Wehrmacht units, number of soldiers, info needed

[Joda]

I’d like to know what was the number of men in Wehrmacht units during 1939/45

I mean what means a company, a regiment, division, army Corp, army, army group, in number of soldiers serving in them

[Simon O.]

From corps on upwards there was no fixed authorised strength.

The building blocks of units were the authorised strengths or Kriegsstärkenachweisungen (KStN)

https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/kstnmain.htm

[Joda]

From corps on upwards there was no fixed authorised strength.

The building blocks of units were the authorised strengths or Kriegsstärkenachweisungen (KStN)

https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/kstnmain.htm

Great link, thanks a lot for the info Simon!
Best

[Archi]

Hello !

Very interesting question, perhaps for other members as well !

If you are just interested in a very quick (and very coarse) overview, I found this link very useful:
http://lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Zusa...penstaerke.htm
At the bottom, you will find specific (rough) numbers, which should apply to a 1st wave German Inf.Div. in Sept. 1939.

However, all this is strongly dependent on the details (which unit, which date, which KStN was authorized).
KStN may differ widely for the same unit (usually strength were lower, later on in the war) and also for the
same timeframe (already in 1939). In autumn 1944, there were VGDs and Inf.Divs. with different organizations and strengths.

If you are really interested in the details, you should go the way that Simon suggested, and click your way through
all the KStN for the battalions and regiments you are interested in (if available).
(However, this can become very time consuming (and confusing as well)).

As an example: a full strength Inf.Rgt. of an active (1st wave) Inf.Div. in Sept. 1939, was organized according to :
- Rgt.HQ [KStN. 101(R)] https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/kstn101r1okt37.htm
- regimental units :
-- Rgt.Nachr.Zug (signal platoon) [KStN. 221] https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/kstn2215okt37.htm
-- Rgt. Reiter-Zug [KStN 181] https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/kstn1811okt37.htm
-- le. Inf.Kolonne [KStN 201] https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/kstn2011okt37.htm
-- Musik-Korps [KStN 298] (no longer online; strength: ~1 Offz./39 NCO+EM)
-- IG.Kp. (13.) [KStN 171] https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/kstn1711okt37.htm
-- Pz.Abw.Kp. (14.) [KStn 184] https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/kstn1841okt37.htm

3 Inf.-battalions/each with :
- Btl. HQ [111 (R)] https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/kstn1111okt37.htm
- Schützenkp. [131b (R)] https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/kstn131b5okt37.htm
- Schützenkp. [131b (R)] https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/kstn131b5okt37.htm
- Schützenkp. [131b (R)] https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/kstn131b5okt37.htm
- MG-Kp. [151b (R)] https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/kstn151b1okt37.htm

If you sum all of that up, the strength of such a regiment was:
85 Offz./7 Beamte/ 494 Uffz./ 2474 Mann/ = 3060 total.
Regimental strength of an Inf.Div. of 2nd and 4th wave, raised at the same time, was probably ~2750 (same time, huge difference).

For comparison :
authorized strength of a Gren.Rgt. of ID 1944 type : 42/6/311/1628 = 1987 men total

-----------
Regarding the higher HQs, there are KStN available :
You will find some numbers for a Korps HQ under the link Simon mentioned, under Kommandobehörden :
https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/kstnkommandomain.htm
There is also a FMS study by Mueller-Hillebrand a.o. (P-139), which gives some numbers for corps, army and army group HQs.

Regarding the number of men under control of a corps, army or army group HQ, it is almost impossible to make a sensible
statement, as this varied so widely, because of the actual situation. (Probably, this is what Simon wanted to emphasize.)

A corps could have been in control of 1-5 divisions (normally 2-3), but in addition also controlled a large and varying
number of independent troops and supply units. (and the same applies to the Armee and HGr. level).

Best regards,

Archi

[Simon O.]

Here's an example of the difficulties when it comes to numbers. These are the monthly strength returns for the 163 and 169 Inf.Div. for July 1944, both divisions belonged to the same Korps and theory should have had an identical authorized strength (the 'soll' column) and yet there's almost 1000 men difference, not to mention the over strength of private soldiers to make up for the shortfall of authorized 'HIWI' numbers.

[Joda]

Wow, great info mates

Thank you!

[Archi]

Very good example with actual numbers posted by Simon.
Very interesting !

Thanks,

Archi