The 285. Sicherungs-Division was formed from parts of 207. Infanterie-Division in March 1941. Elements of it was encircled at Cholm but mainly served behind the front lines until the summer of 1944 when it was crushed during the Soviet summer offensive. It was disbanded in August 1944.

Commanders

Generalleutnant Wolfgang Edler Herr und Freiherr von Plotho (15 Mar 1941 - 5 Sep 1942)
Generalleutnant Gustav Adolph-Auffenberg-Komarow (5 Sep 1942 - 14 Aug 1944)

Operations Officers (Ia)

Hauptmann Karl Pridun (Apr 1941-Oct 1941)
Oberstleutnant Gerhard von Arntzen (1942-Feb 1943)
Hauptmann Walter Pauls (1943-1944)

Area of operations

Germany (Mar 1941 - Nov 1941)
Eastern front, northern sector (Nov 1941 - Aug 1944)

Holders of high awards

Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army (1)
- Westerhoff, [first name not listed], 08.02.1942 (675), Oberleutnant, Kp.Fhr. 3.(Radfahr)/Wachbtl. 619
Holders of the German Cross in Gold (17)
Holders of the Honor Roll Clasp of the Heer (7)
- Chevallerie von der, [first name not listed], 08.02.1942, Hauptmann, Radf.Wachbtl. 619 [attached in 41]
- [Radf.Wach.Btl. 619 becoming I./Sich.Rgt. 3 in May 42]
- Geinitz, Lukas, 15.01.1944, Hauptmann, 8./Art.Rgt. 207
- Hatlapa, Peter, 15.09.1944, Unteroffizier, 3./Gren.Rgt. 322
- Krause, Kurt, 15.11.1943, Oberfeldwebel, 6./Gren.Rgt. 322
- Kraut, Wilhelm, 28.03.1943, Oberst z.V., Kdr. Sich.Rgt. 113
- Müller, Gottfried, 07.05.1943, Major d.R., II./Gren.Rgt. 322
- Piehl, Max, 17.09.1944, Oberfeldwebel, Stb.Kp./Gren.Rgt. 322
Holders of the Knight's Cross (2)
- Karow, Gustav 19.08.1944 Oberst d.R. Kdr Gren.Rgt 322
- Koßmala, Georg 13.03.1942 Oberst Kdr Sich.Rgt 3 [attached in 1941]

Order of battle

Grenadier-Regiment 322
Sicherungs-Regiment 113
I./Polizei-Regiment 9
Beute-Panzer-Kompanie 285
Ost-Reiter-Abteilung 285
Artillerie-Abteilung 285
Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 823
Divisionseinheiten 322

Osttruppen attached to 285. Sicherungs-Division (5 Sep 1943)

Ost-Reiter-Abteilung 285 (4 Kompanien)
1., 2. Nordkaukasische Infanterie-Kompanie/844

Sources used

Research by Jason von Zerneck
Andris J. Kursietis - The Wehrmacht at War 1939-1945
Samuel W. Mitcham Jr - Hitler's Legions: The German Army Order of Battle World War II
George F. Nafziger - The German Order of Battle: Infantry in World War II
Georg Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht 1933-1945

Reference material on this unit

Traditionsverband der 207./281. Inf.Div - Damals: Infanterie und Artillerie unserer Divisionen 207, 281 und 285 im Einsatz. Berichte und Briefe 1942-1944