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352nd Infantry Division

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The 352nd Infanterie-Division was a division of the German Heer, and saw combat on the western front.


Divisional History

The 352nd Infanterie-Division was formed in November 1943 in France.

Parts of the 916th Grenadier Regiment saw action during Operation Overlord, opposing the US 29th and US 1st Divisions at Omaha Beach. The 352nd made a good account of itself, causing many casualties and defending the bluffs above the beach for several hours before being overwhelmed. The rest of the division saw heavy fighting in the bocage (or hedgerow) country defending St. Lo against the Americans. The 352nd was destroyed in the fighting following the invasion, and on 30th July the 352nd was declared "abgekämpft", meaning the division was no longer fit for combat. The 352nd was commanded by Generalleutnant Dietrich Kraiß from 6th November 1943 until it was disbanded in early August 1944.

The remnants of the 352nd were absorbed into the re-formed 2nd Panzer Division in late 1944, which then was destroyed in the abortive Operation Wacht am Rhein.

Major Werner Pluskat who featured in Cornelius Ryan's The Longest Day was in the 352nd Infanterie-Division and fought against the Americans on Omaha Beach.

Order of Battle

The 352nd's Order of Battle on the eve of the Allied Invasion was as follows (NB: artillery component is also shown):

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

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

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

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

352. Artillerie Regiment - 1-9.Batterie - 36 x 10.5cm leFH 16; 10-12.Batterie - 12 x 15cm sFH 18

352.Pioniere Battalion - 20 x Flammenwerfer - 6 x Granatawerfer

352. Fusilier Battalion (1.Kompanie was bicycle mounted)

Feld-Ersatz Battalion - 6 x 8cm Granatawerfer 34 - 1 x 5cm PaK 38 - 1 x 7.5cm PaK - 1 x 10.5cm FeldHaubitze - 1 x Infanterie Geschutz - 2 x Flammenwerfer

Supply Train / Signals Troops

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