History
The 71st Infantry Division Kleeblatt ("Cloverleaf Division", "Lucky One") (German: 71. Infanterie-Division) was an infantry division of the German Army, raised on 26 August 1939, shortly before the outbreak of World War II, as a division of the 2nd wave of deployment by Infantry Commander 19 (Infanterie-Kommandeur 19) in Hildesheim. It fought in Verdun, Stalingrad and Monte Cassino, among others.
In August 1939, the 71st Infantry Division was set up in Military District XI (Wehrkreis XI) and was mainly recruited from soldiers from what is now Lower Saxony: Hanover, Hildesheim, Braunschweig and the western Harz. Mainly those born between 1910 and 1920 were drafted, with a divisional strength of 15,000 men.
After the 71. ID had marched southwest through Luxembourg and southern Belgium, they crossed the Chiers River and followed into the Maginot Line. The fighting accumulated in the attack on the tactically significant Height 311. This made the 71st Infantry Division one of the first units to surmount the Siegfried Line.
From June 1941 the 71st Infantry Division took part in the attack on the Soviet Union and surprisingly broke into the Soviet border fortifications near Niemstow on June 22, 1941.
On November 21, 1942, the Stalingrad pocket closed as part of Operation Uranus, when Soviet tanks took German positions near Kalach. The 71st Infantry Division received the order to entrench themselves in the city. On January 31, 1943, the remnants of the 6th Army surrendered including the remnants of the 71st ID.
From March to July 1943, the 71st Infantry Division was completely reorganized in Denmark.
In August 1943, the 71st Infantry Division was transferred to Carinthia with the assignment to help disarm the Italian troops in the Treviso - Gorizia - Trieste and Fiume areas during Operation Achse. This was followed by coastal protection and partisan fighting in the Monfalcone and Fiume areas. Participation in the Battle of Monte Cassino from January to May 1944.
The 71st Infantry Division surrendered to the British near Sankt Veit an der Glan in Austria.
In August 1939, the 71st Infantry Division was set up in Military District XI (Wehrkreis XI) and was mainly recruited from soldiers from what is now Lower Saxony: Hanover, Hildesheim, Braunschweig and the western Harz. Mainly those born between 1910 and 1920 were drafted, with a divisional strength of 15,000 men.
After the 71. ID had marched southwest through Luxembourg and southern Belgium, they crossed the Chiers River and followed into the Maginot Line. The fighting accumulated in the attack on the tactically significant Height 311. This made the 71st Infantry Division one of the first units to surmount the Siegfried Line.
From June 1941 the 71st Infantry Division took part in the attack on the Soviet Union and surprisingly broke into the Soviet border fortifications near Niemstow on June 22, 1941.
On November 21, 1942, the Stalingrad pocket closed as part of Operation Uranus, when Soviet tanks took German positions near Kalach. The 71st Infantry Division received the order to entrench themselves in the city. On January 31, 1943, the remnants of the 6th Army surrendered including the remnants of the 71st ID.
From March to July 1943, the 71st Infantry Division was completely reorganized in Denmark.
In August 1943, the 71st Infantry Division was transferred to Carinthia with the assignment to help disarm the Italian troops in the Treviso - Gorizia - Trieste and Fiume areas during Operation Achse. This was followed by coastal protection and partisan fighting in the Monfalcone and Fiume areas. Participation in the Battle of Monte Cassino from January to May 1944.
The 71st Infantry Division surrendered to the British near Sankt Veit an der Glan in Austria.
Featured Missions
| Campaign | Mission |
|---|---|
| Battle of Cassino | Cervaro Highlands |
| Battle of Cassino | Moving Westward |