305th Infantry Division (Germany)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=305^th Infantry Division (Bodensee)


caption=German 305^th Infantry Division Insignia
country=Germany
allegiance= German Third Reichflagicon|Germany|Nazi
German High Command flagicon|Germany|Nazi
type=Division
branch=Regular Army
dates=October 1940–April 1945
specialization=
command_structure= German VII Army in France
German VI Army in Russia
German X Army in Italy
size=
current_commander=
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
nickname="Bodensee Division"
"Baden-Württembergische Division"
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

See also "305th Infantry Division"

The 305th Infantry Division was a German Army unit that saw extensive, front-line action during World War II. This division was present at the Battle of Stalingrad, the Battle of Monte Cassino, and surrendered to U.S. Army's 88th Infantry Division in Northern Italy near Trento in late April 1945.

Formation

The 305th Infantry Division was part of the 13th wave of "Wehrmacht" mobilizations October through November 1940. As of December 1940, the 305th Infantry Division was based out of Ravensburg, Upper Swabia on the Bodensee. [http://www.feldgrau.com/InfDiv2.php?emblem=305&type=Infanteriedivision]

Chronology

The Road into Russia

*By December 1940, the 305th was as a garrison division absorbing one-third of the 78th Infantry Division and the 296th Infantry Division.
*On 7 February 1942 the division was converted from garrison division to a field division.
*In March 1942 divisions received full armaments and was led up to staff infantry division.
*In July 1942 the division arrived on southern segment front in Russia.
*From August 1942 the division is engaged with Soviet forces near Stalingrad and in the city of Stalingrad itself. 305th Infantry Division was intended to become a garrison division in Stalingrad after the fall of city, but these plans are not realized.
*The division was destroyed in the North Sector of Stalingrad in January 1943. Very few survivors and wounded made it out of the city.
*Last units of the 305th see action on 1 February 1943 near the tractor factory in the North Sector of Stalingrad.

Reconstitution and Service in Italy

Incomplete. More to come.

Commanding Officers

Generalleutnant Kurt Pflugradt (15 Dec 1940 - 12 Apr 1942)
Generalleutnant Kurt Oppenländer (12 Apr 1942 - 1 Nov 1942)
Generalleutnant Bernhard Steinmetz (1 Nov 1942 - 31 Jan 1943)
General der Artillerie Friedrich-Wilhelm Hauck (5 Mar 1943 - ? Dec 1944)
Oberst Friedrich Trumpeter (? Dec 1944 - 29 Dec 1944)
Generalmajor Friedrich von Schellwitz (29 Dec 1944 - 8 May 1945)

Knight's Cross Holders

Hans-Georg Brandt (22-January-1943)
Wilhelm Braun (20-January-1943)
Josef Bruetsch (17-February-1945)
Alfred Gorski (21-January-1945)
Friedrich-Wilhelm Hauck (11-June-1944)
Martin Kordemann (11-May-1945)
Franz Mader (12-December-1944)
Erich Michalski (6-February-1944)
Kurt Oppenlaender (25-July-1942)
Ernst Rath (15-July-1944)
Otto Trinko (30-April-1945)
Friedrich Trompeter (21-January-1945)
Anton Wehinger (9-January-1945)
Willy Winzer (3-November-1942)

References

German

*cite book | author=Friedrich Wilhelm Hauck | title=Eine deutsche Division im Rußlandfeldzug, 305. Infanterie-Division
*cite book | author=Rettenmaijer | title=Das ende der 305. (Bodensee) Infantrie Division in Stalingrad (in Alte Kameraden)

External links

* [http://www.feldgrau.com/InfDiv2.php?emblem=305&type=Infanteriedivisionbr/ Feldgrau.com]