7th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)

The 7th Infantry Division (7. Infanterie-Division) was a formation of the German Wehrmacht during World War II.

History

The division was formed 1 October 1934 in Munich from the Artillerieführer VII staff and renamed 7. Infanterie-Division with the disclosure of German rearmament on 15 October 1935. In preparation of the Invasion of Poland, the division was deployed to the Slovak Republik on 1 August 1939.

During its fight on the Eastern Front, the 7th Infantry Division at times oversaw the 638th Infantry Regiment, better known as the Legion of French Volunteers Against Bolshevism.^: 10

The division surrendered to Soviet forces near Stutthof after the unconditional surrender of 8 May 1945.

Insignia

The divisional insignia of the 7th Infantry Division showed a solid blue rectangle.^: 10

Commanders

• Franz Halder 1 October 1934 – 12 November 1936
• Otto Hartmann 12 November 1936 – 31 July 1939
• Eugen Ott 1 August 1939 – 30 September 1939
• Eberhardt Bohnstedt 30 September 1939 – 1 December 1939
• Eccard Freiherr von Gablenz 1 December 1939 – 13 December 1941
• Hans Jordan 13 December 1941 – 1 November 1942
• Fritz-Georg von Rappard 1 November 1942 – 2 October 1943
• Carl Andre 2 October 1943 – 30 November 1943
• Gustav Gihr 30 November 1943 – 8 December 1943
• Fritz-Georg von Rappard 8 December 1943
• Alois Weber August 1944 – May 1945

Sources

References

Literature

• Burkhard Müller-Hillebrand: Das Heer 1933–1945. Entwicklung des organisatorischen Aufbaues. Vol.III: Der Zweifrontenkrieg. Das Heer vom Beginn des Feldzuges gegen die Sowjetunion bis zum Kriegsende. Mittler: Frankfurt am Main 1969, p. 285.
• Georg Tessin: Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg, 1939 – 1945. Vol. III: Die Landstreitkräfte 6 -14. Mittler: Frankfurt am Main 1967.