1st Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)

The 1st Infantry Division was a German infantry division that fought during World War II. Formed in October 1934 under the cover name Kommandant von Königsberg, it was one of the first divisions created as part of the German rearmament program. Its official designation as the 1st Infantry Division was revealed in October 1935.

The division participated in the invasion of Poland in 1939 as part of Army Group North, fighting in the corridor to East Prussia and around Warsaw. It then took part in the invasion of France in 1940, advancing through Belgium and northern France.

In 1941, the 1st Infantry Division was involved in Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, as part of Army Group North. It fought in the Baltic states and around Leningrad. The division remained on the Eastern Front for the majority of the war, participating in numerous defensive battles.

During its time on the Eastern Front, the 1st Infantry Division suffered heavy casualties. In 1945, it was transferred to East Prussia, where it was eventually encircled and destroyed by Soviet forces in the Heiligenbeil pocket. The remnants of the division surrendered in April 1945.

The 1st Infantry Division was a typical infantry division of the Wehrmacht, equipped with standard infantry weapons, artillery, and some anti-tank guns. It was reorganized several times during the war to reflect changes in Wehrmacht doctrine and the availability of manpower and equipment. Its soldiers were often referred to as the "East Prussian Grenadiers."

The division's combat record includes participation in some of the major campaigns of World War II, reflecting both successes and failures of the Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front. It was known for its participation in siege warfare around Leningrad and its eventual destruction in the final stages of the war.