329th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)
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| 329th Infantry Division | |
|---|---|
| German: 329. Infanterie-Division | |
 | |
| Active | 17 December 1941 – 1945 |
| Country |  Nazi Germany |
| Branch |  Heer (Wehrmacht) |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Nickname(s) | Hammer-Division |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Commanders |
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The 329th Infantry Division (German: 329. Infanterie-Division) was an infantry division of the German army during World War II. It existed between 1941 and 1945.
The 329th Infantry Division was formed on 17 December 1941 as a valkyrie division of the 17th wave of deployment. Initially assembled at Groß-Born in Wehrkreis II, its staff personnel was drawn from the staff of the 526th Infantry Division, which had been formed in October 1939 from frontier guard units.[1] Its initial commander was Helmuth Castorf.[2]
The division initially consisted of three infantry regiments (551, 552, 554), with Infantry Regiment 551 consisting of three battalions and the other two regiments of two battalions each, for a total of seven infantry battalions. Additionally, the division possessed the Artillery Regiment 329 with two detachments and the Division Units 329.[1]
The division was deployed near Lyck and marched to the Eastern Front on foot. There, it began fighting in the Staraya Russa sector around March 1942.[1] On 7 March 1942, Bruno Hippler took command of the division. Hippler was in turn replaced by Johannes Mayer on 23 March.[2] The 1st Bn Inf Regt 551 had to be dissolved as a result of casualties on 8 May 1942; 3rd Bn was later redesignated 1st Bn.[1]
Until 1943, the Artillery Regiment 329 was strengthened from two up to four detachments, and a Fusilier Battalion was formed on divisional level. As a result, the 329th Infantry Division now approximated a division following the Division neuer Art 44 archetype.[1] Paul Winter briefly took command of the division on 9 August 1943, before Mayer returned to his post in September.[2]
On 18 July 1944, Werner Schulze took command of the 329th Infantry Division. He was succeeded by Konrad Menkel on 20 October before returning to his post on 1 January 1945. Menkel again took command of the division later in early 1945, and served as the final divisional commander.[2]