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{{refimprove|date=March 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=JuneNovember 20132019}}▼
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = 352nd Infantry Division<br>352nd Volksgrenadier Division
| imagenative_name = [[Image:352nd{{lang-de|352. Infanterie-Division logo}}<br>{{lang-de|352.jpg Volksgrenadier-Division|125px]]label=none}}
| captionimage = Unit352nd Infanterie-Division insignialogo.jpg
| datesimage_size = November 1943 – 8 May 1945125
| countrycaption = {{flag|NaziUnit Germany}}insignia
| branchdates = [[GermanNovember 1943 – 8 ArmyMay (Wehrmacht)|Army]]1945
| typecountry = [[Infantry]]{{flag|Nazi Germany}}
| sizebranch = Division 10,971–17,708 (in 1944) <ref>Handbook on= [[German MilitaryArmy Forces</ref>(Wehrmacht)|Army]]
| command_structuretype = [[Infantry]]
| garrisonsize = [[Division (military)|Division]]
| command_structure =
<!-- Commanders -->
| Past_commandersgarrison = <!-- Commanders -->
| notable_commandersPast_commanders = [[Dietrich Kraiss]] =
| notable_commanders = [[Dietrich Kraiss]]
<!-- Insignia -->
<!-- Insignia -->| identification_symbol =
| identification_symbol_2 = <!-- Culture and history -->
| battlesnickname = [[World War II]] = ▼
<!-- Culture and history -->
| nicknamepatron =
| patronmotto =
| mottocolors =
| colorsmarch =
| marchmascot =
| mascotbattles = [[Normandy landings|D-Day]]<br>[[Battle of the Bulge]]
▲| battles = [[World War II]]
* [[Normandy landings|D-Day]]
* [[Battle of the Bulge]]
}}
 
The '''352nd Infantry Division''' (''{{Lang-de|352. Infanterie-Division''}}) was aan formationinfantry division of the [[German Army (Wehrmacht)|German Army]] during [[World War II]]. Deployed on the [[Western Front (World War II)|Western Front]], the division defended [[Omaha Beach]] on [[Normandy landings|D-Day]], 6 June 1944. In late 1944, the division was reassembled as the '''352nd Volksgrenadier Division''' ({{Lang-de|352. Volksgrenadier-Division|links=no}}).
 
== History ==
 
===Formation and strengths===
The 352nd Infantry Division was activatedformed in [[German-occupied France|occupied France]] in early November 1943,; andthis wasfollowed formedthe following[[Oberkommando ader Wehrmacht|German highHigh commandCommand]] order issued in September that year to raise 10ten new infantry divisions, intended to replace losses on the [[Eastern front,Front these(World War II)|Eastern Front]]. These new Divisionsdivisions were to be combat ready by May 1944. The 352nd was formed as a 1944 Model Infantry Division, which meant 3 Infantry Regiments, each with 2 Rifle battalions and the total strength of this type of Division was 12,700 men. The 352nd was placed under the command of ''[[Generalleutnant]]'' [[Dietrich Kraiss]]. and onceOnce up to strength and trained, the 352nd was expected to transfer to the Eastern Front as a mobile Divison, however there was no clear timetable or confirmation of that deployment and by March 1944, with the threat of an Allied invasion in the West expected that year, the 352nd received orders to prepare for the defence of the so called [[Atlantic Wall]], in the [[Normandy]] area as part of LXXXIV Corps. The 352nd, when formed, was a mix of experienced soldiers drawn largely from disbandedworn-out Easternor frontdisbanded Divisionsdivisions andthat Germanhad 17served year old conscripts (fromon the classEastern offront, 1926)young asGerman, wellconscripts asand a significant number of [[Ostlegionen|Ost troops (non German]] volunteers from areas East of its borders), thesethe Ost troops werelatter largelymainly employed in Divisional combatdivisional support roles, such as Pioneers. Throughout the training period there were shortages of both men, equipment, and fuel butand by Februaryearly 1944 the Divisiondivision, wasthough consideredreasonably combatequipped, readywas andfar placedfrom inproperly reserveprepared aroundfor thefront-line areainfantry of St Lo, Normandycombat.
 
Expecting an Allied invasion in 1944 somewhere on the long coast of France the Germans prepared the Normandy coast as a highly probable landing area, however with limited Divisions and a Normandy coastal area extending 100km, Field Marshal Rommel (Army Group B Commander) made the decision after a visit to the area in February 1944 to bring slightly forward the 352nd from St Lo and split the Normandy defensive area in half, by providing the static 716th Division with a shortened 47&nbsp;km long 'Caen zone', (supported by 21 Panzer) and deploying the 352nd Infantry Division to defend the 53&nbsp;km long 'Bayeux zone.', this meant placing the 352 Division between the [[709th Static Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)|709th Static Infantry Division]] and the [[716th Static Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)|716th Static Infantry Division]], effectively doubling the number of troops in the Omaha beach area (and committing the 352nd to a static role). Even with this move and the benefit of all the fortifications under construction, this frontage was still far beyond what was considered prudent in German tactical doctrine.<ref>McNab, Chris (2011). Hitler's Armies: A history of the German War Machine 1939–45. Osprey Publishing. p. 270. ISBN 978-1-84908-647-9.</ref> This move (which effectively removed the 352nd from being a Corps reserve) led to a number of disagreements between Field Marshal Rommel, General Dietrich Kraiss and General Marks (LXXXIV Corps Commander) on how best to deploy the Grenadier Regiments of the 352nd, In the end it was decided that two infantry regiments would be stationed forward at the coast, and one strengthened regiment (the 915 regiment with the Fusilier battalion attached) would remain as Corps reserve, however there were other complications with this arrangement that included a battalion of the 716th Division being attached to 352 (1/726). These moves were made from the 19th March 1944.▼
 
The Allies only became aware of the possible presence of a regiment from the 352nd alongside the forward units of 716th just days before the landings and then only at a senior level, despite it being in place for almost 3 months.
 
Another decision was taken at the time that would have greatly influenced the battle to come, it was proposed to Rommel that the LXXIV Corps be moved from Brittany into the Normandy area to provide additional manpower to that sector, however on the grounds that Brittany was also a probable landing site for the Allies this was rejected.
 
▲Expecting an Allied invasion in 1944 somewhere onWith the long coast of France the Germans prepared the Normandy coast as a highly probable landing area, however with limited Divisions and a Normandy coastal area extending 100km100&nbsp;km, Field Marshal [[Erwin Rommel (Army Group B Commander)|Rommel]] made the decision after a visit to the area in February 1944 to bring slightly forward the 352nd from St Lo and split the Normandy defensive area in half, by providing the static 716th Division with a shortened 47&nbsp;km long '[[Caen]] zone', (supported by 21the [[21st Panzer Division (Wehrmacht)|21st Panzer Division]]) and deploying the 352nd Infantry Division to defend the 53&nbsp;km long '[[Bayeux]] zone.', this meant placing(bringing the 352352nd Divisionin between the [[709th Static Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)|709th Static Infantry Division]] and the [[716th Static Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)|716th Static Infantry Division]], effectively doubling the number of troops in the Omaha beach area (and committing the 352nd to a static role). Even with this move and the benefit of all the fortifications under construction, this frontage was still far beyond what was considered prudent in German tactical doctrine.<ref>McNab, Chris (2011). Hitler's Armies: A history of the German War Machine 1939–45. Osprey Publishing. p. 270. {{ISBN |978-1-84908-647-9}}.</ref> This move (which effectively removed the 352nd from being a Corps reserve) led to a number of disagreements between Field Marshal Rommel, General [[Dietrich Kraiss]] and General Marks (LXXXIVthe Corps Commander) on how best to deploy the Grenadier Regiments of the 352nd,. In the end it was decided that two infantry regiments would be stationed forward at the coast, and one strengthenedinfantry regiment (thewould 915be regimentleft within the[[Military Fusilierreserve|reserve]]. battalion attached) would remain as Corps reserveHowever, however there were other complications with this arrangement that included a battalion of the 716thRegimental DivisionCommands beingwere attacheddisrupted toas 352some (1/726). These movesbattalions were made from the 19th Marchoperating 1944independently.
===Battle for Normandy===
The 352nd began its coastal duty by improving the beach obstacles (at the beach the allies had codenamed 'Omaha'), emplacing additional mined stakes and timber structures. This involved not only cutting and hauling timber from forest 12 miles inland, but also driving stakes and piles deep into the tidal sands. The first band of obstacles - about {{convert|250|yd|ft}} out from the waterline at high tide - consisted of '[[Cointet-element|Belgian&nbsp;Gates]]' - reinforced iron frames with supports that were built atop rollers. Next came a band of mined stakes and log ramps, meant to tear the bottoms out of landing craft or tip them over. Finally, there was a row of metal obstacles, including 'hedgehogs', made of steel rails. Although the Germans had attached mines to many of the obstacles, few of them were waterproofed, and corrosion had long since taken its toll of many of the explosive devices. Also the shortages of materials as a result of allied bombings on production facilities and transport systems meant that LXXXIV Corps would report as late as May that the defensive construction plan was only half finished, this included coastal batteries.▼
 
On the divisional right flank just south of Bayeux, Grenadier Regiment 915, (with 2 battalions) were positioned as a counterattack reserve, along with the Fusilier battalion. On the divisional left flank the 2nd Battalion of Grenadier Regiment 914 was positioned behind the gun emplacement at [[Pointe du Hoc]]. In the centre of the Divisional area was the 2nd Battalion of Grenadier Regiment 916, defending Omaha beach. The self-propelled [[Panzerjäger|anti tank]] battalion were positioned between the left and centre Divisional areas, in reserve. The 1st Battalion of GR 916 were deployed to the 716th Division’s defence sector and would oppose the [[United Kingdom|British]] in the western area of [[Gold Beach]].
The 352nd had moved forwards from its reserve position around St Lo and on the 19th March 1944 had moved into the positions previously occupied by the stretched and static 716th Division, (the left half of the 716 sector), but leaving in place the 1st battalion of the 726th regiment, placed now under the command of the 352nd Division. The 3rd battalion of the 352nd artillery Regiment took over coastal positions (2 battalion had already been deployed to the coast in January) and they came under the control of the 716th Division. The 1st battalion of [[916th Grenadier Regiment]] was position at the Omaha beach, its 2nd battalion (as a trade off for the 726th battalion remaining in position at the beach) was placed under the command of the 716 Division, as its Divisional reserve. The [[914th Grenadier Regiment (Wehrmacht)|914th Grenadier Regimen]]t was stationed to the East of the Omaha sector, just south of [[Point du Hoe]], while [[915th Grenadier Regiment]] with the Divisions Fusilier battalion was held as Corps reserve to the south of Bayeux.
 
===D-Day===
▲The 352nd began its coastal duty by improving the beach obstacles (at the beach the allies had codenamed 'Omaha'), emplacing additional mined stakes and timber structures. This involved not only cutting and hauling timber from forest 12 miles inland, but also driving stakes and piles deep into the tidal sandssand. The first band of obstacles -– about {{convert|250|yd|ft}} out from the waterline at high tide -– consisted of '[[Cointet-element|Belgian&nbsp;Gates]]' -– reinforced iron frames with supports that were built atop rollers. Next came a band of mined stakes and log ramps, meant to tear the bottoms out of landing craft or tip them over. Finally, there was a row of metal obstacles, including 'hedgehogs', made of steel rails. Although the Germans had attached mines to many of the obstacles, few of them were waterproofed, and corrosion had long since taken its toll of many of the explosive devices. Also the shortages of materials as a result of allied bombings on production facilities and transport systems meant that LXXXIV Corps would report as late as May that the defensive construction plan was only half finished, this included coastal batteries.
 
By June 6th 1944, many of the soldierscoastal strongpoints in their sector were still being manned by personnel from the 726th Infantry Regiment, of the 1/916thneighboring and716th 1/726thDivision. RegimentsAs occupieda tradeoff, one infantry battalion from the positions352nd atDivision Omahawas beachplaced under the command of the 716th Division to help shore up their defenses. In the 'Bayeux zone', these914th includedregiment numerouswas stationed in the west, 916th regiment was stationed in the east, while 915th regiment was in reserve to the south. The soldiers of the 916th and 726th Regiments occupied slit trenches, eight concrete bunkers, 35 pillboxes, six mortar pits, sites for 35 [[Nebelwerfer]], (multi-barrel rocket launchers) and 85 machine-gun nests,. theseThe defenses were clustered around well preparedin strongpoints.Those In the early hours of 6 June the first reports of Allied activity in the 352nd zone came from the [[Cotentin Peninsula]] and elements of the 915th Grenadier Regiment were dispatched to investigate, those units manning the defences on the coast were also reportingreported large numbers of vessels out to sea, and just before sunrise at 06:00 the allied naval bombardment began, ending 35 minutes later as US tanks and the first wave of infantry landlanded on the beach to a hail of fire from the heavily fortified strongpoints. Throughout the morning the Americans received heavy casualties on the beach but by 13:00 groups of US soldiers were in possession of key fortifications, had reached thesome heights overlooking the beach, and had opened several beach exits. Just after 15:00 the 916916th Grenadier Regiment counterattackcounterattacked from the [[Colleville-sur-merMer]] area but werewas forced to fall back once again, at around 17:00 the village of [[St. Laurent-sur-merMer]] fallsfell to the Americans.▼
Omaha Beach (Divisional Centre)
▲By June 6th 1944 the soldiers of the 1/916th and 1/726th Regiments occupied the positions at Omaha beach, these included numerous slit trenches, eight concrete bunkers, 35 pillboxes, six mortar pits, sites for 35 [[Nebelwerfer]], (multi-barrel rocket launchers) and 85 machine-gun nests, these defenses were clustered around well prepared strongpoints.Those units manning the defences on the coast were also reporting large numbers of vessels out to sea, and just before sunrise at 06:00 the allied naval bombardment began, ending 35 minutes later as US tanks and the first wave of infantry land on the beach to a hail of fire from the heavily fortified strongpoints. Throughout the morning the Americans received heavy casualties on the beach but by 13:00 groups of US soldiers were in possession of key fortifications, had reached the heights overlooking the beach and had opened several beach exits. Just after 15:00 the 916 Grenadier Regiment counterattack from the Colleville-sur-mer area but were forced to fall back once again, at around 17:00 the village of St Laurent-sur-mer falls to the Americans.
 
The [[916th Grenadier Regiment (Wehrmacht)|916th Grenadier Regiment]] and a mix of other units either already in place or brought forward throughout the day defended Omaha beach against the landings of the US [[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st]] and [[29th Infantry Division (United States)|29th]] Divisions at Omaha Beach, holding the bluffs above the beach for several hours, inflicting heavy casualties, before being overwhelmed. The survivors of the 916 Grenadier battalion along with other units retreated in the morning hours of 7 June after the commander, Colonel Ernst Goth, could no longer hold the positions retaken in the night of 6/7 June.
Cotentin Peninsula (Divisional Left Flank)
In the early hours of the 6th June (around 02:15) the first reports of Aliied activity in the LXXXIV Corps zone came from the Cotentin Peninsula, and elements of the 915th Grenadier Regiment in Corps reserve were despatched to investigate.
 
Bayeux Area (Divisional Right Flank)
 
===After the invasion===
The 352nd was shattered in the fighting during June and July 1944, and having taken heavy casualties by the 30 July it was considered no longer capable of Operatingoperating as a Divisiondivision, the survivors having been amalgamated into various ad hoc battle groups and other Divisionsdivisions.

It was reformed as the '''352nd ''[[Volksgrenadier]] Division''''' in September 1944 and fought in the [[Battle of the Bulge]]. Thereafter, it fought defensively around [[Trier]] and the [[Moselle]] until in mid-March 1945 it was once again considered not to be strong enough to be an active Divisiondivision, with only the remnants escaping across the [[Rhine]] at [[Worms, Germany|Worms]]. It was partially reconstituted one last time as a [[Kampfgruppe|battlegroup]] in mid-April and surrendered near [[Darmstadt]].
 
==Werner Pluskat==
Major [[Werner Pluskat]], who was featured in [[Cornelius Ryan]]'s book ''[[The Longest Day (book)|The Longest Day]]'', and the later movie of the same name, was in the 352nd Artillery (''Artillerie Regiment'') and fired his guns on Omaha Beach until he ran out of ammunition. He was forward observer on 'WN60WN59 – Resistance Point 6059'<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.omaha-beach.org/The%20Beach/TheBeach.html |title=The Germans at Omaha-Beach |access-date=9 January 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614051007/http://www.omaha-beach.org/The%20Beach/TheBeach.html |archive-date=14 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> above the beach on the Eastern flank.
 
== Order of battle ==
Line 67 ⟶ 56:
 
* '''[[914th Grenadier Regiment (Wehrmacht)|914. Grenadier Regiment]]'''
** 2 x [[15 cm sIG 33|15&nbsp;cm sIG 33]]
** 6 x [[7.5 cm leichtes Infanteriegeschütz 18|7.5&nbsp;cm leIG]]
** 3 x [[7.5 cm Pak 40|7.5&nbsp;cm ''[[PaK]] 40'']]
* '''915. Grenadier Regiment'''
** 2 x 15&nbsp;cm sIG 33
Line 79 ⟶ 68:
** 3 x 7.5&nbsp;cm ''PaK 40''
* '''''352. [[Panzerjäger]] Abteilung'''''
** 14 x [[Marder II]] and [[Marder III]] variant ''[[Panzerjäger]]''
** 10 x ''[[StuG III]] Ausf. G'' [[assault gunsgun]]s
** 9 x ''[[Flakpanzer 38(t)|FlaKPanzer 38]]'' [[Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon|Self-Propelled]] ''[[Flak]]''
* '''''352. [[Artillery|Artillerie]] Regiment'''''
** ''1-91–9.Batterie'' -– 36 x [[10.5&nbsp;cm leFH 16]]
** ''10-1210–12.Batterie'' -– 12 x [[15 cm sFH 18|15&nbsp;cm sFH 18]]
* '''''352. [[Pioneer (military)|Pioniere]] Battalion'''''
** 20 x ''[[Flamethrower|Flammenwerfer]]''
** 6 x ''[[Mortar (weapon)|Granatwerfer]]''
* '''352. [[Fusilier]] Battalion''' (''1. Kompanie'' was [[Bicycle infantry|bicycle mounted]])
* '''''Feld-[[Ersatz]] Battalion'''''
** 6 x [[8 cm Granatwerfer 34|8&nbsp;cm ''Granatwerfer 34'']]
** 1 x [[5 cm Pak 38|5&nbsp;cm ''PaK 38'']]
** 1 x 7.5&nbsp;cm ''PaK-40''
** 1 x [[10.5&nbsp;cm Feldhaubitze 98/09|10.5&nbsp;cm ''Feldhaubitze'']]
** 1 x ''Infanterie [[Panzer IV|Geschütz]]''
** 2 x ''[[Flammenwerfer]]''
* '''Supply Train / Signals Troops'''
*If organised on Infantry Division, Old Type, lines in 1944, division should number at full strength around 17,200 (excluding attached Fusilier Battalion). The division still retained the old regimental establishment of three battalions (whereas most German Infantry divisions in 1944 had two battalions per regiment). But, these battalions may have been reduced in size, so the strength can vary between 10,971 and the 17,200.
Line 107 ⟶ 96:
*{{Cite book|last=Barbier|first=Mary|year=2007|title=D-day deception: Operation Fortitude and the Normandy invasion|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-275-99479-2}}
*{{Cite book|last=Ramsey|first=Winston G|year=1995|title=D-Day then and now, Volume 1|publisher=Battle of Britain Prints International|isbn=0-900913-84-3}}
{{Numbered infantry divisions of the Wehrmacht}}{{Volksgrenadier divisions of the Wehrmacht}}
* Channel Attack, Gordon A. Harrison, Published by Konecky & Konecky
 
 
{{Subject bar
| portal1=Military of Germany
| portal2=World War II
}}
 
▲{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2013}}
 
[[Category:German units in Normandy|Infantry 352]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/352nd_Infantry_Division"