6th Infantry Division Formed in October 1934 from the cover formation "
Infanterieführer VI" in
Bielefeld, the 6th Infantry Division was mobilized on 26 August 1939 for the upcoming
Invasion of Poland. The division consisted of three infantry regiments (18 (Bielefeld), 37 (Osnabrück), 58 (Herford)), Artillery Regiment 6 (further supported by I./42 Artillery Detachment) and Division Units 6. In January 1940, the division's field replacement battalion became I./362 of
196th Infantry Division, followed by the exit in February 1940 of II./37 battalion to become III./5033 of
290th Infantry Division. II./37 was subsequently replenished and the 6th Division brought back up to strength. On 2 October 1943, the division was reformed into an
Infanterie-Division neuer Art-style division, leading to a reduction in size for each regiment to account for wartime losses. The battalions III./18, III./37 and II./58 had already been dissolved over the course of the war years 1942 and 1943 due to mounting casualties. The new Division Fusilier Battalion 6 (which was required by the organization style) was formed from the division's pre-existing reconnaissance detachment. This left the division with three grenadier regiments of two battalions each, one division fusilier battalion, an artillery regiment with four detachments and the Division Units 6 for support. The division was destroyed during the Soviet
Vistula–Oder Offensive in January 1945 and reestablished as
6. Infanterie-Division (10 March 1945) using elements of Shadow Division Dresden. ==Commanding officers==