The German 60th Infantry Division was formed in late 1939, from Gruppe Eberhardt, a collection of SA units that had been engaged in the capture of Danzig during the Invasion of Poland. This division was unusual in that its manpower was largely drawn from the SA and the police.
This division participated in the invasion of France (1940), and was in July 1940 transferred back to Poland where it was upgraded to 60th Infantry Division (motorized). During this upgrading it was reduced to two regiments (the Inf.Rgt 92 and Inf.Rgt 244) and the other regiment (Inf.Rgt 243) was reassigned. In January 1941 the division was moved to Rumania and in April took part in the invasion of Yugoslavia and Greece. This division participated in Operation Barbarossa, advancing through Uman and across the Dnieper River as part of the 1st Panzergruppe (commanded by General Von Kleist). It took part in the attack and occupation of Rostov until it was pulled back along with other German troops to the Mius River. In a series of defensive battles during the winter of 1941–42 it managed to hold its position and then in March 1942 took part in the battles of Kharkov. Later in 1942 the division took part in the drive on Stalingrad. During the latter part of 1942 it was involved in the bitter battles for this city, and then in early 1943 was encircled at Stalingrad, and destroyed.
In mid 1943, the division was ordered to be reformed, as a panzergrenadier formation (60th Panzergrenadier Division Feldherrnhalle) and as a part of the Feldherrnhalle organisation. For more information, see Panzerkorps Feldherrnhalle.
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