557th Infantry Division

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.

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

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. 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.
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