HEER SOLDBUCH – FELDGENDARMERIE – 212. VOLKS GRENADIER DIVISION – LENINGRAD, ARDENNES OFFENSIVE, BATTLE OF THE BULGE

HEER SOLDBUCH – FELDGENDARMERIE – 212. VOLKS GRENADIER DIVISION – LENINGRAD, ARDENNES OFFENSIVE, BATTLE OF THE BULGE
Heer Soldbuch issued to Unteroffizier Max WEISE. Has a great original uniform photo showing Feldgendarmerie Cufftitle in wear – uncommon! He served in FELDGENDARMERIE Trupp Der 212. Infanterie Division, FELDGENDARMERIE TRUPP (mot.) 212, Grenadier Regiment 316 and 423. Awards entered include Ostedaille, EK2, KVK2. SB issued Jan 12, 1940. Weise would have spent time on coastal defense duty on the Channel Coast before being transferred to Russia to participate in the battles of LENINGRAD and WOLCHOW. He survived the destruction of the division by the Red Army in August/September 1944 when it was transferred to the WESTERN FRONT in December 1944 where it was thrown into action in the ARDENNES OFFENSIVE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE) – see below for details – seeing action in the well known battles of ECHTERNACH and SCHEIDGEN.
$575

The 212th Volksgrenadier Division was formed on September 17, 1944, at the Schieradz training area from the remnants of the 212th Infantry Division and the 578th Volksgrenadier Division, which was then being formed there. Following its formation, the division was transferred to the Western Front at the beginning of November 1944 and assembled in the Orenhofen-Ehrang area on the north bank of the Moselle near Ürzig. In this area, the division replaced the 36th Volksgrenadier Division. This replacement was completed by November 13. On December 1, 1944, the 423rd Grenadier Regiment was to be relocated to the north bank of the Moselle due to its location on the Orscholz Riegel. On December 16, 1944, the division was in the Echternach-Nittel area. On the same day, the Ardennes Offensive began with the surprise attack on the opposing 6th U.S. Infantry Division. On December 19, the division captured Echternach. However, the American units managed to bring in stronger reserves. Due to constant flank threats, the division was forced not only to cease its own attacks but also to withdraw. The division’s personnel losses were already dramatic at this point. The 316th Grenadier Regiment still had a strength of around 200 men. On December 21, 1944, the division was engaged in heavy defensive fighting north of Consdorf, Scheidgen, Michelshof, Herborn, Ostweiler, and Dickweiler. From December 27, the division withdrew to the West Wall. After reaching the West Wall, the U.S. troops temporarily ceased their attacks. This situation lasted until January 25, 1945. The division’s units in Bollendorf were withdrawn across the Bollendorf War Bridge. The division’s infantry combat strength was still 550 men. Barely any trained replacements were sent to the division as replacements. The division was subsequently deployed to defend the West Wall between Gentingen and Nittel. With a front width of 60 km, this only allowed for a strongpoint-like occupation of the front. By February 3, 1945, the division’s daily strength had risen to 10,971 men. This period saw the American attacks on the West Wall, which on February 8, 1945, led to a breakthrough in the division’s sector in the Echternach area, where US units were able to cross the Sauer. The division held the so-called Ferschweiler Plateau until February 16. The division’s northern front completely collapsed towards the end of February 1945. Helenberg was lost, and with it the road link between Trier and Bitburg. At the beginning of March 1945, the division took part in the fighting for Trier. The division then withdrew to the Kyll position. On March 7, the remnants of the division were in the Zemmer/Quinn area north of the Esch River. By March 14, 1945, the division’s personnel strength had fallen to around 500 men. On March 18, parts of the division fought near Baumholder. In the Lauterecken area, the remnants of the division were destroyed or taken prisoner.
On March 30, 1945, the order was issued to reorganize the 212th Volksgrenadier Division and relocate it to Eisenach in Thuringia. To establish the division, the Bavarian Training Division was incorporated into the 212th Volksgrenadier Division, which had reached a supply strength of 12,000 men. From April 3, 1945, the division was deployed south of Würzburg, and a few days later, engaged in holding operations in the Niederstetten area. From April 16, 1945, the division was operated solely as a combat group. During the night of April 23-24, 1945, this combat group withdrew behind the Danube to the Marxheim area. One day later, the remaining fragments of the division were relocated to Forstenrieder Park south of Munich. On April 28, 1945, the division was considered disbanded. Remaining fragments of the division were in the Miesbach area in the first days of May 1945.