44th Infantry Division (Germany)

The 44th Infantry Division was formed on April 1, 1938 in Vienna, and was destroyed with the 6th Army at Stalingrad in January 1943. Like all the divisions lost in the Stalingrad disaster, it was reformed using other formations and usually a cadre of specialists who had been evacuated by air before the 6th Army's surrender.

In January 1940 the Feldersatz Battalion was detached and became the 3rd battalion, 443rd infantry regiment, 164th infantry division. In September 1940, one third of the division was detached to form the 137th Infantry Division. (At that time, the German Army formed new divisions by detaching one-third of two existing divisions, then raising the remaining parts from new recruits. In this manner only one-third of the two old and one newly created divisions were new recruits).

On 17 February 1943, the division was reformed with the 887th and 888th Grenadier Regiments in Belgium. On 1 June 1943, the 134th Grenadier Regiment was added, and the division renamed Reichsgrenadier Division Hoch und Deutschmeister, along with the 80th Panzerjager, 46th Pioneer, 64th Signals, and 44th Divisional support units. The Meier Panzer Group was added to the division in 1943-1944. The division served in Italy, suffering heavy losses during the fighting for the "Hitler" Line and the Melfa River. Its Feldersatz Battalion was very nearly wiped out opposite 1st Canadian Infantry Division. 44th Division surrendered to American troops near Linz.

Commanding officers

• Generalleutnant Albrecht Schubert, 1 April 1938 – 1 October 1939
• Generalleutnant Friedrich Siebert, 1 October 1939 – 2 May 1942
• Generalleutnant Heinrich Deboi, 2 May 1942 – 29 January 1943

after recreation

• Generalleutnant Dr. Franz Beyer, 1 March 1943 – 1 January 1944
• Generalleutnant Dr. rer. pol. Friedrich Franek 1 January 1944 – 1 May 1944
• Generalleutnant Bruno Ortner 1 May 1944 – 25 June 1944
• Generalleutnant Hans-Günther von Rost 25 June 1944 – 23 March 1945
• Oberst Hoffmann 23 March 1945 – 8 May 1945)

Units

• Infantry Regiment 131
• Infantry Regiment 132
• Infantry Regiment 134
• Artillery Regiment 96
• Reconnaissance Battalion 44
• Field Replacement Battalion 44
• Anti-Tank Battalion 44 (Motorised)
• Pioneer Battalion 80
• Signals Battalion 64
• Divisional Supply Troops 44

References

• Nafziger, George F., 2000. The German Order of Battle, Infantry in World War II.
• The history of the 44.Infanteriedivision - Reichsgrenadier Hoch-und Deutschmeister. Retrieved on 2010-02-17.