I always see, for example, military units, like the 126th division or whatever, but I never see any mention of divisions 1-125, or 127 and beyond, etc. The numbers always seem so arbitrary, but there has to be a reason they’re used to name the units. Can someone please explain how this works to me? Thanks.
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Many military units have long histories, and number are often a result of that history. For example, in the US during WWII there were many hundreds of divisions of the Army. There were often sequentially numbers, but not always, and for all sorts of reasons, including operational security to confuse about troop numbers. Post-WWII in the massive draw down, many units of all sizes were deactivated or folded into other divisions and such. That gave the US a mix of division numbers all over the place with the divisions that remained
Even today, divisions and other units are removed, added, combined, separated and all such ways.
Many times, divisions with particularly historic heritage or such will continue to use those numbers even if their mission changes or they have had other changes.
But its not really important, the division numbers is just their “name”, there is no reason there has to be any order, rhyme, or reason to their names.
Fun fact, in the US Army there are only numbered divisions, many countries have names, numbers or whatever. The US during WWII and after had only one single Army unit that was actually named, the Americal Division, which technically has a number but it was generally called by its name. Many divisions have unofficial or offical nicknames though. Such as The Big Red One (1st Infantry Division)
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