The decisive influence on the formation of the organization and tactics of the German infantry before the outbreak of World War II was, on the one hand, the experience of the previous world war, as well as theoretical works created in the 1920s and 1930s, which often emphasized the need to perceive the German infantry as an instrument for conducting an offensive war. This affected both the equipment and the organization of the German infantry division, which during the September 1939 campaign consisted of 3 infantry regiments, each of which was divided into 3 infantry battalions, an artillery company and an anti-tank company. In addition, there were numerous auxiliary units, in particular: an artillery regiment with 4 artillery squadrons (including one heavy), an anti-tank battalion, a sapper battalion and a signal battalion. In total, the so-called infantry division in the first wave of mobilization numbered approximately 17,700 men and had a significant artillery component, but was also heavily equipped with machine guns. It also had modern and effective - for those times - means of communication and command. In the course of the war, infantry divisions underwent transformation - in 1943, some of them were converted into armored grenadier divisions. However, from 1943 onwards, a standard "traditional" infantry division consisted of approximately 12,500 men (rather than approximately 17,700 as in 1939), and its artillery component - especially heavy artillery - was also reduced, while its anti-tank defense was significantly improved. It is believed that during the entire Second World War, about 350 infantry divisions served in the Wehrmacht.
