164th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)
The 164th Infantry Division () was an infantry division of the German Army during World War II. Formed in November 1939, the division took part in the invasion of Greece in April 1941. In January 1942, consolidating the Axis seizure of the island during the Battle of Crete, the 164th was reorganized as Fortress Division Kreta (FDK). In mid-1942 the division was transferred to North Africa and re-designated as 164th Light Afrika Division (). It surrendered in May 1943 in Tunisia at the end of the North African Campaign. Operational history. The 164th Infantry Division was formed  on 27 November 1939 with "Oberst" Konrad Haase as its commander. Stationed at Dresden, Wehrkreis IV, by January 1940, it included three infantry regiments and Haase had been promoted to "generalmajor" on 1 January 1940. It was held in reserve during the Battle of France and was later involved in the invasion of Greece in April 1941. After the end of the campaign, it was stationed in Salonika on occupation duty. During this time, one of its infantry regiments was detached to serve on the Greek island of Rhodes. In early 1942, the division was moved to the island of  Crete and organised as Fortress Division Kreta. Reinforced with the experienced 125th Infantry Regiment, it remained here until mid-1942 at which time it was transferred to North Africa to serve with the "Panzer Armee Afrika". It was now designated as the 164th Light Afrika Division; each of its regiments only had two battalions. The division fought at El Alamein and performed well. During the battle, one of its regiments was instrumental in preventing the capture of the headquarters of "Panzer Armee Afrika" by advancing Allied infantry. Along with the remainder of the Axis forces, the division gradually retreated into Tunisia . It spent the final stages of the campaign in Tunisia fighting against Free French troops as part of the 1st Italian Army. Liebenstein, the division's final commander, surrendered to Lieutenant General Bernard Freyberg, commander of the 2nd New Zealand Division. Commanding officers. The following officers commanded the 164th Infantry Division during the course of World War II: