71st Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)

71st Infantry Division
71. Infanterie-Division
Active26 August 1939 – May 1945
Country Nazi Germany
BranchArmy
TypeInfantry
RoleInfantry
SizeDivision
Nickname(s)Lucky one
Cloverleaf Division
EngagementsWorld War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Karl Weisenberger
Alexander von Hartmann

The 71st Infantry Division Kleeblatt ("Cloverleaf Division", "Lucky One")[1] (German: 71. Infanterie-Division) was an infantry division of the German Army, raised on 26 August 1939, shortly before the outbreak of World War II, as a division of the 2nd wave of deployment by Infantry Commander 19 (Infanterie-Kommandeur 19) in Hildesheim. It fought in Verdun, Stalingrad and Monte Cassino, among others.

The division's symbol was the four-leaf clover and after congratulations on the victory in Verdun in June 1940, the division was henceforth called the "lucky one".[1] The same action also earning Generalleutnant Karl Weisenberger the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 June 1940 by Generalfeldmarschall Ernst Busch.[2]

  1. ^ a b Die 71. Infanterie-Division 1939 - 1945; Gefechts- und Erlebnisberichte aus den Kämpfen der "Glückhaften Division" von Verdun bis Stalingrad, vom Monte Cassino bis zum Plattensee [The 71st Infantry Division 1939-1945; Combat and experience reports from the battles of the "Lucky Division" from Verdun to Stalingrad, from Monte Cassino to Lake Balaton] (in German). Eggolsheim: Dörfler. 2006. p. 5. ISBN 978-3-89555-363-9. OCLC 166023853.
  2. ^ Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (1986). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. p. 357. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5. OCLC 17650176.