The 541st Volksgrenadier Division (German: 541. Volksgrenadier-Division) was a volksgrenadier infantry division of the German Army during World War II, active from 1944 to 1945.
The division was established on 10 July 1944 at the Neustettin military training area in Pomerania under the designation Sperr-Division 541. On 17 July 1944, the division was renamed as the 541st Grenadier Division. On 9 October 1944, it was renamed 541. Volks-Grenadier-Division.
At that time, the division was located at the Narew river. From November 1944 to January 1945, the division had to retreat from the Narew, and fought in the area of Osowiec, where it suffered heavy losses. The division reteated via Rastenburg, Korschen and Bartenstein towards Frisches Haff. The remnants of the division were surrounded in the Heiligenbeil Pocket.
Its commander was Generalleutnant Wolf Hagemann.
Volksgrenadier was the name given to a type of German Army division formed in the Autumn of 1944 after the double loss of Army Group Center to the Soviets in Operation Bagration and the Fifth Panzer Army to the Allies in Normandy. The name itself was intended to build morale, appealing at once to nationalism (Volk) and Germany's older military traditions (Grenadier). Germany formed 78 VGDs during the war. Volksgrenadier divisions were professional military formations with effective weapons and equipment, unlike the unrelated Volkssturm militia.
The 78th Infantry Division, later the 78th Sturm (Assault) Division, was a German infantry formation which fought during World War II.
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The 183rd Volksgrenadier Division was a German unit during World War II.
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The 363rd Volksgrenadier Division was a volksgrenadier division of the German Army during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945.
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The 560th Volksgrenadier Division was a volksgrenadier division of the German Army during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945.
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The 31st Infantry Division was a German infantry division of the Army during World War II. It participated in the invasion of Poland in 1939 then the invasion of France and the Low Countries in 1940. As part of Panzergruppe 2. of Army Group Centre, it was involved in the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941. After hard fighting throughout 1941 and 1942 it joined the 9th Army and fought in the Battle of Kursk in July and August 1943. Along with the rest of the 9th Army, the division conducted a fighting withdrawal for the remainder of 1943, during which it sustained heavy casualties. In the early stages of the Soviet Operation Bagration of June to August 1944, the 31st Infantry Division was destroyed, a fate which subsequently befell most of Army Group Centre. The division was officially disbanded on 18 July 1944.
The 561st Volksgrenadier Division was a division of the Wehrmacht active during World War II. When it was formed in July 1944, it was originally designated as the 561st Grenadier Division.
Formed in 1940 from older personnel, the first 278th never saw combat and was dissolved after the fall to France. The second 278th was formed in mid 1942 in Belgium and was sent to Army Group C Italy in late 1943.
The 542nd Grenadier Division was a German military unit during World War II. On 12 August 1944, the unit was renamed 542nd Infantry Division, and again renamed on 9 October 1944 to 542nd Volksgrenadier Division.
The 257th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the German Heer during World War II.
The 271st Infantry Division was an infantry division of the German Heer during World War II.
The 551st Volksgrenadier Division was a volksgrenadier infantry division of the German Army during World War II, active from 1944 to 1945.
