8th Motorised Infantry Division

8. motorisierte Schützendivision

Military Unit: 42502

Activated 30.6.56 in Schwerin, East Germany, from the Infanteriebereitschaft Schwerin, as the 8th Infantry Division.

30.11.56 renamed 8th Motorised Infantry Division.

Organisation 1960:

• 27th Motorised Infantry Regiment (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 28th Motorised Infantry Regiment (Rostock, East Germany)
• 29th Motorised Infantry Regiment (Prora, East Germany)
• 8th Tank Regiment (Prora, East Germany) - 1964 moved to Goldberg
• 16th Artillery Regiment (Prora, East Germany) - 30.10.67 moved to Rostock
• 8th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (Rostock, East Germany) - 20.10.67 moved to Schwerin
• 8th Missile Battalion (Goldberg, East Germany)
• 8th Reconnaissance Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 8th Engineer Battalion (Prora, East Germany) - 1964 moved to Goldberg
• 8th Anti-Tank Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 8th Communications Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 8th Transport Battalion (Damerow, East Germany)
• 8th Repair Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 8th Chemical Defence Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 8th Replacement Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany)

10.8.61 the 8th Medical Battalion was activated in Prora (20.10.67 moved to Damerow) .

1.10.61 the 8th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment was renamed 8th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion.

Organisation 1970:

• 27th Motorised Infantry Regiment (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 28th Motorised Infantry Regiment (Rostock, East Germany)
• 29th Motorised Infantry Regiment (Prora, East Germany)
• 8th Tank Regiment (Goldberg, East Germany)
• 16th Artillery Regiment (Rostock, East Germany)
• 8th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 8th Missile Battalion (Goldberg, East Germany)
• 8th Reconnaissance Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 8th Engineer Battalion (Goldberg, East Germany)
• 8th Anti-Tank Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 8th Communications Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 8th Transport Battalion (Damerow, East Germany)
• 8th Repair Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 8th Chemical Defence Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 8th Medical Battalion (Damerow, East Germany)
• 8th Replacement Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany)

1.12.71 the 8th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion was renamed 8th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, and the 16th Artillery Regiment was renamed 8th Artillery Regiment.

In 1971 the 7th Repair Battalion was activated from the 8th Artillery Repair Shop, the 8th Vehicle Repair Shop and the 8th Tank Reoair Shop.

In 1973 the 8th Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion was activated.

1.12.76 the 8th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment was renamed 8th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment.

Organisation 1980:

• 27th Motorised Infantry Regiment (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 28th Motorised Infantry Regiment (Rostock, East Germany)
• 29th Motorised Infantry Regiment (Prora, East Germany) - 1980 moved to Hagenow
• 8th Tank Regiment (Goldberg, East Germany) - arrived from Prora 1964
• 8th Artillery Regiment (Rostock, East Germany) - arrived from Prora 1967
• 8th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 8th Missile Battalion (Goldberg, East Germany)
• 8th Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 8th Reconnaissance Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany) - 1981 moved to Hagenow
• 8th Engineer Battalion (Goldberg, East Germany) - arrived from Prora 1964 - 1982 moved to Hagenow
• 8th Anti-Tank Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 8th Communications Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 8th Transport Battalion (Damerow, East Germany)
• 8th Repair Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany) - 1982 moved to Goldberg
• 8th Chemical Defence Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 8th Medical Battalion (Damerow, East Germany)
• 8th Replacement Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany)

In 1981 the 8th Transport Battalion was renamed 8th Material Support Battalion, absorbing the 8th Divisional Store and the 8th Field Bakery Company.

Organisation 1988:

• 27th Motorised Infantry Regiment (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 28th Motorised Infantry Regiment (Rostock, East Germany)
• 29th Motorised Infantry Regiment (Hagenow, East Germany)
• 8th Tank Regiment (Goldberg, East Germany)
• 8th Artillery Regiment (Rostock, East Germany)
• 8th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 8th Missile Battalion (Goldberg, East Germany)
• 8th Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 8th Reconnaissance Battalion (Hagenow, East Germany)
• 8th Engineer Battalion (Hagenow, East Germany)
• 8th Anti-Tank Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 8th Communications Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 8th Material Support Battalion (Damerow, East Germany)
• 8th Repair Battalion (Goldberg, East Germany)
• 8th Chemical Defence Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany)
• 8th Medical Battalion (Damerow, East Germany)
• 8th Replacement Battalion (Schwerin, East Germany)

3.10.90 absorbed by the Bundeswehr.

Divisional coordinates:

• Schwerin barracks (Kurt Bürger Kaserne) [US designation: Schwerin Army Barracks 031]: 53 38 19N, 11 25 32E (Divisional HQ and 8th Communications Battalion)
• Schwerin barracks (Hans Kahle Kaserne) [US designation: Schwerin Army Barracks 032]: 53 33 41N, 11 27 02E (27th Motorised Infantry Regiment, 8th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment, 8th Multiple Rocket Launcher Battalion, 8th Anti-Tank Battalion, 8th Repair Battalion and 8th Chemical Defence Battalion)
• Schwerin barracks (Willi Schröder Kaserne) [US designation: Schwerin Army Barracks 044]: 53 37 01N, 11 23 44E (8th Reconnaissance Battalion until 1981)
• Rostock barracks (Erich Mühsam Kaserne) [US designation: Rostock Army Barracks 082]: 54 05 18N, 12 05 06E (8th Artillery Regiment)
• Rostock barracks (Wilhelm Florin Kaserne) [US designation: Rostock Army Barracks 083]: 54 05 18N, 12 05 28E (28th Motorised Infantry Regiment)
• Prora barracks (Ernst Moritz Arndt Kaserne) [US designation: Prora Army Barracks 041]: 54 26 31N, 13 34 16E (29th Motorised Infantry Regiment)
• Goldberg barracks (Artur Becker Kaserne) [US designation: Goldberg Army Barracks 001]: 53 36 43N, 12 06 36E (8th Tank Regiment, 8th Missile Battalion and 8th Engineer Battalion)
• Damerow (Karow) barracks [US designation: Damerow Army Barracks 001]: 53 33 13N, 12 13 22E (8th Material Support Battalion and 8th Medical Battalion)
• Hagenow barracks (Ernst Moritz Arndt Kaserne) [US designation: Hagenow Army Barracks 001?]: 53 26 23N, 11 04 37E (29th Motorised Infantry Regiment, 8th Reconnaissance Battalion and 8th Engineer Battalion)

Equipment:

• 12.85: 10800 men, 218 T-54/55, 111 BMP-1, 157 BTR-60, 31 BTR-70, 12 122mm 2s1, 18 122mm D-30, 12 122mm M-30, 12 152mm D-20, 18 152mm 2s3
• 1990: 214 T-55, 137 BMP-1/2, 271 BTR-60/70, 126 artillery and MRL, 13 MT-55, 4 Frog-7

Subordination:

• Militärbezirk V, 1956 - 1990

The division was maintained as a Ready Division - First Line (US terms: Category I) - manning was almost 100%.