The 416. Infanterie-Division was formed in December 1941 and served as an occupation, security and coastal defense unit in Denmark. In February 1944, the division and SS-Fallschirmjäger-Bataillon 500 were earmarked for Operation “Tanne West” (Fir West), the proposed German amphibious and airborne seizure of the Finnish Åland Islands. The plan, however, was cancelled in September 1944. Transferred to the Western Front in Oct 1944, the division fought in the Saarpfalz before passing into American captivity near Traunstein, northwest of Berchtesgaden, in May 1945.

Commanders

Generalleutnant Hans Brabänder (30 Dec 1941 - 1 June 1943)
Generalleutnant Werner Hühner (1 June 1943 - 1 July 1943)
Generalleutnant Kurt Pflieger (1 July 1943 - 8 May 1945)

Area of operations

Germany (Dec 1941 - Jan 1942)
Denmark (Jan 1942 - Oct 1944)
France (Oct 1944 - Nov 1944)
Western Germany (Nov 1944 - May 1945)

Order of battle (1941)

Infanterie-Regiment 441
Infanterie-Regiment 443
Artillerie-Abteilung 416
Pionier-Kompanie 416
Nachrichten-Kompanie 416
Versorgungseinheiten 416

Order of battle (1942)

Landesschützen-Regiment 930
Landesschützen-Regiment 931
Artillerie-Abteilung 416
Pionier-Kompanie 416
Nachrichten-Kompanie 416
Versorgungseinheiten 416

Order of battle (1944-1945)

Grenadier-Regiment 712
Grenadier-Regiment 713
Grenadier-Regiment 714 (1)
Füsilier-Kompanie 416
Artillerie-Regiment 416
Pionier-Bataillon 416
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 416
Nachrichten-Abteilung 416
Feldersatz-Bataillon 416
Versorgungseinheiten 416

Footnotes

1. Grenadier-Regiment 714 (Ost) or (Russ.) was formed 30 April 1944 from Ost-Bataillonen 603, 667 and 653. It remained in Denmark when the 416. Infanterie-Division was transferred to the Western Front in Oct 1944. A third regiment was reformed for the division, numbered 714, but to avoid confusion with the Ost-Regiment it was redesignated Grenadier-Regiment 774 on 29 December 1944. Of note, this was one of two Grenadier regiments bearing the number 774 that existed at the same time, the other being assigned to the 715. Infanterie-Division.

Sources used

Georg Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht 1933-1945
Earl F. Ziemke - The German Northern Theater of Operations, 1940-1945  

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -