71st Infantry Division

Sep 14, 2012

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71st Infantry Division

The 71st Infantry Division (71. Infanterie-Division) Reserve division formed on mobilization and recruited mainly from the Hannover area. On the Saar front for a period. Fought with distinction in the Sedan area and in the advance on Verdun. Fought in Russia in the southern sector for the first four months of the campaign, then returned to France and left again for the Eastern front during April 1942. Virtually destroyed at Stalingrad.

Commanders

General der Infanterie Alexander von Hartmann, from 28th March 1941 to 1943

General der Infanterie Alexander von Hartmann commanded the 71st Infantry Division during World War II, showcasing exceptional leadership. He participated in key campaigns, including the Battle of Stalingrad, where he was killed in action. Hartmann was posthumously promoted and remembered for his dedication, earning the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross.

Units

91 Infantry Regiment
194 Infantry Regiment
211 Infantry Regiment
171 Reconnaissance Battalion
171 Artillery Regiment
171 Pionier Battalion
171 Anti-Tank Battalion
171 Signal Battalion

Auxiliary unit number 171
Home Station Hildesheim (Wkr. XI)

Locations

History

The 71st Infantry Division, known as the “Cloverleaf Division,” formed in 1939 and participated in key campaigns. It fought in the Battle of France, capturing strategic locations, and later served on the Eastern Front during Operation Barbarossa.

The division played a significant role in the Battle of Stalingrad, enduring relentless Soviet attacks and harsh conditions. Encircled during Operation Uranus, destroyed in January 1943 when the 6th Army surrendered. Reformed later in 1943, it fought in Italy, including the Battle of Monte Cassino, reflecting the challenges faced by German forces throughout the war.