709th Static Infantry Division is a German infantry division during World War 2 and were used for occupational duties during the German occupation of France. They are stationed in Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy during the Normandy campaign and was destroyed in the process.
The division represent the Osttruppen enemy unit as this division consists of conscripted troops from the Eastern Front.
History[]
Occupation Period and Unit Details[]
The 709th Infantry Division is formed in May 1941 to served as a static division to defend the coastlines of Normandy. Static Divisions served as a defensive unit to protect key positions like the Atlantic Line. They are poorly equipped and trained with the lack of proper equipments and this type of division consists of recovered soldiers, old men, inexperienced and conscripted men which lower the quality of these divisions. It made worse when they have to rely on horse transport which slows down their movement with these divisions not trained in mobile warfare. Despite these inherent weakness, it wasn't much a problem since they are used to defend the coastlines or deter the Allies from invading France.
The 709th are assigned to defend the Cotentin Peninsula ranging 250 km from Cherbourg to Barneville. The division also have Ost battalions which are conscripted foreign prisoners of wars. These Ost battalions nationalities in the division are Georgians and Russians and led by German officers.
D-Day Landings[]
The commander of the 709th during D-Day is Generalleutnant Karl-Wilhelm von Schlieben who have commanded units in the Eastern Front before transfer. The quality of these troops decreased to transfer units to the Eastern Front which made worst for an inexperienced division whose only purpose is to defend the sector. However, it can be compensated for their familiarization in their sector and trained to defend, although combat readiness of the division lowered after trying to improve defenses.
Since the Normandy invasions, the 709th along with the 91st Infantry Division engage the US Army and paratroopers to defend Utah Beach and many other parts in the Cotentin Peninsula. The division suffered 4000 casualties after 10 days of the invasion. Their commander soon surrender in Cherbourg on 29 June 1944.
Units[]
- 729th Fortress Grenadier Regiment (with the 649th Ost Battalion attached)
- 739th Fortress Grenadier Regiment (with the 461st and 795th Georgian Battalions attached)
- 919th Grenadier Regiment (transferred from the 242nd Infantry Division in October 1943)
- 1709th Artillery Regiment
- 709th Antitank Battalion
- 709th Engineer Battalion
- 709th Signals Battalion
- 635th Ost Battalion (Russian)
- 795th Ost Battalion (Georgian)
- 797th Ost Battalion (Georgian)
Gallery[]