Aufstellungswelle

Deployed between 1934 and 1939, the divisions of the 1. Aufstellungswelle were those infantry divisions that were raised and trained during peacetime (ordinal numbers 1 to 36), as well as four infantry divisions (ordinal numbers 44, 45, 46, 50) that were raised in August 1939 and equipped with equivalent material to that of the other first wave divisions.

Divisions of the first wave included the 1st through 36th Infantry Divisions, the 44th through 46th Infantry Divisions, and the 50th Infantry Division. Divisions of the first wave were armed with German weapons. In total, 40 divisions were retroactively designated as part of the first wave.

Divisions of the first wave were intended to be staffed by 518 officers, 102 bureaucrats, 2,573 NCOs, and 13,667 soldiers for a total of 16,860 personnel. The equipment included 3,681 pistols, 12,609 rifles, 535 machine guns, 26 infantry support guns, 75 anti-tank guns, 48 artillery guns, 530 krads, 394 cars, 536 trucks, and 5,375 horses.[3] An infantry division of the first wave was organized in three infantry regiments. Each regiment consisted of three battalions. Each battalion consisted of three rifle companies with initially nine-light and two heavy machine guns each, later replaced with twelve light machine guns and three light grenade launchers each. In addition, each battalion contained a machine gun company with eight heavy machine guns, later upgraded to twelve heavy machine guns. Also, each battalion had an infantry gun company with two heavy and six light infantry guns. Finally, each battalion had an anti-tank company with twelve PaKs.[4]

Units of the 2. Aufstellungswelle were among the three waves raised for the mobilization before the Invasion of Poland on 26 August 1939.

Divisions of the second wave were smaller than divisions of the first wave by 1,000 to 2,000 men, if not more.[5] The required strength of a second wave division included 491 officers, 98 bureaucrats, 2,273 NCOs and 12,411 soldiers for a total of 15,273. The equipment included 3,801 pistols, 10,828 rifles, 459 machine guns, 26 infantry support guns, 75 anti-tank guns, 48 artillery guns, 597 krads, 393 cars, 509 trucks, and 5,854 horses.[6]

These were the 52nd Infantry Division, 56th through 58th Infantry Divisions, 60th through 62nd Infantry Divisions, 68th Infantry Division, 69th Infantry Division, 71st through 73rd Infantry Division, 75th Infantry Division, 76th Infantry Division, 78th Infantry Division, 79th Infantry Division, 86th Infantry Division, and 87th Infantry Division. In total, the second wave consisted of 18 divisions.

Units of the 3. Aufstellungswelle were among the three waves raised for the mobilization before the Invasion of Poland on 26 August 1939.

Divisions of the third wave were in practice numerically larger than divisions of the first wave, usually by some 600 men.[5] This difference was less than was intended: the required strength of a third wave division included 578 officers, 94 bureaucrats, 2,722 NCOs, and 14,507 soldiers for a total of 17,901 (compared to 16,860 for a first wave division). The divisions of the third wave were armed with 4,640 pistols, 11,423 rifles, 709 machine guns, 26 infantry support guns, 75 anti-tank guns, 48 artillery guns, 425 krads. 330 cars, 248 trucks, and 6,033 horses. As a result, the divisions of the third wave each had more men than any given division of the first wave, but their equipment values of krads, cars and trucks were actually reduced compared to those of a division of the first wave.[6]

Divisions of the third wave, many of which were deployed under Army Group C in defensive roles against France between September of 1939 and summer of 1940, were deemed lacking by Army Group C's commander Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb, who reported to Franz Halder on 3 October 1939 that third wave divisions were in his view only suitable for positional warfare under quiet conditions.[7]

These were the 205th through 209th Infantry Division, 211th through 218th Infantry Division, 221st Infantry Division, 223rd Infantry Division, 225th Infantry Division, 227th Infantry Division, 228th Infantry Division, 231st Infantry Division, 239th Infantry Division, 246th Infantry Division and 311th Infantry Division. In total, the third wave consisted of 22 divisions.

Units of the 4. Aufstellungswelle were among the three waves raised for the mobilization before the Invasion of Poland on 26 August 1939.

Divisions of the fourth wave were smaller than divisions of the first wave by 1,000 to 2,000 men if not more.[5] Nominally, the strength of divisions of the fourth wave was supposed to be 491 officers, 99 bureaucrats, 2,165 NCOs, and 12,264 soldiers, for a total of 15,019. The divisions were equipped with 3,639 pistols, 10,807 rifles, 457 machine guns, 20 infantry support guns, 75 anti-tank guns, 48 artillery guns, 529 krads, 359 cars, 536 trucks, and 4,077 horses.[6]

Von Leeb, commander of Army Group C, reported to Halder on 3 October 1939 that fourth wave divisions were in his view only suitable for positional warfare if they were to receive additional training in defensive combat.[7]

These were the 251st through 258th Infantry Divisions, the 260th Infantry Division, the 262nd Infantry Division, the 263rd Infantry Division, and the 267th through 269th Infantry Divisions. In total, the fourth wave consisted of 14 divisions.

The 5. Aufstellungswelle was the first wave of units that were created with the lessons of World War II in mind. Raised during September 1939, the units of the fifth wave had their infantry regiments' 13th companies' armaments replaced by grenade launchers rather than infantry guns, and their 14th companies were armed with horsedrawn anti-tank guns. However, the units of the fifth wave also dropped their recon detachment, which was replaced by bicycle companies. Unlike the first four waves, which were all armed with German-produced material, the weapons of the fifth wave units were taken from the stashes of Czechoslovakia, which Germany had annexed between 1938 and 1939.

The divisions of the fifth wave were the 93rd through 96th Infantry Divisions as well as the 98th Infantry Division. In total, the fifth wave consisted of five divisions.

In the units of the 6. Aufstellungswelle, assembled by 14 November 1939, the 13th companies of the infantry regiments were not deployed. Both the anti-tank and the recon detachments were just one company each. Just like the fifth wave units, the sixth wave was armed with Czechoslovak material.

The divisions of the sixth wave were the 81st through 83rd Infantry Divisions and the 88th Infantry Division. In total, the sixth wave consisted of four divisions.

In units of the 7. Aufstellungswelle, the anti-tank detachments were supported by a bicycle company. It was again armed with German material, rather than the Czechoslovak material of the fifth and sixth waves.

The units of the seventh wave were the 161st through 170th Infantry Divisions, the 181st Infantry Division, the 183rd Infantry Division, and the 196th through 199th Infantry Divisions. In total, the seventh wave consisted of 16 divisions.

The units of the 8. Aufstellungswelle were organizationally identical to those of the seventh wave, but were assembled a few months later, during February 1940. At this point, the Wehrmacht was preparing for the Battle of France.

The units of the eighth wave were the 290th through 299th Infantry Divisions. In total, the eighth wave consisted of ten divisions.

Armed with three infantry regiments each, as well as an infantry gun company, engineer company, intelligence company, an artillery battery, and a bicycle squadron, the units of the 9. Aufstellungswelle was created in immediate preparation for the attack against France in February and March 1940.

The divisions of the ninth wave were the 351st Infantry Division, 358th Infantry Division, 365th Infantry Division, 372nd Infantry Division, 379th Infantry Division, 386th Infantry Division, 393rd Infantry Division, 395th Infantry Division, and the 399th Infantry Division. In total, the ninth wave consisted of nine divisions.

The units of the 10. Aufstellungswelle never saw service, as they were assembled in anticipation of a prolonged war in France that didn't become reality. As a result, the units of the tenth wave were dissolved during deployment.

The divisions of the tenth wave were the 270th through 273rd Infantry Divisions as well as the 276th through 280th Infantry Divisions. In total, the tenth wave consisted of nine divisions.

Armed with captured French material, the units of the 11. Aufstellungswelle was formed in October 1940.

The divisions of the eleventh wave were the 121st through 123rd Infantry Divisions, 125th Infantry Division, 126th Infantry Division, 129th Infantry Division, 131st Infantry Division, 132nd Infantry Division, 134th Infantry Division and 137th Infantry Division. In total, the eleventh wave consisted of ten divisions.

Armed from French material in November 1940, the 12. Aufstellungswelle was similar to its predecessor.

The divisions of the twelfth wave were the 97th Infantry Division, 99th through 102nd Infantry Division, the 106th Infantry Division, and 110th through 112th Infantry Divisions. In total, the twelfth wave consisted of nine divisions.

Intended as occupation forces for the territories seized during the western campaign, the 13. Aufstellungswelle of November to December 1940 consisted of divisions that were not equipped with infantry regiments with infantry gun companies and anti-tank companies, had no recon detachments or intelligence detachments, and had their artillery and anti-tank detachments decreased in strength. The 13th wave was armed with French material.

The divisions of the 13th wave were the 302nd Infantry Division, 304th through 306th Infantry Divisions, 319th through 321st Infantry Divisions, the 323rd Infantry Division and the 327th Infantry Division. In total, the 13th wave consisted of nine divisions.

The final wave of the year 1940, 14. Aufstellungswelle was raised during November and December. It shared its properties with its predecessor wave.

The divisions of the 14th wave were the 332nd Infantry Division, 333rd Infantry Division, 335th through 337th Infantry Divisions, 339th Infantry Division, 340th Infantry Division, and 342nd Infantry Division. In total, the 14th wave consisted of eight divisions.

Assembled starting in April 1941, the divisions of the 15. Aufstellungswelle were intended as occupation forces in the Balkans, where the Germans had recently invaded Yugoslavia and assisted Italy in the Battle of Greece, These divisions, at just two infantry regiments, were weaker than the previous waves. The divisions' regiments also lacked infantry gun and Panzerjäger companies, as well as heavy machine gun companies in the battalions.[8] The divisions saw significant amounts of combat at the hands of the Yugoslav Partisan resistance fighters.[9] The thirty regiments needed for the fifteen divisions were raised following an order on 13 April 1941, with two regiments assembled from each Wehrkreis. The divisions were ready by either 1 May 1941 (in case of the 702nd and 704th) or 15 May 1941 (in case of the remaining divisions).[8]

The divisions of the 15th wave were the 702nd Infantry Division, 704th Infantry Division, and the 707th through 719th Infantry Divisions. In total, the 15th wave consisted of 15 divisions.

At just four brigades, the 16. Aufstellungswelle was the nominally smallest of all deployment waves. It was assembled in June 1941, in the immediate lead up to the German invasion of the Soviet Union.

The brigades of the 16th wave were the 201st through 204th Security Brigades. These were by summer 1942 merged into the 201st Security Division and 203rd Security Division. In total, the 16th wave consisted of four brigades (eventually merged into two divisions).

The first deployment wave during the German-Soviet War, the 17. Aufstellungswelle was assembled in December 1941.

The 17th wave consisted of the 328th through 331st Infantry Divisions. In total, the 17th wave consisted of four divisions.

Assembled at the same time as the 17th wave, the units of the 18th wave of deployment, the 18. Aufstellungswelle, were weaker, as they lacked a heavy artillery detachment and had just one engineer company each.

The divisions of the 18th wave were the 383rd through 385th Infantry Divisions, 387th Infantry Division, and 389th Infantry Division. In total, the 18th wave consisted of five divisions.

The 19. Aufstellungswelle was raised during March and April 1942.

The divisions of the 19th wave were the 370th Infantry Division, 371st Infantry Division, 376th Infantry Division and 377th Infantry Division. In total, the 19th wave consisted of four divisions.

The 20. Aufstellungswelle was raised in July 1942.

The divisions of the 20th wave were the 38th Infantry Division, 39th Infantry Division and 65th Infantry Division. In total, the 20th wave consisted of three divisions.

The 21. Aufstellungswelle was raised in October 1943.

The divisions of the 21st wave were the 349th Infantry Division, 352nd Infantry Division, 353rd Infantry Division, 357th Infantry Division, 359th Infantry Division, 361st Infantry Division, 362nd Infantry Division and 367th Infantry Division. In total, the 21st wave consisted of eight divisions.

The 22. Aufstellungswelle was raised in December 1943.

The divisions of the 22nd wave were the 271st Infantry Division, 272nd Infantry Division, and the 275th through 278th Infantry Divisions. In total, the 22nd wave consisted of six divisions.

The last wave of the year 1943, 23. Aufstellungswelle was raised between December 1943 and January 1944.

The divisions of the 23rd wave were the 388th Security Division, 390th Security Division, 391st Security Division, and 52nd Field Training Division. In total, the 23rd wave consisted of four divisions.

As a result of the disastrous losses sustained by the Wehrmacht, the 24. Aufstellungswelle was the first to feature Shadow Divisions. Shadow Divisions were trained "in the shadow" of regular divisions and were called into action as reinforcements if the shadowed division took losses. Such divisions were typically named after their location, usually their exercise grounds. The 24th deployment wave was raised in January 1944.

The divisions of the 24th wave were the Shadow Divisions Mielau, Wahn, Milowitz and Demba. In total, the 24th wave consisted of four divisions.

Raised at the same time as the shadow divisions of the 24th wave, the 25. Aufstellungswelle instead consisted of mainline infantry divisions.

The divisions of the 25th wave were the 77th Infantry Division, 84th Infantry Division, 89th Infantry Division, 91st Infantry Division, and 92nd Infantry Division. In total, the 25th wave consisted of five divisions.

The 26. Aufstellungswelle was another deployment wave that consisted of Shadow Divisions. The 26th wave was raised in April 1944.

The divisions of the 26th wave were the Shadow Divisions Böhmen, Neuhammer, Ostpreußen and Wildflecken. In total, the 26th wave consisted of four divisions.

The 27. Aufstellungswelle of June 1944 was the first wave of German infantry divisions raised after the Allied Normandy landings.

The divisions of the 27th wave were the 59th Infantry Division, 64th Infantry Division, 226th Infantry Division, 232nd Infantry Division, and 237th Infantry Division. In total, the 27th wave consisted of five divisions.

Raised in July 1944, the 28. Aufstellungswelle was the third wave of Shadow Divisions.

The divisions of the 28th wave were the Shadow Divisions Jütland, Schlesien, Münsingen and Grafenwöhr. In total, the 28th wave consisted of four divisions.

Raised in July 1944, at the same time as the 28th wave, the 29. Aufstellungswelle was the first of two deployment waves that exclusively consisted of Volksgrenadier Divisions.

The divisions of the 29th wave were the 541st through 553rd Volksgrenadier Divisions, 558th Volksgrenadier Division, 559th Volksgrenadier Division, 561st Volksgrenadier Division, and 562nd Volksgrenadier Division. In total, the 29th wave consisted of 17 divisions. It was the first deployment wave with ten or more divisions since the 15 divisions of the 15th wave.

Raised in August 1944, the 30. Aufstellungswelle consisted of several recreations of units that were previously part of the first deployment waves and had since been organizationally dissolved or destroyed in combat.

The divisions of the 30th wave were the 12th Infantry Division, 16th Infantry Division, 19th Infantry Division, 36th Infantry Division (all previously part of 1st wave), as well as the 560th Infantry Division and the 563rd Grenadier Division. In total, the 30th wave consisted of 6 divisions.

Raised in August 1944, the 31. Aufstellungswelle was the fourth and penultimate wave of Shadow Divisions.

The divisions of the 31st wave were the Shadow Divisions Breslau, Döllersheim, Groß-Born, Mähren and Röhn. In total, the 31st wave consisted of 5 divisions.

The single largest deployment wave beside the first one, 32. Aufstellungswelle was a desperate attempt to raise large amounts of Volkssturm conscripts for the purpose of filling the gaps left in the mainline divisions. The conscripts were initially organized into Volksgrenadier Divisions, but these were usually then absorbed by other units to replenish the fighting strength of weakened divisions. The 32nd wave was the last of the year 1944 and was raised in August of that year.

The divisions of the 32nd wave were the 564th through 588th Volksgrenadier Divisions. In total, the 32nd wave consisted of 26 divisions.

The first of three waves in the last year of the war, 33. Aufstellungswelle was called up in January 1945. Several of the divisions created as part of the 33rd wave were reactivated divisions from previous waves.

The divisions of the 33rd wave were the 48th Infantry Division, 85th Infantry Division (previously 25th wave), 189th Infantry Division, 245th Infantry Division, 246th Infantry Division (previously 3rd wave), 275th Infantry Division (previously 22nd wave), 361st Infantry Division (previously 21st wave), 553rd Volksgrenadier Division, 708th Volksgrenadier Division, and 716th Infantry Division (previously 15th wave). In total, the 33rd wave consisted of ten divisions.

The fifth and final wave of Shadow Divisions, 34. Aufstellungswelle was assembled in February 1945, with the end of the war just under three months away.

The divisions of the 34th wave were the Shadow Divisions Dresden, Hamburg, Hannover, Donau, and Jäger-Division Alpen. In total, the 34th wave consisted of five divisions.

The third wave of 1945 and the final deployment wave of the German Wehrmacht during World War II, the assembly of 35. Aufstellungswelle was ordered on 29 March 1945. Three divisions were called up from the RFS education centers and another three from the Reich Labour Service. Five of the divisions received staff officers from dissolved divisions that had been previously active, whereas the sixth, Potsdam, received the staff from the 85th Infantry Division that had not seen its deployment as part of the 33rd wave completed.[10]

The divisions of the 35th wave were the Infantry Divisions Potsdam, Ulrich von Hutten, Scharnhorst, Schlageter, Friedrich Ludwig Jahn and Theodor Körner. In total, the 35th wave consisted six divisions. A seventh division was planned to be raised from Reich Labour Service members, but the deployment of this seventh division, ordered on 29 April 1945, was not realized.[10]

The division Ferdinand von Schill, assembled on 24 April 1945, is similar in its naming convention to the other divisions of the 35th wave, but is not listed as such by the German Feldpost military mail service.[10]