Active 22 May 1940 – 1945 Branch Army Size Division | Country Nazi Germany Type Infantry | |
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Engagements World War II
Ardennes
Battles of Normandy | ||
A first 277th Infantry Division (German: 277. Infanterie-Division) was ordered to form on May 22, 1940 as part of the 10th mobilisation wave (10. Welle), but this order was rescinded after the French Surrender. A new 277th Infantry Division was formed in Croatia on November 17, 1943 as part of the 22nd mobilisation wave (22. Welle), the division was destroyed in the Battle of Normandy 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. captivity in the Ruhr Pocket.
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Operational history
Except for its formation 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, beginning in Nov '44. It then participated in the Ardennes campaign. It fought alongside the 12th VG Div in the effort to take Rocherath-Krinkelt and Elsenborn.