The 129. Infanterie-Division was formed in October 1940 from elements of the 9. Infanterie-Division, 251. Infanterie-Division and the non-motorized elements of 33. Infanterie-Divisionen.

Commanders

Generalleutnant Stephen Rittau (1 Oct 1940 - 22 Aug 1942) (KIA) (1)
General der Nachrichtentruppen Albert Praun (22 Aug 1942 - 25 Sep 1943)
Generalmajor Karl Fabiunke (25 Sep 1943 - 31 Jan 1944)
Generalleutnant Heribert von Larisch (31 Jan 1944 - 11 Feb 1945)
Generalmajor Bernhard Ueberschär (11 Feb 1945 - 8 May 1945)

Operations Officers (Ia)

Major Johann Steets (25 Oct 1940-Jan 1941)
Major Sachenbacher (1941-1942)
Major Karl-Ernst Rahtgens (1942-1943)
Oberstleutnant Joachim Möller (15 Oct 1943-15 Nov 1944)
Major Dieter Kaempfe (15 Nov 1944-May 1945)

Area of operations

Germany (Oct 1940 - June 1941)
Eastern front, central sector (June 1941 - Sep 1944)
East Prussia (Sep 1944 - May 1945)

Holders of high awards

Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army (4)
- Albrecht, Willi, 27.12.1944 (5070), Unteroffizier, Richtkreisunteroffizier 13./Gren.Rgt. 427
- Larisch von, Heribert, 00.00.1945 (6315), Generalleutnant, Kdr. 129. Inf.Div.
- Ruperti, [first name not listed], 01.03.1942 (784), Oberleutnant, Schwd.Chef 2.(Radf.)/Aufkl.Abt. 129
- Schiemann, Otto, 05.09.1942 (1192), Oberwachtmeister, 5./Art.Rgt. 129
Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army for Shooting Down Aircraft (2)
- Heisler, [first name not listed], 01.02.1944 (458), Obergefreiter, Pz.Jäg.Abt. 129
- Wolff, Gustav, 29.06.1944 [Date of Action] (549), Obergefreiter, 14./Gren.Rgt. 428
Holders of the German Cross in Gold (101)
Holders of the Honor Roll Clasp of the Heer (26)
Holders of the Knight's Cross (26, including one unofficial/unconfirmed)
Unit-Level Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army for Shooting Down Aircraft (4)
- Infanterie-Regiment 430
-- Date/Place of Downing: 04.10.1941 bei Kahjutino
-- Award Date: 10.12.1941 (43)
- 11./Infanterie-Regiment 427
-- Date/Place of Downing: 11.07.1942 bei Nesterowo
-- Award Date: 24.09.1942 (216)
- III./Grenadier-Regiment 427
-- Date/Place of Downing: 26.04.1944 bei Kolki
-- Award Date: 01.08.1944 (505)
- Stabskompanie/Grenadier-Regiment 428
-- Date/Place of Downing: 14.10.1944 bei Poswietne
-- Award Date: 00.00.0000 (548)

Order of battle (1940)

Infanterie-Regiment 427
Infanterie-Regiment 428
Infanterie-Regiment 430
Artillerie-Regiment 129
Divisioneinheiten 129

Order of battle (1944)

Grenadier-Regiment 427
Grenadier-Regiment 428
Grenadier-Regiment 430
Füsilier-Bataillon 129
Artillerie-Regiment 129
Divisioneinheiten 129

Notable members

Bernhard Hofmann (SA-Gruppenführer, Knights' Cross holder)
Karl-Ernst Rahtgens (Active in the resistance against Hitler and executed after the failure of the July 20 Plot)

Footnotes

1. Generalleutnant Stephen Rittau was killed 22 January 1944 by Soviet artillery fire near Martinowo.

Sources used

French Maclean - Quiet Flows the Rhine: German General Officer Casualties in World War II
Georg Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht 1933-1945

Reference material on this unit

Heinrich Boucsein - Halten oder Sterben: Die hessisch-thuringische 129. Infanterie-Division im Russlandfeldzug und Ostpreussen