Swiss Light Division - Operationsbefehl No 12 17.7.1940

[Task and Position] [Order of Battle]

Task and Position

The light division was formed as an ad hoc division was formed on the 12.7.40 (effective on the 18.7.40) by using the three light brigades and one infantry regiment (ad hoc regiment "St. Jakob a.d. Birs"). The division covered the line La Roche - Fribourg (excl) - Düdingen - Laupen. The HQ was located at Schwarzenburg. Two of the infantry batallions were attached to the Light Brigades (Inf Bat 164 to 3. L Br, Inf Bat 165 to 1. L Br). Rdf Bat 2 (from L Br 1) and Inf Bat 162 were used as division reserve.

The division had no artillery allocated, but the motorized heavy artillery regiment 12 was located in the are of the Forst (SW of Berne).

One month later (12.8.40) one brigade (3. LBr) was detached and the recce batallions 4 and 5 and the motorized cavalry batallion 12 were attached. The positions were appropriately changed:

L Rgt 1 (- bicycle batallion 1, + some AT assets) covered the Southern sector between La Roche and Ärgera river (South of Marly). Inf Rgt St. Jakob covered the sector between the Ärgera river and Tafers (E of Fribourg). The rest of the 1st light brigade covered the area between Tafers (excl) and Schiffenen. The 2nd light brigade covered the Northern sector between Schiffenen (excl) and Laupen.

Order of Battle

Initial OOB of the Light Division

Second OOB of the Light Division

[Last Update 30.08.2010]