The 62nd Infantry Division () was an infantry division of the German Heer during World War II. It was formed in Wehrkreis VIII (Silesia) in August 1939. After heavy casualties in March 1944, it was first briefly reassembled in August 1944 and then reorganized into the 62nd Volksgrenadier Division, formed from units assembled for the planned 583rd Volksgrenadier Division, on 22 September 1944. The dissolution of 62nd Infantry Division was declared on 9 October 1944. 62nd Volksgrenadier Division remained operational until it was trapped in the Ruhr Pocket and forced to surrender by American forces in April 1945.
Operational history
62nd Infantry Division was a division of the second Aufstellungswelle (wave of deployment), and was assembled, as was outlined in the German mobilization plans for the divisions of the second wave, from trained reservists after general mobilization was declared on 26 August 1939. The division was assembled at Kanth near Breslau. The first commander was Walter Keiner. The divisional insignia was a golden cross on top of a horizontal upward-facing crescent. As a result, it received the unofficial nickname 'Moonshine Division' ().
1939
For the Invasion of Poland that started on 1 September 1939, 62nd Infantry Division started out in the reserves of Army Group South (Gerd von Rundstedt), but did not see combat during the campaign. In October 1939, 62nd Infantry Division was assigned to VI Army Corps under 6th Army, then shifted to V Army Corps under 4th Army in December of that year.
1940
The 62nd Infantry Division stayed part of V Army Corps until May 1940, when, in anticipation of the imminent Battle of France, 62nd Infantry Division was moved to XV Army Corps under 4th Army, now assigned to Army Group A. In June, 62nd Infantry Division was transferred to V Army Corps, still under 6th Army, and thus moved army groups to Army Group B. After the German victory in France, 62nd Infantry Division was moved to occupied Poland and assigned to III Army Corps under 18th Army. It stayed under III Corps until April 1941. During that time, the corps shifted from 18th Army to 12th Army from September to December 1940.
1941
62nd Infantry Division was assigned to 17th Army from January to April 1941.
From May to August 1941, 62nd Infantry Division was part of XVII Army Corps under 6th Army, and participated in the initial invasion of Operation Barbarossa as part of Army Group South. Along with its parent army corps, it initially advanced over Kovel and Sarny towards Korosten. The 62nd Infantry Division served with distinction during the encirclement of Kiev and distinguished itself with several days of very intense combat near Boryspil. During the fighting at Boryspol, 405 officers and soldiers were killed and another 487 wounded, with an additional 166 missing, all in the period of just 19 September until 24 September. The division was briefly transferred to the reserves during September 1941 as a result of the high casualties. Overall, the division had suffered 553 dead, 1,027 wounded and 182 missing over the course of September 1941, accounting for a casualty rate of 13% when compared to the divisional strength on 31 August. The division was briefly reassigned to XVII Army Group under 6th Army in October, before again being pulled to the reserves by November to serve in the army group's rearguard.