The 8. Infanterie-Division was formed in Oppeln on 15 October 1935 from the cover name Artillerieführer III. The infantry regiments were formed from 7. (Preußisches) Infanterie-Regiment of 3. Division of the Reichwehr. It was mobilized in August 1939 as part of the 1. Welle (wave). On 1 December 1941, it was reorganized and redesignated 8. Leichte Infanterie-Division.

Known war crimes

Soldiers of the division killed 40 Polish POWs and 30 civilians in Szczucin on 12 September 1939 following the shooting of one of the German soldiers by a Polish captured office who managed to steal his gun. (4)

Commanders

General der Kavallerie Rudolf Koch-Erpach (15 Oct 1935 - 25 Oct 1940)
General der Infanterie Gustav Höhne (25 Oct 1940 - 1 Dec 1941)

Operations Officers (Ia)

Oberstleutnant Edmund Blaurock (15 June 1938 - 15 Feb 1941)
Major Willy Deyhle (Feb 1941 - 1 Dec 1941)

Area of operations

Poland (Sep 1939 - May 1940)
France (May 1940 - June 1941)
Eastern front (June 1941 - Dec 1941)

Holders of high awards

See 8. Jäger-Division

Order of battle (1939)

Infanterie-Regiment 28
Infanterie-Regiment 38
Infanterie-Regiment 84 (1)
Aufklärungs-Abteilung 8
Artillerie-Regiment 8
- I. Abteilung
- II. Abteilung
- III. Abteilung
- I./Artillerie-Regiment 44 (2)
Beobachtungs-Abteilung 8 (3)
Pionier-Bataillon 8
Panzerabwehr-Abteilung 8
Nachrichten-Abteilung 8
Feldersatz-Bataillon 8
Versorgungseinheiten 8

Honorary regimental Chiefs

Chef des Infanterie-Regiments 28: K.u.K. Austro-Hungarian Feldmarschall/German Charakter als Generalfeldmarschall Eduard (Freiherr von) Böhm-Ermolli (31.10.1940)

Footnotes

1. Transferred to the 102. Infanterie-Division in November 1941.
2. Redesignated IV.(Gebirgs-)/Artillerie-Regiment 8 on 1 December 1941.
3. Released from the division in December 1939 and designated Heerestruppe.
4. This crime was earlier attributed to the X Armeekorps. "Zbrodnie Wehrmachtu na jeńcach wojennych w II wojnie światowej" by Szymon Datner, "Zbrodnie Wehrmachtu w Polsce" by Jochen Böhler and "Vom Verschwinden der Täter. Der Vernichtungskrieg fand statt, aber keiner war dabei" by Hannes Heer.

Sources used

Jochen Böhler - Zbrodnie Wehrmachtu w Polsce (2009)
Szymon Datner - Zbrodnie Wehrmachtu na jeńcach wojennych w II wojnie światowej (Warszawa: Wydawnictwo MON, 1961)
Hannes Heer - Vom Verschwinden der Täter. Der Vernichtungskrieg fand statt, aber keiner war dabei (2004)
Georg Tessin - Deutsche Verbände und Truppen 1918-1939
Unit insignia illustration courtesy of Wikimedia

Reference material on this unit

Kameradschaftsbund der 8. Jg.Div - Die Geschichte der 8. (oberschlesisch sudetendeutschen) Infanterie /Jäger Division