Formed in 1940 from older personnel, the first 278th never saw combat and was dissolved after the fall to France. The second 278th was formed in mid 1942 in
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
and was sent to Army Group C
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
in late 1943.
Operational history
Serving on coastal defense duties and taking part in
anti-partisan operations
Axis forces were involved in counter-insurgency operations against the various resistance movements during World War II.
During the Second World War, resistance movements that bore any resemblance to irregular warfare were frequently dealt with ...
in
Istria while continuing its training. In mid-May 1944, the 278th division received orders to move to the battle area on the Adriatic for operational assignment to the 10th German Army. Facing Lieutenant General
Wladyslaw Anders’ Polish
II Corps, Hoppe’s division fought a ferocious defensive battle for the port city of
Ancona
Ancona (, also , ) is a city and a seaport in the Marche region in central Italy, with a population of around 101,997 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region. The city is located northeast of Rome, on the Adriatic ...
from mid-June until early July 1944. After halting the Polish attack early in July the 278th Infantry Division faced a renewed attack by the Polish II Corps on July 17. Pushing the Germans beyond the
Esino River, Ancona fell to the Poles on the 18th.
It was then assigned to
LXXVI Panzer Corps
The LXXVI Panzer Corps (''LXXVI Panzerkorps'', 76th Armoured Corps) was a panzer corps of Nazi Germany during World War II. The headquarters were formed in France under Army Group D on 29 June 1943 as LXXVI Army Corps but renamed a month later. I ...
defending the
Gothic Line. After heavy losses the 278th was formed into a Volksgrenadier Division in early 1945. Later it was transferred to the 1st Parachute Corps defending the
Brenner Pass where most of the division was encircled, the remainder later surrendered on the May 2, 1945
War crimes
The division has been implicated in a number of war crimes in Italy between March and July 1944, with up to seven civilians executed in each incident.
Organization
1944
* ''Grenadier-Regiment 992''
* ''Grenadier-Regiment 993''
* ''Grenadier-Regiment 994''
* ''Artillerie-Regiment 278'',
* ''Divisions-Füsilier-Kompanie 278''
* ''Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 278''
* ''Engineer-Battalion 278''
* ''Signals Battalion 278''
* ''I° Battaglione d'assalto 'Forlì
References
* Mitcham, W, Samuel. Hitlers Legions
{{DEFAULTSORT:278th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)
Infantry divisions of Germany during World War II
Military units and formations established in 1940
Military units and formations disestablished in 1945