163. Infanterie-Division was formed Nov 1939. It took part in the invasion of Norway and was used in occupation duty until the summer of 1941. It was transferred through neutral Sweden to Finland and is remembered in Sweden as "Engelbrecht divisionen", the Engelbrecht Division.
It remained on the northern part of the Eastern Front until late 1944 when it returned to Norway where it remained for a few months before being transferred to Germany. It was destroyed near Stargard Mar 1945 and the surviving elements were used as a cadre for 3. Marine-Infanterie-Division.
| Commanders | |
| General der Artillerie Erwin Engelbrecht | (25 Oct 1939 - 15 June 1942) |
| General der Infanterie Anton Dostler | (15 June 1942 - 28 Dec 1942) |
| Generalleutnant Karl Rübel | (29 Dec 1942 - 8 Mar 1945) |
| Operations Officers (Ia) | |
| Oberstleutnant Hugo Ewringmann | (Nov 1939-Jan 1940) |
| Hauptmann Gerhard Michael | (Jan 1940-1940) |
| Major Fritz Koehler | (16 Sep 1940-1 Jul 1943) |
| Oberstleutnant Paul Übelhack | (1 Jul 1943-10 May 1944) |
| Oberstleutnant Klaus Brockelmann | (10 May 1944-1945) |
| Area of operations | |
| Germany | (Oct 1939 - Apr 1940) |
| Norway | (Apr 1940 - June 1941) |
| Finland & northern Russia | (June 1941 - Nov 1944) |
| Norway | (Now 1944 - Feb 1945) |
| Northern Germany | (Feb 1945 - Mar 1945) |
Nicknames
Trabender Elch
Order of battle
307. Infanterie-Regiment
310. Infanterie-Regiment
324. Infanterie-Regiment
235. Artillerie-Regiment
I. - III. Abteilung
Nachschubtruppen
Reference material on this unit
Hilmar Potente - Von Potsdam zum Polarkreis und zurück. Der Weg der 163. Infanterie Division (3 vol)
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Last update: 15 Sep 2009
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