Division History

[Wik]

Hi all! I am intrested in finding some specifics about the 29. Infantry Division (Mot.).

I know they were nicknamed "The Falcon" division. They served in Poland, France and were in Army Group Center. They were part of Guderian's force that was sent to help Army Group South after it was determined by Hitler to take the Crimea. They were caught up in Stalingrad and later destroyed there.

The division was re-created in 43 and renamed 29. Panzergrenadier. They were then moved to Italy and served through-out those campaigns until the British 8th Army destroyed them in spring of 45 I beleive.

The problem is that seems to be all I can find! I know that seems like some good info, and maybe it is. But I would like very much to know specifics about the division. I don't know if there is a "division" history anywhere or if anyone might know more personally. I haven't been able to find many books on German divisions in general and the few I have found seem to be more based on famous divisions such as Das Reich, Grossdeutschland etc etc. Maybe nothing really exists. Who knows. But I figured someone here might have much better skills and hunting down old rare info lol. Thanks for any help.


Ryan

[Jonathan M]

Guderians book, Panzer Leader has a lot of references to the 29th as it was part of his Panzer Corps in Barbarossa. Also have a look at the lexikon, feldgrau and axis history websites for more.

Jonathan

[SiMä]

Hello Ryan,
well, I'm not a owner of the book, but there is an unit history about the 29. I.D. 29. Division, 29. Infanterie-Division (motorisiert), 29. Panzergrenadier-Division from Joachim Lemelsen and Julius Schmidt / Podzun-Pallas-Verlag. The book has 487 pages and I heard that it should be quiet good, but please remember, this book was released in 1960. Then I've found another:
Die 29. Falke-Division 1936 - 1945. 29. Infanterie-Division - 29. Infanterie-Division (motorisiert) - 29. Panzergrenadier-Division - Franz Götte/Herbert Peiler, Hrsg. Kameradschaftsverband 29. Div., Podzun-Pallas-Verlag, Friedberg 1984
But I didn't heard something about the quality of this book and both are in German.
Regards,
Siegbert

[Wik]

Guderians book, Panzer Leader has a lot of references to the 29th as it was part of his Panzer Corps in Barbarossa. Also have a look at the lexikon, feldgrau and axis history websites for more.

Jonathan

@ Jonathan: Yes, it seems like the 29th was a very pivotal division in a couple of the encirlements in Barbarossa. I have heard of Guderian's book but not read it. It is DEFIENTLY something I should try as he is my absolute favorite German commander. Also what is the lexikon and feldgrau? Just something I can google? Or is this something else? Thanks!

Hello Ryan,
well, I'm not a owner of the book, but there is an unit history about the 29. I.D. 29. Division, 29. Infanterie-Division (motorisiert), 29. Panzergrenadier-Division from Joachim Lemelsen and Julius Schmidt / Podzun-Pallas-Verlag. The book has 487 pages and I heard that it should be quiet good, but please remember, this book was released in 1960. Then I've found another:
Die 29. Falke-Division 1936 - 1945. 29. Infanterie-Division - 29. Infanterie-Division (motorisiert) - 29. Panzergrenadier-Division - Franz Götte/Herbert Peiler, Hrsg. Kameradschaftsverband 29. Div., Podzun-Pallas-Verlag, Friedberg 1984
But I didn't heard something about the quality of this book and both are in German.
Regards,
Siegbert

@Siegbert: I don't supposse you can all me and translate the books over the phone? LOL joking joking!!! Thanks for the info. Wonder if there is any chance these books might be published in English?

As far as it being published in 1960, I honestly couldn't care. To me this is almost preferred. So many times in military history (in all countries) units have their pasts changed and manipulated as time goes. Having a book so soon after the war can tend to have a more realistic veiw of a unit regrdless of if it is a divison, regiment, company, etc etc.

Not too long ago I found a book published here in the states in 1964 by a Paul Carell. Turns out after some research Carrel was born Paul Karl Schmidt. He served as a Obersturmbannführer and was the chief press spokesman for Nazi Germany Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop. He also published "Signal" durring the war. After the war he published "Unternehmen Barbarossa", or as we know it in the states "Hitler Moves East".

With the wealth of knowledge of most people here I am sure people are aware of Carell but I figured I would toss that out there lol. Anyhow his book is simply amazing. The descriptions, the information about troop movements and such is impeccable. This was really the "first wave" of military information about WWII and he has excellent insight as he had been able to speak with many of the higher ranking German commanders of Barbarossa.

My point I guess is that this book is also from the 1960s and seems to be an absolute gem about the operations in Russia. If it was possible to have either of those books on the 29th in English I would get them in a heart beat! Anyhow thanks for the info guys.


Ryan

[Jonathan M]

@ Jonathan: Yes, it seems like the 29th was a very pivotal division in a couple of the encirlements in Barbarossa. I have heard of Guderian's book but not read it. It is DEFIENTLY something I should try as he is my absolute favorite German commander. Also what is the lexikon and feldgrau? Just something I can google? Or is this something else? Thanks!



@Siegbert: I don't supposse you can all me and translate the books over the phone? LOL joking joking!!! Thanks for the info. Wonder if there is any chance these books might be published in English?

As far as it being published in 1960, I honestly couldn't care. To me this is almost preferred. So many times in military history (in all countries) units have their pasts changed and manipulated as time goes. Having a book so soon after the war can tend to have a more realistic veiw of a unit regrdless of if it is a divison, regiment, company, etc etc.

Not too long ago I found a book published here in the states in 1964 by a Paul Carell. Turns out after some research Carrel was born Paul Karl Schmidt. He served as a Obersturmbannführer and was the chief press spokesman for Nazi Germany Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop. He also published "Signal" durring the war. After the war he published "Unternehmen Barbarossa", or as we know it in the states "Hitler Moves East".

With the wealth of knowledge of most people here I am sure people are aware of Carell but I figured I would toss that out there lol. Anyhow his book is simply amazing. The descriptions, the information about troop movements and such is impeccable. This was really the "first wave" of military information about WWII and he has excellent insight as he had been able to speak with many of the higher ranking German commanders of Barbarossa.

My point I guess is that this book is also from the 1960s and seems to be an absolute gem about the operations in Russia. If it was possible to have either of those books on the 29th in English I would get them in a heart beat! Anyhow thanks for the info guys.


Ryan

Ryan

http://www.lexikonderwehrmacht.de/

An excellent reference site for the vast majority of Wehrmacht units.

http://www.feldgrau.com

Another Wehrmacht site.

Jonathan

[Jonathan M]

An example of what you find in the lexikon, 29th ID upto Stalingrad

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...ionen/29ID.htm

Post Stalingrad

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...onen/29PGD.htm

Jonathan

[harmel]

Div History

Hi Ryan,I have in my collection a book published by Doerfler
Zeitgeschichte on this Division,what info do you need.
Harmel

[Wik]

Hi Ryan,I have in my collection a book published by Doerfler
Zeitgeschichte on this Division,what info do you need.
Harmel

Hi Harmel, honestly there is nothing SPECIFIC I need about the unit. To make a long story short, I have always been major into military history. My first big splash was the American Civil War. From the time I was about 12 all through high school when I wasn't playing sports and drooling over girls I was studying the Civil War lol. I live in an area of the U.S. where The War of 1812 was prominant and so I started re-enacting at a local site called Fort Meigs. After about 5 or so years there I was dragged into WWII.

We portrayed the 88th I.D. which was the first draftee division to fight in WWII for the U.S. We made contact with surviving veterans and their news letter included us in it with some pics we had taken as well. After this started fizzling out I wanted to look at the German side of WWII (always two sides to a conflict). At first I just started snooping around at places like wikipedia not looking for anything to indepth but just general info. Honestly I was looking for German divisions that distuingished themselves and fought in multiple fronts (i.e. Poland, France, Russia, Italy, Normandy etc etc). The 29th was the first Division I found at random that seemed to have fought well in multiple places. I tried to do some research and found general info about the division, a few commanders stuff like that. All I was hoping to do at this point I guess was to read about the specifics of the division through the war.

Another ironic twist is the 88th I.D. was one of the supreme U.S. divisions in Italy. When the 29 Pz Grenadiers was formed in 43 they were sent to Italy. I'm almost positive the two divisions never clashed although to know for sure would be awsome as I have a soft spot for both! At any rate i'm simply intrested in the division for the purpose of furthering my knowledge of top divisions on both sides of the conflict.


Ryan

P.S. Guess that wasn't such a short story after all lol. Sorry!

P.S.S. Once again thanks all for the info and links!