In the German Wehrmacht before and during World War II, infantry divisions were raised as part of a designated Aufstellungswelle (deployment wave) or Welle (wave), sometimes translated as "draft". The Aufstellungswelle system was adopted by the Wehrmacht in late 1938. Peacetime units were the first wave, and 34 other waves followed until the 35th wave in April 1945. Several types of divisions were organized by Aufstellungswelle, including infantry, security, shadow and Volksgrenadier divisions.
Background The mobilization model for the Wehrmacht's active and reserve forces in multiple waves was first issued in the annual mobilization plan of 8 December 1938. The system initially had four waves, the first of which would be the peacetime army and the other three raised in anticipation of the invasion of Poland. The first wave (the peacetime army) consisted of divisions with ordinal numbers of one to 50. The second wave, reservists who had completed their compulsory training, consisted of divisions numbered 51 to 100. The third wave, numbered 201 to 250, would consist of reservists with less training than those of the second wave who would need refresher training due to their age (born between 1901 and 1913). The fourth wave, numbered 251 to 300, would be formed from training units in Germany. The first wave would be fully operational on the second day of mobilization, the second wave on the third day, the third wave on the sixth day, and the fourth wave on the seventh day.
Waves
Before World War II
The divisions of the first Aufstellungswelle were those that consisted of the 104 Infantry Regiments raised prior to 1 September 1939 (Infantry Regiment 97 was added to 46th Infantry Division upon mobilization, bringing the regimental count of the first wave to 105). 35 divisions are counted among those of the first wave, including most of the 36 lowest-numbered divisions. The only exceptions are the 2nd Infantry Division, 13th Infantry Division, 20th Infantry Division, and 29th Infantry Division. These four divisions had been motorized and attached to armored formations, and were accordingly treated differently than the rest of the peacetime infantry divisions.
The divisions were intended to be staffed by 518 officers, 102 bureaucrats, 2,573 NCOs and 13,667 soldiers, for a total of 16,860 staff members. Equipment included 3,681 pistols, 12,609 rifles, 535 machine guns, 26 infantry support guns, 75 anti-tank guns, 48 artillery guns, 530 motorcycles, 394 cars, 536 trucks, and 5,375 horses. A first-wave infantry division was organized in three infantry regiments, each containing three battalions. Each battalion consisted of three rifle companies with, initially, nine light and two heavy machine guns each (later replaced with twelve light machine guns and three light grenade launchers each). Each battalion also contained a machine-gun company with eight heavy machine guns, later upgraded to twelve. It also had an infantry-gun company with two heavy and six light infantry guns, and an anti-tank company with twelve PaKs.
The following 35 divisions were part of the first wave:
1939 (before invasion of Poland)
Second wave Units of the second Aufstellungswelle were among the three waves mobilized in 1939 before the invasion of Poland on 1 September of that year. The second-wave divisions were smaller than those of the first wave by at least 1,000 to 2,000 men. A second-wave division included 491 officers, 98 bureaucrats, 2,273 NCOs and 12,411 soldiers. Equipment included 3,801 pistols, 10,828 rifles, 459 machine guns, 26 infantry-support guns, 75 anti-tank guns, 48 artillery guns, 597 motorcycles, 393 cars, 509 trucks, and 5,854 horses.
Sixteen divisions with three regiments each were part of the second wave, for a total of 48 regiments. +Infantry divisions of the second AufstellungswelleDivisionSubordinate infantry regimentsAssociated Wehrkreis52nd Infantry Division163, 181, 205IX56th Infantry Division171, 192, 234IV57th Infantry Division179, 199, 217VII58th Infantry Division154, 209, 220X61st Infantry Division151, 162, 176I62nd Infantry Division164, 183, 190VIII68th Infantry Division169, 188, 196III69th Infantry Division159, 193, 236VI71st Infantry Division191, 194, 211XI73rd Infantry Division170, 186, 213XIII75th Infantry Division172, 202, 222II76th Infantry Division178, 203, 230III78th Infantry Division195, 215, 238V79th Infantry Division208, 212, 226XII86th Infantry Division167, 184, 216VI87th Infantry Division173, 185, 187IV and IX
Third wave
Units of the third Aufstellungswelle were part of the three waves raised before the invasion of Poland. Third-wave divisions were larger than those of the first wave, usually by about 600 men. The difference was less than intended: the required strength of a third-wave division included 578 officers, 94 bureaucrats, 2,722 NCOs and 14,507 soldiers, compared with 16,860 for a first-wave division). The third-wave divisions were armed with 4,640 pistols, 11,423 rifles, 709 machine guns, 26 infantry-support guns, 75 anti-tank guns, 48 artillery guns, 425 motorcycles, 330 cars, 248 trucks and 6,033 horses. Although a third-wave divisions had more men, the quantity of their motorcycles, cars and trucks was lower than that of a first-wave division. Divisions of the third wave, many of which were deployed under Army Group C in defensive roles against France between September 1939 and the summer of 1940, were considered lacking by Army Group C commander Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb (who reported to Franz Halder on 3 October 1939 that third-wave divisions were, in his view, suitable only for relatively-quiet conditions).
The third wave consisted of twenty-two infantry divisions: the 205th through 209th, 211th through 218th, 221st, 223rd, 225th, 227th, 228th, 231st, 239th, 246th and 311th.
Fourth wave Units of the fourth Aufstellungswelle were among the three waves raised before the invasion of Poland. Fourth-wave divisions were smaller than those of the first wave by at least 1,000 to 2,000 men. The nominal strength of each division was 491 officers, 99 bureaucrats, 2,165 NCOs and 12,264 soldiers. They were equipped with 3,639 pistols, 10,807 rifles, 457 machine guns, 20 infantry-support guns, 75 anti-tank guns, 48 artillery guns, 529 motorcycles, 359 cars, 536 trucks and 4,077 horses. Army Group C commander von Leeb reported to Halder on 3 October 1939 that the fourth-wave divisions were, in his view, only suitable for combat if they received additional defensive training.
The fourth wave consisted of fourteen infantry divisions: the 251st through 258th, the 260th, the 262nd, the 263rd and the 267th through 269th.
1939 (after invasion of Poland)
Fifth wave The fifth Aufstellungswelle was the first wave of units raised after the beginning of World War II in Europe. These divisions had their infantry regiments' 13th companies' infantry guns replaced with grenade launchers, and their 14th companies were armed with horse-drawn anti-tank guns. The fifth-wave units replaced their reconnaissance detachments with bicycle companies. Unlike the first four waves (which were armed with German-produced materiel), the fifth-wave units' weapons were taken from Czechoslovakia, which Germany annexed between 1938 and 1939.
The idea of raising five additional divisions had already been considered before the outbreak of war, and was ordered on 8 September 1939. The regimental commanders were named on 25 September, and the deadline for divisional combat readiness placed on 1 November. Experienced officers and NCOs were drawn not only from Döberitz infantry school, but also from the two army groups that had been active in the Invasion of Poland (Army Group North, Army Group South).
The fifth wave consisted of five infantry divisions: the 93rd through 96th and the 98th. The 93rd and 94th divisions were staffed with the veteran leaders drawn from Army Group North, whereas the leaderships of the 95th, 96th, and 98th divisions were filled by former members of Army Group South. The enlisted men were drawn from older German men who had initially been too old for conscription. +Infantry divisions of the fifth AufstellungswelleDivisionSubordinate infantry regiments93rd Infantry Division270, 271, 27294th Infantry Division267, 274, 27695th Infantry Division278, 279, 28096th Infantry Division283, 284, 28798th Infantry Division282, 289, 290
Sixth wave In the units of the sixth Aufstellungswelle, assembled by 14 November 1939, the 13th companies of the infantry regiments were not deployed. The anti-tank and the reconnaissance detachments were one company each. Like the fifth-wave units, the sixth wave was armed with Czechoslovak materiel.
The sixth wave consisted of four infantry divisions: the 81st through the 83rd and the 88th, for a total of twelve infantry regiments. Deployment was completed by 1 December 1939 and combat-readiness was achieved by 10 February 1940. +Infantry divisions of the sixth AufstellungswelleDivisionSubordinate infantry regiments81st Infantry Division161, 174, 18982nd Infantry Division158, 166, 16883rd Infantry Division251, 257, 27788th Infantry Division245, 246, 248
Seventh wave In the seventh Aufstellungswelle units, the anti-tank detachments were supported by a bicycle company. They were armed with German materiel, rather than the Czechoslovak materiel of the fifth and sixth waves.
The seventh wave consisted of sixteen infantry divisions: the 161st through 170th, the 181st, the 183rd and the 196th through the 199th.
1940
Eighth wave The units of the eighth Aufstellungswelle (organizationally identical to those of the seventh wave) were assembled in February 1940, when the Wehrmacht was preparing for the Battle of France.
The eighth wave consisted of the 290th through the 299th Infantry Divisions.
Ninth wave Armed with three infantry regiments, an infantry-gun, engineer and intelligence company, an artillery battery and a bicycle squadron each, the units of the ninth Aufstellungswelle were raised in preparation for the attack on France in February and March 1940.
The ninth wave consisted of nine infantry divisions: the 351st, 358th, 365th, 372nd, 379th, 386th, 393rd, 395th and 399th.
10th wave The units of the 10th Aufstellungswelle never saw service; they were mobilized in anticipation of a prolonged war in France, and the units were dissolved during deployment.
The tenth wave consisted of nine infantry divisions: the 270th through the 273rd, and the 276th through the 280th.
11th wave Armed with captured French materiel, the units of the 11th Aufstellungswelle were formed in October 1940.
The wave consisted of ten infantry divisions: the 121st through 123rd, the 125th, 126th, 129th, 131st, 132nd, 134th and the 137th.
12th wave Armed with French materiel in November 1940, the 12th Aufstellungswelle was similar to its predecessor.
The twelfth wave consisted of nine infantry divisions: the 97th, the 99th through 102nd, the 106th, and the 110th through 112th.
13th wave Intended as occupation forces of territories seized along the Western Front, the 13th Aufstellungswelle of November–December 1940 consisted of divisions whose infantry regiments were not equipped with infantry-gun or anti-tank companies, lacked reconnaissance or intelligence detachments, and had smaller artillery and anti-tank detachments. They were armed with captured French materiel.
The thirteenth wave consisted of nine infantry divisions: the 302nd, the 304th through 306th, the 319th through 321st, the 323rd and the 327th.
14th wave The final mobilization of 1940, the 14th Aufstellungswelle was raised in November and December of that year and was similar to its predecessor.
The fourteenth wave consisted of eight infantry divisions: the 332nd, 333rd, the 335th through 337th, 339th, 340th and the 342nd.
1941
15th wave