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38 26. Infanterie-Division (Volksgrenadier) (26th Infantry Division /Volks Grenadier?The 26. Inf ant erie-Di vis ion was formed in 1935-36 during the expansionof the Army after the introduction of universal militaryservice in March 1935. In May and June 1940 the division tookpart in the western campaign. Between December 194-0 and May 1941it was transferred to Lo'tzen, East Prussia, for preparations forthe campaign against Russia. From June 1941 the division was employedin the central sector of the eastern front and participatedin the battles on the Volga River between Rzhev and Kalinin in thefall and winter of 1941 and in the Orel area in the spring of 1942.The division suffered heavy losses south of Voronezh between theDon and Donets Rivers in the fall and winter of 1942, and in theKursk offensive in the summer of 1943. Although no records of thisItemla, Kriegstagebuch 3. Activities in Darney, France, after the western campaign!transfer to Amiens for reorganization and training; and subsequent transferto the Boulogne area for ship loading and unloading exercises in preparationfor Operation "Seelowe" (planned invasion of England). Also, lists of officers1 duty assignments and combat and ration strength reports. The divisionwas subordinate to the XVII, XXIII., and XXXVIII. A.K., successively, duringthis period, under the command of Gen.Lt. Sigismund von Fb'rster.la, Anlagen z. KTB 3.Division orders and maps.la, Kriegstagebuch 4, Textband Russland. Preparations for the invasion of Russiaafter the transfer from France to Lb'tzen, East Prussia, the crossing of theborder near Mariyampole; offensives to Polotsk; antipartisan warfare; thebattle at the Dvina River southeast of Velikiye Luki; and the advance to theVolga River near Rzhev and Staritsa. Also, lists of officers' duty assignmentsand casualties and combat and ration strength reports, The divisionwas subordinate to the VI, A.K. under the command of Gen.Maj. Walter Weiss.la, Anlagenbande A 1-2 z. KTB 4.Corps and division orders and maps.la, Anlagenbande B-°D z. KTB 4, Meldungen der Division an verges. Dienststellen,Divisionstagesbefehle, Bemerkungen des Divisionskommandeurs.division dated later than July 13, 1943, except for two items datedAugust 5 and December 16-31, 1944, are available, situation maps ofLage Ost and West show that it participated in defensive engagementsin the Sumy, Trubchevsk, and Roslavl areas from July to October 1943and position defense in the Dubrovno area until February 1944. Itmoved northward in March to defend the Idritsa area and returned inApril to defend the Gorki area. From May to July the division tookpart in position defense in the Kovel area and in August and Septemberdefended the Radom and Wierzbnik areas. In October 1944 it wastransfeiyed to the Trier area, and reorganized as a Volksgrenadier-Division. From December 1944 to January 1945 the division foughtin the Ardennes counteroffensive in the Bastogne area.Dates Item No. Roll 1st FrameJun 25 - Nov 21, 1940 8386/1 816Jul 25 - Nov 20, 1940 8386/2 816Jun 6 - Oct 31, 1941 13895/1 816May 10 - Oct 31, 1941 13895/2-3 816Jun 13 - Oct 31, 1941 13895/4 8171272085161