352nd Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)

352nd Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)
No machine-readable author provided. Mit31 assumed (based on copyright claims). · Public domain · source
Unit name	352nd Infantry Division
Native name	352. Infanterie-Division
Dates	November 1943 – August 1944
Country	Nazi Germany
Branch	Wehrmacht
Type	Infantry
Size	Division
Garrison	France
Notable commanders	Heinz Hellmich, Dietrich Kraiss
Battles	Western Front (World War II), D-Day, Battle of Normandy, Operation Overlord

352nd Infantry Division (Wehrmacht) was a German Wehrmacht formation raised in late 1943 and committed to the defense of occupied France during 1944. It became one of the principal German units facing the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944 and thereafter fought in the Battle of Normandy until largely destroyed in the summer of 1944. The division's actions, organization, commanders, losses, and the conduct of its personnel reflect broader aspects of the Western Front (World War II) and German defensive operations during Operation Overlord.

Formation and Organization

The division was formed in November 1943 as part of the 22nd Aufstellungswelle in France from cadres drawn from the Eastern Front and replacement units transferred from Germany and Belgium. Its initial order of battle comprised the 914th, 915th, and 916th Grenadier Regiments and the 352nd Artillery Regiment, supported by divisional reconnaissance, pioneer, signals, and supply units reorganized under Heeresgruppe B administration. Command structure reflected standard late-war German divisional tables, incorporating veterans from units that had fought at Stalingrad, Kursk, and the Italian Campaign; cadres included personnel decorated with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and recipients of the Iron Cross. The division garrisoned coastal sectors in the Calvados region, constructing fortifications in coordination with the Atlantic Wall defenses and integrating assets from the Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine where available.

Operational History

Deployed to the Vire–Caen sector and responsible for part of the Normandy coastline, the division held forward positions near Sainte-Mère-Église, Isigny-sur-Mer, and the Pointe du Hoc approaches. On 6 June 1944, elements were engaged against Operation Neptune assault forces including the United States Army, British Army, Canadian Army, and Free French Forces. The 352nd committed regimental reserves and artillery assets against beach landings at Omaha Beach and inland counterattacks against Utah Beach thrusts. Under pressure from corps-level commands such as LXXXIV Corps and the German Panzergruppe West counterattack directives, the division fought in defense of Carentan, the approaches to Caen, and the Falaise Pocket engagements.

As Operation Cobra and the Allied breakout forced German withdrawals, the division conducted fighting retreats across Normandy and into the Loire valley, attempting to delay advancing units from the First United States Army and Third United States Army. Encirclement and attrition during the collapse of German lines in August 1944 left the division combat-ineffective; remnants were absorbed into ad hoc units or surrendered to Allied forces during the Falaise Gap and subsequent operations.

Commanders

The division was successively commanded by officers drawn from the Wehrmacht Heer with ties to earlier campaigns. Notable commanders included Generalleutnant Heinz Hellmich, who had prior experience in coastal defense and artillery coordination, and Generalmajor Dietrich Kraiss, who later received attention for his leadership during the Battle of Normandy. Subordinate regimental commanders included veterans from the Afrika Korps and the Eastern Front who had served under commanders such as Erwin Rommel and Gerd von Rundstedt in earlier theaters.

Order of Battle and Equipment

Primary infantry strength consisted of the 914th, 915th, and 916th Grenadier Regiments equipped with small arms such as the Karabiner 98k, MP 40, and light machine guns including the MG 34 and MG 42. Support weapons included the infantry gun battalions with the 7.5 cm leIG 18 and anti-tank companies fielding the Pak 40 and limited numbers of captured M4 Sherman-class ordnance in diversity of service. The 352nd Artillery Regiment operated towed pieces such as the 10.5 cm leFH 18 and 15 cm howitzers supported by divisional reconnaissance units using the Sd.Kfz.251 half-track and motorcycle platoons. Armor support was scarce; attached Panzerkampfwagen elements from neighboring divisions or Panzer Lehr formations occasionally reinforced defensive sectors, while nearby 88 mm Flak batteries provided anti-tank and anti-aircraft fire.

War Crimes and Occupation Duties

During its occupation duties in France, the division participated in coastal security, anti-partisan operations, and enforcement of occupation policies under directives from Oberkommando der Wehrmacht and local military administrations. Operations against French Resistance networks involved sweeps, curfews, and reprisals coordinated with Ordnungspolizei and Waffen-SS security detachments in the region. Allegations and documented incidents implicate personnel from units in summary executions and reprisals against civilians in accordance with broader German occupation practices; investigations by Allied military authorities and postwar inquiries addressed some incidents associated with the unit's area of operations.

Casualties and Disbandment

Sustained combat during June 1944–August 1944 inflicted heavy casualties in personnel and materiel. The division suffered large losses during the Battle of Normandy and the Falaise Pocket, with most combat-effective formations destroyed or captured by Allied forces. Survivors were reorganized into smaller Kampfgruppen or reassigned to other formations; the 352nd was officially declared destroyed or disbanded in August 1944. Postwar records, veterans' accounts, and Allied after-action reports provide data on casualties, prisoner counts, and the disposition of surviving officers and NCOs in the aftermath of the division's collapse.

Category:Infantry divisions of Germany during World War II Category:Military units and formations established in 1943 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1944