18th Infantry Division (Germany)

German 18th Infantry Division (September 1939 – November 1940)

Redesignated German 18th Motorised Infantry Division (November 1940 – June 1943)

Redesignated German 18th Panzergrenadier Division (June 1943 – May 1945)

[edit] German 18th Infantry Division

Commander: Lieutenant-General Friedrich Karl Cranz 1 September 1939 - 1 November 1940

From September 1939 until May 1940 the division fought in Invasion of Poland and then made up part of the occupation force.
From May 1940 until November 1940 the division fought in the Battle of France and then made up part of the occupation force when it was redesignated 18th Motorised Infantry Division.

Part of the occupation force in France from November 1940 until June 1941.
Fought on the Eastern Front, central sector from June 1941 until January 1942.
Fought on the Eastern front, northern sector from January 1942 until June 1943 when it was redesignated 18th Panzergrenadier Division.

Formed on 23 June 1943.

Fought on the Eastern front, northern sector from June 1943 until October 1943.
Fought on the Eastern front, central sector from October 1943 until September 1944. It was devastated in the Soviet 1944 summer offensive.
The remnants of the Division fought in Eastern Prussia and in the Battle of Berlin. The survivors tried to fight their way out of Berlin on 2 May 1945 when Berlin surrendered to the Soviets.