, image = , image_size = , alt = , caption = , dates = 10 July 1944 – 9 May 1945 , disbanded = , country = , allegiance = , branch =

Heer Heer may refer to: People * Jeet Heer, Canadian author and journalist * Jeffrey Heer (born 1979), American computer scientist and entrepreneur * Kamal Heer (born 1973), Punjabi singer and musician * Oswald Heer (1809–1883), Swiss botanist and ...

, type = Volksgrenadier ( Infantry) , role = , size = Division , command_structure = , garrison = , garrison_label = , nickname = , patron = , motto = , colors = , colors_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , equipment = , equipment_label = , battles = World War II , battles_label = , decorations = , battle_honours = , battle_honours_label = , website = , commander1 =

Werner Ehrig Werner Julius Clemens Ehrig (22 April 1897 – 31 January 1981) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Awards and decorations * Knight's Cross of ...

, current_commander = , commander1_label = Commander , commander2 = , commander2_label = , commander3 = , commander3_label = , commander4 = , commander4_label = , commander5 = , commander5_label = , commander6 = , commander6_label = , commander7 = , commander7_label = , commander8 = , commander8_label = , commander9 = , commander9_label = , notable_commanders = , identification_symbol = , identification_symbol_label = , identification_symbol_2 = , identification_symbol_3 = , identification_symbol_4 = , identification_symbol_2_label = , identification_symbol_3_label = , identification_symbol_4_label = , identification_symbol_5 = , identification_symbol_5_label = , identification_symbol_6 = , identification_symbol_6_label = The 544th Volksgrenadier Division (german: 544. Volksgrenadier-Division) was a Volksgrenadier-type infantry division of the German Wehrmacht during World War II. It was active from July 1944 to May 1945. In the first two months of service, the division was designated 544th Grenadier Division (german: 544. Grenadier-Division, links=no).

Operational history

The division, initially designated 544th Grenadier Division, was formed on 10 July 1944 as part of the 29th wave of deployment. The 29th wave had been rapidly mobilized in the wake of the Allied Normandy landings and its divisions (numbered 541 through 553 and 558 through 562) had initially been planned to be designated ''blocking divisions'' (german: Sperr-Divisionen, links=no), a name that was dropped for psychological reasons in favor of ''grenadier divisions''. The 544th Grenadier Division was assembled in the

Grafenwöhr Training Area Grafenwoehr Training Area (GTA) is a United States Army training base located near Grafenwöhr, Bavaria, Germany. At 232 km2, it is the largest US training facility in Europe. The base is operated by 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Com ...

from the Infantry Division Grafenwöhr, one of the ''shadow divisions'' of the 28th wave which had been in the process of deployment in Grafenwöhr since 4 July 1944. Initially, the 544th Grenadier Division consisted of the Grenadier Regiments 1082 through 1084 with two battalions each (for a total of six battalions), as well as the Artillery Regiment 1544 with four

batteries Battery most often refers to: * Electric battery, a device that provides electrical power * Battery (crime), a crime involving unlawful physical contact Battery may also refer to: Energy source *Automotive battery, a device to provide power t ...

. Additionally, the division included the Fusilier Company 544. The divisional commander was

, who had previously served as chief of operations of 22nd Infantry Division. The division was initially assigned to XI SS Panzer Corps under the 17th Army of Army Group North Ukraine. On 14 September 1944, the remnants of 1136th Grenadier Brigade were initially assigned to the 544th division, but were then instead used to form Division Fusilier Battalion 545. On 16 September 1944, the Grenadier Divisions of the 29th wave were ordered to be reorganized into ''Volksgrenadier Divisions'' on the model of the 32nd wave. The resulting redesignations were carried out on 9 October 1944, resulting in the redesignation of 544th Grenadier Division into 544th Volksgrenadier Division. During its time as a Volksgrenadier Division, the formation served under LIX Army Corps, which in turn assigned to 17th Army of Army Group A from October 1944 to January 1945 in German-occupied Poland and then to the

1st Panzer Army The 1st Panzer Army (german: 1. Panzerarmee) was a German tank army that was a large armoured formation of the Wehrmacht during World War II. When originally formed on 1 March 1940, the predecessor of the 1st Panzer Army was named Panzer Group ...

Army Group Centre Army Group Centre (german: Heeresgruppe Mitte) was the name of two distinct strategic German Army Groups that fought on the Eastern Front in World War II. The first Army Group Centre was created on 22 June 1941, as one of three German Army fo ...

from February to May 1945, first in Upper Silesia and eventually in

Bohemia Bohemia ( ; cs, Čechy ; ; hsb, Čěska; szl, Czechy) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. Bohemia can also refer to a wider area consisting of the historical Lands of the Bohemian Crown ruled by the Bohem ...

. On 1 January 1945, the 544th Volksgrenadier Division (then part of 17th Army of Army Group A) had a strength of 9,363 men. In Bohemia, the divisional personnel became PoWs of the Red Army in May 1945.

References

{{Subject bar, portal1=Military of Germany, portal2=World War II Infantry divisions of Germany during World War II Military units and formations established in 1944 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945