Germany had a large, albeit low-quality, regional defense force, of 45 regimental headquarters with 301 battalions of regional defense (Landesschutzen) reservists at the start of the war. In the autumn of 1939, the Germans formed a series of divisional headquarters (numbered in the 400s) to control these forces.

These divisional HQs are back dated to the start of the war in the OB, to absorb the regional defense forces. Each WK (Wehrkreis, Military District) receives one or two divisions, based on the divisional HQs formed in the WK and the number of defense battalions available.

Regional defense forces were used for security purposes as well as for local defense. For example, two divisions' worth of regional defense forces (organized into the 539th and 540th Divisions) started the war garrisoning BohemiaMoravia, having transferred there from their home WKs.

Following the conquest of Poland, the Germans sent numerous regional defense forces there, to ensure security in the newly-created WK XX, WK XXI, and General Government regions.

While the histories of most of these divisions are straightforward, a few require comments: . The 401st and 412th were first formed as the 422nd and 445th, then redesignated to fit into the numbering system for the regional defense divisions. In the OB, the 401st and 412th are backdated in place of the 422nd and 445th.

• The 402nd was originally formed to control replacement troops of WK II, but it quickly became a regional defense division instead. The OB ignores its brief stint with the replacement army.
• The 418th is backdated in the OB from its 1943 formation. WK XVIII apparently didn't form a regional defense divisional HO until May 1943. However, its regional defense battalions existed from the start of the war, so the divisional HQ is backdated to account for them.
• The HQ of the 430th may have been formed in Poland, but its battalions all came from WK III. Thus, the OB shows the division starting in WK III.
• The 442nd and 444th were activated as security formations for the field army, not as part of the regional defense forces of their original WKs.

The Germans used OFKs (Oberfeldkommandanturen, High Field Commands) as quasi-divisional area commands responsible for security in occupied areas. Each OFK controlled several FKs (Field Commands), which in turn were over the battalions and companies garrisoning the area In General Government (central Poland), six OFKs (530/Warschau, 540/ Kielce, 570/Krakow, 581/Radom, 587/Tschenstochau, Tarnow; the 540th was indeed a separate formation from the 540th Regional Defense Division in BohemiaMoravia) were organized.

Most OFKs had a numeric designation but were also known by the name of their base city. If OFK Tarnow, however, had a number, this is not known.

In November 1939, WK XI raised two security regiments, for use in the upcoming French campaign. The 1st was motorized to some degree and thus is shown as 1-8, while the 2nd consisted of bicyclists and rates as 1-7.

Inside Europa First to Fight Designer's Notes Part II, Section B Germany [Europa 24]

German Army Divisions and Panzer Troops
Mountain Troops and Infantry
Cavalry, Artillery, and Engineer/Construction Troops
Security Troops
The Replacement Army
Luftwaffe
Kriegsmarine
Brandenburgers
SS and SA
Table 1: 1939 German Tanks
Table 2: 1939 German Divisions: Authorized Organizations
Table 3: German Divisions: Authorized Strengths
Table 4: German Aircraft

Inside Europa First to Fight Designer's Notes Part II, Section A Germany [Europa 23]

Introduction
Army Re-armament and Manpower
Strategic Situation
Germany-Allies Strength Comparison
German High Command and the Government
Volksdeutsch Resettlement 1939-1942
The Wehrkreis System
Frontier Defenses and Border Regt Commands