266th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)


The 266th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the German Heer during World War II.

History

The 266th Infantry Division was formed on 20 May 1943 at Münsingen military base in Wehrkreis V. It was assembled using recruits from all over southern Germany as a static division. The battalions and detachments initially reported to the division headquarters on 15 June and deployment was completed by 1 August. The 266th Infantry Division initially consisted of the Grenadier Regiments 897, 898, and 899, as well as the Artillery Regiment 266. The infantry regiments were equipped with two battalions each, and the artillery regiment's detachments were equipped with Beutewaffe howitzers of Soviet origin. The only commander throughout the division's history was Karl Sprang, who has appointed upon the unit's formation.
Upon deployment to occupied France, Grenadier Regiment 898 as well as the second detachment of Artillery Regiment 266 to the 343rd Infantry Division.
The division was largely destroyed by Allied forces, including the 4th U.S. Armored Division, during the battles at Saint-Malo in July 1944. Small parts of the 266th Division escaped into the besieged Atlantic pockets in Brittany. With the fall of Brest on 19 September, the last remnants of the division were neutralized. The 266th Infantry Division was formally dissolved on 29 September 1944.

Superior formations

Noteworthy individuals