52nd Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)
The 52nd Infantry Division was a German infantry division that participated in World War II. It was formed in October 1937 as part of the expansion of the Wehrmacht.
Organization and Early Service:
The division was initially composed of three infantry regiments, an artillery regiment, and various support units. Before the war, it was stationed in the Saar region. During the invasion of Poland in 1939, the 52nd remained on the Western Front, primarily in a defensive role along the Siegfried Line.
Western Campaign:
In 1940, the 52nd Infantry Division participated in the Battle of France. It advanced through Belgium and into France, playing a supporting role in the larger German offensive. Following the armistice, the division remained in occupied France for a period.
Eastern Front:
In 1941, the 52nd was transferred to the Eastern Front as part of Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. It was assigned to Army Group North and participated in the advance through the Baltic states and towards Leningrad. The division endured heavy fighting in the battles around Lake Ilmen and the Volkhov River.
Battles and Engagements:
Throughout its time on the Eastern Front, the 52nd Infantry Division was involved in numerous defensive and offensive engagements, including the battles around Demiansk and the fighting to break the Soviet encirclement. It suffered significant casualties and was frequently reinforced and reorganized.
Later Years and Surrender:
As the war progressed, the 52nd Infantry Division continued to fight on the Eastern Front, retreating westward as the Soviet Red Army advanced. In the final months of the war, it was involved in desperate defensive battles in East Prussia and Poland. The remnants of the division surrendered to Soviet forces in 1945.
Commanders:
The commanders of the 52nd Infantry Division included:
- Generalleutnant Karl-Adolf Hollidt (1937-1941)
- Generalleutnant Lothar Rendulic (1942-1943)
- Generalleutnant Sigfrid Macholz (1943-1944)
- Generalleutnant Erich Gruner (1944-1945)
Order of Battle (Typical):
- Infantry Regiment 105
- Infantry Regiment 205
- Infantry Regiment 485
- Artillery Regiment 152
- Pioneer Battalion 152
- Panzerjäger (Anti-Tank) Detachment 152
- Signal Battalion 152
- Supply Troops 152
Note: The order of battle and composition of the division varied throughout the war due to losses and reorganizations.