The 329. Infanterie-Division was formed in December 1941 as a Walküre division belonging to the seventeenth wave of mobilization, drawing its initial personnel from Wehrkreis VI at the Groß Born military training area. Recognized by its distinctive unit insignia featuring a hammer, which earned it the colloquial nickname Hammerdivision, the formation was deployed to the Eastern Front early in 1942. Upon entering the theater, elements of the unit experienced immediate operational fragmentation when Infanterie-Regiment 553 was diverted by air transport into the Cholm Pocket to reinforce encircled German forces. Meanwhile, the remaining main body of the division participated in heavy breakthrough operations under the command of the 16. Armee, striving to relieve trapped formations during the fierce battles around Demjansk. Throughout 1942 and 1943, the division engaged in grueling defensive and static positional warfare across the northern sector of the Eastern Front, weathering relentless Soviet pressure near Staraya Russa and south of Lake Ilmen. In late 1943, following significant Soviet breakthroughs, the formation was hastily relocated to the Nevel sector to help seal gaps and re-establish contact with Heeresgruppe Mitte. As the strategic situation deteriorated, the division executed a phased withdrawal into the Panther-Stellung near Pustoschka in early 1944, subsequently getting swept into the chaotic retreat phases triggered by major Soviet summer offensives. By the autumn of 1944, after continuous fighting that traversed the Baltic regions, the unit was driven back into the Courland Pocket, where it absorbed remnants of disbanded formations such as Jäger-Regiment 42 (L). Operating steadfastly under Heeresgruppe Kurland through the final months of the war, the battle-worn division ultimately laid down its arms and surrendered to Soviet forces on May 8, 1945, standing out as one of the few large combat-capable units of the Wehrmacht to remain intact until the absolute end.
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SCHWERTERTRÄGER
General der Infanterie Dr.rer.pol. Dr.-Ing. Johannes Mayer (1893-1963) was born on 6 September 1893 in Stepenitz and died on 7 August 1963 in Hamburg after a distinguished military career spanning two world wars that culminated in the rare distinction of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. He volunteered at the outbreak of the First World War for the Infanterie-Regiment “Prinz Moritz von Anhalt-Dessau” Nr. 42, rose to Oberleutnant as Regiments-Adjutant, and earned both classes of the Eisernes Kreuz for bravery in France, Russia, Macedonia and Romania before being retained in the Reichswehr. Between the wars he earned dual doctorates while continuing service, was promoted successively to Hauptmann in 1928, Major in 1935, Oberstleutnant in 1937 and Oberst on 1 October 1940, and in February 1940 took command of the newly raised Infanterie-Regiment 501 of the 290. Infanterie-Division. On the Eastern Front on 7 August 1941, just after nightfall, Oberst Mayer personally led his Regiment through kilometres of dense forest toward the vital bridge over the Polisstj (Porussja) near Garisha; although the structure was already ablaze upon arrival, his men extinguished the flames under fire, secured the crossing and thereby enabled the advance of the Division’s artillery and following units, an act of bold personal leadership that earned him the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 13 September 1941 as the first recipient in his Division. In early 1942 he briefly commanded a Schneeschuh-Brigade before assuming leadership of the 329. Infanterie-Division on 22 March 1942; he was promoted Generalmajor on 1 April 1942 and Generalleutnant on 1 February 1943. On 10 March 1944 northwest of Newel the Division faced a massive Soviet assault by five rifle divisions supported by two tank brigades that achieved a deep penetration north of Putoschka; Generalleutnant Mayer rapidly assembled alarm units, construction troops and supply personnel into a line of strongpoints that sealed the breach, then on his own initiative launched a night-reinforced counter-attack, personally directing assault teams under heavy fire until the key village of Chudobelkena was recaptured, for which he received the Eichenlaub on 13 April 1944 as the 453rd recipient. In mid-July 1944 the 329. Infanterie-Division held the line south of Ssebesh–Malkowo–Sawarnja–Lewnowo–Borki and over four days repulsed thirty-seven successive Soviet attacks while Mayer remained constantly at the critical points of the front, restoring crumbling sectors through decisive personal intervention until he was severely wounded on 16 July; this sustained devotion and leadership, which also brought the Division mention in the Wehrmachtbericht of 18 July 1944, resulted in the award of the Schwerter on 23 August 1944 as the 89th recipient. After partial recovery he was promoted General der Infanterie on 1 April 1945 and briefly commanded the II. Armeekorps in the Kurland pocket before illness forced his evacuation; among his many decorations were the Spange to both classes of the Eisernes Kreuz, the Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber, the Ostmedaille, the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz and the Ärmelband Kurland.
Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/329th_Infantry_Division
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