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== History ==
===Formation and strengths===
The 352nd Infantry Division was formed in France in early November 1943, this followed the German high command order issued in September that year to raise 10 new infantry divisions to replace losses on the Eastern front, these new Divisions were to be combat ready by May 1944. The 352nd was placed under the command of ''[[Generalleutnant]]'' [[Dietrich Kraiss]] and once up to strength and trained the 352nd was expected to transfer to the Eastern Front, 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 the 352nd received orders to prepare for the defence of the
With the Normandy coastal area extending 100 km, Field Marshal Rommel made the decision to split the area in half, by providing the static 716th Division with a shortened 47 km long 'Caen zone', (supported by 21 Panzer) and deploying the 352nd Infantry Division to defend the 53 km long 'Bayeux zone.', bringing the 352 in between the 709 Division and the 716 Division. Even with 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 led to a number of disagreements between Rommel, Dietrich Kraiss and the Corps Commander on how best to deploy the Grenadier Regiments of 352, In the end it was decided that two infantry regiments would be stationed forward, and one infantry regiment would be left in reserve, however the Regimental commands were disrupted as some Battalions were operating independently.
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