The 277. Infanterie-Division was ordered formed on 22 May 1940 as part of the 10. Welle (wave), however formation was terminated in July after the armistice with France.

The division was reformed on 17 November 1943 in Croatia as part of the 22. Welle from the divisional staff, signals and supply units of the disbanded 262. Infanterie-Division. It was transferred to France in early 1944 where it completed formation and took part in occupation, security and coastal defense duties in the area of Narbonne. The division entered combat in Normandy where it was destroyed in August 1944 at Falaise.

It was reformed on 4 September 1944 as the 277. Volksgrenadier-Division.

Commanders

Generalleutnant Karl Graf (15 June 1940 - 22 July 1940)
[Reformed]
Generalleutnant Helmuth Huffmann (10 Dec 1943 - 5 Apr 1944)
General der Nachrichtentruppen Albert Praun (5 Apr 1944 -10 Aug 1944)

Operations Officers (Ia)

Oberstleutnant Horst Freiherr von Wangenheim (10 Jan 1944-3 Jul 1944)
Major Karl-Heinrich Kratochwila (3 Jul 1944-?)

Area of operations

Germany (June 1940 - Aug 1940)
[Reformed]
Germany (Dec 1943 - Jan 1944)
Croatia (Jan 1944 - Feb 1944)
France (Feb 1944 - Aug 1944)

Order of battle (1940)

Infanterie-Regiment 553
Infanterie-Regiment 554
Infanterie-Regiment 555
Artillerie-Abteilung 277
Divisionseinheiten 277

Order of battle (1944)

Grenadier-Regiment 989
Grenadier-Regiment 990
Grenadier-Regiment 991
Füsilier-Bataillon 277
Artillerie-Regiment 277
- I. Abteilung
- II. Abteilung
- III. Abteilung
- IV. Abteilung
Pionier-Bataillon 277
Panzerjäger-Kompanie 277
Nachrichten-Abteilung 277
Feldersatz-Bataillon 277
Versorgungseinheiten 277

Sources used

Georg Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht 1933-1945

Reference material on this unit

Wingolf Scherer & Ernst-Detlef Broch - Untergang: Kampf und Vernichtung der 277. Division in der Normandie und in der Eifel
Wingolf Scherer - Wiederkehr: Fotos und Aufzeichnungen von Infanteristen der 277. ID/ VGD aus den Kämpfen in Frankreich (Normandie) und in der Eifel 1944/1945