The 78. Infanterie-Division was formed in August 1939 from elements of 5. Infanterie-Division, 25. Infanterie-Division and 35. Infanterie-Division. It was redesignated 78. Sturm-Division on 30 December 1942.

Known war crimes

Two soldiers on the division were put on trial post-war for the shooting of a Soviet POW employed as an interpreter on suspicion of spying in 1942. (1)

Commanders

General der Artillerie Fritz Brand (? Aug 1939 - 1 Oct 1939)
General der Artillerie Curt Gallenkamp (1 Oct 1939 - 29 Sep 1941)
Generalleutnant Emil Markgraf (29 Sep 1941 - 19 Nov 1941)
General der Infanterie Paul Völckers (19 Nov 1941 - 30 Dec 1942)

Area of operations

Germany (Sep 1939 - May 1940)
France (May 1940 - June 1941)
Eastern front, central sector (June 1941 - Dec 1942)

Holders of high awards

See 78. Volks-Sturm-Division

Order of battle (1939)

Infanterie-Regiment 195
Infanterie-Regiment 215
Infanterie-Regiment 238
Artillerie-Regiment 178
Divisionseinheiten 178

Memorial at the former Truppenübungsplatz Münsingen to those killed in the 78. Infanterie-Division

(Courtesy of Unterillertaler)

Footnotes

1. "Justiz und NS-Verbrechen" by C.F. Rüter & D.W. de Mildt.

Sources used

C.F. Rüter & D.W. de Mildt - Justiz und NS-Verbrechen
Georg Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht 1933-1945

Reference material on this unit

Ludwig Merker - Das Buch der 78. Sturm Division
Karl Tress - Das Infanterie- und Sturm-Regiment 14 im Zweiten Weltkrieg
Fritz Vetter - Die 78. Infanterie  und Sturmdivision 1938-1945: Eine Dokumentation in Bildern