91st Infantry Division (Germany)
| 91st Infantry Division 91. Luftlande-Infanterie-Division |
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|---|---|
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| Active | 15 January 1944 – 10 August 1944 |
| Country |
 Nazi Germany
|
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Air Landing |
| Size | Division |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Generalleutnant Wilhelm Falley |
The 91st Air Landing Division (German 91. Luftlande-Infanterie-Division) was a German Army infantry division in World War II.
Originally formed as an Air Landing Division (Luftlandivision) trained, and equipped to be transported by air (i.e. transportable artillery, few heavy support weapons) to take part in Operation Tanne Ost, an aborted airborne operation in Scandinavia. Despite its name, the 91st was a regular Heer unit and spent its entire existence as an infantry division.
Formed in the Baumholder area from replacement center personnel in January 1944 under the command of Generalleutnant Bruno Ortner, its command was transferred to Generalleutnant Wilhelm Falley and moved to the Cotentin peninsula with von der Heydte's 6th Parachute Regiment and 100th Panzer Replacement and Training Battalion, armed with captured French light tanks, attached as part of the German 7th Army.
Located within the landing zones of both the U.S. 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. It saw heavy fighting around Sainte-Mère-Église with its divisional commander being killed.
Placed under the temporary command of Generalmajor Bernard Klosterkemper, It attempted to block the U.S. 4th Infantry Division's advance off Utah Beach at Carentan where its 1058th Grenadier Regiment was all but destroyed. After the second week of the Allied invasion of Normandy the 91st had suffered so many casualties it was no longer considered combat effective as a unit.
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Wikipedia