1st Mobile Infantry Division (Slovak Republic)

1st Mobile Infantry Division Schnelle_Division_1941_1942.jpg 200 23 June 1941 – 30 October 19431944 – March 1945 First Slovak Republic Slovak Expeditionary Army Group Infantry World War II Operation Barbarossa Battle of Lypovec Battle of Rostov (1941) Battle of the Caucasus Kuban bridgehead Melitopol offensive Odessa Offensive The 1st Mobile Infantry Division also known as the Slovak Fast Division and as the Rapid Division, was an infantry division of the Slovak Expeditionary Army Group that fought on the Eastern Front during World War II.https://www.operationbarbarossa.net/slovakian-forces-operation-barbarossa-june-july-1941/ Slovakian Forces: Operation Barbarossa, June-July 1941 Operation Barbarrosa History The division was formed as the Rapid Group on 23 June 1941. A month later on 23 July 1941, the Rapid Group was reorganized into a division after the Battle of Lypovec.https://www.feldgrau.com/ww2-slovakian-axis-forces/ Slovakian Axis Forces in WWII August 4, 2020 Feldgrauhttps://www.flamesofwar.com/Default.aspx?tabid=112&art_id=456&kb_cat_id=33 History During the Battle of the Caucasus, the division was encircled at [[Saratovskaya (rural locality) |Saratovskaya]], but managed to escape to the Kuban bridgehead.Tessin, G., Verbänd und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen - SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945, Biblo Verlag, Osnabruck, 1977. taken from http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/939GXXP.PDF https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063227/http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/939GXXP.PDF 2016-03-04 pg 10 However, the division was forced to leave behind all their heavy equipment and weapons in order to escape.https://www.feldgrau.com/WW2-Slovakian-Axis-Forces/ Slovakian Axis Forces in WWII August 4, 2020 Feldgrau The division was then destroyed during the Melitopol offensive with 2,600 soldiers of the division becoming prisoners of war.A. N. Asmolov. Front in the rear of the Wehrmacht. 2nd ed., add. M., Politizdat, 1983. p.173 The division was reformed in early 1944. The reformed division was used to protect communication lines. The division participated in the Odessa Offensive.Armeeoberkommando 6, Ia. Kriegsgliederung. Stand: 30.3.44. NARA T312, R1497, F000757. The division surrendered to Soviet forces in March 1945.https://www.old.axishistory.com/list-all-categories/75-slovakia-army/slovakia-army-unsorted/879-slovak-fast-division-slovakia References Category:Military history of Slovakia during World War II Category:Military units and formations established in 1941 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1945