6th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)


The 6th Infantry Division was a unit of the German Army during World War II.

History

Formed in October 1934 from Infanterieführer VI in Bielefeld, the division was mobilized on 26 August 1939 for the upcoming invasion of Poland. At that time, it consisted of the usual German infantry division elements: three infantry regiments of three battalions each, one three-battalion regiment of light artillery, one battalion of heavy artillery, a Panzerjäger Battalion, a reconnaissance Battalion, a Signals Battalion, a Pioneer Battalion, and divisional supply, medical, and administrative units.
When the Soviets launched Operation Bagration on 23 June 1944, the division was surrounded during the Bobruysk Offensive and completely destroyed.
On 25 July 1944, the division was recreated 6. Grenadier-Division and renamed in 6. Volksgrenadier-Division. The division was destroyed during the Soviet Vistula–Oder Offensive in January 1945 and reestablished as 6. Infanterie-Division using elements of Shadow Division Dresden.

Commanding officers