164th Infantry Division
Fortress Division Kreta
Fortress Brigade Kreta
164th Light Afrika Division

Created as 164th Infantry Division in November 1939. Reorganized as Fortress Division Kreta in January 1942. In August 1942 the division was split to form the smaller Fortress Brigade Kreta and the 164th Light Afrika Division, with the former remaining in Crete and the latter sent to North Africa.

The 164th Light Afrika Division fought at El Alamein and took heavy casualties in the westward retreat. It was sent to Tripoli for rehabilitation, but the necessary resources were not available, so it was sent to Tunisia to build fortifications. It was almost entirely destroyed there, and the remnants were lost in general Axis surrender in May.

See also

• Western Desert Campaign, North African Campaign
• Division (military), Military unit
• Wehrmacht, List of German divisions in WWII

References

Note: The Web references may require you to follow links to cover the unit's entire history.

• Wendel, Marcus (2004). "164. Infanterie-Division". Retrieved April 4, 2005.
• "164. Infanterie-Division". German language article at www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de. Retrieved April 4, 2005.