The 349th Infantry Division was a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

military unit which fought during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

History

The division was originally formed on 25 November 1943 in St. Omer near Calais, France, and fought mostly on the Eastern Front, being effectively destroyed near Zolochiv by the Soviet Army's

Lvov-Sandomierz Offensive The Lvov–Sandomierz offensive or Lvov–Sandomierz strategic offensive operation () was a major Red Army operation to force the German troops from Ukraine and Eastern Poland. Launched in mid-July 1944, the operation was successfully completed ...

in July 1944, and disbanded in August 1944. Its commander was Infantry General

Otto Lasch Otto Lasch (25 June 1893 in Pleß, Oberschlesien – 29 April 1971) was a German general in the ''Wehrmacht'' during World War II who commanded the LXIV Corps. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. ...

. The division was reformed in September 1944 to the

Volksgrenadier ''Volksgrenadier'', also spelt ''Volks-Grenadier'', was the name given to a type of German Army division formed in the autumn of 1944 after the double loss of Army Group Centre to the Soviets in Operation Bagration and the Fifth Panzer Army t ...

standard as 349th Volks-Grenadier-Division, commanded by Major-General

Karl Koetz __NOTOC__ Karl Koetz (8 February 1908 – 11 June 1977) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.Fellgiebel 2003, p. 219. Awards and decorat ...

. During the East Prussian Offensive in January 1945, it was encircled in the

Heiligenbeil pocket The Heiligenbeil Pocket or Heiligenbeil Cauldron () was the site of a major encirclement battle on the Eastern Front during the closing weeks of World War II, in which the Wehrmacht's 4th Army was almost entirely destroyed during the Soviet B ...

near Mehlsack and destroyed.

Source

Lexikon der Wehrmacht
Military units and formations established in 1943 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945 Infantry divisions of Germany during World War II {{Germany-WWII-stub