Formed on August 26, 1939, as part of the fourth wave of mobilization within Wehrkreis XII at Idar-Oberstein, the 263. Infanterie-Division operated as a frontline infantry division of the German Heer throughout World War II. Initially committed to the Western Front in May 1940, the division advanced from the Eifel region through Belgium under the operational control of the fourth army. Following this western campaign, the unit was redeployed to the Soviet frontier, joining the Eastern Front in June 1941 where it actively participated in Operation Barbarossa and subsequent intensive battles across the central sector under the command of successive leaders, including Generalleutnant Franz Karl and Generalleutnant Ernst Haeckel. As the war progressed and strategic fortunes shifted unfavorably, the division endured profound operational strains, seeing further leadership changes under experienced tactical officers like Generalleutnant Hans Traut and Generalleutnant Werner Richter. The formation suffered severe personnel and material casualties during the grueling Battle of Nevel in the autumn of 1943 within the northern sector of the Eastern Front. Subsequently forced into a protracted and exhausting retreat from the Leningrad area across the Baltic states, the division ultimately became encircled along with other army elements within the strategic Courland Pocket by late 1944. Under the final commands of officers such as Generalmajor Rudolf Sieckenius, Generalleutnant Alfred Hemmann, and Generalleutnant Ernst Riße, the division stubbornly resisted relentless Soviet offensives while completely trapped in Courland. Throughout its nearly six-year operational history, members of the division earned numerous military decorations, including the German Cross in Gold and Silver alongside various Knight's Cross awards, before the formation finally laid down its weapons and surrendered to the Soviet Red Army on May 9, 1945, marking the definitive conclusion of its wartime existence.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RITTERKREUZTRÄGER
Generalmajor Karl Koetz (1908-1977) was born on 8 February 1908 in Berlin-Neukölln and entered military service on 1 November 1925 with the 9. (Preuß.) Infanterie-Regiment for a twelve-year term; upon its completion he was commissioned Leutnant on 1 November 1937, simultaneously promoted Oberleutnant and taken into the active officer corps, then advanced to Hauptmann on 1 March 1938. He successively commanded companies in Infanterie-Regiment 109, Infanterie-Regiment 105 and the 6. Kompanie of Infanterie-Regiment 80 before, as Hauptmann, taking over the 6. Kompanie of Infanterie-Regiment 463 for the Western Campaign of 1940, after which he received the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse on 13 June 1940. On 1 May 1941 he assumed command of the II. Bataillon of Infanterie-Regiment 463 within the 263. Infanterie-Division and led it into the Eastern Campaign; during the fighting in the Yelnya salient from 17 to 28 August 1941 his Bataillon distinguished itself near Jakowlewo around Hill 256.9, known as the “Chimborasso,” by withstanding repeated and overwhelming Soviet assaults, for which action Koetz was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 2 October 1941 as Hauptmann and Kommandeur of that Bataillon, having already received the Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse on 1 July 1941. Promoted Major on 1 January 1942, he took command of Grenadier-Regiment 185 of the 87. Infanterie-Division on 1 July 1943 and was advanced to Oberstleutnant on 1 December 1943; when Soviet forces launched a major offensive against the positions of the 3. Panzerarmee north of Vitebsk on 13 December 1943, the 87. Infanterie-Division was encircled, yet on 16 December it broke out together with the subordinated Grenadier-Regiment 365 in the Choljawki–Karewy–Slyndiki area and reached the main line of the 20. Panzer-Division near Ambrossenki, the success of the breakout being attributed in large measure to the determined fighting of Grenadier-Regiment 185 under Koetz’s leadership and the Sturm-Bataillon Hochgartz, for which he received the Eichenlaub to the Ritterkreuz on 24 January 1944 as the 374th recipient. Further promotions followed to Oberst on 1 June 1944 and Generalmajor on 1 December 1944; after a Divisionsführer-Lehrgang he assumed leadership of the 349. Volksgrenadier-Division from September 1944 and later, on 1 April 1945, command of the 21. Infanterie-Division, his final post, while a Wehrmachtbericht of 25 October 1944 had already praised the Kampfgruppe he led on the East Prussian frontier. Ill from mid-April 1945, he entered British captivity in July and remained a prisoner until 1947; Karl Koetz died on 11 July 1977 in Meran at the rank of Generalmajor.
Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/263rd_Infantry_Division
No comments:
Post a Comment