709. Infanterie Division

 

This division had been raised in May 1941. During the summer this year, it had been stationed in Brittany, but in December 1942 it was transferred to 84. Korps i Normandy. It had no combat experience before D-Day.¹

The average age of the men in the division was 36 years.²

The organization of the division looked like this on 1 May 1944³:

On 1 May 1944 the division had a strength of 12 320 men.⁴ Since it was reported that the division was 375 men over the authorized strength on 1 April 1944⁵, it is unlikely that the divsion was given more manpower until the beginning of June.

As it was organized on 1 May, the Panzerjäger Abteilung had 9 7,5 cm Pak 40 AT guns on tracked chassis.⁶ No deliveries of Marders have been found in the documents covering the period from May 1943 until D-Day.⁷ Either the SP AT guns were delivered before May 1943 or they are some kind of locally made conversion, possibly using captured French vehicles. The Panzerjäger Abteilung also had twelve 7,5 cm Pak 40 (mot Z) and nine 3,7 cm Flak guns (mot Z).⁸

The Artillery Regiment had the following equipment⁹:

1. Batterie 4 Czechoslovakian 10 cm howitzers
2. Batterie 4 Czechoslovakian 10 cm howitzers (motor drawn)
3. Batterie 4 French 10,5 cm guns
4. Batterie 4 French 10,5 cm guns

5. Batterie 4 French 10,5 cm guns
6. Batterie 4 French 15,5 cm howitzers
7. Batterie 4 French 15,5 cm howitzers
8. Batterie 4 French 15,5 cm howitzers

9. Batterie 4 Russian 7,62 cm guns
10. Batterie 4 Russian 7,62 cm guns
11. Batterie 4 Russian 7,62 cm guns

The Infantry battalions had the following equipment¹⁰:

I./729: 46 MG, 4 mortars; 1. company bicycle mounted.
II./729: 46 MG, 4 mortars; all companies bicycle mounted.
III./729: 46 MG, 4 mortars; 1. company bicycle mounted.
649. Ost: 46 MG, 11 mortars
561. Ost: 58 MG, 9 mortars, some 4,5 cm AT Guns (number of guns unreadable in origanl document)
II./739: 48 MG; 1. Company bicycle mounted
III./739: 48 MG; 1. Company bicycle mounted
795. Ost: 44 MG, 15 mortars
I./919: 50 MG, 4 flamethrowers (bodenständig), 8 mortars (8,1 cm); 1. company bicycle mounted
II./919: 50 MG, 4 flamethrowers (bodenständig), 8 mortars (8,1 cm); 1. company bicycle mounted
III./919: 50 MG, 4 flamethrowers (bodenständig), 8 mortars (8,1 cm); all companies bicycle mounted

Each infantry regiment had a company with six 7,5 cm Pak and three 5 cm Pak. These were all motor drawn. In addition to this, the 919. Regiment had a company with six Russian 7,62 cm infantry howitzers (not motorized) and an extra AT company with light static AT guns.¹¹

The division had no field replacement battalion.¹²

Elements of the division were engaged on D-Day, defending against allied airborne landings and also against the US 4th Infantry Division landing on Utah beach.

On 16 June it was reported that the division had about 4 000 casualties.¹³ This probably included subordinated units.

The division defended Cherbourg and was destroyed when the city was liberated by US forces.

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Notes:

1	G. Tessin, Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS (Mittler & Sohn, Frankfurt am Main and Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1966-1975).
2	HGr B Ia Nr. 4257/44 g.Kdos.Chefs., 3.7.44, T311, R4, F7003764.
3	Gliederung der 709. I.D., Stand 1.5.44, T312, R1566, F000217.
4	Gliederung der 709. I.D., Stand 1.5.44, T312, R1566, F000217.
5	WFST/Op. (H)/West Nr.004662/44 g.Kdos, den 3. Mai 1944, Fehlstellen der Divisionen im Bereich OB West, Stand 1.4.44, T77, R1421, F000237f.
6	Gliederung der 709. I.D., Stand 1.5.44, T312, R1566, F000217.
7	Lieferungen der Pz.Fahrzeuge Bd. ab Mai 1943, BA-MA RH 10/349.
8	Gliederung der 709. I.D., Stand 1.5.44, T312, R1566, F000217.
9	Gliederung der 709. I.D., Stand 1.5.44, T312, R1566, F000217.
10	Gliederung der 709. I.D., Stand 1.5.44, T312, R1566, F000217.
11	Gliederung der 709. I.D., Stand 1.5.44, T312, R1566, F000217.
12	Gliederung der 709. I.D., Stand 1.5.44, T312, R1566, F000217.
13	Anlagen zum KTB OB West Ia, Einzelnotizen, 16.6.44, T311, R25, F7030072.