Ritterkreuzträger of 326. Infanterie-Division / 326. Volksgrenadier-Division

The 326. Infanterie-Division was formed on 9 November 1942 as a Kriemhilde-Einheit from replacement troops drawn from Wehrkreise VI, XII and V for occupation duties in southern France under Heeresgruppe D. Deployed by late November to the Narbonne area, it conducted security, coastal defence and anti-partisan tasks while initially organised with Grenadier-Regiment 751, Grenadier-Regiment 752, Grenadier-Regiment 753, Artillerie-Regiment 326, Schnelle-Abteilung 326, Pionier-Bataillon 326 and Infanterie-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 326. On 5 May 1943 the formation was converted into a bodenständige Infanterie-Division, its grenadier regiments redesignated Festungs-Grenadier-Regimenter and the Schnelle-Abteilung dissolved with its companies redistributed. Command passed successively to Generalleutnant Max Dennerlein, Generalleutnant Karl Böttcher and, from 1 June 1943, Generalleutnant Viktor von Drabich-Wächter. Relocated to northern France in early 1944 as army reserve near the Pas-de-Calais, the division remained largely intact until mid-July 1944 when elements crossed the Seine to form a reception line for retreating units. Committed around Caumont-l’Éventé against British forces during Operation Bluecoat, it suffered heavy losses under intense artillery and air attack; Generalleutnant Viktor von Drabich-Wächter was killed on 2 August 1944, temporary command falling to Oberst Kretsch and then Oberst Erwin Kaschner. Virtually annihilated in the Falaise Pocket by late August, the remnants were withdrawn and the division was reconstituted on 4 September 1944 in Galanta, Hungary, as the 326. Volksgrenadier-Division by redesignation of the 579. Volksgrenadier-Division. Transferred west in November, the new formation fought in the Ardennes offensive and subsequent defensive battles in the Eifel before withdrawing across the Rhine; by April 1945 its two separated Kampfgruppen entered American captivity in the Ruhr Pocket and the Harz respectively.

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SCHWERTERTRÄGER


Oberstleutnant Josef Bremm (1914-1998) was born on 3 May 1914 in Mannebach in the Vulkaneifel region as the son of a Volksschule teacher, completed his Abitur, entered the Wehrmacht on 1 November 1935 with Infanterie-Regiment 7, rose through the ranks from Gefreiter and Unteroffizier to Feldwebel der Reserve and Leutnant der Reserve by 1938, and after brief discharge was reactivated in 1939 as Zugführer and later Adjutant in Infanterie-Regiment 453 of the 253. Infanterie-Division, earning the Eisernes Kreuz II. and I. Klasse during the 1940 campaigns in the West. Transferred eastward, he became Chef of the 5./Infanterie-Regiment 426 of the 126. Infanterie-Division and on the morning of 22 December 1941, with his depleted Kompanie, repelled a strong Soviet assault on the Orelje barracks bridgehead before launching an immediate counterthrust that broke into the enemy ranks, where he personally killed a commissar with machine-pistol and hand grenades, partially destroying an opposing Bataillon and shattering the rest, an action that brought him the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 18 February 1942 as Leutnant der Reserve. Continuing to distinguish himself southeast of Lake Ilmen, at the end of September 1942 he led an assault troop that penetrated and rolled up an enemy blocking position, enabling his Regiment to reach its objective, and days later shielded the Division’s flank against heavy attacks despite being wounded for the fourth time, remaining in command until the assaults were broken; for these deeds he received the 165th Eichenlaub on 23 December 1942 as Oberleutnant der Reserve and Chef of the 5./Grenadier-Regiment 426. Promoted successively to Hauptmann, Major and finally Oberstleutnant, he later commanded the Füsilier-Bataillon of the 712. Infanterie-Division and from August 1944 Grenadier-Regiment 990, fighting in Normandy, the Ardennes and the final defense of Germany. In April 1945, at the head of the remnant Kampfgruppe formed from Grenadier-Regiment 990 and supported by Tiger II tanks near Kassel, he conducted repeated counterattacks against an American armored spearhead of the U.S. Third Army, actions for which he was nominated for the Schwerter; the Association of Knight’s Cross Recipients records the 159th Schwerter as awarded on 9 May 1945 according to the Dönitz decree, though the presentation was never officially completed before the 11. Armee’s surrender. Taken prisoner by American forces at war’s end, Bremm later worked as a salesperson for agricultural machines, married Agnes Steffens, and died childless on 21 October 1998 in Monreal, remembered as the highest-decorated soldier of the Eifel region.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/326th_Infantry_Division