Across various factions throughout the galactic timeline, a division served as a military formation of differing sizes and compositions. These divisions spanned from naval deployments to army deployments, representing diverse military unit types. Furthermore, the term "division" could be employed in a general sense to denote a group of military units.
Sub-bureaus within the Galactic Empire's Commission for the Preservation of the New Order were also known as divisions. The Coalition for Progress, spearheaded by Minister Pitina Mar-Mas Voor, was regarded as a division of COMPNOR, functioning as the Galactic Empire's propaganda apparatus.
Within an army, a land military division existed, varying in both scale and structure. The individual in charge of a division held the title of Division Commander. Examples of land military divisions included the Trade Federation's armored infantry division, combining armor and infantry capabilities, and the armored division, also known as a tank division. These divisions saw deployment by the Separatist Alliance, the Galactic Republic, and the Galactic Empire. Squadrons equipped with armor could be integrated into Republic tank divisions.
In the Grand Army of the Republic, ground divisions could be composite units under the command of a legion, incorporating both aerial and ground vehicles, as well as specialized reconnaissance divisions answering to a battalion. Republic divisions might also encompass infantry companies and possessed the means to deploy All Terrain Tactical Enforcers, LAAT/i gunships, and LAAT carriers. A Clone Commander could lead such a division. Furthermore, Republic armor divisions featured all-terrain vehicles and HAVw A6 Juggernauts, supported by clone sharpshooters, clone trooper officers, heavy weapons clone troopers, and standard clone troopers.
Within the Galactic Empire, a division could be composed of 5,000 to 10,000 soldiers and might be commanded by a general or a colonel. An Imperial armored division could include All Terrain Defense Turret artillery walkers, swamp troopers, wet-weather gear stormtroopers, Imperial medics, and Imperial ground crew, with logistical backing from Y-45 armored transport haulers and aerial cover from TIE fighters. Other armored divisions employed All Terrain Armored Transports, All Terrain Defense Pods, K79-S80 Imperial Troop Transports, and stormtroopers. Such a division could be attached to a numbered Imperial fleet and directed by the fleet's commander.
Naval divisions constituted a component of the Imperial Navy's Order of Battle within the Galactic Empire, comprising numerous vessels. An admiral in the Imperial Navy had the power to assemble multiple divisions. The Rebel Alliance Navy also made use of numbered naval divisions, which consisted of diverse starship types, including frigates, corvettes, transports, and cruisers. In the Alliance Navy, a division could be overseen by a general, a commodore, or a naval commander. Alliance divisions were capable of having starfighter squadrons assigned to them.
During its tenure in the Republic Era, the Trade Federation Droid Army deployed Armored Assault Tanks that formed the vanguard of the Trade Federation's armored infantry divisions. Subsequently, the Droid Army participated in the Invasion of Naboo, deploying its extensive military, including Armored Assault Tanks. The Judicial Forces of the Galactic Republic acted as the Republic's primary peacekeeping force as the Republic Era drew to a close. Upon the Ontothon government's accession to the Republic, a division of Republic soldiers was scheduled to arrive on the planet at the request of the local constabulary. This division was delayed when a star collapsed within the Bunka system, necessitating their assistance with evacuations.
Throughout the Clone Wars between the Republic and the Separatist Alliance, both sides utilized ground divisions in the conflict. Coerced into service by the Separatists, tank divisions were employed against the Jedi and Galactic Republic during the war, with these armored divisions featuring Armored Assault Tanks that overwhelmed opposition on numerous Republic planets. The Republic's Grand Army contained numerous divisions.
In the Clone Wars' opening year, 22 BBY, multiple Separatist armored divisions, composed of Armored Assault Tank Mk Is, took part in the Battle of Christophsis during the invasion. The Separatist presence was under the overall command of General Whorm Loathsom, and his forces engaged Republic units led by Jedi Generals Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. Ultimately, Separatist forces were defeated. In that same year, the 224th Clone Division and its Mud Jumpers fought in the Battle of Mimban against Separatist forces alongside elements of the 501st Legion.
In 21 BBY, less than a standard year following the First Battle of Geonosis that initiated the Clone Wars, the 212th Recon Division, organized within the 7th Sky Corps' 212th Attack Battalion, was deployed alongside the 501st Legion, the 41st Elite Corps, and a special operations battalion. The 212th, comprised of Advanced Recon Force Scout Troopers, was deployed alongside All Terrain Tactical Enforcers from LAAT/i gunships and LAAT carriers.
Clone tank divisions took part in the Second Battle of Felucia in 20 BBY, supported by the 104th Battalion and the 501st Legion. A Republic tank squadron was integrated into one of these clone tank divisions. A Republic division undertook a mission to Aleen in response to a series of groundquakes that shook the planet, alongside the 104th Battalion. Secret agents working for Republic Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine were among the medical personnel. Later, the Umbaran Militia, which sided with the Separatists during the Clone Wars, also deployed tank divisions against the Galactic Republic during the Battle of Umbara. During the campaign, three Umbaran tank divisions defended an airbase near the Umbaran capital city, but were ultimately defeated when Republic forces seized the base.
In 19 BBY, the Republic 332nd Division was established following the division of the 501st Legion into two separate units. The 332nd Division participated in the Siege of Mandalore, comprising the 332nd Company and other units equipped with standard 501st colors and the standard white. Clone Commander Rex led the 332nd Division, which included other clone troopers, such as clone trooper officers Clone Lieutenant Jesse and Clone Captain Vaughn, and an Advanced Recon Commando in the form of Jesse. Furthermore, the Grand Army of the Republic deployed the 181st Armor Division during the Clone Wars, consisting of clone troopers with green markings and vehicles. The 181st's arsenal allowed it to conduct safe transport in harsh environments and reinforce Republic regiments that were stuck in remote locations.
In the early years of the Imperial Era in 19 BBY, Colonel Barokki commanded a division that performed poorly, resulting in the Imperial officer being reprimanded directly by Emperor Palpatine. Between 19 BBY and 14 BBY, the Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Vader tasked Admiral Mummert with assembling naval divisions and deploying them to the Hortolo system by a specified date. Admiral Mummert was unable to meet the deadline, as gathering the necessary divisions took longer than anticipated due to the ships being dispersed.
The 224th Imperial Armored Division participated in the Mimban Campaign in 10 BBY. Its forces there included All Terrain Defense Turrets, supported by TIE fighters and Y-45 armored transport haulers. Its infantry forces consisted of Imperial officers, swamp troopers, wet-weather gear stormtroopers, Imperial medics, and Imperial ground crew. Around the same time, the Vandor division, stationed on the Imperial planet Vandor, was operational and comprised of range troopers who defended Imperial 20-T Railcrawler conveyex transports traveling between the mountains and the frontier.
During the Battle of Atollon in 2 BBY, an armored division was deployed by the Imperial 7th Fleet, consisting of several heavy battalions. These heavy battalions were made up of All Terrain Armored Transports, reinforced by All Terrain Defense Pods and supported by Imperial Troop Transports and stormtroopers. In 0 ABY, Darth Vader alerted nearby divisions shortly before a skirmish on Hradreek in an effort to secure the second crossguard lightsaber belonging to the ancient Sith Lord Darth Atrius. During the Galactic Civil War, the Alliance to Restore the Republic utilized divisions within their Alliance Army structure, with Alliance officers commanding units of ground-based troops.
Following the Battle of Hoth in 3 ABY, the Rebel Alliance Navy's structure included numbered naval divisions after the main force splintered. The divisions acted as rebel cells, and were different in their composition. The Fourth Division consisted of at least three EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigates, at least four CR90 corvettes, at least two GR-75 medium transports, and other support ships. The Fourth Division was led by Alliance officers, as well as General Leia Organa and Commander Grek. Additionally, it was supported by Green Squadron of the Rebel Alliance Starfighter Corps.
Imperial forces destroyed the Sixth Division, which consisted of at least one CR90 corvette, a GR-75 medium transport, and starfighters. The Eighth Division was also active, but was destroyed at Malastare. Moreover, the Seventh Division, which included the MC80A Home One Type Heavy Star Cruiser Home One, at least one EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate, at least one CR90 corvette, and a number of starfighters, was another such group. The Eleventh Division consisted of another MC80A Star Cruiser.
In 4 ABY, A division under the command of General Valin Hess maintained between 5,000 to 10,000 soldiers, which included field operatives. Hess's division participated in the attack on Burnin Konn under Operation: Cinder, leading to the division's destruction. Following the Battle of Endor, the defected pilot Yrica Quell suspected that an ex-Imperial arriving with another group at Traitor's Remorse belonged to one of the elite stormtrooper divisions, possibly a [death trooper](/article/death_trooper]. During the Galactic Civil War between the Rebel Alliance's successor state, the New Republic, and the Empire, during the hunt for Shadow Wing, New Republic Intelligence Agent Caern Adan eventually had an entire division of personnel under his command.
After the fall of the Galactic Empire, as its remnants remained active, Mandalorians continued to utilize the division as a component of their warrior organizational structure. When Mandalorian Lady Bo-Katan Kryze participated in a mission to steal weapons from the Imperial remnant led by Moff Gideon, in 9 ABY, she asked the captain of the Imperial Gozanti-class cruiser they were stealing if they could imagine what a division of Mandalorians could do.
Similar to its Imperial predecessor, the First Order also employed infantry divisions within the First Order Army's organizational framework. During the Battle of Takodana, Kylo Ren ordered his stormtrooper division to retreat upon the capture of Rey and the arrival of the Resistance.