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277th Infantry Division

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277th Infantry Division
277. Infanterie-Division
277. Infanterie Division Vehicle Insignia
Active22 May 1940 – 1945
Country Nazi Germany
BranchArmy
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
EngagementsWorld War II
Military unit

A first 277th Infantry Division (German: 277. Infanterie-Division) was ordered to form on May 22, 1940, as part of the 10th mobilisation wave (10. Welle), but this order was rescinded after the French Surrender. A new 277th Infantry Division was formed in Croatia on November 17, 1943, as part of the 22nd mobilisation wave (22. Welle), the division was destroyed in the Battle of Normandy in August 1944. A third, 277th Volksgrenadier Division (277. Volksgrenadier-Division) was formed on September 4, 1944, in Hungary by redesignation of the newly formed 574th Volksgrenadier Division (574. Volksgrenadier-Division) of the 32nd mobilisation wave (32. Welle). In 1945 the division entered U.S. captivity in the Ruhr Pocket.

Operational history

The 277th Infantry Division was assigned to 2nd Panzer Army from early December 1943 until late January 1944, having been placed there after pressure by Oberbefehlshaber Südost on OKW to strengthen the 2nd Panzer Army with additional forces. The addition of forces was intended to reverse gains made by the National Liberation Army since the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943, after which the Royal Italian Army had largely ceased fighting against the Yugoslav partisans.

After its time in Croatia and Hungary, the 277th Infantry Division spent its entire operation history on the Western front. The division took part in the Battles of Normandy (where it was practically destroyed), and after reconstitution, the Lorraine campaign under Army Group G, beginning in November 1944. It then participated in the Ardennes campaign. It fought alongside the 12th VG Division in the effort to take Rocherath-Krinkelt and Elsenborn.

Organization

1943

  • Grenadier-Regiment 989, I and II Battalions
  • Grenadier-Regiment 990, I and II Battalions
  • Grenadier-Regiment 991, I and II Battalions
  • Artillerie-Regiment 277, I-IV Battalions
  • Divisions-Füsilier-Abteilung 277
  • Pionier-Battalion 277
  • Infanterie-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 277
  • Feldersatz-Battalion 277

1944

  • Grenadier-Regiment 989, I and II Battalions
  • Grenadier-Regiment 990, I and II Battalions
  • Grenadier-Regiment 991, I and II Battalions
  • Artillerie-Regiment 277, I-IV Battalions
  • Divisions-Füsilier-Kompanie 277
  • Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 277
  • Pionier-Battalion 277
  • Infanterie-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 277

References

  1. Schmider, Klaus (2007). "Der jugoslawische Kriegsschauplatz (Januar 1943 bis Mai 1945)". In Frieser, Karl-Heinz; et al. (eds.). Die Ostfront 1943/44: Der Krieg im Osten und an den Nebenfronten. Das Deutsche Reich und der Zweite Weltkrieg. Vol. 8. Munich: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt. pp. 1009–1088. ISBN 9783421062352.

Literature

  • Tessin, Georg. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS 1939 - 1945 Volume 8
Numbered infantry divisions of the German Army (1935–1945)
1st – 99th
1st – 9th
10th – 19th
20th – 29th
30th – 39th
40th – 49th
50th – 59th
60th – 69th
70th – 79th
80th – 89th
90th – 99th
100th – 199th
100th – 119th
121st – 129th
130th – 149th
150th – 159th
160th – 169th
170th – 189th
190th – 199th
200th – 299th
200th – 209th
210th – 219th
220th – 229th
230th – 239th
240th – 249th
250th – 259th
260th – 269th
270th – 279th
280th – 289th
290th – 299th
300th – 399th
300th – 309th
310th – 329th
330th – 339th
340th – 349th
350th – 359th
360th – 369th
370th – 379th
380th – 389th
390th – 399th
400th – 719th
400th – 499th
500th – 599th
600th – 699th
700th – 709th
710th – 719th
See also: List of German divisions in World War II, Aufstellungswelle
Volksgrenadier divisions of the German Army, 1944–45
1st– 199th
200th – 299th
300th – 540th
541st – 549th
551st – 559th
560th – 569th
570th – 579th
580th – 589th
590th – 709th
See also: List of German divisions in World War II
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