The 334th Infantry Division (German: 334. Infanterie-Division) was a German Army infantry division in World War II. Originally formed in November 1942, it surrendered to the Allies at the conclusion of the Tunisian Campaign in May 1943. The division was reconstituted on 3 June 1943 in France within the 1st Army, with the staff of the 80th Infantry Division (which had only just been formed a few days prior) as well as remnants of the old division and replacement units. It spent the remainder of the war serving on the Italian Front.

Operational history

Tunisia

The 334th Infantry Division was set up on 25 November 1942 as "Kriemhilde" unit of the military districts XIII, XVII and XVIII at the Grafenwoehr training area. It was unusual that their three regiments (754, 755, 756) were drawn up from three different military districts (754/XIII – Nuremberg, 755/XVII – Vienna, 756/XVIII – Salzburg). In early 1944, the Division was part of the LI. Mountain Corps (LI. Gebirgs-Armeekorps) relocated south of Pescara to the Gustav Line between Orsogna and Guardiagrele east of the Majella massif. In January the division was assigned the Ost-Btl. 555 as III./755; temporarily renamed Stab III and 9.-12. Kp. Grenadier-Rgt. 755 in early 1944 (the FpN change was not entered until 17 Apr 44).

From the end of July to the end of August, the 334th was deployed in the Reggello-Pelago area southeast of Florence to fight partisans. At the end of August, the division was moved to the area north of Prato. Understrength, Fighting against the advancing Americans, the division was "virtually destroyed" in Operation Craftsman. In April 1945 the remnants of the division surrendered to the Americans of the US 5th Army in the Dolomites. Most of the victims were recorded in an anti-partisan operation north of Prato, in Figline on 6 September 1944 by members of the 756th Grenadier Regiment, 30 people were shot or hanged on the orders of Major Karl Laqua.

According to the Atlante delle stragi naziste e fasciste in Italia project, which was financed by the German Federal Government and led by a commission of historians, around 100 people were killed by members of the 334th Infantry Division.

Grenadier-Regiment 754 (754th Grenadier Regiment):

Repositioned on 5 June 1943 in France. The III. Battalion was transferred to the 7th Panzer Division on 12 September 1943. The II. Battalion was transferred to the Grenadier Regiment 941 (of the 353rd Infantry Division, in Brittany) on 30 November 1943 and replaced.

Grenadier-Regiment 755 (755th Grenadier Regiment):

Repositioned on 5 June 1943 in France. The III. Battalion was transferred to the 353rd Infantry Division on 12 September 1943. The Eastern Battalion 555 was incorporated as a replacement in 1944.

Grenadier-Regiment 756 (756th Grenadier Regiment):

Established in France on 1 July 1943 for the 334th Infantry Division with two grenadier battalions. The regiment replaced the Gebirgs-Jäger-Regiment 756, which was destroyed in Africa. In 1944, an Eastern battalion was incorporated as the 3rd battalion.

Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 334 (Divisional 334th Fusilier Battalion):

Raised in France in June 1943 as Aufklärungs-Abteilung 334 (334th Reconnaissance Battalion) with four companies. Renamed Divisions-Fusilier-Bataillon 334 on 26 July 1943.

Panzerjäger-Abteilung 334 (334th Tank Hunter Battalion):

Raised on 5 June 1943 from the personnel of the Schnelle Abteilung 334 with a tank hunter company, an anti-aircraft company and an Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung (Assault Gun Battalion).

Artillerie-Regiment 334 (334th Artillery Regiment):

The Artillerie-Regiment 334 was reorganized on 20 June 1943 in France. The new regiment was set up with four battalions. The new regiment was again subordinated to the 334th Infantry Division. On 24 November 1943, the 3rd Battalion was handed over to the Artillerie-Regiment 353 and then replaced again. Various units were initially responsible for providing the regiment with replacements. In 1943, Artillerie-Ersatz-Abteilung 10 (Artillery Replacement Battalion 10) took over the provision of replacements for the entire regiment. The regiment was commanded by Colonel Hans-Joachim Ehlert from 1 April 1942 to May 1944; succeeded by Colonel Doenning on 15 May 1944 onwards.

Pionier-Bataillon 334 (334th Engineer Battalion):

The battalions re-formation began on 4 July 1943 in France with the 1st Army. In addition, the battalions 176, 194, 305, 371, 376 and 384 of the new 6th Army, which were in the process of being re-established, supplied levies. The new battalion was also subordinated to the 334th Infantry Division as Divisions-Pionier-Bataillon 334 (Divisional Pioneer Battalion 334). In December 1943, the battalion contributed levies to the formation of the Pioneer Battalion 353 (of the 353rd Infantry Division, in Brittany). The replacements came from the Pionier-Ersatz-Bataillon 46 (Pioneer Replacement Battalion 46) in Regensburg, Wehrkreis XIII.

Feldersatz-Bataillon 334 (334th Field Replacement Battalion):

Formed in October 1943 for the 334th Infantry Division with five companies.

Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 334 (Divisional 334th News Department):

Recreated on 5 July 1943 in France.

Divisions-Nachschubführer 334 (Divisional 334th Supply Command):

Recreated in June 1943 in France. On 1 September 1944, renamed Divisions-Versorgungs-Regiment 334 (Divisional 334th Supply Regiment).

Legacy

The German commander-in-chief in Italy, Albert Kesselring, wrote in his postwar memoirs about his subordinate units, and credited the 334th Infantry Division with a quick emergence as an elite division within weeks of the appointment of Hellmuth Böhlke as commander.

Commanding officers

  • Generalmajor Friedrich Weber (15 November 1942 – 15 April 1943)
  • Generalmajor Fritz Krause (15 April – 12 May 1943)
  • General der Artillerie Heinz Ziegler (24 May – 20 October 1943)
  • Generalleutnant Walter Scheller (20 October – 27 November 1943)
  • Generalleutnant Hellmuth Böhlke (1 February 1944 – April 1945)

Bibliography

  • Werner Haupt (2005). Die deutschen Infanterie-Divisionen, 3 Bände, Band 3: Aufstellungsjahr 1939–1945 [The German Infantry Divisions, 3 volumes, Volume 3: years of deployment 1939–1945], Dörfler Verlag, .
  • Mitcham, Samuel W., Jr. (2007). German Order of Battle. Volume Two: 291st – 999th Infantry Divisions, Named Infantry Divisions, and Special Divisions in WWII. PA; United States of America: Stackpole Books. pg. 40–42, .
  • Peter Young (1974), Der Grosse Atlas zum II. Weltkrieg [The Great Atlas for World War II], Südwest Verlag, Munich, pg. 122–130.
  • J.Fössinger (1985). Die Abruzzen im Kriegsjahr 1943. Die 334. ID wird dorthin verlegt. [The Abruzzo in the war year of 1943. The 334th ID will be moved there], Self-published.
  • J. Fössinger (1987). Die Abruzzen im Kriegsjahr 1944. Der Einsatz der 334. Infanterie-Division [The Abruzzo in the war year of 1944. The deployment of the 334th Infantry Division], Self-published, Bolzano.
  • J. Fössinger (1991). Der Einsatz der 334. Infanterie-Division am Trasimenersee, beim Arno und in der Apenninstellung (20. Juni bis 30. September 1944) [The deployment of the 334th Infantry Division on Lake Trasimeno, by the Arno and in the Apennine position (20 June – 30 September 1944)], Kameradenkreis, Pyras.
  • J. Fössinger (1993). Die 334. Infanterie-Division bei der Cassino/Rom-Schlacht (11.5. - 20.6.1944) [The 334th Infantry Division at the Cassino / Rome battle (11 May – 20 June 1944)], Self-published Kameradenkreis (Circle of Comrades) of the 334th ID, Merano.
  • J. Fössinger (1983). Die Bombardierung von Baragazza am 11.9.1944 und der Kampf um die Apenninstellung [The bombing of Baragazza on 11 September 1944 and the battle for the Apennines], Self-published, Bolzano.
  • J. Fössinger (1989). Die 334. Infanterie-Division (neu) im etruskischen Apennin (Italien) von September 1944 bis Kriegsende Mai 1945 [The 334th Infantry Division (new) in the Etruscan Apennines (Italy) from September 1944 to the end of the war in May 1945], Self-published Kameradenkreis of the 334th ID, Pyras.

Notes

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