The 266. Infanterie-Division was formed in May 1943 at Truppenübungsplatz Münsingen. It was captured in Brittany in August 1944 while attempting to relieve the forces in Festung Brest.

Known war crimes

Soldiers of Artillerie-Regiment 266 and Ostbataillon 629 took part in the killing of 25 civilians at Saint Pol-de-Léon 4 August 1944 in reprisal of the capture of German soldiers by French partisans who took the captives to the village. (1)

Commanders

Generalleutnant Karl Spang (1 June 1943 - 8 Aug 1944)

Operations Officers (Ia)

Oberstleutnant Albert Emmerich (10 Jun 1943-25 Oct 1943)
Major Karl-Ludwig Reuschhause (25 Oct 1943-25 Jun 1944)
Oberstleutnant Hans Möller (25 Jun 1944-Aug 1944)
Major Taubrich (1944)

Area of operations

Germany (June 1943 - July 1943)
France (July 1943 - Aug 1944)

Order of battle

Grenadier-Regiment 897
Grenadier-Regiment 898
Grenadier-Regiment 899
Artillerie-Regiment 266
Divisionseinheiten 266

Footnotes

1. "Konventioneller Krieg oder NS-Weltanschauungskrieg?: Kriegführung und Partisanenbekämpfung in Frankreich 1943/44" by Peter Lieb.

Sources used

Randolph Bradham - Hitler's U-boat fortresses
Peter Lieb - Konventioneller Krieg oder NS-Weltanschauungskrieg?: Kriegführung und Partisanenbekämpfung in Frankreich 1943/44
Georg Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht 1933-1945

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -