302.Infanterie-Division

Unit Emblems

Lineage

• 302.Infanterie-Division (bodenständige)
• 302.Infanterie-Division

Traditions

• None

Mobilized

• 13th mobilization wave, October 1940

Campaigns

• Western Front 1941-1942
• Eastern Front 1942-1944

Notable Points

• Bore the brunt of (and replulsed) the Allied invasion of Dieppe on August 19th, 1942.

Nicknames

“Dieppe Division”

Fate

Destroyed in August 1944 in the Ukraine near Tighina.

History

The 302.Infanterie-Division was formed on November 12th, 1940 as abodenständige-Division, or static unit. When used as an adjective (and not capitalized when used) bodenständige indicated a unit was not fully field-mobile as was the case with numerous divisions formed for occupation duty in France in the fall of 1940. The division was formed in the regions of Ostmecklenburg in Pommern from portions of the 75.Infanterie-Division and the 292.Infanterie-Division as well as from various Heimat-Wach-Bataillonen.

In April 1941 after formation and training the 302.Infanterie-Division was transfered to Dieppe in occupied France on the Western Front. There it took on coastal defense duties in a front over 50 miles long.

Initially the division was rather well staffed and equiped but the requirements of fighting on the Eastern Front gradually began to strip much of the unit of valuable men who were sent to Russia as replacements. In their spot were often placed second line recruits and ethnic German foreign nationals which greatly reduced the overall quality and fighting spirit of the division. In addition, valuable weapons and equipment was also sent East and in its place was put captured materials of Czech, French, Russian and even British origin.

On October 10th, 1942 the 302.Infanterie-Division was reformed as a front line division and later in December 1942 was sent to the Southern Front of Russia.

In December of 1943 the 302.Infanterie-Division was reformed under the “neuer Art 44” organizational scheme.

The division was destroyed in combat in August of 1944 while in the south of Ukraine near Tighina. What remained was absorbed into the 76.Infanterie-Division and the 15.Infanterie-Division. The division was not reformed.

Organization

Panzerjäger-Abteilung 302 was renamed Schnelle-Abteilung 302 in the Winter of 1942/43. Radfahr-Abteilung 302 was also formed in the Winter of 1942/43. Nachrichten-Kompanie 302 became Nachrichten-Abteilung 302 in July of 1942. Inf.Div.Nachschubführer 302 was renamed Kommandeur der Inf.Div.Nachschubtruppen 302 in the Fall of 1942.

Divisions-Gruppe 125 was formed from the remnants of the 125.Infanterie-Division and attached to the division in March of 1944. At the same time Grenadier-Regiment 571 was disbanded with personell distributed to the other two remaining regiments. Radfahr-Abteilung 302 was disbanded in the Summer of 1943. Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 302 was formed in December of 1943. Feldersatz-Bataillon 302 was formed in 1943 also.

Knights Cross Holders

• Arthur Jahnke    4/20/1944

• Hans Luthardt    7/31/1943

• Ernst Weiss    6/24/1944

War Service