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171st Reserve Division
48th Infantry Division
48th Volksgrenadier Division
German: 171. Reserve-Division
48. Infanterie-Division
48. Volksgrenadier-Division
48. Infanterie Division Vehicle Insignia
ActiveFeb 1943 – 1945
Country Nazi Germany
BranchArmy
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
EngagementsWorld War II
  • Northern France
  • Austria
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Colonel Arnold Schotz (Oct-Nov 1944)
Lt General Carl Casper (1944-45)

The 48th Infantry Division (German: 48. Infanterie-Division) was a German division in World War II.

Operational history

The 48th Infantry division was formed in November 1943 in Ostend, West Flanders from the 171st Reserve Division. It had a strong Polish representation throughout its ranks.

The 171st Reserve Division had been established on 1 October 1942 in the occupied Netherlands and stationed in the Arnhem area. In February 1943, the division was transferred to Diksmuide in Belgium. On November 23, 1943, the 171st Reserve Division was restructured and renamed the 48th Infantry Division.

After completing reorganization in February 1944, the unit was assigned to coastal protection near Ostend. In August 1944, after the collapse of the Normandy Front, the 48th was transferred to France.

First engaged in the Chartres area by the 3rd US Army, it performed poorly, being continually driven back by the 3rd Army through Metz and finally the Siegfried Line, where it collapsed altogether and was absorbed into the 559th Volksgrenadier Division. it was sent to the Eastern Front assigned to the German 8th Army defending Vienna, where it surrendered to the Soviets.

Organization

References

Categories