56. Infanterie-Division in "Marita"?

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CNE503
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56. Infanterie-Division in "Marita"?

#1

Post by CNE503 » 22 Jan 2020, 00:09

Hello,

As far as I know, this division was part of "Marita" force generation in the first months of 1941.
Apparently, it was sent in Romania in February 1941, reached its staging area there in the first half of March but was sent back to southeastern Poland under 17. Armee command until the end of March 1941.

1) does anyone know exactly what were the movements of this division between January and April 1941?
2) why did it go from Poland to Romania, then to Poland, in such a short timeframe, just before "Marita" started?

Thank you for any help provided.
Regards,
CNE503
"Sicut Aquila" / "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre" / "par l'exemple, le coeur et la raison" / "Labor Omnia Vincit"

CNE503
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Re: 56. Infanterie-Division in "Marita"?

#2

Post by CNE503 » 22 Jan 2020, 22:26

My main hypothesis for such an incomprehensible move is that it appears that Romania and/or Bulgaria wouldn't be able to logistically cope with so many German divisions deployed in their borders, so that 12. Armee should be tailored down.
Any idea?
CNE503
"Sicut Aquila" / "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre" / "par l'exemple, le coeur et la raison" / "Labor Omnia Vincit"


CNE503
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Re: 56. Infanterie-Division in "Marita"?

#3

Post by CNE503 » 24 Jan 2020, 14:13

Let's try it otherwise: has anyone the divisional KTB for this timeframe (January-April 1941) please?
Thank you!
CNE503
"Sicut Aquila" / "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre" / "par l'exemple, le coeur et la raison" / "Labor Omnia Vincit"

CNE503
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Re: 56. Infanterie-Division in "Marita"?

#4

Post by CNE503 » 26 Jan 2020, 12:26

Well, as I'm quite desperate about this question, I just ordered the NARA file related to this period (T315 R964). I let you know when it will be in my possession in a couple of weeks what was the answer to my question ;)

CNE503
"Sicut Aquila" / "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre" / "par l'exemple, le coeur et la raison" / "Labor Omnia Vincit"

Rossano
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Re: 56. Infanterie-Division in "Marita"?

#5

Post by Rossano » 26 Jan 2020, 17:47

Sure it was the 56.ID moved to Romania ?
Tessin doesn´t list that transfer. Tessin reports that the div. was stationed "from sept. 40 to may 41 in Poland, first under AOK.12, then under AOK.17 and finally under AOK 6"

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DirkAH
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Re: 56. Infanterie-Division in "Marita"?

#6

Post by DirkAH » 26 Jan 2020, 18:22

Hello!

On the Lagekarten of 12. Armee on the 2.3., 9.3. and 13.3.41 56. Inf.Div. is listed as "Im Antransport" (in transport) with an expected arrival date of 30.3.-2.4.
Ciao

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Re: 56. Infanterie-Division in "Marita"?

#7

Post by Rossano » 26 Jan 2020, 18:56

Evidently Tessin´data is not so exact. I checked the OKH-Kriegsgliederungen and it seems that the transfer occurred in march 41 indeed. Here the dates :
12.3.41 it was still under AOK 17
18.3.41 it was under AOK 12
27.3.41 already again under AOK 17

CNE503
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Re: 56. Infanterie-Division in "Marita"?

#8

Post by CNE503 » 26 Jan 2020, 19:48

It is exactly the point of my question: why the division was designated to served in the Balkans area in early March and changed its area of operation in the second half of the month?
The divisional archive will probably answer it.

CNE503
"Sicut Aquila" / "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre" / "par l'exemple, le coeur et la raison" / "Labor Omnia Vincit"

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Re: 56. Infanterie-Division in "Marita"?

#9

Post by DirkAH » 26 Jan 2020, 22:06

Doesn't answer the question why either but the files of AOK 12 [NARA T312 R424 E32/4a tell us that on

6.3.41
Intended assembly area for 56.I.D. was the current area of 76.I.D.

13.3.41
Intended assembly area for 56.I.D. was still the current area of 76.I.D. around Giurgiu/Romania.

14.3.41
AOK 12 asks 56. I.D.(still with AOK17) to sent some officers as soon as possible to XI.A.K. in Alexandria/Romania.

17.3.41
With O.K.H./Gen.St.d.H./Op.Abt.(IS) Nr. 34167/41 g.Kdos. AOK 12 is informed that 56.I.D. would not be sent to Romania.

19.3.41
Op.Abt.(IS) asks AOK 12 to sent the "Vor.Pers." (obviously the officers asked for on 14.) back to 56. I.D.

Ergo sound like Tessin was right after all. The body of 56. I.D. never left AOK17 and just some advance party went to AOK 12.
Ciao

CNE503
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Re: 56. Infanterie-Division in "Marita"?

#10

Post by CNE503 » 26 Jan 2020, 22:21

Thank you for that.
All I found so far was that 183. Infanterie-Division movement into Romania was interrupted for unknown reason mid-March 1941. It is clearly stated in the following document dated March 13th, 1941 (NARA T315 R1567 file 208): ""1) Gemäβ o.a. Befehl wird die 183. Infanterie-Division (Bewegung Toska) dem AOK 12 nicht zugeführt. Als Ersatz hierfür erfolgt die Zuführung der 4. Gebirgsdivision in Bewegung Eurianthe".

I found in 12. Armee archives (T312 R422 file 925 dated March 23rd, 1941) that "Die Bewegung Mignon (56. Inf.Div.) und Tosca (183. Inf.Div.) werden nicht gefahren", which implied that these two divisions won't be sent in Romania/Bulgaria anymore.

So I guess that the decision point was made between March 13th and 23rd, 1941. But as you pointed it I'm also interested in the why ;)
Maybe someone could give us insight about OKH/GenStdH/Op.Abt.(IS) Nr.34167/41 g.Kdos. v.17.3.41?

I'm pretty sure that 56. Infanterie-Division KTB for this timeframe would give us a clear answer anyway. Just be patient, I'm about to receive it in a couple of weeks ;)

Regards,
CNE503
"Sicut Aquila" / "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre" / "par l'exemple, le coeur et la raison" / "Labor Omnia Vincit"

CNE503
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Re: 56. Infanterie-Division in "Marita"?

#11

Post by CNE503 » 13 Mar 2020, 16:36

I checked 56. Infanterie-Division KTB and indeed, OKH ordered the divisional movement scheduled from Generalgouvernement towards Romania to be cancelled on March 17th, 1941 (OKH GenStdH/Op. Abt. I/S Nr. 34167/41 g.Kdos. v.17.3.41). It actually cancelled the previous ones that ordered the division to go in Romania (OKH GenStdH/Op. Abt. (I/S) Nr.34081/41 g.Kdos. v.10.3.41 and Nr. 34136/41 g.Kdos. v.14.3.41). 56. Infanterie-Division was to be deployed near Bucarest and subordinated to L. Armeekorps.
The division received this order on March 18th, 1941 and immediatly complied, asking its VP sent in Bucarest to go back. VP (including the divisional Ia and O1) came back to the division in Kreuzburg on March 21st, 1941 at noon.

CNE503
"Sicut Aquila" / "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre" / "par l'exemple, le coeur et la raison" / "Labor Omnia Vincit"

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