286th Security Division (Wehrmacht)

Last updated
286th Security Division
286. Sicherungs-Division
286. Sec Div.png
ActiveMarch 1941 - April 1945
CountryFlag of Germany (1935-1945).svg  Nazi Germany
Branch Army (Wehrmacht)
Type Infantry
Role Security
Size Division
Part of Army Group Centre Rear Area
Army Group Centre
Engagements Eastern Front
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Johann-Georg Richert

The 286th Security Division (286. Sicherungs-Division) was a rear-security division in the Wehrmacht during World War II. The unit was deployed in German-occupied areas of the Soviet Union, in the Army Group Centre Rear Area. It was responsible for large-scale war crimes and atrocities including the deaths of thousands of Soviet civilians.

Contents

Operational history

The 286th Security Division was formed on 15 March 1941 around elements of the 213th Infantry Division, initially with one infantry regiment (354th). By 1942 another two Security Regiments, 61 (upgraded from the Landesschützen-Regiment staff 61) and 122, were attached. A variety of units were subordinated to the division during its existence, including battalions of Russian troops and from February 1944 Grenadier Regiment 638, consisting of French volunteers, the LVF.

During this period the division was assigned to Fourth Army, where it carried out occupation, economic exploitation and security duties in rear areas. It was involved in punitive operations against the local populace: these actions were carried out with extreme brutality (in total, Belarus lost up to a quarter of its population during the German occupation). A defendant at the post-war Minsk Trial, Paul Eick, stated that he had set out to create and then liquidate a ghetto in the town of Orsha under the division's command. [1]

In June 1944, the Fourth Army was encircled by Soviet forces during the liberation of the Belorussian SSR, Operation Bagration. The 286th Security Division was overrun and destroyed in the vicinity of Orsha. Its remnants were reorganised late that year at Memel as the 286th Infantry Division, assigned to the Third Panzer Army; it was again destroyed at Neukuhren during the battles in Samland towards the end of the war.

Commanders

286th Infantry Division

See also

Footnotes

  1. Prusin, p14

Related Research Articles

The 1st Infantry Division, was one of the original infantry divisions of the Reichswehr and Wehrmacht that served throughout World War II.

The 4th Mountain Division was established in October 1940. It took part in the 1941 Balkans Campaign and then joined Army Group South in Operation Barbarossa after it was already underway. In 1942 it participated in the failed attempt to seize the Caucasus in Operation Edelweiss under Army Group A. Following the operation's failure, the division was pushed back into the Kuban bridgehead, then the Crimean Peninsula, western Ukraine, Hungary, and Slovakia. The division surrendered to the Soviet forces near Czech city of Olomouc when the war ended in May 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">14th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)</span> Military unit

The 14th Infantry Division was a formation of the Germany Army (Wehrmacht) which fought during World War II.

Security Divisions were German rear-area military units engaged in Nazi security warfare in occupied Europe during World War II. Almost all divisions were employed in areas on the Eastern front with the exception of the 325th Security Division which operated within Occupied France. The units were tasked with fighting local partisans, intelligience and counter-insurgency against resistance groups, rounding up Jews and other ethnic groups as part of The Holocaust, and conducting punitive actions in civilian areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">83rd Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)</span> Military unit

The 83rd Infantry Division,, was a German reserve and security formation during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">14th Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)</span> German army division during World War II

The 14th Panzer Division was an armoured division in the German Army during World War II. It was created in 1940 by the conversion of the 4th Infantry Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friedrich-Georg Eberhardt</span> German general (1892–1964)

Friedrich-Georg Eberhardt was a German Generalleutnant who commanded several divisions during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johann-Georg Richert</span>

Johann-Georg Richert was a German general during World War II. He commanded the 286th Security Division whose personnel committed numerous war crimes in occupied Belarus, in the Army Group Center Rear Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">35th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)</span> Military unit

The 35th Infantry Division was a German Army infantry division in World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">197th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)</span> Military unit

The 197th Infantry Division was a Wehrmacht division in World War II. It was activated on 1 December 1939.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">81st Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)</span> Military unit

The 81st Infantry Division was an infantry division of the German Army during World War II.

The 290th Infantry Division was a German infantry division in World War II. It was formed in the Munster Training Area in Wehrkreis X on 6 February 1940 and surrendered to Soviet forces at the end of the war as part of Army Group Courland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">201st Security Division</span> Military unit

The 201st Security Division, originally the 201st Security Brigade, was a German Army rear-area security division of World War II. The unit was deployed in German-occupied areas of the Soviet Union, and was responsible for large-scale war crimes and atrocities including the deaths of thousands of Soviet civilians. It was disbanded in January 1945

The 203rd Security Division, was a rear-security division in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany. The unit was deployed in German-occupied areas of the Soviet Union, in the Army Group Centre Rear Area and was responsible for large-scale war crimes and atrocities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Police Regiment Centre</span> Security unit of Nazi Germany

The Police Regiment Centre was a formation of the Order Police during the Nazi era. During Operation Barbarossa, it was subordinated to the Schutzstaffel (SS) and deployed in German-occupied areas, specifically the Army Group Centre Rear Area, of the Soviet Union. In mid-1942, its three constituent battalions were reassigned and the unit was re-designated as the 13th Police Regiment.

The 454th Security Division was a rear-security division in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany. The unit was deployed in German-occupied areas of the Soviet Union, in the Army Group South Rear Area.

The 444th Security Division was a rear-security division in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany. The unit was deployed in German-occupied areas of the Soviet Union, in the Army Group South Rear Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">213th Security Division</span> Military unit

The 213th Security Division, initially known as the 213th Infantry Division, was a rear-security division in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany. The unit was deployed in German-occupied areas of the Soviet Union, in the Army Group South Rear Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">339th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)</span> Military unit

The 339th Infantry Division was a German military unit which fought during World War II.

The 416th Infantry Division was a German infantry division of World War II.

References

Further reading