03 Juni 2010



The 352.Infanterie Division was an infantry division in the Wehrmacht during World War II serving on the Western Front.  The unit is known for its defense of Omaha Beach during the D-Day Invasion on 6 June 1944.


UNIT SYMBOL

FORMATION

DIVISION COMPOSITION

DIVISION ORDER OF BATTLE
Infanterie
Artillerie
Panzerjäger
Pioniere
Füsilier
Feldersatz

ATLANTIKWALL

THE 352nd IN BATTLE IN FRANCE

THE 352nd IN BATTLE IN HOLLAND

THE 352nd VOLKSGRENADIER DIVISION AND THE ARDENNES OFFENSIVE

THE 352nd IN BATTLE IN GERMANY


UNIT SYMBOL

352.Infanterie Division Symbol - Pegasus and the Bridge The 352nd Infantry Division's symbol, shown to the left, is a Pegasus leaping over a bridge.  There is no known information as to the history behind the Division's symbol or why it was chosen.

The picture to the right shows Soldaten in front of one of the few trucks belonging to the Division.  The Division's crest can be seen on the truck's door.


In mythology, the Pegasus was sired by Poseidon and foaled by Medusa.  Wherever the Pegasus' hoof struck the earth, an inspiring spring would burst forth.  Bridges often represent strength.  

The Division might have chosen this symbol to represent their primary 
responsibility - a strong defense of the beaches, and if an invasion did come, to pour forth an inspired and mighty assault.  
Truck with the 352.Infanterie Division logo, symbol, crest
Soldaten of the 3532.ID in front of a truck with the Division's symbol


back to INDEX

FORMATION
Generalleutnant Dietrich Kraiß

The 352.Infanterie Division (352nd Infantry Division, 352.Inf. Div., 352.ID) was formed on 5 November 1943 at St. Lô under the command of Generalleutnant Dietrich Kraiß, as part of the Wehrkreis XI (Military District XI), headquartered in Hannover.  A majority of the Division's soldiers came from decimated Divisions from the Ost Front, especially those in the battle at Kursk.  The 352nd was placed in Armeegruppe B under the command of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.  Rommel was in charge of protecting the Atlantic coast from and Allied Invasion.  Despite the fact that much of the German leadership believed that the main Allied invasion would take place at the Pas-de-Calais, Rommel was convinced that Normandy would be the location of the invasion.  Rommel placed the strong 352nd at Normandy to push the invading force back into the sea.  

The cadre of the Division were Ost Front survivors.  The Division was initially filled out with approximately 2,000 recruits - most of them coming from Infantrie Ersatz und Ausbildungs Bataillon 480 based in Schlann.  The rest of the Division was filled out when it was assigned to Wehrkreis XI in Hanover.  Initially, Officers and NCOs of the Division thought that the Division's destination would be to the East Front, so training was planned accordingly - they were trained to be outnumbered, out gunned, surrounded and to never step back and to never surrender.  However, in January 1944, the Division was placed on defensive action in the area around St. Lô.  

Unlike the Division's neighboring units - the 709th and 716th Infantry Divisions - the 352nd was considered a combat unit.  The 709th and 716th were defensive units, and were considered immobile.  The 352.ID was responsible for large areas of territory (almost unreasonably large).  It's primary missions were:

  • Costal Artillery and Beach Defenses
  • Reserve Division for the Army Corps
  • One Regiment as Tactical Reserve for LXXXIV Corps
Because most resources and support went to the Ost Front the 352nd had to deal with ration and supply problems from its conception.  


back to INDEX

DIVISION COMPOSITION

The Division cadre were formed from the remnants of the following units serving on the Ost Front:

268.Infanterie Division
  • Wehrkreis VII (Munich)
  • 468th, 488th and 499th Grenadier Regiments
History:
  • 1939:  Reserve Unit, activated
  • 1939-1940:  Saar Front
  • 1941 - 1943:  Ost Front
  • Battle of Yelna Bend, Moscow, Rzhev and Kursk
  • Elements fought at Cholm and Demyansk

321.Infanterie Division

  • Wehrkreis XI (Hannover)
  • 588th, 589th and 590th Grenadier Regiments
History: 
  • 1940:  Activated at Abberville
  • December 1942:  Ost Front – Army Group Center
  • Suffered heavy losses at Kursk


546.Grenadier Regiment
  • Part of 389.Infanterie Division
  • Wehrkreis XII (Hesse)
History:
  • 1941-1942:  Ost Front
  • Winter Drive across Don River, Volga River, Stalingrad



The survivors from the 546.Grenadier Regiment formed the cadre for the 1st and 2nd battalions of the 916.Grenadier Regiment of the 352.Infanterie Division. 

Because most of the members of the 352nd were Ost Front veterans, they were hardened soldiers - from the officers down to the Obergrenadiers.  A large number of Volksdeutsch recruits were also a part of the Division.  These Volksdeutsch recruits included Polish and Czech Germans, Alsatians (French Germans), and Russians (White-Russians, or POA).


back to INDEX

DIVISION ORDER OF BATTLE

The makeup of the 352nd Infanterie Division was as follows:

At the time of its formation, it had 12,021 men.  Of that, only 6,800 men were combat troops.  The 352.ID was a large Division, by German standards at the time, but it was by no means a "crack" division.  Cadre from the Ost Front formed the leadership of the Division, and the bulk of the Landsers were young conscripts and foreign volunteers from the East.  The Division had approximately 29% Russian volunteers, to include Ukranians, Georgians and Bylorssians.

A chart of the Division is shown below.

352.Infanterie Division Order of Battle


back to INDEX

INFANTERIE

352.ID Infanterieregimenter
914. Grenadier Regiment

-  2 x 15 cm sIG 33
-  6 x 7.5 cm leIG
-  3 x 7.5 cm PaK 40
915. Grenadier Regiment

-  2 x 15 cm sIG 33
-  6 x 7.5 cm leIG
-  3 x 7.5 cm PaK 40
916. Grenadier Regiment

-  2 x 15 cm sIG 33
-  2 x 7.5 cm leIG
-  3 x 7.5 cm PaK 40

The 352.ID had three Infanterieregimenter (infantry regiments), each with three
Infanteriebataillone (infantry battalions).  The 352.ID was considered a large Division because it retained the standard 9 battalions, while a majority of all other German Divisions at the time had been reduced to 6 battalions.  All infantry battalions had 60 light machine guns, 3 heavy machine guns and twelve 8 cm mortars.  Each infantry regiment had one infantry gun (IG).  The 914th and 915th Regiment’s IG company had two 15 cm and six 7,5 cm infantry howitzers.  The 916th Regiment’s IG company had two 15 cm and two 7,5 cm infantry howitzers.  Each Regiment had a PaK (Anti-Tank) company with three 7,5 cm PaK 40 Anti-Tank guns.

916.Infanterie Regiment was formed primarily by the survivors of Grenadier Regiment 546 from the Ost Front.  The rest of the Regiment was filled out with recruits coming from Grenadier Ersatz Bataillon 396, stationed in Nordheim.  

MG42
An SS-Landser in fighting around Caen in 1944. The MG-42 is configured in a light support role, with folding bipod and detachable drum magazine
8 cm mortar
Model 34 8 cm mortar and crew in action
15 cm sIG 33
Grossdeutschland Division artillerymen loading a sIG 33
7,5 cm PaK 40
7,5 cm PaK 40 Anti-Tank Gun


back to INDEX


ARTILLERIE

352. Artillerie Regiment
352. Artillerie Regiment

-  1-9.Batterie - 36 x 10,5 cm leFH 16
-  10-12.Batterie - 12 x 15 cm sFH 18

Batteries 1-9 of the Artillerie Regiment (artillery regiment) had four 10,5 cm leFH 16 howitzers each.  Batteries 10-12 had four 15 cm sFH 18 howitzers each.  None of these batteries were motorized.  The artillery all had one basic load of ammunition.  The 10,5 cm guns had 225 rounds per gun, and the 15 cm guns had 150 rounds each.

10.5 cm leichte Feldhaubitze 16
10.5 cm leichte Feldhaubitze 16
15 cm sFH 18
15 cm sFH 18 on the Ost Front

back to INDEX


PANZERJÄGER

352. Panzerjäger Abteilung
352. Panzerjäger Abteilung

-  14 x Marder II and Marder III variant Panzerjäger
-  10 x StuG III Ausf. G assault guns
-  9 x FlaKPanzer 38 Self-Propelled Flak

The Panzerjäger Abteilung (tank destroyers/tank hunter battalion) had 14 Marder II and III (Marder on a Panzer II and 38(t) chassis, respectively), 10 StuG III and 9 motorized 3,7 cm FlaK guns.

Marder III
Marder III Ausf.M
Stug III Ausf G
Stug III Ausf G
Self Propelled FlaK 3,7
Motorized FlaK 3,7


back to INDEX

PIONIERE

352. Pioniere Battaillon
352. Pioniere Battaillon

-  20 x Flammenwerfer
-  6 x 8 cm Granatwerfer

The Pioniere Battaillon (combat engineer battalion) had three companies, with 37 machine guns, 20 flame throwers and six mortars. 

Flammenwerfer 41
A Flammenwerfer Pioniere in action in Northern France, 1944


back to INDEX


FÜSILIER

352. Füsilier Battaillon
352. Füsilier Battaillon

-  1. Kompanie bicycle mounted

The Füsilier Battaillon was light  infantry/recon.  The 1. Company of the Füs.Btl was bicycle mounted.   This battalion was located in the rear, away from the beaches and was more mobile than a regular infantry battalion.  They were equipped the same as a regular infantry battalion, with 60 light machine guns, 3 heavy machine guns and twelve 8 cm mortars.  In a defensive position, like the 352.ID was, the Füsilier Battaillon would most likely protect the Division's most vulnerable flanks.  

German Bicycle Troops
Bicycle mounted Waffen-SS Soldaten ride towards Arnhem, September 1944


back to INDEX


FELDERSATZ


352. Feldersatz Battaillon

-  6 x 8 cm Granatwerfer 34
-  1 x 5 cm PaK 38
-  1 x 7,5 cm PaK 40
-  1 x 10,5 cm Feldhaubitze
-  1 x Infanterie Geschütz
-  2 x Flammenwerfer

The Feldersatz Battaillon (field replacement battalion) had five companies with 62 machine guns, six 8 cm mortars, one 5 cm PaK 38 AT gun, one 7,5 cm PaK 40 AT gun, one 10,5 cm howitzer, one infantry howitzer and two flame throwers. 

PaK 38
Soldaten with their PaK 38 in Tunisia


back to INDEX

ATLANTIKWALL

Field Marshal Erwin Rommel

Field Marshal Erwin Rommel believed that the Atlantikwall (Atlantic Wall) did not have enough defensive capability to withstand an Allied invasion.  Rommel, believing that any chance of success of an Allied invasion would be decided on the beaches, made great strives to increase the defenses of the Atlantikwall.  


The 352nd began its coastal duty improving the defenses of the Atlantikwall as directed by Rommel.  They placed beach obstacles, to include mined stakes and anti-landing craft timbers.  They cut the timber from the woods, transported it to the beach, and drove it deeply into the sand. 

Rommel wanted over 10 million mines to  cover the length of the Atlantikwall, but only 10,000 were available.  Of the 10,000 mines placed, many were not waterproofed, so by the time the D-Day invasion occurred, many of those mines had rusted and corroded because of the salt water, and not longer worked.

Rommel inspects the 21. Panzer Division
Rommel Inspects Beach Defences Belgian Gate
The first row of obstacles were Belgian Gates and were about 250 yards from the high tide water line.  Belgian Gates (or C-Elements) are heavy steel fences about three meters wide and two meters high used as anti-tank obstacles. 

The second row of obstacles was a band of mined stakes and log ramps, meant to tip or tear out the bottom of landing craft. 

Finally, the third row of defenses were Czech Hedgehogs– static anti-tank obstacle defenses constructed of angled iron.   

Further up the beachhead, the 352nd occupied slit trenches, eight large concrete bunkers, 35 pillboxes, six mortar pits, 35 Nebelwerfer launch sites and 85 machine gun nests.  The main defenses were clustered into strong points. 

Parts of the 916th Regiment was located near Omaha Beach.  One battalion from the 716th Infantry Division was subordinated to the 916th.  The 915th Regiment was in reserve southeast of Bayeux, and the 914th was deployed around Isigny. 

Because a most of the Wehrmacht’s supplies were being sent to the fight on the Ost Front, by March 1944, the unit only got to execute three live fire events and each Grenadier was only able to throw two live grenades in practice.  Many of the vehicles the Division used were foreign, so when they broke down, there were little, if any, spare parts.  There was little driver training because of a shortage of fuel.  
Czech Hedgehogs, aka C-Elements


back to INDEX

THE 352nd IN BATTLE IN FRANCE

German Positions Before D-Day

352.ID Movement During D-Day

Once the D-Day invasion began on 6 June 1944, and the 352nd realized it was facing the brunt of the invasion, it immediately absorbed all troops within is sector, to include Luftwaffe Flak troops and RAD (Labor Service) personnel.  Once it became clear that the main Allied invasion force was coming ashore at Normandy, all available units were rushed to the front.  Hardened bunkers (Winderstandsnest) on or near the beach opened fire and continued to fire until they depleted their ammunition or all the men inside were dead.  Artillery Regiment 352 and 1275 had pre-sighted every inch of the landing areas on the beach and rained hell down upon the landing Allied forces.  They, too, continued to fire until they had run out of ammo or were in danger from being encircled. 

The following excerpts are from U.S. soldiers fighting the 352nd in Normandy:

"...We had a bad break tactically because the German 352nd Infantry Division was on a counter-attack training exercise at Omaha [Beach].  So instead of a fortress battalion -- you know, with kind of second-rate troops -- we had a whole damned infantry division in front of us.  We hit the sand...behind the bodies of the amphibious engineers...and tried to advance a bit, but there was a large German bunker in front of us, and its machine gun fire hit us every time we tried to move.  We didn’t have any comm with the American destroyer behind us because...the naval officer had been killed, his driver too, and the radio set destroyed...so we planned an assault.  But before we could get organized, there were huge demolitions around the bunker.  Thank God we hadn’t moved out yet: an American destroyer had moved in and was firing direct with 4-inch guns into the bunker."  -Capt Edward McGregor, US 1st Infantry Div

"Assault units disintegrating. Very heavy losses.  Enemy fire prevents crossing of the beach line.  Landing units bunching up in a very confined area.  Engineers unable to clear paths through minefields and cannot destroy beach obstacles.  Elements of the...352nd Infantry Division identified."  -Battle Report, US 5th Corps, 08:30a.m. June 6, 1944

"...The Regiment started to engage the enemy immediately behind the beach line defenses and identified units of the 726th Infantry Regiment of the 716th Infantry Division and members of the #17 Pioneer Battalion fighting as infantry.  Also, members of the #7 Company 915th Infantry Regiment of the 352nd Infantry Division and the labor battalion (Russian and Italian) attached to the 352nd Infantry were identified...From beach defenses to the Inundated Area the enemy action consisted mainly of small delaying groups and snipers from the 1714th Artillery Battalion, #17 Pioneer Battalion, 12th Battery #IV Battalion, 352nd Infantry Division Artillery...Crossing of inundated area was strongly opposed by German defense at eastern end, at COLOMBIERES and at BOIS de CALET at south of causeway by units of 914th, 915th and 916th Grenadier Regiments.  Snipers and small delaying units were identified as Schnelle Brigade #30. 2nd Battalion was attacked at Le CARRETOUR by units of the 352nd Division Artillery...The approach to, and the crossing of the Elle River was opposed by units of three (3) battalions of the Schnelle Brigade #30, units of the 352nd Grenadier Division and an unknown SP gun unit.  Documents indicated that parts of the 5th Paratroop Regiment were in these defensive positions...The following units were identified from the Elle River to July 1st 1944.

914 Gr. Regts, 915 Gr. Regts and 916 Gr. Regts of the 352nd Infantry Division.
II Bn 943 Gr Regt 353 Inf Div
Eng Bn 353 of 353 Inf Div
9th Regt of 3rd Parachute Div
513, 517, 518 Bns of Schnelle Brigade #30
353 Fu Bn"  -ALFRED V. EDNIE, Colonel, 115th Infantry Division After Action Report June 1944

Oberst Ernst Goth, Commander, 916.Inf Reg
Oberst Ernst Goth, Commander, 916.Inf Reg
The 352nd Infantry Division took heavy losses, both in causalities and by being captured, from the oncoming ground attack as well as from enemy Jabos (Fighter-Bombers).  The Jabos would attack any daytime ground movement, even individual men unfortunate enough to be out in the open.   It became nearly impossible to move in the daylight, which meant units quickly ran out of food, ammunition and other supplies.

The 916.Grenadier Regiment saw action on D-Day opposing the 1st and 29th U.S. Divisions at Omaha Beach.  The 352nd fought for several hours, inflicting many casualties, before being overwhelmed and overrun.  The 916th retreated on the morning of 7 June after Regiment Commander Oberst Ernst Goth couldn’t hold the positions that they had just taken back on the previous night.  The rest of the Division saw heavy fighting in the bocage (hedgerow) country while defending the area around St. Lô. 

According to wartime documents, the losses suffered by the Division on 6 June were as follows: 200 killed, 500 wounded, 500 missing.  The Division retreated to and remained in the area southeast of Isigny. 

Because of constant fighting after the invasion, most of the Division wasn’t able to eat or sleep until 10 June.  A total absence of motorized transport meant that all movement was by foot or bicycle.  By the time the Allies had put armor on the beaches and started their advance, there wasn’t much the 352nd could do to stop it.  By this time, most of the fighting ability of the Division was either killed or captured.  A few isolated units continued to fight, or were absorbed into other neighboring units.  Some members of the Division ended up being caught in the Falaise Pocket in July.  They, along with members of the 2nd SS-Panzer Division inflicted heavy casualties on the Polish 1st Armored Division while in the pocket, but were eventually beaten back.  The Pocket ultimately was sealed off.  Approximately 15,000 Germans were killed in fighting in the Pocket and about 50,000 were taken prisoner.

Knocked out German Bunker Overlooking Omaha Beach
Formation of the Falaise Pocket, Operation Tractable
The Formation of the Falaise Pocket, 8-17 August 1944

German POWs marched down Normandy Beaches

On 16 June, the Division suffered 3,000 casualties.  From 6 – 24 June, casualties were 5,407 officers and men.  Despite these heavy losses, the Division kept fighting, but continued to be beaten back and they continued to lose men.  By 11 July, the 352nd incurred 2,479 more casualties, and from 1 – 25 July, the Division had 123 officers and men killed, 464 wounded, and 110 missing. 

By 30 July, the Division was in very poor shape.  The Wehrmacht declared all battalions of the 352nd abgekämpft (no longer combat worthy) on that date, which means that each battalion had less than 100 combat-ready men.   By the time the Division had been disbanded, it had subordinated the following units, all of which ended up worse off than the Division’s original units:
  • Three battalions from 266.Inf.Div.
  • Two battalions from 353.Inf.Div. 
  • One battalion from 30.Brigade 
  • One battalion from 275.Inf.Div. 
  • One battalion from 343.Inf.Div. 
  • One artillery battery from 343.Inf.Div. 
  • One artillery battery from "Autun" artillery battalion 

After the first of August, the 352nd Infantry Division was withdrawn to refit in the area southeast of Alençon.  The 352nd was only there for a little over a week before American forces closed in.  Elements of the Division engaged in rear guard action along the axis of Le Mans and Dreux.  Generalleutnant Dietrich Kraiß, the 352.ID commander, was injured in an attack on 4 August 1944.  He died of his injuries two days later.  Colonel Heyna was the interim commander of the Division as they pulled out of the front lines in France.

The following link provides an account of the 352nd from its Chief of Staff, Lt. Col. Fritz Ziegalmann.  Lt. Col. Ziegalmann, wrote a history of the 352nd in Normandy for the United States War Department’s Foreign Military Studies after the conflict as a Prisoner of War.  Special thanks to Stewart Bryant for his work translating Lt. Col. Ziegalmann's writing's and providing them on the internet.

Lt Col Fritz Ziegalmann account of the 352.Infanterie Division

Lt. Col. Ziegalmann's Account of the 352nd



back to INDEX

THE 352nd IN BATTLE IN HOLLAND

Soldaten moving near Arnhem
Soldaten moving near Arnhem

Despite their condition and circumstances, the 352nd fought well in France against much larger and much better supplied Allied Troops.  The 352nd Infantry Division was sent to Denmark for refitting after being pulled out of the front lines in France.  

While refitting, the 352nd Infantry Division was called back into action during Operation Market Garden.  The Division was attached to the 10th-SS and 363rd Infantry Divisions.    They helped prevent the Allied XXX Corps from linking up with the British 1st Airborne Division, which landed at Arnhem, Holland. Elements of the 352nd engaged the U.S. 101st Airborne at Nijmegen. 

The 352.ID was not a completely refitted Division while in Holland, and was withdrawn to Germany to be refitted and reformed once again.  
Operation Market Garden: Nijmegen
Operation Market Garden: Nijmegen 1944

Nijmegen after the battle, 28 Sep 1944

Nijmegen after the Battle, 28 September 1944



back to INDEX

THE 352nd VOLKSGRENADIER DIVISION AND THE ARDENNES OFFENSIVE

The remnants of the 352 Infantry Division were merged with the remnants of the 581st Volkgrenadier Division and a few Marine detachments (formerly coastal artillery) to form the 352.Volksgrenadier Division on 4 September 1944, under the command of Oberst Erich Schmidt.  

Volksgrenadier Divisions are slightly different than regular Infanterie Divisions.  These Divisions had only six infantry battalions instead of the standard nine battalions of a full Infanterie Division; this was already a common 
occurrence in most other Infantry Divisions at the time.  Volksgrenadier Divisions emphasized defensive strength rather than offensive strength.  Standard infantry weapons typically consisted of light machine guns, light automatic weapons, and the Panzerfaust (single shot anti-tank weapons).  The Züge (platoons) and Gruppen (groups) of Volksgrenadier Divisions were formed around hardend veterans to inspire and properly lead whatever personel was used to fill out the Division.  The bulk of these Divisions were commonly filled out with "jobless" Wehrmacht personnel from the Kriegsmarine (Navy) and Luftwaffe (Air Force), wounded soldiers returning to duty, as well as men and boys considered too old or young for peacetime military service.  

Oberst Erich Schmidt
Oberst Erich Schmidt, Commander, 
352. Volksgrenadier Division

  Brandenberger with Manstein in North Russia
Erich Brandenberger (left) with Erich von Manstein in North Russia, 1941

The 352.Volksgrenadier Division itself was made up of several "jobless" Kriegsmarinemänner (Navy men).  Their morale was high, but their limited experience in ground operations as soldiers showed in their poor fighting and maneuvering ability.  The newly reformed Division had the same three Infanterieregimenter - 914., 915., and 916. Infanterie Regiements, but with only 6 Infanteriebataillone total.   

This newly reformed Volksgrenadier Division was a part of LXXXV. Armeekorps, and fell in with the 7.Armee.  The 7.Armee was under the command of General der Panzertruppe Erich Brandenburger.  The 7.Armme makeup consisted of:

7.Armee
LXXXV. Armeekorps
5. Fallschirmjäger Div.
352. Volksgrenadier Div.
LXXX. Armeekorps
276. Volksgrenadier Div.
212. Volksgrenadier Div.
LIII. Armeekorps
Festungs Infanterie Battaillon 999
Festungs MG Battaillon 44
7.Armee Movement in the Ardennes Offensive
7.Armee Movement in the Ardennes Offensive
The 7.Armee made the southern most push during the Ardennes Offensive (the Battle of the Bulge) towards Luxembourg.  The main objective of the southern push was to reach Luxembourg and protect the flank from any Allied counterattacks.  The three Infantry Divisions of 7.Armee pushed west 4 miles before meeting stiff resistance from the U.S. VIII Corps.  The 5. Fallschirmjäger Div. managed to get 12 miles west on the inner flank of the push.  There was no armored support for 7.Armee, so the initial advance was stopped fairly easily by American troops.  

The 352nd Volksgrenadier Division's major engagements in the Offensive 
occurred in Diekirch and Ettelbruck.  

The push in the south, although stopped initially, managed to move again by the second week of the offensive and posed a threat to Allied lines.  On 23 December 1944, there was heavy fighting in Mezig, Luxembourg, and a large portion of the Division was captured or destroyed.  Only when the U.S. 80th Infantry Divison was reinforced with armor from the U.S. 702nd Tank Battalion were the Germans defeated on the southern front of the Offensive.

Ultimately, the Ardennes Offensive as a whole failed, and again, the 352nd was decimated by losing men to casualties and being captured as prisoners.  

Grenadiere near Luxembourg
Grenadiere fighting in the Ardennes near Luxembourg

914.IR Surrender to Amis Merzig, Luxembourg 12-24-44
Grenadiere from the 914.Inf. Reg. of the 352.Volksgrenadier Div.
surrender in Merzig, Luxembourg after the Ardennes Offensive grinds to a halt,
24 December 1944



back to INDEX

THE 352nd IN BATTLE IN GERMANY

After the defeat in the Ardennes, the 352nd Volksgrenadier Division was recalled to Germany to be refit and resupplied.  It was then placed under the command of General Bazing.  It was refitted with men from the 66th Volksgrenadier Regiment, 99th Security Regiment and what was left of the 9th Infantry Division.  It's next deployment was to defend the area around Trier (Germany) and Moselle (France).  Fighting and Allied bombing effectively destroyed what was left of the Division again by mid-March 1945.  Only a small remnant of the Division escaped across the Rhine at Worms as American forces advanced. 

The 352nd was partially reconstructed one last time as a small battle group in mid-April and deployed to defend Darmstadt, south of Remagen.  It's last battles were during a part of the Rhineland Campaign, as the Allies pushed in the south to reach the Elbe.  The 352nd Infantry Division's career as a fighting unit ended in the Rhineland at the end of the War.  They surrendered to American forces near Nuremberg in May 1945.  


Friedensplatz of Darmstadt, 1945
The Friedensplatz in Darmstadt, 1945
Americans cross a bridge in Trier
Amis cross a bridge in Trier, 1945


back to INDEX

SOURCES

back to TOP





Unit History Events Unit Roster Photos & Videos Downloads Required Equipment Unit Awards & Decorations
Links Friends of the 352nd German Rank Weapons Training 352nd Store