444th Security Division (Wehrmacht)
The 444th Security Division ("444. Sicherungs-Division") was a rear-security division in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany. The unit was deployed in German-occupied areas of the Soviet Union, in the Army Group South Rear Area. Operational history. Division z.b.V. 444. The Division z.b.V. 444 was established on 25 October 1939 in Darmstadt, which was in the XII Military District. It was renamed to 444th Security Division in mid-March 1941. 444th Security Division. The division was formed on 15 March 1941 near Ohlau in Silesia, in the VIII Military District, from the  staff of Division z.b.V. 444 and elements of the 221st Infantry Division. During the whole war, the 444th Security Division operated in the occupied Ukraine and Southern Russia regions behind Army Group South's front lines. Its duties included security of communications and supply lines, economic exploitation and combatting partisans in Wehrmacht's rear areas in conjunction with nearby German units. Along with other security and police forces in the occupied territories, the division participated in war crimes against prisoners of war and the civilian population. The division was subordinated to Karl von Roques, commander of Army Group South  Rear Area. Similar to 454th Security Division, it undertook "cleansing actions" in the areas that the locals claimed harboured "partisans" (the term "partisan" was used interchangeably with "commissar", "Bolshevik", "Jew" and "guerrilla"). From November 1941, the division was ordered to recruit a Turkic unit among the prisoners of war in the prison camps. Hence, a Turkestan regiment (of four companies) was created in November 1942. In early January 1943, now in Army Group A, six Kalmykian cavalry squadrons were placed under the command of the division as the Kalmyk detachment. In February 1943, it was subordinated to the 4th Panzer  Army, then to the "Armee-Abteilung Hollidt" and its successor, the 6th Army. During this period, the division's security measures, which were described as non-combative, took place between Rostov and Mius. At the beginning of 1944, both security regiments were removed and in May 1944 the division was completely dissolved. Commanders. Commanding officers