The 719. Infanterie-Division was formed in May 1941 as part of the 15. Welle (wave). It was transferred to the Netherlands in June 1941 where it served on occupation, security, coastal defense and air raid protection duties. The division withdrew from its positions on the coast in September 1944 and engaged in defensive operations against the British along the Belgian-Dutch border.
After refitting it was transferred to the Saarpfalz where it fought until destroyed in March 1945. Reformed on 14 April 1945 from the remnants of Division Nr. 405, the division passed into American captivity at Münsingen later that month.

See also the Report on the commitment of the 719. Infanterie-Division in the Antwerp-Breda area, September 1944 written by Generalleutnant Karl Sievers.

Commanders

Generalleutnant Erich Höcker (3 May 1941 - 10 Jan 1944)
Generalleutnant Max Horn (10 Jan 1944 - 15 Feb 1944)
Generalmajor Carl Wahle (15 Feb 1944 - 1 Aug 1944)
Generalleutnant Karl Sievers (3 Aug 1944 - 3 Oct 1944)
Oberst Rudolf Goltzsch (3 Oct 1944 - 10 Oct 1944)
Generalleutnant Felix Schwalbe (10 Oct 1944 - 16 Dec 1944)
Generalmajor Heinrich Gäde (16 Dec 1944 - 30 Mar 1945) (POW)
Generalleutnant Willy Seeger (14 Apr 1945 - Apr 1945)

Operations Officers (Ia)

Oberstleutnant Hans Bickel (8 Oct 1942 - 10 Nov 1943)
Major Friedrich-Karl Plehwe (10 Nov 1943 - 10 Sep 1944)
Oberstleutnant Hans Ritter und Edler von Rosenthal (10 Sep 1944 - 10 Oct 1944)
Oberstleutnant Hermann Miltzow (10 Oct 1944 - 20 Apr 1945)
Major Friedrich-Karl Walters (20 Apr 1945 - 1945)

Area of operations

Germany (May 1941 - June 1941)
Netherlands (June 1941 - Jan 1945)
South-Western Germany (Jan 1945 - Mar 1945)

Order of battle (1941)

Infanterie-Regiment 723
Infanterie-Regiment 743
Artillerie-Abteilung 663
Pionier-Kompanie 719
Nachrichten-Kompanie 719
Versorgungseinheiten 719

Order of battle (1943)

Grenadier-Regiment 723
Grenadier-Regiment 743
Artillerie-Regiment 663
Pionier-Bataillon 719
Panzerjäger-Kompanie 719
Nachrichten-Abteilung 719
Feldersatz-Bataillon 663
Versorgungseinheiten 719

Order of battle (1945)

Grenadier-Regiment 723
Grenadier-Regiment 743
Grenadier-Regiment 766
Füsilier-Bataillon 719
Artillerie-Regiment 1719
Pionier-Bataillon 719
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 719
Nachrichten-Abteilung 719
Feldersatz-Bataillon 719
Versorgungseinheiten 719

Sources used

Georg Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht 1933-1945
Unit insignia illustration courtesy of Wikimedia

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -