243.

Infanterie Division The division was formed in July 1943 in Dllersheim, Germany, and sent to Normandy in the autumn. Originally it was a static division, but it had been gradually upgrading its mobility and in May 1944 it had comparatively good mobility for being a German infantry division in the west.
1

On 1 May 1944, the manpower strength of the division amounted to 11 529. This was probably close to authorized strength, since one month earlier it was reported that the division was short of 226 men .
2 3

The structure of the division looked like this on 1 May :

4

All infantry battalions had 44 light machine guns, except II./921 which had 46 and I./922 which had 45. The number of mortars were eight per battalion, except I./921 which had ten. All mortars had a calibre of 8 cm. Each infantry regiment had one infantry howitzer company with six Russian 7,62 cm infantry howitzers. Also each regiment had one company with three 7,5 cm AT guns. All infantry companies, except those of 920. Rgt were equipped with bicycles.
5

Equipment of the artillery regiment consisted of Russian 7, 62 cm guns in I. and II. Abteilung. The III. Abteilung had Russian 12,2 cm howitzers in batteries 7 - 9, while 10. Batterie had Russian 12,2 cm guns. All batteries had four artillery pieces each. They were all motorized.
6

The Panzerjger Abteilung had 14 Marder 38 and 10 StuG III. They had been sent to the division in March 1944. Also the battalion had a company with twelve 2 cm Flak guns. One of these was on tracked chassis, while two were motorized.
7 8 9 10

With only two companies the engineer battalion was relatively weak. It had 19 machine guns. Both companies were equipped with bicycles.
11

The field replacement battalion had four companies. Equipment consisted of 48 machine guns and one mortar.
12

When the allies landed, the 243. Division was deployed on the western side of the Cotentin peninsula. Thus it was gradually drawn into the battle. Parts of the division were encircled in Cherbourg, but also those parts not cut off had substantial casualties. Among the elements not surrounded losses amounted to 55 % among the infantry, 25 % in the artillery, 30-40 % among AT units and 90 % of the engineers. The figures apply to the period 6 - 24 June.
13

Altogether the divison had losses of 8 189 men from D-Day to 11 July. The trench strengh only amounted to 700 men on 10 July.
14 15

On 23 July, the division was rated to have "Kampfwert V" which was the lowest assignable. It had only four depleted infantry battalions, eight heavy AT guns, three StuG and nine artillery batteries left.
16

It was decided 10 August that the 243. Division should be rebuilt using the 182. Reserve Division, but this was never carried out. Rather, the division was disbanded 12 September.
17

Notes:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

G. Tessin, Verbnde und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS (Mittler & Sohn, Frankfurt am Main and Biblio Verlag, Osnabrck 1966-1975). Gliederung 243. Inf.Div. 1.5.44. BA-MA RH 20-7/136. WFST/Op. (H)/West Nr.004662/44 g.Kdos, den 3. Mai 1944, Fehlstellen der Divisionen im Bereich OB West, Stand 1.4.44, T77, R1421, F000237f. Gliederung der 243. I.D., Stand 1.5.44, T312, R1566, F000220. Gliederung der 243. I.D., Stand 1.5.44, T312, R1566, F000220. Ibid. Ibid. Lieferungen der Pz.Fahrzeuge Bd. ab Mai 1943, BA-MA RH 10/349. Gliederung der 243. I.D., Stand 1.5.44, T312, R1566, F000220. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. AOK 7 Ia Nr. 3454/44 g.Kdos 27.6.44, T312, R1565, F001381. KTB OB West Ia, entry 12.7.44, T311, R16, F7016788. KTB AOK 7 Ia, entry 10.7.44, T312, R1569, F000140. The source give Kampfstrke. Gen.Kdo. LXXXIV. A.K. Ia 048/44 g.Kdos. T314, R1604, F001375. Tessin, op. cit.