58th Division (United Kingdom)

58th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)

58th Infantry Division
Active	World War II
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Infantry
Role	diversion phantom formation

The British 58th Infantry Division was a 'phantom division' created as part of 'Operation Fortitude North' as a replacement for the British 3rd Infantry Division which was going south to take part in a D-Day rehearsal. Unlike other 'phantom divisions' the 58ths number was chosen on the basis of Ultra reports that showed the Germans believed a 58th Infantry Division existed in the vicinity of Windsor.

As part of the British Fourth Army's, II Corps, the division took the role of a mountain trained assault formation in 'Fortitude North' (HQ: Aberlour) and the role of follow up unit in 'Fortitude South' (HQ: Gravesend). It was disposed of by announcing that the division had moved to Hertfordshire and been disbanded in April 1945. ,

Insignia

The units insignia, a stags face full on a black square was specially chosen to support the divisions fictional back-story, that it had been formed in the Scottish Highlands around cadres from combat experienced Highland regiments. ,

Composition

In addition to the usual divisional support units the 58th Infantry Divison was composed of:

References

Retrieved from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/58th_Infantry_Division_(United_Kingdom)