The decisive influence on the shaping 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, but also theoretical works created in the 1920s and 1930s, which often emphasized the need to perceive the German infantry as a tool waging an offensive war. This affected both the equipment and the organization of the German infantry division, which during the September campaign of 1939 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 support units, including: an artillery regiment with 4 artillery squadrons (including one heavy), an anti-tank battalion, a sapper battalion and a communications battalion. In total, the so-called infantry division In the first mobilization wave, there were approximately 17,700 people and had a significant artillery component, but also was abundantly equipped with machine guns. It also had modern and efficient - for those times - means of communication and command. In the course of the war, infantry divisions underwent transformation - in 1943 some of them were transformed into armored grenadier divisions. However, from 1943, the standard division of the "traditional" infantry consisted of approx. 12,500 men (and not approx. 17,700 as in 1939), and its artillery component - especially heavy artillery - was also reduced in it, while its anti-tank defense was significantly improved. It is assumed that during the entire Second World War, about 350 infantry divisions served in the Wehrmacht.
The Battle of Korsun (also known as the Battle of Cherkassy, the Battle of Korsun-Cherkassy or the Battle of the Cherkasy-Korsun Cauldron) was fought from January 17 to February 16, 1944. Initially, about 60,000 people and 60 tanks were involved in the battle on the German side, and about 330,000 on the Soviet side. soldiers and about 500 tanks. In the course of the battle, the strength of both sides increased significantly. The Battle of Korsuñ was fought in today's Ukraine. Before the battle, the troops of the 1st and 2nd Ukrainian Front, attacking from the east, managed to encircle some of the German troops in the area of the Dnieper River. Shortly after the encirclement, the German army began to try to break out of the boiler, and also received external support. Finally, the German troops managed to break free from the boiler, but during the operation they suffered significant losses, estimated at about 73,000 killed and wounded, which is more than the German army counted at the beginning of the battle! Soviet losses were also serious and are estimated at around 80,000 killed and wounded.