59th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)

The 59th Infantry Division was a German infantry division that fought during World War II. It was formed on 26 June 1944 in Wehrkreis XI as a Sperr-Division (blocking division). Its initial purpose was to provide security and defensive support in the Brittany region of France following the Allied landings in Normandy.

Composed of elements drawn from disbanded or depleted units, the 59th Infantry Division was quickly thrown into the fighting in the Falaise pocket. Suffering heavy losses, it was largely destroyed during the Allied encirclement in August 1944.

Reformed in September 1944 from Kampfgruppe 59. Infanterie-Division, a battle group formed from remnants of the original division and replacement troops, the division was subsequently deployed on the Western Front. It participated in the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and January 1945. The division continued to fight against Allied forces in Germany until the end of the war, eventually surrendering in May 1945.

The division was considered a low-quality unit, composed of undertrained and underequipped soldiers, particularly after its initial destruction and subsequent reformation. Its performance reflected these deficiencies throughout the remainder of the war. Key personnel and structure underwent constant change due to high casualties.