352nd Infanterie Division Unit History

Normandy 1944 - Personal History: Friedrich Ruge, with Erwin Rommel, June - July 1944
Normandy 1944 - Personal History: Franz Gockel, 352ID Veteran
Normandy 1944 - Pointe du Hoc, 352nd Artillerie position

916 Regiment 352. Infanterie Division
Brief Unit History

   The 352nd ID was formed in September 1943 at St. Lo, France. The cadre was taken from the 321st I.D. which had fought in Russia, convincing the Allies it was a veteran formation. In fact, Normandy was it's first action as a Division. The Division Commander was General Dietrich Kraiss, age 55. The division consisted of four regiments; the 914th, 915th and 916th Infantry and Artillery Regiment 352.

   During the Allied invasion, the initial paratroop drops were landed in rear areas occupied by the 915th Regiment, which spent the night and all invasion day engaging US paratroops. The 914th and 916th Regiments were on anti-invasion training exercises on Omaha beach, all the way to the right flank of the British Gold Beach. When the invasion came the 352nd immediately engaged the US 1st and 29th Infantry Divisions. A report given by Col. Goth of the 916th Regiment overlooking the Vierville end of Omaha Beach was as follows: "At the water's edge the enemy is in search of cover behind the coastal-zone obstacles. A great many motor vehicles-among them ten tanks-stand burning on the beach. The obstacle demolition squads have given up their activities. Debarkation from the landing boats has ceased... the boats keep farther out to sea. The fire of our battle positions and artillery is well placed and has inflicted considerable casualties on the enemy. A great many wounded and dead lie on the beach." By 11 a.m. Gen. Kraiss was so convinced that he had rubbed out Omaha Beach that he diverted reserves to strengthen the divisions right wing in the British sector.

   The US troops had not given up, however, and in small groups began punching their way up the beach. It was to be the 352nd's fate that they would not be reinforced, although the 346th Infantry Division was available. The 352nd was to stay in the lines and keep fighting from June 6 until remnants of the 352nd, 266th, 275th, 343rd, and 353rd Infantry Divisions, fighting as a division sized unit, were destroyed during Operation Cobra on 25 July 1944 near St Lo, twenty miles from the beach and where the division had been born. A re-emergance of the 352nd occured for the Battle of the Bulge. The 352. Volks-Grenadier-Division was formed September 21 by changing the number of the 581. VGD, then assembling on the border with Denmark at Flensburg. Its replacements came mainly from the Kriegsmarine. Commanded by Col. Schmidt, it was assigned to LXXXV Corps of 7 Army Group and fought on the southern end of the bulge near Ettelbruck, Luxembourg.

   The 352. VGD was advancing on Ettelbruck when it's lead elements were flanked by the US 80th Infantry Division and cut off, although the majority managed to get away through the thick woods, they were without most of their equipment, and went on the defensive.

Vintage Unit Photos