77th Infantry Division (Germany)
Encyclopedia
The 77th Infantry Division (77. Infanteriedivision in German) was a German military unit which served during World War II
.
, and formed part of the twenty-fifth wave of infantry divisions raised in Germany. The division consisted of infantry
from the disbanded 364th Infantry Division, with staff moving from the also disbanded 355th.
With its men having already gone through training the division was quickly sent to Normandy in France as a component of the 7th Army's LXXXIV Corps, who were awaiting the now-inevitable Allied invasion
.
Initially commanded by Lieutenant General Walter Poppe, command was transferred to Lieutenant General Stegmann on May 1, with Colonel Bacherer, commander of the 1049th Grenadier Regiment, assuming temporary command. Stegmann was killed in mid-June after being caught up in an Allied aerial attack - Colonel Bacherer re-assumed command. In early July the division was caught up in fighting around Saint-Jores
as the American 358th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion began to push heavily on them, leading to the German withdrawal by the end of the day. Elements of the 5th Parachute Division
would temporarily restore German control before finally leaving the area on July 10th.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Operational history
The infantry division was formed on 15 January 1944 in the town of MünsingenMünsingen, Germany
Münsingen is a town in the district of Reutlingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 23 km southeast of Reutlingen, and 37 km west of Ulm.-History:...
, and formed part of the twenty-fifth wave of infantry divisions raised in Germany. The division consisted of infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
from the disbanded 364th Infantry Division, with staff moving from the also disbanded 355th.
With its men having already gone through training the division was quickly sent to Normandy in France as a component of the 7th Army's LXXXIV Corps, who were awaiting the now-inevitable Allied invasion
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
.
Initially commanded by Lieutenant General Walter Poppe, command was transferred to Lieutenant General Stegmann on May 1, with Colonel Bacherer, commander of the 1049th Grenadier Regiment, assuming temporary command. Stegmann was killed in mid-June after being caught up in an Allied aerial attack - Colonel Bacherer re-assumed command. In early July the division was caught up in fighting around Saint-Jores
Saint-Jores
Saint-Jores is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.-References:*...
as the American 358th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion began to push heavily on them, leading to the German withdrawal by the end of the day. Elements of the 5th Parachute Division
5th Parachute Division (Germany)
The 5. Fallschirmjäger-Division was a fallschirmjäger division of the German military during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945.The division was formed in France in early 1944, commanded by Gustav Wilke...
would temporarily restore German control before finally leaving the area on July 10th.
Commanding officers
- Generalleutnant Walter PoppeWalter PoppeWalter Fritz Rudolf Poppe , born in Kassel, served as a Generalleutnant during the Second World War leading the 59th Infantry Division, subordinate to Georg-Hans Reinhard's LXXXVIII.Armeekorps....
(1 Feb 1944 - 25 Apr 1944) - Oberst der Reserve Rudolf BachererRudolf BachererRudolf Bacherer was a highly decorated Oberst der Reserve in the Wehrmacht during World War II who held several regimental commands. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves...
(25 Apr 1944 - 1 May 1944) - Generalleutnant Rudolf Stegmann (1 May 1944 - 18 June 1944) (KIA)
- Oberst der Reserve Rudolf Bacherer (18 June 1944 - ? Aug 1944)
Order of battle
- 1049th Grenadier Regiment
- 1050th Grenadier Regiment
- 177th Artillery Regiment
- 177th Engineer Battalion
- 177th Anti-Tank detachment
- 177th News detachment
- 177th Field-Replacement Battalion
- 177th Power unit