The 72. Infanterie-Division was formed on 19 September 1939 in Trier from the pre-war Grenz-Division Trier, a border security unit. Initially stationed along the western frontier, it participated in the Battle of France in 1940 and later transferred to the Eastern Front in 1941, where it saw extensive combat in various sectors including the battles around Rzhev, the Cherkassy Pocket, and defensive actions in Ukraine. The division earned a reputation for toughness and was mentioned several times in the Wehrmachtbericht for its performance. It was largely destroyed in heavy fighting in March 1944 but was quickly reformed in June of that year and continued fighting until the final capitulation in May 1945. Throughout its existence, the 72nd Infantry Division exemplified the grueling service and high casualties experienced by many standard German infantry formations during World War II.
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EICHENLAUBTRÄGER
General
der Infanterie Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller (1897-1947) was a German
officer who rose through the ranks of the Wehrmacht during World War II,
earning the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und
Schwertern for his leadership on the Eastern Front before gaining
notoriety as a harsh commander in occupied Greece. Born in Barmen,
Prussia, he joined the Imperial German Army in 1915 as an infantryman
with the 2. Infanterie-Regiment, was commissioned Leutnant der Reserve
in Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 266 later that year, and served with
distinction in World War I, receiving both classes of the Iron Cross.
Remaining in the Reichswehr and then the Heer, he advanced steadily,
becoming Oberstleutnant and commander of Infanterie-Regiment 105 by the
early stages of the invasion of the Soviet Union; it was here that his
regiment's determined actions in heavy fighting, particularly during the
reconquest of Feodosia in the Crimea where he demonstrated outstanding
personal bravery, decisiveness, and skillful leadership, led to the
award of the Ritterkreuz on 22 September 1941 as Oberstleutnant,
followed by the Eichenlaub (86th recipient) on 8 April 1942 as Oberst
still commanding the same regiment for continued success against Soviet
forces. Promoted further, he took command of the 22. Infanterie-Division
(Luftlande) in August 1942, leading it in the Dodecanese Campaign in
1943, including the successful capture of Leros, which contributed to
his reputation for resolute command and later recognition with the
Schwerter (128th recipient) on 27 January 1945 as General der
Infanterie commanding LXVIII. Armeekorps. Transferred to Fortress Crete,
Müller earned the grim nickname "The Butcher of Crete" for ordering
brutal reprisals and massacres against Greek civilians in locations such
as Viannos, Anogeia, Amari, Damasta, and the Holocaust of Kedros, as
well as the execution of Italian officers on Kos; after the war he was
captured, tried by a Greek military court in Athens for war crimes
including hostage massacres, convicted, and executed by firing squad on
20 May 1947 alongside Bruno Bräuer.
Oberstleutnant Karl Baacke (1907-1944) was born on 15 May 1907 in Aurich and entered the Reichswehr in 1924 as Grenadier in Infanterie-Regiment 16, advancing through the ranks as Obergrenadier, Gefreiter, Unteroffizier and Feldwebel before promotion to Leutnant on 1 April 1934; he subsequently served as Oberleutnant commanding the Nachrichtenzug of Infanterie-Regiment 37 and from 1937 as Hauptmann and Kompaniechef of the 6./Infanterie-Regiment 37, which later became the 2./Grenz-Infanterie-Regiment 124 of the 72. Infanterie-Division. During the Balkan campaign of 1941 he led the Vorausabteilung of the division with exceptional energy, capturing the village of Molos after tough night fighting against prepared enemy positions and thereby opening the vital route toward Athens while seizing numerous guns and prisoners, actions for which he received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 30 June 1941 as Hauptmann and Chef of the 2./Grenz-Infanterie-Regiment 124; he had earlier earned both classes of the Eisernes Kreuz in June 1940. Promoted to Major in 1941 and later to Oberstleutnant on 1 April 1943 after receiving the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 28 February 1943, Baacke assumed command of Grenadier-Regiment 266 of the 72. Infanterie-Division and distinguished himself in the heavy defensive battles around Orel, Gomel and southeast of Kiev, particularly as Platzkommandant of Cherkassy in late 1943 when he broke successive Soviet encirclement rings, enabled the evacuation of wounded and the inflow of supplies, restored contact with outside forces by storming fortified strongpoints and held the city against overwhelming infantry and tank assaults, achievements that earned him the 352nd Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz on 10 December 1943. Returning from leave in early 1944 he was ordered to form the Urlauber-Regiment Baacke from returning soldiers to relieve the Kanev-Korsun pocket; after hard fighting the improvised regiment itself became encircled near Orinin, and while leading the Nachhut during the attempted breakout Oberstleutnant Baacke was killed in action on 2 April 1944. His awards also included the Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen, Verwundetenabzeichen, Ostmedaille, Krimschild and repeated mentions in the Wehrmachtbericht.
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RITTERKREUZTRÄGER
Oberleutnant der Reserve Joachim Hundert (1920-1944) was born on 22 January 1920 in Mayen, Rhine Province. He joined the Wehrmacht in November 1938 and rose through the ranks to become Leutnant der Reserve and later Oberleutnant der Reserve. He commanded the 5. Kompanie of Infanterie-Regiment 124, which was later redesignated as Grenadier-Regiment 124, participating in major campaigns including the Battle of France, the Siege of Sevastopol, and intense fighting on the Eastern Front. For his exceptional leadership and bravery in combat, particularly during defensive and offensive operations in the East, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 15 January 1943 as Führer of the 5./Grenadier-Regiment 124. Hundert continued to serve until he was killed in action on 9 August 1944 near Glazow, Poland, at the age of 24, leaving behind a legacy of courage recognized by one of the highest honors in the German military.
Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/72nd_Infantry_Division_(Wehrmacht)
https://www.feldgrau.com/ww2-german-72nd-infantry-division/
https://grokipedia.com/page/72nd_infantry_division_wehrmacht
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanteriedivisionen/72ID.htm
http://www.old.axishistory.com/list-all-categories/150-germany-heer/heer-divisionen/3785-72-infanterie-division
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