The 18th Volksgrenadier Division (''18. Volksgrenadier-Division''; 18. VGD) was a

volksgrenadier ''Volksgrenadier'' was the name given to a type of German Army division formed in the Autumn of 1944 after the double loss of Army Group Center to the Soviets in Operation Bagration and the Fifth Panzer Army to the Allies in Normandy. The na ...

division of the German Army (''Heer'') during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

, active from 1944 to 1945. The division was formed in Denmark, in September 1944, by redesignating 571. Volksgrenadier-Division. Under the command of

Günther Hoffmann-Schönborn __NOTOC__ Günther Hoffmann-Schönborn (1 May 1905 – 4 April 1970) was a general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. Awards * Iron Cross (1939) 2nd C ...

, the new division absorbed elements of the

18th Luftwaffe Field Division The 18th Luftwaffe Field Division (german: 18. Luftwaffen-Feld-Division) was an infantry division of the ''Luftwaffe'' branch of Nazi Germany's Wehrmacht during the Second World War. It was set up on 1 December 1942 from surplus Luftwaffe personne ...

. It contained the ''293., 294.'' and ''295. grenadier regiments'', ''Panzerjäger-Bataillon 1818'', ''Pionier-Bataillon 1818'', ''Füsilier-Bataillon 1818'' and ''Artillerie-Regiment 1818''.Axis History Factbook The division fought in the Ardennes, inflicting on the 106th US Infantry Division the worst defeat suffered by U.S. forces in the ETO, when over 8,000 US soldiers surrendered to the volksgrenadiers. On December 21, 18. VGD captured St. Vith, winning a great victory. As the offensive steam came to an end in the Ardennes, the division went on the defensive, and there they would stay. Eventually retreating through Germany until the end of the war, when it surrendered. On February 5, 1945 General

Walter Botsch __NOTOC__ Walter Hugo Botsch (27 February 1897 – 7 January 1969) was a German general during World War II who commanded the 19th Army. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Awards * Iron Cross (1914) 2nd ...

took over command of the division. On March 6, 1945, when Botsch was ordered to take command of the LIIIrd Army Corps, the 18. VGD division was absorbed into the 26. VGD led by Heinz Kokott,

Heinrich Himmler Heinrich Luitpold Himmler (; 7 October 1900 – 23 May 1945) was of the (Protection Squadron; SS), and a leading member of the Nazi Party of Germany. Himmler was one of the most powerful men in Nazi Germany and a main architect of th ...

's brother-in-law.

Knights Cross Holders

Wilhelm Drueke Wilhelm may refer to: People and fictional characters * William Charles John Pitcher, costume designer known professionally as "Wilhelm" * Wilhelm (name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name or surname Other uses * Moun ...

December 30, 1944 *

Gunther Rennhack Gundaharius or Gundahar (died 437), better known by his legendary names Gunther ( gmh, Gunther) or Gunnar ( non, Gunnarr), was a historical king of Burgundy in the early 5th century. Gundahar is attested as ruling his people shortly after they ...

December 30, 1944 *

Friedrich Hadenfeldt Friedrich may refer to: Names * Friedrich (surname), people with the surname ''Friedrich'' * Friedrich (given name), people with the given name ''Friedrich'' Other * Friedrich (board game), a board game about Frederick the Great and the Seven Year ...

March 17, 1945

Notes

References

* Military units and formations established in 1944 Volksgrenadier divisions Military units and formations disestablished in 1945 {{Germany-WWII-stub