A first 277th Infantry Division () was ordered to form on May 22, 1940, as part of the 10th

mobilisation Mobilization (alternatively spelled as mobilisation) is the act of assembling and readying military troops and supplies for war. The word ''mobilization'' was first used in a military context in the 1850s to describe the preparation of the ...

wave (''10. Welle''), but this order was rescinded after the French Surrender. A new 277th Infantry Division was formed in

Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...

on November 17, 1943, as part of the 22nd mobilisation wave (''22. Welle''), the division was destroyed in the

Battle of Normandy Operation Overlord was the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allied operation that launched the successful liberation of German-occupied Western Europe during World War II. The operation was launched on 6 June 1944 (D-Day) with the N ...

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. The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguous ...

captivity in the Ruhr Pocket.

Operational history

The 277th Infantry Division was assigned to

2nd Panzer Army The 2nd Panzer Army () was a German armoured formation during World War II, formed from the 2nd Panzer Group on October 5, 1941. Organisation Panzer Group Guderian () was formed on 5 June 1940 and named after its commander, general Heinz Gude ...

from early December 1943 until late January 1944, having been placed there after pressure by '' Oberbefehlshaber Südost'' on

OKW The (; abbreviated OKW ː kaːˈveArmed Forces High Command) was the supreme military command and control staff of Nazi Germany during World War II, that was directly subordinated to Adolf Hitler. Created in 1938, the OKW replaced the Re ...

to strengthen the 2nd Panzer Army with additional forces. The addition of forces was intended to reverse gains made by the National Liberation Army since the announcement of the

Armistice of Cassibile The Armistice of Cassibile ( Italian: ''Armistizio di Cassibile'') was an armistice that was signed on 3 September 1943 by Italy and the Allies, marking the end of hostilities between Italy and the Allies during World War II. It was made public ...

on 8 September 1943, after which the

Royal Italian Army The Royal Italian Army () (RE) was the land force of the Kingdom of Italy, established with the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy. During the 19th century Italy started to unify into one country, and in 1861 Manfredo Fanti signed a decree c ...

had largely ceased fighting against the Yugoslav partisans. After its 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 Army Group G () fought on the Western Front of World War II and was a component of OB West. History Army Group G was initially deployed as an '' Armeegruppe''-type formation on 28 April 1944, but was later upgraded to ''Heeresgruppe''-type on 1 ...

, 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

Literature

* Tessin, Georg. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS 1939 - 1945 Volume 8 {{DEFAULTSORT:277th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht) Infantry divisions of Germany during World War II Military units and formations established in 1940 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945