The 205. Infanterie-Division was formed January 1940 from the 14. Landwehr-Division. It surrendered to the Soviet Red Army in Courland at the end of the war.

Commanders

Generalleutnant Ernst Richter (1 Jan 1940 - 1 Mar 1942)
Generalleutnant Paul Seyffardt (1 Mar 1942 - 5 Nov 1943)
Generalmajor Ernst Michael (5 Nov 1943 - 1 Dec 1943)
General der Artillerie Horst von Mellenthin (1 Dec 1943 - 19 Oct 1944)
Generalmajor Ernst Biehler (19 Oct 1944 - 15 Nov 1944)
General der Artillerie Horst von Mellenthin (15 Nov 1944 - 8 Jan 1945)
Generalmajor Karl Giese (8 Jan 1945 - 8 May 1945)

Operations Officers (Ia)

Major Hans Gronemann-Schönborn (1 Jan 1940-1940)
Hauptmann Niemeyer (1940-?)
Hauptmann Ernst Lenné (7 Feb 1941-1 Jul 1941)
Oberstleutnant Karl-Geert Klostermann (1 Jul 1941-10 May 1944)
Oberstleutnant Hermann Linn (10 May 1944-1 Mar 1945)
Oberstleutnant Hans-Joachim von Raison (1 Mar 1945-1945)

Area of operations

Germany (Jan 1940 - June 1940)
France (June 1940 - Feb 1942)
Eastern front, central sector (Feb 1942 - Oct 1943)
Eastern front, northern sector (Oct 1943 - Oct 1944)
Kurland pocket (Oct 1944 - May 1945)

Nicknames

Pilz-Division (Mushroom Division)

Holders of high awards

Holders of the Close Combat Clasp in Gold (1)
- Lang, Karl, 00.00.1945, Feldwebel, KpTruppführer 7./Gren.Rgt 358
Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army (5)
- Hellmers, Friedrich, 25.11.1944 (4526), Oberleutnant, 7./Gren.Rgt. 353
- Jessel, Dr. Ewald, 07.08.1944 (3764), Unterarzt, Hilfsarzt im II./Gren.Rgt. 358
- Renneisen, Alfred, 05.11.1944 (4396), Oberfeldwebel, 7./Gren.Rgt. 353
- Wohlgemuth, Wilhelm, 26.02.1943 (1554), Oberleutnant, Kp.Fhr. 1./Pz.Jäg.Abt. 205
- Wolff, Erich, 05.02.1945 (5177), Oberwachtmeister, 3./Art.Rgt. 205
Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army for Shooting Down Aircraft (1)
- Bierbaum, Karl, 01.02.1944 [Date of Action] (561), Obergefreiter, 10./Art.Rgt. 205
Holders of the German Cross in Gold (52)
Holders of the German Cross in Silver (3)
- Bauer, Paul, 22.09.1944, Stabsarzt, Gren.Rgt. 335
- Katz, Dr. Friedrich, 27.10.1944, Stabsarzt, San.Kp. 2/205
- Strecker, Willy, 23.03.1945, Major d.R., Div.Vers.Rgt. 205
Holders of the Honor Roll Clasp of the Heer (38)
Holders of the Knight's Cross (21) (18 RK + 3 EL)

Order of battle (1940)

Grenadier-Regiment 335 (from Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment 40)
Grenadier-Regiment 353 (from Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment 59)
Grenadier-Regiment 358 (from Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment 182)
Artillerie-Regiment 205
- I. - IV. Abteilung
Divisioneinheiten 205

Order of battle (April 1944)

Grenadier-Regiment 335
Grenadier-Regiment 353
Grenadier-Regiment 358
Artillerie-Regiment 205
- I. - IV. Abteilung
Panzerjäger-Bataillon 205
Aufklärungs-Bataillon 205
Pionier-Bataillon 205
Nachrichten-Bataillon 205
Nachschubtruppen

Sources used

W. Victor Madeja - German Army Order of Battle: Field Army and Officer Corps
Georg Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht 1933-1945

Reference material on this unit

Walter Gruber, Emil Geier, Otto Wößner - Die 205. Infanterie Division: Bildbericht vom Schicksal einer deutschen Infanterie Division 1936-1945
Fritz Kammerer - Pilzdivision im Einsatz: 205. Infanterie Division Oberrhein Frankreich Rußland