The 26. Volksgrenadier-Division was formed in September 1944 on the training ground Warthelager near Posen from 26. Infanterie-Division and manpower from the partially formed 582. Volksgrenadier-Division. It was sent to the western front and saw action in the Ardennes suffering heavy losses. The remains of the division went into captivity in the Harz Mountains in April 1945.

Commanders

Generalmajor Heinz Kokott (17 Sep 1944 - 22 Apr 1945) (POW)

Operations Officers (Ia)

Major Hans Freiherr von Tiesenhausen (17 Sep 1944 - 26 Jan 1945) (KIA)
Major Baron von Buchholtz (10 Feb 1945 - Apr 1945)

Area of operations

Poland (Sep 1944 - Nov 1944)
Luxembourg & Western Front (Nov 1944 - May 1945)

Nicknames

Dom Division, due to its insignia, based on the Cologne Cathedral.

Holders of high awards

Holders of the German Cross in Gold (2)
- Rauhaus, Heinz, 20.01.1945, Leutnant, I./Gren.Rgt. 77
- Specht, Karl-Gustav, 08.03.1945, Oberleutnant d.R., 4./Füs.Rgt. 39
Holders of the Honor Roll Clasp of the Heer (4)
- Bauschlicher, Horst, 00.00.1945, Hauptmann, 13./Gren.Rgt. 77
- Dittmann, Hermann, 05.03.1945, Oberfeldwebel, 3./Füs.Rgt. 39
- Fromberger, Hans, 00.00.1945, Oberst, Gren.Rgt. 78
- Kaufmann, Walter, 00.00.1945, Oberstleutnant, Füs.Rgt. 39
Holders of the Knight's Cross (7)
- Becker, Anton 05.04.1945 Hauptmann d.R. Rgt-Adjutant Gren.Rgt 77
- Behr, Paul 28.03.1945 Hauptmann d.R. Chef 13./Füs.Rgt 39
- Junker, Heinz 14.01.1945 Leutnant Zugführer i. d. Stug.Abt 1026 [Stug.Abt 1026 = 2./Pz.Jäg.Abt 26]
- Kemler, Heinrich 14.04.1945 Hauptmann Kdr II./Gren.Rgt 78
- Kunkel, Rolf 17.03.1945 Major Kdr Div.Füs.Btl 26
- Meier, Gerhard 05.04.1945 Leutnant d.R. Kompanieführer i. d. Pz.Jäg.Abt 26
- Nilshon, Hans 28.03.1945 Major Kdr III./Art.Rgt 26

Order of battle

Füsilier-Regiment 39
Grenadier-Regiment 77
Grenadier-Regiment 78
Füsilier-Bataillon 26
Artillerie-Regiment 26
Pionier-Bataillon 26
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 26
Nachrichten-Abteilung 26
Feldersatz-Bataillon 26
Versorgungseinheiten 26  

Sources used

Andris J. Kursietis - The Wehrmacht at War 1939-1945
Samuel W. Mitcham Jr - Hitler's Legions: The German Army Order of Battle World War II
George F. Nafziger - The German Order of Battle: Infantry in World War II
Georg Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht 1933-1945

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -