, image = 48th Infanterie-Division Logo.svg
, image_size = 200
, caption = 48. Infanterie Division Vehicle Insignia
, country =
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Infantry
Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...
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Army
An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
, dates = Feb 1943 – 1945
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Division
Division or divider may refer to:
Mathematics
*Division (mathematics), the inverse of multiplication
*Division algorithm, a method for computing the result of mathematical division
Military
*Division (military), a formation typically consisting ...
, garrison =
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World War II
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 opposin ...
* Northern France
* Austria
, notable_commanders = Colonel Arnold Schotz (Oct-Nov 1944)
Lt General
Carl Casper (1944-45)
The 48th Infantry Division () was a German division in World War II.
Operational history
The 48th Infantry division was formed in November 1943 in
Ostend
Ostend ( nl, Oostende, ; french: link=no, Ostende ; german: link=no, Ostende ; vls, Ostende) is a coastal city and municipality, located in the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerk ...
,
West Flanders
)
, settlement_type = Province of Belgium
, image_flag = Flag of West Flanders.svg
, flag_size =
, image_shield = Wapen van West-Vlaanderen.svg
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, image_map ...
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
(; french: Dixmude, ; vls, Diksmude) is a Belgian city and municipality in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of proper and the former communes of Beerst, Esen, Kaaskerke, Keiem, Lampernisse, Leke, N ...
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
Metz ( , , lat, Divodurum Mediomatricorum, then ) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers. Metz is the prefecture of the Moselle department and the seat of the parliament of the Grand E ...
and finally the
Siegfried Line
The Siegfried Line, known in German as the ''Westwall'', was a German defensive line built during the 1930s (started 1936) opposite the French Maginot Line. It stretched more than ; from Kleve on the border with the Netherlands, along the west ...
, where it collapsed altogether and was absorbed into the
559th Volksgrenadier Division. it was sent to the Eastern Front assigned to the
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
8th Army defending Vienna, where it surrendered to the Soviets.
Organization
* ''Grenadier-Regiment 126''
* ''Grenadier-Regiment 127''
* ''Artillerie-Regiment 148'',
* ''Divisions-Füsilier-Kompanie 48''
* ''Anti-Tank Battalion 148''
* ''Engineer-Battalion 148''
* ''Signals Battalion 148''
References
* Mitcham, W, Samuel. Hitlers Legions
{{DEFAULTSORT:48th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)
0*048
Military units and formations established in 1943
Military units and formations disestablished in 1945