163 Infantry Division (Engelbrekt) after June 1941

Sepp_Dietrich · Post by **Sepp_Dietrich** » Sat Oct 05, 2002 5:12 am

I am trying to find where the 163 German infantry division was stationed after it transferred to Norway in June 1941. The reference here at Feldgrau states Finland and Northern russia from July 1942 until November 1944. Does anyone have more detailed info regarding its whereabouts more specifically during that period and what battles/training it was involved in. Of main interest is its deployment during the autumn of 1941.

Vos · Post by **Vos** » Sat Oct 05, 2002 7:30 am

Hi,

The unterstellung is as follows:

1941 juni => LXX Korps in Norwegen
1941 juli / dezember => Verb. Stab Nord bei finn. Armee in Swir (Finnland)
1942 januari => Verb. Stab Nord bei Finn. Armee in Swir (Finnland)
1942 Februari / Juli => XXXVI Korps Armee Lappland (Kandalakscha)
1942 Juli / Dezember => XXXVI Korps, 20. Geb. Armee (Kandalakscha)
1943 idem
1944 jan / sept. idem

Regards,

Johan Vos

combrig · Post by **combrig** » Sat Oct 05, 2002 8:19 am

Engelbrecht’s 163rd ID was assigned to Kenraaliluutnantti Erik Heinrichs’ Karjalan Armeija in Ladogan Karelia during the 1941 campaign.
When SS-Nord fell apart at Salla, Hitler wanted to send the division to that sector, but only the 324th IR was sent north, arriving at Kayrala about 9-10 July and remaining in northern Finland until September.

The bulk of the division remained with Heinrichs, who released it to Kenraalimajuri Paavo Talvela’s 6th AK on 16 July. It was engaged at Suvilakhti at the southern tip of Lake Suo until late August, when it marched into the Olonets Isthmus behind the main body of 6th AK. When Talvela attacked the Tuloksa Line on 4 September, he held the 163rd in reserve behind his attacking forces. Thereafter, it marched through the Olonets Isthmus to the Svir River behind 6th AK.

In September, the German High Command asked Mannerheim to move the division to the mouth of the Svir River so that it could spearhead an attack southward to link up with H.Gr. Nord. Mannerheim agreed to this attack only on condition that he be the one to set the timing. In the event, Talvela suddenly found use for the division which he had in the past viewed with scorn, and the 163rd was somehow never released for the planned attack. It was in the Olonets Isthmus or on the static Svir River front until February 1942, when it was transferred to the Kandalaksha front. It remained on that front until the Germans retreated into Norway in 1944.

Sepp_Dietrich · Post by **Sepp_Dietrich** » Sun Oct 06, 2002 4:03 am

Thanks for the help all. You would not happen to know where one can get the books in the Feldgrau bibliography list:
Von Potsdam zum Polarkreis und zurück. Der Weg der 163. Infanterie-Division I. Teil: Norwegen 1940
Hilmar Potente, Selbstverlag, 1982, 159 pages
Von Potsdam zum Polarkreis und zurück. Der Weg der 163. Infanterie-Division II. Teil: Finnland
Schlüfter/Aussner, 1990, 220 pages
Von Potsdam zum Polarkreis und zurück. Der Weg der 163. Infanterie-Division III. Teil: Ostfront 1945
Erich Gliesche, Selbstverlag, 1998, ?

Juha Hujanen · Post by **Juha Hujanen** » Sun Oct 06, 2002 11:33 am

Here's some info about 163.Division casualties.

During 41.
425 KIA
1001 WIA
100 MIA
total 1526.

Division was 8000 men strong and lacked One of it's IR and one artillery Battalion.

Casualties between 1.7-31.12.44
324 KIA
1182 WIA
95 MIA
total 1601.

Regards Juha