Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland
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Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland Infanterie-Regiment Großdeutschland |
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Divisional insignia of Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland
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| Active | 1921–45 |
| Country |
 Weimar Republic Nazi Germany
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| Branch | Army |
| Type | Regiment |
| Role | Mechanized Infantry |
| Part of | Panzer-Grenadier-Division Großdeutschland |
| Garrison/HQ | Berlin |
| Nickname(s) | Die Feuerwehr (The Fire Brigade) |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Oberst Karl Lorenz |
The Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland (German: Infanterie-Regiment "Großdeutschland"; "Greater Germany" Infantry Regiment) was an élite German Army ceremonial and combat unit which saw action during World War II. Originally formed in 1921 it was known as the Wachregiment Berlin. Renamed Infanterie-Regiment Großdeutschland in 1939 the regiment served in the campaigns in France and the Low Countries. It then served exclusively on the Eastern Front until the end of the war. It was destroyed near Pillau in May 1945.
Großdeutschland is sometimes mistakenly perceived to be part of the Waffen-SS, whereas it was actually a unit of the regular German Army (Heer). In 1942 it was expanded into the Großdeutschland Division, the best-equipped division in the Wehrmacht, which received equipment before all other units, including some Waffen-SS units; however it remained a regiment within the division and was renamed to Grenadier-Regiment Großdeutschland. It received its final name, Panzergrenadier-Regiment Großdeutschland, in 1943.
After the Treaty of Versailles, Germany's ground forces (the Reichswehr), was limited to just 100,000 men. The Weimar Republic was far from secure. Veterans were forming private groups with their own political agendas (see Freikorps). Communist and Fascist groups battled in the streets, and the threat of political overthrow was to be taken seriously.
To offset the threat of revolution, the Wachregiment Berlin was founded in early 1921. Besides defending the fledgling republic, the Wachregiment was used for ceremonial and representative duties such as parades and guard duties in the capital. The Wachregiment was short-lived, and was disbanded in June 1921. However, the unit was soon reformed as Kommando der Wachtruppe (lit. Guard Troop Command), a unit with the same duties as the Wachregiment.
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