277th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)

277. Infanterie-Division German 277th Infantry Division
277. Infanterie Division Vehicle Insignia
Active	22 May 1940 – 1945
Country	Nazi Germany
Branch	Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Division
Engagements	World War II Ardennes Battles of Normandy

A first 277th Infantry Division (German: 277. Infanterie-Division) was ordered to form on May 22, 1940, as part of the 10th mobilisation wave (10. Welle), but this order was rescinded after the French Surrender. A new 277th Infantry Division was formed in Croatia on November 17, 1943, as part of the 22nd mobilisation wave (22. Welle), the division was destroyed in the Battle of Normandy in August 1944. A third, 277th Volksgrenadier Division (277. Volksgrenadier-Division) was formed on September 4, 1944, in Hungary by redesignation of the newly formed 574th Volksgrenadier Division (574. Volksgrenadier-Division) of the 32nd mobilisation wave (32. Welle). In 1945 the division entered U.S. captivity in the Ruhr Pocket.

Operational history[]

Except for its formation time in Croatia and Hungary the 277th Infantry Division spent its entire operation history on the Western front. The division took part in the Battles of Normandy (where it was practically destroyed), and after reconstitution, the Lorraine campaign under Army Group G, beginning in November 1944. It then participated in the Ardennes campaign. It fought alongside the 12th VG Division in the effort to take Rocherath-Krinkelt and Elsenborn.

Organization[]

1943[]

• Grenadier-Regiment 989, I and II Battalions
• Grenadier-Regiment 990, I and II Battalions
• Grenadier-Regiment 991, I and II Battalions
• Artillerie-Regiment 277, I-IV Battalions
• Divisions-Füsilier-Abteilung 277
• Pionier-Battalion 277
• Infanterie-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 277
• Feldersatz-Battalion 277

1944[]

• Grenadier-Regiment 989, I and II Battalions
• Grenadier-Regiment 990, I and II Battalions
• Grenadier-Regiment 991, I and II Battalions
• Artillerie-Regiment 277, I-IV Battalions
• Divisions-Füsilier-Kompanie 277
• Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 277
• Pionier-Battalion 277
• Infanterie-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 277

References[]

• Tessin, Georg. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS 1939 - 1945 Volume 8