12.Volksgrenadier-Division

Unit Emblems

12.Volksgrenadier-Division Emblem  

Lineage

  • Wehrgauleitung Schwerin
  • Infanterieführer II
  • 12.Infanterie-Division
  • 12.Grenadier-Division
  • 12.Volksgrenadier-Division

History

The 12.Volksgrenader-Division was formed in October, 1944 from the 12.Grenadier-Division, a temporary designation given to the 12.Infanterie-Division that was destroyed in July, 1944.

The newly formed 12.Volksgrenadier-Division wasdispatched west to the I.SS-Panzerkorps for the Ardennes Offensive ofDecember 1944. US Army Intelligence attributed it to be the best infantryformation in the 6.Panzerarmee at the time. The division aquitted itself well in theensuing battles, but was forced into the general retreat of German forcesfrom the Ardennes salient as the offensive petered out.

Later attached to the II.SS-Panzerkorps as 6.Panzerarmee was diverted to Hungary, the 12.Volksgrenadier-Divisionfought at the Roer river against the advancing US 9th Army, and eventuallyfound itself encircled in the Ruhr pocket along with the rest ofHeeresgruppe B in April 1945. It’s last commander, Generalmajor Ernst Konig,surrendered at Wuppertal on April 18, 1945.

Organization

1944
Fusilier-Regiment 27
Grenadier-Regiment 48
Grenadier-Regiment 89
Artillerie-Regiment 12
Artillerie-Regiment I./48
Fusilier-Flak-Abteilung 12
12th Divisional Support Units

Knights Cross Holders

War Service

DatesKorpsArmeeArmeegruppArea
10.44LXXXI7. ArmeeBAachen, Hürtgenwald
11.44-12.44LXXXI5. Pz. ArmeeBAachen, Ardennen
1.45Reserve6. Pz. ArmeeBArdennen
2.45-3.45LVIII15. ArmeeBEifel, Roer
4.45LVIII5. Pz. ArmeeBRuhrkessel

German Bibliography

  • 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