View source for 1st Mobile Infantry Division (Slovak Republic)

{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name   = 1st Mobile Infantry Division
| native_name =
| image       = Schnelle_Division_1941_1942.jpg
| image_size  = 200
| caption     =
| dates       = 23 June 1941 – 30 October 1943<br>1944 – March 1945
| country     = {{flagcountry|First Slovak Republic}}
| branch      = [[Slovak Expeditionary Army Group]]
| type        =
| role        = [[Infantry]]
| garrison    =
| motto       =
| battles     = [[World War II]]
*[[Operation Barbarossa]]
**[[Battle of Lypovec]]
**[[Battle of Rostov (1941)]]
*[[Battle of the Caucasus]]
**[[Kuban bridgehead]]
*[[Melitopol offensive]]
| website     =
| commander1  =
}}
The '''1st Mobile Infantry Division''' also known as the Slovak Fast Division and as the Rapid Division, was an infantry division of the [[Slovak Expeditionary Army Group]] that fought on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]] during [[World War II]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.operationbarbarossa.net/slovakian-forces-operation-barbarossa-june-july-1941/|title=Slovakian Forces: Operation Barbarossa, June-July 1941|website=Operation Barbarrosa}}</ref>
==History==
The division was formed as the Rapid Group on 23 June 1941. A month later on 23 July 1941, the Rapid Group was reorganized into a division after the [[Battle of Lypovec]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.feldgrau.com/ww2-slovakian-axis-forces/|title=Slovakian Axis Forces in WWII|date=August 4, 2020|website=Feldgrau}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flamesofwar.com/Default.aspx?tabid=112&art_id=456&kb_cat_id=33|title=History}}</ref> During the [[Battle of the Caucasus]], the division was encircled at [[Saratowskaya]], but managed to escape to the [[Kuban bridgehead]].<ref>Tessin, G., Verbänd und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen - SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945, Biblo Verlag, Osnabruck, 1977. taken from http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/939GXXP.PDF {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063227/http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/939GXXP.PDF |date=2016-03-04 }} pg 10</ref> However, the division was forced to leave behind all their heavy equipment and weapons in order to escape.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.feldgrau.com/WW2-Slovakian-Axis-Forces/|title=Slovakian Axis Forces in WWII|date=August 4, 2020|website=Feldgrau}}</ref> The division was then destroyed during the [[Melitopol offensive]] with 2,600 soldiers of the division becoming [[prisoners of war]].<ref>A. N. Asmolov. Front in the rear of the Wehrmacht. 2nd ed., add. M., Politizdat, 1983. p.173</ref> The division was reformed in early 1944. The reformed division was used to protect communication lines. The division surrendered to Soviet forces in March 1945.<ref>https://www.old.axishistory.com/list-all-categories/75-slovakia-army/slovakia-army-unsorted/879-slovak-fast-division-slovakia</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Military history of Slovakia during World War II]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1941]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1945]]
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