344th Infantry Division | |
---|---|
German: 344. Infanterie-Division | |
Active | 25 September 1942 - 8 May 1945 |
Country | Nazi Germany |
Branch | Army |
Type | Infantry |
Size | Division |
Engagements | World War II |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders |
Felix Schwalbe Erwin Jollasse |
The 344th Infantry Division, (German: 344. Infanterie-Division) was an infantry division of the German Army during World War II, active from 1942 to 1945 in two separate instances.
The 344th Infantry Division was formed on 25 September 1942 in France from personnel from Wehrkreis V.
After her training, she was sent in November 1942 to the Bordeaux sector within LXXX. Armeekorps of the 1st Army in Heeresgruppe D. One of its regiments was the Indian Infanterie-Regiment 950. In August 1944, the Division was sent to Normandy, without the Infanterie-Regiment 950, where it suffered heavy losses and was disbanded.
In September 1944 a new 344th Infantry Division was formed which initially fought in the
Hürtgen Forest. In the spring of 1945 it was sent to the Eastern Front.
Parts of the division defended the Oder between
Krappitz and Cosel during the
Upper Silesian offensive. After the 1st Ukrainian Front had broken through south of
Cottbus in mid-April, Hitler demanded from the Jolasse Group that the 344th Infantry Division near
Drebkau, the remnants of the
Führerbegleitbrigade (Major General
Otto Ernst Remer) and the remnants of the
10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg near
Spremberg, attacked northwards into the flank of the advancing 1st Ukrainian Front.
This ended in failure, and all German units were surrounded by Soviet troops in the
Kausche Pocket and taken prisoner.
344th Infantry Division | |
---|---|
German: 344. Infanterie-Division | |
Active | 25 September 1942 - 8 May 1945 |
Country | Nazi Germany |
Branch | Army |
Type | Infantry |
Size | Division |
Engagements | World War II |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders |
Felix Schwalbe Erwin Jollasse |
The 344th Infantry Division, (German: 344. Infanterie-Division) was an infantry division of the German Army during World War II, active from 1942 to 1945 in two separate instances.
The 344th Infantry Division was formed on 25 September 1942 in France from personnel from Wehrkreis V.
After her training, she was sent in November 1942 to the Bordeaux sector within LXXX. Armeekorps of the 1st Army in Heeresgruppe D. One of its regiments was the Indian Infanterie-Regiment 950. In August 1944, the Division was sent to Normandy, without the Infanterie-Regiment 950, where it suffered heavy losses and was disbanded.
In September 1944 a new 344th Infantry Division was formed which initially fought in the
Hürtgen Forest. In the spring of 1945 it was sent to the Eastern Front.
Parts of the division defended the Oder between
Krappitz and Cosel during the
Upper Silesian offensive. After the 1st Ukrainian Front had broken through south of
Cottbus in mid-April, Hitler demanded from the Jolasse Group that the 344th Infantry Division near
Drebkau, the remnants of the
Führerbegleitbrigade (Major General
Otto Ernst Remer) and the remnants of the
10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg near
Spremberg, attacked northwards into the flank of the advancing 1st Ukrainian Front.
This ended in failure, and all German units were surrounded by Soviet troops in the
Kausche Pocket and taken prisoner.