The 1. Infanterie-Division was formed in in Königsberg on 15 October 1935 from the cover name Artillerieführer I. The infantry regiments were formed from 1. (Preußisches) Infanterie-Regiment of 1. Division of the Reichwehr. It was mobilized in August 1939 as part of the 1. Welle (wave).
After suffering heavy losses defending Königsberg, the Samland peninsula and Fischhausen-Pillau in 1945, the remnants of the division were evacuated by sea from Hela to Denmark. The remnants passed into British captivity in Schleswig-Holstein at the end of the war.

Commanders

Generalleutnant Walther Schroth (15 Oct 1935 - 4 Feb 1938)
Generalleutnant Joachim von Kortzfleisch (4 Feb 1938 - 14 Apr 1940)
Generalleutnant Philipp Kleffel (15 Apr 1940 - 12 July 1941)
Generalleutnant Dr Friedrich Altrichter (12 July 1941 - 4 Sep 1941)
General der Kavallerie Philipp Kleffel (4 Sep 1941 - 16 Jan 1942)
General der Infanterie Martin Grase (16 Jan 1942 - 30 June 1943)
General der Infanterie Ernst-Anton von Krosigk (1 July 1943 - 10 May 1944)
Generalmajor Hans-Joachim Baurmeister (10 May 1944 - 8 June 1944)
General der Infanterie Ernst-Anton von Krosigk (8 June 1944 - 1 Oct 1944)
Generalleutnant Hans Schittnig (1 Oct 1944 - 27 Feb 1945)
Generalleutnant Henning von Thadden (27 Feb 1945 - 8 May 1945)

Operations Officers (Ia)

Oberstleutnant Johannes Steffler (? 1939 - ? 1940)
Major Peter Pantenius (1 Aug 1940 - 15 Nov 1942)
Oberstleutnant Werner Richter (10 Dec 1942 - 10 Dec 1943)
Oberstleutnant Hilmar Frank (10 Dec 1943 - 10 Apr 1945)
Major Egon Overbeck (10 Apr 1945 - 20 Apr 1945)

Area of operations

Poland (Sep 1939 - May 1940)
France (May 1940 - June 1941)
Eastern front, northern sector (June 1941 - Oct 1943)
Eastern front, southern sector (Oct 1943 - Apr 1944)
Eastern front, central sector (May 1944 - Jan 1945)
East Prussia (May 1945 - May 1945)

Nicknames and Honor titles

Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great, Frederick II of Prussia 1712-1786)
Ostpreußen (East Prussia)

Infanterie-Regiment 1 was given the title Infanterie-Regiment Königsberg 1 Oct 1934 but was redesignated 15 Oct 1935.
Infanterie-Regiment 22 was given the title Infanterie-Regiment Gumbinnen 1 Oct 1934 but was redesignated 15 Oct 1935.

Holders of high awards

Holders of the Close Combat Clasp in Gold (9)
- Glinski von, Josef, 26.03.1945, Unteroffizier d.R., Gruppenführer i. d. 6./Gren.Rgt. 43
- Heinrich, Christoph, 22.03.1945, Feldwebel, Zugführer i. d. 4./Gren.Rgt. 1
- Hüllhorst, Paul 00.04.1945 Feldwebel im Stab II./Gren.Rgt. 1
- Jacobeit, Fritz, 15.04.1945, Gefreiter, Füs.Rgt. 22
- Jöres, Walter, 24.03.1945, Major, Fhr. Kampfgruppe 1. Inf.Div.
- Juschkat, Franz, 12.12.1944, Oberfeldwebel, Zugführer i. d. Stabs.Kp./Gren.Rgt. 43
- Kassing, Fritz, 10.11.1944, Oberfeldwebel d.R., Kp.Tr.Fhr. 4./Gren.Rgt. 1
- Petrick, Fritz, 02.04.1945, Feldwebel, Zugführer i. d. 3./Felders.Btl. 1
- Singer, Herbert, 01.05.1945, Hauptmann, Kdr. II./Füs.Rgt. 22
Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army (15)
Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army for Shooting Down Aircraft (3)
- Jewanski, Gustav, 19.06.1942 (168), Gefreiter, 3./Pz.Jäg.Abt. 1.
- Rosenberger, Paul, 16.08.1943 (374), Stabsfeldwebel, 8./Gren.Rgt. 43
- Tomczack, Stanislaus, 16.08.1943 (375), Gefreiter, 3./Art.Rgt. 37
Holders of the German Cross in Gold (150)
Holders of the German Cross in Silver (1)
- Schulz, Dr. Johannes, 22.07.1944, Oberstabsarzt, Div.Arzt. 1. Inf.Div.
Holders of the Honor Roll Clasp of the Heer (60)
Holders of the Knight's Cross (46, including two unofficial/unconfirmed)
Unit-Level Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army for Shooting Down Aircraft (1)
- Stab/Panzerjäger-Abteilung 1
-- Date/Place of Downing: 14.01.1943 bei Michailowski
-- Award Date: 16.08.1943 (341)

Order of battle (1939)

Infanterie-Regiment 1
Infanterie-Regiment 22
Infanterie-Regiment 43
Aufklärungs-Abteilung 1
Artillerie-Regiment 1
Beobachtungs-Abteilung 1 (1)
Pionier-Bataillon 1
Panzerabwehr-Abteilung 1
Nachrichten-Abteilung 1
Feldersatz-Bataillon 1
Versorgungseinheiten 1

Order of battle (1942)

Grenadier-Regiment 1
Füsilier-Regiment 22
Grenadier-Regiment 43
Radfahr-Abteilung 1
Artillerie-Regiment 1
Pionier-Bataillon 1
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 1
Nachrichten-Abteilung 1
Versorgungseinheiten 1

Order of battle (1943-1945)

Grenadier-Regiment 1
Füsilier-Regiment 22
Grenadier-Regiment 43
Füsilier-Bataillon 1
Artillerie-Regiment 1
Pionier-Bataillon 1
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 1
Nachrichten-Abteilung 1
Feldersatz-Bataillon 1
Versorgungseinheiten 1

Notable members

Prince Wilhelm of Prussia (KIA in 26 Mar 1940 of wounds recieved at Nivelles, France)
Theodor Tolsdorff (Holder of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds)

Oberleutnant Theodor Tolsdorff

(Courtesy of Peter Wijnberger Noordwijk)

Dr. Walter Lange, commander of Grenadier-Regiment 43, receives the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross 15 September 1943 from Adolf Hitler, also seen are Major Theodor Tolsdorff, Oberst Günther Pape and Major Dr. Franz Bäke.

(Courtesy of Bundesarchiv/Wikimedia, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Germany)

Footnotes

1. Released from the division in December 1939 and designated Heerestruppe.

Sources used

Georg Tessin - Deutsche Verbände und Truppen 1918-1939

Reference material on this unit

W. Haupt - Sturmfahrt nach Riga: Juni 1941 Das Infanterieregiment 43 der 1.Infanteriedivision im Kampf um die lettische Hauptstadt
Werner Richter - Die 1. Ostpreußische Infanterie-Division