The 343rd Infantry Division (german: 343. Infanterie-Division) was an

infantry division A division is a large military unit or formation, usually consisting of between 6,000 and 25,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades; in turn, several divisions typically make up a corps. Historic ...

of 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 ...

Heer during

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 World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

History

The 343. Infanterie-division was formed on 1 October 1942 on the ''Truppenübungsplatz'' (training ground) of

Grafenwöhr Grafenwöhr (, Northern Bavarian: ''Groafawehr'') is a town in the district of Neustadt an der Waldnaab, in the region of the Upper Palatinate (german: Oberpfalz) in eastern Bavaria, Germany. It is widely known for the United States Army milita ...

in Wehrkreis XIII.
In November 1942, it was sent to France in the Brest region of

Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period o ...

as an occupation and coastal defense force. It found itself surrounded by American forces in Brest from August 1944 and withdrew to the Crozon peninsula.
The division was destroyed on 19 September 1944 with the fall of Brest Fortress and officially dissolved on 29 September 1944.

Commanders

* Generalleutnant

Friedrich Zickwolff __NOTOC__ Friedrich Zickwolff (1 August 1893 – 17 September 1944) was a German general during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Zickwolff died on 17 September 1944 from an infectious diseas ...

(28 September 1942 - 25 August 1943) : died of wounds inflicted by French Partisans * Generalmajor Hermann Kruse (25 August 1943 - 1 February 1944) * Generalleutnant

Erwin Rauch __NOTOC__ Erwin Rauch (19 October 1889 – 26 February 1969) was a German general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Rauch surrendered to the American troops in Septe ...

(1 February 1944 - 18 September 1944) : POW

Sources

Lexikon der Wehrmacht

Axis History

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 1944