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 Friedrich von Drabich-Waechter (1944) Major General Dr. Erwin Kaschner (1945) Lieutenant General Friedrich
References
Tessin, Georg. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS 1939 - 1945 Volume 9