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The 708th Infantry Division was created in February 1941 in the region of Metz and Strasbourg, initially with two Infantry Regiments. Transferred to south west France as a static division in June manning on the coastal defenses in the Gironde / Bordeaux region. The 728. Infanterie-Regiment was in the Gironde estuary at Royan, the 748th at Lesparre in Médoc. The 360th is stationed at Soulac, Lesparre (Saint-Vivian)and at the Caserne Nansouty in Bordeaux. Both artillery battalions are in positions along the Gironde river (1) on 13 July the Division numbered 8123 men.(2)
The 708th division was split up on 2 July with the 360th regiment along with two fortress battalions and batteries remaining in the Gironde position under the command of Generalmajor Edgar Arndt. A new structure was formed on 13 July (3) and the field Division was appointed its former commander generalleutnant Herman Wilck. The division also received nine self propelled Marder 1 sdkfz 135 Panzerjager and twelve 88mm Anti tank guns from 2/AOK1 reserves at this time. The division commenced movement on 2 August by train and vehicles via Angers to the Mayenne and Sarthe region forming a triangle defensive position following the Mayenne River facing west defending the remaining non destroyed river crossing points. The northern most position was Domfront (Normandy), then south through Sept Forges, Ambrières, Ville Mayenne, and south to Laval then units were also placed in depth defending the national highway to Le Mans (German 7th Army HQ).
Most of the division was in place by the 5th, however the American task force Weaver of the 90th Infantry Division had already captured the important river bridge across the Mayenne river at Ville Mayenne on the morning of 5 August and formed a bridgehead driving deep towards Le Mans. The divisions 1st and 3rd battalions of 728th Regiment joined the counterattack on the breach flanks from the north as part of Kampfgruppe Oberst Coretti (Mayenne District Commander) on the 6th and 7th of August supported by the reconnaissance battalion Panzer Lehr, III battery Sturmgeschützbrigade 341, 1st Sicherungs Regiment, elements of flak Abteilung 496 and 124, a Radfahr battalion (30? or remnants of Osttruppen grenadier battalion 752?), Luftwaffe Landschutzen Kampfgruppe Lisieux, plus Kampfgruppe Reich from 9th Panzer Division. Over the next three days fierce night and street fighting between Aaron and Mayenne erupted which almost destroyed the Kampfgruppe with the remainder retreating towards Sille Le Guilliame and Domfront on 9 August.
Thirty Kilometers south Between the 5th and 6th of August heavy fighting occurred around Laval, a second breach and crossing of the Mayenne river occurred south at Laval by the 5th US Armoured, 105th Cavalry and 79th Infantry Division. Kampfgruppe Oberst Kutzen defending Laval and the Laval Luftwaffe airfield (elements of 91st Infantry Division, 17th SS, 708 Fusilier battalion, Flak Abteilung 842, 124 and members of the V &VI companies of Sicherungs Regiment 195) many were caught in a pincer movement and surrounded (1667 prisoners) with escaping units retreating towards Le Mans on the route National.
The division reorganised and prepared a new blocking line as more elements of the 9th Panzer arrived to defend Le Mans, again being savaged at Evron and Saint Suzanne (where majority of the artillery regiment was destroyed or captured) retreating through Sillé-le-Guillaume north towards Alençon, several hasty kampfgruppes were thrown together to prevent the breakthrough, however against overwhelming odds the front had collapsed by the 10th. On the 10th generalleutnant Herman Wilck was wounded when his car was destroyed by artillery fire and command fell to Oberst Bruno Gerlock and by 18 August much of the division was surrounded and surrendered (Gerlock was captured on the 19th)(5) . The remainder of the Divisions men escaped into the Falaise pocket and moved north to cross the Seine with the retreating German army.
The division's former commander, Generalmajor Arndt with his aides Hauptmann Wilhelm Schöps and Oberleutnant Arthur Jordan were captured on 24 August and executed by Free French Forces south of Troyes on 27 August at Chateau de Grogny, there bodies have never been found.
728. Grenadier-Regiment I & II Abteilung, 8kp grenadiers, XIV Kp 3x7.5cm AT, 3x5cm AT
748. Grenadier-Regiment I &II Abteilung, 8Kp grenadiers, XIV Kp 3x7.5cm AT, 2x4.7cm AT
708. Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 4Kp grenadiers
658. Artillerie-Regiment
I Abteilung 16x French Schneider 105mm horse drawn (second Company vehicles). II Abteilung 12 x 7.62cm IKH 290(r) in II./1708 Art 76 mm M1927 regimental guns were placed into service as the 7.62 cm Infanteriekanonehaubitze 290(r), horse drawn. 8 x 12.2cm sFH 396(r) (russian) horse drawn.
708. FlaK-Kompanie 2 Kp 9 x 2cm flak
708. Feldersatz-Bataillon
708. Panzerjäger-Kompanie 1.Pz.Kp 9 x Marder I sdkfz 135, 2.Pz.Kp. (mot. Z) with 5 x 8.8 cm anti-aircraft guns (assigned from AOK1)
3.Pz.Kp. with 12 x 2cm anti-aircraft guns on self-propelled gun
708. Pionier-Bataillon 3 Kompanie motorised
708. Nachrichten-Abteilung
708. Versorgungstruppen
Commandersedit
Generalmajor Walter Drobnig (3 May 1941 - 1 Mar 1942)
Generalleutnant z.V. Hermann Wilck (1 Mar 1942 - 30 July 1943)
Generalmajor Edgar Arndt (30 July 1943 - 30 Aug 1943) (KIA ) (1)
Generalleutnant z.V. Hermann Wilck (13th July 1944 - 10 Aug 1944) (WIA) (2)
Oberst Bruno Gerlock (10 Aug 1944 - 19 Aug 1944) (3)
Operations Officersedit
Major Wilhelm Breidenstein (Sep 1943 - Feb 1944)
Oberstleutnant Heinz-Joachim Mueller-Lamkow (Feb 1944 - Aug 1944)
Sourcesedit
^"708. Infanteriedivision". Axishistory.com. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
3. NARA. Interrogation of Oberst Bruno Gurloch, ref : MS#B -320 and Bundesarchive plus Kreigstagebuch of LXXXI AK ref :RH24-81/97 messages 10-8-44 at 10h15.
January 01, 1970
708th, infantry, division, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, relies, largely, entirely, single, source, relevant, discussion, found, talk, . This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources 708th Infantry Division news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2023 Some of this article s listed sources may not be reliable Please help improve this article by looking for better more reliable sources Unreliable citations may be challenged and removed September 2023 Learn how and when to remove this message Learn how and when to remove this message The 708th Infantry Division German 708 Infanteriedivision was a German Army infantry division in World War II 1 708th Infantry DivisionGerman 708 Infanterie DivisionActiveMay 1941 August 1944Country Nazi GermanyBranchArmyTypeInfantrySizeDivisionEngagementsWorld War II Operation OverlordCommandersNotablecommandersGeneralleutnant Edgar Arndt Contents 1 History 2 Order of battle 3 Commanders 4 Operations Officers 5 SourcesHistory editThe 708th Infantry Division was created in February 1941 in the region of Metz and Strasbourg initially with two Infantry Regiments Transferred to south west France as a static division in June manning on the coastal defenses in the Gironde Bordeaux region The 728 Infanterie Regiment was in the Gironde estuary at Royan the 748th at Lesparre in Medoc The 360th is stationed at Soulac Lesparre Saint Vivian and at the Caserne Nansouty in Bordeaux Both artillery battalions are in positions along the Gironde river 1 on 13 July the Division numbered 8123 men 2 The 708th division was split up on 2 July with the 360th regiment along with two fortress battalions and batteries remaining in the Gironde position under the command of Generalmajor Edgar Arndt A new structure was formed on 13 July 3 and the field Division was appointed its former commander generalleutnant Herman Wilck The division also received nine self propelled Marder 1 sdkfz 135 Panzerjager and twelve 88mm Anti tank guns from 2 AOK1 reserves at this time The division commenced movement on 2 August by train and vehicles via Angers to the Mayenne and Sarthe region forming a triangle defensive position following the Mayenne River facing west defending the remaining non destroyed river crossing points The northern most position was Domfront Normandy then south through Sept Forges Ambrieres Ville Mayenne and south to Laval then units were also placed in depth defending the national highway to Le Mans German 7th Army HQ Most of the division was in place by the 5th however the American task force Weaver of the 90th Infantry Division had already captured the important river bridge across the Mayenne river at Ville Mayenne on the morning of 5 August and formed a bridgehead driving deep towards Le Mans The divisions 1st and 3rd battalions of 728th Regiment joined the counterattack on the breach flanks from the north as part of Kampfgruppe Oberst Coretti Mayenne District Commander on the 6th and 7th of August supported by the reconnaissance battalion Panzer Lehr III battery Sturmgeschutzbrigade 341 1st Sicherungs Regiment elements of flak Abteilung 496 and 124 a Radfahr battalion 30 or remnants of Osttruppen grenadier battalion 752 Luftwaffe Landschutzen Kampfgruppe Lisieux plus Kampfgruppe Reich from 9th Panzer Division Over the next three days fierce night and street fighting between Aaron and Mayenne erupted which almost destroyed the Kampfgruppe with the remainder retreating towards Sille Le Guilliame and Domfront on 9 August Thirty Kilometers south Between the 5th and 6th of August heavy fighting occurred around Laval a second breach and crossing of the Mayenne river occurred south at Laval by the 5th US Armoured 105th Cavalry and 79th Infantry Division Kampfgruppe Oberst Kutzen defending Laval and the Laval Luftwaffe airfield elements of 91st Infantry Division 17th SS 708 Fusilier battalion Flak Abteilung 842 124 and members of the V amp VI companies of Sicherungs Regiment 195 many were caught in a pincer movement and surrounded 1667 prisoners with escaping units retreating towards Le Mans on the route National The division reorganised and prepared a new blocking line as more elements of the 9th Panzer arrived to defend Le Mans again being savaged at Evron and Saint Suzanne where majority of the artillery regiment was destroyed or captured retreating through Sille le Guillaume north towards Alencon several hasty kampfgruppes were thrown together to prevent the breakthrough however against overwhelming odds the front had collapsed by the 10th On the 10th generalleutnant Herman Wilck was wounded when his car was destroyed by artillery fire and command fell to Oberst Bruno Gerlock and by 18 August much of the division was surrounded and surrendered Gerlock was captured on the 19th 5 The remainder of the Divisions men escaped into the Falaise pocket and moved north to cross the Seine with the retreating German army The division s former commander Generalmajor Arndt with his aides Hauptmann Wilhelm Schops and Oberleutnant Arthur Jordan were captured on 24 August and executed by Free French Forces south of Troyes on 27 August at Chateau de Grogny there bodies have never been found Survivors from the 708th Division were subsequently reassembled into the 708th Volksgrenadier Division Order of battle edit1941 728 Infanterie Regiment 748 Infanterie Regiment 658 Artillerie Abteilung 708 Pionier Kompanie 708 Nachrichten Kompanie 708 Versorgungstruppen 1944 728 Grenadier Regiment 748 Grenadier Regiment 360 Festungs Grenadier Regiment 708 Divisions Fusilier Bataillon 658 Artillerie Regiment 708 FlaK Kompanie 708 Feldersatz Bataillon 708 Panzerjager Kompanie 708 Pionier Bataillon 708 Nachrichten Abteilung 708 Versorgungstruppen 13th July 1944 728 Grenadier Regiment I amp II Abteilung 8kp grenadiers XIV Kp 3x7 5cm AT 3x5cm AT 748 Grenadier Regiment I amp II Abteilung 8Kp grenadiers XIV Kp 3x7 5cm AT 2x4 7cm AT 708 Divisions Fusilier Bataillon 4Kp grenadiers 658 Artillerie Regiment I Abteilung 16x French Schneider 105mm horse drawn second Company vehicles II Abteilung 12 x 7 62cm IKH 290 r in II 1708 Art 76 mm M1927 regimental guns were placed into service as the 7 62 cm Infanteriekanonehaubitze 290 r horse drawn 8 x 12 2cm sFH 396 r russian horse drawn 708 FlaK Kompanie 2 Kp 9 x 2cm flak 708 Feldersatz Bataillon 708 Panzerjager Kompanie 1 Pz Kp 9 x Marder I sdkfz 135 2 Pz Kp mot Z with 5 x 8 8 cm anti aircraft guns assigned from AOK1 3 Pz Kp with 12 x 2cm anti aircraft guns on self propelled gun 708 Pionier Bataillon 3 Kompanie motorised 708 Nachrichten Abteilung 708 VersorgungstruppenCommanders editGeneralmajor Walter Drobnig 3 May 1941 1 Mar 1942 Generalleutnant z V Hermann Wilck 1 Mar 1942 30 July 1943 Generalmajor Edgar Arndt 30 July 1943 30 Aug 1943 KIA 1 Generalleutnant z V Hermann Wilck 13th July 1944 10 Aug 1944 WIA 2 Oberst Bruno Gerlock 10 Aug 1944 19 Aug 1944 3 Operations Officers editMajor Wilhelm Breidenstein Sep 1943 Feb 1944 Oberstleutnant Heinz Joachim Mueller Lamkow Feb 1944 Aug 1944 Sources edit 708 Infanteriedivision Axishistory com Retrieved 31 July 2010 2 Bundesarchive ref AOK 7 Nr 4151 44 g kdos 2 8 44 and NR 4176 g Kdos 3 8 44 ref RH 20 7 147 3 NARA Interrogation of Oberst Bruno Gurloch ref MS B 320 and Bundesarchive plus Kreigstagebuch of LXXXI AK ref RH24 81 97 messages 10 8 44 at 10h15 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 708th Infantry Division amp oldid 1215148285, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
