The 377. Infanterie-Division was an infantry formation of the German Wehrmacht established on March 31, 1942, near Le Mans in occupied western France as part of the 19. Aufstellungswelle. Initially formed under Armee-Oberkommando 7 and Heeresgruppe D to replace experienced combat formations deployed elsewhere, the division comprised recruits organized into Infanterie-Regiment 768, Infanterie-Regiment 769, Infanterie-Regiment 770, Artillerie-Regiment 377, Pionier-Bataillon 377, Panzerjäger-Abteilung 377, and divisional support units. Command was initially entrusted to Generalleutnant Erich Bäßler from April 1942. After rapid training and security service in France, the unit transferred east in June 1942, joining Heeresgruppe Süd during Case Blue. Attached successively to XXXXVIII. Panzerkorps and XXIV. Panzerkorps under 4. Panzerarmee, it engaged in offensive operations before settling into static positions at Voronezh under XIII. Armeekorps within 2. Armee. In December 1942, command passed to Generalleutnant Adolf Lechner. The division faced devastating conditions when the Red Army launched its Voronezh-Kastornoye offensive in January 1943. Surrounded alongside other units, it endured immense casualties in bitter winter fighting. Generalleutnant Adolf Lechner was reported missing in action near Voronezh on January 29, 1943, prompting Generalleutnant Adolf Sinzinger to lead the trapped formation through its desperate pocket retreat. Disintegrated by unrelenting artillery fire, armor assaults, and severe frostbite, the division was shattered near Sumy and Kursk by February 1943. Officially disbanded shortly thereafter, its survivors and residual elements, designated as Divisions-Gruppe 377, were absorbed by 340. Infanterie-Division and other components of XIII. Armeekorps.
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RITTERKREUZTRÄGER
Oberst Heinrich Kiesling (1909-1944) was born on 31 May 1909 in Gröppendorf, Saxony, and entered military service in 1930 with Infanterie-Regiment 10, receiving promotion to Leutnant in 1933 and to Hauptmann on 1 April 1939; at the outbreak of war he served as an instructor at the Kriegsschule in Dresden before commanding a battalion of Infanterie-Regiment 192 during the 1940 Westfeldzug, for which he was awarded the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse on 16 May 1940 and the Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse on 26 July 1940, later receiving the Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen, the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz and Silber, and the Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42 on 18 August 1942. Promoted to Major, he took command of III. Bataillon, Grenadier-Regiment 768 of the 377. Infanterie-Division in April 1942 and distinguished himself on the Eastern Front; on 9 February 1943, as the vanguard of the encircled Kampfgruppe Beukemann (elements of the 75., 340., 377. and 323. Infanterie-Divisionen) attempted to break out of the Soviet ring south of Voronezh, Kiesling personally led the seizure of Beslepkino, beginning the assault with only twelve men until the remainder of his Bataillon could be brought forward, an action that proved decisive in enabling the Kampfgruppe’s successful escape and for which he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 10 June 1943 as Major and Kommandeur of III./Grenadier-Regiment 768. Later serving as Führer of Grenadier-Regiment 529 of the 299. Infanterie-Division, he again displayed exceptional leadership on 27 September 1943 east of the Sosch near Roslavl when his regiment’s retreat route was blocked by strong Soviet forces; rejecting the safer option of withdrawing through a boggy forest that would have forced the abandonment of all heavy weapons, Kiesling chose instead to break directly through the enemy lines, disengaging that evening and advancing through dense forest until contact was made with the blocking positions around 22:00, whereupon a prolonged and difficult battle ensued that threatened to stall until a German assault element discovered a concealed path to the northwest that allowed the heavy weapons to be preserved, enabling the regiment to slip through the surprised Soviet lines and, after a long night march, to take up defensive positions in the new German front line on the morning of 28 September 1943 with all heavy weapons and vehicles intact. For this exemplary bravery and leadership he received the Eichenlaub to the Ritterkreuz (321st award) on 7 November 1943 while still a Major, was simultaneously promoted to Oberstleutnant, and advanced to Oberst on 1 April 1944; he was also mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht on 13 February 1944. Serving as Kommandeur of Grenadier-Regiment 529, Oberst Heinrich Kiesling was reported missing in action on 18 June 1944 in the area of Vitebsk during the Soviet summer offensive.
Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/377th_Infantry_Division
https://panzerworld.com/german-unit-insignia#377-infanterie-division-mot
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