The 717. Infanterie-Division was formed on 11 April 1941 as part of the 15. Welle (wave.) It was transferred to Yugoslavia in May 1941 where it took part in anti-partisan and security operations. On 1 April 1943, it was reorganized and redesignated the 117. Jäger-Division.

This unit took part in anti-partisan operations in Croatia.

Known war crimes

Infanterie-Regiment 749 of 717. Infanterie-Division and Infanterie-Regiment 724 of 704. Infanterie-Division took part in the killing of about 2.300 civilians in Kragujevac in present day Serbia 20-21 October 1941 in retaliation for partisan attacks. (1)

Commanders

Generalmajor Paul Hoffmann (17 May 1941 - 1 Nov 1941)
Generalleutnant Dr. Walter Hinghofer (1 Nov 1941 - 1 Oct 1942)
Generalleutnant Benignus Dippold (1 Oct 1942 - 1 Apr 1943)

Operations Officers (Ia)

Oberstleutnant Walter Hosterbach (Apr 1941 - Feb 1943)
Oberstleutnant Walter Barth (10 Feb 1943 - 1 Apr 1943)

Area of operations

Germany (May 1941 - May 1941)
Sebia & Croatia (May 1941 - Apr 1943)

Order of battle (1941)

Infanterie-Regiment 737
Infanterie-Regiment 749
Artillerie-Abteilung 670
Pionier-Kompanie 717
Nachrichten-Kompanie 717
Versorgungseinheiten 717

Memorial to the victims of the Kragujevac massacre

(Courtesy of Dushan)

Footnotes

1. Based on the information from "V: Hostages, Reprisals and Collective Measures in the Balkans. Measures Against Partisans and Partisan Areas: (B) Contemporaneous Documents: Partial Translation of Document NOKW-387, Prosecution Exhibit 99: Report to Commanding General in Serbia, 10/29/1941, Concerning Severe Reprisal Measures", in Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals Under Control Council Law No. 10. Vol. 11: United States of America v. Wilhelm List, et al. (Case 7: 'Hostage Case'). US Government Printing Office, District of Columbia: 1950. pp. 980 et seq.

Sources used

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

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -