276th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)

The 276th Infantry Division was a German infantry division during World War II . The division was established on May 22, 1940. The formation of this division was planned in the event of a longer campaign in the west . Due to the rapid end of the western campaign through the conclusion of an armistice with France , the formation of the division was canceled before it was completed on July 22, 1940.

Re-erected on November 17, 1943 in southwest France. The division was later stationed at various locations in France . Used in the fighting after the Allied landings in Normandy, the unit suffered heavy losses and was very much decimated in the Falaise pocket in August 1944.

The division was reorganized on September 17, 1944 under the slightly changed name as the 276th Volksgrenadier Division .

literature

• Georg Tessin : Associations and troops of the German Wehrmacht and Waffen SS in World War II 1939–1945 . Volume 6: The Land Forces 71–130 . Biblio-Verlag, Osnabrück 1972, ISBN 3-7648-0872-1 , pp. 126-130.
• Mitcham, Samuel W., Jr. (2007a). German Order of Battle. Volume Two: 291st - 999th Infantry Divisions, Named Infantry Divisions, and Special Divisions in WWII. PA; United States of America: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3437-0 .
• Mitcham, Samuel W., Jr. (2007b). Panzer Legions: A Guide to the German Army Tank Divisions of WWII and Their Commanders. Mechanicsburg, PA, United States: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3353-3 .