The 99. leichte Infanterie-Division was established in November 1940 as part of the 12. Welle at Wehrkreis IX, carrying out its early assembly and rigorous training at Bad Kissingen under the continuous leadership of Generalleutnant Kurt von der Chevallerie. Formed to serve as a specialized light infantry formation adapted for rugged terrain and rapid cross-country maneuvers, the division primarily comprised Infanterie-Regiment 206, Infanterie-Regiment 218, Artillerie-Regiment 82, Aufklärungs-Abteilung 99, and Panzerjäger-Abteilung 99. In June 1941, the formation was committed to Operation Barbarossa under Heeresgruppe Süd, advancing across the Soviet border into western Ukraine through Galicia. Operating under III. Armeekorps and later XVII. Armeekorps, the division was repeatedly thrown into sharp offensive clashes along the Stalin Line, participating in heavy combat around Zhitomir and pushing steadily east toward the Dnieper River. In September 1941, the division played an active role in the encirclement and storming of Kiev, where commanders like Major Emil Schuler of Infanterie-Regiment 218 distinguished themselves in bitter battles through heavily fortified positions and swampy lake sectors south of the city, while Generalleutnant von der Chevallerie earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 23 October 1941 for his resolute leadership during the Ukrainian summer campaign. Divisional elements also became implicated in atrocities, including security cordons during the massacre at Babi Yar. Exhausted by continuous operations and severe attrition from months of arduous fighting, the 99. leichte Infanterie-Division was withdrawn from the frontline in the autumn of 1941 and pulled back to Germany, where it was formally disbanded in October and reorganized at Truppenübungsplatz Grafenwöhr to form the nucleus of the newly created 7. Gebirgs-Division for arctic mountain warfare in Finland.
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RITTERKREUZTRÄGER
General der Infanterie Kurt von der Chevallerie (1891-1945) was born on 23 December 1891 in Berlin into a Huguenot noble family and entered the Prussian Army as Fahnenjunker in the Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 5 on 24 February 1910, receiving promotion to Leutnant on 11 August 1911. During the First World War he earned the Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse (1 October 1914) and I. Klasse (12 December 1915), the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz, the Ritterkreuz des Königlichen Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern and the Austrian Militärverdienstkreuz III. Klasse, rising to Hauptmann by September 1918. In the interwar years he advanced to Major (1 February 1931), Oberstleutnant (1 August 1933), Oberst (1 June 1935) and Generalmajor (1 March 1939). At the outbreak of the Second World War he commanded the 83. Infanterie-Division, receiving the Spangen to both Iron Crosses in June 1940; on 10 December 1940 he took command of the newly formed 99. leichte Infanterie-Division and was promoted Generalleutnant on 1 January 1941. For the division’s deep penetration of Soviet defences during the assault on Kiev in September 1941—reaching the lakes west of Myschelowka by 17 September and, after his personal reconnaissance in the foremost line, attaining its objective with unexpected speed on 19 September—he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 23 October 1941. Appointed to lead the LIX. Armee-Korps at the end of December 1941 and promoted General der Infanterie on 1 February 1942, he received the Eichenlaub (357th award) on 19 December 1943 for outstanding defensive leadership around Neschin in September and north of Kiev in November 1943, where he tied down superior Soviet forces, repeatedly mastered local crises through calm determination and personal bravery, then launched a counter-stroke on 24 November that closed a 40-kilometre gap, encircled and destroyed two Soviet divisions at Korosten. He briefly commanded the 1. Armee in France from June to September 1944, retired on 31 January 1945 and has been listed missing in action near Kolberg since 18 April 1945.
Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/99th_Light_Infantry_Division
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