Order of Battle - Infantry Division (Motorized) "Grossdeutschland"
April 1942

Thanks to Jason "Panzer Leader" Barnes for his help in compiling information for this page.

Divisional Headquarters

Divisional Staff

32 Officers
143 NCOs and Men

Ranks indicated at right were not always the ranks held by men filling these positions; they were sometimes one grade lower.   Waffenfarben in some cases is conjectural; anyone with additional info please contact the webmaster!

Position Duties
Division Commander
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Command of the division.

Ia I General Staff Officer
Chief of Operations
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Trained general staff officer who both advised the division commander and helped draft plans.
O1 1st Assistant Adjutant
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Assisted the Ia, prepared maps and the divisional war diary, liason with neighbouring units, and structuring component units of the division.
Ib II General Staff Officer Supply and Administration
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Directed the supply and workshop units of the division, field police, provost marshall and field post office units.
O2 1st Assistant Adjutant
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Assisted the Ib and handled the organization of all back line services.
Ib/WuG (Waffen und Geräte)
Weapons and Equipment
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Responsible for replacement, repair, supply, and maintenance of ammunition, weapons and non-specialized equipment.
Ib/Kfz Divisional Engineer
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Provided for replacement and supply of motor vehicles, spare parts, tires, fuel, etc. as well as traffic control, the workshop companies, fuel points and columns.
Ic III General Staff Officer
Intelligence
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Responsible for interrogation of POWs, radio intercept work, etc.
O3

Third Assistant Adjutant
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Assisted the Ic, oversaw map unit and interpreters at division HQ.
Id Training  
IIa Adjutant
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Handled administration such as loss and casualty reports, rosters, etc. as well as administration relating to officers - replacements, promotions, decorations, leaves, punishment
IIb

Division Assistant Adjutant
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Handled administrative matters described above regarding the NCOs and men and oversaw the divisional orderly room.
IIIa Chief of Feldjustizamt GD (legal branch) In charge of divisional courts-martial, civilian relations, legal matters.
IVa Head of Intendantur
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Supplies, clothing, medical, dental, pay matters, canteens, housekeeping needs, etc.
IVb Divisional Surgeon
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Commanded the medical services simultaneous with this position, responsible for sanitation and hygience, movement and treatment of sick and injured soldiers, procurement and maintenance of medical equipment.
IVz Divisional Paymaster Oversaw paying the troops.
Va Chief Chaplain Regular divisions had 2 chaplains (one catholic, one protestant) but GD was forbideen from having chaplains after holding mass at Notre Dame in 1940.  Divisional level chaplain support was provided as needed from the Corps level.
Map Section Eight men charged with reproducing maps, overprinting captured maps, shot diagrams for the divisional artillery, etc.
Headquarters Company
219 man guard company On formation of the Division, the commander of this unit was held by Oberleutnant Paul Müller, who was later promoted to Hauptmann.
Feldgendarmerie (Military Police)
Military Police Troop
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Numbering one platoon of men, the Military Police detachment (recruited like the rest of the Army's MPs from civilian police) were equipped with light cars and motorcycles.     Almost all military policemen not holding officer rank were NCOs (Unteroffizier or higher) excepting some drivers, in order to provide authority for their duties - including maintenance of discipline, but most importantly collection of prisoners and traffic control duties.  GD had several hundred  motorized vehicles which had to be moved over great distances both rapidly and efficiently.
Kriegsberichter (War Correspondent Platoon)

Responsible for recruitment and propaganda literature.

 

Infantry Regiment "Großdeutschland" 1
Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland reorganized in Rjetschiza, Russia as Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland 1.

Regimental Headquarters  
I. Battalion Headquarters
1. Company - Headquarters -
Maintenance Echelon Truck
Fuel Truck
Weapons/Ammunition Truck
2 Field Kitchen Vehicles
3 motorcycle-sidecar combinations
Several solo motorcycles
Rifle Platoon - light anti-tank rifle team, three squads, each with 2 LMGs
Rifle Platoon
Rifle Platoon
Heavy Platoon - 4 HMGs, two 81mm mortars, heavy anti-tank rifle team
2. Company - as above
3. Company - as above
4. (MG) Company - 12 HMG, 6 LMG
5. (Heavy) Company Light Infantry Gun Platoon - 3 light infantry guns
Pionier Platoon - 3 LMGs
Anti-Tank Platoon - 3 x 5.0 cm Anti-Tank guns and anti-tank rifle squad with 3 anti-tank rifles
II. Battalion 6. Company - as 1 above
7. Company - as 1 above
8. Company - as 1above
9. (MG) Company - as 4 above
10. (Heavy) Company - 5 as above
III. Battalion 11. Company - as 1 above
12. Company - as 1 above
13. Company - as 1 above
14. (MG) Company - as 4 above
15. (Heavy) Company - as 5 above
IV. (Heavy) Battalion 16. (FlaK) Company
17. (Infantry Gun) Company
18. (Panzerjäger) Company 1st Platoon self-propelled

 

Infantry Regiment "Großdeutschland" 2
Formed from units in Wehrkreise (Military District) III and IX.

Regimental Headquarters

As for Infantry Regiment GD 1, above

I. Battalion
II. Battalion
III. Battalion
IV. (Heavy) Battalion

 

Artillery Regiment "Großdeutschland"

I Battalion - formed from Art. Regt 400 Headquarters Battery and Signals Platoon
1. Battery - 4 x l.FH. 18 (105mm) howitzers
2. Battery - 4 x l.FH. 18 (105mm) howitzers
3. Battery - 4 x s.FH. (150mm) 18 howitzers
II Battalion - formed from men from Vienna area Headquarters Battery and Signals Platoon
4. Battery - 4 x l.FH. 18 (105mm) howitzers
5. Battery - 4 x l.FH. 18 (105mm) howitzers
6. Battery - 4 x s.FH. 18 (150mm) howitzers
III Battalion - formed from men from Silesia Headquarters Battery and Signals Platoon
7. Battery - 4 x s.FH. (150mm) 18 howitzers
8. Battery - 4 x s.FH. (150mm) 18 howitzers
9. Battery - 4 x K 18 10 cm howitzers
10. Battery - intended to be a rocket battery, but never formed - battery number was left open
11. Battery - Armoured Observation Battery Sound Ranging Platoon
2 x Flash Spotting Platoon
Survey Platoon
Warning Platoon
2 x Analysis Platoons

 

Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion "Großdeutschland"
Formed from 285th Army Flak Battalion in Freising (near München), in a normal division would have been IV Battalion of the Artillery Regiment, but in GD's case was a seperate battalion.

1. Battery - 4 x 8.8 cm - halftracked prime movers
2. Battery - 4 x 8.8 cm - halftracked prime movers
3. Battery - 4 x 8.8 cm - halftracked prime movers
4. Battery - 3.7 cm self propelled
5. Battery - from 20 Company of I.R. GD 3.7 cm self propelled

 

Panzerjäger (Anti-Tank) Battalion "Großdeutschland"

1. (Self Propelled) Company -
1. Platoon - 3 x Marder 
2. Platoon - 3 x Marder
3. Platoon - 3 x Marder
2. Company - 4 x 5cm PaK 38 AT gun
4 x 5cm PaK 38 AT gun
4 x 5cm PaK 38 AT gun
3. Company - 4 x 5cm PaK 38 AT gun
4 x 5cm PaK 38 AT gun
4 x 5cm PaK 38 AT gun

 

Reconaissance Battalion "Großdeutschland"
Formed from several units.

Battalion HQ 8 motorcycles
2 Kfz 15 cars
1 Sd Kfz 247 armoured car
Battalion Maint Det - 1 motorcycle/sidecar, 1 car (2/40), 1 light car, 2 x 3ton trucks
Battalion train - 1 motorcycle, 2 light cars, 1 Kfz 15 car, 2 light trucks, 2 medium trucks, 1 medium (33 seat) bus

Signal Platoon

HQ Section - 1 mc
                  - 1 mc with sidecar
                  - 1 Kfz 15 car
2 x pack radio sections "b" each with Kfz 2
1 light armoured radio section "b" with 1 armoured car Sd Kfz 260
4 x light armoured radio section "c" with  1 armoured car Sd Kfz 261
3 x med armoured radio section "b" each with 1 car (Kfz 15) and 1 armoured car Sd Kfz 263
1. (Armd Car) Squadron -

This squadron wore golden yellow waffenfarbe.

Squadron HQ - 2 motorcycles, 5 motorcycle/sidecars, 1 Kfz 15 car
Heavy Armoured Car platoon - 3 x Sd Kfz 231, 3 x Sd Kfz 232
Light Armoured Car Platoon - 4 x Sd Kfz 222, 2 x Sd Kfz 223
Light Armoured Car Platoon - 4 x Sd Kfz 222, 2 x Sd Kfz 223
Light Armoured Car Platoon - 4 x Sd Kfz 222, 2 x Sd Kfz 223
Maintenance Section - 1 mc/sidecar, 1 car (2/40) 2 x 2 ton truck
Squadron Train - 1 Kfz 15 car, 3 x 2 ton truck, 1 med truck, 3 ton truck
2. (Armd Recon) Squadron - Squadron HQ - 4 motorcycles, 1 mc/sidecar, 2 x SPW 250/3

Recon Platoon

HQ Sec - SPW 250, SPW 250/10
Squad - 2 x SPW 250/1
Squad - as above
Squad - as above
Squad - 2 x LMG
Recon Platoon - as above
Recon Platoon - as above

Heavy Platoon

HQ section - mc, SPW 250/1
HMG section - 3 x SPW 250/1, 2 x HMG
HMG section - as above
Mtr section - 2 x SPW 250/7, 2 SPW 250/7 without mortar (ammo carrier?)
Maintenance Section - 1 mc/sidecar, 2 x 2 ton trucks, 1 Kfz 10 halftrack, 1 x LMG
Squadron train -Kfz 15 car, 2 ton truck, med truck, 2 x 3 ton truck
3. (Recon) Squadron (Volkswagen) - Squadron HQ - 4 motorcycles, 2 x Kubelwagen (Kfz 1)

Recon Platoon

HQ section - 1 mc, 1 x Kubel (Kfz 1), 1 anti-tank rifle
Squad - 4 x Kubel
Squad - as above
Squad - as above
Recon Squad - 2 x LMG
Recon Platoon - as above
Recon Platoon - as above

Heavy Platoon

HQ section - mc, 3 x Kubel
HMG sec - 7 x Kubel, 2 x HMG
HMG sec - as above
Mortar sec - 3 x trucks (Kfz 70) and 2 mortars (81mm)
Maintenance Section - 1 mc/sidecar, 1 car (2/40)
Squadron train -   Kubel (Kfz 1), 2 ton truck, med truck, 3 ton truck
4. (Recon) Squadron (Volkswagen) - As above
5. (Heavy) Squadron - Squadron HQ 3 x mc, 2 x mc/sidecar, 1 Kfz 15
Light telephone sec - 1 Kfz 15
Maintenance section - mc/sidecar, 1 car (2/40)
Anti-Tank Platoon HQ sec - mc, mc/sidecar, Kfz 15
Ammo sec - 2 Sd Kfz 10 halftracks, 2 ammo trailers
Gun sect - 3 Sd Kfz 10 halftracks, 3 x 50mm Anti-Tank guns, 3 x LMG
Pionier Platoon HQ sec - mc, mc/Sidecar, Kfz 15, 2 x 2 ton truck
4 x Engineer section (each with 2 ton truck)
1 x Engineer section with LMG
Anti-Tank gun sec - mc/sidecar, 3 x Kfz 70 truck, 3 x 28mm ATG, 3 x LMG
Infantry Gun Platoon HQ sec - 1 mc, 1 mc/sidecar, 1 Kfz 69 truck
Ammo sec - Kfz 69 truck, ammo trailer
Gun sec - 2 x Kfz 69 trucks, 2 light 75mm Infantry guns
Squadron train - Kfz 15, 2 ton truck, med truck, 3 ton truck
Motorized light column Column HQ - 3 x motorcycle, 4 x mc/sidecar, Kfz 15, 3 x LMG
1 Section - mc, 5 x 2 ton truck
2 Section - 4 x medium truck
Column train - mc/sidecar, 2 x medium truck

 

Panzer (Tank) Battalion "Großdeutschland"
Formed from mainly from I Battalion of Panzer Regiment 100

Battalion Headquarters Platoon 2 x PzKpfw IV
Sd Kfz 250s
Maintenance Platoon 3 Ton Trucks
1. Company - Company HQ - 2 x PzKpfw IV
1. Platoon - 5 x PzKpfw IV
2. Platoon - 5 x PzKpfw IV
3. Platoon - 5 x PzKpfw IV
2. Company - Company HQ - 2 x PzKpfw III
1. Platoon - 5 x PzKpfw III
2. Platoon - 5 x PzKpfw III
3. Platoon - 5 x PzKpfw III
3. Company - Company HQ - 2 x PzKpfw III
1. Platoon - 5 x PzKpfw III
2. Platoon - 5 x PzKpfw III
3. Platoon - 5 x PzKpfw III

 

Sturmpionier (Assault Pioneer) Battalion "Großdeutschland"
Formed from 18th Company, Infantry Regiment GD, as well as 43rd Sturm Pionier Battalion which had supported GD in France in 1940.

Headquarters  
1. Company 219 Officers and Men
1 Platoon
2 Platoon
3 (Storm boat) Platoon - 27 assault boats
2. Company 219 Officers and Men
1 Platoon
2 Platoon
3 (Storm boat) Platoon - 27 assault boats
3.Company 219 Officers and Men
1 Platoon
2 Platoon
3 (Storm boat) Platoon - 27 assault boats
"K" Type Bridging Column Transported "K" type bridges - assembly responsiblity of the companies above.
Light Pioneer Column  

 

Sturmgeschütz (Assault Gun) Battalion "Großdeutschland"
Formed from 16th Company, Infantry Regiment GD and the 192nd Assault Gun Battalion.

Headquarters  
1. Battery - also includes Sd Kfz 252 or 260/6 ammunition carrier 6 x StuG III (7.5cm StuK gun)
2. Battery - also includes Sd Kfz 252 or 260/6 ammunition carrier 6 x StuG III (7.5cm StuK gun)
3. Battery - also includes Sd Kfz 252 or 260/6 ammunition carrier 6 x StuG III (7.5cm StuK gun)

 

Nachrichten (Signals) Battalion "Großdeutschland"
Formed from IR GD Signals Company and remnants of 309th Signals Battalion

Telephone Company  
Radio Company  

 

Medical Battalion "Großdeutschland"

Medical Company Heavy Platoon
Light Platoon
Pharmacy
Dental Station
Medical Company Heavy Platoon
Light Platoon
Pharmacy
Dental Station
GD Field Hospital  
1. Ambulance Platoon  
2. Ambulance Platoon  
3. Ambulance Platoon  

 

Supply Services
Formed from  IR GD Supply Services

Supply Services 18 columns
Field Workshop Company  
Field Workshop Company  
Field Workshop Company  
Replacement Parts Company Armourer-Artificer Platoon
Administrative Services Bakery Company
Butcher Company
Division Ration Office
Field Post Office