354th Grenadier Regiment

[CH47]

I am looking for information on the 354th Grenadier Regiment specifically from Nov 1944 through Jan 1945. I have found bits and pieces that show it to be part of the 62nd Inf. Div. but none are conclusive.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Simon O.]

It had ceased to exist by Nov.44. In July 1944 what was left of the regiment was renamed to form the 2nd battalion of Gren.Rgt.179 in the newly rebuilt 62 Inf.Div.

[CH47]

Simon,

Thank you. A friend of mine's grandfather was in that regiment and wounded 16 Dec 1944. I was trying to find out what I could about the regiment's participation in the Ardennes offensive. The only information he had was that his grandfather was assigned to the 354th. Some references show it still existing some don't. The 62nd Inf. Div. is a common thread in the references. Very confusing time period.

His grandfather served from 1938 through 1945. My friend only has a replacement Soldbuch issued late in war.

Jim

[Simon O.]

Are you not confusing the 62 Infanterie Division with the 62 Volksgrenadier Division?

After the 62 Inf.Div. was destroyed in the Ukraine a new division was raised with the same number, only this time called a volksgrenadier division. I would imagine that soldiers on leave, recovering from wounds etc. from the old division would be transferred to this new formation. From the various sources i've looked at (Tessin, Nafziger etc.) i see no sign of the 354 regiment being re-raised together with the 62 VGD division.

Does the replacement SB you mention refer to the 354 regiment within the timeframe you mentioned?

[ranville]

Hello Jim.

Here other information.

Infanterie - (Grenadier) - Regiment 354

This is the history:
In September 1939 I am constituted 60 regiments of the (Landwehr). The I.R. 354 is part of the 213. I.D. The I.R. 354 is transformed in G.R.354 in October 1942. After the May 1943 the G.R.179 and the G.R 354 go into the 62. I.D.

62.Infanterie-Division November 1943
Grenadier-Regiment 179, Grenadier-Regiment 354, Divisionsgruppe 38, Regimentsgruppe 108, Regimentsgruppe 112, Panzerj******228;ger-Abteilung 162, Divisions-F******252;silier-Bataillon 162, Artillerie-Regiment 162, Pionier-Bataillon 162, Infanterie-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 162, Kommandeur der Infanterie-Divisions-Nachschubtruppen 162.

On March 13 of the 1944 the rests of the 62 I.D. that they have taken part in the operations to free the 6. Army, they take the name of "Division Gruppe 62" in the "Korps-Abteilug F". On July 20, 1944 the "Korps-Abteilug F" returns 62.I.D. The rests of the 354 G.R. pass in the G.R .179

62. Infanterie-Division August 1944
Grenadier-Regiment 112, Grenadier-Regiment 179, Grenadier-Regiment 415, Divisions-F******252;silier-Bataillon 162, Panzerj******228;ger-Abteilung 162, Artillerie-Regiment 162, Pionier-Bataillon 162, Infanterie-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 162, Kommandeur der Infanterie-Divisions-Nachschubtruppen 162

The division fights in Romania in Kischinev and later on is destroied. In September 1944 the division is retired from the front to be reconstituted to Neuhammer and it comes denominated 62. VGD (Volks-Grenadier-Division )

62. VGD (Volks - Grenadier - Division)
Gren.Rgt.164-183-192, Div.Fus.Btl.162, Art.Rgt 162, Pz.Jag.Abt.162, Pi.Btl.162,
Inf. Nach.Abt.162, Div.Versorgungs-Rgt.162.
This new division is transfered to the West and it takes part in the Ardenne offensive ( in the area Basse-Bodeux, Saint-Vith, Eupen).

The division is destroied by the 9. American division in the Monschau battle. Rests of the 62. VDG are reorganized and transfered in 5. PanzerArmee.
The division will finish its history in the little from the Ruhr ( sector of Dusseldorf ) a month before the armistice.



Official Battle-and engagement


62.Infanterie-Division
(Aufgestellt 1939 in Kanth bei Breslau. Im August 1944 in Besserabien zerschlagen)
62. VGD (Volks - Grenadier – Division)
(Aufgestellt 1944 in Neuhammer/Schlesien. 1945 Kapitulation im Ruhrkessel)


Februar/September -- Verlustreiche Abwehrkampfe im Priwolmoje- Bogen.


Oktober /1944 /Januar -- Ruckzug uber dei Dnjepr bei Saparoshje,
Abwehrkampfe im Raum Dnjepropetrowsk.


Februar /August -- Ruckzugkampfe uber Kriwoj Rog, Dubosary, Kishinew zum Pruth. Zerschlagung im Raum Husy – Jassy.

September /Oktober -- Neuaufstellung als 62. Volksgrenadierdivision auf dem Truppen-ubungsplatz Neuhammer/ Schlesien.

-West-

November/Dezember -- Bereilstellung im Raum Pnum / Eifel


Dezember bis 1945 Januar -- Ardenneoffensive, VorstoB uber Saint Vith,
Abwherkampfe sudlich Eupen. Ruckzug in die Schnee-Eifel. Kampfe um die Urfttalsperre.

Februar bis April -- Ruckzug in die Westwallstellungen bei Gmund und Schleiden. Rheinubergang bei Bonn. Abwerkampfe im Bruckeknkopf Remagen. Ruckzug durch das Siebengebirge uber Konigswinter, Oberpleis, Siesgurg, Walsbrol. Kampfe um die Sieg-Linie zwischen Betzdorf und Wissen. Ruckzug in den Ruhrkessel uber Gummersbach, Solingen Wuppertal – Vokwinkel nach Dusseldorf. Am 17. April Kapitulation.

Cheers,
ranville

[CH47]

Thank you all for the assistance. I have since found out that my friend's grandfather was wounded assaulting the village of Heckhuscheid. He was in the 4. Kompanie Gren Btl. 183.

He had originally been assigned to the 354th.

[ranville]

Hello Jim.


Gren. Btl 183 or Gren. Ers. Btl. 183 ??

The soldier of the Gren Erst. Btl. 183 there is soldiers of replacement for the
62 I.D. /62. VGD

62. VGD
(Dezember bis 1945 Januar -- Ardenneoffensive, VorstoB uber Saint Vith)

Heckhuscheid (Germany) south-east Saint Vith

Cheers,
ranville

[Simon O.]

I guess 4 Kp. Gren Rgt.183 rather than Gren.Ersatz.Btl.183?

In any case the fog lifts and things makes sense.

[CH47]

Much easier to chase down individual histories of American Civil War veterans than it is German veterans of WWII.

Going to Germany in April, I hope to be able to research a bit more on this man.

[ralfanton62]

Even if it cames late, but better late than never:

A few questions are allready answered:

I´m not sure if it helps your questions, but you should take a look at my Homepage under www.62vgd.de
there you would find the hole divisions history (but only in german, thats why I´m not sure if it helps you) from the Beginning to the end as downloadable Ebook in pdf-format.

Best Regards

Ralf Anton Schäfer


PS.: Im interested in Scans of the Documents you have. Can you send them to my Email-Adress