks, 3 in Dessau, in GroB- und Klein-Kuhnau as well as in Alten.
80 percent of them consisted of officer cadets, trainee NCOs and NCO pre-students. The second regiment partly consisted of highly decorated members of the Luftwaffe. Infantry equipment comprised Karabiner, Sturmgewehr 44, MG 34 and 42, Panzerfaust and Panzerschreck. Mortars, AT guns and infantry guns were available at theoretical strength. The Pz.Jgr. Abt. was raised in Dessau/RoBlau. It consisted of 427 other ranks and 14/18 officers. The following equipment items were procured from the Oranienbaum airbase area: a low-loader, some 3 t tractor units, twin and quadruple AAA, 20 AA MGs as well as some VW jeeps and Schwimmwagen. The assigned Pz. Kp. was equipped with horses and carts, but had no tanks. Approximately 7 Jagdpanzer were available to the Jgd.Pz.Kp.
_________________



David Gregory
New Member


Joined: 09 Oct 2002
Posts: 11
Location: Germany
Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2002 8:28 am Post subject: Correction

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The text only refers to one low-loader, and not "some". Sorry.

Once again, I would like to add my sincere thanks to David Gregory for his translation. There is very little written in English on this Division.
Cheers, D (not always EviL)

[Wackerade]

Where did the Scharnhorst Division's Regiment Pieck (Grenadier Regiment 3) serve following its having been raised in Dessau? Ta