List of German brigades in World War II

This is a list of German brigades in World War II. The list aims to include all brigade-level military formations of the German Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS during World War II.
Brigades, in German army parlance prior to 1944, generally designated formations of two regiments from the same branch of arms. For instance, contained the Panzer Regiments 3 and 4. The usage of the term shifted in the army after 30 May 1944, when it was redefined to apply to singular strengthened regiments.

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Infantry brigades

The number of infantry brigades increased notably after 30 May 1944, when the previously-accepted meaning of brigade, group of two regiments of the same branch, was changed to instead designate a singular strengthened regiment. In such a fashion, the Grenadier Regiments 193, 308 and 503 in Finland became Grenadier Brigades. Grenadier Brigade 761 was an emergency formation formed from Finland veterans in Danzig in July 1944, and the Grenadier Brigades 1131 through 1136 were rapidly raised in various military districts in late July 1944, to be used as autonomous military formations.

German name	Translated name	Notes
	Afrika-Brigade 999	Formed on 6 October 1942 on Heuberg Training Area as a penal unit. It consisted of convicted political prisoners and violent criminals pressed into military service. Initially consisted of Afrika Riflemen Regiments 691 and 962 as well as the Signals Company 999. Upgraded to divisional status on 2 February 1943.
	Brigade 1005	Active in the Upper Rhine area between 7 January and 8 April 1945. Staffed at times by customs officers and Volkssturm units as well as by the staff of Grenadier Regiment 726 of 716th Infantry Division. Dissolved on 8 April 1945, along with Brigade Baur, and used in the redeployment of 89th Infantry Division. Known initially as Brigade Hübner.
	Brigade Baur	Formed in February 1945 in the Upper Rhine area with two grenadier regiments. Dissolved on 8 April 1945, along with Brigade 1005, and used in the redeployment of 89th Infantry Division.
	Brigade Hübner	Formed in January 1945 from the staff of Reserve Grenadier Regiment 28 in German-occupied southwestern France; became Brigade 1005 almost immediately.
	Brigade Lötzen	Formed on 16 August 1939 from Landwehr formations in the Lötzen area in East Prussia for defensive purposes. Under command of 3rd Army during the Invasion of Poland, as part of Corps Brand. Participated in the Battle of Lomza by contributing the Landwehr Infantry Regiment 162 to the German attack on 10 September. Dissolved on 1 November 1939 and subsequently integrated into the 311th Infantry Division, along with the other elements of its ad-hoc formation.
	Brigade z.b.V. 100	Formed in February 1945 in Lusatia from parts of Group Berger. Likely contained elements of Volksgrenadier Regiments 94 and 97 as well as Anti-Tank Company 100.
	Grenadier Brigade 92	After 11 January 1945: Panzergrenadier Brigade 92, formed on 5 June 1944 from Grenadier Regiment 92, which in turn had been formed on 2 May 1943 from forces of Sonderverband 287. Spent most of the war under Army Group F in German-occupied Yugoslavia.
	Grenadier Brigade 193	Formed by decree of 30 May 1944 from Grenadier Regiment 193, which as Infantry Regiment 193 had previously served with 16th Infantry Division. Later used as part of 69th Infantry Division in German-occupied Norway.
	Grenadier Brigade 388	Formed on 30 May 1944 from the Reinforced Grenadier Regiment 388. Part of 20th Mountain Army. Participated in the German defense against the Sovet Petsamo–Kirkenes offensive as part of the 6th Mountain Division.
	Grenadier Brigade 503	Formed in June 1944 from Luftwaffe Field Regiment 503. Part of 20th Mountain Army.
	Grenadier Brigade 761	Sent to the Eastern Front in response to Operation Bagration; arrival on 7 July 1944 in Vilnius without heavy weapons or proper brigade-level equipment. Failed to keep Vilnius air port secure long enough to enable 16th Parachute Regiment to fully land in Vilnius. Part of Korps-Abteilung D. Dissolved on 10 September 1944 and remnant parts integrated into 56th Division as Grenadier Regiment 234.
	Grenadier Brigade 1027	Redesignation of Grenadier Regiment 1027 on 30 May 1944. Dissolved on 1 July 1944 and integrated in Panzergrenadier Regiments 9 and 67 of 26th Panzer Division.
	Grenadier Brigade 1131	Formed on 27 July 1944 as a valkyrie unit, eventually integrated into the 542nd Grenadier Division around November 1944.
	Grenadier Brigade 1132	Formed on 28 July 1944 as a valkyrie unit, integrated on 22 September 1944 into Grenadier Regiment 130 as staff and 1st Battalion.
	Grenadier Brigade 1133	Formed on 24 July 1944 as a valkyrie unit, integrated on 18 August 1944 into the 88th Infantry Division.
	Grenadier Brigade 1134	Formed on 26 July 1944 as a valkyrie unit. Reduced on 1 September 1944 into Combat Battalion 1134 as a result of casualties; grouped under 359th Infantry Division. Dissolved on 18 September 1944.
	Grenadier Brigade 1135	Formed on 27 July 1944 as a valkyrie unit. Dissolved on 28 August 1944 and integrated into 291st Infantry Division.
	Grenadier Brigade 1136	Initially designated Gebirgsjäger Regiment 36. Formed on 27 July 1944 as a valkyrie unit. Dissolved on 14 September 1944. Remnants initially intended for 544th Volksgrenadier Division, but then used to form Division Fusilier Battalion 545 instead.
	Grenadier Training Brigade	Formed on 4 June 1944 from Infantry Training Regiment of Army Group C, intended first to become part of 98th Infantry Division as Grenadier Training Brigade 290 on 19 September and then to become part of 44th Infantry Division as Grenadier Regiment 131 on 17 October, but was instead integrated into 98th Infantry Division as Grenadier Training Regiment 117 on 18 October 1944.
	Infantry Brigade 599	Formed in German-occupied Denmark. Part of the RLA. Spent the end of the war as parts of Division z.b.V. 614 and Regiment 1604.
	Croatian Training Brigade	Formed on 20 April 1943 in Stockerau from the Croatian Training Regiment 369 with a total of 21 companies, including an officer training company, an infantry signals company, a German wounded soldiers recovery company, and two bicycle training companies. Also included an artillery training detachment and a mixed training detachment. Still in Stockerau in 1944, when it also included the Croatian-French-Arab Special Company Döllersheim.
	Training Brigade 900	Formed on 17 June 1941 by Döberitz Infantry School, staffed with a motorized infantry regiment, as well as a Panzerjäger detachment, an artillery detachment, a pioneer battalion, a signals detachment and supply units, each designated with the ordinal number 900. Dissolved on 7 April 1942; staff reintegrated into Döberitz Infantry School.
	Machine Gun Ski Brigade Finland	Formed in July 1944 in Finland to serve as joint command for the Machine Gun Battalions 4, 13, and 14, all deployed in Finland.
	Ski Jäger Brigade 1	Formed in September 1943 under Army Group Centre from six separate Jäger battalions under command of the army group. Consisted of two Ski Jäger Regiments and a heavy ski battalion. Fought between February and May 1944 as part of 2nd Army, first under XXIII Corps and then under LVI Corps. Expanded on 2 June 1944 into 1st Ski Division.

Assault brigades

Gebirgsjäger brigades

Fortress brigades

Replacement brigades

Rifle/Panzergrenadier brigades

The Rifle Regiments and Cavalry Rifle Regiments of the Wehrmacht mobile troops, as well as the brigades overseeing them, had their own numbering, separate from the more conventional infantry forces.
In the 1939 basic layout of a Panzer Division, each division was equipped with a Rifle Brigade, which in turn was the superior unit of one Rifle Regiment of three battalions and of a separate motorcycle battalion. This basic layout was overhauled in 1940; from then on, Rifle Brigades generally oversaw two Rifle Regiments instead of one, and each Rifle Regiment had two battalions each instead of three, thus bringing the number of total rifle battalions in a Rifle Brigade from three to four, but dropping the motorcycle battalion.
On 15 October 1942, the motorized infantry formations, including all previous Rifle Brigades, were given the new designation "Panzergrenadier", becoming Panzergrenadier Brigades.

German name	Translated name	Notes
	Führer Escort Brigade	Formed in November 1944 by upgrading the Führer Escort Battalion. Originally assembled in Rastenburg. Consisted of two Panzergrenadier Battalions, the Sturmgeschütz Brigade 200, a reconnaissance company, an artillery detachment and a field replacement battalion as well as a bicycle battalion. Upgraded on 26 January 1945 to divisional status to become the Führer Escort Division, assigned to the Eastern Front and destroyed in the Spremberg cauldron towards the end of April 1945.
	Führer Grenadier Brigade	Formed in July 1944 in East Prussia by upgrading the strengthened Führer Grenadier Battalion. Included a panzer detachment of Panther tanks. Upgraded on 26 January 1945 to divisional status to become the Führer-Grenadier-Division. Surrendered to American forces in Zwettl, later handed over to the Red Army.
	1st Rifle Brigade	Formed on 12 September 1935, renamed on 5 July 1942. Part of 1st Panzer Division. Dissolved in summer of 1943.
	2nd Rifle Brigade	Formed on 15 October 1935 to provide staff support to the rifle units of 2nd Panzer Division. Redesignated on 5 July 1943. Dissolved in summer 1943.
	3rd Rifle Brigade	Formed on 15 October 1935 to provide staff support to the rifle units of 3rd Panzer Division. Redesignated on 5 July 1942. Dissolved in November 1942.
	4th Rifle Brigade	Formed on 1 November 1939 in Bamberg to provide staff support to the rifle units of 4th Panzer Division. Redesignated on 5 July 1942. Became Brigade z.b.V. 4 on 7 November 1942.
	5th Rifle Brigade	Formed on 1 November 1939 to provide staff support to the rifle units of 5th Panzer Division. Redesignated on 5 July 1942. Dissolved in November 1942.
	6th Rifle Brigade	Formed on 1 April 1939 to provide staff support for the rifle units of 1st Light Division. Redesignated on 5 July 1942. Dissolved on 10 November 1942.
	7th Rifle Brigade	Formed on 27 October 1939 to provide staff support for the rifle regiments of the 7th Panzer Division. Redesignated on 5 July 1942. Likely effectively dissolved in November 1942, but present in German postal records until December 1943.
	8th Rifle Brigade	Formed on 4 November 1939 from the staff of Cavalry Rifle Regiment 9 to provide staff support for the rifle regiments of 8th Panzer Division. Redesignated on 5 July 1942. Dissolved in November 1942.
	9th Rifle Brigade	Formed on 16 February 1940 in Wehrkreis XVII to provide staff support for the rifle regiments of 9th Panzer Division. Commanded by Wilhelm von Apell between 1941 and 1942. Redesignated on 5 July 1942. Dissolved on 15 December 1942.
	10th Rifle Brigade	Formed on 27 October 1939 in Wehrkreis IX to provide staff support for the rifle regiments of 10th Panzer Division. Redesignated on 5 July 1942. Dissolved in 1943.
	11th Rifle Brigade	Formed on 8 December 1939 as an autonomous Rifle Brigade for the Rifle Regiments 110 and 111. Participated in Operation Weserübung as part of XXXI Army Corps. Used to form the 11th Panzer Division on 1 August 1940; a formation by the previous designation is subsequently formed anew in the 11th Panzer Division. Redesignated on 5 July 1942. Dissolved in 1943. Plagued by mobility problems while preparing offensive operations in 1943.
	12th Rifle Brigade	Formed on 9 December 1940 in Wehrkreis II to provide staff support to the rifle regiments of 12th Panzer Division. Redesignated on 11 July 1942. Dissolved on 22 November 1942.
	13th Rifle Brigade	Formed on 18 October 1940 in Wehrkreis XI to provide staff support for the rifle regiments of 13th Panzer Division. Staff sent to Romania on 8 November 1940 as "Training Infantry Staff R". Recalled to Germany on 20 May 1941 and redesignated 13th Rifle Brigade. Renamed to on 5 July 1942. Dissolved on 1 November 1942.
	14th Rifle Brigade	Formed on 19 August 1940 to provide staff support for the rifle regiments of 14th Panzer Division. Redesignated on 18 July 1942. Dissolved on 15 November 1942.
	15th Rifle Brigade	Formed on 15 October 1940 in Wehrkreis XII from elements of Rifle Regiments 104 and 115 to serve as a brigade staff for both. Redesignated on 5 July 1942. Dissolved in 1943.
	16th Rifle Brigade	Formed on 3 August 1940 in Wehrkreis VI from parts of the dissolved staff of 3rd Battalion, Rifle Regiment 4. Provided staff support to Rifle Regiments 64 and 79. Redesignated on 5 July 1942. Dissolved in November 1942.
	17th Rifle Brigade	Formed on 1 November 1940 in Wehrkreis VII for the rifle regiments of 17th Panzer Division. Redesignated on 5 July 1942. Personnel used on 10 October 1944 to form part of the staff of the IV Panzer Corps.
	18th Rifle Brigade	Formed on 26 October 1940 in Wehrkreis IV to provide staff support to the rifle regiments of 18th Panzer Division. Redesignated on 5 July 1942. Later becomes Bicycle Infantry Brigade 10 in January 1945.
	19th Rifle Brigade	Formed on 1 November 1940 in Wehrkreis XI to lead Rifle Regiments 73 and 74. Redesignated on 5 July 1942. Used in June 1944 to form the staff of the 1st Ski Division.
	20th Rifle Brigade	Formed on 1 November 1940 in Wehrkreis IX to provide staff support for the rifle regiments of 20th Panzer Division. Redesignated on 5 July 1942. Dissolved in 1943.
	22nd Rifle Brigade	Formed on 24 October 1941 in northern France under the supervision of 7th Army to provide staff support for the Rifle Regiments 129 and 140. Redesignated on 5 July 1942. Dissolved in November 1942.
	23rd Rifle Brigade	Formed on 15 October 1941 in Stuttgart to provide staff support for the rifle regiments of 23rd Panzer Division. Redesignated on 5 July 1942. Dissolved in November 1942.
	24th Rifle Brigade	Formed on 2 December 1941 in Stablack in East Prussia from personnel of Horse Brigade 1. Redesignated on 5 July 1942. Destroyed in the Battle of Stalingrad.
	26th Panzergrenadier Brigade	Formed on 27 July 1942 using personnel of 23rd Division in German-occupied France staff to provide staff support for the rifle regiments of 26th Panzer Division.. Dissolved on 10 November 1942.
	92nd Panzergrenadier Brigade	11 January 1945 redesignation of 92nd Grenadier Brigade. Reinforced on 31 January 1945 and strengthened by Artillery Detachment 192, Pioneer Battalion 192, and Panzerjäger Detachment 192. Placed under command of Army Group South.
	190th Panzergrenadier Brigade	Staff marked up for deployment on German-occupied Sardinia with 90th Panzergrenadier Division in July 1943. Never actually saw deployment.