The 208th Infantry Division, or 208.Infanterie-Division in German, was a large military unit that served during World War II. Like most German infantry divisions, the bulk of its troops were foot-mobile infantry supported by horse-drawn artillery.
The 208th Infantry Division was formed on 26 August 1939. it served in the invasion of Poland of 1939 as a reserve division of Army Group North and was commanded by General Moritz Andreas. During Fall Gelb it was a reserve division allocated to 18th Army and was mainly active in the occupation of northern Belgium. From January 1942 it fought continuously on the Eastern Front.
On 1 January 1945, the 208th Infantry Division (then part of Army Group Heinrici under Army Group A) had a strength of 9,840 men.
Commanding officers Generalleutnant Moritz Andreas, (1 September 1939 – 13 December 1941) General der Infanterie Hans-Karl von Scheele, (13 December 1941 – 1 February 1943) Generalleutnant Karl-Wilhelm von Schlieben, (1 February 1943 – ? April 1943) Generalmajor Georg Zwade, (? April 1943 – 22 June 1943) Generalleutnant Heinz Piekenbrock, (22 June 1943 – 8 May 1945)
Order of battle
1939
Infantry Regiment 309 Infantry Regiment 337 Infantry Regiment 338 Artillery Regiment 208 Engineer Battalion 208 Anti-Tank Detachment 208 Reconnaissance Detachment 208 Intelligence Department 208 Supply Troops 208
1943
Grenadier Regiment 309 Grenadier Regiment 337 Grenadier Regiment 338 Fusilier Battalion 208 Artillery Regiment 208 Pioneer Battalion 208 Panzerjäger Detachment 208 Intelligence Department 208 Supply Troops 208
See also German order of battle for Operation Fall Weiss List of German Divisions in World War II
References