Karl Eibl and the Officers of 44. Infanterie-Division

Officers of 44. Infanterie-Division in Vienna, Ostmark. The Ritterkreuzträger facing the camera is Oberst Karl Eibl (Kommandeur Infanterie-Regiment 132), the latter Schwerterträger. The 44. Infanterie-Division was formed on 1 April 1938 in Wien, Austria following the Anschluss from the 2. Division and 3. Division of the Austrian Army, the Österreichischen Bundesheer. It was mobilized in August 1939 as part of the 1. Welle (wave). The division took part in the campaign in Poland, advancing into the area allocated to the USSR. It later fought in the west suffering heavy losses against stiff French resistance. After the French surrender the division spent ten months on occupation duty and in March 1941 it was transferred to Poland for training. It took part in the invasion of the Soviet Union on the southern sector of the front fighting at the Pripet Marshes and at Kiev. It took part in the fighting in the Caucasus area before advancing to Stalingrad where it was destroyed in January 1943.
The division was reformed on 17 February 1943 and on 1 June 1943 redesignated (44.) Reichs-Grenadier-Division Hoch und Deutschmeister.

 

Source :
https://www.axishistory.com/books/150-germany-heer/heer-divisionen/3355-44-infanterie-division
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