212th Infantry Division

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows....................

The 212 ID in Russia.

During the year’s transition from 1943 to 1944 it fought in the northeastern part of Chudovo, so that the Division in recent months, fought and bled almost in all fronts in northern Russia. In February 1944, only counted with a battle group (Kampfgruppe).

With the onset of the withdrawal of Army Group North, as a result of the Soviet offensive south of Leningrad and Volkhov, had to retreat its the troops on the Luga in the Pskov region, then the unit withdrew to Lissino and Narva. The defensive struggle followed by Lepel, from where it moved through Vilnius to the north of Olita.

Source: http://forum.balsi.de/
http://www.usmbooks.com/saar_bis_mosel.html
http://www.rommel-lebt.com/index.html
http://www.militaria321.com/kategorie.c ... goryID=160

Cheers. Raúl M .

[eolson]

As the 212th was withdrawing through Vilnius what type of Soviet equipment were they fighting against and which units? What type of tanks did they fight against, troops with what rifles, mobile artillery, etc?

Thanks you for all the information

Eric

[tigre]

Hello to all ; last part.....................

Here the ID 212 was destroyed. The OKH took the Division out of the front line and moved into Sieradz where it was dissolved in September 1944. However two days later came the order to rebuild the unit as 212 Volksgrenadier Division (212 VGD). To rebuild this division were used the remains of the old division plus the new elements of the 578. Volks.-Gren.D. Thus arose again: GR 316 From GR 1192, GR 320 from the GR 1193 and GR 423 of GR 1194. The new AR. 212 of AR. 1578 and the rest of the division's units - including a new Div.Füs.Btl. 212 – out of the divisional units with No. 1578.

The new 212 VGD was deployed in December 1944 in the area of responsibility of AOK 7 on the river Moselle. Its subordinate units came into position northwest of Trier. When the allied troops crossed the river Moselle and then the Rhine, the division withdrew to the region of Tauber / Franconia to fall prisoner to the Americans in the Baumholder area.

Source: http://forum.balsi.de/
http://www.usmbooks.com/saar_bis_mosel.html
http://www.rommel-lebt.com/index.html
http://www.militaria321.com/kategorie.c ... goryID=160
LANDSER - 1183 - Kampf um die Panther-Stellung, H. Karschkes.

It's all folks. Cheers. Raúl M .

[eolson]

What do you mean by "The OKH took the Division out " was the OKH a Soviet unit that destroyed the 212 or a German command that ordered the 212 to withdraw to Sieradz?

Thank you!

[sebastian]

okh is oberkommando heeres,meaning the headcommand of the groundforces

[eolson]

Please review the following and verify its accuracy:
The 212th Inf. Division fought all along the northern Russian front in the Cudovo region, it then retreated to Lugua in the Province of Leningrad, Russia. It then retreated to the Narva. The 212th then moved south through Province of Pskov, Russia and made a defensive stand at Lepiel, Belarus
After being pushed from Lepiel, the 212th moved to Vilnius where it was ordered back north to Pskov & Ostrov where it was nearly destroyed.
The 212th was taken off the Eastern Front by OKH (Head Command of the Ground Forces) because it's numbers were reduced to the point that it was ineffective as a fighting force. Sieradz, Poland

Follow attached link to verify travel route of the 212th in Russia, thank you!!

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&sour ... c4a2bde5a4

[tigre]

Hello Eolson ; good job with that map....as I can see the 212 was moved from Lepel to Vilnius ending due north of Olita (Alitus). Cheers. Raúl M .

[eolson]

Raúl, which city is where the 212th Inf. Division was destroyed, or had its last battle before it was withdrawal to Sieradz, Poland and renamed 212th Volksgrenadier Division?

Thank you!!

[tigre]

Hello eolson ; I think the place you asked for was north of Alytus (Olita). Cheers. Raúl M .

[eolson]

What kind of opposition did they face? Inf, Tanks, both?

Was it a city fight or city outskirts or rural country?

How many men made it out alive?

Thank you!!

[Kelvin]

Did 212. infanterie division was heavily damaged in the war of attrition in Baltic States, not destroyed ?

[tigre]

Hello Kelvin ; yes I think is correct to say it was heavily damaged (suffered heavy casualties) and it ceased to exist as a combat unit (or destroyed as a fighting force). Cheers. Raúl M .