| 331st Infantry Division | |
|---|---|
| German: 331. Infanterie-Division | |
| Active | 15 December 1941-23 March 1945 |
| Country | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Nazi Germany |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Nickname(s) | Heer |
| Engagements | World War II |
The 331st Infantry Division (German: 331. Infanterie-Division) was an infantry division of the German army during World War II. It was activated at the end of 1941 and was disbanded in the early months of 1945.
Operational History
The 331st Infantry Division was created on December 15, 1941, as part of the 17th wave of the Aufstellungswelle. The division was formed from troops from mainly Dresden, Pilsen, northern Austria which were a part of Wehrkreis IV, Wehrkreis XIII, and Wehrkeis XVII respectively.The 331st was sent right to Army Group Center in January 1942, where it had suffered very heavy casualties and nearly destroyed. It was then transferred to Army Group North. It fought on the eastern front for two years, where it suffered very heavy losses in the defensive fighting near Juchnov, Velish, and Nevel in 1942 to 1943.
The division was then reformed in Germany at the Wahn Troop Maneuver Area in March 1944, where it incorporated the partially trained troops of Infantry (Shadow) Division Wahn. At the same time, the 557th Grenadier Regiment, which was disbanded, was reformed, but with only two battalions, which was normal for Type 1944 divisions.The 558th and 559th Grenadier Regiments also only had two battalions.
The division was then Stationed at Calais where it returned to action in Normandy, it was trapped in and the broke out of the Falaise Pocket, and it took part in the withdrawal through France. On August 28 while it was defending Paris, it was attacked by the US 1st Army, and its defenses quickly crumbled. The remaining soldiers of the division regrouped and were sent to Holland, where they were put into different units. The division was declared dissolved on October 7, 1944. The division staff, was redesignated Special Administrative Division Staff 331 and still operated in the Netherlands, in the rear of Army Group H, until it was disbanded on March 23, 1945.