The 36. Volksgrenadier-Division was formed from 36. Grenadier-Division on 9 October 1944. It fought against the US forces in France and Luxembourg before retreating into southern Germany where it ended the war.

Known war crimes

Soldiers of the division shot a civilian who argued for hoisting white cloths to surrender the surrounded town of Altötting. Two soldiers of the division were put on trial for the shooting post-war. (1)

Commanders

Generalmajor August Wellm  (9 Oct 1944 - ? Mar 1945)
Generalmajor Helmut Kleikamp (? Mar 1945 - 8 May 1945)

Area of operations

France (Oct 1944 - Jan 1945)
Southern Germany (Jan 1945 - May 1945)

Holders of high awards

(36. Grenadier-Division / 36. Volksgrenadier-Division)
Holders of the German Cross in Gold (11)
- Beck, Otto, 24.03.1945, Oberleutnant d.R., 1./Gren.Rgt. 165
- Beck, Otto, 13.01.1945, Feldwebel d.R., 3./Gren.Rgt. 118
- Fischer, Rudolf, 27.11.1944, Oberfeldwebel, 6./Gren.Rgt. 118
- Freiberg, Günter, 24.03.1945, Oberleutnant d.R., I./Gren.Rgt. 118
- Funk, Otto, 28.02.1945, Hauptmann d.R., II./Art.Rgt. 268
- Kersting, Theodor, 15.12.1944, Feldwebel, 1./Gren.Rgt. 165
- Münchschwander, Walter, 14.02.1945, Oberfeldwebel, Stabs.Kp./Gren.Rgt. 118
- Nicolai, Ernst, 13.01.1945, Feldwebel d.R., 2./Gren.Rgt. 118
- Rupprecht, Walter, 14.02.1945, Oberfeldwebel, 6./Gren.Rgt. 118
- Satter, Gustav, 13.01.1945, Feldwebel, 3./Gren.Rgt. 118
- Vielwerth, Erich-Wilhelm August, 08.03.1945, Oberleutnant, 3./Gren.Rgt. 87
Holders of the German Cross in Silver (1)
- Simon, Kurt, 30.04.1945, Stabsintendant, Stab/36. Volks-Gren.Div.
Holders of the Honor Roll Clasp of the Heer (5)
- Feils, Gisbert, 25.11.1944, Oberleutnant, 7./Gren.Rgt. 87
- Kainz, Franz, 05.02.1945, Oberleutnant, 3./Gren.Rgt. 118
- Melchert, Karl-Heinz, 05.03.1945, Leutnant d.R., 3./Gren.Rgt. 118
- Rau, Horst, 00.00.1945, Hauptmann, I./Gren.Rgt. 118
- Strepp, Mathias, 27.11.1944, Oberstleutnant d.R., Gren.Rgt. 165
Holders of the Knight's Cross (3, including one unofficial/unconfirmed)
- Bernhard, Hans 09.01.1945 Hauptmann d.R. Kdr II./Gren.Rgt 165
- Greiter, Hans 13.01.1945 Unteroffizier Meldestaffelführer I./Gren.Rgt 165
- Hesse, Rudolf 09.05.1945 Leutnant Führer 2./Gren.Rgt 165
-- [proposal arrived at HPA on 22.04.1945 / on 28.04.1945 at Abt P 5 ; containing "Yes" only from the division and the Korps ; supported by Major Domaschk ; no further handling ; accepted by OdR in accordance with so-called "Dönitz-Erlass" ; award date determined by Fellgiebel]

Order of battle

Grenadier-Regiment 87
Grenadier-Regiment 118
Grenadier-Regiment 165
Artillerie-Regiment 268
Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 36
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 36
Flak-Kompanie 36
Pionier-Kompanie 36
Nachrichten-Abteilung 36

Footnotes

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

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
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

- None known at this time -