View source for 326th Infantry Division

{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=326th Infantry Division
|image=
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|country={{flag|Nazi Germany}} 
|type=[[Infantry]]
|branch=[[German Army (Wehrmacht)|Army]]
|dates=
|command_structure=
|size=[[Division (military)|Division]]
|garrison=
|nickname=
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
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|battles=[[World War II]]
|notable_commanders=
}}

The '''326th Infantry Division''' (''326. Infanterie-Division'') was the only Eastern Front (Ost Front) veteran division to have fought in the battles of Normandy.  It was formed on November 9, 1942, shortly after its return from Southern Russia to serve as an [[German occupation of France during World War II|occupation force in France]]. On May 5, 1943, the division was transformed into a static division. The 326th Infantry Division was destroyed during the [[operation Overlord|Battle of Normandy]]. A new '''326th Volksgrenadier Division''' (''326. Volksgrenadier-Division'') was formed on September 4, 1944, in [[Galanta]] by redesignation of the new '''579th Volksgrenadier Division''' of the 32nd [[mobilisation]] wave. In 1945 the division, separated into two groups, entered [[United States|U.S.]] captivity in the [[Ruhr Pocket]] and [[Harz]] respectively.

==Operational history==

The 326th Infantry Division spent its entire operational history on the [[Western Front (World War II)|Western Front]], taking part in the [[operation Overlord|Battles of Normandy]] under [[Army Group D]] (''Heeresgruppe D'') and the [[Battle of the Bulge|Ardennes]] under [[Army Group B]] (''Heeresgruppe B'').

==Organisation==

===1942===

* ''Grenadier-Regiment 751'', I-III Battalions
* ''Grenadier-Regiment 752'', I-III Battalions
* ''Grenadier-Regiment 753'', I-III Battalions
* ''Artillerie-Regiment 326'', I-III Battalions
* ''Schnelle-Abteilung 326''
* ''Pionier-Bataillon 326''
* ''Infanterie-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 326''

===1944===

* ''Grenadier-Regiment 751'', I and II Battalions
* ''Grenadier-Regiment 752'', I and II Battalions
* ''Grenadier-Regiment 753'', I and II Battalions
* ''Artillerie-Regiment 326'', I-IV Battalions
* ''Divisions-Füsilier-Kompanie 326 '' (later expanded to Füsilier-Bataillon 26)
* ''Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 326''
* ''Pionier-Bataillon 326''
* ''Infanterie-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 326''

==Commanding officers==
* Lieutenant General Friedrich von Drabich-Waechter (1944)
* Major General Dr. Erwin Kaschner (1945)
* Lieutenant General Friedrich

==References==

* Tessin, Georg. Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS 1939 - 1945 Volume 9
{{Numbered infantry divisions of the Wehrmacht}}{{Volksgrenadier divisions of the Wehrmacht}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:326th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)}}
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1942]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1945]]
[[Category:Infantry divisions of Germany during World War II]]


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