1st Mobile Infantry Division (Slovak Republic) explained

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.^[1]

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.^{[2] [3]} During the Battle of the Caucasus, the division was encircled at Saratowskaya, but managed to escape to the Kuban bridgehead.^[4] However, the division was forced to leave behind all their heavy equipment and weapons in order to escape.^[5] The division was then destroyed during the Melitopol offensive with 2,600 soldiers of the division becoming prisoners of war.^[6] The division was reformed in early 1944. The reformed division was used to protect communication lines. The division surrendered to Soviet forces in March 1945.^[7]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Slovakian Forces: Operation Barbarossa, June-July 1941. Operation Barbarrosa.
2. Web site: Slovakian Axis Forces in WWII. August 4, 2020. Feldgrau.
3. Web site: History.
4. 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 pg 10
5. Web site: Slovakian Axis Forces in WWII. August 4, 2020. Feldgrau.
6. A. N. Asmolov. Front in the rear of the Wehrmacht. 2nd ed., add. M., Politizdat, 1983. p.173
7. https://www.old.axishistory.com/list-all-categories/75-slovakia-army/slovakia-army-unsorted/879-slovak-fast-division-slovakia