5.Division
Lineage
Traditions
HistoryThe 5.Division was formed in January of 1921 from the Reichswehr-Brigade 11 and Reichswehr-Brigade 13, both of theformer Übergangsheer. The 5.Division was based in Stuttgart. The commanderof the 5.Division also served as the head of the regional Wehrkreiskommandoof the same number, in this case, Wehrkreis V. Ittoo was based in Stuttgart. There were seven Wehrkreiskommandos in the Reichswehr,each one relating to a specific Reichwehr division, numbers 1-7. The commanderof each thus served a duel role as the commander of the Wehrkreis and thecommander of the division in question. In 1934, during the transition period of the Reichswehr into the Wehrmacht,all seven Wehrkreiskommandos were upgraded into Korp formations with the commanderbeing transfered to serve as the CO of each. Thus the divisional formationsof the original seven divisions ceased to exist, while their organic unitswere used as the basis for the formation of a series of 21 totally new divisions.The 21 Infanterie-Reigmenter of the Reichswehraided in the formation of 42 new Wehrmacht Infanterie-Regimenter, two being an organic part ofeach of the newly formed 21 Infanterie-Divisionen.At first, each of the newly formed 21 Infanterie-Divisionenwere known by cover names to prevent troubles with Germanys detractors,but later in October of 1935, all cover names were dropped when the formationof the Wehrmacht and its new units was made public. Thus, for the exact transitions and lineages of the 5.Division into theWehrmacht, please see this units specific organic components – theReichswehr 5.Division itself ceased to exist as of October of 1934. Organization
CommandersGen.d.Inf. Walther Reinhardt 10.01.20 – 1.01.25 SubordinationGruppenkommando 2 / Wehrkreiskommando V German Bibliography
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