337th Infantry Division (Germany)
Encyclopedia
The 337th Infantry
Division (German: 337. Infanterie-Division) was a German
division
in World War II
. It was formed on 16 November 1940 in Kempten
. The division was destroyed on the Eastern front
in July 1944 and formed the stab of Divisionsgruppe 337 on 7 August 1944 which later was the basis of the 337. Volks-Grenadier-Division.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
Division (German: 337. Infanterie-Division) was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was formed on 16 November 1940 in Kempten
Kempten
Kempten can refer to:* Kempten im Allgäu, a town in Bavaria, Germany* Kempten ZH, a district of the town of Wetzikon in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland* Kempton Park, Gauteng, a city in South Africa which was named after Kempten in Bavaria...
. The division was destroyed on the Eastern front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
in July 1944 and formed the stab of Divisionsgruppe 337 on 7 August 1944 which later was the basis of the 337. Volks-Grenadier-Division.
Commanding officers
- Generalleutnant Karl Spang, 15 November 1940 – 2 May 1941
- Generalleutnant Kurt PfliegerKurt PfliegerKurt Pflieger was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful...
, 19 May 1941 – 15 March 1942 - General der Artillerie Erich MarcksErich MarcksErich Marcks was a German general of artillery in World War II.-Biography:Born in Schöneberg, Marcks was the son of the German historian Erich Marcks. He began advanced studies in philosophy in Freiburg in 1909. He broke off his studies after only three semesters and became a career officer of...
, 15 March 1942 – 20 September 1942 - Generalleutnant Otto SchünemannOtto SchünemannOtto Schünemann was a Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or...
, 5 October 1942 – 27 December 1943 - Generalleutnant Walter SchellerWalter SchellerWalter Scheller was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful...
, 27 December 1943 – July 1944