The 716. Infanterie-Division was formed in May 1941 as part of the 15. Welle (wave). It was transferred to France in June 1941 where it served on occupation, security, coastal defense and air raid protection duties.
Facing the brunt of the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944, the division was largely destroyed before Caen while defending Gold, Juno, Sword and Omaha Beaches. Transferred to Perpignan for refitting in July 1944, the division suffered further losses in the retreat from southern France. After heavy fighting in the High Vosges in late 1944, it withdrew into the Colmar pocket where it was destroyed in January 1945.

Reformed on 14 April 1945, the division, reduced to a Kampfgruppe, passed into American captivity at Kempten at the end of the war.

Commanders

Generalleutnant Otto Matterstock (3 May 1941 - 1 Apr 1943)
Generalleutnant Wilhelm Richter (1 Apr 1943 - ? May 1944)
Generalmajor Ludwig Krug (? May 1944 - 10 June 1944)
Generalleutnant Wilhelm Richter (10 June 1944 - 14 Aug 1944)
Generalmajor Otto Schiel (14 Aug 1944 - 1 Sep 1944)
Generalleutnant Wilhelm Richter (1 Sep 1944 - 7 Sep 1944)
Generalmajor Ernst von Bauer (7 Sep 1944 - 1 Oct 1944)
Generalmajor Wolf Ewert (30 Dec 1944 - 18 Jan 1945)

Operations Officers (Ia)

Oberstleutnant Walter Dommasch (June 1941 - May 1942)
Major Rudolf Beelitz (May 1942 - Sep 1942)
Major Erich Labrenz (1 Sep 1942 - 10 Sep 1943)
Major Joachim Brückner (10 Sep 1943 - 20 Oct 1943)
Major Karl Bachus (25 Oct 1943 - 20 June 1944)
Major Johannes Marahrens (20 June 1944 - 1 Jan 1945)
Major Hellmut Lexis (1 Jan 1945 - 20 Feb 1945)
Major Hans-Ludwig Kuhlenkampff (20 Feb 1945 - 1945)

Area of operations

Germany (May 1941 - June 1941)
France (June 1941 - Jan 1945)

Order of battle (1941)

Infanterie-Regiment 726
Infanterie-Regiment 736
Artillerie-Abteilung 656
Pionier-Kompanie 716
Nachrichten-Kompanie 716
Versorgungstruppen 716

Order of battle (June 1944)

Grenadier-Regiment 726 (Ost-Bataillon 439 assigned as IV. Bataillon)
Grenadier-Regiment 736 (Ost-Bataillon 642 assigned as IV. Bataillon)
Artillerie-Regiment 1716
Panzerjäger-Kompanie 716
Pionier-Bataillon 716
Nachrichten-Abteilung 716
Versorgungstruppen 716

Order of battle (November 1944)

Grenadier-Regiment 706
Grenadier-Regiment 726
Grenadier-Regiment 736
Artillerie-Regiment 1716
Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 716
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 716
Pionier-Bataillon 716
Nachrichten-Abteilung 716
Versorgungstruppen 716

Sources used

Georg Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht 1933-1945

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -