557th Infantry Division

557th Infantry Division
557. Infanterie-Division
Active15 February 1940 – 31 August 1940
Country Nazi Germany
Branch Heer (Wehrmacht)
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
EngagementsPhoney War
Commanders
CommanderHermann Kuprion

The 557th Infantry Division (German: 557. Infanterie-Division) was an infantry division of the Heer, the ground forces of Nazi Germany's Wehrmacht. It was active for several months in the year 1940.

History

The 557th Infantry Division was formed on 15 February 1940 as a positional division for defensive duties in the Upper Rhine sector,[1]: 350  during the standoff along the Franco-German border, the Phoney War. Its assembly was implemented by Wehrkreis IV, and its staff was initially formed using personnel from Division Command z.b.V. 427.[2]: 160  The sole commander of 557th Infantry Division throughout its history was Hermann Kuprion.[3]

The division initially consisted of three regiments: Infantry Regiment 632 was formed using personnel of the II./425 battalion of 223rd Infantry Division as well as half of II./412 of 227th Infantry Division; Infantry Regiment 633 was formed using personnel of the II./306 battalion of 211th Infantry Division and the other half of II./412 battalion of 227th Division; Infantry Regiment 634 was formed (in Leoben) using personnel from II./335 battalion of 205th Infantry Division. Additionally, the 557th Infantry Division also contained Artillery Regiment 557 with three detachments, the Observation Detachment 557 and the Division Units 557.[2]: 160 

The division served as part of XXV Army Corps from May to June 1940,[2]: 160  along with 555th Infantry Division.[4]: 49–56  It served across the French defensive lines, the Maginot Line.[5]: 290 

Following a directive on 19 July, the 557th Infantry Division was formally dissolved on 31 August 1940 in the Zeitz-Weißenfels area, as the June 1940 German victory in the Battle of France had rendered the various positional divisions on the Franco-German border superfluous. The division was split into autonomous home guard battalions, of which eight were sent to Wehrkreis II to guard prisoners of war, whereas battalion III./634 was deployed to the Protectorate of Bohemia-Moravia. The battalions were designated as the Landesschützen Battalions 975 through 983 on 1 January 1941.[2]: 160 

References

  1. ^ Nafziger, George F. (2000). The German Order of Battle: Infantry in World War II. London: Greenhill Books. ISBN 1853673935.
  2. ^ a b c d Tessin, Georg (1975). Die Landstreitkräfte 501–630. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939–1945 (in German). Vol. 11. Osnabrück: Biblio.
  3. ^ Mitcham, Samuel W. (2007). "557th Infantry Division". German Order of Battle: 1st–290th Infantry Divisions in WWII. Stackpole Books. ISBN 9780811746540.
  4. ^ Tessin, Georg (1977). Die Landstreitkräfte 6-14. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945 (in German). Vol. 3. Osnabrück: Biblio Verlag. ISBN 3764810971.
  5. ^ Mitcham, Samuel W. (1985). Hitler's Legions: The German Army Order of Battle, World War II. Stein and Days Publishing. ISBN 0812829921.