326th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)

326th Infantry Division
Country	Nazi Germany
Branch	Heer
Type	Division
Role	Infantry
Engagements	World War II

The 326th Infantry Division (326. Infanterie-Division) was the only Eastern Front (Ost Front) veteran division to have fought in the battles of Normandy. It was formed on November 9, 1942 shortly after its return from Southern Russia to serve as an occupation force in France. On May 5, 1943 the division was transformed into a static division. The 326th Infantry Division was destroyed during the Battle of Normandy. A new 326th Volksgrenadier Division (326. Volksgrenadier-Division) was formed on September 4, 1944 in Galanta by redesignation of the new 579th Volksgrenadier Division of the 32nd mobilisation wave. In 1945 the division, separated into two groups, entered U.S. captivity in the Ruhr Pocket and Harz respectively.

Operational history

The 326th Infantry Division spent its entire operational history on the Western Front, taking part in the Battles of Normandy under Army Group D (Heeresgruppe D) and the Ardennes under Army Group B (Heeresgruppe B).

Organisation

1942

• Grenadier-Regiment 751, I-III Battalions
• Grenadier-Regiment 752, I-III Battalions
• Grenadier-Regiment 753, I-III Battalions
• Artillerie-Regiment 326, I-III Battalions
• Schnelle-Abteilung 326
• Pionier-Bataillon 326
• Infanterie-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 326

1944

• Grenadier-Regiment 751, I and II Battalions
• Grenadier-Regiment 752, I and II Battalions
• Grenadier-Regiment 753, I and II Battalions
• Artillerie-Regiment 326, I-IV Battalions
• Divisions-Füsilier-Kompanie 326 (later expanded to Füsilier-Bataillon 26)
• Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 326
• Pionier-Bataillon 326
• Infanterie-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 326

Commanding officers

• Lieutenant General Victor von Drabich-Waechter (1944)
• Major General Dr. Erwin Kaschner (1945)

References

• Tessin, Georg. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS 1939 - 1945 Volume 9