by John Mulholland

WEHRKREIS III – HQ: Berlin.

Divisions Affiliated with Wkr.III:
Pz Lehr, 3 Pz, 3 PzGR, 21 Pz.23, 26 Pz, 38, 50, 68, 76, 90 PG, 93, 123, 143 Res, 153 Trg, 163, 203 Sec, 208, 218, 233 Res Pz, 257, 272, 273, 293, 333, 359, 386 Res PG, 403 Sec, 433 Rep, 463 Rep, 563 VG, 575 VG, 719.

Kommandeur der Ersatztruppen III (Commander of Replacement Troops, Wkr.III.)
- Aug.1939: Formed in Potsdam.
- Nov.1939: Renamed Kommandeur der Ersatztruppen 1./III
Div.Nr.153 (153.Replacement and Training Division)
Home Station: Potsdam.
- Nov.1939: Formed as 153.Division from the staff of Kommandeur der Ersatztruppen 1./III.
- 12 Dec.1939: Renamed Div.Nr.153.
- 11 Sep.1942: Restructured as the 153.Res.Div. and sent to the Crimea while its Replacement units were returned to Wkr.III and absorbed into Div.Nr.463.
- Dec.1942: The 153.Res.Div. converted to 153.Feldausbildungsdivision (153.Field Training Division).
- Mar.1944: The division was destroyed while serving in the Crimea.
- Apr.1944: A second 153.Fld-Ausb.Div. was re-formed in the Ukraine from new personnel and remnants of the original division.
- Aug.1944: The division was destroyed while fighting in Romania.
- Oct.1944: A third 153.Fld-Ausb.Div. was re-formed under Heeresgruppe Sud (Army Group South).
- Feb.1945: 153 Fld-Ausb.Div. upgraded to 153.Infanteriedivision while still serving with HGrp.Sud.
Order of Battle – Mar 1940 :
Inf.Ers.Reg.23 (Inf.Ers.Btl.9, 178, 323)
Inf.Ers.Reg.76 (Inf.Ers.Btl.68, 230, 386)
Inf.Ers.Reg.218 (Inf.Ers.Btl.67, 203, 397)
Inf.Ers.Reg.83 (mot.) (Inf.Ers.Btl.99, Schtz.Ers.Btl.3, 9)

Div.Nr.143 (143.Replacement and Training Division)
Home Station: Frankfurt / Oder.
- 20 Dec.1939: Formed as Div.Nr.143 to control the Replacement and Training functions for the Frankfurt / Oder area of Wkr.III.
- Aug.1941: Transferred to Wkr.XXI but still under Wkr.III control.
- 18 Sep.1942: Restructured as the 143.Res.Div. while in Wkr.XXI and sent to the Luck area of north-western Ukraine (under command of LXII (62) Reserve Korps of Wehrmachtsbefehlshaber “Ukraine”. Its Replacement units returned to Wkr.III.
Order of Battle – Mar.1940 :
Inf.Ers.Reg.3 (Inf.Ers.Btl.8, 50, 169, 338)
Inf.Ers.Reg.68 (Inf.Ers.Btl.29, 188, 122)
Inf.Ers.Reg.208 (Inf.Ers.Btl.196, 309, 337)
Inf.Ers.Reg.257 (Inf.Ers.Btl.457, 466, 477, 479)

Div.Nr.233 (mot.) (233.Motorized Replacement and Training Division)
Home Station: Frankfurt / Oder.
- 15 May 1942: Formed as Div.Nr.233 (mot.), in Frankfurt, to control the Replacement and Training units of the Schnelletruppen in Wkr.III.
- Jul.1942: Renamed Pz.Div.Nr.233 (233.Panzer Replacement and Training Division). It kept performing its Replacement and Training functions until 10 Aug.1943, when it was sent to Denmark and became 233.Res.Pz.Div. At this time its Replacement units were absorbed into Div.Nr.433 (mot.) and its Training functions were picked up by the Kommandeur der Panzertruppen III.
Order of Battle – May 1942 :
Pz.Ers.Abt.5  
Schtz.Ers.Rgt.83 (Schtz.Ers.Btl.3, 8, 9, 50)
Kav.Ers.Abt.9  
Inf.Ers.Rgt.3 (mot.) (Inf.Ers.Btl.(mot.) 8, 29)

Div.Nr.433 (433.Replacement and Training Division)
Home Station: Frankfurt / Oder.
- 01 Jun.1943: Formed as Div.Nr.433 from the Replacement units of Div.Nr.233 (mot.).It took over directing Panzer and Panzergrenadier Replacement functions, first at Kuestrin and then at Frankfurt (both in Wkr.III) until Jan.1945.
- Jan.1945: The division was largely destroyed in combat with the remnants being absorbed into Division “Raegener”.
Order of Battle – Dec.1943 :
Gren.Ers.Reg.533 (Gren.Ers.Btl.122, 337, 338, 397, 512)
Gren.Ers.Reg.543 (Gren.Ers.Btl.169, 188, 457, 466, 477, 479)

Div.Nr.463 (463.Replacement and Training Division)
Home Station: Potsdam.
- 01 Oct.1942: Formed as Div.Nr.463 from the Replacement units of Div.Nr.153.
- Early 1944: Divisional duties expanded to include Training functions.
- Jan.1945: The division was largely destroyed, in combat, with the remnants being absorbed into Division “Raegener”.
Order of Battle – Dec.1943 :
Gren.Ers.Reg.293 (Gren.Ers.Btl.9, 68, 230, 323)
Gren.Ers.Reg.523 (Gren.Ers.Btl.67, 203, 309, 386)


OTHER ERSATZHEER UNITS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS WEHRKREIS:

Div.Stb.z.b.V.403 (Special Administrative Division Staff)
- 25 Oct.1939: Formed
- Mar.1942: Upgraded to 403.Sicherungsdivision (403.Security Division).
Order of Battle - Mar.1940:
Ldschtz.Btl.303, 305, 307, 311, 313, 316, 318, 320, Ldschtz.Ers.Btl.3

Div.Stb.z.b.V.430 (Special Administrative Division Staff)
- 24 Oct.1939: Formed
- May 1940: Transferred to Holland.
- Jul.1940: The division was officially dissolved.
Order of Battle - Mar.1940:
Ldschtz.Btl.301, 310, 319, 723

Div.Stb.z.b.V.615 (Special Administrative Division Staff)
- 04 Feb.1945: Formed from Div.Stb.611 of Wkr.II.

156. Feldausbildungsdivision (156.Field Training Division)
- Mar.1945: Formed in Wkr.III to supply Training functions for Heeresgruppe Weichsel (Army Group Vistula).
- Apr.1945: Upgraded to full Infanteriedivision status.
Order of Battle:
Grenadier- (Feldausbildungs-) Regiment 1313
Grenadier- (Feldausbildungs-) Regiment 1314
Grenadier- (Feldausbildungs-) Regiment 1315

Ersatz- Brigade 203 (203.Replacement and Training Brigade)
- Jun.1941: Formed in Potsdam as a Replacement and Training Brigade for the Army Groups of the eastern front.
- Jul.1941: Transferred to the Generalgouvernement, it also performed occupation duties.
- Dec.1941: Stationed in the rear of Army Group Centre (rückwärtige Heeresgebiet Mitte) and upgraded to Sicherungsbrigade 203 (203rd Security Brigade).

Ersatz- Brigade “Großdeutschland” (“Grossdeutschland” Replacement and Training Brigade)
-  Jun.1942: Formed as Ers-Bde.”Großdeutschland”, in Cottbus, Wkr.III, as a staff for the Replacement and Training units of the “Großdeutschland” Division. The brigade was divided into a Motorized Infantry Replacement and Training Regiment (Infanterie-Ersatz-Regiment (motorisiert)) and an Artillery Replacement and Training Battalion (Artillerie-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Abteilung).
- Feb.1943: A Training battalion for “fast” troops (Ausbildungs-Abteilung schnelle Truppen) was added to the brigade and was later renamed Panzer Replacement and Training Battalion (Panzer-Truppen-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Abteilung).
Order of Battle – Jun.1942:
Inf.Ers.Reg."Großdeutschland" (mot.) I.-III.Btl. (sp. mit IV.Btl. aus Pz.Ers./Ausb.Abt.)
Pz.Ers./Ausb.Abt."Großdeutschland" (13.08.1943)  
Art.Ers.Abt."Großdeutschland"  

Kommandeur der Panzertruppen III (Commander of Armored Troops, Wkr.III.)
- Aug.1943: Formed to take over the Training duties of the 233.Res.Pz.Div. when it moved to Denmark.