by John Mulholland

WEHRKREIS XVIII – HQ: Salzburg.

Divisions Affiliated with Wkr.XVIII:
2 Pz, 2 Mtn, 3 Mtn, 5 Mtn, 5 Mtn, 6 Mtn, 8 Mtn, 118 Jag, 188 Mtn Res, 334, 381 Trg, 418 Mtn Rep.

Kommandeur der Ersatztruppen XVIII (Commander of Replacement Troops, Wkr.XVIII.)
- Aug.1939: Formed in Salzburg.
Div.Nr.188 (188.Replacement and Training Division)
Home Station: Salzburg.
- Nov.1939: Formed as 188 Division from the staff of Kommandeur der Ersatztruppen XVIII.
- Dec.1939: Renamed Div.Nr.188.
- Early 1943: Stationed in Marburg, Slovenia.
- Apr.1943: Returned to Innsbruck, Wkr.XVIII.
- Oct.1943: Upgraded to 188.Res.Geb.Div. while stationed in the Merano area of northern Italy. Its Replacement duties were taken over by Div.Nr.418.
- Jan.1944: Transferred to the Feldheer as the188.Geb.Div. after returning from Italy to Innsbruck.
Order of Battle – Mar.1940 :
Geb.Jg.Ers.Reg.136 (Geb.Jg.Ers.Btl.I.-III., I./137, 499)
Geb.Jg.Ers.Reg.138 (Geb.Jg.Ers.Btl.I.,III.)
Geb.Jg.Ers.Reg.139 (Geb.Jg.Ers.Btl.I.,II.)

Div.Nr.418 (418.Replacement and Training Division)
Home Station: Klagenfurt.
- 15 May 1943: Formed as Div.Nr.418 in Klagenfurt, Wkr.XVIII.
- Nov.1943: After moving to Salzburg, Div.Nr.418 was renamed  Div.Nr.438 and took over the Replacement units of the departed 188.Res.Geb.Div.
Order of Battle – Nov.1943 :
Geb.Jg.Ers.Reg.137 (Geb.Jg.Ers.Btl.I.,II./136, I.,II.)
Geb.Jg.Ers.Reg.138 (Geb.Jg.Ers.Btl.I.,II., I.,II./139)

Div.Nr.438 (438.Replacement and Training Division)
Home Station: Salzburg.
- 01 Nov.1943: Formed by re-naming Div.Nr.418, after its move from Klagenfurt.
- Jan.1944: Began Training duties after the 188.Res.Geb.Div. was upgraded to full Geb.Div. status.
Order of Battle – Dec.1943 :
Ldschtz.Reg.184 (Ldschtz.Btl.517, 921, 928)
Ldschtz.Reg.18 (Ldschtz.Btl.611, 649, 922)
Grenz-Wach-Abschnitt XVIII Grenz-Wach-Unterabschnitt XVIII C, D, Ldschtz.Btl.721
Grenz-Wach-Unterabschnitt XVIII E


OTHER ERSATZHEER UNITS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS WEHRKREIS:

Div.Stb.z.b.V.537 (Special Administrative Division Staff)
- 09 Dec.1939: Formed by renaming Grenzschutz-Abschnittskommandos 10 serving on the German-Italian border.
- Dec.1940: The division was officially dissolved.
Order of Battle - Dec.1939:
Grenzwachtabschnitt 191 – (I.-V.Btl.)
Grenzwachtabschnitt 192 – (I.,II.Btl.)

Div.Stb.z.b.V.538 (Special Administrative Division Staff)
- 09 Dec.1939: Formed by renaming Grenzschutz-Abschnittskommandos 20 serving on the German-Italian border.
- Apr.1941: The division was officially dissolved.
Order of Battle - Dec.1939:
Grenzwachtabschnitt 193 – (I.Btl.)
Grenzwachtabschnitt 194 – (I.-III.Btl.)
Grenzwachtabschnitt 195 – (I.-V.Btl.)

381. Feldausbildungsdivision (381.Field Training Division)
- Sep.1942: Staff formed in Wkr.XVIII with the remainder coming from Wkr.V-VI-VII-VIII-XIII. The division was formed to supply Training functions for Heeresguppe “A” (Army Group A).
- Feb.1943: 381.Fld.Ausb.Div. was dissolved and the personnel absorbed into AOK 17 (17th Army).
Order of Battle:
Infanterie- (Feldausbildungs-) Regiment 381
Infanterie- (Feldausbildungs-) Regiment 614
Infanterie- (Feldausbildungs-) Regiment 615
Infanterie- (Feldausbildungs-) Regiment 616