The 18. Artillerie-Division was an artillery division in service with the German Heer during World War II. The 18. Division was notable for being the first such independent and mobile artillery division in Heer service. The 18. Artillerie Division was initially formed on October 1, 1943 from elements of the dissolved 18. Panzer Division. The 18. Division was disbanded on July 27, 1944 following severe losses of men and equipment on the Eastern Front.[1]
Commanders[]
In order of their taking command of the unit, the following are all the commanders in charge of the 18. Artillerie Division at one time or another:
- Major General Karl Thoholte (October 20, 1943[1]
- Major General Gerhard Müller (February 28, 1944)[1]
- Lieutenant General Karl Thoholte (April 1944)[1]
Structure[]
The 18. Artillerie Division was an artillery division that operated under XXXVIII Army Corps of Army Group Center. Below are the regiments and batteries of the division.
- Artillerie Regiment 88[2]
- Artillerie Regiment 288[2]
- Artillerie Regiment 388[2]
- Feuerleit Battery 18 (Fire Control)[2]
- Sturmgeschütz Battery 741 (Assault Gun)[2]
- Heeres-Flakartillerie-Abteilung 288 (Army Anti-Aircraft Battalion)[2]
- Sanitätseinheiten 88 (Medical)[2]
- leichte Beobachtungs-Abteilung 4 (Light Armored Reconnaissance)
- Divisions-Nachrichten Abteilung 88 (Division news department)
Unit History[]
Hummels of Artillerie Regiment 88 in Russia, June 1943
The 18. Division was created on October 1, 1943. It was intended to be a mobile unit that could support fellow units in both offensive and defensive operations. Accordingly, the 18. Division was given an entire infantry battalion capable of defending the division from attack. On multiple occasions, this battalion saved the 18. Division from being destroyed to enemy action. In March 1944, the division was trapped in the Kamenets-Podolsky pocket and despite successfully breaking out, the division lost most of its men, materials, and supplies. From that point onward, the division was essentially broken, being disbanded in July, 1944.
References[]
<references>