243rd Infantry Division Normandy

 243. Infanterie Division 

Inspection of III 920 by Generalleutnant Heinz Hellmich 

Raised as a static division in Döllersheim, Austria provisionally called division B in June 1943. Formally named 243 infanterie Division in July and moved to northern France in August, then Brittany in October. In November it transformed to a mobile division and in January moved to Normandy, becoming part of LXXXIV army. It was deployed to the west coast of the Cotentin peninsula in June. Some of the division was cut off in the Jobourg peninsula but the majority held the left flank and were on the front line of operation cobra at Lessay. After the breakout a majority the division tried to breakout south towards Granville then Avaranches but most were captured or destroyed, those who did joined the 353 ID. The division was formally disbanded in September. 

Division insignia, three gold lions Passant on a red field, adopted from the Normandy Manche department, the insignia was removed from all vehicles by order in May 1944.

Commander: Generalleutnant Heinz Hellmich (KIA 17 June)

: Oberst Bernhard Klosterkemper 17 June - August 1944 (commander GR 920)

Command post (CP): Château de Malassis (Le Vrétot Normandy) 


Grenadier-Regiment 920 (Oberst Bernhard Kloster-Kemper – CP: Etoupeville) cyclists
I./920
II./920 (CP: Couvert)
III./920 (CP: Flamanville) – Ost-Bataillon 561 (Russians)

Grenadier-Regiment 921 (Oberstleutnant Jacob Simon – CP: Mauger) cyclists 
I./921
II./921 (CP: Les Courts)
III./921 (CP: Château Mondet)

Grenadier-Regiment 922 Fusilier (Oberstleutnant Franz Müller – CP: Le Haguais hamlet at Pierreville) mounted as cyclists 

I./922 stab (assigned static position Cherbourg peninsula)

1st coy

2nd coy 

3rd coy 

4th company Italian 81.6mm mortar, MMG horses

II./922 stab

5th 

6th 

7th coy 

8th coy 81mm mortar, MMG horses

III./922 (CP: Hamel-Duval)

9th 

10th 

11th 

12th coy 81mm mortar, MMG 

13 company 7.62 IKH 290(R) chenilles Renault UE tractor tow

14th company 7.5cm Pak (sources indicate that this company was combined with the 13th company) 

15th company (formed feldersatz battalion 243)

Artillerie-Regiment 243 ( Oberst Eduard Hellwig – CP: Le Vretot)

Stab 

HQ batterie 4 trucks 
1./243 

2nd batterie 4 x 7.62cm FK39 (R) RSO tractors 

3rd  batterie 4 x 7.62cm FK39 (R) 

4th batterie 4 x 7.62cm FK39 (R) 
2./243 (CP: Hatainville)

5th batterie 4 x 7.62cm FK39 (R) 

6th batterie 4 x 7.62cm FK39 (R) 

7th batterie 4 x 4 x 7.62cm FK39 (R) 
3./243 (CP: Caudard)

8th batterie 4 x 122mm sFH 396 (R) sdkfz 7 prime movers 

9th batterie 4 x x 122mm sFH 396 (R) 

10th batterie 4 x x 122mm sFH 396 (R) 

11th batterie 10 x 2cm flak 38 (proportioned out as required) 

Panzerjäger-Abteilung 243 : (Oberleutnant Franz Fallnich – CP: La Commanderie)

Stab 

Volkswagen, Motocycle, kitchen French lorry, medic Tatra car,  Kfz 1, kfz17 (radio truck) light and medium trucks, maintenance section sdkfz 8 recovery, sdkfz 9 and trailer. 
1. Kp (CP: Aux-Petits) (

14 x 138 Marder III

2. Kp (CP: Le-Pont-aux-Moines)  (officially sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 1243 Feb 1943)   

10 Sturmgeschutz III

3. KP 

12 x SP 2cm flak 38 sdkfz 10/5

Pionier-Bataillon 243 (Hauptmann Reicherzer (6-12 June) Hauptmann Klein CP: Les Pieux) 

Stabs coy, OC plus 3 light truck 

1st company LMG, flamethrower 7 figs, cyclists 

2nd company LMG, Flamethrower 7 figs, cyclists 

Nachrichten-Abteilung 243 (Hauptmann Horst-Alex von Bierbrauer zu Brennstein)

Panzerabteilung 206 

Major Ernst Wenk, ADJ Oberleutnant Ehrenfried Obenauf – CP: Auderville

Stabs kompanie

2 x Pz-S35(f) a French Somua Char 1935-S

2x Pz-R35 (f) a French Renault 35

1 x Pz-B2 Flame (f) a French Char BI bis converted to a flame tank

2 x B2 Renault de 32t (ex B1 bis)

1 kompanie

4 x Pz-S35(f) a French Somua Char 1935-S

14 x Pz-H38/39(f) a French Hotchkiss Char 1938-H (

2 Kompanie 

4 x Pz-S35(f) a French Somua Char 1935-S

14 x Pz-H38/39(f) a French Hotchkiss Char 1938-H

4 x Pz-B2 Flame(f) a French Char BI bis converted to a flame tank

Schweres Stellungswerferregiment 101 (Major Rasner – CP: Vasteville)
I./101 (CP: Aumeville)
II./101 (CP: Quetteville)
III./101 (CP: Le Gardot)

I plan to build a number of units for this division also.

Cheers

Matt