Feldgrau.com - research on the German armed forces 1918-1945
 302.Infanterie-Division by Jason Pipes
Unit Emblems

                  

Lineage

  • 302.Infanterie-Division (bodenständige)
  • 302.Infanterie-Division

    Traditions

  • None

    Absorbed


    Mobilized

  • 13th mobilization wave, October 1940

    Campaigns

  • Western Front 1941-1942
  • Eastern Front 1942-1944

    Notable Points

  • Bore the brunt of (and replulsed) the Allied invasion of Dieppe on August 19th, 1942.

    Nicknames

    "Dieppe Division"

    Fate

    Destroyed in August 1944 in the Ukraine near Tighina.

    History

    The 302.Infanterie-Division was formed on November 12th, 1940 as a bodenständige-Division, or static unit. When used as an adjective (and not capitalized when used) bodenständige indicated a unit was not fully field-mobile as was the case with numerous divisions formed for occupation duty in France in the fall of 1940. The division was formed in the regions of Ostmecklenburg in Pommern from portions of the 75.Infanterie-Division and the 292.Infanterie-Division as well as from various Heimat-Wach-Bataillonen.

    In April 1941 after formation and training the 302.Infanterie-Division was transfered to Dieppe in occupied France on the Western Front. There it took on coastal defense duties in a front over 50 miles long.

    Initially the division was rather well staffed and equiped but the requirements of fighting on the Eastern Front gradually began to strip much of the unit of valuable men who were sent to Russia as replacements. In their spot were often placed second line recruits and ethnic German foreign nationals which greatly reduced the overall quality and fighting spirit of the division. In addition, valuable weapons and equipment was also sent East and in its place was put captured materials of Czech, French, Russian and even British origin.

    On October 10th, 1942 the 302.Infanterie-Division was reformed as a front line division and later in December 1942 was sent to the Southern Front of Russia.

    In December of 1943 the 302.Infanterie-Division was reformed under the "neuer Art 44" organizational scheme.

    The division was destroyed in combat in August of 1944 while in the south of Ukraine near Tighina. What remained was absorbed into the 76.Infanterie-Division and the 15.Infanterie-Division. The division was not reformed.

    Organization

    1940
    Infanterie-Regiment 570
    Infanterie-Regiment 571
    Infanterie-Regiment 572
    Artillerie-Regiment 302
    Panzerjäger-Abteilung 302
    Pionier-Bataillon 302
    Nachrichten-Kompanie 302
    Inf.Div.Nachschubführer 302
    Sanitäts-Kompanie 302
    Krankenkraftwagenzug 302

    Panzerjäger-Abteilung 302 was renamed Schnelle-Abteilung 302 in the Winter of 1942/43. Radfahr-Abteilung 302 was also formed in the Winter of 1942/43. Nachrichten-Kompanie 302 became Nachrichten-Abteilung 302 in July of 1942. Inf.Div.Nachschubführer 302 was renamed Kommandeur der Inf.Div.Nachschubtruppen 302 in the Fall of 1942.

    1943
    Infanterie-Regiment 570
    Infanterie-Regiment 571
    Infanterie-Regiment 572
    Artillerie-Regiment 302
    Schnelle-Abteilung 302
    Radfahr-Abteilung 302
    Pionier-Bataillon 302
    Nachrichten-Abteilung 302
    Kommandeur der Inf.Div.Nachschubtruppen 302
    Sanitäts-Kompanie 302
    Krankenkraftwagenzug 302

    Divisions-Gruppe 125 was formed from the remnants of the 125.Infanterie-Division and attached to the division in March of 1944. At the same time Grenadier-Regiment 571 was disbanded with personell distributed to the other two remaining regiments. Radfahr-Abteilung 302 was disbanded in the Summer of 1943. Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 302 was formed in December of 1943. Feldersatz-Bataillon 302 was formed in 1943 also.

    1944
    Grenadier–Regiment 570
    Grenadier–Regiment 572
    Divisions-Gruppe 125
    -Regiments-Gruppe 420
    -Regiments-Gruppe 421
    Artillerie–Regiment 302
    Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 302
    Schnelle-Abteilung 302
    Pionier–Bataillon 302
    Feldersatz–Bataillon 302
    Nachrichten-Abeilung 302
    Kommandeur der Inf.Div.Nachschubtruppen 302
    Sanitätskompanie 302
    Krankenkraftwagenzug 302

    Commanders


    Knights Cross Holders



    War Service

    Dates
    Korps
    Armee
    Armeegrupp
    Area
    12.40-4.41 Forming in WK II BdE
    5.41-12.41 XXXII 15. Armee D northern France (Dieppe)
    1.42-5.42 XXXII 15. Armee D northern France
    6.42-11.42 LXXXI 15. Armee D northern France
    12.42-1.43 Reserve D France
    2.43 XXXXVIII Hollidt Don Donez (Woroschilowgrad)
    3.43 XVII Hollidt Süd Donez (Woroschilowgrad)
    4.43-9.43 XVII 6. Armee Süd Mius
    10.43 IV 6. Armee A Saporoshje
    11.43-12.43 IV 1. Pz. Armee Süd Saporoshje
    1.44 XVII 6. Armee Süd Nikolpol
    2.44 IV 6. Armee Sud Nikopol
    3.44 IV 6. Armee A Nikolajew
    4.44 (Kgr.) Reserve 6. Armee Südukraine Odessa
    5.44-7.44 XXX 6. Armee Südukraine Tighina
    8.44 assignment unknown

    Bibliography


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  • Die deutschen Infanterie-Divisonen, Band 1-3, by Werner Haupt
  • Die deutsche Feldpostübersicht 1939-1945, Band 1-3, by Nobert Kannapin
  • Die Pflege der Tradition der alten Armee in Reichsheer und im der Wehrmacht, by Schirmer/Wiener
  • Die Truppenkennzeichen... der deutchen Wehrmacht u. Waffen-SS, Band 1-4, by Schmitz/Thies
  • Der Zweite Weltkrieg im Kartenbild, Band 1-3, by Klaus-Jurgen Thies
  • Deutsche Verbände und Truppen 1918-1939, by George Tessin
  • Verbände und Truppen der deutchen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS..., Band 1-14, by Georg Tessin
  • Formationsgeschichte und Stellenbesetzung 1815-1939, Teil 1, der deutschen Heer, Band 1-3, by Günter Wegner
  • Die Deutsche Wehrmacht u. Waffen-SS, Ihre Kommando. u. Großverbände... im Zweiten Weltkrieg, author unknown
  • Das Reichsheer und Seine Tradition, author unknown
  • Deutsche Rote Kreuz Suchdienst, Divisionsschicksale, author unknown

  • Reforging the Iron Cross, The Search for Tradition..., by Donald Abenheim
  • The German Infantry Handbook 1939-1945, by Alex Buchner
  • German Army Order of Battle: The Replacement Army 1939-1945, by Victor Madej
  • German Army Order of Battle: Field Army and Officer Corps 1939-1945, by Victor Madej
  • Hitler's Legions, by Samuel Mitcham
  • German Order of Battle World War II, Vol I, by George Nafziger
  • German Order of Battle 1944, author unknown

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