716th (Static) Infantry Division | |
---|---|
German: 716. (bodenständige) Infanterie-Division | |
Active | 2 May 1941 – May 1945 |
Country | Nazi Germany |
Branch | Heer (Wehrmacht) |
Type | Infantry |
Role | Coastal defence and fortification |
Size | Division |
Engagements | Invasion of Normandy |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Wilhelm Richter |
The 716th Static Infantry Division (German: 716. Infanterie-Division) was a World War II, German Army infantry division. It was raised on May 2, 1941, and sent to German-occupied France in June 1941. Many of the division's troops were elderly Germans and conscripts from other German-occupied countries. The division also had some young German conscripts as well. As a bodenständig (static unit) it was not equipped with the standard configuration of vehicles and heavy weapons. Much of the division's artillery and anti-tank guns were from captured armaments.[1]
It is well-known for its involvement as a defensive unit in the Allied Normandy landings on 6 June 1944 (often called "D-Day").