| 403rd Security Division | |
|---|---|
| 403. Sicherungs-Division | |
| Active | 1939–1943 |
| Country |  Nazi Germany |
| Branch | Army (Wehrmacht) |
| Type | Security division |
| Size | Division |
| Engagements | World War II |
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The403rd Security Division (403. Sicherungs-Division) was arear-security division in theWehrmacht ofNazi Germany. Throughout the war, the unit was mainly deployed in theArmy Group South Rear Area behind the Eastern Front, which was a large, German-occupied area of theSoviet Union. During the whole war, the 403rd Security Division was used throughout the war mainly on the Eastern Front for security tasks in the rear army area, such as capturing scattered Soviet soldiers andcommissars.[1][2] Further anti-Semitic measures, such as confiscations, removal of functions, the formation of "purely" Jewish houses, followed.[1]
TheDivision z.b.V. 403, alternatively known asLandesschützen-Division 403, was established on 25 October 1939 inSpandau, which was in theIII Military District. It was to consist of ten Territorial Guard (Landesschützen) battalions from the III Military District. August 1940 onwards, the division was part of the6th Army, which was at the time inBrittany. It was renamed to403rd Security Division in March 1942.
The division was formed on 15 March 1941 nearNeusalz inSilesia, in the VIII Military District, from the staff ofDivision z.b.V. 403 and elements of the213th Infantry Division.
In 1941, the division fought in theBattle of Moscow and theBattle of Smolensk as part of the Army Group Reserve. During this period, the division was used against the civilian population and burned down numerous villages.
At the beginning of 1942, the fallback line of the division wasbroken by the Red Army near Toropets. In the summer of 1942, the division partook in actions against Jews in eastern Ukraine.[3]
At the beginning of 1943 the division was split into parts, with one part being assigned to the XXIVth Army Corps of the2nd Panzer Army and the other to theXXXXth Army Corps assigned to the4th Army. On 31 May 1943 in southern Russia, the division was dissolved.
The division staff moved to Bergen in June 1943 and became the staff of the265th Infantry Division.
Commanding officers
| No. | Portrait | Commander | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | von Ditfurth, WolfgangOberst/Generalmajor/Generalleutnant Wolgang von Ditfurth | 25 October 1939 | May 1942 | 2 years, 188 days |
| 2 | | Rußwurm, WilhelmGeneralleutnant Wilhelm Rußwurm | May 1942 | 31 May 1943 | 1 year, 1 day |