Strategic Overview By the beginning of 1944, victory in the field for the German Army seemed less and less likely a possibility; North Africa had been lost, Allied armies were moving north through Italy, and the last great offensive of the war in the east at Kursk had been decidedly repulsed. Units in the east continued to rotate out for rest breaks, reorganization or refitting; Grossdeutschland was an exception. Used as a mobile "fire brigade", put into action in the most critical areas, GD would continue its legacy of dedicated service...and high casualties. Sister units to the Grossdeutschland Division, originally small guard detachments, would be reinforced, re-equipped, expanded, and expanded again during the year. In November 1944, the Panzerkorps "Großdeutschland" was formed, with the Panzergrenadier Division GD as its nucleus. This page will focus on the actions of the Division (only); during the year GD would leave the Soviet Union forever, and its odyssey would take it westward through Romania, then north into East Prussia, briefly on the offensive again in Lithuania, and back onto German soil again, where it would finish the year. Defensive Battles The year began for Grossdeutschland with defensive battles east of Krivoi-Rog, a transfer to an area west of Kirovograd on 4 January, and more defensive battles throughout January, February, and the first month of March. During this time, elements of the Panzer Regiment came and went; I Battalion of the 26 Pz Rgt joined GD while the first battalion of Panzer Regiment GD went to France to train on Panthers, and major elements of the panzer regiment GD were also employed during the Cherkassy fighting. The defensive battles eventually culminated in a retreat to the Bug River during the second week of March.
Farewell to the Soviet Union The GD Division pulled back to the Dniestr river in the last half of March 1944; by April it was engaged in the area around Targul Frumos in Romania, first launching a counterattack on 25 April, then participating in severe defensive battles in the first week of May. By 7 May, the front had quieted, and the remainder of the month was spent reorganizing. While some subunits such as the first company of Panzer Füsilier Regiment GD and the Armoured Reconaissance Battalion were re-equipping with new armoured vehicles, the two infantry regiments were being reduced to three battalions of four companies each, rather than four battalions of five companies each.
On the Move Again The GD Division once again participated in counter attack operations, at Podul in early June 1944, being pulled out of the line on 8 June. The 1st Battalion of the Panzer Regiment, refitting in France, was thrown into the fighting around the Normandy beachhead. The GD Division transferred to a rest area 100 kilometres south of Jassy on 15 June, and reorganized there until 24 July. On the 25th, the Division was transferred to East Prussia, near Gumbinnen. The Baltic States GD was quickly assigned to an offensive role in its new location, and beginning on 5 August, started advancing into Lithuania and Latvia, spending the month of August alternately advancing and fighting defensive battles, hoping to prevent a Soviet breakthrough to the Baltic coast.
Defensive Fighting and Reprieve GD remained in positions gained by an attack towards Tukum throughout September, and on 3 October began to withdraw west of Stauliai. Heavy defensive fighting erupted between Stauliai and Memel between 6 and 9 October. The 1st Battalion of the Panzer Regiment, previously fighting in France, now fought in some of the first battles on East Prussian soil in the second week of October. The GD Division proper continued desperate defensive battles for the remainder of October in the Memel bridgehead, fighting throughout the month of November. Also during November, the 1st Battalion of the Panzer Regiment rejoined the Division, replacing the 1st Battalion of Panzer Regiment 26 who transferred to Hungary. As GD is expanded to a Panzer Korps and other units are added to corps command, GD units begin providing replacements for other formations.Beginning on 26 November, the GD Division tranferred by boat to Königsberg, and was able to rest and refit near Rastenburg. |
