2007-08-28 03:26:42 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Actually, in this case a better translation would be "Greater Germany Division." "Greater Germany" was a concept that represented the uniting of all Germans in a single nation. Thus Greater Germany included not only Germany but also Austria, and later basically all of Czechoslovakia and part of Poland.
The Grossdeutschland (one word) Division was an elite division of the Wehrmacht, and was considered the premier division of the army. It got the best troops and equipment, with priority in both even over SS units.
Grossdeutschland started out as an infantry unit, but became a panzergrenadier (mechanized infantry) unit later on. It served exclusively on the Eastern front and was wiped out near Pilau in 1945.
2007-08-28 04:03:49 · answer #1 · answered by Jeffrey S 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
the history off gross deutchland goes back till 1921 not in the same name but as a guard unit in Berlin called the "wacht regiment Berlin" and there purpose was forming ceremonial guards and doing guard duty at the officially buildings in Berlin.Lets say the same as the guard units in London at the royal palace
The name off the unit will change a couple of times but in 1937 they where recalled the wacht regiment and they also had a small detachment called the fuhrer begleit unit ( the fuhrers escort )
In 1939 they changed to infantry regiment grossdeutchland by order of Hitler. They can from now on recruit all over Germany ( a standard regiment had his roots in only a specified sector of Germany from where it could recruit his men )
In 1940 they gained the right to wear a cuff on there right sleeve ( a indication for a elite unit ) and they had there first battle in the invasion of west Europe ( a small elite unit took part in the battle at Eben Emael in Belgium ) there after they would only see battle on the Russian front
In 1942 they had become a division with 2 regiments and there after they changed rapidly to a panzergernadier division with his proper artillery, armour and other unit's
At the end of 1944 they changed for the last time of name and became a panzer corps together with the Brandenburg division ( started also in Berlin and became later on a kind off commando unit )
You can say that they where the Wehrmacht counterpart off the waffenSS and they where used at the hot spots where the Russian army had a break true in the front line as a feuerwehr unit
2007-08-28 06:52:32 · answer #2 · answered by general De Witte 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The "GroÃdeutschland Division" (mind the spelling!) was an German infantery division which served exclusively on the eastern front in World War II. The unit was one of the two most elite units in the German army of the time and was commanded by the famous German General von Manteuffel. The unit basically ceased to exist after heavy casualties in the area of eastern Prussia and the Baltic states.
If you need more information please refer to the link in the source list.
2007-08-28 03:58:37 · answer #3 · answered by NoWay 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just to add to the info, the GD was one of the few elite divisions to have it's own Tiger tank battalions. Most of the Tigers were formed into independent heavy tank battalions, however, the GD was given it's own.
2007-08-28 05:15:51 · answer #4 · answered by Its not me Its u 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Well the words mean literally
the Great German Division. I am not familiar if there was one particularly names this or not but this it the translation.
2007-08-28 03:42:24 · answer #5 · answered by Rex 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
An elite unit of the WWII German army (not an SS unit)...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grossdeutschland_Division
2007-08-28 03:54:44 · answer #6 · answered by Ammianus 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋