Historic Division Templates of the German Army

This guide explains possibilities to create some historic division templates of the German Wehrmacht. This guide works mainly with easy to reproduce screenshots and explains some alterations and compromises because of game machanics und DLCs.
It features very different kinds of divisions:

Infanterie-Division (multiple)
Motorisierte-Infanterie-Division
Panzergrenadier-Division
Panzer-Division (multiple)
Division Großdeutschland
Afrika-Division
Artillerie-Division
Kavallerie-Division
Leichte-Division
Luftwaffen-Felddivision
Sicherungs-Division
Festungs-Division
Gebirgs-Division
Luftlande-Division

Infanterie-Division (until 1943)

The standard German infantry division was called "Infanterie-Division". This template consist of the following units:

• 9x Infantry
  
• 3x Artillery
  
  
• Pioneers
  
• Logistics
  
• Recon
  
• Field Hospital
  
• Anti-Tank

Volksgrenadier-Division (from 1944)

To replace the heavy combat losses of the years 1943/1944 the infantary divisions were replaced by the similiar "Volksgrenadier-Division". The battalions of these divions were partially from reserves or later "Volkssturm"-units. The 3 regiments only consist of 2 (instead of 3) infantry battalions. This template consist of the following units:

• 6x Infantry
  
• 2x Artillery
  
• 1x Anti-Tank
  
  
• Pioneers
  
• Logistics
  
• Recon
  
• Field Hospital
  
• Anti-Tank

Infanterie-Division 45 (from 1945)

[/list]
In a last attempt to restructure the already collapsing German Heer the OKH launched a new divison template with fewer manpower. Only some divions were switched to this type. This template consist of the following units:

• 6x Infantry
  
• 3x Artillery
  
  
• Pioneers
  
• Logistics
  
• Recon
  
• Field Hospital
  
• Anti-Tank

Luftwaffen-Felddivision (from 1942)

To help the German Army the Luftwaffe was ousted to provide some infantry divisions which were called "Luftwaffen-Felddivisionen" (Air Force Field Divisions). Because of the lack of infantry fighting experience they sustained heavy losses and were later primarly used as garrison divisions.

• 9x Infantry
  
• 2x Artillery
  
• 1x Anti-Air
  
  
• Pioneers
  
• Logistics
  
• Signal
  
• Anti-Tank
  
• Artillery

Sicherungs-Division

To secure important areas or regions behind the front line the German Heer implemented garrison divisions which were primarly called "Sicherungsdivisionen" sometimes a "zur besonderen Verwendung (z.b.V)" (for special purpose) was added. These divisions were very different so this is only one possible example which consists of the following units:

• 8x Infantry
  
  
• Logistics
  
• Artillery

Note: For better game stats you could add Pioneers for entrenchment bonus.

Festungs-Division (from 1944)

Hitler personally forbid to retreat from strategic places and cities. To hold these areas sometimes a special type of division the "Festungs-Division" (Fortress Division) was implemented. It often consisted of the following units:

• 6x Infantry
  
• 1x Artillery
  
  
• Pioneers
  
• Anti-Air
  
• Anti-Tank

Jäger-Division

For more self-reliant operations in difficult tarrains the German Heer deployed some Light Infantry Divisions traditionally called "Jäger" (hunters). In reality their operational use was not much different to the standard infantry. A "Jäger-Division" consisted of the following units:

• 6x Infantry
  
• 3x Artillery
  
  
• Pioneers
  
• Logistics
  
• Cavalry Recon
  
• Field Hospital
  
• Anti-Tank

Artillerie-Division (1943/1944)

To concentrate firepower in specific areas on the eastern front line dedicated "Artillerie-Divisionen" (Artillery Divisions) were created. They sustained heavy losses in the merely defensive battles and were mostly dissolved in late 1944 or lost their status as divisions. They consisted of different unit types and could not be fully deployed as planned. This is one possible template:

• 6x Artillery
  
• 1x Rocket Artillery
  
• 1x Infantry
  
  
• Cavalry Recon
  
• Signal

Note: In HOI 4 this division has way too less organisation to work properly, especially in defensive battles. Only use them in easy battles together with infantry divisions or add some more infantry battalions to this template for higher organisation.

Fallschirmjäger-Division

The German Reich was one of the first countries to execute major airborne oprations. For this purpose special forces were needed. The "Fallschirmjäger-Divsionen" existed in a few variants, so feel free to delete the 3rd regiment or configure the support companies. The template shown above consists of the following units:

• 9x Paratroopers (or 6x Paratroopers)
  
  
• Artillery*
  
• Anti-Tank*
  
• Field Hospital
  
• Rocket-Artillery*

*Note: Only use support artillery or you will not be able to engage your division in airborne missions!

Gebirgs-Division

With the Anschluss and the Occupation of the Sudetenland the German Reich was confronted with possible battles in mountain terrain early on. Special forces for those regions were organized in a few "Gebirgs-Divisionen" (Mountain Divisions) primarily consisting of "Gebirgsjäger" (Mountain Hunters). Those division saw heavy fighting in WWII but were also used to fight partisans in remote areas which included severe atrocities against civilians. Those divisions consisted of the following units:

• 9x Mountain Infantry
  
• 3x Artillery
  
• 1x Anti-Tank
  
  
• Pioneers
  
• Signal
  
• Field Hospital
  
• Anti-Air

Infanterie-Division (motorisiert) (until 1942)

The German idea of Blitzkrieg required some of the infantry divisions to be more mobile to create large-scale encirclements and surprise attack waves. To be independent from railroad transfer some of the "Infanterie-Divisionen" were motorized ("motorisiert" or "mot." for short). Similiar to the standard Infantry Divisions they consisted of the following units:

• 9x Motorized Infantry
  
• 2x Motorized Artillery
  
• 1x Motorized Anti-Tank
  
  
• Motorized Recon
  
• Pioneers
  
• Logistics
  
• Anti-Air
  
• Field Hospital

Infanterie-Division (motorisiert) (1943)

The ongoing losses and severe shortages of manpower lead to the deletion of the 3rd mobile infantry regiment. In 1943 an "Infanterie-Division (mot.)" consisted of the following units:

• 6x Motorized Infantry
  
• 2x Motorized Artillery
  
• 1x Motorized Anti-Tank
  
  
• Motorized Recon
  
• Pioneers
  
• Logistics
  
• Anti-Air
  
• Field Hospital

Panzergrenadier-Division (from 1943)

The Motorized Infantry Divisions were restructured in April 1943 and were called "Panzergrenadier-Divisionen" from now on. This is misleading because they lacked any real "Panzergrenadiere" which typically use mechanized equipment or light tanks. Only a tank or SP-Artillery battalion was added. So in reality these divisions were kind of weaken mobile divisions which consisted of the following units:

• 6x Motorized Infantry
  
• 2x Motorized Artillery
  
• 1x Motorized Anti-Tank
  
• 1x (Medium) SP-Artillery (or 1x Medium Tanks)
  
  
• Light Tank Recon
  
• Pioneers
  
• Logistics
  
• Signal
  
• Field Hospital

Division "Großdeutschland" (from 1942)

This one-of-a-type elite division emerged from the prior existing Honary Guard Regiment of Berlin ("Wachregiment Berlin"). For combat-use it was switched into a division but was altered frequently so feel free to put in different equipment. In general this division consisted of the following units:

• 3x Mechanized Infantry
  
• 3x Motorized Infantry
  
• 2x Medium Tanks
  
• 2x (Medium) SP-Artillery
  
  
• Light Tank Recon
  
• Signal
  
• Logistics
  
• Anti-Air
  
• Field Hospital

Leichte Division (until 1939)

To fill the tactical gap between the obsolete cavalry and the new tank divisions the Germans created up to 5 "Leichte Divisionen" (Light Divisions) that consisted of only 1 tank battalion. The results in Poland could not meet the expectations so they were switched to Panzer-Divisionen in October 1939. They consisted of the following units:

• 1x Light Tanks
  
• 6x Motorized Infantry
  
• 1x Motorized Artillery
  
  
• Armored Recon (or Motorized Recon w/o NSB)
  
• Pioneers
  
• Field Hospital
  
• Anti-Tank
  
• Anti-Air

Afrika-Division (1941-1943)

On the North African war theatre different kind of motorized infantry were used. From 1942 on they were called "Afrika-Divisionen" and consisted of the following units:

• 2x (Light) Tanks
  
• 2x Motorized Infantry
  
• 2x Mechanized Infantry
  
• 1x Motorized Artillery
  
  
• Armored Recon (or Light Tank Recon w/o NSB)
  
• Maintenance
  
• Anti-Tank
  
• Anti-Air

Panzer-Division (until 1939)

The German theorists Heinz Guderian and Walther Nehring created the concept of individual operating tank divisions for breakthrough purposes and in-deepth-battles. They proposed the combination of tanks with motorized infantry to quickly follow up the breaches blown by the tanks to the enemy. In 1939 a "Panzer-Division" consisted of the following units:

• 4x Light Tank (or 3x Light and 1x Medium Tank)
  
• 3x Motorized Infantry
  
• 2x Motorized Artillery
  
  
• Motorized Recon
  
• Pioneers
  
• Logistics
  
• Anti-Tank
  
• Signal

Panzer-Division (1940)

In the battles against the Polish Army in September 1939 it became clear that the German Panzer Divisions cointained to many tanks and lacked mobile infantry to follow up und secure the flanks. Because of that one of the former two tank regiments was replaced by a further mobile infantry regiment. The German Heer used this opportunity to massively increase the number of tank divisions. A lack of tanks and other vehicles lead to worsening equipment shortages in many tank divisions until the end of the war. In 1940 a tank division consisted of the following units:

• 2x Medium Tanks
  
• 5x Motorized Infantry
  
• 2x Motorized Artillery
  
  
• Motorized Recon
  
• Pioneers
  
• Logistics
  
• Anti-Tank
  
• Signal

Panzer-Division (1941)

Preperating for Operation Barbarossa to attack the Soviet Union the Panzer Divisions were altered again. The Germans replaced one of the motorized battalions with mechanized half-track-vehicles with light armor ("Schützenpanzer") and also replaced the motorcycle recon with armoured vehicles or light tanks ("Spähpanzer"). In 1941 a tank division consisted of the following units:

• 2x Medium Tanks
  
• 4x Motorized Infantry
  
• 1x Mechanized Infantry
  
• 2x Motorized Artillery
  
  
• Armored Vehicle Recon (or Light Tank Recon w/o NSB)
  
• Pioneers
  
• Logistics
  
• Anti-Tank
  
• Signal

Panzer-Division (1942)

The mechanized infantry stand the test in the fast but intense battles on the eastern front. So in 1942 the two mobile regiments were restructured to contain a mechanized and a motorized battalion from there on. Also the need for more artillery had become clear so further artillery and even self-propelled armored artillery ("Sturmgeschütze") were included. In 1942 a tank division consisted of the following units:

• 2x Medium Tanks
  
• 2x Motorized Infantry
  
• 2x Mechanized Infantry
  
• 3x Motorized Artillery
  
• 1x SP-Artillery
  
  
• Armored Vehicle Recon (or Light Tank Recon w/o NSB)
  
• Pioneers
  
• Logistics
  
• Anti-Tank
  
• Signal

Panzer-Division 43 (1943)

In 1943 the Tank Divisions were altered again and were than called "Panzer-Division 43". They were stripped of their artillery regiment. Those were integrated in other formations. Instead more Anti-Air was added so that a division consisted of the following units:

• 2x Medium Tanks
  
• 2x Motorized Infantry
  
• 2x Mechanized Infantry
  
• 1x (Medium) SP-Artillery
  
• 1x Motorized Anti-Air
  
  
• Armored Vehicle Recon (or Light Tank Recon w/o NSB)
  
• Pioneers
  
• Logistics
  
• Anti-Tank
  
• Signal

Panzer-Division 44 (1944)

As a reaction to an increased threat by superior enemy tanks a battalion of tank destroyers ("Jadgpanzer") was added to provide more anti-tank capabilities. Instead the normal AT had to make space for a better medical support so a division consisted of the following units:

• 2x Medium Tanks
  
• 2x Motorized Infantry
  
• 2x Mechanized Infantry
  
• 1x SP-Artillery
  
• 1x Medium Tank Destroyer
  
• 1x Motorized Anti-Air
  
  
• Armored Vehicle Recon (or Light Tank Recon w/o NSB)
  
• Pioneers
  
• Logistics
  
• Field Hospital
  
• Signal

Panzer-Division 45 (1945)

In a last attempt to upgrade the weaken Tank Divisions in the heavy defensive battles of the last months of the war some of the armored battalions were replaced by normal artillery again. Only a few divisions were really switched to this template which consists of the following units:

• 2x Medium Tanks
  
• 2x Motorized Infantry
  
• 2x Mechanized Infantry
  
• 1x (Medium) SP-Artillery
  
• 1x Motorized Anti-Air
  
• 2x Motorized Artillery
  
  
• Armored Vehicle Recon (or Light Tank Recon w/o NSB)
  
• Pioneers
  
• Logistics
  
• Anti-Tank
  
• Signal

[RogersHD]

When will you update the guide to add other divisions such as the SS divisions (PanzGrenadier, grenadier, mountain and tanks), infantry grenadiers and cavalry?

[Phantom]

Hallo Tommy.

[Liam]

you mention cavalry at the start but there's no sign of any cavalry templates :(

[TheIndian_07]

Did Germany not have any Marine Divisions?

[Shadow Dragon]

They started with the strength of a battalion and became a division in 1943.

[[ATP]King M]

Propably yes. I am no expert for SS-divisions.

[Ober_Ott]

Would the templates for divisions like LSSAH be just a panzer division? Or would they be different?

[Shadow Dragon]

@Vikingr As far as I know heavy tanks were mostly organized in Heavy Tank Battalions (German: Schwere Panzer Abteilung). They were independent and assembled if needed into "Regiments" (not exactly real regiments). But because HoI 4 is designed around the division it could be hard to make them even close to viable. They would be to small, would have not enough org/hp. I don´t even think they had infantry attached to them.

Nice guide btw. Do these division "work" ingame? When we had 20/40 division sizes I would mostly say no. But today something between 19 to 30 might work.

[Ulvheðinn]

Where do heavy tanks go? :v

[[ATP]King M]

No thanks, I do not have any time at the moment.