The , designated ''1.Infanterie-Division'' in Germany, was one of the original Infantry Division s of the Reichswehr and Wehrmacht and served through World War II .
Originally formed as the beginning of Germany's first wave of rearmament, the division was first given the title of ''Wehrgauleitung Königsberg'', soon after having this changed to ''Artillerieführer I''. These names were an effort to cover the expansion of infantry divisions from seven to twenty-one. The division's infantry regiments were built up from the ''1.(Preussisches) Infanterie-Regiment'' of the ''1.Division'' of the Reichswehr. The division's Prussian heritage is represented by the Hohenzollern coat of arms that serves as the divisional insignia. Upon the official revelation of the Wehrmacht, the unit received its title of ''1.Infanterie-Division''.
The division took part in the Polish Campaign with a major role, and the French Campaign with a more minor role. It entered Russia with Army Group North , and remained in the region of Leningrad until October 1943, when it was transferred to Army Group Centre (which was renamed Army Group North on 25 January 1945). The division fought to the end, finishing in East Prussia in 1945.
The 1st Infantry Division was a Wave 1 division, standing prior to the war. It was equipped and organized along standard lines for a German infantry division. Its original form in 1934 was of two infantry regiments, an artillery regiment, a pioneer battalion, and a signals unit.
The division entered Poland with the following units under command:
By 1944, the division's structure was so altered that the following units were under command:
The following officers commanded the 1st Infantry Division:
- Oct 1, 1934 to Apr 1, 1935: General Major Georg Von Küchler
- Apr 1, 1935 to Jan 1, 1938: General Lt. Walther Schroth
- Jan 1, 1938 to Apr 14, 1940: General Lt. Joachim Von Kortzfleisch
- Apr 14, 1940 to Jul 12, 1941: General Lt. Philipp Kleffel
- Jul 12, 1941 to Sep 4, 1941: General Major Dr. Friedrich Altrichter
- Sep 4, 1941 to Jan 16, 1942: General Lt. Philipp Kleffel
- Jan 16, 1942 to Jun 30, 1943: General Lt. Martin Grase
- Jul 1, 1943 to May 10, 1944: General Lt. Ernst-Anton Von Krosigk
- May 10, 1944 to Jun 8, 1944: Oberst Hans-Joachim Baurmeister
- Jun 8, 1944 to Sep 30, 1944: General Lt. Ernst-Anton Von Krosigk
- Oct 1, 1944 to Feb 28, 1945: General Lt. Hans Schittnig
- Feb 28, 1945 to Apr 26, 1945: General Lt. Henning Von Thadden
A total of 31 personnel of the division were awarded the Knight's Cross .
- Polish Campaign as part of Army Group North:
- --- Sep, 1939: Fought in Poland under 3.''Armee'' of German Army Group North
- French Campaign as part of Army Group B:
- --- May, 1940: Reserve division of 6.''Armee'' of German Army Group B in Belgium
- --- Jun, 1940: Fought in France under I.''Armeekorps'' of 4.''Armee''
- --- Jul-Aug, 1940: Part of I.''Armeekorps'' of 7.''Armee'' along the Atlantic coast
- --- Sep, 1940: Transferred to East Prussia under 18.''Armee'' with ''Army Group B''
- Russian Campaign as part of Army Group North:
- --- Jun, 1941: Invaded Russia with 18.''Armee'' under ''Army Group North''
- --- Jul, 1941: Transferred to XXVI.''Armeekorps'' under 18.''Armee''
- --- Aug, 1941: Transferred to XXXXI.''Armeekorps'' of 4.''Panzergruppe''
- --- Sep, 1941: Transferred to XXXVIII.''Armeekorps'' of 18.''Armee'' near Peterhof
- --- Nov, 1941: Reserve division of 18.''Armee'' near Leningrad
- --- Dec, 1941: Joined XXVI.''Armeekorps'' near Leningrad
- --- May, 1942: Rejoined XXVI.''Armeekorps'' near Volkhov
- --- Jun, 1942: Rejoined I.''Armeekorps'' near Volkhov
- --- Jan, 1943: Rejoined XXVI.''Armeekorps'' near Ladoga
- --- Feb, 1943: Joined LIV.''Armeekorps'' near Ladoga
- --- Apr, 1943: Rejoined XXVI.''Armeekorps'' near Ladoga
- --- Sep, 1943: Rejoined XXVIII.''Armeekorps'' near Tigoda
- Ukrainian Campaign as part of Army Group South:
- --- Jan, 1944: Transferred to reserves of 1.''Panzer-Armee'' under Army Group South at Winnizia
- --- Feb, 1944: Joined XXXXVI.''Armeekorps'' in the Hube pocket
- Ukrainian Campaign as part of Army Group North Ukraine:
- --- Apr, 1944: Joined III.''Armeekorps'' under Army Group North Ukraine
- --- May, 1944: Rejoined XXVI.''Armeekorps'' under 1.''Panzer-Armee'' at Stanislau
- --- Jul, 1944: Joined LIX.''Armeekorps'' at Brody
- Defense of the Reich:
- --- Aug, 1944: Rejoined XXVI.''Armeekorps'' under 3.''Panzer-Armee'' of '' Army Group Centre '' at Schlossberg
- --- Feb, 1945: Rejoined XXXXI.''Armeekorps'' under 4.''Armee'' at Königsberg
- --- Mar, 1945: Reserve division of ''Armee Samland'' at Samland
- --- Apr, 1945: Rejoined XXVI.''Armeekorps'' under ''Armee Ostpreussen'' at Pillau
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