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The
352nd ID was formed in September 1943 at St. Lo, France. The
cadre was taken from the 321st I.D. which had fought in
Russia, convincing the Allies it was a veteran formation. In
fact, Normandy was it's first action as a Division. The
Division Commander was General Dietrich Kraiss, age 55. The
division consisted of four regiments; the 914th, 915th and
916th Infantry and Artillery Regiment 352.
During the Allied invasion,
the initial paratroop drops were landed in rear areas occupied
by the 915th Regiment, which spent the night and all invasion
day engaging US paratroops. The 914th and 916th Regiments were
on anti-invasion training exercises on Omaha beach, all the
way to the right flank of the British Gold Beach. When the
invasion came the 352nd immediately engaged the US 1st and
29th Infantry Divisions. A report given by Col. Goth of the
916th Regiment overlooking the Vierville end of Omaha Beach
was as follows: "At the water's edge the enemy is in
search of cover behind the coastal-zone obstacles. A great
many motor vehicles-among them ten tanks-stand burning on the
beach. The obstacle demolition squads have given up their
activities. Debarkation from the landing boats has ceased...
the boats keep farther out to sea. The fire of our battle
positions and artillery is well placed and has inflicted
considerable casualties on the enemy. A great many wounded and
dead lie on the beach." By 11 a.m. Gen. Kraiss was so
convinced that he had rubbed out Omaha Beach that he diverted
reserves to strengthen the divisions right wing in the British
sector.
The US troops had not given up, however, and
in small groups began punching their way up the beach. It was
to be the 352nd's fate that they would not be reinforced,
although the 346th Infantry Division was available. The 352nd
was to stay in the lines and keep fighting from June 6 until
remnants of the 352nd, 266th, 275th, 343rd, and 353rd Infantry
Divisions, fighting as a division sized unit, were destroyed
during Operation Cobra on 25 July 1944 near St Lo, twenty
miles from the beach and where the division had been born. A
re-emergence of the 352nd occurred for the Battle of the
Bulge. The 352. Volks-Grenadier-Division was formed September
21 by changing the number of the 581. VGD, then assembling on
the border with Denmark at Flensburg. Its replacements came
mainly from the Kriegsmarine. Commanded by Col. Schmidt, it
was assigned to LXXXV Corps of 7 Army Group and fought on the
southern end of the bulge near Ettelbruck, Luxembourg.
The 352. VGD was advancing
on Ettelbruck when it's lead elements were flanked by the US
80th Infantry Division and cut off, although the majority
managed to get away through the thick woods, they were without
most of their equipment, and went on the defensive
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