Post by Gerry on Mar 2, 2010 10:26:39 GMT -5
The 91. Luftlande Infanterie-Division was formed in January 1944. Although earmarked and equipped for air landing operations, the division was transferred to Normandy in May 1944 where it formed part of the static defenses of the Cotentin Peninsula. The division was strengthened by the attachment of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 6 and Panzer-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Abteilung 100. The division was destroyed near Cherbourg on 22 June 1944 and disbanded on 10 August 1944.
A planned reformation of the 91. Infanterie-Division from a Kampfgruppe was cancelled on 5 November 1944. The 344. Infanterie-Division was formed in its place.
Commanders
Generalleutnant Bruno Ortner (10 Feb 1944 - 25 Apr 1944)
Generalleutnant Wilhelm Falley (25 Apr 1944 - 6 June 1944) (KIA) (1)
Generalmajor Bernhard Klosterkemper (6 June 1944 - 10 June 1944)
Generalleutnant Eugen König (10 June 1944 - 10 Aug 1944)
Operations Officers (Ia)
Oberstleutnant Hans Bickel (20 Feb 1944 - 10 Aug 1944)
Area of operations
France (Feb 1944 - Aug 1944)
Nicknames
Haudegen-Division
Order of battle
Grenadier-Regiment 1057
Grenadier-Regiment 1058
Gebirgs-Artillerie-Regiment 191
I. Abteilung
II. Abteilung
III. Abteilung
Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 191
Fla-Kompanie 191
Panzerjäger-Kompanie 191
Nachrichten-Abteilung 191
Pionier-Bataillon 191
Versorgungstruppen 191
Footnotes
1. Generalleutnant Wilhelm Falley was killed 6 June 1944 in an ambush by troops from the US 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division under the command of Lt Malcolm D. Brannen.
In France during '44 this division was quite diverse consisting of Grenadiers, Fallschirmjagers, Artillery, Flak and Panzer troops. This makes this division an Ideal one to reenact. Here in the Northeast nearly all of our airsoft events take place on the western front and some in the Italian theatre. The 91.LL can consist of nearly all Wehrmacht impressions making it a good one for attending these events and targeting troops that may have been present for particular battles. Our primary range of operations will be in the Northeast.
Additional info:
The division was formed in January 1944 at Baumholder, Germany. It was soon moved to Reims, where it was to train for air landing operations.1
In May the 91. Inf.Div. was sent to Normandy. It was reported on 15 May that all rail movements were completed.3 The division required only 32 trains4, which suggest that it had a strength of no more than perhaps 7 000 - 8 000 men.
The 91 Füs.Btl. was formed in April 1944 according to Tessin, but it was not included on the 7th Army situation map dated 5 June 1944. Possibly it was still not combat ready. The 6. Fallschirm Regiment was subordinated to 91. Inf.Div. on D-Day.
It seems that the division had no field replacement battalion.5
A particular problem for the division was that two of its artillery battalions were equipped with 10,5 cm Geb.Haub. 40. This weapon, a mountain howitzer, used ammunition that was not interchangeable with the standard German 10,5 cm field howitzer. When the division arrived in Normandy it had only one basic load of ammunition for this weapon. During the fighting it received very little supply of this ammo and these howitzers had to be sent away and be replaced with other weapons. This made the equipment of the artillery regiment very mixed.6
Elements of the division was engaged on D-Day, counterattacking US paratroopers on the Cotentin. The commander of the division, Wilhelm Falley, was killed when he tried to return to his command post.
Until 12 June the 91. Inf.Div. lost 2 212 men killed, wounded and missing.7 Losses continued to mount and it was reported that the division lost 85 % of its infantry soldiers 6 - 24 June. During the same period it lost 21 % of the artillery manpower, 76 % of the engineers and 48 % of the AT units personnel.8
Please contact Gerry Weiss at waterfowler528@aol.com for any information
A planned reformation of the 91. Infanterie-Division from a Kampfgruppe was cancelled on 5 November 1944. The 344. Infanterie-Division was formed in its place.
Commanders
Generalleutnant Bruno Ortner (10 Feb 1944 - 25 Apr 1944)
Generalleutnant Wilhelm Falley (25 Apr 1944 - 6 June 1944) (KIA) (1)
Generalmajor Bernhard Klosterkemper (6 June 1944 - 10 June 1944)
Generalleutnant Eugen König (10 June 1944 - 10 Aug 1944)
Operations Officers (Ia)
Oberstleutnant Hans Bickel (20 Feb 1944 - 10 Aug 1944)
Area of operations
France (Feb 1944 - Aug 1944)
Nicknames
Haudegen-Division
Order of battle
Grenadier-Regiment 1057
Grenadier-Regiment 1058
Gebirgs-Artillerie-Regiment 191
I. Abteilung
II. Abteilung
III. Abteilung
Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 191
Fla-Kompanie 191
Panzerjäger-Kompanie 191
Nachrichten-Abteilung 191
Pionier-Bataillon 191
Versorgungstruppen 191
Footnotes
1. Generalleutnant Wilhelm Falley was killed 6 June 1944 in an ambush by troops from the US 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division under the command of Lt Malcolm D. Brannen.
In France during '44 this division was quite diverse consisting of Grenadiers, Fallschirmjagers, Artillery, Flak and Panzer troops. This makes this division an Ideal one to reenact. Here in the Northeast nearly all of our airsoft events take place on the western front and some in the Italian theatre. The 91.LL can consist of nearly all Wehrmacht impressions making it a good one for attending these events and targeting troops that may have been present for particular battles. Our primary range of operations will be in the Northeast.
Additional info:
The division was formed in January 1944 at Baumholder, Germany. It was soon moved to Reims, where it was to train for air landing operations.1
In May the 91. Inf.Div. was sent to Normandy. It was reported on 15 May that all rail movements were completed.3 The division required only 32 trains4, which suggest that it had a strength of no more than perhaps 7 000 - 8 000 men.
The 91 Füs.Btl. was formed in April 1944 according to Tessin, but it was not included on the 7th Army situation map dated 5 June 1944. Possibly it was still not combat ready. The 6. Fallschirm Regiment was subordinated to 91. Inf.Div. on D-Day.
It seems that the division had no field replacement battalion.5
A particular problem for the division was that two of its artillery battalions were equipped with 10,5 cm Geb.Haub. 40. This weapon, a mountain howitzer, used ammunition that was not interchangeable with the standard German 10,5 cm field howitzer. When the division arrived in Normandy it had only one basic load of ammunition for this weapon. During the fighting it received very little supply of this ammo and these howitzers had to be sent away and be replaced with other weapons. This made the equipment of the artillery regiment very mixed.6
Elements of the division was engaged on D-Day, counterattacking US paratroopers on the Cotentin. The commander of the division, Wilhelm Falley, was killed when he tried to return to his command post.
Until 12 June the 91. Inf.Div. lost 2 212 men killed, wounded and missing.7 Losses continued to mount and it was reported that the division lost 85 % of its infantry soldiers 6 - 24 June. During the same period it lost 21 % of the artillery manpower, 76 % of the engineers and 48 % of the AT units personnel.8
Please contact Gerry Weiss at waterfowler528@aol.com for any information